Catalog year is the academic year of the institutional catalog whose degree requirements a student is entitled to follow.
How it works
At matriculation the student is assigned the current catalog year. The degree-audit system uses that year’s rules. If the student stops out beyond the allowed period, catalog rights may expire and the student must follow the catalog in effect upon return. A student who prefers newer requirements can request a catalog-year change through the registrar or advisor.
Example: a student who enters in fall 2024 is placed on the 2024–2025 catalog, which requires 42 general-education credits. The institution later reduces general education to 39 credits. The student may remain on the 2024–2025 catalog or request a move to the newer catalog. The degree audit updates only after an approved change.
How it differs
An academic year is the calendar period used for pricing and aid. A cohort year identifies the entering group for retention and graduation-rate calculations. Catalog year is solely about which set of academic requirements applies to the individual student.
Common errors
Assuming requirements never change once a student enrolls. Losing catalog rights after an extended stop-out without realizing it. Mixing courses from different catalog years without an approved substitution.
References
- 1. Institutional catalog-rights policiesRight to graduate under entry-year requirements
- 2. Common academic-policy languageDuration of catalog rights
Catalog year is the academic year of the institutional catalog whose degree requirements a student is entitled to follow.