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MyDegreePath (Advisors) – What It Is

MyDegreePath (Advisors) – What It Is

Overview

MyDegreePath (MDP) is UC Merced’s degree progress and advising tool. It evaluates a student’s completed and in-progress coursework against degree requirements and helps advisors guide students on what’s still needed. Planner is not enabled at this time.

What MyDegreePath includes

  • Degree Audit: Compares a student’s record to program requirements (major, emphasis/concentration, minor, GE/IE) using the student’s active catalog year.
  • What-If audit: Exploration tool to see how coursework would apply to a different program or catalog year. It does not change the student’s record.
  • Advisor exceptions: Advisors may add exceptions for majors, emphases, and minors in self-service. Re-run the audit to verify the effect.

What MyDegreePath does not replace

  • Official sources: The UC Merced Catalog, the student’s unofficial transcript, and approved petitions remain authoritative.
  • Campus/GE policy changes: Do not add as MDP exceptions. Use the appropriate petition processes.

Key terms

  • Catalog year: The set of requirements that apply to the student. Changes are approved by the School and are not made inside MDP.
  • GE / IE: General Education and Intellectual Experiences requirements displayed according to the student’s catalog year.
  • Courses Not Used / Insufficient: Typically repeats, sub-minimum grades, excluded credit, or courses that don’t meet area rules.

Who uses MDP (advising context)

  • Academic advisors and designated staff with approved permissions use MDP to run Declared and What-If audits and interpret results with students.
  • If you need access, request it via the Systems Access Request Form (E-Services).

When to use MDP in advising

  • Before/after a student changes registration (add/drop/swap)
  • After grades or transfer/test credit post
  • During major/minor exploration (use What-If audit)
  • Before graduation checks and final term planning

Data refresh & saving

  • Always run a fresh audit after any record change.
  • Saved audits auto-delete weekly. Use the audit’s Print icon to save a PDF if you need a record.

Privacy & FERPA

  • Discuss student records in secure settings and include the minimum necessary data when sharing examples.
  • Use official channels for reporting issues (ARR/OIT); avoid emailing student data when possible.

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