Tufts students have another tool to help them choose coursesduring class registration week aside from friends' recommendationsand the ability to schedule a three-day weekend.
A new on-campus computer database offers students course detailsand allows them to rate ones they have already taken.
The Web site was created in April 2004 by graduating senior JayMeattle.
"I wanted to create a web-based application for the Tuftsstudent community, which would collect and appropriately displaycourse and professor review data," Meattle said.
Meattle said that he left control of the Web site to the TCUSenate when he graduated in May.
TCU Treasurer Jeff Katzin said that the Senate owns the webspace, and that there was discussion about expanding the Web siteto include dorms, restaurants and in general be a "resource forTufts students."
Katzin said that he envisions an expanded Web site in thefuture.
Meattle also said he would like to see the site expand. "I wouldlove to see the Web site grow," Meattle said. "Dorm reviews wouldbe an awesome extension, and so would restaurant/take-out/campuseating place reviews."
However, it is unclear at this time who in the TCU Senate is incharge of the project. Education Committee Chair Evan Lichenstein,who was elected to the Senate this semester, was not aware yet ofthe site's long-term status.
Tuftsreviews.com is attempting to be the University's firstwide-ranging source for class and professor reviews. In the past,the Tufts Community Union Senate and The Primary Source havepublished course review information, but students have often foundthat they either did not cover enough classes or that they lackeddetail.
Meattle began conceptualizing a Web site that might fill theabsence of such a system.
"There was a need often voiced by the Tufts student community,myself included, and it needed to be tackled in a comprehensivemanner," Meattle said.
Meattle researched other universities' databases forinspiration, including those of Columbia University, the Universityof California at Irvine, and New York University.
"There was no sense in reinventing the wheel," Meattle said. "Ivisited these Web sites and their discussion boards to study whatstudents want and the features they were asking for."
"Each submission may include student's impressions of the class,topics covered, analysis of professors' teaching style, difficultyof the course load, and any particularly noteworthy elements thatstudents should be aware of in registering for such class," Meattlesaid.
Tuftsreviews.com publishes students' evaluations anonymously tomaintain participation and encourage honest reviews.
Initial student response to the new Web site has beenpositive.
"It was definitely helpful because it showed not only what theprofessor's teaching style was like, but also the workload. It madeit easier for me to pick out a more manageable course load,"freshman Floor De Ruyter said.
"Hopefully this application will help underclassmen to spendtheir time at Tufts more productively in the future," Meattlesaid.
Students have already made use of Tuftsreviews.com - the Website had over 6,000 visitors in September.
"The site gets about 100 visitors a day during the 'low' season,and it jumps to 500 to 1,000 per day when it's either shopping orclass-picking time," Meattle said.
The Web site had already received over 100 student submissionsin its first week of operation, he said.
Though no other student publication has published course reviewsyet this semester, Meattle said that Tuftsreviews.com is in no waya comprehensive guide.
"It should not be the only resource a student should use inselecting classes. In fact, we encourage students to seek theadvice of counselors, professors, friends, past students and otherresources when selecting classes," Meattle said.
De Ruyter agrees. "I don't think students should use it as anabsolute measure of a class, but the guidance is useful," De Ruytersaid.
Though other course review Web sites exist, such asRatemyprofessor.com, students say most do not publish as thoroughreviews as Tuftsreviews.com.
"I never knew about Tuftsreviews.com before, I just usedRatemyprofessors.com. The reviews are much better onTuftsreviews.com," sophomore Kristen Earle said.
-- Jonathan Graham contributed to this article.
