Update on Graduation Planner replacement

In April 2022, the Stellic project (to replace Graduation Planner and Schedule Builder) was paused because we were not confident in the project’s launch based on its progress, and we needed to shift resources to the Coursedog project. At the conclusion of the pause, it was determined that there was not a good path forward to launching Stellic. The contract has now been terminated. 

ASR is currently evaluating potential options for a Graduation Planner replacement. This includes working with Purchasing to determine if we need to re-issue an RFP, or if we can look to the 2nd and 3rd choices from our previous RFP. ASR will also be reviewing the tool offered by CollegeSource (our vendor for APAS) to learn what improvements have been made to their product since the RFP.  

The timing of a new project is dependent on several factors. In addition to the potential of needing to complete a new RFP, resources are currently dedicated to the Coursedog project, and there is other work that needs to be completed after that concludes. For these reasons, the earliest a project could be launched with an identified solution would be in 2024. Until a replacement is in place, Graduation Planner and Schedule Builder will remain available. 

DegreeCat update

After a thorough RFP process that involved representation from all campuses and extensive testing for usability, Coursedog was selected as the vendor to replace ECAS, PCAS, and the University catalog.

Some highlights of Coursedog:

• Intuitive design with course and program workflow approval systems in the same interface with data deeply connected Ability to upload PDFs (e.g., syllabi) or other documentation
• System allows for publishing of accurate curricular data beyond the official catalog (e.g., department and collegiate websites, Admissions, major exploration tools, reporting tools)
• The product design approach makes it easier to implement configurations and handle University complexities
• University staff can easily configure workflows and forms without vendor support
• Robust reporting interface with features that allow for better reporting and data analysis

Updated project timeline

The implementation of Stellic—the new tool for graduation planning and schedule building—has been delayed. The initial timeline was created without a full understanding of the work required to have our system integrations working well. The project is prioritizing “getting it right” over “getting it done soon” because there is a need to establish trust in the system; we are taking the time to get accurate, actionable data into Stellic.

As before, a small group of University colleges and campuses—called Wave 1—will launch first. The new timeline for Wave 1 would have their students using Stellic as soon as May 2022. On the Twin Cities campus, CBS is in Wave 1. The rollout to remaining undergraduate students is targeted to be complete around the start of the fall 2022 semester. Regardless of when a college begins using Stellic, advisors will have access to the system prior to students in order to become familiar and comfortable with it.

Information about the project is available at DegreeCat Project and questions can be sent to degreecat@umn.edu.

Fall 2021 classroom updates

As of May 28, all physical distancing requirements have been lifted for classrooms, and the University will be at standard physical distancing for fall 2021. This means room capacities have also been updated to their prior standard capacities, which can be found using the Room Search tool.

With this update, OCM will be working to assign all general purpose classrooms for fall 2021 earlier than expected, so incoming freshmen can make more informed scheduling decisions while attending orientation. This will also allow currently enrolled students to have ample time to make decisions on their schedules once classrooms are assigned.

Address project update

A few weeks ago, all TC students received a short Qualtrics survey regarding their mailing and home addresses. The form asked them to verify if their current addresses are correct and to make any needed updates via MyU. So far over 19,000 students have responded to the survey, which will make sure that these students receive important documents in the future as well as allow the university to accurately plan for on campus resources. Reminder emails will be sent out to students who have not yet completed the survey.

Student Data Inquiry (SDI) training update

Academic Support Resources has been reviewing and reformatting the Student Data Inquiry (SDI) training course content in order to make it more efficient for learners and easier to keep up to date. The updated course will be available in Training Hub by the end of August 2020. Only new PeopleSoft Campus Solutions users will be required to take the course. One notable change is that the FERPA compliance training course will be a prerequisite to SDI for new users. If you have any questions, please contact the OTR Training and Support Team at srhelp@umn.edu.