Hire a publishing company to produce your catalog. Gather quotes from several companies and compare their pricing and the finished product each one offers. Compare any assistance they provide with formatting and preparation of your catalog.
Obtain guidelines from the publisher you choose so you are aware of any formatting requirements when setting up the pages of your catalog. They will require that you submit your information as a hard copy or a computer file. Ensure that you have the capability to meet their requirements. Many publishers will have templates for your use and are willing to assist you with your design and layout.
Determine the sections of the catalog and what information each will contain. Some possible categories include course offerings and descriptions, faculty biographies, degree requirements, degrees offered, college policies, financial aid, transfer options and a department telephone directory. Decide upon the layout, fonts, graphics and artwork for all sections. Assign each section to the proper staff members.
Determine responsibility for photographs for inclusion in the catalog. Decide whether to use a professional photographer, a staff member amateur photographer, other candid shots or a combination of all three. Determine whether you require digital or film photographs.
Develop deadlines for each section of the catalog and convey them to the parties responsible. Any updates and information must be submitted by these deadlines. Allow plenty of time for extensive proofreading and corrections.
Submit the original completed info for the catalog to the proper authorities to obtain approval before it goes to the printer. Make any last-minute changes.
Make a copy of the entire catalog for your records and forward it to the publisher for printing. Follow up with the publisher to ensure that they are on track for the final deadline.