SmartCatalog

What do you like best?

The ability to digitize all proposals and keep track of each one in its workflow stage is extremely helpful. The links created between courses and where they live within the catalog also provide a direction to what programs will be impacted by course revisions. The workflow seems easy enough for first-time users, and I anticipate training of the SmartCatalog system to be well received. Responses to my questions are also timely.

What do you dislike?

There are no "yes, but..." clarifications. What I mean is that if I ask to make a change, I am told the change can be made. But the consequences of said change are not fully explained. I feel as if I get the bare minimum answer when I ask a question, and no additional help is provided outside of the specific question I ask. As a first-time administrator, I feel lost and often confused about the systems side of the catalog. For example, how are all courses tied together? Where are the pulled from? Every training I have had has left me with more questions than answers, and the responses to my more complicated inquiries are brief and, in my opinion, not well explained.

Recommendations to others considering the product:

Be sure you are going to get the support you need. Ask specific, hard questions and evaluate whether this product will meet your university's needs.

What problems are you solving with the product? What benefits have you realized?

I have not had to personally deal with business side of SmartCatalog, only its implementation. So, this is not an area I feel comfortable commenting on.