CCLE’s preview feature allows students to view syllabi prior to enrolling

UCLA students can now access certain course syllabi online before enrolling in spring quarter classes, as part of a recent update to the Common Collaboration and Learning Environment website.

In November, the CCLE staff launched the syllabus preview feature, which allows students to browse available course syllabi online in a centralized location. This quarter is the first time CCLE formally notified professors about the service, said Curtis Fornadley, CCLE coordinator.

The change accompanied a number of updates, instated in June 2012, by CCLE personnel to UCLA’s version of Moodle, an open-source software and course management system, Fornadley said.

The new feature, which did not require additional funding, aims to streamline the class selection process. He added that the changes address concerns from students and faculty about waitlists, dropping classes and other problems stemming from a lack of information about courses.

Only UCLA students who have access to CCLE can utilize the feature, and professors do not have to allow unenrolled students to view their syllabi, he added.

Before enrollment for winter classes, the professors of about 36 percent of the offered courses used the new feature to post syllabi available for unenrolled students, Fornadley said.

Professors have always had the option to provide enrolled students with access to course syllabi through CCLE, Fornadley said.

But the push for the syllabus preview service began three years ago.

Raquel Saxe, former Undergraduate Students Association Council academic affairs commissioner who initiated the project, said she thinks the new feature benefits students and faculty because it allows students to view course information before enrollment so they do not sign up for extra classes and drop them later.

Saxe and former USAC candidate Jason Youdeem proposed the idea to administrators in 2010, Saxe said. However, last year’s transition to the updated CCLE website delayed the implementation of the new feature, she said.

Although Youdeem graduated, Saxe continued working with her chief of staff to gain faculty support, and presented the idea to the College of Letters and Science Faculty Executive Committee in fall 2011.

“The reason why I knew there was a problem (with course enrollment) was because, as students, we’ve all found ways to work around the system,” Saxe said. “But why can’t we make the system work for us?”

Some faculty members initially expressed concerns about potential threats to intellectual property, Saxe said.

Political science Professor Marc Trachtenberg, however, said he is open to sharing course materials.

“Intellectual property is silly,” Trachtenberg said. “A syllabus should be part of the commons. Students have a right to see what they’re paying for.”

But Rene Ong, a professor of physics and astronomy, said he thinks if the syllabus preview is made mandatory for professors, it could be a burden. Still, Ong said he thinks the feature is a good idea.

Several students said viewing syllabi before enrollment would help them decide which courses to take.

Josh Thomas, a second-year political science student, said he thinks the feature is a helpful addition to the CCLE website.

He added that he thinks UCLA should make it mandatory for professors to post their syllabi for public viewing.

The CCLE staff plans to meet with the UCLA Registrar’s Office next week to discuss posting the syllabi on the registrar’s schedule of classes in addition to the CCLE website, Fornadley said.

Email at aschallert@media.ucla.edu.