Listserv
• Email address for the Degree Audit Project listserv is: degreeaudit@provost.ucsd.edu Remember! There are over 60 names on the listserv and just a few members will serve on each subcommittee. Therefore, use discretion when sending email to the entire listserv!

Demonstrations of Outside Degree Audit Packages
• Nancy Groves sent letters to four vendors of degree audit packages, but to date, only two (DARS & Stars) have expressed interest in providing a demonstration of their product to UCSD. Hopefully, the demonstrations will be scheduled soon; Nancy is currently trying for April 8th, 9th or 10th. Members of the 'review' subcommittee will be notified when the demonstrations are actually scheduled.

Demonstration of UCSD's Degree Audit Program
• UCSD's Degree Audit Goal: A one page summary of a student's progress toward degree.

• Current UCSD Degree Audit System:
• The existing system is on a Novell file server which does not service Mac's or Unix and is written in a DOS-based Foxbase platform. It is primarily table-driven. The various users (at the moment, the five undergraduate colleges) can edit the tables to fit their individual needs. The download of information from ISIS occurs three times per quarter. Between downloads, therefore, the data is stale.
• This program uses a student's academic record, applies the college and department requirements, and prints a one page degree check. It is estimated that this program which matches requirements against courses taken will never be 100% correct, therefore, a student's record can be edited AFTER the requirements matching program is run and BEFORE the degree check is printed.
• The five undergraduate colleges currently have an adjunct system (called the Extract Program) which is used to track information, compile statistics, and generate reports, labels and merge files for data processing. This would be necessary in any future system as well.

• Future UCSD Degree Audit System
  
• It is important that UCSD has control of the new system. It should be possible to make changes to the system (programming changes) here on campus without having to wait for outside vendors.
• In the DARWIN environment, downloads will occur more frequently making the data much more current.
• Course approximations (for AP and AS credit) will be downloaded directly into the degree audit system, eliminating the need for manual input.
• The departments will have the capabilities of customizing their requirements so that only what they want will print on the degree checks.

• Future, Future Wishlists!
• Students will be able to log into the web and run their own degree check on-line.
• Complete electronic transmission and approval of degree checks. The colleges generate a degree check, electronically send it to the department which can make any necessary changes, approve it and return it electronically to the college. The college electronically sends it to the Registrar's Office after approving college requirements.

Homework !
• Make a "wishlist" of what you would like to see on the new degree audit system and send it to Mike Kane at Thurgood Marshall. He is currently working on the wishlist of the five colleges and will add other ideas, suggestions from departments, OGSR and the med school.
• It was suggested that an additional demonstration of UCSD's degree check system be given other departmental contacts to inform them of the potential of the system and better prepare them to create their "wishlists." Nancy Groves will attempt to find a good date for all departments.

Please contact Helen Gunn (x41575) if you have any questions, or corrections or additions to make to these minutes.

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