Skip to content

MyDegreePath (Advisors) – Overview and How to Access

MyDegreePath (MDP) lets you compare a student’s completed and in-progress coursework against degree requirements to see what remains. Planner is not enabled. Legacy plans are view-only.

Jump to

What It Is | Important Notes About Plans | How to Access | Key Terms | When to Use | Privacy | Quick Links

What It Is

  • Degree Audit – You review how a student’s coursework applies to GE/IE, major (and emphasis), minor, and university requirements by catalog year.
  • What-If Audit – You preview how the student’s courses would apply under a different program or catalog year (does not change the record).
  • Advisor Exceptions – You may add exceptions for majors, emphases, and minors (not GE) in self-service. Re-run the audit to confirm results.

Not a replacement: Use the UC Merced Catalog, the student’s unofficial transcript, and approved petitions as authoritative. For GE exceptions, coordinate with Undergraduate Education; do not enter campus-level policy changes as MDP exceptions. If the Petition is approved, submit an Academic Records Review (ARR) form with the approval attached and a clear description of the requested action. Review the ARR guide on the Troubleshooting & Reporting Issues page, then re-run the audit after you receive confirmation to verify the update.

Important Notes About Plans

If your student had a plan in the previous MDP system (created before August 8, 2025), you and the student can view that plan in the legacy environment in read-only mode.

Access Legacy MyDegreePath

You and students cannot create or edit plans. Only previously created plans (pre–Aug 8, 2025) are visible.

How to Access

  • Log in directly at ucmerced.uachieve.com/selfservice with your UCMNetID or sign in at my.ucmerced.edu.
    • If available, open My Advising Tools → MyDegreePath. (Note: not all staff will see this menu option.)
  • Search for the student and run a Declared or What-If audit.

Need access? Request MDP permissions via the Systems Access Request Form (E-Services).

Key Terms

  • Catalog year – Requirement set that applies to the student; changes are School-approved and not made in MDP.
  • GE / IE – General Education and Intellectual Experiences displayed based on catalog year.
  • Courses Not Used / Insufficient – Typically repeats, sub-minimum grades, excluded credit, or courses that don’t meet area rules.

When to Use MDP

  • Before/after registration changes (add/drop/swap) or program updates (major/minor/catalog year).
  • After grades, transfer credit, or test credit, post, or when articulation is updated.
  • During program exploration with a student (run a What-If audit).
  • After you add an advisor exception, or when a GE/Undergraduate Education exception/petition is approved and recorded.
  • Before graduation checks and final-term planning.
  • When troubleshooting unmet items or Courses Not Used/Insufficient.

Data refresh & saving: Re-run after any record change. Saved audits auto-delete weekly—use Print to save a PDF if needed.

Privacy & FERPA

  • Discuss student records in secure settings and share the minimum necessary data.
  • Report issues via Academic Record Review/OIT; avoid emailing student data.

Updated September 3, 2025