Imagine learning your degree will take one more year to finish because you did not take a class that was not in your program of study.
A colleague arrived at a milestone in her efforts to complete her doctoral efforts. All that was left was to do her research, write and defend her dissertation. Meeting with a university academic advisor in January she was told that she was missing one class – “Doctoral Research Orientation.” She could not start her research until this class was completed … and the course is only offered in the Fall semester.
MAINTAIN AN ACADEMIC CHAIN OF EVIDENCE
Fire investigators are trained to maintain a chain-of-evidence when they take samples from a fireground. They need to show the court that the fire department established and maintained secure control of the item from the time it was picked up to the time it was presented as evidence in a courtroom.
Universities and colleges struggle with changing academic requirements that impact graduation. Many are adopting on online audit system that tracks student progress through an approved program of study.
A program of study outlines the courses you need and the order you need to take them. The program of study will also identify other requirements to be qualified to graduate when the program of study is completed.
The online audit system handles 80% of the problems that occur when applying for graduation. The extensive and complicated academic records generated by firefighters and paramedics require a personal academic chain of evidence.
ADMISSION INTO A PROGRAM
Keep your acceptance letter and a copy of the Catalog for that academic year. The College Catalog is published every year, providing a detailed description of rules, regulations, programs of study, description of classes and faculty roster.
Your program of study is established through the College Catalog that covers the first semester you start taking courses. If you change majors, save a copy of the College Catalog that covers the semester you started in the new major.
DOCUMENT ALL CONVERSATIONS COVERING YOU PROGRAM OF STUDY
Save all emails, if the sender is admissions@myuniversity.edu get a name and title.
Follow-up every face-to-face and telephone conversation with an email summarizing your understanding of the content and the next steps to be taken.
Academic staff and faculty change. My colleague worked with Dr. B when she started her program of study, but he left the university a year ago.
Academic programs change. The missing “Doctoral Research Orientation” course was not part of the program of study when she started the Ph.D. program four years ago.
You are the best advocate to @getthedegree. A documented academic chain of evidence can make it easier for the college or university to process your unique program of study so you can graduate on schedule.
My colleague had to appeal to the Dean of the school to start her dissertation research immediately instead of waiting another year to start.
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