Overview of Course Overview of Course Request System (CRS)Request System (CRS)

Office of Programs and Office of Programs and Academic Assessment (OPAA), Academic Assessment (OPAA),

UIC UIC July, 2010July, 2010

What is the Course Catalog?What is the Course Catalog?

• All credit courses approved to be offered by All credit courses approved to be offered by the University – the University – 5386 total approved courses5386 total approved courses

• Approved course inventory maintained at UIC Approved course inventory maintained at UIC by the Office of Programs and Academic by the Office of Programs and Academic AssessmentAssessment

• A “course” consists of:A “course” consists of:– Course subject (rubric) and number (Math 220)Course subject (rubric) and number (Math 220)– Course title (Calculus I)Course title (Calculus I)– Credit hours (3 hours)Credit hours (3 hours)– Grading Modes (e.g., Letter grade awarded, e.g., Grading Modes (e.g., Letter grade awarded, e.g.,

“A”)“A”)

What is the Course Catalog? What is the Course Catalog? Cont’dCont’d

– Brief description of content Brief description of content – Purpose of course, course learning outcomes, Purpose of course, course learning outcomes,

assessment methodsassessment methods– Prerequisite (e.g., preparation required, e.g., Prerequisite (e.g., preparation required, e.g.,

coursework)coursework)– Type of instruction (lecture versus lab) and Type of instruction (lecture versus lab) and

contact hours (will meet 3 hours each week)contact hours (will meet 3 hours each week)– Special notes and conditions about registration Special notes and conditions about registration

and creditand credit– General Education Credit General Education Credit

““Cross-Listed” CoursesCross-Listed” Courses

• 480 cross-lists at UIC480 cross-lists at UIC• Single course listed under more than one course Single course listed under more than one course

subject in course catalog subject in course catalog – Example: African-American History is listed as AAST Example: African-American History is listed as AAST

(African-American Studies) 100 and Hist (History) 100. (African-American Studies) 100 and Hist (History) 100. African-American Studies controls, or has created the African-American Studies controls, or has created the course content course content

• One unit always “controls” and usually staffs the One unit always “controls” and usually staffs the coursecourse

• Student is assigned under course he/she registers Student is assigned under course he/she registers for during registration processfor during registration process

Where do courses come Where do courses come from?from?

• An academic teaching unit sponsors An academic teaching unit sponsors a course a course

• A course request may be:A course request may be:– A new course [does not currently exist]A new course [does not currently exist]– A revised course [change in something, A revised course [change in something,

like course title or credit hours]like course title or credit hours]– A course drop [request to remove from A course drop [request to remove from

University records]University records]

Course Request System Course Request System (CRS)(CRS)• Electronic workflow system that manages Electronic workflow system that manages

the course approval process at UICthe course approval process at UIC http://ossssql1.admin.uillinois.edu/crs/login.asphttp://ossssql1.admin.uillinois.edu/crs/login.asp

– Gather information for academic review, Gather information for academic review, student information for registration and student information for registration and publications (course schedule and catalog)publications (course schedule and catalog)

– Manages workflow to the Office of Programs Manages workflow to the Office of Programs and Academic Assessment (OPAA)and Academic Assessment (OPAA)

– Web-based (Explorer or Firefox)Web-based (Explorer or Firefox)– Implemented at UIC in August 2000Implemented at UIC in August 2000

Course Approval ProcessCourse Approval ProcessDept prepares course request

Is course cross-listed?

Has course been routed for

signoff?

Cross-listing unit (dept and college,

if different than controllling

college) aprove course

Consulting Unit signoff, OR 14 day

revew expires

College Approval

OPAA Review

Graduate College Review Required?

Senate Commitee on Educational Policy/

Senate Review Required?

Graduate College Review & Approval

SCEP/Senate Review & Approval

No No

Yes Yes

Yes

Yes

OPAA Approval

No

Board of Trustte/IBHE

Approval required?No

Board of Trustees/IBHE review &

approval

Yes

No

After approval by the OPAA, the following needs to take place:

Approved Course Request

All approving units notified of course

approval

Course info entered into

Banner database

Catalog Office notified, course entered into online/print catalog

http://www.uic.edu/ucat/courses/

Scheduling Office notified of course

(if necessary)

DARS Office notified of course

information affecting DARS tables (where

necessary)

List of New, Dropped Revised Courses sent to

Senate

CRS and Banner ScheduleCRS and Banner Schedule

• In general, CRS information is In general, CRS information is relevant whenever the course is relevant whenever the course is offeredoffered

• CRS information is used to build the CRS information is used to build the Banner Schedule (Timetable)Banner Schedule (Timetable)

• Banner Schedule information applies Banner Schedule information applies to a particular section (term) offeringto a particular section (term) offering

CRS and Banner Schedule CRS and Banner Schedule (cont’d)(cont’d)

CRSCRS Banner Schedule Banner Schedule (sections)(sections)

Subject/number, prerequisite, Subject/number, prerequisite, permanent cross-listing, permanent cross-listing, grading mode, instruction grading mode, instruction type, General Education type, General Education Credit, credit notesCredit, credit notes

Title, Credit hours (1-4)Title, Credit hours (1-4) Title (for topics courses only), Title (for topics courses only), credit hours (4 hour section of credit hours (4 hour section of 1-4 hour course)1-4 hour course)

Time, day, location, instructorTime, day, location, instructor

AuthorizationsAuthorizations

• Sign-offs, approvals & associated comments Sign-offs, approvals & associated comments recorded in CRSrecorded in CRS

• Units decide who should have accessUnits decide who should have access• Possible authorization levels:Possible authorization levels:

– Data entry onlyData entry only– Data entry with approval/sign-off Data entry with approval/sign-off – Data entry with surrogate approval/sign-offData entry with surrogate approval/sign-off

• Colleges can perform tasks for their unitsColleges can perform tasks for their units• Paper authorization forms are submitted to obtain Paper authorization forms are submitted to obtain

access access http://ossssql1.admin.uillinois.edu/oaa/CRSAuthorization.asphttp://ossssql1.admin.uillinois.edu/oaa/CRSAuthorization.asp

Features of CRSFeatures of CRS

• Check boxes, pull-down menus, and some Check boxes, pull-down menus, and some free-form textfree-form text

• Includes basic validationsIncludes basic validations– Required fields must be entered Required fields must be entered – Logical data entryLogical data entry– Course rulesCourse rules

• Automatic email notificationsAutomatic email notifications– Notifies users when….Notifies users when….

• a course requires their reviewa course requires their review• a course has been approved by the campusa course has been approved by the campus

Support for CRSSupport for CRS

• Over 270 CRS users across campusOver 270 CRS users across campus

• Help available directly from systemHelp available directly from system

• Listserv to communicate with usersListserv to communicate with users

• Training sessions held periodicallyTraining sessions held periodically

• CRS User ManualCRS User Manual

http://ossssql1.admin.uillinois.edu/http://ossssql1.admin.uillinois.edu/oaa/content/files/CRSHelpManual.pdfoaa/content/files/CRSHelpManual.pdf

CRS Training Site:CRS Training Site:

http://ims4.vcaa.uic.edu/CRSTraining/login.asp