Degree Works FAQs  

What is Degree Works? 
Degree Works is a web-based tool for students to monitor their academic progress toward degree completion. 

How do I access Degree Works? 
Degree Works is accessible on the LoLA website.

What does Degree Works do? 
Degree Works will provide you with a degree audit.  A degree audit is a listing of both your completed courses and in-progress courses, as well as any outstanding courses and requirements you’ll need to complete your degree.

The audit is divided into blocks, including the following:

• Personal Information
• Program Information
• Program Requirements
• Major Requirements
• General Education Requirements
• Elective Requirements

Each block works as a checklist.  The boxes are automatically checked when a requirement is met.

How will I use with my degree audit? 
Your audit will indicate the courses and requirements needed to complete your degree.  Use this information when you meet with your academic adviser to discuss your schedule, as well as your plans for graduation and transferring to a four-year institution.

How do I read my degree audit? 
Degree Works includes several unique symbols to assist you with reading and understanding your degree audit.



How current is my information in Degree Works? 
Information in Degree Works is updated approximately once every business day.  Updates include grade changes, schedule changes (added, dropped, or withdrawn courses), approved course substitutions, approved requirement waivers, program changes, and catalog term changes.

• Keep in mind that some changes may take up to three business days due to processing time.
• Contact your academic advisor for questions regarding the accuracy of your audit.

Can I see a list of all the classes I’ve taken? 
Yes. Select the vertical ellipsis at the upper right-hand corner of the degree audit screen. Select Class History from the drop menu.

Is my degree audit the same as my official transcript? 
No. Although both will show all coursework you’ve completed, they each serve a different purpose. Your transcript is your official academic record at SLCC. Your degree audit is a summary of your progress toward meeting your degree requirements. 

My program is incorrect on my degree audit. 
Degree Works uses the same program in your LoLA account—your official program.  The official program in your LoLA account impacts various aspects of your SLCC experience, including your academic advisor assignment, your projected graduation date, and your eligibility for certain scholarships and aid.

To change your program, you must complete a Request for Change of Program/Campus/Catalog form.  The form requires your academic advisor’s signature.  Completed forms are submitted to the registrar’s office.  Keep in mind that certain programs have selective admissions processes.  Contact your academic advisor for questions.

I think the graduation requirements are wrong on my degree audit. 
Degree Works uses the same catalog term in your LoLA account.  Your catalog term determines the requirements you must complete in order to earn your degree.  Your catalog term is the semester in which you began taking classes for your current program.  If you skipped enrollment at SLCC for a fall or spring semester, your catalog term is the semester in which you returned to SLCC.

To change your catalog term, submit a Request for Change of Program/Campus/Catalog form to the registrar’s office.  SLCC cannot guarantee change requests will be approved.  Keep in mind that changing your catalog term may impact your projected graduation date.  Your new catalog term will determine the requirements you must complete in order to earn your degree. 

I think my classes appear in the wrong blocks on my degree audit. 
Degree Works uses a “best fit” approach for fulfilling degree requirements. Contact your academic advisor with questions regarding how your classes fulfill your degree requirements on your degree audit. 

My transfer credits don’t appear on my degree audit. 
Degree Works uses credits included on your LoLA transcript—your official SLCC transcript. You must submit official transcripts from each institution you’ve attended to SLCC in order to receive transfer credits on your SLCC transcript. For questions regarding missing transfer credits, contact slcctranscripts@solacc.edu. 

I don’t have a degree audit. 
SLCC’s Degree Works includes graduation requirements from fall 2018 to the present. You will not have a degree audit if your catalog term is prior to fall 2018 (i.e., spring 2018 and previous semesters). If your catalog term is prior to fall 2018, you can view a different audit by using the What If feature. Contact your academic advisor for questions.

If all of the boxes are checked, does that mean I'm graduating? 
No. Degree audits are not official documentation for graduation. You must complete a graduation application and submit it to the registrar’s office.  Once the application is processed, a message is sent to your SLCC e-mail account updating you regarding your graduation status.

Should I wait until all of the boxes are checked to apply for graduation? 
You should consult your academic advisor after you have completed 30 credits toward your degree to determine the best time to apply for graduation. 

How do I apply for graduation? 
To apply for graduation, you must submit a graduation application using your LoLA account.  Instructions for submitting your online applications are available on the registrar's webpage. You can submit your online application from the beginning of your graduating term until the applicable due date. The following are SLCC’s graduation application deadlines:

• Fall Applications: Opens on August 1 through September 5
• Spring Applications: Opens February 1 through March 5
• Summer Applications: Opens May 19 through June 13

If you are applying for graduation after the application deadline, please contact graduation@solacc.edu 

Can I see how my credits will apply to a different program?
The What If feature allows you to determine the potential positive and negative consequences of changing your program.  The What If feature will indicate the requirements, you have already met for your potential new program, as well as the requirements you would need to complete if you officially changed your program.

For example, your program is general studies and you have decided that you would rather earn a degree in business.  The What If feature allows you to see how many of your general studies credits would apply to a business degree.  The feature will also indicate the number of additional credits you would need to complete if you changed your program to business. 

If I use the What If feature, does this mean I have changed my program?
No. The What If feature is for information purposes only.  To change your program, you must complete a Request for Change of Program/Campus/Catalog form.  The form requires your academic advisor’s signature.  Completed forms are submitted to the registrar’s office.

Can my advisor see my What If audit?
Since What If audits are not saved on Degree Works, your advisor can only see your results if the two of you use the What If feature together, or if you save a PDF version of your What If audit and share it with your advisor.

Why am I receiving an error when I use the What If feature?
The What If feature requires you to make a selection in the "Catalog Term" field. Failure to select a catalog term will result in an error.

What is the Graduation Calculator?
The Graduation Calculator can provide an overview of the grades you will need to earn throughout your remaining credits to achieve your desired cumulative GPA.

What does the Term Calculator show?
The Term Calculator allows you to enter estimated grades for your current classes and see how they impact your cumulative GPA.

When is the Advice Calculator helpful?
The Advice Calculator can be used to determine specific grades needed to achieve a desired cumulative GPA. It is more specific than the Graduation Calculator.

If you receive an error message, it is impossible for you to reach your desired GPA without repeating courses.

Is the calculated GPA guaranteed?
No. The calculated GPA is an estimate only.