Degree Audit
The semester prior to a student's last semester, a Degree Audit (Grad Check) must be performed by the Asst. Dean of Student Services. This is necessary to ensure that a student will complete their degree requirements as planned, and not spend an additional unplanned semester at KSU.
Ultimately, students are responsible for their plans, goals, and accomplishments, especially fulfilling all the requirements of the curriculum in which they are enrolled (see advising references). Ignorance and misunderstandings are insufficient excuses (requirements must be met).
The KSU Degree Audit Reporting System (DARS) is used to monitor students' progress towards completing their degree requirements, and to determine when and if a student has satisfied all requirements to graduate. Students should regularly review their DARS report with their advisor to assure it has been properly updated (advanced or transfer credit assigned, etc.).
DARS reports are based on a “Catalog Year” and are initially assigned the semester for a student’s date of entry (DOE). A student has the option of staying with the DOE-Catalog Year, or if beneficial to their academic program chose a later Catalog Year. To change their DARS Catalog Year a student should consult with their advisor, and then request the Engineering Student Services Office staff change their DARS Catalog Year.
DARS can be accessed by logging into the K-State Student Information System (iSIS), https://isis.k-state.edu/psp/ISIS/?cmd=login
GRADUATE'S NEXT TO LAST SEMESTER
Graduation checks should be done the semester before graduating, NOT the semester you graduate, unless there is a "NO" on your DARS (see "Common Problems" below).
Hopefully you have regularly discussed your DARS report with your advisor each semester. As stated above, the DARS is your official document for degree audits.
The engineering flowcharts are just advising tools to determine when to enroll in specific classes. Your remaining requirements will be listed on DARS as those with the "NO" and/or a (-) listed on the left side of the section titles, and a "NEEDS" in the subgroups. Also REVIEW "COMMON PROBLEMS" BELOW.
If something has changed since your last Grad Check (have to retake class, etc.), please contact our Student Services staff, Rathbone 1042, and arrange an appointment with the Assistant Dean of Student Services sometime this semester to assure you and your advisor have properly understood your DARS report. This will help you plan your last semester courses.
Once you have pre-enrolled for your last semester, make sure that no requirement on the DARS report has the words "NO" or "NEEDS".
NOTE: DARS is not always immediately updated, so changes in your enrollment may take a few days to show up on DARS.
If you plan the take the FE exam, you'll find appropriate information on our Student Services website, http://www.engg.ksu.edu/studentservices/index.html
You must to sign up the semester prior to the one in which you plan to take it, so plan early to check this information about registration, fees, when exam will be given, etc.
GRADUATE'S FINAL SEMESTER:
URGENT!!! If you have NOT had a "graduation check" during the past 1-2 semesters prior to this ... your final semester, arrange an appointment with the Assistant Dean of Student Services right away! Contact our Student Services staff, Rathbone 1042.
If this is your last semester, check DARS and make sure absolutely no requirement section has a "NO", (-), or a "NEEDS" listed on the left side of the heading (should be all OK or IP).
Your DARS report is the official document for degree audits, so if your DARS report has a requirement with a "NO" and/or a negative sign (-), or a "NEEDS", you will not be able to graduate. Flowcharts are only guides for semester enrollments, NOT degree audits.
Also, it doesn't matter if your advisor or the Assistant Dean says you're okay to graduate, sometimes students misunderstand what they are informed, or one of the problems listed below exist. You must make sure DARS says "OK" or "IP" for all requirements the last semester, otherwise you will not graduate.
If there is a requirement that lists "NO", discuss it with your advisor.
Common problems:
a. A "NO" is located by the *** UGE *** Section Title.
You have not take an upper level course on the ENGINEERING UGE LIST OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCE LIST! Just because you complete a University General Education (UGE) course from the KSU list does not mean it meets the engineering requirements. Substitutions are not allowed for the University General Education requirements!
b. Quiz out credit for a Calculus I and/or Calculus II are not listed on your DARS (you were advised to enroll in an upper level Calculus course your first semester at KSU, and earned a B or A grade, you may request quiz out credit for the lower level Calculus courses with the same grade, etc.).
You must request that the Math Department secretary issue credit for the lower level Calculus courses with the same grade.
c. A course with a "D" grade has not been assigned to the proper requirement. "D" grades are now allowed for some engineering students, so check with your advisor and if appropriate, have them send our Student Services staff, Rathbone 1042, an email to accept the "D" grade [e.g. CIS students must earn C grades in courses listed by number on their curriculum guides (not electives)].
d. Transfer course credits are missing on DARS. If the transfer credits are not listed somewhere on DARS, the Admissions office does not have your latest transcripts. Contact your previous college and request copies of your transcripts with the latest credits earned be sent directly to the KSU Admissions Office. Rare, but occasionally Admissions staff miss entering a course into DARS (done by hand), so check with Admissions Office if previous school sent transcripts.
If the transfer course is showing up in the "Not Specifically Applied" section, check with Student Services to see if it will apply to your degree.
e. Your DARS does not list the latest requirements for the curriculum being followed by you and your advisor. Someone (you, your advisor, or dept. secretary) has not informed Gina, in Student Services, that you want the latest degree requirements for your DARS. Gina must update your DARS "Catalog Year" to your desired one. Just signing a form or flowchart in the department does not guarantee our office is informed, so make sure the requirements listed by your DARS report are the ones you expected. If not, contact our Student Services staff, Rathbone 1042, and request your DARS "Catalog Year" be updated.
f. You and your advisor believe something is not properly recorded on your DARS. Bring a copy of your DARS report with your id printed on it to our Student Services staff, Rathbone 1042. She'll see if something was not updated, or if you still have an incomplete requirement.
GRADUATION APPLICATIONS (final semester):
1. Undergraduate Graduation Applications will be available online through the iSIS system on Monday, February 2, 2009, and will appear as an option in the "Other Academic..." drop down box in your iSIS Student Center. The application process requires that you read and follow the instructions located at http://www.ksu.edu/isishelp/student/applyForGrad.html
Remember to review/print your DARS or current Academic History Report prior to beginning the application.
If you have questions, please contact the Engineering Student Service Office, 1042 Rathbone Hall.
2. Information about the FE exam is on our Student Services website the web,
http://www.engg.ksu.edu/studentservices/index.html
You must sign up before the end of the previous semester in which you
plan to take it, so plan early to check this website.