The ISIS course number field is a fixed length field of four characters. The field may consist of any combination of letters and numbers but it cannot exceed a total of four characters. This is fundamental to the entire ISIS system design - screens, processes, reports, interfaces. It is recommended that the maximum length of the new number not exceed 4 characters.

The task force addressed the following items which were identified in Tom Healey's memorandum of March 1, 2004, entitled University-Wide Renumbering Committee. The impact is noted after each item.

1. DARS
   The DARS Office can use the convert table in the software to make one course "look like" another course. However, this table is for internal use and does not display the results (converted courses) to students who need this information to properly register for courses. The DARS rules, used in configuring program graduation requirements, may also need to be changed; this is a manual process. The transfer articulation table (ISIS A9 screen) currently includes the Temple course equivalencies to courses at approximately 120 other institutions, will need to be updated to reflect new course numbers.



2. Advising literature and advisers materials.
   The timing of the implementation is the greatest concern here. Adequate lead time for printing materials and communication to students is essential for a smooth transition. Course renumbering will not affect the Advising Database application.



3. Undergraduate and graduate bulletins
   Courses in the undergraduate bulletin originate in schools and colleges after decanal approval and are maintained in a database. Currently the graduate bulletin is text-based. Changes in course numbers would need to be tracked and converted for both bulletins.



4. School, college, and department websites and other publications
   Websites and publications containing course numbers or references to them will need to be updated. This includes Temple University Japan publications. As the renumbering process begins, academic departments should also identify the places where updates are needed. The timing of the implementation of changes is critical to accurate communication with current and prospective students.



5. Blackboard
   Blackboard does not use course numbers so there is no impact



6. Course fee changes.
   The Budget Office maintains a list of course fees in a spreadsheet that would need to be updated once the renumbering is completed.



7. Distance learning (e-course) designations
   The appropriate identification of these courses needs to be considered. The new mode of instructional delivery at the section level (S1 CATE changes now in development) should help, but it is important to identify course renumbering needs in the distance learning area.

The renumbering of courses will necessitate changes in a number of screens and programs which include or exclude courses in processing based on the content of course numbers. The scope of renumbering - number of courses involved and extent of structural changes - will dictate the amount of ISIS changes that are necessary.

ISIS screens that may require changes:

• Transfer Institution Equivalencies Screen (A9)
• Transfer Credit Screen (H4)
• Transcript Screen (HR)
• Grade List Maintenance Screen (R6)
• Semester Course Maintenance (Grades) Screens
  • Undergraduate/Graduate and Pharmacy (H6) (Pharmacy courses, although not part of renumbering, rely on this screen for processing)
• Semester Course Maintenance (Grades) Screens (Will be addressed if professional schools renumber in the future)
  • Dental (HD)
  • Law (HL)
  • Medical (HM)
  • Podiatric (HF)
• Semester Course History Log Screen (HC)
• Semester Course Sequence Course History Screen (H8)
• Department Sequence Course History Screen (H9)
• Academic Progress Rating Screen (RC)
• Academic Progress List Maintenance Screen (RD)
• Course Inventory Screen (C1)
• Departmental Course Summary Screen (C4)
• Section Update Screen (S1)
• Section Comments Screen (S8)
• Departmental Section Summary Screen (S3)
• Section Enrollment (S4)
• Exception Entry (EX)
• Exception Display (ED)

ISIS batch processes that may require changes:

• Class Lists
  • Undergraduate/Graduate
  • Dental
  • Law (Graduate)
  • Law (Professional)
  • Medical
  • Podiatric
• Grade Lists
  • Undergraduate/Graduate
  • Dental
  • Law (Graduate)
  • Law (Professional)
  • Medical
  • Podiatric
• Academic Progress Reports
• Transcript Production
• Course Repeat Process
• Course Rollover Process (first year only)
• DARS Interface
• Web Schedule of Classes
• Schedule of Classes Report and Print
• Course Description Database
• OWLnet/OWLink Course Descriptions and Prerequisites Interface Process
• Course Withdrawal Tracking Process
• First Year Writing Program Database and Interface
• Measurement and Research Center Placement Test Interface Process
• DARS Foreign Language Test Equivalency Process
• SIMS (Section Information Management Section) Replacement Process
• Temple University Japan Bill Processing

• Professional medical and podiatric medical course sections have a unique structure that use the course numbers in the construction of course reference numbers that will be addressed if included in the future.
• Processes will need to be developed to:
  • Convert current courses to their newly numbered counterparts
• An online translation lookup system equating old course numbers to their new numbers will be accessible to the community via various systems (OWLnet, OWLink) and web-based mechanisms. Students and faculty will have access to this system.

The impact renumbering of courses has on the ISIS system and related processes will carry forward to the institutional reporting environment. The implications relative to institutional reporting include:

• Placement Testing - Placement Testing guidelines specify assignments based on the results of the test. Changes will have to be made in the reporting programs that have been developed
• CATE - CATE data are separated by lower division, upper division, graduate and first-professional courses. Since norms are constructed on that basis (over time), accommodations will have to be made to ensure accurate reporting of results.
• Production Reporting - All production reports (e.g., Student Credit Hour Generation Report) will need to be reviewed to determine the reprogramming effort needed to accommodate the course numbering system changes.
• FOCUS and WebFOCUS - All FOCUS and WebFOCUS reports and applications will need to be reviewed to determine the reprogramming effort needed to accommodate the course numbering system changes.
• Ad-hoc Reporting - Current Ad-hoc reports involving course numbers will have to be reviewed and reprogrammed as needed.