Mechanics

Implementing open and affordable courses marking involves a complex array of individuals, all of whom have a variety of duties, and requires the navigation of multiple technical concerns. Consequently, it is impossible to provide an overview that works in all cases or on every campus. However, this section shares potential practices and asks questions that will help each campus find a successful solution, regardless of their unique situation. Though sometimes used interchangeably, the terms schedule of classes and course catalog represent distinct institutional artifacts. Schedules are updated for each academic period and contain details of course meeting times, instructor names, classroom locations, etc. Catalogs, on the other hand, are updated less frequently. They provide descriptions of all courses offered at the institution and may incorporate policies and procedures that impact students; typically, students are governed by the terms published in the catalog during the semester they first enroll. Schedules and catalogs may be generated from data collected in student information systems (SIS).

Readers can use this section as a general guide on how to plan a strategy for implementing marking open and affordable courses, including preparing for unique contexts through an environmental scan, reviewing processes connected to the SIS, and assessing implementation’s impact on institutional procedures and technical systems. The section also includes information on creating a stand-alone list of open and affordable courses.