Academic Scheduling and Management Software Program. Final Report and Recommendations.

This final report describes activities and findings of a project which examined computer-automated scheduling in institutions for higher education and secondary schools and selected two sources for scheduling systems products which it recommends to institutions in the member states of the Midwestern Higher Education Commission and members of the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. It notes that automated systems can achieve significant administrative and cost efficiencies, but most are financially unattainable. The project selected two companies--Universal Algorithms and Applied Business Technologies--after a comprehensive review of available products and services over an 18-month period of research and inquiry. Submitted software was assessed for functional requirements, service expectations, and financial parameters for academic scheduling and management software in higher and secondary education. Negotiation of special pricing was accomplished to bring computer aided course scheduling on a variety of platforms within the financial reach of virtually all member institutions. Appendixes include detailed product information, survey results, and a copy of the original Request For Proposal. (Author/NAV)