SIS - Managing Student Programs, Plans, and Sub-Plans

This document provides an overview of major and certificate updates. Once these updates are completed in SIS, student records will be automatically updated, unless noted in a notification from the system. This form can be used to declare, transfer, and cancel programs, declare and cancel plans (majors and certificates), and add and remove sub-plans (options and honors).

Overview

This form can be used to declare, transfer, and cancel programs, declare and cancel plans (majors and certificates), and add and remove sub-plans (options and honors).

Additionally, this form can be used to transfer a student from one academic program to another (for example, from BA to BS, JBA to BSW, or HPF to HEC). The actions that a user has access to submit are based on their individual access to program actions, programs, plans, and certificates. Requests and processing can be tracked using a history view.

Table of Contents

Understanding the Student Program/Plan Request Form

In SIS, Navigate to > Student Records WorkCenter > Dean/Dept Processing tab > Student Program/Plan Requests.

screenshot of Student Program Plan Request page in SIS with the Search Criteria expanded

Enter student's EMPL ID or Campus ID (or last name/first name) and select the "Search" button.

Current Student Record Data

This is the top section of the form and contains current information in the student record.

Note: You must enter an effective term and <ENTER> or <TAB> for the "Select an Action" drop-down menu to appear.

Student Program Plan Request page in SIS showing information of a particular students

  • Academic Group: Indicates the student’s current primary school or college.
  • Primary Program: Indicates the student’s primary academic program (classification).
  • Academic Standing: Indicates the student’s most recent academic standing status.
  • Email Address: Indicates the student’s email address.
  • Academic Career: Indicates the student’s academic career.
  • Term: Indicates the last term in which the student was enrolled.
  • Declared Plan(s): Indicates any plan that is active on the student's UW–Madison student record. This indicates the plan (major) code and plan short description, sub-plan (options or honors) code and sub-plan short description, if applicable, declaration date, indicator for applied for graduation and Expected Graduation Term (EGT), and any committee and/or advisor assigned to the student. The EGT will only display if the student has applied to graduate.

Note: Click on the ‘Related Content’ link in the upper right corner of the page to display more detailed Student Program/Plan and Student Advisor data.

Student Program/Plan Request Form

This is the bottom section of the form that will be used to make changes to the student record.

Note: You must enter an effective term and <ENTER> or <TAB> for the "Select an Action" drop-down menu to appear.

Student Program Plan Request page in SIS with information of a student populated and showing the Declared Plans and Declare a Major section of the page

 

  • Effective Term: An Effective Term must be selected to determine when the action becomes effective for the student. If needed, select an effective term in the past to backdate a request (limited to the current and previous three terms).
  • Select an Action: Indicate the action to be performed on the student’s record; actions are displayed alphabetically. Depending on the action selected, the academic structure fields required to complete the action will be displayed. Values in the drop down are controlled by the end user’s security. 
  • Academic Program: A valid academic program is required to submit the request. Depending on the action selected, this field may default to the required program or it may display the only valid Academic Program for the action. Academic Programs displayed when using the look-up prompt are based on the end user’s Academic Program security.
  • Academic Plan: A valid academic plan is required to submit the request. Select the academic plan for the student. A student can have any number of academic plans within an academic program but the plans available to select are based on the end user’s Academic Plan security.
  • Academic Sub-Plan: Sub-Plans can be optional or required depending upon their respective plan. If needed, indicate a valid sub-plan. The sub-plans available to select are based on the end user’s Academic Plan security.
  • Advisor: Indicate at least one academic advisor for undergraduate majors. All additional advisors or advisors for Honors plans, certificates, and non-undergraduate majors are optional.

Note: Click on the "Related Content" link in the upper right corner of the page to display more detailed Student Program/Plan and Student Advisor data.

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Tracking Student Program/Plan Requests

In SIS, navigate to > Student Records WorkCenter > Dean/Dept Processing tab > Student Program/Plan Requests > Program/Plan Request History tab.

