UpDate - Vol. 13, No. 24, Page 8
March 18, 1994
TechTalk
New program helps students stay On Course

     On-line advisement information is now available to administrators
through the SIS/Plus system already in use on campus for a number of
student-oriented services.
     "On Course is an advisement tool that gives advisers the facility to
quickly check a student's academic progress," said Joseph DiMartile,
University Registrar. The software also supports deans' offices in clearing
seniors for graduation by automatically matching the students' courses to
degree requirements, he said.
     "The software is intended to enhance the advisement process. It is not
a replacement for one-on-one advisement with an academic adviser,"
according to Margaret Andersen, vice provost and a facilitator of the On
Course implementation. "Good advisement involves a positive working
relationship with an academic adviser. On Course enhances the adviser's
ability to guide students accurately and efficiently."
     The pilot group for this project was the College of Engineering. Dan
Boulet, assistant dean, built the data files that contain the graduation
requirements for each of the engineering majors. By simply typing a
student's Social Security Number, advisers can initiate the On Course
analysis of the student's degree progress. Student course information from
the SIS/Plus system is automatically compared to the college's
requirements.
     Advisers in the college can meet with a student and immediately
(without having to do manual comparisons) see which requirements have been
fulfilled and which courses the student still has to take.
     "This tool is very helpful in advising students before graduation. It
also helps the college with pre-graduation audits and final degree
certification. It is a time- and labor-saving device that has proven
reliable and flexible," Boulet said.
     The offices of the University Registrar and the provost and deans in
the colleges of Nursing, Education and Human Resources have been working
together to implement this system in these departments.
     "The College of Arts and Science is scheduled to begin implementation
in the next few weeks, with the remaining colleges to follow by the end of
the calendar year," DiMartile said.
                                                  -Ruth Heckert