Frequently Asked Questions
General Information
Q:
What is Degree Works?
“DEGREE WORKS” is a computerized degree audit program and academic advising
tool designed to assist you, academic advisors and faculty mentors in reviewing
your degree progress. A web-based program, DEGREE WORKS re-organizes
your transcript chronologically and categorically, easily identifying courses
you have completed and what courses you still need in order to fulfill your
degree requirements.
Q: How do I access the Degree Works degree audit system?
Degree Works can be accessed from the PNC Portal (myPNC)
Q: What are the benefits in
using Degree Works?
DEGREE WORKS will help you:
- Determine what requirements you need to fulfill in order to
complete your degree
- View individual course grades and cumulative grade-point average
(GPA), and GPA for courses under the major block
- Determines how your transfer credits may fit into your Program of
Study
- View transfer credits, waivers, and exemptions applied toward a
degree based on exception processing.
- See how your coursework could be applied toward another major,
minor, or concentration using the What If option.
- Confirm your academic standing. Will show if on “probation”
or in a “drop” status; if ‘blank’ you are in “good standing”
- View your Satisfactory Academic Progress status for financial aid
purposes.
- View your Program of Study broken out by semester
using the Plan tool
- Learn the prerequisites and co-requisites for courses by clicking
on the course numbers
Q: When will Degree Works be
available?
The Degree Works degree-audit system is available to students, academic
advisors and faculty mentors 24/7 beginning March 29, 2013.
Q: Who will be able to use
Degree Works?
Students, Academic Advisors and Faculty Mentors are able to use the system. If
you feel you should have access to the Degree Works degree-audit system and do
not, contact the Registrar’s Office.
Q: What components of Degree Works
are available?
- Degree Audit
- Exception Processing
- “What If” Processing
- Academic Plan templates
- Notes
- GPA Calculators
Q: Are there directions for
understanding a degree audit?
There are Q/A’s at http://www.pnc.edu/degreeworks/faq.html and additional information available to you from the “Help” tab within Degree
Works.
Q: Can I receive personalized
instruction on the use of Degree Works?
You are invited to stop by Technology Room 298 between the hours of 1:00 pm
and 4:00 pm during one of the following Degree Works Open Lab times for
personal assistance in accessing and understanding your degree audit: April 2,
4, 5, 9, 11, 12, 16, 18, 19, 23, 25 and 30.
Q: How often should a degree
audit be reviewed?
A degree audit can be reviewed at any time but it is recommended to do so at
least four times a semester:
- Before a student’s registration.
- After a student’s registration to ensure courses apply to program
requirements.
- After grades for each semester are posted.
- Any time changes are made to a student’s academic record.
Q: What if I have technical
questions about accessing the Degree Works degree audit system?
Contact the Help Desk at (219) 785-5511 located in the Technology
Building, room 265. You may also submit a ticket online at https://services.pnc.edu/ehelpdesk/login.glml
Student Information
Degree Works is accessible by students 24/7 beginning March 29, 2013. Currently an Audit
will be available for you if your Catalog Start Year is 2012-2013. If your
Catalog Start Year is before or after 2012-2013 you may use the “What-If”
component of the Degree Works degree-audit system to see where your courses
will fit into a particular Program of Study.
Q: How do I access the Degree Works degree audit system?
Degree Works can be accessed from the PNC Portal (myPNC)
Q: What is a Degree Audit?
A degree audit is a summary of the student’s degree requirements merged
with the student’s academic record, which will provide a real-time assessment
of the student’s progress toward graduation. The Audit is organized in block
of like requirements such as the General Education Core block, Supplemental
Core block, and Major block. The Audit is the official list of all
requirements for graduation.
Q: Are there directions for
understanding my degree audit?
There are written instructions at http://www.pnc.edu/degreeworks/faq.html and additional information available to you from the “Help” tab within Degree
Works.
Q: Can I receive personalized
instruction on the use of Degree Works?
You are invited to stop by Technology Room 298 between the hours of 1:00 pm
and 4:00 pm during one of the following Degree Works Open Lab times for
personal assistance in accessing and understanding your degree audit: April 2,
4, 5, 9, 11, 12, 16, 18, 19, 23, 25 and 30.
Q: When should I use my Degree
Works audit?
Use your DEGREE WORKS Audit when:
- Reviewing your progress with an academic advisor or faculty
mentor
- Creating a list of questions to discuss with your advisor or
faculty mentor
- Identifying courses that need to be completed
- Selecting courses that meet your degree requirements
- Determining a projected graduation date
- Choosing a major
- Deciding whether to add a minor
Q: What is my Catalog Start
Year?
Your catalog start year is the semester you begin to study a specific
major. Your catalog start year is displayed in the first block of your Audit.
Note: Currently an Audit will be available for you if your Catalog Start Year
is 2012-2013. If your Catalog Start Year is before or after 2012-2013 you may
use the “What-If” component of the Degree Works degree-audit system to see
where your courses will fit in a particular Program of Study.
Q: An audit is not displaying for me. Why?
You must have a Catalog Year of 2012-13 for an audit to display for you. If
your Catalog Start Year is before or after 2012-2013 you may use the “What-If”
component of the Degree Works degree-audit system to see where your courses will
fit into a particular Program of Study.
Q: I do not have a Catalog Year
of 2012-13 so an audit will not display for me. What are my options?
Option 1: Use the “What If” function to display an audit based on a
selected major
Option 2: You can work with your Academic Advisor or Faculty Mentor to
submit a Change of Degree Objective (CODO) into a new Program of Study for
Catalog Year 2012-13.
