COLS Features and Tips
Quick Links
- Academic Information
- Application Information
- PINs
- Test PINs
- Reports
- Search OST Files
- Send OST Files
- Test OST Files
- How to Register Users in COLS (for COLS Administrators only)
Academic Information
In Academic Information, you can:
- Update all academic information for your students.
- Add, delete or update multiple courses at one time, resulting in easier maintenance.
- Review any errors or warnings related to a student’s information. These errors and warnings may be the result of making manual changes or processing an Ontario Student Transcript (OST) file during a given collection period.
- Search for errors and update course or diploma information.
Note: COLS is available throughout the summer for academic updates, including the OSSD indicator.
Video: How to View and Change Academic Info
Watch this video to learn how to check the status of and view student files in the Academic Information function.
How to View and Change Academic Info video transcript
Application Information
You can view all application information for students at your school who have applied to university.
PINs
Using the Create a PIN function, you can set up a preliminary data record for students who did not appear in the October/November data file so that PINs can be assigned to them.
You can also use this function for students applying to winter admission programs.
Contact us for more information.
Video: How to Create and View PINs
Watch this video to learn how to create and view student PINs and generate application access codes.
How to Create and View PINs video transcript
Test PINs
To view the 101 application, you can set up a preliminary data record for yourself using the Test PINs option.
Note: You cannot submit a test application.
Reports
The Reports section features 4 reports:
- Applicant Status Report
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- Enter your selection criteria to create a report.
- Search by the same program groupings used in the Undergraduate Application.
- Available in Excel and HTML.
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- Insufficient Credit Report
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- View the status of your students’ 4U/M courses.
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- Courses Not Updated Report
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- The report lists students with courses without a final grade that were reported before the selected Start Date but were not subsequently updated through a grades file or manually through COLS, as of the current date.
- Available in Excel and HTML.
- Make any required updates in Academic Information.
- Tip: Run this report in February or March to check for dropped courses that still show on students’ OUAC account.
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Video: How to Generate Reports Using COLS
Watch this video to learn how to generate 3 different reports to manage student information.
How to Generate Reports Using COLS video transcript
Search OST Files
This function allows you to:
- search the processing status of all grades files you send to the OUAC, including test files.
- view the raw data sent in your file.
- view a file summary that includes the number of records, and the number and type of errors and/or warnings.
- determine exactly where these errors and/or warnings occurred within your file by providing you with line and position numbers.
Video: How to Search OST Files
Watch this video to learn how to search the OST files you send to the OUAC.
How to Search OST Files video transcript
Send OST Files
Send OST Files allows you to transfer demographic and grades data to the OUAC for potential university applicants. You can send a .zip file or select multiple files at once.
How to Send an OST File to the OUAC
- Click “Browse” to select a file from your computer.
- Click “Upload File(s)”.
- Wait for your file to appear in Pending Files with a “Received” status.
- Click “Process All Received Files Now” at the bottom of the screen.
Video: How to Send OST Files
Watch this video to learn how to send your OST files to the OUAC.
How to Send OST Files video transcript
Test OST Files
This function allows you to test your grades file for any collection period before sending it to the OUAC. It helps you reduce errors before submission.
Note: All test files are purged nightly.
How to Register Users in COLS
Watch this video to learn how to reactivate an existing user, register a new user, deactivate a user and modify user information in COLS.