Using Spreadsheets to Facilitate Committee Discussions and to Assist Committee Decisions in an Academic Setting: A Case Study

Abstract

This paper is a case study on using spreadsheet tools to reduce the reliance on various manual tasks for committee work in an academic setting. Four types of tasks are covered. One of them is to establish collective preference rankings of candidates; it pertains to various committees. The remaining types are for graduate admissions. The coverage includes conversions of alternative test scores as achieved by individual applicants, a special case of university quality assessments, and record keeping in a rolling admission process. It is hoped that this paper can serve as a catalyst to generate interests among readers in exploring innovative ways to use spreadsheet tools in their own work settings. This paper is a case study on using spreadsheet tools to reduce the reliance on various manual tasks for committee work in an academic setting. Four types of tasks are covered. One of them is to establish collective preference rankings of candidates; it pertains to various committees. The remaining types are for graduate admissions. The coverage includes conversions of alternative test scores as achieved by individual applicants, a special case of university quality assessments, and record keeping in a rolling admission process. It is hoped that this paper can serve as a catalyst to generate interests among readers in exploring innovative ways to use spreadsheet tools in their own work settings.