It is a computer program that produces advising information illustrating a student's progress in fulfilling the graduation requirements of their chosen degree program for undergraduate students.
DARS accomplishes its task by using a student's degree program information (degree, major, minor, catalog year), on file in the student records system, to create a generic "template" of that degree program. DARS then feeds all of a student's courses through this template to fill in the blanks. When the process is complete a document (called an audit) is produced showing where the student's courses fit in, which requirements are completed, and which are left to be done. The audit can then be used to monitor a student's progress and give a detailed assessment of what University requirements are yet to be satisfied.
DARS is not a replacement for the advising process whereby students are in communication with their department and assigned advisor. DARS should also not be considered a replacement for the University catalog, although the DARS program is based very heavily upon that document. The DARS program is a tool to assist students and advisors. There are some items that DARS cannot check for or take into account. DARS does not reflect departmental substitutions or waivers for individual students, for example. Many of these items are handled via the advising process and are done manually within the graduation process.
the Transfer Evaluation Department
(room: WA 132, phone: 389-5948)
