The Next Generation of Degree Auditing Services
Degree Works is a powerful and comprehensive degree auditing program that SUNY Cortland is adopting to replace the CAPP Degree Audit. Degree Works is part of the Banner and Ellucian suite of software products. The new Degree Works system is designed to work in concert with our existing Banner tools and services, and will provide seamless communication between a student's Banner academic history and the degree audit.
Why are we Replacing CAPP?
Degree Works has been purchased for the entire SUNY system and is required to support the Seamless Transfer and Student Mobility initiatives. As a result, SUNY Cortland has been directed to move to the new system to support system-wide initiatives as outlined in the SUNY Degree Planning and Auditing project.
Many campuses are currently working toward implementing the new system as part of the system-wide phased rollout. SUNY Cortland team members are currently working collaboratively with our colleagues at SUNY Upstate, SUNY Canton and Alfred State to prepare the system. SUNY Geneseo and SUNY Oswego are currently nearing their own go-live dates.
Degree Works represents the next generation of degree auditing tools, and has a much more robust feature set. The system offers many advantages over CAPP, especially in its visual display and ability to convey and represent more information and requirements. Additional features include:
- Easy to read and comprehend visual cues
- Visual progress meters
- Clean and concise layout
- More comprehensive requirement advice
- Class summaries and coursework views
- Planning tools for faculty, staff and students
- Ability to store and transmit advising notes and advice
- GPA calculators for students
- Improved "What If" auditing and new "Look Ahead" planning tools
- Tighter integration with registration and course data
- Improved substitution, waiver and exception reporting and management
CAPP to Degree Works Transition Overview
Degree Works builds on our existing Banner Student Information System, and will seamlessly integrate our existing data in Banner into the new degree audits (called "worksheets" in Degree Works).
While CAPP and Degree Works are very different systems, the structure and programs developed within CAPP will serve as a template for the Degree Works implementation. During the Spring 2013 semester, the Registrar's Office will begin re-certifying CAPP programs with each academic department, and will discuss principles and processes for developing Degree Works.
Degree Works offers a great deal of additional requirement programming, and allows us to fine-tune requirements and experiences in new and more robust ways. We anticipate that Degree Works will be able to better accommodate complex program requirements and be able to draw in additional experiences much more easily (such as test scores, certifications, and workshops).
After the Implementation Team completes initial training (which is occurring from December 2012 to April 2013) additional timelines and details will be made available on this site. We have a proposed timeline to give the campus community a sense of the tasks and planning that may be involved.
A Preview of Degree Works
The Degree Works team will be providing a series of demonstrations in the future for the campus community. We will also keep the community apprised of future development via this site.
Below, you may view a preview of some Degree Works features, and its basic layout. The images provided are from a test system. The visual display and some of the details are currently for demonstration and testing purposes only, and we expect that we will customize the tool's look and functionality to match the needs of the campus community.
Class History
View a clean and simple history of classes taken by term.
Progress Meters
Degree Works has graphical meters so students, faculty and staff can easily visualize degree progress.
Visual Cues and Progress Icons
Requirement checklists are in an easy-to-read format with clear visual cues.
Advice and Course Listings
Much like CAPP, Degree Works offers clear advice and a listing of possible courses or categories that may fulfill requirements.
Integration With Banner Course Data and Registration
Degree Works worksheets feature direct links to important data and the current schedule of classes.
"Look Ahead" and "What If" Planning
Degree Works lets students, faculty and staff experiment with different course and program options easily.
Multiple courses may be selected for "look ahead" auditing.
Courses appear on the worksheet as "planned" and can be shown fulfilling requirements if taken.
"What If" auditing includes expanded options and support for multiple programs.
More to Come
We are very excited about the opportunities and features that Degree Works will offer. As we continue to develop and implement the system, we will be sure to share more information and screen views with the campus community.
