Dual-Degree Program Data Management

A Dual-Degree Program leads to two Degrees, either both from Columbia (“internal Dual-Degrees”), or one from Columbia and one from a partner institution (“external”). Students are formally enrolled in two different Degree Programs. These Programs are designed so that both credentials can be completed in less time than would be needed to pursue the Degrees sequentially.

This policy pertains to internal Dual-Degrees only.

Policy on Dual-Degree Data Management

A student enrolled in an internal Dual-Degree Program must have candidacy for both Degrees formally recorded, maintained, and accurately reflected on all relevant Student Information platforms (Vergil, SIS, Slate, etc.) throughout their entire period of enrollment. Each Degree included in the Dual Program must be initiated through a separate application for admission into each submitted before the student begins the Program. 

The student’s Primary Program in SIS and Vergil for each term of enrollment will be the relevant Dual-Degree Program Code tied to the Degree and School in which they are enrolled for that term.

Program information must always align with the student’s School of Residence for the term, and all updates must be completed before the student registers at the Partner School. Dual-Degree students may NOT be assigned standard, non‑Dual (“stand-alone”) Program Codes as their Billing Program Code. Schools offering Dual-Degree Programs that do not yet have designated Dual-Degree Program Codes (“Dual-Degree”) must work with the University Registrar and the Office of Vice Provost for Academic Programs (OVPAP) to establish these Codes before enrolling any additional students.

Procedure for Managing Dual-Degree Student Records

Dual-Degree Programs require special handling in SIS to support accurate reporting, tracking, billing, and term-by-term administration.

How to Code Dual-Degree Students in SIS

1) Admissions Applications (APPL/APP2)

  • A separate Admissions application must be recorded for each Columbia Degree included in the Dual-Degree Program. Two POOL Codes in SIS—one for each Degree—are required.
  • Both applications must be entered in APPL/APP2 prior to the student’s first term of enrollment in the Dual-Degree Program.
  • Admissions Offices for both Degrees should be included early in Dual-Program data management to ensure admissions processes and feeds (including POOL codes) are set up to populate the student record correctly. 

2) Program Coding Requirements (STUD and Term Screens)

  • Dual-Degree students must have two active Dual-Degree Program Codes in SIS—one for each Degree—for the entire duration of the Dual-Degree enrollment.
  • Both Dual-Degree Program Codes must appear on:
    • STUD, and
    • all relevant term record screens, including ZUMT, TSUM, TSTA (and any other applicable term screens used by the School/Program).

3) Billing and Term-by-Term School Residence

  • STUD and ZUMT must continuously include both Dual-Degree Program Codes throughout the Dual-Degree Program.
  • The Billing Program fields should reflect the student’s School of residence for the current term (which may alternate by term):
  • BILL-PGM on STUD, and
  • BILL-PGRM on TSUM/TSTA.
  • The Billing Code on STUD must align with the Billing Code on TSUM for each term.
  • Any required Billing/Program Code switching for the term should be completed before Registration at the partner School.

 

Resources: How to Request Creation of New Dual-Degree Codes for SIS

University policy and procedures for creation, maintenance, and compliance relating to academic Programs can be found here: 

 

The DocuSign form needed to initiate Code creation for existing Programs can be found here: PowerForm Signer Information | Docusign