Declaration requests can be tracked using the two tabs on the "Program/Declaration History" tab. The "Program Info" tab will show what actions were submitted, what program/plan/sub-plans were declared and for what effective term. The "Submission Info" tab will show who submitted a request, the date of the submission, the status of the request, if the request has been processed, on what date and any notes about the request.

Program Plan Request History page in SIS showing the Program Info tab

Program Plan Request History page in SIS showing the Submission Info tab

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Submitting a Student Program/Plan Request

Before submitting a request, please check to see if the program, plan (major, certificate, honors) and/or sub-plan (option) is already listed in “Declared Plan(s):” portion of the student data, or check the Program/Plan Request History page to see if a request was submitted but has not been processed.

To make multiple requests, press return to search and re-search the student. Information from your original request should show at the top, if it has successfully updated.

For detailed instructions, see below.

Note: If you receive an error message, or if you cannot find an advisor searching by name, Contact the Office of the Registrar by email at registrar@em.wisc.edu or by phone at (608) 262-3811.

Programs

Transfer a Program

  1. In SIS, navigate to > Student Records WorkCenter > Dean/Dept Processing tab > Student Program/Plan Requests.
  2. Enter a student’s Empl ID or Campus ID.
  3. Select the "Search" button.
  4. Enter the Effective Term and <ENTER> or <TAB> to see the "Select an Action" drop-down menu.
  5. Select the "Transfer Program" drop-down. This action is only available to select users, typically in school/college academic deans’ offices.
  6. Select the "Program From" value. This will pre-populate with the student’s existing program unless they have more than one (e.g. a declared certificate, additional major, etc).
  7. Select the "Program To" from the look-up (programs will display based on the end-user’s security).
  8. Enter the "Plan" code (major) associated with the new program in the "Plan To" field.
    • For a list of valid Plan codes, select the magnifying glass icon to the right of the Plan field.
  9. If applicable, enter the new "Sub-Plan (option)" code in the "Sub-plan To" field.
    • For a list of valid Sub-Plan codes, select the magnifying glass icon to the right of the Sub-Plan field.
  10. Enter an Advisor or Committee.
    • To search for an advisor by name, select the magnifying glass icon to the right of the Academic Advisor field. To add additional advisors, select the +(plus) button. To remove advisors, select the lower - (minus) button if >1 advisor.
    • To add an advising committee, select the "Committee" tab, check the "Advised by Committee" box, and enter or search for the Committee name.
  11. Select "Save."

Add Additional Program

  1. In SIS, navigate to > Student Records WorkCenter >Dean/Dept Processing tab >Student Program/Plan Requests.
  2. Enter a student’s Empl ID or Campus ID.
  3. Select the "Search" button.
  4. Enter the Effective Term and <ENTER> or <TAB> to see the "Select an Action" drop-down menu.
  5. Select the "Add Additional Program" drop-down. This action is only available to select users, typically in school/college academic deans’ offices.
  6. Enter the "Academic Program" value (programs will display based on the end-user’s security).
    • For a list of valid Program codes, select the magnifying glass icon to the right of the Academic Program field.
  7. Enter the "Plan" code (major) associated with the new program in the "Academic Plan" field.
    • For a list of valid Plan codes, select the magnifying glass icon to the right of the Plan field.
  8. If applicable, enter the new "Sub-Plan (option)" code in the "Academic Sub-Plan" field.
    • For a list of valid Sub-Plan codes, select the magnifying glass icon to the right of the Sub-Plan.
  9. Enter an Advisor or Committee.
    • To search for an advisor by name, select the magnifying glass icon to the right of the Academic Advisor field. To add additional advisors, select the +(plus) button. To remove advisors, select the lower - (minus) button if >1 advisor.
    • To add an advising committee, select the "Committee" tab, check the "Advised by Committee" box, and enter or search for the Committee name.
  10. Select "Save."

