Frequently Asked Questions about Academic Plans

The SAPC is a tool you can use to record and create a semester by semester plan of the courses you need and want to take in order to complete your degree and other goals.  It is a simple online form which allows you to select courses from a drop-down list, and add them to a semester by semester plan.

The Student Academic Plan for Completion (SAPC) is  designed for any student to use to plan out the course selections based on goals, program requirements, and the needed course sequencing to successfully complete degree requirements at MC. The SAP is a financial aid requirement for students who are at risk of losing their financial aid eligibility based on academic challenges.

Students access the SAPC through their MyMC page by clicking on the Student Academic Plan icon.   Students can save and return to their plan at any point.

Any faculty or staff member with a student’s M# can view a student’s SAPC by entering the student’s M# in the search field.  Students, faculty, or staff can print or save a .pdf of a student’s completed SAPC.

You can update your SAPC at any time by logging in and selecting the edit function.  Any changes can be saved.

YOU are responsible for completing your individual SAPC as either a class activity or in working with a program advisor. You should record your plans for upcoming semesters based on program requirements including General Education and electives, your academic (transfer or other educational) goals, career goals, or any personal goals. Counselors and advisors will not complete the SAPC for you although they can advise you on the appropriateness of the plan you develop.

Use the instructions given by your instructor. The Student Advisory report will help you to see your academic history and current major. You should review your major to ensure it is listed correctly. (If you need to change your major, review the instructions). The Student Advisory Report can be found on the MyMC page: 

You should use the catalog to review program requirements and recommended course sequencing. You are encouraged to work with a counselor or program advisor to develop a plan and refer to the recommendations listed in Starfish or that your program advisor gives you. You can use the advising worksheet for your program to identify the program requirements.  Additionally, you should use the instructions given by your instructor. You can also refer to specific transfer agreements and/or recommended transfer programs for specific institutions in ARTSYSnew window or available at on the MC Transfer page. You can also consult with transfer counselors or can refer directly to another school’s program requirements to get an idea of requirement equivalencies. Additionally, many programs have advising guides which offer specific guidance as to what courses and in what sequence to take courses, as well as any other guidance for successfully completing the program. Advising guides can be found on program home pages or in the Advising Guides section.  

After completing a draft of the SAPC, you can use the program requirements and recommended course sequence listed in the catalog to review the requirements. Additionally, you should meet with a program advisor or counselor to review the courses and course sequencing. Finally, you can discuss you course selection options with any counselor or advisor by making an appointment in Starfish. Please note, counselors will record recommendations for students’ course selection and other activities in Starfish, and they will not complete your SAPC for you.

The SAPC helps you understand your program requirements and the sequencing of courses to complete the degree. It creates an opportunity for you to plan for future semesters and determine how long you have until completion.  Additionally, it gives you agency and ownership over your academic plan. Finally, it creates a concrete opportunity for you to have a meaningful conversation about your academic plans with a counselor or program advisor.

Any Montgomery College faculty or staff member can comment on a student’s SAPC using the second tab of the form. As part of the requirements, most faculty ask that the person who reviews the plan with you sign off on the form. Signing off on the form means completing the 2nd tab, not completing the list of courses, and it means only that the person has reviewed your plan with you.

The second tab of the SAPC includes a place for advisors to add comments and sign off. Comments should be included for the students and any others who work with the student in academic planning.

Students can see a program advisor from their degree program.

Counseling faculty are, as always, available for you to consult regarding course selection, academic and goal planning, clarification and questions about program requirements, and any number of other related tasks. Counselors use Starfish to record recommendations for courses and other benchmark requirements. Counselors are not responsible for completing the SAPC for a student. The SAPC is a student generated document. If you want to get advice from a counselor, you should complete the SAPC before you go to your appointment, or you should plan to complete it after working with a counselor.

The SAPC is designed to be a course embedded, student generated academic planning tool. Starfish plans are generated by counseling faculty to capture and advise you. Neither should take the place of the other; in fact, it is hoped that the two work together to provide holistic support to help you become intentional and self-directed as you work toward your goals.

You should complete, at a minimum, the next semester you intend to take courses. If possible you should try to complete the next two semesters.

If you are a visiting student and do not intend to take courses at MC  next semester, you should complete the current semester only.

Students who are assigned this in multiple sections only need to complete it once and then print multiple copies to turn in.  Students will not need to redo it, unless they make changes to what they intend to take.

You should complete, at a minimum, what you intend to take in the upcoming semester, so at least one semester beyond the current semester. You are welcome to plan out further; you can always come back and update the plan.