Degree Audit User Training | Trumping

What is trumping?

Trumping is the ability to overwrite a requirement that exists at a higher level in the degree plan hierarchy with a new requirement at a lower level in the degree plan hierarchy. This requirement does not have to be similar to the trumped requirement. It can be its own unique requirement that is independent of the trumped requirement.

How do I trump?

To trump a requirement you first need to know which requirement you would like to trump and the level that it exists at. You should then navigate to a lower level of the degree plan and click on the “trump” link and that will bring up the correct metadata screen for the requirement type you are trumping. You will fill out the metadata for the requirement as though it was a standalone requirement. Once the requirement is fully completed for that level it will supersede the base requirement that you trumped and any audits run against that degree plan will use this new requirement.

When should I trump?

You should trump when you have a requirement that is required for everyone except a few differences based on degree plan. It is also a good way to manage tracks, honors requirements, or any situation where you would like to write one requirement differently from the rest of the overall degree plan. A good example of this would be if you have a foreign language requirement for all students in the college, except one degree plan has a different foreign language. You can write the requirement at the highest level (L) and then trump that requirement with a new one at the level you would like for the requirement to exist at (LAHIS).

Things to keep in mind:

• When a requirement is trumped, you cannot sequence the trump. All sequence changes must be performed at the base level requirement and the sequence changes will move the trump.
• If you delete the base requirement, the trump is orphaned and will be disconnected from the degree plan.
• The trump does not have to match the base requirement in anyway; it can have its own scope, reuse, course lists, etc.
• The only limit to the number of trumps is the characters allowed in a degree plan. Trumping the same requirement at every level is allowed.
• There is no limit to the number of degree plans that can trump a requirement. You can trump a requirement from any number of levels underneath it.