Jax State Selected for National Initiative to Improve Student-Centered Course Scheduling
11/10/2025
Jacksonville State University has been named one of only 20 regional public universities nationwide chosen to participate in the American Association of State Colleges and Universities’ (AASCU) new Student-Centered Course Scheduling initiative—an effort aimed at removing one of higher education’s most persistent barriers to student success: the course schedule.
The national project focuses on strengthening course scheduling systems so students can take the classes they need, when they need them, and stay on track for timely graduation. Through the initiative, Jax State will receive detailed scheduling analytics, data coaching, and guided change-management support from AASCU and its partner Ad Astra, a leading provider of academic scheduling solutions.
Participating institutions will work to identify and eliminate course bottlenecks, reduce scheduling conflicts, and align course offerings with real-time student demand.
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Christie Shelton said the initiative places students at the center of an essential but often overlooked aspect of their academic journey. “This work is about removing everyday obstacles that stand between our students and their degrees,” she said. “Being selected for this national cohort allows us to evaluate our scheduling practices through a student-success lens and ensure every Gamecock has access to the courses they need to graduate on time.”
As part of the project, Jax State will soon launch a targeted stakeholder survey to gather feedback on current scheduling practices and opportunities for improvement. Faculty, staff, and academic leaders selected to participate will receive the survey in the coming days. Insights from the survey will help shape course scheduling reforms and guide the university’s broader student-success strategy.
AASCU announced the inaugural cohort earlier this fall, highlighting the initiative as a critical component of a national effort to strengthen degree completion and reduce structural barriers in higher education.
About Jacksonville State University: Founded in 1883 as a state teachers' college, Jacksonville State University has grown from humble beginnings into the Alabama regional university with the highest percentage of accredited programs. Located in the Appalachian foothills midway between Birmingham and Atlanta, Jax State offers more than 150 courses of study, including over 40 online programs, at the undergraduate and graduate levels. To learn more, visit www.jsu.edu, call 1-800-231-JAX1, or e-mail jaxfacts@jsu.edu.
About AASCU: The American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) is a Washington, D.C.-based higher education association that represents the sector of over 500 regional public colleges, universities, and systems whose members share a learning- and teaching-centered culture, a historic commitment to serving today’s students, and a dedication to research and creativity that advances their regions’ economic progress and cultural development. These are institutions delivering America’s promise.
About Ascendium Education Group: Ascendium Education Group is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to helping people reach the education and career goals that matter to them. Ascendium invests in initiatives designed to increase the number of students from low-income backgrounds who complete postsecondary degrees, certificates and workforce training programs, with an emphasis on first-generation students, incarcerated adults, rural community members, students of color and veterans. Ascendium’s work identifies, validates and expands best practices to promote large-scale change at the institutional, system and state levels, with the intention of elevating opportunity for all. For more information, visit https://www.ascendiumphilanthropy.org
About Ad Astra: Ad Astra, the industry leader in higher education scheduling software solutions, partners with more than 500 colleges, universities, and systems worldwide. Based in Overland Park, Kansas, Ad Astra offers data-informed software and professional services that help institutions effectively allocate space and faculty resources, forecast student demand, and accelerate student completions. The Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) company currently holds a United States patent for its innovative method of determining student demand for academic courses. Academic institutions that partner with Ad Astra experience improved stewardship of instructional resources, streamlined student access to courses, and accelerated student completions. Ad Astra was the 2018 recipient of the Complete College of America Seal of Approval for Structure. Learn more at aais.com and follow us @AdAstraIS or on LinkedIn.