1. Project Overview
Winter 2017
LEARN. DO. LIVE

2. Purpose
The purpose of this project is to support CWU’s effort to attract, engage, retain and graduate CWU students.

3. How have other universities addressed this issue?
Benchmarks
How have other universities addressed this issue?
How have other universities addressed this issue? Hundreds of universities use web-based, self-service tools that align students, advisors and institutions around the common goal of degree completion.
The University of Washington’s MyPlan Academic Planning allows students to create a plan for next quarter, next year or all the way to graduation.
Lewis & Clark College in Oregon used a degree planning software package that streamlined their degree planning process and increased graduation rates. Link to starting place in video: (:06 to :29)
3. John Brown University used technology to support advising and reduced the number of students who reached the end of their academic career surprised to find that they lacked a course required for graduation Link to starting place in video: (:11 to 1:31)
Click on each College/University to launch video.

4. SWOT Analysis Strengths 140 Majors
Ranked #1 in Washington State for return on investment -- The Economist (Oct 2015)
52% Graduation Rate (for a cohort of Full-Time Freshman)
Weaknesses
Manual degree planning process
Just-in-time course scheduling
Threats
Students that do not complete a degree program
Students without a direct path to graduation - Wandering Wildcats
Opportunities
Facilitate the degree planning process so as to create more focused felines
Increase persistence and graduation rates
We have the opportunity to make the degree planning and course scheduling process easier for CWU students. Wandering Wildcats may take longer to accomplish their goal than focused felines. The Automated Degree Planning System can help.
135 Majors per President Gaudino as quoted in October 31, 2015 issue of The Economist Magazine
52% Graduation rate for a cohort of Full-Time Freshman (2013 – 2014 and )

5. Objectives
How? Design an automated degree planning system with the following features…
Displays courses required for degree completion by means of a user-friendly graphical interface.
Allows students to visualize their academic progress.
Alerts both students and Advising when a student performs an action that conflicts with the established plan.
Supports course, section and Faculty planning.
Facebook, Amazon, Dictionary.com.…students are accustomed to user-friendly graphical interfaces that make communicating, shopping, research convenient. Asking them to hunt for information on a web page, is like asking them to each their broccoli while other institution are offering them donuts.
This generation of students
This system will support and encourage collaboration between advisors and students.
Planning supports projection. This system will enable student to express interest in the courses they wish to take for the entire academic year. This information will assist with course, section and Faculty planning.

6. Project Schedule
The April launch date coincides with the launch of the PeopleSoft Upgrade.

7. Steering Committee Members

8. Project Team Members
Introductions.