SAPHIR: A decision support system for course scheduling

Producing a schedule for an academic institution is highly combinatorial problem and a very demanding task. In order to obtain an acceptable solution, human factors also have to be taken into account. The authors developed a decision support system incorporating efficient optimization procedures and interactive tools to help the user adjust the schedule to his or her specifications. The present system, which is implemented on a micro-computer, is now used each term in two major Canadian universities in Montreal and Sherbrooke.