Understanding Programs, Courses, Participants, and Cohorts

Programs, Courses, Participants, and Cohorts are some of the main building blocks used in PIMS. Understanding how they relate to one another makes it easier to set up and manage Course delivery.

What is a Program?

A Program defines the curriculum and configuration that can be delivered through one or more Courses. It can include Activities such as assessments, online courses, and impact surveys.

Program Administrators create and manage Programs, while Program Leaders can view the Programs available to them when setting up Courses.

Getting Started with PIMS

A Course is a specific delivery of a Program to a group of Participants. It brings together the Program, Participants, and Coach so Participants can complete assigned Activities and their progress can be tracked.

What is a Participant?

A Participant is a person enrolled in a Course to complete assigned Activities, such as assessments, online courses, and surveys. PIMS tracks each Participant’s progress and completion of those Activities.

What is a Cohort?

A Cohort is a named group of Participants that helps you organize, filter, and select people within PIMS. A Participant can belong to more than one Cohort.

Does adding someone to a Cohort enroll them in a Course?

No. Cohort membership and Course enrollment are separate.

You can use a Cohort to help find and select Participants when creating or managing a Course, but adding someone to a Cohort does not automatically enroll them in a Course.