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Procedures: Undergraduate Major Declaration

Information on the major declaration policy for schools/colleges that enroll undergraduates.

Policy

Undergraduate Major Declaration

Policy Number

UW-1009

Responsible Office

Data, Academic Planning & Institutional Research

Type

University Policy

Rationale/​Purpose

Timely major declaration is associated with timely degree completion. This policy establishes a university standard for school/college declaration of major policies.

Policy

  1. Policy

    All academic divisions (schools/colleges) that offer degree-majors at the undergraduate level are required to maintain and enforce a policy on undergraduate major declaration. The school/college policies must abide by the university standard which requires a student to declare a major no later than the end of the term in which the student accumulates 86 credits.

    In recognition of the fact that some students enter UW-Madison with a significant number of college credits, the schools/colleges must allow an undergraduate two semesters of enrollment at UW-Madison before enforcing the policy on undergraduate major declaration.

  2. Relationship to School/College Policies

    All undergraduates are assigned to a school or college and, under this policy, are subject to their school or college’s major declaration policy. The school or college’s policy cannot be less strict than the university policy.

  3. Implementation

    School/college policies on undergraduate major declaration must be published in The Guide. Annually, an audit is generated of undergraduates with more than 86 accrued credits, at least two semesters of enrollment at UW-Madison, and no declared degree/major. The school/college dean’s offices review the data and follow up accordingly.

Approval Authority

Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

Policy Manager

Vice Provost for Data, Academic Planning & Institutional Research

Contact

Associate Director, Data, Academic Planning & Institutional Research -- Michelle Young, MEYOUNG@WISC.EDU, (608) 262-2143

Effective Date

08-01-2016
Source: View policy UW-1009 in the UW-Madison Policy Library

Procedures

I. Overview and Context

The intent of establishing a university-wide minimum standard for school/college policy on undergraduate major declaration is to communicate across the university community, including to students and their families, that timely major declaration is associated with timely degree completion. Given that students make the transition to senior standing at 86 credits, this is a useful point to apply this requirement.

Currently, each school and college maintains a distinct policy on major declaration. Some schools and colleges impose a maximum number of semesters of enrollment or a set number of credits earned by which a student must declare a major. Other schools and colleges impose a maximum number of applications a student may attempt to declare a major. Schools/colleges may continue to use these various types of policy under this institutional umbrella policy.

II. Definitions

Accumulated credits are defined as credits earned through UW-Madison coursework, transfer credit, advanced placement credit, retroactive credits, credit by departmental exam, and other recorded credit.

A declared major is defined as a major that carries a degree granting plan code entered on a student’s record in the student information system. Plan codes that do not lead to a degree (e.g., pre-codes) are not declared majors.

Undergraduate students are defined as all students who apply and are admitted through the undergraduate admissions process and who are enrolled in the UGRD career.

III. Relationship to School/College Policies

All undergraduates are assigned to a school or college in the student information system and, under this policy they continue to be subject to that school or college’s major declaration policy. Schools and colleges may adopt major declaration policies that suit their purposes and also conform to the requirement for declaration by 86 credits (with exception allowed for students who are in their first or second enrolled semester).

 School/College  Link to Major Declaration Policy
Agricultural & Life Sciences, College of http://guide.wisc.edu/undergraduate/agricultural-life-sciences/#enteringthecollegetext
Business, School of https://business.wisc.edu/undergraduate/admissions/
Education, School of https://education.wisc.edu/admissions-aid/undergraduate-admissions/
Engineering, School of https://www.engr.wisc.edu/admissions/undergraduate-admissions/
Human Ecology, School of https://sohe.wisc.edu/students/applying-to-sohe/
Letters and Science, School of http://guide.wisc.edu/undergraduate/letters-science/#policiesandregulationstext See Major Information, Major Declaration Policy
Nursing, School of https://nursing.wisc.edu/undergraduate/
Pharmacy, School of https://pharmacy.wisc.edu/programs/pharm-tox/admissions/

IV. Considerations for Implementation

School/college policies on undergraduate major declaration will be published in the undergraduate catalog (The Guide) or an equivalent university-wide electronic or paper publication. School/college dean’s offices will continue to enforce their policy. Annually, the Office of the Registrar will generate a list of undergraduates with more than 86 credits and 2 semesters of enrollment at UW-Madison who do not have a declared major. Academic Planning and Institutional Research will review these lists and send them to deans’ offices for review of policy effectiveness. A routine process for this exchange of information will be developed.


Keywords:
major declaration 
Doc ID:
98029
Owned by:
Karen M. in Academic Planning
Created:
2020-02-17
Updated:
2024-06-25
Sites:
Academic Planning