Discontinue Additional Program

  1. In SIS, navigate to > Student Records WorkCenter > Dean/Dept Processing tab > Student Program/Plan Requests.
  2. Enter a student’s Empl ID or Campus ID.
  3. Select the "Search" button.
  4. Enter the Effective Term and <ENTER> or <TAB> to see the "Select an Action" drop-down menu.
  5. Select the "Discontinue Additional Program" drop-down. This action is only available to select users, typically in school/college academic deans’ offices.
  6. Enter the "Academic Program" value (programs will display based on the end-user’s security).
    • For a list of valid Program codes, select the magnifying glass icon to the right of the Academic Program field.
  7. Enter the "Plan" code (major) associated with the program in the "Academic Plan" field.
    • For a list of valid Plan codes, select the magnifying glass icon to the right of the Plan field.
  8. Select "Save."

Majors

Declare a Major

This action can only be used to declare a major within the student’s existing program; to declare a major within a different program, use the "Transfer Program" action. To declare an additional major outside of the student’s existing school/college/primary program, please select the "Declare Additional Major" action. For additional majors declared by students in L&S, but who are not in a BA or BS program (i.e.: Music, Journalism, etc), major codes will start with MAJ and not BA or BS.

Please do not use the "Declare" action to add/change an option to an already-declared major; use the "Declare/Change a Named Option" action.

  1. In SIS, navigate to > Student Records WorkCenter > Dean/Dept Processing tab > Student Program/Plan Requests.
  2. Enter a student’s Empl ID or Campus ID.
  3. Select the "Search" button.
  4. Enter the Effective Term and <ENTER> or <TAB> to see the "Select an Action" drop-down menu.
  5. Select "Declare a Major" from the drop-down.
    • Note: Do not use the "Declare" action to add an option to an already-declared major; please use the "Declare/Change a Named Option" action.
  6. Enter the "Academic Program." This will pre-populate with the student’s existing program unless they have more than one (e.g. a declared certificate, additional major, etc).
    • For a list of valid Program codes, select the magnifying glass icon to the right of the Academic Program field.
  7. Enter the "Plan" code (major).
    • For a list of valid Plan codes, select the magnifying glass icon to the right of the Plan field.
    • Note: L&S students not in a BA or BS program will have plan codes that start with "MAJ."
  8. Enter the "Sub-Plan" code, if needed (option).
    • For a list of valid Sub-Plan codes, select the magnifying glass icon to the right of the Sub-Plan field.
  9. Enter at least one academic advisor or advising committee.
    • To search for an advisor by name, select the magnifying glass icon to the right of the Academic Advisor field. To add additional advisors, select the + (plus) button. To remove advisors, select the lower - (minus) button if >1 advisor.
    • To add an advising committee, select the "Committee" tab, check the "Advised by Committee" box, and enter or search for the Committee name.
  10. Select "Save."

Cancel a Major

  1. In SIS, navigate to > Student Records WorkCenter > Dean/Dept Processing tab > Student Program/Plan Requests.
  2. Enter a student’s Empl ID or Campus ID.
  3. Select the "Search" button.
  4. Enter the Effective Term and <ENTER> or <TAB> to see the "Select an Action" drop-down menu.
  5. Select "Cancel a Major" from the drop-down.
  6. The "Academic Program" will display by default.
  7. Enter the "Academic Plan" code (major).
    • For a list of valid Plan codes, select the magnifying glass icon to the right of the Plan field.
  8. Select "Save."

Declare Additional Major

  1. In SIS, navigate to > Student Records WorkCenter > Dean/Dept Processing tab > Student Program/Plan Requests.
  2. Enter a student’s Empl ID or Campus ID.
  3. Select the "Search" button.
  4. Enter the Effective Term and <ENTER> or <TAB> to see the "Select an Action" drop-down menu.
  5. Select "Declare Additional Major" from the drop-down.
  6. The "Academic Program" field will pre-populate with "AMAJ."
  7. Enter the "Academic Plan" code (will always begin with MAJ).
    • For a list of valid Academic Plan codes, select the magnifying glass icon to the right of the Plan field.
  8. Enter the "Sub-Plan" code, if needed (option).
    • For a list of valid Sub-Plan codes, select the magnifying glass icon to the right of the Sub-Plan field.
  9. Enter at least one academic advisor or advising committee.
    • To search for an advisor by name, select the magnifying glass icon to the right of the Academic Advisor field. To add additional advisors, select the + (plus) button. To remove advisors, select the lower - (minus) button if >1 advisor.
    • To add an advising committee, select the "Committee" tab, check the "Advised by Committee" box, and enter or search for the Committee name.
  10. Select "Save."

