AIM manages the process for clearing L&S degrees and majors. We use DARS audit data and an automated system to verify students have completed the requirements for graduation, so that their degrees can be awarded quickly and accurately. Our process has saved hundreds of hours of staff time each year, so that 95% students have their degrees cleared the day after final grades.
Graduation Checklist
Currently, AIM pre-audits students who have applied to graduate, twice in their final term. Once in Week 3 after open enrollment ends, and again in Week 13 after the deadline to drop courses or withdraw. Through this process, we hope to identify and message students who have outstanding graduation issues so that, at the conclusion of the term, they can be cleared and receive their degrees.
At the conclusion of the term, when final grades and actions are recorded, AIM begins officially clearing degrees. Most students (approximately 95%) will clear in the first audit the day after final grades are posted. Other students will clear after some administrative action, such as their credits in transfer or taken through study abroad are finalized. Typically, AIM runs the automated process every Tuesday weekly for 4-5 weeks after the term ends, and ends the process when there are no new degrees to clear.
Every term there are some students who do not clear through the automated process. These students may have outstanding temporary grades, unsatisfied degree requirements, or unfinished degree options (e.g., Honors). These students will receive a message from L&S about their status, directing them to contact their academic advisors for help. AIM produces a Degree Deficiency Report and shares it with authorized users in L&S Academic Deans Services, who may then follow up with students and academic departments about the students on this report.