Updated May 16, 2023
Challenge:
Degree requirements rules, including curricular pathways and degree planning, are among the least understood data domains in higher education. Connecting systems that manage such data with applications that can utilize it in support of student success remains one of the most difficult integration challenges we face.
Project:
The Degree Progress Accuracy and Tracking Demonstration Project, led by DXtera and our collaborating Members, Damour Systems, Bay Path University, and the University of Arizona, explored and tested replicable integration solutions to the degree data challenge. The effort has been supported through a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Results:
Through this project we have refined our domain models, and related API definitions, for managing and sharing degree requirements data. The design aims to define degree requirements rules that are both programmatically accessible and understandable by humans. We have also designed and tested degree requirement integration techniques for some of the leading degree audit related products including PeopleSoft™ Campus Solutions™, Ellucian™ DegreeWorks™, and Jenzabar™.
DXtera’s Comprehensive Program Requirements strategy and model that has resulted from this initiative is outlined in this brief slide deck and REST expressions of the Requisite API definitions are documented at http://campusapi.org/requisite-services.html.
Opportunity to become Engaged:
At this time we are looking for organizations challenged with accessing, integrating and making effective use of degree requirements or curricular pathway data to help us expand this effort.
We are asking organizations to help:
- Develop goals and benchmarks for assessing degree completion
- Improve degree progress accuracy based on best practices
- Look beyond traditional Academic Record towards inclusion of competencies and skills
- Identify best practices for helping students formulate academic plans and schedules
- In particular how to include scheduling issues beyond the traditional academic plan (Housing, child care, transportation, etc.)
- Better understand and address issues of degree complexity
- Understand how organizations currently handle exceptions to degree pathways
- Become partner schools to help us test solutions
Time commitment
- Minimum commitment of time:
- Monthly Community working sessions
- Moderate outlay of resources:
- Deploy solutions on your campus
- Work with key campus stakeholders to measure effectiveness
What’s the value add for participating institutions?
- Demo, test and refine tools being developed by DXtera and collaborators
- Schools who join in will be eligible for early access to solutions
If you are interested in participating or learning more, fill out the form below and a team member will be in touch.
