Richard Arndt knew he had to schedule Meteorology 421, Meteorology 411, Meteorology 481, Geography 128 and Integrative Arts 115 this semester, but did not want to work it out on paper.

Last semester, Lionschedules.com added a new feature that made it so Arndt (junior-meteorology) would not have to.

The Web site's new feature enables students to pick the classes they want to take, then the computer generates every possible schedule using those classes, Dave Smith (senior-architectural engineering), creator of the site, said. After picking the best personal schedule, the student can go ahead and see it in calendar format.

Arndnt said that, with a small major like meteorology, it could be hard scheduling courses that sometimes only have one section.

But he just schedules his general education courses around the course he is required to take using the Web site.

Smith said he knows students now use the site more to help plan out their schedules to lengthen their weekends.

"A lot of students don't want courses on Friday, and people can plan it out that way," he said.

Shantay Sirko (freshman-division of undergraduate studies) said she would use the site to accommodate her sleeping schedule.

"When I was scheduling my classes from eLion I tried to schedule them later in the day. I'm not a morning person," Sirko said.

"But it took a while to figure it out to my liking. I think this Web site would really help me out to pick my classes."

Jashank Sampat (sophomore-premedicine) said he keeps a link to his schedule in his AOL Instant Messenger profile.

"I think it's awesome because it helps people know where I'm at, so they know why I don't pick up [my phone] while I'm at class," he said.

Sam Dengler (sophomore-microbiology) said the Web site, which is not affiliated with Penn State, helps him keep track of his own semester schedule.

"It makes it really easy to organize your schedule to know where you need to be and when," he said.

Although most students were in favor of the Web site, some said they don't find it necessary.

"You get your schedule from eLion anyway. I'm for simplification; I don't need a schedule when I already have one," Tyler Speck (sophomore-chemical engineering) said.

Smith created the site in 2004. It now averages 2,500 hits per day, and 12,000 schedules were made this semester, he said.

"Ninety-nine percent of the feedback is positive. The other one percent have little technical troubles or random people say random things," Smith said.

Smith uses a computer program that gathers all the public information on Penn State's registrar's site and then relays it to his site. He assures that no private information is used.

If a certain class is full, students can have the site e-mail or text them alerting them that a spot is available.

"My ex-boyfriend used the alert feature for when there was a class he couldn't get into. He would know when it opened up," Maryann Bell (sophomore-advertising) said.

The Web site also has the dining common menus and weather readily available.

Penn State's registrar's office was unaware of the Web site, Karen Duncan, senior associate registrar, said, but she thought one run by Penn State could be helpful for students.

"If a lot of students find it a useful tool, then Penn State may consider making one," she said.

Duncan added she's not sure whether or not they would consider buying the site from Smith.

Smith has been asked to make similar sites for other schools but said he does not have the time.