System allows online viewing of course listings, equivalency guidelines, degree audit reports, and more

January 11, 2007
Contact: communications@ihets.org

Several consortium members are working with the Indiana Commission on Higher Education (ICHE) to pilot test a Web-based system for sharing course applicability and equivalency guidelines.

The Course Applicability System (CAS) is an online Web interface that has been fully implemented in Arizona, Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota, and Ohio. Washington, Oregon, California, Colorado, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Texas, Pennsylvania, and New York are in the process of implementation or who have institutions and systems already using the tool.

According to Ken Sauer, ICHE’s associate commissioner for research and academic affairs, implementing the system in Indiana will take place incrementally. “Right now, we’re engaged in pilot testing at a few institutions to better understand how the system works and what it requires for optimum performance,” he commented.

Utilizing IHETS Interactive, ICHE delivered its first round of training in December; a second is expected this month. Academic officers and staff on pilot campuses are becoming familiar with the software and how it is used.

Sauer noted ICHE wanted to use Webinar technology to deliver the training. “IHETS quickly provided us with a two-hour training session to get us up to speed. After that, we were very comfortable using the system and its capabilities,” he said. View the video clip (1:22) in which Sauer discusses using IHETS Interactive.

He finds “enormous” potential for the technology as a quick, cost-effective means of presenting detailed information while actively engaging individuals at geographically diverse locations.

When the CAS implementation is complete, Hoosier students, faculty, academic advisors, and administrators—as well as the general public—will be able to view online course listings, descriptions, requirements, equivalency guides, degree programs, transfer course evaluations, and degree audit reports from colleges and universities in Indiana and other states.

For a demonstration of this cost-effective and convenient Web conferencing tool, contact George Khazal (gkhazal@ihets.org; 317.263.8870) or Tim Paige (tpaige@ihets.org; 317.263.8967) at IHETS.