The Degree Audit Reporting System (DARS), a computer program that helps students ensure they are fulfilling their academic requirements, underwent aesthetic changes this year to make its audits easier to read and understand.
DARS analyzes students' course histories and determines which requirements have been fulfilled and which still have to be completed. In addition, users are able to see how many additional classes they would need if they decide to switch their major.
Now, thanks to the changes, interactive graphs and charts depict this information more clearly. Students can view graphics representing the percentage of credits completed for each requirement, and where their GPA stands on a 4.0 scale.
By moving the cursor over different sections of graphs, users can see the exact number of credits they have completed or still need.
These figures are an addition to the multi-page, detailed report that DARS provides.
According to Degree Audit Administrator Carol Downing, DARS plays an important role in helping students track their requirements.
"There is nothing more frustrating than calling a first-semester senior to tell them that one of their requirements is unfulfilled," Downing said in an e-mail.
Patricia Sheehan, the director of technology at Student Services, said that students and faculty alike have been receptive to the system.
"All [comments] have been extremely positive," she said.
Sophomore English major Laura Curren thought the new graphics were a good addition to DARS.
"It is really helpful to have a visual to go along with the report," she said.
Atiyah Ahsan, a sophomore majoring in electrical engineering, found the updated DARS to be easy to use and helpful.
"All the instructions were there," she said. "It was helpful because it did everything for me."
Currently, 22 majors in the schools of Arts and Sciences and Engineering have been encoded in the system. But, as Dean of Undergraduate Education James Glaser said in an e-mail to students, "DARS is a work in progress," and more majors will be added.
The addition of figures and majors, however, are just part of the ongoing project to improve the capabilities and accessibility of DARS
Downing said the new visual elements came as part of an upgrade from Miami University of Ohio, the original creator of DARS.
The system first came to Tufts in 2005 after students and faculty advisors expressed interest in obtaining a degree audit program.
According to Glaser, the DARS project was time-consuming. The bulk of the work consisted of inputting data, for DARS must contain up-to-date, specific information on all courses offered and the requirements they fill.
"Hundreds or even thousands of hours have gone into it," Glaser told the Daily.
Sheehan said that the implementation of the program has gone according to plan.
The system was unveiled in several phases over the past two years. With its release to the Class of 2010 at the beginning of this month, DARS can now be accessed by sophomores, juniors and seniors. The class of 2011 is scheduled to gain access before the end of the academic year, Sheehan said.
Both Downing and Sheehan echoed Glaser's statement that copious work from Tufts employees went into the project.
"DARS represents the collective efforts of many areas of the university," Sheehan said.
