Academic Planning Guide: From Degree Evaluation to Degree Plan
Academic planning is more than selecting courses. Effective planning combines program requirements, degree progress, academic history, placement information, student goals, and support needs to help students develop and maintain a realistic path to completion.
This guide outlines a recommended workflow for preparing for and facilitating academic planning conversations with students. It highlights how the Student Folder, Banner Student Advising Profile, College Catalog, Degree Works, and Starfish Degree Planner can be used together to support academic planning and student success.
Students can actively participate in academic planning by accessing both Degree Works (Degree Evaluation) and Starfish Degree Planner through MyMC.
- Students can access Degree Works through MyMC under the Student Services card by selecting Degree Evaluation.
- Students can access the Degree Planner from the main menu in Starfish. You can also refer them to the Step-by-Step Guide to Complete Your Academic Plan.
Step-by-Step Guide: Building an Academic Plan with a Student
Review the student's goals, interests, concerns, and circumstances.
Use your normal advising approach to learn about the student's goals, interests, concerns, and circumstances. Information available in the Starfish Student Folder may help supplement these conversations, including academic goals, career interests, transfer intentions, previous advising notes, referrals, and other student support activity.
Reviewing information already documented in Starfish can help you build on previous conversations, avoid asking students to repeat information, and better coordinate support across departments.
Learn how Montgomery College uses Starfish to support academic planning, early alerts, referrals, coordinated care, student engagement, and student success across the College.
Why Review the Student Folder?
The Student Folder helps bring together information about a student's goals, support history, academic engagement, and connections across the College. Reviewing the Student Folder before a conversation can help you better understand the student's experience and coordinate support when needed.
Think of the Student Folder as a digital filing cabinet. Each tab contains a different type of information about the student.
Before meeting with a student, your goal is not to open every drawer. Instead, think like a detective gathering clues. Review the information most likely to help you understand the student's goals, support needs, previous interactions, and connections across the College.
Overview Tab
Review the academic snapshot imported from Banner, including program information,
academic standing, and enrollment details. Banner remains the most current source
of this information and updates are reflected in Starfish the following day.
Notes Tab
Review notes entered by advisors, counselors, faculty, coaches, and other support
providers.
Note: If you are not finding the information you expected, check the filters at the top of the page. The selected term, author, or note type may limit what is displayed.
Degree Planner Tab
Review academic plans and pathway discussions that may provide insight into the student's
goals and intentions.
Note: Academic plans can provide clues about previous planning conversations. The Plan History option under the More menu can help you understand when plans were created, updated, or revised and may reveal how a student's goals or circumstances have changed over time.
Student Surveys Tab
When available, review Welcome Questionnaire and Academic Planning Survey responses
to understand goals, interests, transfer intentions, and support needs.
Why it matters
Students may have already shared information about their academic goals, transfer
plans, career interests, or support needs. Reviewing this information can help you
build on previous conversations rather than starting from scratch.
Meetings Tab
Review appointments and meetings recorded in Starfish.
Note: The Meetings tab helps you understand when interactions occurred. The Notes tab often provides additional context about what was discussed, recommendations that were made, and any follow-up actions that were identified.
Tracking Tab
Review referrals, flags, To Dos, and kudos associated with the student.
Tracking items can help you understand previous concerns, accomplishments, referrals, outreach efforts, and follow-up activities documented in Starfish
Why it matters
Understanding previous outreach and support efforts can help avoid duplication and
support continuity across interactions.
Overview Tab
Review the academic snapshot imported from Banner, including program information,
academic standing, and enrollment details. Banner remains the most current source
of this information and updates are reflected in Starfish the following day.
Notes Tab
Review notes entered by advisors, counselors, faculty, coaches, and other support
providers.
Note: If you are not finding the information you expected, check the filters at the top of the Notes tab. Depending on the selected term, author, and note type, some notes may be hidden from the current view. Expanding the filters can help provide a more complete picture of the student's history.
Degree Planner Tab
Review academic plans and pathway discussions that may provide insight into the student's
goals and intentions.
Student Surveys Tab
When available, review Welcome Questionnaire and Academic Planning Survey responses
to understand goals, interests, transfer intentions, and support needs.
Why it matters
Students may have already shared information about their academic goals, transfer
plans, career interests, or support needs. Reviewing this information can help you
build on previous conversations rather than starting from scratch.
Courses Tab
Review the student's current and recent course enrollment, including midterm grades
when available.
Note: Use the filters to review active courses, dropped courses, and previous terms.
Tracking Tab
Review flags, referrals, To Dos, kudos, and progress survey responses.
Progress Surveys and Early Alerts can provide valuable insight into how instructors perceive a student's progress, engagement, and likelihood of success in a course.
Note: Resolved items can be just as informative as active items. Previous concerns, outreach efforts, and follow-up activities may provide important context for the conversation.