Q: How current is my audit information?
Information is updated nightly from the student information system.
Q: What if information in
Degree Works is not current?
There could be some paperwork that must be completed. For example, if a
grade change is pending, it is possible the form has not reached the
Registrar's Office or transfer credits have not yet been entered into a
student's academic record.
Q: How do I
know who my academic advisor and/or faculty mentor is and how to contact them?
Your academic advisor and/or faculty mentor is listed at the top of your degree
audit and their name is linked directly to their email. If there is no advisor
listed, contact the Academic Advising Office at (219) 785-5678 or the
Registrar’s Office.
Q: How can I
schedule an appointment with my academic advisor?
Contact Sharon Gurn, secretary for Academic Advising, at (219) 785-5678
or email Sharon at sgurn@pnc.edu
Q: If I am thinking about
changing my major, how can I see how the classes I have completed will fit?
You can run a “What-If” audit, found in the left-side of the Degree
Works audit tab in your degree audit. Add your intended degree, major, etc. to
the fields requested then click the 
button. The results
will show how your completed courses apply and what remains to be taken.
Q: What is the “What If”
feature?
The “What If” function allows you to hypothetically change your major, minor,
or concentration. The What If audit will show you what coursework is required
for the new major, minor, or concentration, what courses you have taken that
satisfy requirements, and what courses are still left for you to take.
Q: Why am I receiving an error
when I run a “What If” scenario?
The “What If” tool requires that you make a selection in the “Major”
field. Failure to select a major will result in an error.
Q: Can my
faculty advisor or faculty mentor see my “What If” scenario?
No, What If scenarios cannot be saved. You may print the What If scenario,
however, to review with your academic advisor or faculty mentor.
Q: What do I do if I want to
change my major?
You should contact your academic advisor or faculty mentor to initiate
a Change of Degree Objective (CODO). The name of your academic advisor or
faculty mentor is listed on your degree audit and they can be emailed directly
from the link provided in the degree audit.
Q: How can I see all the classes
I have taken?
In your degree audit click on the 
link at the top of the
page. This will provide a chronological list of all courses you have completed
and the grades you have earned.
Q: If I think there is an error
in my audit, what should I do?
Contact your academic advisor or faculty mentor. The name of your
academic advisor or faculty mentor is listed on your degree audit and they can
be emailed directly from the link provided in the degree audit.
Q: How do I know if I have
everything covered for graduation?
Look at all the boxes in each block of your audit. If there is a green
checkmark 
the
requirement is complete. If there is a blue tilde 
that means the
requirement is in progress. Remaining red checkboxes 
indicate that the requirement
has not been met. Be sure to verify your progress toward graduation with your
academic advisor or faculty mentor.
Q: What is a Plan?
Each student will have an individualized degree Plan that begins with
the requirements in the Degree Audit, organized similar to the paper “bingo
sheets” you may be familiar with. If a Plan does not exist for you contact the
Office of the Registrar or your academic advisor so that one may be created for
you.
Q: Is Degree Works the same as
my transcript?
No, Degree Works is an unofficial audit of your coursework, as well as an
outline of requirements still needed to complete your program of study.
Q: Can I register for classes
in Degree Works?
Although your audit and Plan will guide you in taking the correct
classes Degree Works is a snapshot of courses in-progress, planned, and in
your academic history. Registration and drop/add are still handled through
already-established procedures e.g. Self-Service Banner.
Q: Are my grades visible in
Degree Works?
Yes. Once grades have been processed at the end of the semester they are
viewable in Degree Works.
Q: Does the Degree Works audit
show all my courses even if I have taken them elsewhere?
Yes, all transfer courses from a regionally accredited institution should show
on your degree audit.
Q: Why isn't my transfer work
meeting a requirement?
There could be two reasons. First, the course did not meet either the minimum
number of credits and/or minimum grade requirement for use in your program of
study. Second, all requirements may have been
met and this course is simply not needed.
Q: Why is Degree Works not
displaying my concentration?
Degree Works will not display your concentration until it has been declared.
Q: What is the Graduation
Calculator?
This can be used to give you a general view of what grades you will
need to earn throughout your remaining credits in order to achieve your desired
GPA.
Q: When is the Advice
Calculator helpful?
The advice calculator can be used to determine specific grades needed
to achieve a desired GPA. It is more specific that the graduation calculator.
Q: What if I have technical
questions about accessing the Degree Works degree audit system?
Contact the Help Desk at (219) 785-5511 located in the Technology
Building, room 265. You may also submit a ticket online at https://services.pnc.edu/ehelpdesk/login.glml
Academic Advisor and Faculty Mentor
Information
Q:
Can I get a list of all my advisees or mentees via Degree Works?
No. You must continue to user Self-Service Banner to obtain a list of your
advisees or mentees.
Q:
The Degree Works audit appears to contain incorrect information. Who do I
contact to discuss?
Email Jen Wolszczak at jwolszczak@pnc.edu.
Q:
If there is a change in a Program of Study or course additions/deletions when
will Degree Works be updated to reflect these changes?
Changes to Programs of Study approved by the Faculty Senate will be reflected
in Degree Works on an annual basis beginning with the fall term.
Q: What corrections can be made
to Degree Works now?
Any correction that will not require approval by the Faculty Senate, e.g.
typographical errors, can be made at any time. Email Jen Wolszczak
atjwolszczak@pnc.edu
Q: What if the advisor assigned to a student is
not correct?
If you start with a professional advisor and now have a faculty mentor, both
individuals will be listed within Degree Works. Follow existing process
to correct academic advisor or faculty mentor assignment.
