GSTS- Frequently Asked Questions
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- Graduate Student Tracking System (GSTS)
- Frequently Asked Questions
- What does GSTS (and other commonly used terms) mean?
- How can I see student advisement reports?
- Do students need to satisfy all requirements in their advisement reports?
- How can a program change the pre-configured requirements displayed in an advisement report?
- Is the program milestone training required to see student advisement reports?
- Does transfer credit automatically satisfy requirements in student advisement reports?
- Are there in-person trainings available for new users?
Graduate Student Tracking System (GSTS)
The Graduate Student Tracking System (GSTS) is an academic advising tool, which creates student advisement reports. Reports have information about the curricular requirements to earn a graduate degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and allows for monitoring of a graduate student's progress towards degree completion. This tool exists in the academic advisement module of the Student Information System (SIS). Configuration for all graduate programs on campus was completed in December 2022.
It is meant to provide:
- Clarity around the complex academic requirements to earn a graduate degree, including access to real-time degree progress reports.
- Access to view and track academic progress with respect to minimum credit requirements and progress milestones such as qualifying exams and dissertator status.
- Efficient, accurate, and transparent advising for graduate students, faculty, and staff, administered centrally, rather than through various paperwork and processes maintained by units across campus.
Each graduate student is provided an individual student advisement report showing the curricular requirements for the degree(s) they are pursuing or have earned as well as the names of any doctoral minors or graduate/professional certificates that the student has declared or completed. Specific curricular requirements for doctoral minors and graduate/professional certificates are not displayed. Programs can document any approved deviations from the standard curriculum on an individual basis by adding an exception.
Important things to remember when using GSTS include:
- Reports do not automatically track any allowed overlap in curriculum between double degrees, dual degrees, or joint degree.
- Due to significant changes in policy for graduate degree requirements in Fall 2014, students who began their program prior to that time will not have an advisement report.
The system is intended to support current advising practices. It is not intended to be intrusive nor replace the key role played by academic and research advisors in the student life cycle. Each graduate program has the option to choose how they want to integrate the system into their operations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are commonly asked questions users may have when using the system and student advisement reports.
What does GSTS (and other commonly used terms) mean?
It can be confusing to learn a new system and the terms associated with it. Below are a few terms and abbreviations to help you along the way.
- Graduate Student Tracking System: This is the system that houses all of the tables in SIS used to generate a student advisement report.
- Commonly known by its abbreviation, GSTS
- Student Advisement Report: This is the report created by GSTS with all of the curricular requirements needed to earn a graduate degree at UW-Madison.
- Synonyms: academic advisement report or academic progress report
- Academic Progress Tile: This is the name of the tile in a student's MyUW. A student must click on the tile to see their student advisement report.
- Exception: Any deviation from the pre-configured or programmed curriculum on an advisement report.
Read more
GSTS - How to Add an Exception and Types of Exceptions in Student Advisement Reports
How can I see student advisement reports?
To see a student advisement report, you may need to complete additional training. The training requirement depends on your user type.
Read more
Do students need to satisfy all requirements in their advisement reports?
No, there is no requirement to satisfy all sections in student advisement reports. The report is not required for degree clearance but rather meant to support current advising practices.
How can a program change the pre-configured requirements displayed in an advisement report?
The requirements displayed on a student advisement report are configured based on the most current version of the program's Guide page. Requirements in an advisement report may not match because:
- student matriculated in a term before the program's requirements changed and/or
- program changed requirements but did not update Guide page
You will need to work with your school or college academic planner to update your program's requirements in Guide.
Read more
Is the program milestone training required to see student advisement reports?
No, the program milestones Canvas training is not required. This is an optional training coordinators / managers may complete to access program milestones. Milestones track non-coursework related requirements for degree completion.
Does transfer credit automatically satisfy requirements in student advisement reports?
No, coordinators need to add it to the student's record through their Graduate Portal and then request that an exception be added.
Read more
Graduate Transfer Credit for Prior Coursework - How to Enter Transfer Credit
GSTS - How to Add an Exception and Types of Exceptions in Student Advisement Reports
Are there in-person trainings available for new users?
The online Canvas training has replaced in-person trainings. There are also several KB articles that detail processes related to student advisement reports. Users may also contact the GSTS coordinator (owner of this article) with additional questions.