My Degree Plan – Frequently Asked Questions

About My Degree Plan

What is My Degree Plan?

My Degree Plan is a web-based tool designed to assist students, faculty, and certain designated staff with monitoring a student’s academic progress toward degree completion.  My Degree Plan organizes course work in an easy to read degree audit summarizing completed requirements for a degree, as well as those that are still missing. It also provides information on how each requirement was satisfied and what courses can be taken to complete the remaining requirements. The degree audit does not replace academic advising – it is a supplement. 

How do I access My Degree Plan?

My Degree Plan can be accessed through Anchor Access – see instructions below.

  • Log in to My.LSSU.edu using your User Name and Password
  • Click on Anchor Access
  • Click on Student Tab
  • Click on My Degree Plan

Do I still need to see an Academic Advisor?

YES! My Degree Plan does not take the place of an academic advisor.  Your academic advisor is your first point of contact for questions about your degree audit.  You should always review your degree audit prior to meeting with your academic advisor, preparing any questions that you may have regarding your degree requirements.

Is My Degree Plan Audit the same as an Academic Transcript?

No. The My Degree Plan audit is an unofficial advising and planning tool. It is not your official academic transcript nor is it your official confirmation of degree completion.

Student Degree Audit

How is a degree audit organized?

Your degree audit is a review of past, current, and in-progress coursework that provides information on completed and outstanding catalog requirements necessary to complete your degree, major, minor, and concentration requirements when applicable. The degree audit is divided into block requirements such as Degree, General Education Requirements, Major, Support Courses and Minor Requirements when applicable. Each block works like a checklist with boxes that are automatically checked when a requirement is met.

What types of degree audits am I able to see?

  • Student View (Default): This shows your degree audit for the major selected from the Degree listing. It is an overall view of all requirements showing both complete and incomplete requirements.
  • Registration Checklist: This shows only requirements that are incomplete.

Can a degree audit be printed?

Yes.  The Save as PDF button at the top of the degree audit saves the audit in PDF format.  In this format, the audit can be printed or saved.  Please Note: The PDF may take a couple of minutes to load.

What are some helpful hints for reviewing my degree audit?

  • The Legend at the bottom of the degree audit explains the symbols used in the audit.
  • The Student View Header contains current student information, including Name, ID, Classification (Freshman, Sophomore, Junior Senior), Advisors, Degree, Major, Concentration, Minor, Level (Undergraduate), Overall GPA, Overall Credits (counted toward graduation), Confidential Indicator.
  • The Degree Progress Bar under the Student View Header block shows progress towards your degree based on an estimate of the total average of courses required for a degree.
  • The Degree Block is a summary and list of requirements needed to complete this degree.
  • Check Boxes in the blocks indicate whether a course is complete, in-progress, or still needed.
  • Green Check Boxes indicate a requirement is satisfied.
  • Blue Check Boxes with a “~” indicate a requirement is in the process of being satisfied.
  • Open Check Boxes indicate a requirement that is still needed.
  • Electives, Insufficient, Not Used and In-progress Courses are listed in designated blocks at the bottom of the audit.

What does it mean if classes are listed under the Free Electives, Not Used, Insufficient or In-progress Blocks?

Free Electives block: Displays in-progress or successfully completed courses that do not apply directly to the degree displayed. These courses do count toward the overall GPA and credit requirement.

Insufficient block: Displays courses that are repeated, dropped or do not have a passing grade.  Credits associated with these courses will be considered attempted credits and may be applied to the GPA.

Not Counted block: Displays courses that are less than 100 level (remedial) coursework.

In-progress block: Displays courses currently enrolled in, or registered for in a future semester.

How are In-Progress courses used in the degree audit?

Courses students are currently taking or have registered for in a future semester are included in the degree audit.  These courses are applied in the requirement blocks in which they meet specific requirements.  They are also grouped at the bottom of the degree audit in the In-progress block.

Why are some courses not applied to my degree requirements?

Courses listed in the Electives or Insufficient blocks do not meet any of the program requirements.  Credits and grades in the Electives block apply to the LSSU GPA and may count toward the total number of credits need to complete your degree.  Grades may apply to the LSSU GPA in the Insufficient block, however credits may not apply toward the total earned credits.  Please meet with your academic advisor to clarify any questions about these blocks.

Can I view a list of all my completed classes in My Degree Plan?

Yes.  Click on the Class History link at the top of the degree audit for a list of courses taken at LSSU, as well as transfer courses.

What does my audit look like if I am pursuing two or more degrees (a BS and and Associate)?

There is a drop-down arrow next to the degree information at the top of the audit. Use this to select the particular degree.

What if I am pursuing a double major?

If you’re pursuing more than one major within the same degree (i.e., BS in Psychology and BS in Kinesiology), both majors will appear in the Drop-down next to the degree information at the top.

 

What if My Degree Plan audit shows a different program than my intended major?

Please contact your academic advisor to discuss this matter.  If a correction needs to be made, a Major Change Request form will need to be submitted to the Registrar’s Office.

