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School of Music Streamlines Application Process, Moves to Web

• By Dian Schaffhauser
• 05/16/11

A state university's music program has moved its application process online. The Oklahoma University School of Music developed a program using Real Software's Real Studio Web Edition to streamline a previously paper-based enrollment workflow. In the three months it has been online, the application has been used by 200 students to submit materials, complete essays and resumes, arrange audition dates, and submit recommendations.

Before automating the process, the school would create a file for each applicant to maintain the many documents that made up the application; those documents would be duplicated and distributed to faculty for admission consideration.

To take the application work online, Percussion Coordinator and Web Technician Glen Buecker tapped a beta version of the company's new Web Edition. Buecker had used Real Software's tools before for personal projects. In about two weeks, he had prototyped a Web application that could be demonstrated to faculty for input and feedback.

Compared to the tools Buecker is accustomed to using--HTML, HTML5, CSS, PHP, and JavaScript--"Working with Real Studio is more cost effective, functions faster, looks appropriate to the OS, and is much more flexible to use," he noted.

With the new application the school has streamlined the work related to distributing application materials and has added a level of document checking for both applicants and staff that didn't exist before. "Since going paperless, the School of Music has had no student arrive for auditions unannounced, and because application status can be checked online, students know if they are missing information before they come to campus," Buecker added.

Because the application can deliver status updates and reminder e-mails, the school said in a statement, the new system assists students in not missing deadlines and instructors are more prepared for auditions. Faculty can also now use their computers or smart phones to work remotely and view the latest information about a prospective student.

Real Studio, formerly called Realbasic, is a cross-platform software development tool. The Web Edition, which is now live, allows the programmer to create both new online programs and compiled Web versions of desktop applications. A Personal Edition, intended for students and hobbyists, is priced at $99. An enterprise edition is $995. The Web Edition is $599.