Case Study – Dakota College at Bottineau

Navigating and maintaining an accurate and professional course catalog is essential for colleges, but it can often be a daunting task. Dakota College at Bottineau (DCB) faced this challenge head-on, seeking a solution that would simplify its processes while enhancing the overall user experience. By partnering with Clean Catalog, DCB successfully transitioned to a streamlined system that has revolutionized how they manage their catalog, saving time, improving accuracy, and elevating their institution’s brand.

The Challenges

Like many colleges, Dakota College at Bottineau faced significant challenges with managing and maintaining its course catalog. Their previous software for updating catalog content was both time-consuming and prone to errors, leading to inconsistencies in degree requirements and faculty information. Misty Lindgren, the Director of Academic Affairs at DCB, explained, “our team was spending countless hours manually formatting and updating our catalog. It felt like we were always playing catch-up.” On top of that, the PDF versions of the catalog lacked a modern design and didn’t align well with the college’s branding, making it difficult to present a polished image to students and stakeholders.

The Process

When DCB decided it was finally time to modernize its catalog management process, they chose to work with Clean Catalog for a comprehensive solution. The implementation process began with an in-depth discovery phase to identify DCB’s specific needs and pain points. Our staff worked closely with the college’s team to ensure every feature was customized to address their unique requirements. “The Clean Catalog team made it easy for us to transition,” Lindgren noted. “They took the time to understand our goals and walked us through each step of the process. It was a true partnership.”

Our Solutions

To address DCB’s challenges, we implemented several key solutions:

Global Text Blocks for Degree Types

In response to a pain point, Clean Catalog developed global text blocks specifically for Dakota College. The text blocks are used for common requirements across degree programs, such as the “First Year Experience” and “Digital Literacy Requirements” for liberal arts degrees. These text blocks serve as content prompts within degree templates, ensuring consistency and accuracy throughout the catalog. “With the global text blocks, we don’t have to worry about duplicating effort or missing important details,” Lindgren explained. “It’s a game-changer for maintaining accuracy.”

Personnel Module for Faculty Information

DCB also adopted Clean Catalog’s new Personnel module, allowing them to list faculty members along with their degrees, hire dates, and contact information. This feature makes it easy for students and other stakeholders to find up-to-date information about the college’s faculty. “Our faculty profiles are now more accessible and professional-looking than ever before,” said Lindgren.

Enhanced Branding with Footer Integration

To ensure brand continuity, Clean Catalog recreated the footer design directly from DCB’s homepage. This seamless integration reinforces the college’s branding across digital platforms. “The cohesive design has made a huge difference in how our catalog represents the college,” Lindgren shared.

Modern PDF Design and Automatic Generation

Dakota College also implemented Clean Catalog’s updated PDF design feature. The new PDFs, automatically generated from the online catalog, feature a sleek, modern layout that enhances readability and professionalism. Lindgren remarked, “The automatic PDF generation not only saves us time but also ensures we have a polished document ready for distribution.”

Looking Forward

With their new catalog system in place, Dakota College at Bottineau is well-positioned to continue providing students and faculty with accurate, easy-to-navigate information. The efficiency gained through Clean Catalog’s features has freed up staff to focus on other priorities while ensuring the catalog remains up-to-date and aligned with the college’s branding.

“Switching to Clean Catalog was one of the best decisions we’ve made,” Lindgren concluded. “The platform has streamlined our processes, improved our catalog’s look and feel, and made our team’s work much more manageable. We’re excited to see how this system will continue to benefit us in the years ahead.”

With Clean Catalog’s user-friendly solutions, Dakota College at Bottineau has successfully transformed their course catalog into a modern, reliable resource that reflects their commitment to excellence in education. If you’re interested in taking the next step to launch a modern course catalog with Clean Catalog, reach out to our team today!