A new computer program may soon be available to all University students, designed to help them better plan their semesters and increase University graduation rates.
By helping students schedule more of the classes they need, Grad Trak will increase four-year graduation rates and assist the University in achieving the Flagship Agenda. At least that’s the hope of Student Senate Speaker Brandon Smith, who created the idea and the plans for its implementation.
Smith, who introduced Grad Trak legislation into the Student Senate last week, said he hopes the program will be available by fall 2005, or at the latest, fall 2006.
The interactive computer program would remind students which courses they should be taking and when, announce updated degree audits and highlight University academic resources such as Career Services. It would also remind juniors and seniors that some courses they need to graduate are only offered during certain semesters.
Grad Trak would be available on students’ PAWS desktop and based on students’ degree program.
Details of how Grad Trak will work have not been finalized, but Smith said that even if a University office modifies the program, any variation of the idea will be helpful to the University.
If passed by the Senate, the legislation will only “encourage” the Office of Academic Affairs, the University Registrar and the Office of Computing Services to implement Grad Trak.
But Smith said he has had a good response from the administrators he has told about Grad Trak.
Karen Denby, Academic Affairs assistant vice chancellor, who deals directly with University retention and graduation rates, said she is excited about Grad Trak.
Denby said the idea is “fantastic” because it is coming from students and is a new way to “tackle graduation rates and retention.”
When The Daily Reveille spoke to University Registrar Robert Doolos on Monday morning, he said he did not know about Grad Trak.
The Senate will vote on the bill Wednesday night at its weekly meeting.