How to Set Up a Course Section in openSIS

Author: Veronica Gross

Setting up a course section in openSIS is a crucial step in organizing your school's academic structure. Course sections allow you to define how a course is delivered, including details such as class schedules, assigned teachers, and the specific group of students enrolled. This guide will walk you through the process of setting up a course section in openSIS.

Step 1: Log in to openSIS

  1. Access Your Admin Account: Start by logging into your openSIS admin account. Ensure you have the necessary permissions to create and manage course sections.
  2. Navigate to the School Setup Menu: From the dashboard, go to the ‘School Setup’ menu where you can manage various academic settings, including courses and sections.

Step 2: Set Up Courses

  1. Go to the Courses Section: Before setting up a course section, you need to have the course itself created in openSIS. If the course is not already in the system, navigate to the ‘Courses’ option under the ‘School Setup’ menu.
  2. Add a New Course: Click on ‘Add New Course’ and fill in the necessary details, such as the course name, code, credits, and description.
  3. Save the Course: After entering all the details, click ‘Save’ to add the course to your school’s curriculum. Repeat this process for any additional courses you need to set up.

Step 3: Create a New Course Section

  1. Select the Course: Once the course is created, go back to the ‘School Setup’ menu and click on ‘Course Sections.’ Here, you’ll see a list of all the courses available in the system.
  2. Add a New Course Section: Find the course for which you want to create a section and click on ‘Add New Section.’
  3. Enter Section Details: In the section creation form, you’ll need to input various details:
    • Section Number: A unique identifier for the section (e.g., Section 1, Section A).
    • Term: Select the academic term during which this section will be offered.
    • Schedule: Define the days and times the class will meet.
    • Room: Assign a classroom or location for the course section.
  4. Set Enrollment Limits: Define the maximum number of students that can enroll in this section. This helps in managing class sizes effectively.
  5. Save the Section: After filling in all the details, click ‘Save’ to create the section. The course section will now be available for student enrollment.

Step 4: Assign Students and Teachers to the Course Section

  1. Select the Students: Go to Scheduling: Select ‘Schedule Students’ menu. Search for Students and select the students.
  2. Select the Course Section: Search the course section you just created from the list.
  3. Schedule Students: You can now schedule students into the course section by selecting the students.
  4. Select the Teacher: Go to Scheduling: Select ‘Schedule Teachers’ menu. Search for Teachers and select the Teacher you want to add to the course section.
  5. Select the Course Section: Search the course section you just created from the list.
  6. Schedule Teachers: You can now schedule Teachers into the course section by selecting the Teacher and making sure they do not have a conflict.

Step 5: Review and Edit the Course Section

  1. Review Section Details: After creating the section and enrolling students, review the details to ensure everything is accurate.
  2. Edit if Necessary: If you need to make changes, such as adjusting the schedule or room assignment, you can go back to the ‘Course Sections’ menu and edit the section.

Step 6: Finalize and Activate

  1. Activate the Section: Once you’ve reviewed all the details and made any necessary edits, activate the course section. This makes it fully operational within openSIS, allowing teachers to begin teaching and managing the course.
  2. Communicate with Staff and Students: Ensure that all relevant teachers and students are informed about the new course section and understand how to access it within openSIS.

Conclusion

Setting up a course section in openSIS is a straightforward but essential task that ensures your school’s academic structure runs smoothly. By carefully entering all the necessary details and reviewing your setup, you can create a well-organized course section that meets your institution’s needs. Whether managing a single course or coordinating multiple sections across different terms, openSIS provides the tools to streamline the process and support effective teaching and learning.