Instead of flipping through the General Catalog this coming spring quarter, highlighting classes I have yet to take and crossing out those I've completed, I'll be able to go to the Web and use a new program called Degree Navigator. UC Davis is one of nine campuses in the United States using this new online tool that promises to make life easier for both students and their faculty and staff advisers, says Degree Navigator project coordinator Keitha Hunter in the Office of the Registrar. Where I previously would check on my progress once a quarter with advisers, now I will be able to have immediate access to all my grades and progress reports. I also can get answers to questions regarding minor, major, and university requirements 24 hours a day. In Degree Navigator, each degree program has its own island map, with different colored "islands" in a blue "ocean" background. Each island describes class requirements for the major, which are shown as little ovals on top of the island. These are shaded if the course has been completed, and white if it has not. Additionally, on each island a numerical representation shows you how many units you have completed out of how many need to be taken to fulfill that area. In the middle of the map is your total number of units completed out of how many are needed to graduate. Students can also print out a report that summarizes course work, grades and status toward filling their requirements. Senior Associate Registrar David Johnston says undergraduates who began in fall 1998 and after will have their high school Advanced Placement credit and California Community College transfer credit entered into the system. Students who started school earlier than fall 1998 will need to keep in mind that their transfer work and previous UC Davis work won't be recorded in the system. Johnston and Hunter both emphasize that the new system was designed to be used in conjunction with an adviser. Graduation requirements are complex and not everything can be checked by the computer, says Hunter. "Degree Navigator really helps students understand their requirements," says Hunter, "but they need to work with their advisers, too, so that they don't miss anything." Degree Navigator will also benefit advisers. Course substitutions or exceptions for each student are permanently recorded in Degree Navigator, so the student, major adviser and college adviser all have access to the same information throughout the student's academic career. "This is going to make the advisers' work easier in some ways, because they'll be able to spend less time tracking paperwork and checking requirements and more time helping students identify career options and interests," says Hunter. In the bigger picture, Degree Navigator might also improve the campus's time-to-degree statistic. Currently, students are second to UCLA in the amount of time it takes them to finish. The convenience is hoped to hasten our routes to graduation by making class selection decisions easier, according to Johnston. Staff members who have tried out the system say they like the idea. Melanie Ferrando, associate director and adviser at the College of Letters and Science Dean's Office, says, "Anything that helps a student get a clear picture of where they are is helpful." She particularly likes the system feature that enables students to explore "what if" scenarios. While in the software, they can switch to an island map of another major and see how far along they are to completing that major. Although she thinks it will be helpful for both students and advisers, Ferrando doesn't expect that advisers will have easier jobs. "It will definitely change our work, though, because we'll be able to do actual advising rather than check which requirements are left," she says. The software may simplify my complicated biological sciences and English double major by helping me choose the correct classes, but I know I'll need the personal help of my advisers so I can "finish in four," I mean -- four and a quarter.