Why it matters
Student success indicators often provide valuable clues about how the student is experiencing
their coursework right now. Understanding current challenges (flags), accomplishments
(kudos), instructor feedback (to dos), and support activities (referrals) can help
inform conversations about next steps, referrals, academic planning, and student success.
Review the people, services, and resources connected to the student through Starfish.
Network Tab
The Network tab may include instructors, program advisors, counselors, coaches, tutors,
and other support providers.
Depending on a student's program participation, role, and relationships, it may also provide insight into support services available to the student.
Why It Matters
Understanding a student's network can help support coordinated care and identify opportunities
for additional connection and support.
Review academic information that may affect course recommendations, degree progress, registration decisions, and academic planning conversations.
In Step 1, you reviewed information from the Student Folder to better understand the student. Now verify those insights against the student's academic record. Pay particular attention to information that may indicate a student could benefit from additional support, intervention, or referral as part of a coordinated care approach.
What to Review
Academic Information
- Current program of study
- Academic standing
- Academic history
- GPA and earned hours
- Catalog year
Course Placement and Prior Learning
- Testing history Placement information
- Transfer credit
Enrollment and Registration Information
- Current enrollment
- Registration status
- Registration notices
- Holds
- Information that may affect course eligibility or registration
Where to Find This Information
Review academic standing, enrollment information, curriculum information, prior education, testing information, registration notices, and holds.
Related Resource: Banner Student Advising Profile Guide
Review completed coursework, transfer credit, and how completed coursework applies
toward degree requirements.
Looking Ahead: Step 3 focuses on using Degree Works to evaluate degree requirements and remaining coursework.
Review academic history and completed coursework while working in Degree Planner.
Related Resource: Starfish Degree Planner Guide
Consider Before Planning
- Does the student's academic record support the goals and plans identified in Step 1?
- Is the student in the correct program of study?
- Are there transfer goals that should influence planning decisions?
- Are there placement, transfer credit, or prior learning considerations that affect course recommendations?
- Are there transfer institution or transfer major requirements that should be considered when selecting courses?
- Are there registration, enrollment, or academic standing issues that should be addressed before planning future coursework?
- Is the student eligible for the courses being considered?
Confirm program requirements, prerequisites, and graduation expectations.
The College Catalog serves as the official source for program requirements, course descriptions, prerequisites, graduation requirements, recommended course sequencing, and General Education requirements.
Using the Catalog, Degree Works, and Degree Planner Together
Tip: Additional Planning Resources
- Printable Program Advising Guides are generated directly from the catalog curriculum and reflect current program requirements.
They provide a printable view of the program requirements and recommended course sequence.
To access one, navigate to the student's program page and select the Program Advising Guide icon
. - General Education Courses by Academic Year can help verify that selected courses satisfy the intended General Education requirement for the academic year in which the course will be completed. They are to be used alongside the other planning tools when reviewing General Education requirements and selecting courses to satisfy remaining areas.
Use Degree Works to understand what requirements have been completed and what still needs to be planned.
Review the student's Degree Works audit to confirm how completed, transfer, and in-progress coursework applies toward degree requirements. Degree Works helps identify which requirements have been completed and which requirements still need to be incorporated into the student's academic plan. Degree Planner is then used to organize those remaining requirements into a semester-by-semester plan.
What to Review
Use Degree Works to answer the following questions:
- What requirements has the student already completed?
- What requirements is the student currently working on?
- What requirements still need to be completed?
- How has transfer credit been applied?
- Are there prerequisites or milestone requirements that may affect future course sequencing?
- Which requirements should be incorporated into the student's academic plan next?
Degree Audit Overview
Degree Works Legend
Understanding the Status Indicators
- Complete: Requirement has been satisfied.
- Complete with courses in progress: Requirement will be satisfied if in-progress coursework is successfully completed.
- Not complete: Additional coursework or requirements are still needed.
- Nearly complete – see advisor: Requirement may require Counselor or Program review or additional action.
- (R) Repeated course: A course has been repeated.
- @ Any course number: Indicates that any course meeting the specified criteria may be used to satisfy the requirement. For example:
- 12 Credits in @ 2@ means any 200-level course may be used to satisfy the requirement.
- 3 Credits in BIOL @ means any Biology course may be used to satisfy the requirement.
Confirm the student's program, catalog year, and overall progress before planning
In this example, the student is enrolled in the Computer Science AA program using the Summer I 2026 catalog. Before planning, verify the student's program and catalog year, review overall degree progress, confirm how many credits have been applied toward the degree (16 of 60), and note any factors that may affect future planning, such as GPA, unmet requirements, or courses currently in progress.
Review Degree Requirements and Progress
Use this section to verify the student's program and catalog year and identify which major, general education, and graduation requirements still need to be incorporated into the student's academic plan.
