How does your institution (higher ed) share course information during add/drop, a.k.a. shopping period?

How do students and advisors at your institution get information about a course before registering, i.e., during the advising, registration, and add/drop portion of the semester? I'm particularly int...

Can students use Commons? If so, do they have the same search capabilities as a teacher?

What functionality does Commons serve for the student user?