David Pritikin (NACS) and Linh Nguyen (DDM) with Larry L. Sautter Silver Award

Returning exams can be a burdensome task for instructors involving the distribution, collection and storage of graded work. Currently, exams may be returned through a distribution center or exam room where the students are required to present their IDs while a staff member retrieves exams from a wall of filing cabinets. Or, exams may be returned during discussion or lecture, taking valuable time away from instruction. Instructors may also return exams during office hours, which may not be accessible to all students.

To streamline the exam return process, Distribution and Document Management (DDM) and Network & Academic Computing Services (NACS) have partnered to release a new tool called Rapid Return.

Using barcode-assisted imaging technology and high-resolution scanners, DDM staff will scan and save graded exams as PDF files. Instructors then download their files and use Rapid Return to batch upload all the exams into the EEE DropBox. This enables students to download their individual exams securely and on their own time from any computer with internet access. Since students receive an exact copy of their exams, the integrity of the original document is maintained if the assigned grade is later challenged.

Rapid Return will drastically reduce the costs associated with storing and distributing paper copies of exams. The Department of Chemistry estimates that the elimination of their exam return room would save roughly $20,000 annually. Rapid Return will also free up limited office space currently used for storage and, most importantly, save precious time for more instruction and less administration.

Rapid Return recently received a 2007 Larry L. Sautter Silver Award from the University of California Information Technology Leadership Council.  The awards recognize innovations that have the potential to improve UC academic or administrative processes.

To learn how to use Rapid Return, visit http://eee.uci.edu/rapidreturn .