Empowering Staff With Real-Time Scheduling Data at SoLACC

Location: Lafayette, Louisiana

Enrollment: Approx. 12,000 students

Type: Public, Two Year

Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

Outcomes: Student Success, Operational Efficiency

Products in Use: Academic Scheduling, Room Scheduling, Student Demand Forecasting

The Challenge

Place the input of scheduling data into the hands of those making scheduling decisions

Scheduling was once the purview of one employee working in the Registrar’s office at South Louisiana State Community College, Lafayette, Louisiana. The manual, spreadsheet-driven process was tedious and time-consuming, resulting in delayed publication of the schedule. The lag also limited the amount of time students had to meet with their academic advisor.

When that individual transitioned out of the institution, South Louisiana State Community College saw an opportunity to expand its use of Ad Astra, beyond events and room scheduling, to address academic scheduling in a more holistic way. With Ad Astra, the institution could enhance scheduling decisions by expanding the practice from one to many.

“By placing the input of data into the hands of our department chairs, we are democratizing the data,” said Rachel Babin, Associate Registrar for Registration and Curriculum, South Louisiana State Community College. “Department chairs can have discussions with their colleagues and immediately make changes to the schedule in real time.”

The Solution

Improve scheduling efficiencies with the input of real-time data and analytics to boost completion

Today, scheduling at South Louisiana State Community College is becoming more efficient. The college released its schedule two weeks prior to registration, earlier than ever before. Its timely release also allowed students more time to meet with their academic advisor before the first day of registration.

“Ad Astra software empowers our department chairs to make changes themselves and to talk with their colleagues to see where classes are needed and at what time,” Babin said. “The department chairs can make these changes in real time, and the analytics ensure we’re offering students the classes they need to complete on time.”

Analytical software from Ad Astra is also helping the college meet its completion goals as part of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS), the state’s governing body of colleges. The goals of LCTCS focus on growing headcounts, improving retention rates, and boosting spring-to-fall retention. At South Louisiana State Community College, this includes helping first-generation and non-traditional students achieve timely completion through a credential and/or transfer to a four-year university.

“In the end, it’s about helping the students,” Babin concluded.

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School Background

South Louisiana State Community College, Lafayette, Louisiana., is one of the state’s largest and most comprehensive community colleges with campuses in eight parishes. Established in 1997, the institution offers academic and vocational training for more than 50 programs leading to associate degrees and technical diplomas and certificates, in addition to non-credit training. South Louisiana State Community College is part of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

CASE STUDY | SOUTH LOUISIANA COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Democratizing data to empower staff and improve scheduling efficiencies

The Challenge

Place the input of scheduling data into the hands of those making scheduling decisions

The Solution

Improve scheduling efficiencies with the input of real-time data and analytics to boost completion

School Background

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