What is Degree Works?

Degree Works is a web-based tool that helps students and advisors monitor a student's progress toward degree completion. Degree Works compares Western Michigan University's degree requirements with coursework completed and provides an easy-to-read worksheet that helps students see how courses they have taken count toward degree requirements. Degree Works also provides a clear method to identify what courses and requirements still need to be completed.

Why WMU is moving to Degree Works

• Degree Works is fully integrated with Banner and supports real-time delivery of information through intuitive web self-service interfaces.
• Degree Works provides information in a more user-friendly and readable format than our current CAPP (Progress to Degree) system.
• It provides advisors with the ability to easily make approved substitutions and exceptions electronically.
• Degree Works has several features that will help support and enhance academic advising. It is not intended to replace face-to-face advising, but will help create new efficiencies and foster more personal interactions between advisor and students.
• Giving students immediate access to their degree plan will help to improve retention and shorten time to degree.
• Degree Works will help us gather data to assist with course planning and enrollment management.
• Degree Works provides advisors with access to a wide range of information in one convenient location, eliminating the need to go to multiple Banner screens.

Available Features

• The student planner allows students and advisors to create a long-range academic plan containing a list of recommended courses for the student to take and the sequence and term in which they are to be taken. An audit can be run against the plan to see if it will lead the student successfully to graduation.
• A notes feature allows advisors to use predefined or personalized notes to help track conversations with students and document any action that has been agreed upon. Notes will be able to be viewed by all advisors, which will be helpful should the student decide to switch their program of study.
• Students can click on a course still needed in their audit and a window will open listing sections of that course that are being offered in an upcoming semester. The student will be able to see the CRN number, open seats, as well as the days and times the course is being offered.
• The What-if feature allows students to see how changing their major or minor will impact their progress to degree completion.
• The Look-Ahead feature allows students to enter a list of classes and see where they might apply on the degree audit. It is a great tool to use as part of the registration process. Students can see how a course will be used before they actually register for it.
• The GPA Calculator gives the student and advisor the ability to project potential GPA's.

Project Timeline