What if my minor or concentration is missing from my degree audit?

If you have not officially declared a minor or concentration, they will not appear on your degree audit.  Please contact your academic advisor for information on how to declare a minor or concentration on a Major Change Request form.

Can I change my major/minor/concentration in My Degree Plan?

No.  Please contact your academic advisor for information on how to change a major/minor/concentration using a Major Change Request  form.

Does My Degree Plan include transfer credit courses?

Yes, My Degree Plan includes all of your transferred coursework as well as your LSSU coursework.

How does My Degree Plan decide where to place completed or in-progress courses in my degree audit?

My Degree Plan looks at your program holistically, and places each course using a “best fit” scenario.  The “best fit” process will not always be perfect, particularly when multiple possibilities exist.  Courses may apply to different sections as you take more courses.  If a course does not appear in a block that is expected, you should contact your academic advisor for assistance.

Is it ok for My Degree Plan to place a course in two different places?

In most cases, yes.  My Degree Plan is programmed to recognize that some courses can fulfill more than one requirement.  If you have questions, you should contact your academic advisor.

What if there is an error within My Degree Plan?

Please meet with your academic advisor to clarify the error and review your program requirements and completed coursework listed on your degree audit.  Your academic advisor will make notice of any necessary corrections.

Can I register for classes in My Degree Plan?

No.  Registration will continue to be accessed through the Anchor Access Registration area during scheduled registration dates.

What if my academic advisor petitions to waive or substitute a course? How does that appear in My Degree Plan?

If a course waiver or substitution is approved by your school, the Registrar’s Office will record the exception.  The completed course will fulfill the requirement, and an additional note will appear on the audit that explains why the exception was entered.

What does the @ symbol mean in my degree audit?

This is a wild card in My Degree Plan.  If the @ symbol appears before course numbers (i.e., @ 100:499), you can take any subject area with that level (i.e. a 100-400 level course from any subject area).  If the @ symbol appears after a subject prefix (i.e. PSYC @) it means that you can take any course with the subject prefix (i.e. any course in Psychology).

Are there requirements for graduation that My Degree Plan does not check?

While My Degree Plan has been designed to check almost everything that you must complete to qualify for graduation, there may be additional requirements for a major that must be completed as well.  You should use My Degree Plan in conjunction with the academic catalog and meet with your academic advisor regularly to ensure you remain on track for graduation.

When should I review My Degree Plan and information?

  • Before meeting with your academic advisor
  • Before registration periods
  • After registration to ensure that courses selected have been applied to degree requirements correctly
  • Any time a change is made to your schedule or major
  • After grades are posted each semester
  • Before graduation to confirm all requirements will be complete

GPA Information

Where can I find my Grade-Point-Average (GPA)?

The Student View at the top of the degree audit displays the Overall LSSU GPA (courses at LSSU only). The remaining blocks display the GPA for the courses listed in the individual blocks.  For example, the major GPA is a calculated GPA based on coursework used to fulfill major requirements. This GPA will appear within the major block requirements of the degree audit.

What is the GPA Calc Tab?

This tab is located at the top of the audit and includes three GPA calculator options (described below): Graduation Calculator, Term Calculator and Advice Calculator.

What does the Graduation Calculator Show?

The Graduation Calculator option on the GPA Calc tab will show you what average is needed in your remaining credits to graduate with a desired GPA.

What does the Term Calculator Show?

The Term Calculator option on the GPA Calc tab will show your current LSSU GPA, completed credits and courses in-progress.  By selecting the expected grade from the drop down boxes for each in-progress course and clicking Calculate, a new projected cumulative GPA will display.

What does the Advice Calculator show?

The Advice Calculator option on the GPA Calc tab will show your current cumulative GPA and credits earned.  You can enter your desired GPA and click Calculate.  Advice will display outlining the credits and grades needed to achieve the desired GPA.

What If Information

What is the What-If feature?

This feature allows you to create a hypothetical degree audit for a different major using current academic history.  You can use this option if you are considering changing your major and would like to view how completed courses apply to a different major.  What-If audits do not guarantee that you will be able to major in the area selected.  If you decide to change your major, this feature does not officially change your major.  To officially change your major, you must complete a Major Change Request form.

How do I use the What-If feature?

Follow these steps to view how courses count in a different major:

  • Click on the What-if button on the left side of the degree audit
  • Select a degree (major) from the drop down menu
  • Select the future semester that you would be starting this degree
  • Select the major – will display in the chosen areas of study box
  • Select Minor if appropriate
  • Select Concentration if Required for new major
  • Click Process What If to run the degree audit or click Save As PDF if you would like to be able to print the PDF version of the what-if
  • Review how your existing courses would be applied to this new major
  • Discuss this new major with your academic advisor

Can my academic advisor see my What-If scenario?

No, since What-If scenarios are not stored in My Degree Plan, academic advisors can only see the results of a What-if degree audit if you print a copy.