Every incoming freshman is being trained on the use of the Student Educational Planner (SEP) in Degree Works in their UNIV 1000 the GSW Experience, first-years seminar course. Creating and submitting a registration plan is an assignment in all sections of UNIV 1000.
Data shows that students who create a degree plan in the Student Educational Planner (SEP) are more likely to be retained at the University. Among first-year students in the Fall 2024 cohort, those who developed a plan in SEP had a retention rate of 70.2%, compared to the overall cohort retention rate of 63.8%. We will continue to track and monitor students with plans in DegreeWorks to further assess the impact on retention.
To increase the number of students with a plan in the Student Educational Planner (SEP), the requirement was integrated into an Academic Progress and Planning Project for all first-year students enrolled in UNIV 1000. Course instructors and Storm Spotters (peer mentors) received training from the Registrar’s Office on how to create and utilize the SEP effectively.
Once students have created their plans, the next step is to ensure all advisors are familiar with the Student Education Planner to support more effective advising conversations. The Office of the Registrar has been conducting SEP training with various academic departments this fall and will continue to do so in the spring.
Gaining instructor buy-in can be challenging; however, making the SEP a course requirement and providing targeted training are strategies we believe will help address this issue.
