A new online academic information system is allowing students and faculty at Wheeling Jesuit University to track grades, access class rosters and view schedules right from their computer, cutting down on paperwork and increasing convenience.

The new online system, Academus was launched this fall and is already impacting faculty, administrators and students, says Richard Klempa, director of Administrative Information Services.

“Academus will do away with the need for paper copies of mid term grades, class rosters, etc. And for students, they can access their class grades and get current information without any lag time,” he explains.

For students, Academus can allow them to check grades and wellness credits, register for classes with an advisor’s approval, search for course offerings and check transcripts.

Faculty can chart the academic progress of students, post grades online, check on students they advise and evaluate programs. In addition, faculty and administrators who oversee budgets can now view all their expenditures and funds remaining in real time, thus cutting out paper budget sheets, Klempa adds.

Registrar Chad Carter says Academus provides the most benefits to the students.

“The students benefit, because they have access to the most up to date grades, class rosters and class offerings. Information is available to them in a much more timely manner, so students no longer must wait for paper copies of grades or schedules to arrive in the mail,” he adds. “One of the features I like is that students have up to the minute information about class rosters, so if someone drops a class, a student knows there is an opening and they can proceed to add that class. It really is a benefit for the students because the information is in real time and more accurate.”

The system, Carter says, also is cutting down on paper use and repetition within his office. He says they no longer have to print schedules, class rosters, grades, etc.

And, Klempa says all of the information contained in Academus is confidential and protected.

Each student and faculty member receives a password in order to log into the system. Students will only be able to access information pertaining to them, while faculty can only view academic information about students they advise or have in class.

Students received their password information from ITS prior to arrival this fall. They also received instruction through their email accounts on how to access Academus and its many services.

Dan Feeley, associate vice president of ITS, says Academus is part of the evolution to a high tech way of conducting business.

“Many colleges and universities are switching over to this type of system to make information more convenient to students and employees,” he adds.