Cancel Additional Major

  1. In SIS, navigate to > Student Records WorkCenter > Dean/Dept Processing tab > Student Program/Plan Requests.
  2. Enter a student’s Empl ID or Campus ID.
  3. Select the "Search" button.
  4. Enter the Effective Term and <ENTER> or <TAB> to see the "Select an Action" drop-down menu.
  5. Select "Cancel Additional Major" from the drop-down list.
  6. The "Academic Program" of AMAJ will display by default.
  7. Enter the "Academic Plan" code (will always start with MAJ).
    • For a list of valid Plan codes, select the magnifying glass icon to the right of the Plan field.
  8. Select "Save."

Honors

Declare Honors as a Plan

  1. In SIS, navigate to > Student Records WorkCenter > Dean/Dept Processing tab > Student Program/Plan Requests.
  2. Enter a student’s Empl ID or Campus ID.
  3. Select the "Search" button.
  4. Enter the Effective Term and <ENTER> or <TAB> to see the "Select an Action" drop-down menu.
  5. Select "Declare Honors as a Plan" from the drop-down.
  6. Enter the "Academic Program." This will pre-populate with the student’s existing program unless they have more than one (e.g. a declared certificate, additional major, etc).
    • For a list of valid Program codes, select the magnifying glass icon to the right of the Academic Program field. 
  7. Enter the "Academic Plan" code (honors).
    • For a list of valid Honors Plan codes, select the magnifying glass icon to the right of the Plan field.
  8. Enter at least one academic advisor or advising committee.
    • To search for an advisor by name, select the magnifying glass icon to the right of the Academic Advisor field. To add additional advisors, select the + (plus) button. To remove advisors, select the lower - (minus) button if >1 advisor.
    • To add an advising committee, select the "Committee" tab, check the "Advised by Committee" box, and enter or search for the Committee name.
  9. Select "Save."

Cancel Honors as a Plan

  1. In SIS, navigate to > Student Records WorkCenter > Dean/Dept Processing tab > Student Program/Plan Requests.
  2. Enter a student’s Empl ID or Campus ID.
  3. Select the "Search" button.
  4. Enter the Effective Term and <ENTER> or <TAB> to see the "Select an Action" drop-down menu.
  5. Select "Cancel Honors as a Plan" from the drop-down.
  6. Enter the "Academic Program."
    • For a list of valid Program codes, select the magnifying glass icon to the right of the Program field. 
  7. Enter the "Academic Plan" code (honors plan).
    • For a list of valid Plan codes, select the magnifying glass icon to the right of the Plan field.
  8. Select "Save."

Declare Honors as a Sub-Plan

  1. In SIS, navigate to > Student Records WorkCenter > Dean/Dept Processing tab > Student Program/Plan Requests.
  2. Enter a student’s Empl ID or Campus ID.
  3. Select the "Search" button.
  4. Enter the Effective Term and <ENTER> or <TAB> to see the "Select an Action" drop-down menu.
  5. Select "Declare Honors as a Sub-Plan" from the drop-down.
  6. Enter the "Academic Program." This will pre-populate with the student’s existing program unless they have more than one (e.g. a declared certificate, additional major, etc.).
    • For a list of valid Program codes, select the magnifying glass icon to the right of the Academic Program field. 
  7. Enter the "Academic Plan" code to which honors as a sub-plan will be added.
    • For a list of valid Honors Plan codes, select the magnifying glass icon to the right of the Plan field.
  8. Enter the "Academic Sub-Plan" code (honors).
    • For a list of valid Honors sub-plan codes, select the magnifying glass icon to the right of the Sub-Plan field.
  9. Select "Save."

