Program Proposal: Assigning Common Attribute Framework (CAF) Values in the Administrative Section

Explains how CAF values are determined in the administrative section.

This document is intended for individuals, primarily Data, Academic Planning and Institutional Research (DAPIR), Office of the Registrar, and school/college academic planners interested in how the Common Attribute Framework (CAF) values are assigned to the plan and subplan codes in the PeopleSoft Student Information System (SIS). CAF values are a delivered PeopleSoft function that allow for additional characteristics/fields to be added to certain foundational tables for reporting or analytical purposes. The scope of the following CAF rules applies to all plans and subplans, specifically named options, referred to as options from here on out. This excludes subplan types: (excludes concentration, emphasis, minor, specialization, track, and honors). The fields and questions relate to the Lumen Programs form, in which DAPIR assigns the CAF values in the Administrative Section at the bottom of the form. The values listed below correspond to the values entered in SIS, not what displays in Lumen Programs.

General Rules:

  1. If a plan has no options, the CAF values reflect values associated with the plan type (NPP = Non-pooled plan; P = Plan). If the plan does not qualify for the following CAF values, it will not have anything added (null).
    • Example: Cytotechnology (CYTO999) has a Non-Traditional value of P, and a Special Plan Type of NPP.
  2. If a plan has options that qualify for the associated CAF values, the parent plan’s CAF values will indicate the information will exist at the option level (NPO = Non-pooled option; O = Option). If the options qualify for CAF values, the parent cannot have the CAF values attributed to plans without options (NPP, P).
    • Example: MS  021ALS/021MSREDA: MS  021ALS (parent plan) is assigned NPO, 021MSREDA is assigned NPO.
  3. Subsequently, if a plan has options that don’t qualify for the associated CAF values, the parent will not have CAF values indicating additional information at the option level. (null values)
    • Example. ALS 112/PLANT BIO, NB112ALS, EL112ALS: Neither of these combinations qualify for Non-Traditional, Non-Pooled, nor Distance. There are no CAF values assigned to the plan or options.
  4. If an option is created or changed, resulting in CAF value assignment that also impacts the parent plan, the parent plan will have a matching SIS effective dated row adding the new CAF values to align with the creation/change of the option. The date on the parent plan will align with the term in which students are first enrolled.
    • Example: MS  101EDU/101MSTEACH. The parent plan didn’t have a Non-Traditional CAF value prior to creation of the option (child). The effective date for the option is 8/27/2018 to allow for admissions with the first students enrolling for fall 2019. The parent plan will have an effective date of 8/26/2019 indicating the change in CAF values corresponding to the first admit term of the option.

CAF: Special Plan Type

Special Plan Type Definition: An indicator of whether the tuition paid by students in the plan flows to the general tuition pool (pooled tuition) or to the academic entity that owns the plan (non-pooled tuition).

The special plan/ option type is an indicator related to tuition. A revenue generating program is the same thing as a 131 program, and a non-pooled program. These words can be used interchangeably.

  1. If a plan is not revenue generating (the answer to “Is this a revenue program” = NO) and there are no qualifying options, the Special Plan Type CAF = null.
    • A parent plan cannot own revenue generating options when the answer to “Is this a revenue program” = NO or NULL. If there are options present and one of them is revenue generating, the answer must be changed to Option Specific, indicating that the information lives at the option level. A parent plan can own non-revenue generating options. In this example, there are no CAF values associated with the parent plan or option.
  2. If a plan is revenue generating (the answer to “Is this a revenue program” = YES) and there are no options, the Special Plan Type CAF = NPP (non-pooled plan).
    • The parent plan cannot retain the CAF value of NPP when it also has options.
  3. If one or more options has a CAF of NPO, the parent plan answer to “Is this a revenue generating program” = Option Specific. The parent plan will be assigned a CAF value of NPO, indicating that the options carry the revenue information (The Special Plan Type CAF = NPO (non-pooled option)).
    • If the option is revenue generating (the answer to “Is this a revenue program” = YES), the Special Option Type CAF = NPO, then parent plan’s Special Plan Type CAF = NPO.
    • If the option is not revenue generating (the answer to “Is this a revenue program” = NO), the Special Option Type CAF = null; then parent plan’s Special Plan Type CAF = null.

    Lumen Programs fields associated with making the CAF decision:

    • revenue_program
    • tuition_type
    • tuition_increment
    • increment_rationale
    • seg_fee
    • no_seg_fees

    CAF: Non-Traditional Program

    Non-Traditional Definition: Program designed to meet the needs of non-traditional student audiences; has an applied, practice-oriented curriculum that is self-contained with a clear pathway with few electives or options; is offered in a modality that allows non-traditional audiences to attend (evening, weekend, distance, intensive, or some combination thereof); has a market demand and learning goals that are oriented to market considerations.

    There is not a specific question on the form that indicates whether a plan/option are non-traditional, rather a series of qualifiers indicate whether it is non-traditional. The non-traditional CAF cannot be determined until the Special Plan/Option Type CAF is determined.

    1. If a plan is in the graduate career (Is this in the Graduate School = Yes), and the Special Plan type CAF = NPP, then the Non-Traditional CAF = P (Plan).
      • If the plan has options that are non-traditional, the parent plan’s Non-Traditional CAF = O (indicating the information lives at the option level).
    2. If an option is in the graduate career (Is this in the Graduate School = Yes), and the Special Option type CAF = NPO, then the Non-Traditional CAF = O (Option).
      • All capstones, regardless of the revenue, are Non-Traditional.
    3. If a plan is a certificate (plan type = CRT) in the special career (USPC), AND the Special Plan/Option type CAF = Yes, then then Non-Traditional CAF = P (Plan).
      • Farm and Industry Short Course (FISC) and Cytotechnology fall into this category.

