Add and maintain class descriptions

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Overview

The Class Descriptions application, available in One.IU, gives instructors and authorized staff members the option to provide more detailed descriptions for class sections than are normally displayed in the master catalog. Instructors or their designees can provide specific information (topics, activities, expectations) that they think students should know when they enroll in the class, and students can use these expanded descriptions to make informed choices during registration and to prepare for the semester ahead. Expanded descriptions will appear within the class section's details in both the SIS Student Center and in iGPS (Plan/Course Search).

Delegate responsibility for class description entries or request access for a staff member

Instructors can delegate responsibility for class description entries to another authorized IU staff member if they wish, and supervisors can request access to the Class Descriptions app for their staff members. To do so:

  1. In the Class Descriptions app, at the top of the screen, select Help, and then select Contact Support to submit a request to OCSS.
  2. From the "Contact Type" menu, choose Other, enter Request Class Descriptions Access, and then complete the required fields.
  3. Confirm that the staff member has agreed to take on this task.
Notes:
  • Staff members may not directly request access for themselves.
  • Authorization is controlled via an ACM security group that requires completion of IU's Acceptable Use Agreement.

    All students, faculty, staff, and affiliates must complete the Acceptable Use Agreement every two years. In most cases, an IU Login interrupt will notify you when your previous agreement expires.

Access the Class Descriptions app

To access the Class Descriptions app, select the Class Descriptions tile in One.IU. You'll need to log in with your IU username and passphrase and complete a Two-Step Login (Duo) to access the tool.

Find a class

For instructors

In the Class Descriptions app, by default, you'll see all the classes assigned to you in the current and upcoming schedule of classes. You will not be able to see sections of a class that are not assigned to you within SIS by your campus registrar.

If you want to use any of the available filters, they will be applied to the default list. To sort a column, use the arrows to the right of each column title.

For authorized staff

When you first log into the Class Descriptions app, you won't have any classes loaded into the tool, so you'll need to use the filters to find the desired class section. Class data displayed is dependent on SIS class data and the current schedule of classes for future terms.

To sort a column, use the arrows to the right of each column title.

Note:
This filtered search is not equivalent to an iGPS or SIS class search. It returns only very basic details on a class section.

Use filters

In the Course Descriptions app, search filters allow for refinement of the list of classes displayed. If you are an instructor, only your assigned classes will display; authorized staff can search all IU classes.

Search using all filters

When you're searching for a class section using filters, all fields are required: "Institution", "Term", "Subject", and "Catalog number". Make a selection for each field, and then click Search. Results that match your criteria will appear below.

Search filters and sample results

Search by class number

Alternatively, if you know the class number of the section you're looking for, click Search by class number under the "Subject" field. The "Subject" and "Catalog number" fields will be replaced by a single "Class number" field. To return to the "Subject" and "Catalog number" fields, click Search by subject catalog number under the "Class number" field.

Class number field with search by subject catalog number below

Clear search results

To clear your search results so you can search for another class, click Clear Search to the right above your search results.

Clear Search option

Edit the class description

Note:
If there is an existing class description saved, it will display with the timestamp on the main page, and the description will appear on the "Edit" page. Legacy descriptions do not contain the usernames of people who have made updates, just the date and time.
Important:
Class descriptions do not automatically roll over and display for a class in the next term. However, you can copy an existing class description from term to term.

To edit a class description:

  1. To select a class from the list, click the subject catalog number in the "Class" column.
  2. The "Editing Class Description" page will appear, displaying the class section's details. These details are the same as what you saw listed on the previous page.
    Editing Class Description page
  3. Use the information displayed to verify that this is the class you wish to edit, and then enter the class description in the text box. You can include URLs in the description, but they will not be hyperlinked in the Course Search details; students can cut and paste to access the URLs.
  4. Click Save. Once saved, a class description will immediately appear in the Course Search details for that section in both the SIS Student Center and iGPS Plan.
  5. A success message that says "Class description has been updated" will display, and the "Last Updated" column will show the timestamp of the most recent update to that class section and the person who saved it.
    Sample last updated notification
  6. Check the description you entered to be sure it displays the way you expect. If you cut and pasted the text from Microsoft Word, it's recommended that you use a plain text or .rtf version so that Word formatting does not introduce garbage characters into your description.

To copy an existing class description:

  1. Navigate to the current term with the description you wish to copy, select the description (keyboard or mouse, with Ctrl-C or right-click option).
  2. Navigate to the next term's class(s). On the "Edit" page, paste the description and edit as needed.

You can also find historical class descriptions by using the "Class Descriptions - Faculty Provided (SR_IU_CLS_FAC_DTL_GT)" IUIE report.

Get help

For assistance with the Class Descriptions app, select Help at the top of the page, and then select Contact Support to submit a problem or request ticket to OCSS. You will receive a prompt response and OCSS will investigate your issue or answer your question.

Help button

This is document bdmd in the Knowledge Base.
Last modified on 2023-08-02 11:36:47.