New and improved calendar solution to be implemented at OHIO

For the past ten years, Ohio University has provided the OHIO Calendar of University Events, known to many as the CUE, using the service provider Dude Solutions (formerly ActiveData). 

With the contract expiring for Dude Solutions and identification of expanded needs for our calendar, we worked with OIT to identify a new solution that will greatly enhance our event promotion capabilities and improve the overall user experience for both calendar editors and campus community members. 

Following the search for a calendar system replacement, we have recently signed a contract with calendar provider Localist. They have proven higher education success and are the current calendar provider for Bowling Green State University, among many others.

Some of the things to get excited about with this new calendar system include: 

• Ability for users to incorporate photography and graphics to enhance their events
• Better mechanisms for event promotion and marketing
• Simpler event management process
• Cleaner and more focused interface for students and campus community members to find events of interest to them
• Easier sharing and event aggregation capabilities 

To help in the transition to the new system, University Communications and Marketing will impose an event publishing freeze for the current event calendar. Between April 1 and July 1, users will not be able to add new events to the University calendar. It is suggested to plan ahead and publish any events occurring within that time period before April 1. 

All events currently listed in our current calendaring system by April 1 will transfer over to the new system. If you would like to add a new event to the calendar for later this year, you may still do so before the transition period starts on April 1.  

University Communications and Marketing will provide periodic updates during this transition. Group training sessions will be scheduled before the new system changeover date, and these sessions will be recorded for reviewing and to benefit those who may not be in attendance. After July 1, the new calendar of events will go live at the same URL as the old calendar, and new events can once again be added to the calendar. 

For any questions about the current OHIO Calendar of University Events or the upcoming changes, please contact UCM Front End Developer Brandon Logan at loganb1@ohio.edu.