Cancel Honors as a Sub-Plan

  1. In SIS, navigate to > Student Records WorkCenter > Dean/Dept Processing tab > Student Program/Plan Requests.
  2. Enter a student’s Empl ID or Campus ID.
  3. Select the "Search" button.
  4. Enter the Effective Term and <ENTER> or <TAB> to see the "Select an Action" drop-down menu.
  5. Select "Cancel Honors as a Sub-Plan" from the drop-down.
  6. Enter the "Academic Program" associated with the academic plan for which the sub-plan will be removed.
    • For a list of valid Program codes, select the magnifying glass icon to the right of the Program field. 
  7. Enter the "Academic Plan" code from which honors as a sub-plan will be canceled.
    • For a list of valid Plan codes, select the magnifying glass icon to the right of the Plan field.
  8. Enter the "Academic Sub-Plan" code (honors).
    • For a list of valid Honors sub-plan codes, select the magnifying glass icon to the right of the Sub-Plan field.
  9. Select "Save."

Options

Declare/Change a Named Option (Sub-Plan)

Use the "Add/Change a Named Option" action to add (declare) or change the option for a major already declared. Note that adding or changing an option does not change the original declaration date of the major.

  1. In SIS, navigate to > Student Records WorkCenter > Dean/Dept Processing tab > Student Program/Plan Requests.
  2. Enter a student’s Empl ID or Campus ID.
  3. Select the "Search" button.
  4. Enter the Effective Term and <ENTER> or <TAB> to see the "Select an Action" drop-down menu.
  5. Select the "Add/Change a Named Option" drop-down.
  6. Enter the "Academic Plan" code (major/certificate) affected by the Sub-Plan update.
    • For a list of valid Plan codes, select the magnifying glass icon to the right of the Plan field. Note: L&S students not in a BA or BS program will have plan codes that start with "MAJ."
  7. Enter the new "Academic Sub-Plan" code.
    • For a list of valid Sub-Plan codes, select the magnifying glass icon to the right of the Sub-Plan field.
  8. Select "Save."

Cancel a Named Option (Sub-Plan)

Use the "Cancel a Named Option" action to remove/cancel the option for a major already declared. Note that canceling an option does not change the declaration date of the major. To cancel honors as a sub-plan, use the "Cancel Honors as a Sub-Plan" action.

  1. In SIS, navigate to > Student Records WorkCenter > Dean/Dept Processing tab > Student Program/Plan Requests.
  2. Enter a student’s Empl ID or Campus ID.
  3. Select the "Search" button.
  4. Enter the Effective Term and <ENTER> or <TAB> to see the "Select an Action" drop-down menu.
  5. Select the "Cancel a Named Option" drop-down.
  6. Enter the "Academic Program" code associated with the Plan that will be affected by the Sub-Plan update.
    • For a list of valid Program codes, select the magnifying glass icon to the right of the Program field.
  7. Enter the "Plan" code (major) affected by the Sub-Plan update.
    • For a list of valid Plan codes, select the magnifying glass icon to the right of the Plan field. Note: L&S students not in a BA or BS program will have plan codes that start with "MAJ."
  8. Select the Sub-Plan code to cancel. Only "declared" options will display.
  9. Select "Save."

Minors

Declare a Minor

  1. In SIS, navigate to > Student Records WorkCenter > Dean/Dept Processing tab > Student Program/Plan Requests.
  2. Enter a student’s Empl ID or Campus ID.
  3. Select the "Search" button.
  4. Enter the Effective Term and <ENTER> or <TAB> to see the "Select an Action" drop-down menu.
  5. Select "Declare a Minor" from the drop-down.
  6. Enter the "Academic Program."
    • For a list of valid Program codes, select the magnifying glass icon to the right of the Academic Program field.
  7. Enter the "Academic Plan" code (minor).
    • For a list of valid Minor plan codes, select the magnifying glass icon to the right of the Plan field.
  8. If needed, enter at least one academic advisor or advising committee.
    • To search for an advisor by name, select the magnifying glass icon to the right of the Academic Advisor field. To add additional advisors, select the + (plus) button. To remove advisors, select the lower - (minus) button if >1 advisor.
    • To add an advising committee, select the "Committee" tab, check the "Advised by Committee" box, and enter or search for the Committee name.
  9. Select "Save." 

