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WMU launches new online academic catalogJuly 13, 2006 KALAMAZOO--Western Michigan University launched a new Web-based undergraduate catalog today that is completely searchable by program, major, course and other criteria, any time from anywhere with Internet access. "A similar Web-based version of our graduate catalog will be available in a few months," says Registrar Barbara T. McKinney, "and we will no longer publish paper versions of the catalogs." The Web-based catalogs, which will be updated once a year, will completely replace the paper catalogs that had been published every two years. "The e-catalogs have numerous advantages over the paper versions," says David H. Smith, director of graphics and design in the Office of University Relations. Smith has directed the production of nearly every paper edition of the WMU catalogs for more than 25 years. Among the advantages Smith cites are ease of use. "Students and others will be able to find what they want much more quickly than by repeatedly referring to an index in the back of a paper publication. With the Web version, you can initiate a new search from any page." The Web catalogs include a feature that allows any user to save information on a particular major, course or other listing to a personal portfolio for future use, and all information is formatted for easy printing. "As we add new editions in future years," says McKinney, "previous editions will be archived and available on the Web indefinitely. Students will always be able to find the catalog that applies to them, which in nearly all cases is the one that was in effect when they first enrolled." For the next few months, the WMU Graduate Catalog continues to be available on the Web as a PDF file. Both catalogs are available at www.wmich.edu/catalog. Media contact: Thom Myers, (269) 387-8400, thom.myers@wmich.edu WMU News |
