Public Higher Education Bulletin

First published Monday June 18, 2007

The University awarded a contract for Astra Schedule Plantimun Analytics Software to Astra Information Systems, L.L.C., Overland Park, KS for $68,000.

Astra Information Systems is the sole manufacturer and distributor of the Astra Schedule software and is a SunGardHE Collaborative Partner. The features included in this software are vital to improving the scheduling business practices. Astra Schedule Platinum Analytics is a specialized course demand analysis system that leverages data from CAPP and Banner to determine course need.

The system has unique capabilities that will provide Chicago State University with the ability to:

• Mine program rule data from CAPP and student data from Banner to do forecasting.
• Incorporate student demand for courses into the academic schedule creation process.
• Schedule more efficiently and ensure that students can get the courses they need for graduation.

This product has been sole-sourced by other major universities. In addition, there is a patent-pending on the Astra Schedule Analytics process. Astra Schedule Platinum can assist the Chicago State University academic departments in managing their course offerings before the transactional time and room assignment process occurs. The key automated tools include Student Demand for Courses Analysis based on CAPP data, Course Offering Management (adding and removing sections to meet demand) and Offering Time Management (changing meeting times to increase student access to your offerings).

This purchase is only economically available from a single source because the compatibility of equipment, accessories, replacement parts, or service is a paramount consideration.

For additional information, contact:

Nate Tindall
Chicago State University
Cook Administration Building, Rm. 111
9501 South King Drive
Chicago State University
Chicago, IL 60628-1598
Phone: (733) 995-2424
E-Mail: NE-Tindall@csu.edu