Overhaul your academic planning resources for transparency and open the gateway for student success!

Marlena Lester, Director of AdvisingNatasha Smith, Director of Enrollment Management 

Session # 238

Department of Engineering EducationGeneral Engineering Undergraduate Advisingwww.enge.vt.edu/undergraduate

Learning Outcomes • Identify current academic planning resources at your institution 

• Develop a plan for enhancing and/or improving current or non‐existing academic planning resources 

• Be empowered to develop advising resources to promote student success and learning

Department of Engineering EducationGeneral Engineering Undergraduate Advisingwww.enge.vt.edu/undergraduate

University OverviewVirginia Tech

9 Colleges90+ Majors

27,334 students

College of Engineering14 Engineering Disciplines

8,367 students

Engineering EducationFirst‐Year Program2,592 students

Department of Engineering EducationGeneral Engineering Undergraduate Advisingwww.enge.vt.edu/undergraduate

Our Student Population• The Department of Engineering Education is home to all first‐year engineering students. 

• The General Engineering Program focuses around first year engineering students being prepared for academic success in a degree granting major.

• At the conclusion of the first year students are expected to demonstrate certain skills related to the engineering profession. 

Department of Engineering EducationGeneral Engineering Undergraduate Advisingwww.enge.vt.edu/undergraduate

First-Year Program Goals• Create a foundation

• Find the right fit

• Develop a plan

Department of Engineering EducationGeneral Engineering Undergraduate Advisingwww.enge.vt.edu/undergraduate

What is the purpose of an academic plan?

1. ________________

2. ________________

3. ________________

Department of Engineering EducationGeneral Engineering Undergraduate Advisingwww.enge.vt.edu/undergraduate

PLAN OF STUDY – BREAK OUT TIME

If you were a first‐year student at your institution… Could you develop a plan of study?

1. What resources are needed? 

2. Do you know how/where to find your resources? 

3. Are your resources well developed? 

Department of Engineering EducationGeneral Engineering Undergraduate Advisingwww.enge.vt.edu/undergraduate

Break Out ResponsesWhat resources are needed?

Are they easily located/well developed?

Department of Engineering EducationGeneral Engineering Undergraduate Advisingwww.enge.vt.edu/undergraduate

Plan of Study WebsiteDeveloping a plan of study

• Review the plan of study instructions• Download the appropriate plan of study 

template:• ENGE Plan of Study Template• Air Force: Form 48• Army: 104R• Navy: 4‐year Plan• Raider: 4‐year Plan

• Review with an academic advisor

Military PlansStudents in an ROTC program may be required to complete a four to five year plan of study (Form48/104R/4‐yearplan) for their service area (Air Force, Army, Navy, etc.). This plan of study requires an academic advisor’s signature.

• To aid in this process Engineering Education has developed the following:• Military Plan of Study Instructions• Plan of Study PowerPoint• Plan of Study Workshops

Start Here:Plan of Study Instructions

Plan of Study Resources• Curriculum for Liberal Education (CLE)• Engineering Checksheets• GPA Calculator Directions• Historical Timetable• Instructions• Major Checksheets• Minor Checksheets• Timetable of Classes• Undergraduate Catalog• What If DARS

• Five Year Plans (Military)• Aerospace Engineering• Chemical Engineering

Department of Engineering EducationGeneral Engineering Undergraduate Advisingwww.enge.vt.edu/undergraduate

Plan of Study Resources• Plan of study instructions • Plan of study template• Degree requirements (checksheet) • Special rules and policy disclosures• Host workshops/information sessions

Department of Engineering EducationGeneral Engineering Undergraduate Advisingwww.enge.vt.edu/undergraduate

STEP 1: Plan of Study Template• Download the ENGE Plan of Study Template

Department of Engineering EducationGeneral Engineering Undergraduate Advisingwww.enge.vt.edu/undergraduate

Step 2: Major Checksheet(Graduation Requirements)

• Locate your intended major checksheet at: http://www.enge.vt.edu/_files/undergraduate/pdf_checksheets.pdf

• Not sure about your major? • Explore Engineering Tool • Major Exploration Resources• Schedule an Appointment With your General Engineering Academic Advisor 

Department of Engineering EducationGeneral Engineering Undergraduate Advisingwww.enge.vt.edu/undergraduate

Advising FlowChart

Department of Engineering EducationGeneral Engineering Undergraduate Advisingwww.enge.vt.edu/undergraduate

Checksheet SampleVerify Term Offerings, Minimum Grades, Co-Requisites, and Pre-requisites

Pre‐requisites

Minimum Grades

Term OfferingsF = FallS= Spring

SI = Summer ISII = Summer II

Co‐requisites

Department of Engineering EducationGeneral Engineering Undergraduate Advisingwww.enge.vt.edu/undergraduate

Step 3: Unofficial Transcript• Go to: www.hokiespa.vt.edu• Click Hokie Spa • Click Transcripts and Certifications Menu• Click View Unofficial Transcripts • Click Submit • Verify the completion /progress of course requirements; then mark those classes off of the checksheet

• Place all transfer courses (if applicable) on your ENGE Plan of Study Template

• Place your fall courses in the appropriate section/column on your document. 