Cancel a Minor

  1. In SIS, navigate to > Student Records WorkCenter > Dean/Dept Processing tab > Student Program/Plan Requests.
  2. Enter a student’s Empl ID or Campus ID.
  3. Select the "Search" button.
  4. Enter the Effective Term and <ENTER> or <TAB> to see the "Select an Action" drop-down menu.
  5. Select "Cancel a Minor" from the drop-down list.
  6. The "Academic Program" associated with the minor will pre-populate unless the student has more than one (e.g. a declared certificate, additional major, etc.).
    • For a list of valid Program codes, select the magnifying glass icon to the right of the Program field.
  7. Enter the "Academic Plan" code (minor).
    • For a list of valid Plan codes, select the magnifying glass icon to the right of the Plan field.
  8. Select "Save." 

Certificates

Declare a Certificate

  1. In SIS, navigate to > Student Records WorkCenter > Dean/Dept Processing tab > Student Program/Plan Requests.
  2. Enter a student’s Empl ID or Campus ID.
  3. Select the "Search" button.
  4. Enter the Effective Term and <ENTER> or <TAB> to see the "Select an Action" drop-down menu.
  5. Select "Declare a Certificate" from the drop-down.
  6. Enter the "Academic Plan" code (certificate).
    • For a list of valid Certificate plan codes, select the magnifying glass icon to the right of the Plan field.
  7. Enter at least one academic advisor or advising committee.
    • To search for an advisor by name, select the magnifying glass icon to the right of the Academic Advisor field. To add additional advisors, select the + (plus) button. To remove advisors, select the lower - (minus) button if >1 advisor.
    • To add an advising committee, select the "Committee" tab, check the "Advised by Committee" box, and enter or search for the Committee name.
  8. Select "Save." 

Cancel a Certificate

  1. In SIS, navigate to > Student Records WorkCenter > Dean/Dept Processing tab > Student Program/Plan Requests.
  2. Enter a student’s Empl ID or Campus ID.
  3. Select the "Search" button.
  4. Enter the Effective Term and <ENTER> or <TAB> to see the "Select an Action" drop-down menu.
  5. Select "Cancel a Certificate" from the drop-down.
  6. Enter the "Academic Plan" code (certificate).
    • For a list of valid Plan codes, select the magnifying glass icon to the right of the Plan field.
  7. Select "Save." 

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Revise Declaration Date (cannot be done in SIS)

The process to request a change in student program/plan declaration date (which updates DARS Catalog Year) has been shifted from the SIS Student Program/Plan Requests page to requesting a DARS exception via DARS-X, as follows:

DARS exception screen with red box around Additional Instructions field and Submit exceptions button

Note: The College of Engineering and School of Education do not use DARS-X for DARS exceptions, so please contact the Dean's Office if you believe you need to change the Catalog Year/curriculum version for a student.

As/if you need access to or have questions about using DARS-X, please refer to DARS/Faculty&Staff - Use DARSX for requesting and approving exceptions.

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Keywords:
add, change, course (courses, class), course search and enroll, dars (DARS), degree (degrees, degree planner), drop, gpa (GPA), hold, honors, indicators, name, permission, plan (plans, planner), record (records), requisite (prerequisite), schedule (scheduler), sis (SIS), swap, textbook (textbooks), transcript, transfer, wait (waitlist, wait list), withdraw (withdrawal)
Doc ID:
123372
Owned by:
Sara S. in Office of the Registrar
Created:
2023-01-10
Updated:
2025-05-02
Sites:
Office of the Registrar
Clean URL:
https://kb.wisc.edu/managing-student-programs-plans-and-sub-plans