How Collin College Streamlined Dual Enrollment Scheduling and Boosted Efficiency

The Solution

To meet this challenge, Collin College launched a new districtwide scheduling department, staffed with a dedicated dean and six coordinators focused on specific disciplines. The team partnered with Ad Astra to implement integrated planning and scheduling tools that could support scale, speed, and alignment. 

Key elements of the solution included:

• Centralized Scheduling Team: A new cross-functional department solely responsible for academic scheduling across the district.
• Smart Scheduling Tools: Full adoption of Ad Astra’s Integrated Planning package for demand analysis, historical trend data, and scheduling recommendations.
• Faculty Collaboration: Regular “engagement meetings” with Deans to review data-informed schedule recommendations while preserving faculty input and academic judgment.
• Dual Credit Alignment: Earlier deadlines for ISDs and staffing processes to ensure instructional readiness before registration.

The Results

Collin College saw measurable improvements in scheduling efficiency after adopting Ad Astra’s platform:

• Increased overall staffing at the time of registration to 74%.
• 3x increase in staffing efficiency with a major ISD partner — reaching 76% coverage by April instead of August.
• 100% alignment with textbook affordability deadlines, enabling smoother integration with First Day Access and fewer last-minute changes.
• 20 ISD partners supported through consistent scheduling timelines that reduced delays and improved collaboration.

“Ad Astra puts method to the madness. It gives you the tools to verify what you’re doing—and to identify what you missed with pencil and paper. It’s brought consistency across the district while still allowing for a human touch where it matters.”