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Efficient Web Registration System for the 21st Century

This paper discusses the development of a web-based registration system that improves upon the limitations of traditional Touch-Tone registration. It details the desired features, conceptual overview, system architecture, and the implementation of a scheduler builder. The solution implemented includes a limit on solution search space and the use of course groups to eliminate time conflicts. The system is available 24/7 and offers a user-friendly interface for students to select and register for courses.

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Efficient Web Registration System for the 21st Century

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  1. REGISTRATION IN THE 21st CENTURY CUMREC May 14, 2002 Kenneth L. Servis University of Southern California

  2. Registration Background • Early computer systems used punch cards (1960’s) and optical scan (1970’s) • IBM introduced Touch-Tone/voice response to CUMREC in 1969 • BYU presented on Touch-Tone telephone registration at CUMREC in 1984

  3. Touch-Tone Limitations • Select by section • Sequential selection • Entire schedule not available • Section availability by trial • Permission by trial • No visualization

  4. Web Based Registration • Option 1: Replicate Touch-Tone • step-by-step one course at a time • Option 2: Incorporate a Schedule Builder • incorporate calendaring • build entire schedule first • register all courses simultaneously • holistic approach

  5. Student Focus Groups • Worked with Student Senate • Groups included: • students • programmers • Web developers • Developed desired feature list

  6. Desired Features • Curriculum information • links to course descriptions and syllabi • Schedule Information • links to schedule of classes • day, time, location, instructor, seats available • Degree information • link to degree audit • courses completed/needed • major/minor requirements

  7. Desired Features • Schedule Builder • include registered courses • working drafts saved • available 24/7 • schedule by course, not section • time blocks honored • display output in calendar format

  8. Conceptual Overview • SIS backend legacy system • on-line 8:30 am-10:00 pm M-F • Front end database server • on-line 24/7 • Web Farm • manages communication between client and server

  9. Web Registration System Architecture USC Synchronization Protocol Microsoft ADO Pyramid Database Student Information System Camel Web Application Cluster

  10. Data Flow • SIS pushes class data to database server • each active term updated at least once an hour • SIS pushes student enrollment data to database server in real-time • individual student data up to the minute

  11. Timing Constraints • Schedule planning can occur 24/7 • planning prior to registration appointment times • Registration changes can only occur 8:30 am - 10 pm M-F • enrollment cannot change outside these hours

  12. Login • https://camel.usc.edu/webreg/Login.asp • System uses SSL security • HTML Web Registration Instructions • Flash Web Registration Tutorial

  13. Login • Student enters student ID number • Student enters 6 digit PIN (******) • Display of holds and restrictions • office phone no. and location • Display of registration appointment time

  14. Web Process Overview • Step1: Select courses to schedule • Step 2: Build a schedule with selected courses • Step 3: Register for courses on the schedule

  15. Web Screen Presentation • Top Frame: Displays department list, course list, class list or schedule • Middle Frame: Displays the “Course Bin,” courses selected for scheduling • Bottom Frame: Displays system responses and messages

  16. Select Courses to Schedule • From Course List, click “ADD” by course name • From Section List: click “ADD” by section number

  17. Build a Schedule • Step-by-step • Click “schedule” by section in course bin • If conflicts occur, course must be removed from course bin and another selected • remove from schedule using “Unschedule”

  18. Build a Schedule • Auto Schedule • With all courses in course bin click “Auto Schedule” • View options • Select desired option, click “Make this my Schedule”

  19. Scheduler Builder • Problem: Take a list of courses with multiple sections, find the conflict-free schedules, return these in a visual format that can be used for registration

  20. Commercial Solutions • Need optimizer software for a tree search • Tried commercial software: OPL language • Performance: 4 min, 300Mb RAM • Revised version: 4 sec • Better but not good enough

  21. Solution Implemented • Limit solution search space • Courses given priority order: A>B>C • All solutions must have A, then B before C if B does not conflict with A, then C if C does not conflict with selected A+B, etc.

  22. Course Groups • Courses may have linked lectures, labs, discussions, and quizzes • Groups are allowed combinations of linked sections • For all courses, form allowed groups • Eliminate groups with time conflicts with time blocks

  23. Build Schedules • Random pick group for course A, then random pick group for course B ( if okay, save), if not okay discard and pick another from group for course B. If okay, random pick group for course C, etc. Return, random pick new, different group for course A • After 100 successful schedules, stop

  24. Tree Search • Random pick course from group A, then search each group for course B in order. For each group for course B, search in order for groups for course C. Then back to next B, etc.

  25. Search Time • Search time Max = 10 sec. • Search Solutions Max = 1000 • All valid solutions may not be found.

  26. Programming tools • Visual basic: VB SCRIPT • Active Server Pages: ASP • Component Object Modules: COM • on server in PYTHON.

  27. Register • Click “ Commit Changes” • system verifies availability and checks permissions (holds, prereqs, etc.) • Click “Proceed to Register” • Changes made in SIS and database server updated

  28. Communication Strategies • Information sessions for advisors • Stealth launch, August 2001 with home page quicklink • Notification of availability to students emailed October 2001 • Comprehensive list of Frequently Asked Questions

  29. Communication Strategies (cont.) • December 2002 emailed all users to verify registered course list • Prior to end of drop/add notified those with course in schedule bin but not registered • April 2002, auto confirm all drop/add transactions real time by email

  30. Future Plans • Final Exam schedule • Links to Catalogue Course Description • Link to Student Course Guide • Multiple Term Planner

  31. Acknowledgement Thomas F. Hauck Director of New Technology Student Information Systems University of Southern California (213) 740-1992 hauck@usc.edu Francisco Chang System Analyst Office of Academic Records and Registrar University of Southern California (213) 821-5514 fjc@usc.edu

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