    Lumen Programs fields associated with making the CAF decision:

    • sis_program_type
    • audience
    • revenue_program
    • caf_special_plan_type
    • caf_graduate_school

    CAF: Education Innovation

    Education Innovation Definition: An indicator, assigned between 2011 and 2017, of whether the plan or any of its subplans is considered to meet the goals of Educational Innovation initiative.

    Applies only to plans and options that were approved under the Educational Initiative during 2011-2017.  These plans/options received EI startup funds.  The only time this CAF value should ever change is if the parent plan has ‘P’ as the value and it is gaining children (options) that are for which the EI indicator is null. This data is retained for historical purposes only. Starting in Fall 2019, this CAF will be retained for historical purposes but will be inactivated.

    1. If a plan was a part of EI and there are no options, the Education Innovation CAF = P (Plan)
      • The EI CAF value can only be P if there are no options.
    2. If a plan was a part of EI and there are options, the Education Innovation CAF = O (option)
      • If an option was not a part of EI, the Education Innovation CAF = null
      • If an option was a part of EI, the Education Innovation CAF = O (option).

    CAF: UW-STEM

    UW-STEM Definition: Plan codes that are institutionally defined as STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) for analytic purposes based on the plan's CIP code. The STEM assignment is made when the curriculum is focused on math, statistics, physical science, biological science, natural science, technology, and/or engineering principles. In almost all cases, the CIP code associated with plans will be in the following areas: 01, 03, 11, 14, 15, 26, 27, and 40.

    Follow the UW System definition for STEM CIP codes as closely as possible. We can disagree and deviate from their approved area for STEM (particularly in the 30 – multidisciplinary area) with approval. See the Economic Development viz for more information.

    • See the technical notes for the definition and which CIP codes are included.
    • Assigned to SIS codes with CIP values, narrowed by the CIP category. (per discussion with Michelle Young, Clare Huhn, Melissa Schultz 7/24/2019)
    1. If the CIP aligns with the list or has been approved by UW-System, UW-STEM CAF = 1, indicating it is a STEM CIP.
    2. If the CIP does not align with the list or has not been approved by UW-System, UW-STEM CAF = null.

    Note: UW-STEM is assigned only at the plan level, consistent with the Board of Regents authorization and placement of program learning outcomes.

    Lumen Programs fields associated with making the CAF decision:

    • sis_cip_code

    CAF: STEM-OPT

    STEM-OPT Definition: Plan codes that meet the US Department of Homeland Security criteria of STEM for the purposes of the Optional Practical Training Program.

    Follow the U.S. Homeland Security Study in the States guidelines. Must be in their list (STEM Designated Degree List). UW-Madison does not get notified when the list changes, nor has the power or influence to add CIP codes to the list. See the Study in the States Website for more information.

    Must be a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctoral degree OR CAP

    1. If the CIP aligns with the US Department of Homeland Security list, STEM OPT CAF = 1, indicating it is a STEM-OPT program.
    2. If the CIP does not align with the US Department of Homeland Security list, STEM OPT CAF = null.

    Note: STEM-OPT, if assigned, only exists at the plan level

    Lumen Programs fields associated with making the CAF decision:

    • sis_cip_code

    CAF: Health

    Definition: Indicates whether the plan is institutionally defined as a Health program for analytic purposes in that its focus is on preparing students for work or research in health-related fields.

    The Health assignment is made when the curriculum (plan type = MAJ) is focused on preparing students for work or research in health-related fields. In almost all cases, the CIP code associated with plans that have a value of Y will be in area 51. Health values are assigned to programs offering degrees (plan type = MAJ AND Degree ≠ null)  at the bachelor’s and graduate/professional levels.

    1. If the plan is a major (MAJ) and the CIP code begins with 51.XXXX, the Health CAF = 1, indicating it is a part of the Health field.
    2. If the plan is a major (MAJ) and the CIP code does not begin with 51.XXXX, the Health CAF = null.

    Note: HEALTH, if assigned, only exists at the plan level.

    Lumen Programs fields associated with making the CAF decision:

    • sis_cip_code

    CAF: Distance Education (Online)

    Distance Education Definition: An indicator of whether the plan or any of its subplans is approved for distance delivery as defined by the Higher Learning Commission where 50% or more of the required courses may be taken as distance-delivered courses where the vast majority of instruction and interaction occurs via electronic communication where instructors and students are physically separated from each other.

    1. If the answer to the Mode of Delivery question is answered as either "Distance Education (>50%-99%)" OR "Distance Education (100% online), for a plan the Distance Education CAF = P, indicating an online program.
    2. If the answer to the Mode of Delivery question is answered “Face-to-Face (majority face-to-face courses), plan is not considered a Distance Education Program, the Distance Education CAF = null
    3. If the answer to the Mode of Delivery question is answered as either "Distance Education (>50%-99%)" OR "Distance Education (100% online) for an option, the parent plan the Distance Education CAF = O (indicating the information lives at the option level). In this scenario, the Mode of Delivery answer at the parent level is “Option Specific.”
    • If an option is considered a Distance Education program (either "Distance Education (>50%-99%)" OR "Distance Education (100% online)), the option Distance Education CAF = O, then the parent’s Distance Education CAF = O.
    • If an option is not considered a Distance Education program (“Face-to-Face (majority face-to-face courses)), the option Distance Education CAF = null, then the parent’s Distance Education CAF = null.

    Lumen Programs fields associated with making the CAF decision:

    • delivery_mode

    Data Glossary: https://search.data.wisc.edu/glossary.php