Degree Plans Interface is the new web-based system developed to better support IDA 2.0. Degree plan information from NRDPGM was migrated to the new system for the 2008-2010 undergraduate catalog and later, and 2007-2009 graduate catalog and later.
This new system provides a straightforward mapping between degree plans, minors, certificates and degree requirements stored on the sequence file, as well as the ability to track which fields of study have minors associated with them. It also allows IDA 2.0 to dynamically build pull-down lists when entering a degree audit request.
The new web-based version allows users to search degree plans by catalog year, degree plan, catalog year and school, or catalog year and field of study, and includes switches indicating whether a degree plan is available in Prod Setup, Prod Live, or both. Registrar staff can add or update degree programs, minors and certificates, and each degree plan or minor/certificate has a separate record for each catalog in which it is valid. College staff can request to have view access to the degree plan interface.
Search Degree Plans
College staff can search degree plans by using one of the four options below:
- Search by catalog, major, minor or certificate. The sequence number is for minors and certificates only.
- Search by catalog, major, minor or certificate, and school.
- Search by catalog, major, minor or certificate, and field of study (FOS).
- Search by degree plan code.
The catalog must be specified in the first three options.
The "Clear Degree Plan" button only clears out the degree plan code, so you can enter other degree plan codes without having to re-enter catalog and major, minor or certificate information.
New Degree Plans
New program codes are built as directed by dean’s office staff for new programs which have completed the approval process, and these program codes are used in NRRECS for coding students for graduation. Registrar staff do NOT build program codes on the production database for programs that have not completed the approval process. Once the Office of the Registrar is notified of approvals through memoranda and interaction with Official Publications, Registrar staff can build the program codes in the degree plan interface.
Below is the information degree audit staff needs from the colleges to build the program codes in the Degree Plan Interface:
- Degree plan code: A code used to identify a program within a catalog. For example: 3SALDBSYOYW
The degree plan code is constructed with the following elements:
- The school is the first entry (3).
- Then degree type (S) for Science degree, A for Arts degree and so on.
- The FOS (ALD) must be valid for the current semester and stored on the academic unit relations file.
- Degree (BS)
- Track (YO) and Specialization (YW). This will vary depending on whether the college has a track or specialization.
- Catalog: The appropriate catalog for the degree plan is selected.
- Credential Type: Based on the information the colleges provide, major, minor or certificate is selected.
- Administrative Department: The administrative department from the drop-down menu is entered. This information comes from the academic unit relations file and OP’s questionnaires.
- Title (Long): The long title of the degree plan. The long title holds 250 characters.
- Title (Short): The short title holds 60 characters.
- Degree Code: Three-digit code which represents the degree being earned. The degree code is removed when the degree is no longer valid or an error message is generated.
- Number of Minors Required: The number of minors required for a major.
- Valid Degree: Shows whether the degree plan represents a valid degree ( This does not apply to minors or certificates). Below is a table with more information on the valid degree switch and how it impacts IDA functions:
Impact on audit requests
Valid Degree Switch
Multiple EID form
Drop-down menus (students)
Impact on profiles
Caveats
No degree offered for this plan
May be submitted
Not available in drop-down menus
May be assigned to X profiles
DPI requires degree plan code, catalog, credential type
No CB major code, but audits are run
May be submitted
Available in drop-down menus
May be assigned to X, T profiles
DPI requires degree plan code, catalog, credential type
Valid degree offered for this plan
May be submitted
Available in drop-down menus
May be assigned to X, T, O profiles
DPI requires degree plan code, catalog, credential type, degree code, CB major code
- Profile Default Plan: This switch should be marked if the college prefers that a default profile be created for students who do not have an official or tentative profile. If multiple programs have the same major code, only one may be chosen.
- Advising Codes: This is also called the credential code or school-major code, and consists of five digits.
- Hours for Degree: Total number of hours required for the degree.
- Years for Degree (Primary): Most degree plans will only use the primary field and will reflect that the degree plan is a four year degree plan.
- Years for Degree (Secondary): The secondary field is used for combined programs where a degree plan includes a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree. For example, the Business PPA program.
Note: There is an audit in place to ensure that duplicate degree plans are not stored through the web interface.
Minors or Certificates
Minors or certificate program codes are added to the degree plan interface after degree audit staff receives notification of the approval forms from Official Publications. Adding program codes for minors or certificates to the DPI will automatically pull the title, CIP code, hours needed, ect. from the minors system.
Minors System Authorization
Student applications for restricted minors need to be approved by authorized college staff. Staff requiring authorization are listed on the minor/certificate forms from Official Publications and the authorizations are done in Apollo in the NR-Forms Route System by Degree Audit staff. The authorization allows users to approve minors/certificates in the Minor/Certificate Application system, and to make updates to fields in the minors system at either the college or FOS level. Once the authorizations are complete, college staff are notified that they have been authorized.
Sequence Records
When a new degree plan is added to the Degree Plan Interface, the Prod Ready (Setup) switch is checked “Yes”. This will generate a sequence record in IDA when the weekly job runs on Saturday. Colleges can review and begin coding the newly created degree plan on the requirements page in IDA 2 Prod Setup that following Monday.
Inactive Degree Plans
Degree plans that will no longer be offered in a new catalog can be deleted. Prior to deletion, college coders must first go to the requirements page in IDA 2.0 for a particular degree program and delete all of the requirements and restrictions that exist at the level of the degree plan to be deleted. (Minor triggers do not need to be removed.) Once that has been done, the degree audit team can delete the degree plan from the interface and all sequence records will be removed from view in IDA 2.0.