Ohio University revamped its course offerings catalog.
The new application, which was launched in August by the Offices of the Registrar and Information Technology, provides students with a more user-friendly interface and additional features.
The previous course offerings system had been out there for 10-plus years and we accepted many requests for revisions from students and faculty
said Debra Benton, registrar.
The new Web site provides more search options to course-browsing students, Benton said.
Students can search not only by term, course and course prefix, but by online and Tier II courses and classes within specific time blocks. Students can also download a PDF document from any search page.
Users can plainly view additional fees, class notes, meeting times irregularities and the last days to add or drop a class.
The catalog was developed by OU's Application and Information Systems, which is a department that provides software, training and ' in certain cases ' custom applications to other departments, said Sean O'Malley, information technology communication manager.
More than 475 hours went into the development of the application, O'Malley said.
The equivalent dollar value of the project is not available because the application used existing staff resources so it was the cost of staff not doing other things he said.
The in-house project was initially proposed in June 2007, according to specifications provided by faculty and students.
It worked closely with the registrar's office to provide a quality product that meets their specific needs
O'Malley said.
Students expressed different opinions on the new catalog.
I thought it was pretty easy to use
said Caitlin King, a freshman music production major. There's nothing I would really change.
Junior theater major Katie Guak said she had difficulty getting the catalog to load.
It was frustrating at first
but then it was fine
she said. I didn't see a big difference from the old system.-
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