Department of Engineering EducationGeneral Engineering Undergraduate Advisingwww.enge.vt.edu/undergraduate

Step 4: Curriculum for Liberal Education

• To identify which courses count for the appropriate CLE area: visit the alphabetical listing of CLE coursesand/or run a “what if” degree audit (see step 5)

• Label the CLE courses with the appropriate area number on the template for example: 

• Sample: PHIL 1204      Knowledge and Reality (Area 2)  3 credits

Department of Engineering EducationGeneral Engineering Undergraduate Advisingwww.enge.vt.edu/undergraduate

Step 5: “What If” Degree Audit (DARS) • A “what if” degree audit will automatically place courses in the appropriate 

requirement area…such as CLE’s• Go to: www.hokiespa.vt.edu• Click Hokie Spa • Click Degree Menu• Click Degree Audit Report Menu• Click Request a “What‐If” Degree Audit Report• Select Major• Select Degree• Select Graduation Term• Click Run Analysis • Once complete: Click View Link• The Degree Audit will open in new window• Click Open All Sections

Department of Engineering EducationGeneral Engineering Undergraduate Advisingwww.enge.vt.edu/undergraduate

Special Instructions• The maximum credit hours is 19, full time status is 12 credit hours. Do not plan 

for more than 19 credit hours a semester. 

• When developing your plan, if you move a course to a different semester other than that listed on the checksheet, you must check to see if it is typically offered in that semester by using the timetables or check your intended majors departmental website for pre‐req charts, flow charts, and course offerings. 

• Timetable of Classes: • https://banweb.banner.vt.edu/ssb/prod/HZSKVTSC.P_DispRequest• The timetable provides a searchable listing of the current or upcoming classes 

offered at VT. • Click on the CRN# for course descriptions, pre‐req’s, co‐req’s, restrictions, etc. 

• Historical Timetable: • https://banweb.banner.vt.edu/ssb/prod/HZSKVTSC.P_DispHistorical• This database allows you to see if a class was taught in a given semester. For 

example, if you were wondering if a particular class would be taught in the spring you could look at past spring semesters on the Historical Timetable and see if it was taught then.

Department of Engineering EducationGeneral Engineering Undergraduate Advisingwww.enge.vt.edu/undergraduate

Corps of Cadet Plan of Study Workshop

• “It was ran very well, and I believe the workshop was extremely helpful.”

• “It was awesome and extremely helpful. I did not know where to start with the form and the staff there were able to walk me through everything. They were friendly and could answer most if not all of my questions. This workshop should definitely be offered in the future.”

• “Good, efficient system. It helped me get through the paperwork much faster than I would have on my own. Definitely something worth keeping year to year”

Department of Engineering EducationGeneral Engineering Undergraduate Advisingwww.enge.vt.edu/undergraduate

Plan of study information sessions• “I think it was very informative and the workshop showed me a lot of tools I could use that I didn't know about before in order to make a better decision at what major I want to do.”

• “Thanks for all of the valuable resources to help as I decide which engineering major to pick.”

Department of Engineering EducationGeneral Engineering Undergraduate Advisingwww.enge.vt.edu/undergraduate

Impact

7.4%5.8%

4.9%Corps of Cadets: 4‐year 

graduation4‐year 

graduation5‐year 

graduation

Department of Engineering EducationGeneral Engineering Undergraduate Advisingwww.enge.vt.edu/undergraduate

Plan for your institutionWhat are some simple ways your resources can be improved? 

1. ________________

2. ________________

3. ________________

Department of Engineering EducationGeneral Engineering Undergraduate Advisingwww.enge.vt.edu/undergraduate

Who are your stakeholders?

1. ________________

2. ________________

3. ________________

Department of Engineering EducationGeneral Engineering Undergraduate Advisingwww.enge.vt.edu/undergraduate

Thank You/Questions?•Web Resource: • www.enge.vt.edu•Undergraduate  Plan of Study 

•Presenter Contacts: •Marlena Lester – marlenal@vt.edu•Natasha Smith – noliver@vt.edu