Print academic catalog to be online-only for 2009
Using just Acalog.com will save Eastern $45,000
Jessica Leggin / Campus Editor
Issue date: 3/31/09 Section: News
Plans have been made by Eastern to eliminate print catalogs and transition to an all-electronic catalog because of financial challenges.
Blair Lord, provost and vice president for academic affairs, said becoming all-electronic can save the university thousands of dollars.
"That actual sum is closer to $45,000 that would be saved by eliminating the printed version," he said.
Lord said a plan to get rid of the print catalogs was decided several years ago.
"When we initiated the online version of the catalog, it was announced and discussed that we would be eliminating printed versions in a few years," he said. "Because of the financial challenges of the times, we have moved forward the date of this conversion."
Lord said the print catalogs would be eliminated with the coming academic year.
"We have been transitioning catalog users to the electronic version for several years," he said.
Mary Herrington-Perry, assistant vice president for academic affairs, said during the last few years the university reduced the cost of print catalogs.
"Back then, the catalog was printed on more expensive paper and included a number of photos," she said. "Over the last few years, we have reduced the cost of the document by decreasing its size, eliminating the photos and printing it on lower cost paper. Last year, we printed 6,000 copies for about $8,000."
Herrington-Perry said last year the catalogs were distributed only to faculty, academic advisers and off-campus personnel involved in recruiting new Eastern students.
"New freshmen and transfer students have not received a catalog for two years now," she said. "Instead, they are given our new Undergraduate Academic Handbook, which contains all of our rules and regulations in a brief Q&A format."
Herrington-Perry said with the extra money saved from print catalog, the university will use it for recruitment possibilities.
"As we have reduced the cost of the catalog, we have redirected the savings to publications that help us recruit new students," she said.
Herrington-Perry said the online version would be easier for students to navigate when they look up information for specific classes.
"The catalog has been online for nine years now," she said. "In general, online documents allow for keyword searches, making the information in them easier to find."
Since 2004, the online company Acalog.com has hosted the university's catalog.
Herrington-Perry said that Acalog offers a much more sophisticated search function.
"It also enables users to create their own portfolio of the information that is more important to them such as graduation requirements, major requirements, course description, etcetera," she said.
Lord said most students and faculty are already using the electronic catalog when they need to access catalog information.
"What is gained is the funding currently used to provide the print catalog for other needed publications," he said.
Herrington-Perry said students and faculty would gain from using an all-electronic catalog.
"The EIU catalog is always available to them at any time and in any place they have access to a computer or a cell phone with an Internet connection," she said. "Since the catalog is hosted off-campus, it is never affected by disruptions in Eastern's Internet service and it is easy for faculty and students to find information."
Jessica Leggin can be reached at 581-7942 or at jmleggin@eiu.edu.
Blair Lord, provost and vice president for academic affairs, said becoming all-electronic can save the university thousands of dollars.
"That actual sum is closer to $45,000 that would be saved by eliminating the printed version," he said.
Lord said a plan to get rid of the print catalogs was decided several years ago.
"When we initiated the online version of the catalog, it was announced and discussed that we would be eliminating printed versions in a few years," he said. "Because of the financial challenges of the times, we have moved forward the date of this conversion."
Lord said the print catalogs would be eliminated with the coming academic year.
"We have been transitioning catalog users to the electronic version for several years," he said.
Mary Herrington-Perry, assistant vice president for academic affairs, said during the last few years the university reduced the cost of print catalogs.
"Back then, the catalog was printed on more expensive paper and included a number of photos," she said. "Over the last few years, we have reduced the cost of the document by decreasing its size, eliminating the photos and printing it on lower cost paper. Last year, we printed 6,000 copies for about $8,000."
Herrington-Perry said last year the catalogs were distributed only to faculty, academic advisers and off-campus personnel involved in recruiting new Eastern students.
"New freshmen and transfer students have not received a catalog for two years now," she said. "Instead, they are given our new Undergraduate Academic Handbook, which contains all of our rules and regulations in a brief Q&A format."
Herrington-Perry said with the extra money saved from print catalog, the university will use it for recruitment possibilities.
"As we have reduced the cost of the catalog, we have redirected the savings to publications that help us recruit new students," she said.
Herrington-Perry said the online version would be easier for students to navigate when they look up information for specific classes.
"The catalog has been online for nine years now," she said. "In general, online documents allow for keyword searches, making the information in them easier to find."
Since 2004, the online company Acalog.com has hosted the university's catalog.
Herrington-Perry said that Acalog offers a much more sophisticated search function.
"It also enables users to create their own portfolio of the information that is more important to them such as graduation requirements, major requirements, course description, etcetera," she said.
Lord said most students and faculty are already using the electronic catalog when they need to access catalog information.
"What is gained is the funding currently used to provide the print catalog for other needed publications," he said.
Herrington-Perry said students and faculty would gain from using an all-electronic catalog.
"The EIU catalog is always available to them at any time and in any place they have access to a computer or a cell phone with an Internet connection," she said. "Since the catalog is hosted off-campus, it is never affected by disruptions in Eastern's Internet service and it is easy for faculty and students to find information."
Jessica Leggin can be reached at 581-7942 or at jmleggin@eiu.edu.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Brain Fart
posted 3/31/09 @ 7:11 AM CST
EIU is eliminating print catalogs to print brochures for recruitment. I guess that means that the courses we offer are not as important as our leisure facilities. (Continued…)
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