What to Look For
Graduation requirements that are not tied to a specific course.Planning Tip
Before opening Degree Planner, review each incomplete requirement and consider which of those requirements should be addressed in the student's next one or two semesters.Review Remaining Requirements
Degree Works organizes requirements into logical sections, including:
- General Education Requirements
- Program Requirements
- Additional graduation requirements, when applicable
Review these sections to identify requirements that remain outstanding and should be incorporated into the student's academic plan. Pay particular attention to requirements that may affect future course sequencing or that should be prioritized in upcoming semesters.
Review In-Progress, Registered, and Planned Courses
In this example, Degree Works displays courses that are currently in progress, registered, or planned. Review this section before creating or updating an academic plan to ensure these courses are reflected in the student's pathway.
What to Look For
Requirements that will be satisfied through in-progress coursework.
Courses that may not apply toward the student's program requirements
Courses that should be incorporated into the student's academic plan
Note: Requirements associated with in-progress or registered coursework may appear with the following status indicator:
Complete with courses in progress indicates that the requirement will be satisfied if the student successfully completes the associated coursework.
Planning Tip
Use this section to ensure courses currently in progress, registered, or planned are reflected in the student's academic plan and support progress toward degree completion.
Not every course a student takes will apply toward degree requirements. This section can help identify opportunities to discuss how current and planned coursework aligns with the student's academic goals, degree completion timeline, transfer plans, and financial aid eligibility.
Some students intentionally take courses outside their program requirements, making this an important part of the academic planning conversation.Review Exceed Maximum Allowed Courses
In this example, ENGL 011 College Writing Support appears in the Exceed Maximum Allowed block because it cannot be used to satisfy degree requirements.
What to Look For
Courses that do not apply toward degree requirements
Developmental or support courses
Additional coursework that may affect a student's timeline to completion
Courses that may require further discussion during the planning process
Planning Tip
Courses in this section DO NOT apply toward degree requirements.
Use this section as an opportunity to discuss how these courses fit into the student's overall educational goals and whether they may affect the student's timeline to completion, financial aid eligibility, or ability to prioritize remaining program requirements.
Exploring Alternative Programs and Pathways
Degree Works can also be used to explore how completed coursework may apply to a different program of study through the What-If feature. This can be useful when students are considering:
- A change of major
- A different transfer pathway
- Adding a certificate
- Alternative academic goals
Planning Tip
The catalog year and program selected in Degree Planner should generally align with the student's academic record and Degree Works audit when creating an official academic plan.
However, both Degree Works and Degree Planner can also be valuable tools for exploring alternative academic pathways and helping students understand how different decisions may affect their progress toward completion.
Before Moving into Degree Planner
At this point, you should understand:
- What requirements the student has completed
- What requirements are currently being addressed through in-progress or registered coursework
- What requirements remain
- Any prerequisites or milestones that may affect future course sequencing
- Whether current and planned coursework supports the student's academic goals and program requirements
Degree Works helps identify what still needs to be completed. The next step is to
use Starfish Degree Planner to determine when those requirements should be completed
and build a realistic semester-by-semester pathway toward graduation.
Related Resources
Degree Works includes additional features and information that may be helpful during advising conversations, including:
- Courses that do not apply toward degree requirements (Exceed Maximum Allowed)
- Transfer credit and external coursework
- Course substitutions and approved exceptions
- Wildcard (@) requirements that can be satisfied by multiple course options
- What-If evaluations for exploring alternative programs
sIf you believe information in Degree Works is incorrect, missing, duplicated, or not applying as expected, submit a ticket through the IT Service Desk for review. Examples may include:
- Transfer credit not appearing correctly
- Approved substitutions or exceptions not reflected in the audit
- Requirements appearing incomplete when they should be satisfied
- Courses that appear to be applied incorrectly
- Degree evaluation information that appears out of date
Use the Starfish Degree Planner to build or revise a semester-by-semester plan.
At this point, you should have a clear understanding of:
- The student's goals and circumstances
- Program requirements
- Degree progress and remaining requirements
- Courses currently in progress, registered, or planned
Use the Starfish Degree Planner to organize the student's remaining requirements into a realistic pathway toward completion.
Planning Considerations
As you build, review, and revise the plan, consider:
- Academic preparation and placement recommendations
- Degree and program requirements
- Transfer goals
- Career goals
- Work and family responsibilities
- Credit load and course sequencing
- Course availability
- Existing support needs and referrals
- Estimated timeline to completion
Planning Tip
A technically correct plan is not always the best plan.
Use Degree Planner to create a pathway that balances program requirements with the student's academic goals, transfer plans, personal circumstances, and ability to successfully complete the plan.
Ready to Build the Plan?
At this point, you should understand the student's goals, academic history, program requirements, and degree progress.
- The Banner Student Advising Profile and Starfish Student Folder provide context about the student.
- The College Catalog identifies what requirements must be completed.
- Degree Works helps identify what requirements remain.
- Degree Planner helps determine when and how those requirements will be completed.
Continue to the Starfish Degree Planner Guide.