< Back

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can use Graduation Planner?

All University of Minnesota students on all campuses can use Graduation Planner. However, the tool is designed for, and works best for, undergraduate students.

All adviser(s) of record can view and comment on the plans their students create.

Why should I use Graduation Planner?

With Graduation Planner, you can explore the degree requirements for majors and minors, discover what courses you need to take and when you should take them, and make a plan for your academic career. Your adviser will be able to review and comment on your plan, helping you to stay on track and graduate on time. As you make your Graduation Plan, you should work with your adviser(s) to review your plan, make the best course choices, and learn about all of your college or department's special requirements.

Who can view the plans I create in Graduation Planner?

Your plans, comments, responses, and notes can be viewed by your adviser(s) and your advising committee. Notes that you mark as private cannot be viewed by your adviser(s).

I added courses to my plan. Am I registered for them?

No. Graduation Planner is a planning tool—it does not register you for classes! You must register on One Stop during your registration time. You should, however, refer to your plan as you register, and try to register for those classes. If those classes are full when you try to register, you can use Graduation Planner to find other courses that might fulfill the same requirements.

What if I don't know what my major will be? Can I still use Graduation Planner?

Actually, Graduation Planner is a great tool for exploring majors. Start by choosing a major you might be interested in from the "My Choices" list, and make a plan to see what your four years would look like. When you generate the "What do I need?" list, you'll only see what requirements you would still need to complete for that major, and you can fill those into a plan. Then create a new plan with a different major, and see what courses you would take to complete that degree. Now add a minor to your major, and so on.
When you use Graduation Planner for this kind of "What if?" planning, remember that you also need to talk to your adviser and look at the University catalog entry for the major you're interested in to see if that major has any admission requirements or prerequisites—these may be very important during your early planning. The link to the appropriate pages in the online University catalog will appear in your Graduation Planner toolbox.

How do I use Graduation Planner to talk with my adviser?

Your adviser can view the plans that you create and make comments on those plans. When your adviser comments on your plan, you will receive an e-mail with a link back to your plan, where his or her comment is posted. You can respond to that comment, and a similar e-mail will automatically be sent back to your adviser. If you'd like to review your plan with your adviser, but you haven't received a comment from him or her, you can always e-mail your adviser or make an advising appointment—just bring a printed plan with you to your appointment.

When should I use Graduation Planner?

You can begin using Graduation Planner as soon as you have accepted your admission to the University. However, you should check in with your adviser before you register for the courses you've put in your plan. This is especially important during your first semesters at the University, as there may be prerequisite courses that you must take early in order to stay on track to graduate on time; your adviser can make sure you're fulfilling these requirements appropriately. Your adviser may also give you additional information about using Graduation Planner that applies specifically to your major or minor.

Can I trust the information I find in Graduation Planner?

The information in Graduation Planner comes from several central University databases, and it is correct to the best of our knowledge. However, data mistakes do happen, so if you notice anything that seems incorrect, you should contact your adviser or the student services office in your college. And again, always work with your adviser as you plan for your degree—early adviser input can help ensure that data errors don't end up negatively affecting your degree progress.
There is also some information that Graduation Planner simply doesn't cover, like how and when to apply for or declare your major, class scheduling information, and registration holds. So it's important that you work with your adviser and/or your student services office, read the applicable Web sites and handbooks to make sure you have all of the information you need, file the correct forms, and fulfill all of your degree requirements.

I'm a graduate student. Can I use Graduation Planner?

Any student can use Graduation Planner, but functionality will be limited for graduate students. A few professional programs use APAS—so students in those programs will be able to generate a "What do I need?" list, and see what requirements they haven't yet fulfilled. All other graduate programs will only be able to search for courses and add them to a plan.

 
 
© 2007 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer.