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Student Lifecycle Management

Academic Structure Cookbook

Applies to
SAP Student Lifecycle Management Academic Structure

Summary
The purpose of this document is to describe lessons learned and best practices in regards to the academic
structure of an implementation project for the SAP Student Lifecycle Management (SLCM) solution.
For a detailed description of the product and its architecture please refer to the Base IMG Configuration
Guide for SLCM, the SLCM Product Overview and other detailed implementation guidelines in the SCN
Higher Education & Research Knowledge Center. Additional solution details can be found in the Student
Lifecycle Management documentation BS7 (EHP 4) and the IHE102 SAP Student Lifecycle Management
course.
The document shall be considered work in progress and does not claim completeness on the subject matter.

Authors:

Tina Bach, Silke Jakobi, Rob Jonkers

Company: SAP
Created on: March 2012

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Student Lifecycle Management Academic Structure Cookbook

Table of Contents
1.

Introduction to the Academic Structure ....................................................................................................... 3

2.

Before your start .......................................................................................................................................... 4

3.

Core of the Academic Structure .................................................................................................................. 5


3.1.

Internal Academic Structure .............................................................................................................. 5

3.3.1.

HR PD framework ........................................................................................................................................ 5

3.3.2.

Basic transactions ........................................................................................................................................ 5

3.3.3.

Object Types ................................................................................................................................................ 6

3.3.4.

Number ranges ............................................................................................................................................ 7

3.3.5.

Infotypes ...................................................................................................................................................... 8

3.3.6.

Relationships.............................................................................................................................................. 10

3.3.7.

Important Customizing Tables for Data Model in Personnel Planning ....................................................... 12

3.3.8.

Evaluation paths......................................................................................................................................... 12

4.

External Academic Structure ..................................................................................................................... 15

5.

SAP SLCM Academic Structure process Overview .................................................................................. 17


5.1.

6.

Curriculum Management................................................................................................................................. 17

Academic Structure in detail...................................................................................................................... 19


6.1.

Definitions ........................................................................................................................................ 19

6.2.

Design Principles for a long term academic structure ..................................................................... 26

6.2.1.

7.

8.

Relationship between todays academic structure and future academic processes ................................... 26

6.2.2.1.

Organizational Units .............................................................................................................................. 27

6.2.2.2.

Academic Calendar ............................................................................................................................... 28

6.2.2.3.

Program of Study .................................................................................................................................. 29

6.2.2.4.

Qualification........................................................................................................................................... 31

6.2.2.5.

Module Group........................................................................................................................................ 32

6.2.2.6.

Module .................................................................................................................................................. 33

6.2.2.7.

Business Event Type ............................................................................................................................. 35

6.2.2.8.

Rule Containers..................................................................................................................................... 37

6.2.2.9.

Assessment ........................................................................................................................................... 38

6.2.2.10.

Business Events and Event Packages .................................................................................................. 41

Example Business Scenario ...................................................................................................................... 43


7.1.1.

Academic & Assessment Rules ................................................................................................................. 43

7.1.2.

Implementation Steps ................................................................................................................................ 46

Academic structure FAQ ........................................................................................................................... 51

Copyright .......................................................................................................................................................... 59

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Student Lifecycle Management Academic Structure Cookbook

1. Introduction to the Academic Structure


The academic structure is the basis for all study related processes in SAP Student Lifecycle Management.
This cookbook describes dependencies between academic structure settings that impact a students
academic lifecycle from registration to graduation. The goal is to make curriculum planers aware of the long
term implications academic offerings have on academic processes, e.g.:
Audits (based on degrees or stages) which
Help to manage the students academic performance and progression based on rules that are stored
in academic structure objects.

can be set up by either using individual requirement profiles or requirement profile templates.

Audits runs which


check a students program progression by determining if s/he can use successfully completed
modules to fulfill requirements of academic and assessment rules.
Besides explaining essential academic objects and their long term impacts, this cookbook explains how to
approach Student Lifecycle Management projects from an interdisciplinary perspective.
Departments that need to be involved from the planning stage onwards include e.g.:
Central departments and faculties

for analysing study regulations and examination regulations and transferring them to the academic
structure, including new and/or updated rules.

Financial Department

for student fee related processes and cost distribution between organizational units like faculties

HR department

for regulations regarding teaching resources and workload

When setting up the academic structure, you design the appropriate structure by putting the relevant
objects (such as different organizational units of the institution) in relationship with one another. You carefully
need to define rules and regulations between objects and access rights to organizational and academic data.
Also, early in the project planning architectural aspects such as data exchange topics between SAP SLCM
and other SAP solutions or third party applications are of relevancy. That can concern the inclusion of
existing customer legacy systems into the planned architecture or the integration of Learning Management
systems and resource scheduling tools with SLCM.
This academic structure cookbook focuses on a standard SLCM project and describes how to build an
academic structure that is suited to support academic processes which are part of an academic lifecycle.
The described processes use functionality of SAP SLCM without the inclusion of additional solutions.
The information provided here does not replace any training material but rather seeks to provide project
related guidance and best practices from a process oriented perspective.

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Student Lifecycle Management Academic Structure Cookbook

2. Before your start


In order to understand organizational structures and business processes that impact the implementation
project and specifically the design of the academic structure we advise that you take the following questions
and use them as a starting point in your initial discussion with project team members. The answers to these
questions shall help to scope the solution and estimate the implementation effort:
1.1. Describe the structure of the institution and provide details of its business units (e.g. departments,
faculties) and the reporting structure between them. These questions should be defined in more detail with
the SAP HCM responsible persons. Most of the time SLCM customers already have an SAP HCM
organizational structure in place.
1.2. Does the institution have multiple campuses? If yes, please provide details on their numbers, their
organization /business units and the reporting structure and responsibilities between the main campus and
other campuses.
1.3. What are the core business processes performed at the main and the related campuses?
1.4. Indicate which functions/processes are centralized/decentralized at the University.
1.5. Describe how employees are categorized (e.g. administrative, academic, etc.) and specify key functions
that they perform.
1.6. Describe the academic offerings (e.g. types of programs/courses) provided and indicate the units within
the University responsible for these offerings.
1.7. Are the academic offerings standardized or do they differ between the main and regional campuses?
1.8. What is the total student population number? Provide details on types and categories of students.
1.9. Identify the academic processes that require a formal approval procedure and provide details of each
procedure (e. g. admissions).
1.10. Identify academic processes that represent mass processing activities. Evaluate in a second step
whether the related data is processed in the SLCM related standard scenario individually or via mass
process.
1.11. Describe how authorization privileges are granted (e. g. along the lines of the academic and / or
administrative processes performed). In other words: are they role based or structural authorizations?
1.12. Identify the workflow wishes for the academic processes and align them with the (new or current)
organizational structure
1.13. Identify early in the project business processes which involve high data volume and check optimization
options related to academic structure configuration. In general, stress testing will be crucial in the context of
high data volume loads and must be accommodated in the project plan with sufficient time.

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Student Lifecycle Management Academic Structure Cookbook

3. Core of the Academic Structure


3.1. Internal Academic Structure
3.3.1. HR PD framework
The HR PD framework is the starting point in a SAP Student Lifecycle Management project and its academic
structure. It is built completely within the HR PD object oriented model. The following picture provides an
overview on the SAP SLCM academic structure, its objects and its object types.

The maintenance dialogs for the academic structure are the same as for the Organizational Management
(OM) framework and for the Training and Event Management (TEM) framework.

3.3.2. Basic transactions


The following are the basic transactions for setting up and maintaining the academic structure in SLCM:

PIQ_ACSTRUC - Program Catalog

PIQACSTAGEVIEW - Stage Display

PIQ_ACCATLG - Module Catalog

PIQCAM - Academic Calendar

PIQSC Program

PIQCG - Module Group

PIQSM Module

PIQCW - Miscellaneous Academic Work

PIQRC - Edit Rule Container

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Student Lifecycle Management Academic Structure Cookbook

PIQRULEMODULE/PIQAUDSD - Edit Rule Module

PO04 - Business Event Type

PO04 - Business Event Type

PIQEO - External Organization

PIQSU - External Subject

PIQEQ - External Qualification

PIQSX - Exchange Program

PIQ_XML00 - Generate XML Files

Via transaction SE93 you can search on all SAP SLCM transactions. Please use search term PIQ*.
The following transactions which originate in the SAP HCM solution can also be used for maintaining SAP
SLCM objects and infotypes:

PP01 Maintain objects

RE_RHCOPY00 Copy objects

PO10 - Organizational unit

PPOME - Change organizational unit

PPOCE Create organizational unit

PPOSE Display organizational unit

PSO4 Infotype individual maintenance

RE_RHDESC10 - Display infotypes

RE_RHGRENZ4 - New end date

RE_RHBEGDA0 - New start date

RE_RHTRANS0 Translate

The following transactions can be used for reporting on objects and infotypes:

S_AHR_61016532 - Infotype reporting

S_AHR_61016531 - Display and maintain infotypes

S_AHR_61016530 - PD graphics interface

S_AHR_61016527 - Existing objects

S_AHR_61016493 - Organizational structure

3.3.3. Object Types


Student Lifecycle Management specific object types are characterized by the following:
o Object types (e.g. SM) classify objects (e.g. study modules)
o No general name convention is applied
o Each object is assigned to just one object type (SM = study module)
o The following classification exists:
o Internal object types
o External object types
o Others (not registered)
o

Internal objects have a data entry in table HRP1000 (Access with SE16(n), SM30, etc).

o
o

External objects like EO, SU, EQ also have a data entry in Table HRP1000.
Object Types are maintained in IMG Student Lifecycle Management Basic Settings - Object Type
Modeling Enhancement Object Type Maintain Object type.

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Student Lifecycle Management Academic Structure Cookbook

3.3.3.1. Examples of relevant internal and external object types

Organizational Management:
Internal: Organizational Unit (e.g. Department of History)

Personnel Management:
External: Employee (e.g. Marie Curie)

Student Lifecycle Management:

Student Administration:
Internal: Student (e.g. Andrew London)
External: Application (e.g. Andrew Londons (ISR) admission application)

Academic Structure:
Internal: Program of Study (e.g. Bachelor of History)
Class Scheduling
Internal: Event Package (e.g. Introduction to World History)
Student Financials
Not registered: Student Account (e.g. Andrew London (PSCD) Student Account)

3.3.4. Number ranges


Number ranges within the HR-PD framework and SAP SLCM provide a unique ID number (max 8 digits) to a
HR-PD object, e.g. the SC-object (Program of Study). Please note that each object type can have an own
number range. This will increase the number of IDs per object type to 99-million (maximum).
The object ID is a technical numeric ID and does not have any academic or logical context.
The setup of number ranges can be found in the IMG Student Lifecycle Management Basic Settings Number Range Maintenance

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Student Lifecycle Management Academic Structure Cookbook

3.3.5.

Infotypes

SLCM-specific Infotypes (1700 1799) are maintained in IMG Student Lifecycle Management Basic
settings Object Type Modeling Enhancement Infotype, Country specific Infotypes, Relationship

Example: Module Group -> Infotype 1733 Module Group Data: Module Group Category

Other Infotypes:
- 1002 - 1999 PD-Framework
- 0001 - 0999 Personnel administration
The range 1700 1799 is reserved for SAP SLCM infotypes.

In SLCM information can be stored in


Standard infotypes
Enhanced standard Iinfotypes
(New) Customer infotypes

o
o

Report RHBEGDA0 can be used to set a new begin date for infotype/subtype
Same authorization concept as HR PD applies:
o
o

Infotype authorization (PLOG)


Structural authorization

Relevant standard Infotypes include:


o 0001 Org. Assignment
o 1000 Object
o 1001 Relationships
o 1002 Verbal Describtion

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Student Lifecycle Management Academic Structure Cookbook

3.3.5.1. Time Dependency for Infotypes: Validity Period and Key date
Validity Period
Every infotype has a time dependency histories for data. Each Infotype record uses a start and end
date to specify the validity date of Infotype data:
Fields BEGDA Start date and ENDDA End dates of the infotype key determine its validity
period.
BEGDA and ENDDA of Infotype 1000 determine the validity period of the object itself. The
object exists from the start date to the end date.
BEGDA and ENDDA of Infotype 1001 determine the validity period of the relationship
between two objects.
BEGDA and ENDDA of any other Infotype determine the validity period of the attributes
stored in the infotype.
The validity period of any infotype >= 1001 must be within the validity period of infotype 1000

The validity period enables user to evaluate key data or periods in the past, present or future.

The validity of an objects relationships and attributes can exist only within the life span of the object
defined in the Object infotype.

Key Date

Contains the key date and describes how the system derives this date.

Dependencies: The key date description depends on how the system derives the key date:
o

1. System date

2. Start date of the academic period (year and session)


The system derives the key date from the start date of the academic session in the given
academic year.

3. User-specific selection date

4. Current academic year


The system derives the key date from the start date of the current academic year.

To select and maintain objects, the correct key date has to be set in order for the system to derive this date:
The key date has to be in the life span of the object. Otherwise it is not visible that the object exists.

3.3.5.2. Time Constraints for Infotypes

Time constraints determine additionally how the validity periods of infotype data records interact.

Time constraints can be defined at different levels:

Infotype

Object type and infotype

Object type, infotype and subtype


o

e.g. Subtype = Relationship Type

0 = May only be present once


1 = Without gaps: A maximum of one infotype record of the same type for the same object at the same time
and no gaps in time between valid records.
2 = With gaps: A maximum of one infotype record of the same type for the same object at the same time and
gaps in time between valid records.
3 = Unlimited: Several infotype records of the same type for the same object at the same time and gaps in
time between valid records.

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Student Lifecycle Management Academic Structure Cookbook

Examples
o

Time constraint 1: Infotype Personal Data 1702 which describes attributes for object type ST.
Students must have a unique identification which is valid without time gaps.

Time constraint 2: Infotype Study Segment 1769 assigned to object type SC. The program of
study has one unique identifier but can be interrupted.

Time constraint 3: Infotype Sessions of Offering 1739 assigned to object types CE, CI, E, EL,
SE, and SM. Several records exist for the same objects with time gaps in between.

3.3.6.

Relationships

Relationships define links between individual object types in the system

Student Lifecycle Management-specific relationships can be found in the following range: A/B 500 549
Example:
Program of Study (SC) uses relationship A506 for rule container RC

Relationship types are defined in table T778V by a 3-character CHAR string relationship type

Relationships are generally defined in two directions:


o A = bottom up
o B = top down

Direction + relationship type = subtype of Infotype 1001

Transaction OOVK lists all allowed relationships between objects, here e.g. for Program of Study (SC):

The following relationships are available in standard for a Program of Study (SC) in the Program Catalog:
Relationship 548 (comprises assessment) -> Object CE (Assessment)
Relationship 500 (consists of) -> Object CG (Module Group)
Relationship 528 (imparts) -> Object CQ (Internal Qualification)
Relationship 529 (needs prerequisite) -> Object CQ (Internal Qualification)
Relationship 500 (consists of)-> SM (Study Module)

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Student Lifecycle Management Academic Structure Cookbook

An overview of possible relationships within the academic structure can look like this:
Description

Object

Relationship

Related Object

University

A510 Uses

Academic Calendar (CA)

Department

B509 Uses

Rule Container (RC)

Program of Study

SC

A528 Imparts

Degree (CQ)

Program of Study

SC

A500 Consists of

Module Groups (CG)

Program of Study

SC

A500 Consists of

Modules (SM)

Study Object

CS

B514 Is specialization of

Program of Study (SC)

Module Groups

CG

B509 Uses

Rule Container (RC)

Modules

SM

B514 is template for

Event Package (SE)

Modules

SM

A507 consist of

Business Event Type (D)

Event Packages

SE

A512 consist of

Events (E)

Event Packages

SE

A507 consist of

Business Event Type (D)

Events

A020 is specialization of

Business Event Type (D)

Student

ST

A502 belongs to

University (O)

Student

ST

A513 pursues

Study Object (CS)

Student

ST

A517 has study

Study Object (CS)

Student

ST

A506 completes

Module (SM)

Student

ST

B025 takes part

Event (E)

Student

ST

A515 is advised by

Employee (P)

Student

ST

A502 belongs to

Location (F)

Study Object

CS

A514 is specialization of

Program (SC)

3.3.6.1. Additional Relationship Data I


This Infotype at the relationship holds attributes that cannot be stored in isolation as infotypes for the
objects in question because they only refer to the specific relationship between two objects.
Example: mandatory relationship between a program of study (SC) and a study module (SM)
Table T77AR includes the name of additional data structure (PADnn) for relationship type.
The subtype concept is a possibility to classify the information to be stored in an infotype.
Example: Relationship 506 completes has different additional data than relationship 513 pursues
has. Therefore additional data cannot be stored in table HRP1001 which contains records for all
relationships. It must be stored in a separate transparent table HRPADnn which exists for each
additional relationship data structure. The link between HRP 1001 and HRPADnn is realized by a
pointer (field ADATANR) which is internally determined.

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Student Lifecycle Management Academic Structure Cookbook

3.3.7.

Important Customizing Tables for Data Model in Personnel Planning

3.3.8.

Evaluation paths

Evaluation paths are defined in the standard system in connection with the definition of rules and views.
They instruct the system which object types and relationship(s) are to be included in an evaluation of the
organizational plan. One or more relationships are then used as "navigation paths" for evaluating structural
information in the organizational plan (relating to the organizational or reporting structures) or matrix
organization. The sequence of the relationships included in the evaluation path is decisive in how the results
of the evaluation are displayed.
Available evaluation paths include both elementary evaluation paths with just one relationship (Example:
A003 belongs to, B007 is described by) and the complex evaluation paths (Example: Evaluation path O-S-P
describes the relationship chain Organizational Unit > Position > Employee (= internal persons per
organizational unit)).
Evaluation paths are found at IMG Student Lifecycle Management Basic Settings - Authorization
Management Structural Authorization - Maintain Evaluation Paths.
SLCM-specific evaluation paths: PIQ*(some others exist)

3.3.8.1. Authorizations and academic structure


This section describes the close link between the academic structure and authorization assignments. For
details on the subject and configuration guidelines please consult the Authorization Concept for Student
Lifecycle Management which is available in the SCN for Higher Education and Research.
Authorizations checks in SLCM consist of the basic authorization and the structural HR authorization:

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Student Lifecycle Management Academic Structure Cookbook

Basic authorization determines whether a user is allowed to execute a certain function.

Structural authorization determines the objects for which a user is allowed to execute functions (display
and/or maintain). It is therefore linked closely to the academic structure.
Example: With structural authorization you can restrict module booking authorization of a user to
modules that are offered by a specific department or faculty.

Those objects which a user is allowed to access are determined based on evaluation paths (see 3.1.8.).
They describe the chain of relationships that exist between objects in a hierarchical structure.

Relevant Menu Path: Student Lifecycle Management -> Basic Settings -> Authorizations
Function group RHGO contains function modules that are useful for maintaining structural profiles:
o RH_GET_ORG_ASSIGNMENT: Get organizational assignment of user (via employee, position)
o RH_GET_PERSON_FROM_USER: Assignment of a user to a personnel number
One or more relationships are used as navigation paths" for evaluating structural information in an
organisational plan:

When defining details of the academic structure the following steps are essential in regards to authorization:

Analysis of the organizational assignment of staff members within the institution

Analysis of structural authorizations needed for these members

Selection of the required restriction within the organization

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Student Lifecycle Management Academic Structure Cookbook

Selection of the required evaluation paths

Comparison of the evaluation paths delivered by SAP / analysis how they fit to institutional requirements

Analysis of required roles in the University

Analysis of the authorizations needed for these roles:

Selection of required authorization objects

Selection of required transactions

Selection of required infotypes

Creation of contract account data

Comparison of roles delivered by SAP and fit/gap analysis in regards to defined requirements

Customization of roles using transaction PFCG

Assignment of roles to users

SLCM allows separate maintenance of authorizations for different academic structure objects by using the
two different catalogs:
1) Program catalog for defining program content
2) Module catalog for defining module content

Example scenario for setting up authorizations


The organizational and academic structure described here is the basis for the example scenario below:

Organizational structure consisting of several hierarchies:

University (academic top org unit) -> School -> Department -> Faculty

HR positions are linked to organizational units, positions of employees (P) are assigned to HR
positions (S)

User (US) is linked with the employee (P) by maintaining infotype Communication (0105) and
Subtype System user name (0001) for the employee (P) in transaction PA30.

Departments offer programs of study (SC) and specializations (CG)

Faculties offer modules (SM)

Advisors are directly assigned to student records.

A faculty member is responsible for maintaining module data for all modules offered by his/her department.
S/he needs to display all modules to students that are enrolled into a program offered by that department.
Configuration:
To determine the root object of the structural authorization, function module
RH_GET_ORG_ASSIGNMENT is used. In the case given above, the function module determines the
root organizational unit of the faculty member.
This is done by evaluating infotype Communication (0105), Subtype system user name (0001) of the
user. Via this infotype the personnel number is derived.
With the personnel number, object Person (P) is determined which can be used to derive position (S)
and organizational unit (O).
Based on the organizational unit, two evaluation paths are used to derive the objects.
Two new authorization profiles (TCode OOSP) are required:
One for maintaining the modules offered by the department of the faculty member
One for displaying all modules to students that are enrolled to a program offered by the department
Note: For performance of the structural authorization limit the number of objects that need to be checked!

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Student Lifecycle Management Academic Structure Cookbook

4.

External Academic Structure

The external academic structure is separate from the internal academic structure. The external academic
structure is used to map, create and maintain external universities, schools and their academic offerings.
The external educational history can be used as input for:
o

Admissions (audit) requirements: Admissions requirements can include school degrees,


specific school subjects or results from a former higher educational career.

You can use the equivalency determination tool to acknowledge academic work done at
external institutions for internal academic requirements.

Degree audit requirements.

The external academic structure of SLCM is not designed to map a large number of external organizations
and their offerings! Rather it is suggested to setup the external organizations and their offerings in a general
way, e.g. German Universities (EO), German Bachelor Degrees (EQ), biology course (SU) instead of
specifying details. If not, all German universities, their specific degrees and courses had to be set up which is
not a suitable approach.
You can configure the external academic structure while setting up the internal structure or add it at a later
point in time. Try to keep its structure as simple as possible.

Internal Academic Structure: IMG Student Lifecycle Management Student Lifecycle Management
Master Data - Academic Structure
External Academic Structure: IMG Student Lifecycle Management Educational Background
External Organization, External Subjects, External Qualification

In Student Lifecycle Management you should only create those external organizations (object type EO) and
external subjects (object type SU), which you need for entering external academic achievements.
Take the following inheritance principle for external subjects into account:

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Student Lifecycle Management Academic Structure Cookbook

External organization (EO) inherits external subjects (SU) offered by its higher-level external organizations.
For a course which is offered by all schools of a particular type, these schools can be grouped under one
external organization and this course (as SU) be grouped to this organization and not to each individual
school. When determining equivalencies (-> Equivalency Determination), the system considers the external
subject environment of the specific external organization.
Exchange programs
The Exchange program is another external academic object (SX) that can be used for the following:

Information on exchange students who come from another Higher Education institution

Information about the exchange programs a student attended during his or her studies

The SX object can be maintained via transaction PIQSX and can be setup in relation to an external
organizational unit. Below is an example of a structure with an SX object and related SLCM objects:

The Exchange Program information is kept in the following infotypes of object Exchange Program (SX):
o

Exchange Program Data (1713)

Description (1002)

Requirement Catalog (1778)

Relationships: Uses Calendar (A510), is offered by EO/O (A534), contains Program (B535)

Customizing:
The IMG settings for defining Exchange Program attributes are as follows:

Student Lifecycle Management Master Data in Student Lifecycle Management Academic


Structure Exchange Programs

Student Lifecycle Management Master Data in Student Lifecycle Management Educational


Background External Organizations

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Student Lifecycle Management Academic Structure Cookbook

5.

SAP SLCM Academic Structure process Overview

Below you find the business process steps to build an academic curriculum offering in SAP SLCM. Some
steps are directly related to SAP HCM and may already be defined in a project where SAP HCM is in place.

5.1. Curriculum Management


1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

5.1.1. Maintain Organizational Structure


Define top organizational unit (O) (SAP HCM related)
Define organizational units (O) (SAP HCM related)
Define academic position (object S) (SAP HCM related)
Define academic staff (object P) (SAP HCM related)
Define academic calendar (SAP HCM related)

5.1.2. Maintain Academic Calendar


1. Define academic years and periods (CA) (SAP SLCM related with integration to SAP HCM
Factory/Holiday calendar)
2. Define timelimits (CA) (SAP SLCM related)
5.1.3.

Maintain Academic Programs

Define programs of study (SC):


1. Select offering org. unit
2. Define program plan (stages) (Optional)
3. Define program type (e.g. CE=Continuing Education, GR = Graduate, UG =
Undergraduate, PR = Professional, etc.)
4. Define progress classification (e.g. Freshman, Sophomore, etc.)
5. Define session variant (semesters, terms, etc.)
6. Define fee category (standard untergraduate fee, standard post graduate fee)

Define qualifications (CQ):


1. Define degree type (B.A., Ph.D.)
2. Define degree level (UG/Grad.)

Define module groups / specializations like Majors, Minors and concentrations (CG):
1. Define module group category (Maj./Min., opt./req.)
2. Define fee category

Define study modules and organizations which offer them (SM):


1. Define offering org. unit (including pre- and co-requisites) and set up disciplines
2. Define capacity
3. Define module credits
4. Define academic levels
5. Define stage where module is offered (for staged programs) (Optional)
6. Define fee category

Define event type (D)


1. Define category
2. Define teaching method
3. Define delivery method (e.g. classroom based)

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4. Define appraisal type (optional)


5. Define capacity
6. Define relationships (held by and requires)

Define event packages (SE) including fee category


1. Define capacity
2. Define sessions of offering
3. Define event package data

Define events (E)


1. Define location
2. Define status
3. Define schedule (dates, time, resources)

Optional: Define assessment (CE)


1. Define assessment category
2. Define audit type (optional)
3. Define assessment data

Optional:
Publish academic catalog:
In order to keep the online university course catalog up to date (e.g. when you have created
new modules or changed modules) you can extract the backend academic structure as
XML-file and store it on an external server. An automatic update process can be
implemented on the server for this procedure. Example report
RHIQDEMOXML_ACADSTRUC, Variant VA TOPORG selects all objects from top org unit
to modules. It can be started whenever the online course catalog must be updated.
Please note that it exports single XML files. The files can subsequently be used by the web
team of university to incorporate them in the main website of the university.

5.1.4. Maintain Audits


1. Optional: Maintain Admission Audits
1. Define admission audit requirements
2. Associate programs with admission audit
2. Optional: Maintain Degree Audit
3. Define degree requirements
4. Associate courses with degree requirements

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6. Academic Structure in detail


6.1. Definitions
Object
O

SC

Object Name

Organizational Organizational structure of an institution. Can be arranged in a hierarchy of


departments, faculties, etc.
Unit

Program of
Study

academic offering (=combination of study modules) of an educational


institution which fulfills the requirements for a degree
leads towards a qualification (e.g. degree/certificate)
can be attached to at least one responsible organizational unit

CG

Definition

Module Group

Module groups are used to organize modules into


Logical groupings (e.g. compulsory/optional study modules):
These groupings allow to define and create academic rules, e.g., take all
modules in group Compulsory, take two modules from group Electives,
etc.). Module Groups are used in Degree Audit for that purpose. Via filters
those modules are selected and can be used to fulfill academic rules. For that
purpose, you should separate Undergraduate from Graduate Majors!

Specializations (e.g. Majors / Majors):


These groupings enable students to book a specialization during program
registration. For example, the Bachelor of Business Administration has a
Major in Banking and Finance. Academic rules are assigned to the module
groups to specify the modules required to achieve the Major and Minor.

Learning Communities (relating event packages of modules (sections):


You can relate event packages to a module group = Learning Community and
designate sections of a course as Distance Learning (via Special Course
Type Module Group Category). Learning Communities improve search
capabilities when students book courses, e.g. a module has 50 sections of
which only two represent Distant Learning courses. Students use Learning
Communities as search criteria to quickly identify them.

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Example 1: Program of Study with Module Groups as required study modules and optional study modules
Program of Study (SC)
Module Group (CG)
as compulsory
degree requirement
= Summary of study
modules (SM)

Module Group (CG)


as optional /
elective modules

Example 2: Academic Structure with module group as Major / Minor


Module Group Banking of Finance represents a Major in the program Bachelor of Business Administration.

Module Group
(CG) as
Spezialization

Example 3: Academic Structure setting for module group Learning Community

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Object

Object Name

RC

Rule Container

Definition
A rule container is a SLCM object in which you can collect rules to be
checked at certain points within a process. Rules in the rule container
are activated by attaching the rule container to a callup point.
Example 1: Only regular students are allowed to enroll in the program of
study Fine Arts. During enrollment, the module group to which a student
is assigned is checked.
Example 2: Rule Containers contain requirements or requirement
templates students must fufill in order to complete a program of study.
They are assigned to the relevant SC object in the academic structure.
Requirement catalogs are used to structure these requirements.
Scenario example: Pre-requisite requirementss for a module require a
student to complete 3 out of a list of 5 possible modules.

Note: You can automate the process of creating rule containers. The respective program must be used by
the administrators who are authorized to create rule containers and assign them to academic objects.
Example 1: Rule Container for Program of Study Fine Arts into which only regular students can enroll

Note: The SAP system does not contain predefined rule containers. When you create them, try to keep rules
in the academic structure set up simple!

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Object

Object Name

Definition

CQ

Qualification

Students acquire (internal) qualifications in the course of their studies.


They can be conferred for a program (program completion), a stage
(stage completion) or without a program reference.
Example: Program of Study Bachelor of Science Informatics imparts
qualification Bachelor of Science.

Example 1: Program of Study Bachelor of Science Informatics imparts qualification B.SC.

(Internal)
Qualification
(CQ)

Object

Object
Name

SM

Study
Module

Definition

Modules are academic courses (classes, lectures, etc.) which define the
content of a program of study. They can also represent a more generic type
of academic work (e.g. a thesis).

Modules can be either mandatory, optional, or co-requisite.

They can be offered as one event or as a number of events.

A module can be used in different programs of study.

Modules are courses that students can book (register for), prebook (preregister for), and get grades and credits for.

Example 1: Students who want to enroll in course Laboratory: Fundamentals of


Programming will first have to enroll in course Introduction to Informatics.
Example 2: To identify modules as first year module, second year module, etc.,
they can be categorized. You either group introductory modules into module
group (CG) First year modules or you use academic levels to categorize them.

Example 1: Introduction to Informatics 1 is co-requisite for Laboratory: Fundamentals of Programming

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(Co-requisite)
Module (SM)

Module
Laboratory
allows for
conditional
booking
Note on conditional booking: If academic rules allow conditional booking, students can enroll in the
laboratory class without having yet completed the co-requisite course.
Example 2: Third year module International Economics has academic level 3. First year modules would
have academic level 1, second year modules level 2, etc.

Object

Object Name

Definition

Business Event

Event with set start and end dates which has been created from a
business event type (see below).
Takes place at a specific location and requires resources (e.g. rooms)
Is created anew in each event planning period

SE

Combination of business events which are offered for a module or a


business event type in an academic session.

Event Package

Can either be a reusable, long-lived or a short-lived object which is


used only for one event planning session.
D

Business event types serve as templates for planning and creating


concrete business event offerings

Business Event
Type

They contain resource types (P, R, etc.) and other attributes (e.g.
delivery mode) required for scheduling business events.

Can be used by different study modules.

Summary:
Modules (SM) contain the business event types (D) which serve as templates for creating events (E).
Required business event types must be created in the module catalog before the event planning starts.
A business event type attached to a module reflects a compulsory academic event which students who
book the module must attend.

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Business Event Type


(D) = scheduled
exercise for (SM)
Introduction to
Informatics.

Example 1: Business Event (E) is scheduled based on Business Event Type (D) Introduction to Informatics

Business event E is now scheduled (weekdays, time frames with named resources (room, lecturer))

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Note: Although it is possible to plan events in Training and Event Management (TEM) and in Student
Lifecycle Management, you should never plan Student Lifecycle Management events using the TEM
functionality! Use the event planning function in SLCM to plan and schedule events. Events you create in
TEM are automatically valid for the whole client (TEM and Student Lifecycle Management event objects are
the same), but events created in TEM are NOT visible in SLCMs academic structure.
Room Reservation can be used in Event Planning only if integration is activated between room reservation
and Training and Event Management. See switches in the menu path: SLCM Master Data in SLCM
Academic Structure Integration of Training and Event Management Training and Event Management.

Object

Object Name

Definition

CE

Assessement

An assessment represents an exam or final test which students have to


pass in order to complete a program, stage or module successfully.

Example 1: Module Laboratory: Fundamentals of Programming requires students to take an exam.

Assessment
(CE) method =
Exam

Object

Object Name

Definition

CA

Academic
Calendar

The academic calendar contains the dates related to business


processes of the university. These predefined periods are used in
event planning as default values for the event planning period.

The academic calendar specifies time limits for academic and


administrative processes like start dates and deadlines, fee
calculation purposes, and add/drop periods for module booking.
Example: the academic calendar of the University of Europe includes
time periods (time limits) for standard academic years and sessions
(100, mandatory!) and class periods (200).

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If no specific time limit is maintained for certain academic processes,


the processes always refer to the academic year and session.

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6.2. Design Principles for a long term academic structure


6.2.1.

Relationship between todays academic structure and future academic processes

As mentioned before, the academic structure is the basis for all study related processes in SLCM. Degree
audit is the major process during which a students academic work is evaluated and checked against
requirements of the students program of study. Requirements are organized in requirement catalogues. In
requirement catalogs subrequirements are created which define academic rules and filters to determine
relevant study modules.
Example: The academic rule 120 credits need to be achieved in Major Economics is designed with:
a calculation method that counts the earned credits of the completed modules and
a filter, that selects all modules of Major Economics.
She student will only progress towards his degree once he has fulfilled these requirements.
Important: When designing and implementing the academic structure you need to make sure that the structure you build today is suitable to design and build the requirement catalogs for audit processes later.
Student Lifecycle Management offers two planning views when working with academic structure objects:

The first planning view focuses on long term objects within the scheduling process. Relevant for this view
is the academic structure with Study Modules (SM). The next level is the Business Event Type (D) which
keeps all relevant data for the scheduling. In addition, Event Packages (SE) can be created as
permanent objects. This planning view focuses on a long-term data.

The second planning view focuses on the scheduling which takes place in every academic session. It
works with the creation of short-term objects such as events or time-independent events.
6.2.2. Long term versus short-term objects

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6.2.2.1. Organizational Units


Organizational units of an educational institution represent long term objects. Each program of study can be
attached to at least one organizational unit. This organizational unit is responsible for the program.
Before you can create academic structures, you must set up an organizational structure. The organizational
structure is either created in SLCM or in the HR system. SLCM is using the same objects for the
organizational structure like HCM. To create the required objects, select from the SAP menu:
Student Lifecycle Management Environment Organizational Management Organizational Plan
Organization and Staffing Create or
Transaction PPOCE
Then:
Define the top organizational unit. You must define a top organizational unit in each client.
Define the institution's complete organizational structure (schools, departments, etc.) by setting up a
hierarchical structure consisting of organizational units (O) and linking them to the top organizational unit
(relationship 003 "belongs to between O and O).
Note:

Organizational units do not have to be connected to the Top Org Unit.

You can define more than one organizational unit as responsible unit for a program.

Assumption:
One organization at the highest level (the University)
Next level representing schools or colleges.
Underneath the schools and colleges are departments.
Basic customizing steps in IMG:

Organizational Structure -> Organizational Management -> Basic Settings -> Activate Inheritance of
Account Assignment Features
Enter:
PPOM
INHS X
Inheritance of acc. ass. features by positions
_____
_____ __________________________________________________

Organizational Structure -> Organizational Management -> Define Top Organizational Unit
Here you must enter the object ID of the main organizational unit (i.e. the University). In the delivered
template of BC Set: ISHERCM_IAP_ORG_STRUCTURE, Object ID 50000050 (abbreviation
UNIVERSITY) is defined in the following manner. You may re-use this object and rename it
appropriately in transaction PP01:

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Create Acct. Assignment Features for the Organizational Unit and assign the Company Code:

6.2.2.2. Academic Calendar


The customizing steps for the academic calendar must be completed in the IMG -> Academic Years and
Sessions
o Define Academic Years
o Define Session Types (e.g. semester, quarters, etc.)
o Define Academic Sessions (e.g. Fall, Winter, Spring)
o Set Up Session Groups (e.g. Admissions/Enrollment, Course Offerings) and assign them to
academic sessions (e.g. Admissions periods are Fall and Spring, course offering periods are
Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer)
o Assign Academic Sessions to Academic Years (e.g.: 2012-13 Fall, 2012-13 Winter, 2012-13
Spring, 2012-13 Summer)
o Define Time Limits:
0100 Standard Duration of Academic Session X
0200 Class Period
0300 Course Registration (With priorities)

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Optional:
ADMA Admissions Application Deadline
APPR Grading Deadline
GRAD Graduation Date
Define Session Variant:
1 Ac. year w. 2 sem
Semester
2 Ac. year w. 1 sem
Semester

Academic Session
Academic Year

The session variant will be assigned to the program of study.

6.2.2.3. Program of Study


Look at the following questions when designing a program of study:
1. Does the program offer different specializations?
Specializations need to be configured in module groups so that students can be registered to them
To filter all modules of a specialization the modules need to be grouped into a module group.
2. Is the program of study structured into stages?
Stages are optional in SLCM. They structure a program of study according to a time line.
Students in a staged program have to start at stage 1:

Stage 1 (CG1) is the first stage in which students can take the module group.

Stage 2 (CG2): Modules within this module group may not be taken by students in lower stages
(Example: module group "Major in Finance contains only modules from stage 2 and higher).

Stages need to be configured for the program and also taken into account when implementing audit
functionality. The modules within a module group and module groups can be assigned to one or more
stages. Students in these stages can book the modules and/or module groups. Stage audit and progression
rules determine when students are allowed to continue with stage 2.
Note! It is possible to book specializations for a selected stage. The dialog box for specialization bookings
contains a field where the user can select a stage for which the assignment is valid.

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In a stageless program of study, modules are not structured according to a time line such as stages. The
order in which students have to take modules is defined by the level of the module, course prerequisites, etc.
It can be stored in rule containers or defined by creating relationships between the modules (SM is prerequisite or co-requisite of SM).
Note: Once set, attributes with stages or stageless (defined in the program plan) CANNOT be changed!

3. Which are the attributes of the program of study?


Program attributes are maintained using the IMG Path: SLCM >Master Data in SLCM> Academic
Structure>Programs of Study:

Attributes must be maintained in the program infotypes.

Some attributes are essential in the configuration of student administration processes.

All attributes must be set up in customizing before you can create a program of study.

The following information is maintained in the attribute Program Data:

Program Plan: used to subdivide programs into stages (relevant in academic process: registration /
stage audit)

Program Type: used to define program levels (e.g. undergraduate / postgraduate). The program type
definition is directly related with student classifications and progression.

Session Variant: used to define the type of sessions into which the academic year is divided. The
session variant defines the permitted registration and re-registration intervals and is also relevant for
event planning processes.

Module Group Variant: used to specify Majors/Minors

Program Duration: used to specify the (maximum) number of years students can study a program.
You can check program duration by means of a rule (relevant academic process: progression)

Admission Restricted/Assessment Process: If these flags are activated, the system will not allow to
register a student for a program if the admissions process has not been completed successfully
(relevant academic process: admission audit).

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Capacity: determines the minimum, optimum, and maximum number of places in a program. It can
be stored in the system and be used during admission.

Evaluation: used to specify academic scales. During the grading process, academic scales are used
to record module grades.

Fee Calculation Data: enables you to set prices for different program categories, e.g., for
undergraduate and postgraduate.

Program Credits: allow to specify the number of credits required to obtain the qualification of the
program. During degree audit, the required number can be checked against the total earned credits
for a program based on a set of rules. You can also define the minimum and maximum number of
credits students must complete in one stage if your progression rules contain this requirement.

Disciplines: defines the field of study of a program. You can assign programs of study, module
groups, modules and external subjects to one or more disciplines. One discipline can be defined as
the primary discipline and used for reporting purposes. The discipline table supports the use of CIP
(Classification of Institutional Programs). A CIP Code Data Load program is available in the IMG at
SLCM>Master Data in SLCM>Academic Structure->Modules>Upload CIP Codes from File

Weighting Factor: If more than one organizational unit offers a program (Relationship 501), you can
define a percentage weighting factor which determines the contribution of each organizational unit
towards the program in percentage.

The program catalog stores all available programs of study and has two different views:
Tree structure of the program of study: It provides an overview of all objects included in the program of
study and shows their relation to each other. When you select a program of study or an organizational
unit via the object manager, the system displays the selected objects top down.
Graphical overview: Here you see the program as a program plan. If the program is subdivided into
stages, only this view will show you which module or module group is offered for which stage. To start
the graphical overview, select a program of study within the tree structure and then choose `overview.

6.2.2.4. Qualification
An internal qualification (CQ) is associated with the programs of study that students are pursuing (via
relationship imparts) and are awarded during graduation processing.
Qualifications are characterized by the following characteristics:

Attributes must be maintained in internal qualification Infotypes.

Some attributes influence other student administration processes.

All attributes must be set up in customizing before you can create an internal qualification.

Qualification attributes:

Groups: define different sets of internal and external qualifications, e.g., you can combine the
internal qualifications Bachelor of Science and Master of Business Administration in qualification
group Academic Degrees. Diplomas and certificates can be part of qualification groups.
o

Related process: You can use a qualification group to define rules, e.g., by specifying
program requirements - Applicants must have high school diploma.

Degree Type: defines the type of diploma awarded by internal/external institutions. The degree type
links a degree with a degree level. Possible degree types are Bachelor, Master, High School, etc.

Degree Level: Possible degree levels are undergraduate, high school, etc. A degree level must be
assigned to each degree type.
o

Related process: You can use degree level and degree type to define rules, e.g., to specify
program requirements to indicate that - Applicants must have a high school diploma.

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Grading Calculation Method: calculates grades and academic honors. You can only use the grade
calculation function when you confer qualifications for an assessment process (stage completion or
graduation). You cannot use this function when you confer qualifications which are not related to a
program.

Evaluation: You can select a predefined scale to rate the qualification.

Discipline: describes the field of study in which the internal or external qualification was acquired.

Note: The qualification discipline table refers to the same table as the disciplines for other academic objects.
Internal Qualification fields are maintained using the IMG path: SLCM>Master Data in SLCM>Qualifications.

6.2.2.5. Module Group


When you set up module groups, you define the following attributes:

Module Group Data: enables you to define how module groups are used within the academic
structure (Organizational/Specialization/Learning Community). The purpose of the module group is
determined by the relevant customizing settings.

Disciplines: used to specify fields / branches of study.

Fee Calculation Data: provides the ability to charge a fee for module group registration (e.g. Major /
Minor bookings)

Fee Distribution: used to distribute fees to various cost objects (e.g. Cost Centre/Internal Order)

Module group attributes are maintained using the IMG Path: SLCM>Master Data in
SLCM>Academic Structure>Module Groups. With the exception of disciplines which are maintained
using the IMG path: SLCM>Master Data in SLCM>Academic Structure>Modules>Set up Disciplines.

Module group variants allow to define academic specializations that will be available to students during
registration. Customizing steps in IMG at SLCM>Master Data in SLCM>Academic Structure>Module Groups:
1. Set up Module Group Variant/Category combinations.
For example, the University offers programs in which students can choose either one Major (module group
category Major) and one Minor (module group category Minor) or one Major and two Minors. You must
define a module group variant for each of these options.
2. Define relevant module group categories as specialization (by setting the flag in the customizing table).
Afterwards the drop down list in the module group data tab displays only those module group categories (e.g.
Major, Minor) which you have maintained. It is best practice to re-use module group categories. For example,
create one category to represent core modules and re-use it in other parts of the academic structure.
3. Assign a module group variant to the relevant program of study (Program Data Infotype)
4. Assign the module groups to the program of study via the program catalog or transaction PP01
(Relationship A500)
Optional Step
After you have performed the above steps, you can maintain the allowed combinations of module groups via
the program catalog. Use the menu path: Environment>Edit Specializations.
This function allows you to define the rules for valid and invalid specialization combinations for each of your
programs of study. For example, you may have a Bachelor of Arts that requires students to select a Major
and a Minor. With this function, you can explicitly define the Major/Minor combinations that are not permitted.
(e.g. Math Major and Math Minor are not permitted combinations).
Note: You do not have to explicitly define all allowed combinations.

Group modules which can be used to fulfill the same academic rule in the same module group!

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6.2.2.6. Module
1. Characteristics of modules

Is it possible to categorize the different types of modules, e.g. as core modules or optional modules?
modules need to be indicated by type or grouped into module groups and get assigned a type
a filter can select all modules of a program with the flag core module
a filter can select all modules of a specific module group
st
nd
Are the modules structured into year modules, e.g. 1 year module, 2 year module, etc.?
to select these modules they need to be categorized (e.g. based on an academic level)
Do variants exist which a student can choose in order to fulfill an academic rule?
several modules which can be used to fulfill requirements in e.g. two variants need to be grouped
in module groups
a filter can select the modules which have to be completed together
a rule with a AND/OR relationship can be designed.

Modules can be either mandatory or optional courses that students can:


Book (register for)
Prebook (pre-register for)
Get grades for
Get credits for
The following applies for module attributes:
Attributes must be maintained in the module Infotypes
Some attributes impact other student administration processes
All attributes must be set up in customizing before you can create a module
When you set up modules, you define the following attributes:
Capacity: determines the number of students that can be booked / waitlisted on the module
Evaluation: used to define the type of academic scale and appraisal templates for grading.
Attendance Calc. Rules: used to specify rules for attendance calculation.
Program Type Assignment:
used to assign modules to program type such as Undergraduate / Postgraduate e.g. Level
100 course = Undergraduate, Level 500 = Postgraduate. This information is used in the
progression process. An IMG configuration table allows the system to automatically activate
or de-activate holds and customer statuses holds as a result of program type progression.
Example: an UG progression run for a student indicates dismissed -> the respective hold
will go into effect if it has been activated.
Sessions of Offering: Academic session within which module is taught (automatically updated)
Module Credits: you can define the minimum, optimum, maximum number of credits for the
module. When a student books the module, the attempted credits are derived from the
module credit value.
Fee Calculation Data: enables you to define different prices, e.g., full-time course, distance
learning/course materials, etc.
Disciplines: defines field of study of a module.
Module Data:
o

The Academic Level refers to the learning contents level; e.g. 1st year, 2nd year,
100 level, 200 level, etc. You can use this information for rules definition.

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The Category is also used for business event types and can refer to lecture,
workshop, etc.

The Repetition Type control the number of attempts allowed

Catalog: Controls whether a module is displayed in the catalog published on the web

The Waiting List fields are used to define or disable waiting list rules.

Session Patterns: used as to specify timescale intervals for module offerings, e.g. every fall.
Teaching Emphasis: Specifies how module content is taught (e.g. written/oral assignments.)
Fee Distribution: used to distribute fees to various cost objects (e.g. Cost Centres)
Cohort Context: automatically updated by the cohort tool.

You can maintain modules and objects below the program level using the module catalog which is accessed
via SAP Menue at Student Lifecycle Management Academic Structure (Curriculum) Study Planning
Module Catalog from the SAP menu, or transaction PIQ_ACCTLG.
To set up modules, start with organizational units and use the module catalog to:

Define the modules as object types SM which are offered by a particular organizational unit (for
example, all courses offered by the Department of Biology) and link them directly to the
organizational unit (relationship 501 "offers).

Create business event types connected to modules, which describe the offerings per module.

Start the event planning process and administer the academic offerings per session, that is, define
which module is offered in which session. The planning process also includes the creation of
academic units w/o dates and individual work.

Combine different events to an event package or create an event package for a module without
planning the events.

Two different catalogs enable you to distinguish between authorizations, access academic data and define
the different persons and departments who are responsible for catalog maintenance. You can keep the
maintenance authorizations for different structures separately by using the two different catalogs:
1) Program catalog for defining program content
2) Module catalog for defining module content.
Note: Pre-Requisite checks can be maintained directly in the module catalog

You can use the module catalog to create the following required objects and relationships:

Define the business event types that a module consists of (relationship 507 "consists of)

Define the internal qualifications which are imparted by a module (relationship 528 "imparts).

Define the internal qualifications which are prerequisite for a module (relationship 529 "is prerequisite
of).

Define the modules which are prerequisite for a module (relationship 529 "is prerequisite of).

Define the modules which complement each other (modules which must be booked together)
(relationship 533 "is corequisite of).

Define module crosslistings (relationship 511 "refers to).

Link a rule container to a module (relationship 509 "is used by).

Additional IMG settings for Modules:

Modules -> Define Categories

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(BC Set: ISHERCM_IAP_MODULES)


Examples:
Key

Description

Individual work

IND

Independent Study

INT

Internship

SEM

Seminar

STD

Standard Course

THE

Thesis

OTH

Other (no Individual Work)

OTHI

Other (w/ Individual Work)

X
X

Note: Individual work cannot have an event but an individual work assigned.

Modules -> Define Repetition Types


(BC Set: ISHERCM_IAP_MODULES)
Examples:
STDA Standard (requires approval)
UNLA Unlimited Graded (requires approval)
GRBA Grade-Based (requires approval)
STD
Standard (no approval)
UNL
Unlimited Graded (no approval)
GRB Grade-Based (no approval)
NONE Not Allowed

Modules < Define Alternative Assessment Methods for Modules


(BC Set: ISHERCM_IAP_MODULES)
Examples:
AUD
Audit Course Grade Allocation Not Possible X X
PF
Pass/Fail Passed/Failed
These settings allow for follow-up processes related to students who wish to audit courses or take them
as Pass/Fail options.

6.2.2.7. Business Event Type


You must create business event types in the module catalog before you begin event planning.

A business event type can be used in different modules. A module can be used in different programs
of study. You can share an event type across multiple modules if students have to attend the
same event type.

Each business event type attached to a module reflects a compulsory academic event which
students who book the module must attend. A student must attend one event for each business
event type in a module in order to complete the module.

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Resources can be assigned to events in two ways:


Planned Resources:
The event type stores the required resource types.
The resource type contains the necessary resources for the event.
Concrete resources are selected when planning the event.
=>Example: all persons related to a business Event type via relation is held by.
Temporary Resources:

Temporary resources (which are not defined by resource types) can be assigned directly to an
event.

Temporary resources can be assigned by using the user-defined Free Search when selecting
resources.

=>Example: the event type has no assigned Instructors. But in this case, you wish to add an instructor
directly to the event.

The business event type category determines whether an event is set up as time-dependent or timeindependent in form of the Delivery Mode. Events without a schedule are time-independent.
Delivery Modes of event types can be:

DIST Distance-learning (scheduled) Business Event

DISU Distance-learning (unscheduled) Time-Independent Event

LAB Lab session Business Event

LECT Lecture (classroom) Business Event

SELF Self-study Time-Independent Event

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Note!
To create a time independent event for self-study purposes, the relevant delivery mode (e.g. distance
learning) must be specified on the business event type. Once this delivery mode has been assigned it is not
possible to change the time-independent event to a normal Event. Therefore: Ensure that a timeindependent delivery mode is not assigned to these temporary EL Objects.

6.2.2.8. Rule Containers


When setting up rules keep in mind: the simpler a rule, the more generic performance indices, conditions,
and filters can be defined. Callup points are a key instrument during the definition of rules.
Student Lifecycle Management distinguishes between

Academic callup points: Academic callup points are used to assign rule containers to objects of the
academic structure via relationship 509 uses/is used by (SAP menu: Student Lifecycle
Management > Academic Structure (Curriculum) > Study Planning > Program Catalog or Module
Catalog.) A rule container that is related to an object of the academic structure is valid for that
specific object and for objects in the academic structure that inherit the rule container. The callup
point is a mandatory attribute of the relationship. If a rule container is no longer valid for an object,
relationship 509 must be delimited.

Non-academic callup points: they are used to directly assign rule containers (RC) to applications,
such as admission. Rule containers related to non-academic callup points are valid for all objects of
the academic structure

User-defined callup points: customers can define additional callup points in the customer namespace
and build into BAdIs or customer programs VSR checks

Note: Both academic and non-academic callup points are predefined by SAP!
The relevant SLCM application processes the assigned rule containers when the callup point occurs.
One typical relationship of rule containers is the following: is used by, relevant for the following objects:

Organizational Unit (O) -> Rule containers assigned to organizational units can be used for any
academic callup point!

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Program of Study (SC)

Study Module (SM)

Module Group (CG)

Event Package (SE) -> Rule containers assigned to event packages will only be evaluated during
module booking callup points!

Rule containers have infotype objects (1000), relationships (1001), description (1002), and others. You
create rule containers with transaction PIQRC or in the SAP menu Student Lifecycle Management ->
Academic Structure (Curriculum) -> Rules -> Edit Rule Container.
1) Attach rule containers to objects of the academic structure by creating relationships and define the
callup points for rule containers as additional relationship data.
You can use the program catalog to attach the rule container to academic objects.
2) Attach rule containers directly to callup points.
You do so in the IMG under Student Lifecycle Management Processes -> General Settings > Rules -> Rule Containers -> Assign Rule Containers to Callup Points.
All rules within a rule container, which are
1) defined for a callup point and
2) attached to a process-relevant academic structure object
are checked when the callup point occurs

Example: Student registration for a new program => a check before saving takes place if
registration rules (defined at program level) are fulfilled.

6.2.2.9. Assessment
Assessments can be assigned to a module if the assessment should be an exam for a course completion
(module assessment) or they can be assigned to a program if the assessment process is used for graduation
(program completion).
If the assessment is assigned to a program please note that each program of study (SC) has ONE
assessment process! You would not have one assessment process for multiple programs of study!
But: You can have multiple assessment processes in the case of module assessments!
Configuration example for module assessment (e.g. exam):
1) Create an assessment (object CE) via the program catalog and attach the assessment to a module
2) Maintain exam profile

Exam profile is maintained on infotype assessment data

Mark the exam profile as default (then it is defaulted for the scheduling)
3) Schedule assessment

Use transaction edit assessment

For module completion assessment access to room reservation functionality is available.

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Assessment Process Overview for module and program completion

Assessments within the audit process

The audit functionality in Student Lifecycle Management is a tool which supports the auditing of
requirements a student has to fulfil for a certain process.

For different processes different audit types are required. Three such audit types are delivered:

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o
o
o

Degree Audits
Stage Audits
Admission Audit.

In addition the audit functionality is integrated to the assessment processes. SAP delivers specific
assessment processes with audits for program completion (graduation) and stage completion. In
addition, admission assessment processes with admission audits are delivered.

You can define additional audit types for specific processes. For customer defined audit types you can
define additional parameters.

Audit Types
An audit type refers to the process you want to support with an audit. Along with the audit type you define the
parameters required for this audit type. You can also define the evaluation path starting from a study object
(CS) for the default main requirement catalog. The main requirement catalog is required to derive the basic
pattern of a requirement profile.

Parameter Audits
For the requirement derivation one needs the program of study, the specializations and a catalog version.
Some audit types need additional parameters. For example, the Stage Audit requires the stage as
parameter.

Summary Scenario for setting up long term academic objects:


After setting up the organizational structure, use the Program Catalog to:
o

Define the module groups within the program of study (Relationship 500 "consists of).

Assign modules to the associated module groups within the program of study as part of the
program content (Relationship 500 "consists of).

Assign modules directly to the program of study as part of the program content (relationship 500
"consists of).

Define the internal qualifications (e.g. Degrees/Certificates) to be awarded upon completion of


the program of study (relationship 528 "imparts).

Define the internal qualifications which are prerequisite for the program of study (e.g., the undergraduate degree required for a postgraduate program) (relationship 529 "is prerequisite of).

Optional step: assign a rule container to the program of study (relationship 509 "is used by).

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6.2.2.10. Business Events and Event Packages


Business Events:

take place on specific dates

require Resources

object validity is influenced by a schedule

have capacity limits

take place at specific locations

Event packages bundle events and can be part of a module or a Business Event Type. The event package
can either be a reusable, long-lived object or a short-lived object which is used only for one Event Planning
session. Example: a student must attend the Lectures in Exp. Physics and Exercise in Exp. Physics in
order to fulfill the requirements of the module. Lecture and exercise are represented by two different event
objects.
Event Packages are generally assigned to modules and inherit the sessions of offerings specified at the
module level.
Through event packages you can do the following:
o Book several academic offerings at once instead of having to book each separately.
o Offer academic offerings (e.g. tutorials , exams) for different learning objectives or instructors
o Set tuition fees for the offerings listed under modules. They therefore make it possible to define
different fees for different event packages.
o Define booking rules in rule containers per package.
o Define the campus at which an event package is held.
o Maintain an academic calendar for the event package.
o Maintain capacities per event package.
o Maintain a pattern per event package.
Event planning in SLCM offers BAdIs for defining customer specific requirements, e.g.
o

Setting the event package name and short text as default when creating an event package. The event
package name is derived from the module name.

Set the event name, short text and capacities as default from the event type information.

Validate the classroom hours with the contact hours. The validation also considers the credit hours
from the course data.

You implement the BAdIs in Customizing for Student Lifecycle Management, under Master Data in Student
Lifecycle Management -> Academic Structure -> Event Planning -> Business Add-Ins (BAdIs).

A Note on Room search


A web-based user interface is available for searching for rooms based on location, capacity, equipment, and
availability. Included is a web-based view of room details with a Weekly Calendar view of room availability
and the contact person for the course.

A Note on Capacity
Minimum / Optimum / Maximum capacity may be defined at different levels:
Optimum and maximum capacity is taken into account primarily during the booking process. If the
optimum or maximum capacity is exceeded for events, event packages or modules, the system will
generate an information, warning or error message to the user.
The minimum capacity of all objects has a minor impact and it is not evaluated by the system.
Capacity is checked during the following processes:

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Modules (SM): Evaluated during module booking. Triggers waitlisting.


Event Packages (SE): Evaluated during module booking. Message if capacity exceeded.
Event Types (D): Default for capacity at event level.
Events (E): Evaluated during event booking. Message if capacity exceeded.
Rooms: Taken into account during event booking.
User-Defined Validation:Event Planning BADI is provided for user-defined validations (e.g. to check
if room and event capacities are compatible).
Module Capacity Check: Customizing switch allows to exclude module capacity check. This does not
impact the module capacity but event packages and events. In case there exist many event
packages for a single module you can now have simultaneous booking at the module on different
event packages.

A Note on Teaching Workload


Student Lifecycle Management offers an integrated teaching workload functionality consisting of:
HCM:

Personal master data, processes

Supports time recording for all types of activities, effort reporting, ...

Obligations for teaching load are stored within the personnel/ position master data.

SLCM:

Scheduling of events for courses using teachers which are managed in the Personal Master Data

Tracking of activities which are related to teaching (Teaching Workload)

Workload of faculty members can be maintained in the HR infotype for positions (object type P) to track:

Resource planning in teaching activities


o Load (free resources, covering the Event offering, ...)

Controlling
o Performance / contractual obligations
o Costs (cost of teaching activities / revenues)

Compensation
o Determination of the amount of money that has to be paid
o Determination of overload for faculty members

Strategic planning
o Analysis of trends
o Analysis of profitability

You keep the information about teaching obligations of a staff member on the position which you have
created for a staff member within HCM. The Position Object Type S offers an (extendable, standard)
infotype where you can enter the following information:

Mandatory teaching hours can be defaulted by certain attributes

Reductions of standard teaching hours and reasons, e.g.: administrative tasks in addition to teaching

You maintain required customizing in the IMG for SLCM > Master Data in Student Lifecycle Management >
Academic Structure > Administration of Teaching Hours (HR Funds & Position Mgt)
o

Define default values for mandatory teaching hours

Define reasons for reducing teaching hours for positions

Reasons for reduction of teaching hours may include (visible impact on compensation in Payroll / Invoice):
o

Contractual / non-contractual reassigned times


Department chair

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Member of committees

Temporarily / permanent reduction


Individual agreements
Disability

Student Lifecycle Management offers the following attributes to describe the Teaching Workload after event
packages (SE) and events (E) are created:

Units for measuring teaching load, e. g.


o Semester Hours
o Preparation Units

Teaching Activity Groupings (Workload Types) with units, e. g.


o Teaching Semester Hours
o Preparation Preparation Units

Teaching Activities, e. g.
o Prepare a course belongs to preparation
o Teach a class belongs to teaching
o Co-teach a class belongs to teaching

Calculation Rules for Teaching Activities, e. g.


o Teach a class is counted per contact hour of an event
o Prepare a course is counted per event type

Weighting Factors per category, e. g.


o Teaching a lecture counts with factor 1 per contact hour, while teaching an exercise
counts for 50 percent.

Customizing Path: IMG for Student Lifecycle Management -> Master Data in Student Lifecycle Management
> Academic Structure > Teaching Workload

7. Example Business Scenario


A University offers Undergraduate program Economics, Politics and International Studies. It consists of
Majors and Minors with certain academic rules which students must fulfill to be granted their final degree.
To implement the described scenario you have to
1. build the academic structure and
2. design the requirement catalogs

7.1.1.

Academic & Assessment Rules

The Undergraduate degree involves three years of study and leads to a Bachelor of Science (BSc) or
Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree. The first year consists of a foundation in all three disciplines. In the second
and third year, students may specialize either in Politics and International Studies, whilst continuing to take
Economics as minor subject, or in Economics with Politics and International Studies as Minor. Students take
five equally-weighted modules in the first year, consisting of

1 core economics module (combining micro and macro)


1 quantitative module
2 core modules in politics, and
1 optional module from a list of University first year options.

Note: Students must pass all five first-year modules in order to proceed to their second year of study.
Students who fail first-year modules may re-sit in September.
In all Economics courses the first year is a qualifying year so that the final degree classification is determined
on the basis of performance in the second and third years. Performance in most second and third year
modules in Economics is assessed partly by examination (80%) and partly by written coursework (20%).

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First Year
Students take core modules totaling between 144 and 150 credits as follows:

core modules worth 120 credits and

optional modules worth at least 24 credits.

Some first-year modules are prerequisites for certain second- and third-year modules.
Core modules

Credits

EC107

Economics 1

30

EC120

Quantitative Techniques

30

PO107

Introduction to Politics

30

PO131

World Politics

30

Optional modules (up to 2 modules, in summary between 24 and 30 credits)

30

EC104

The World Economy: History and Theory

30

or EC112

The Industrial Economy: Its Global Shift

15

EC132

The Industrial Economy: Strategy

15

EC119

Mathematics for Economists

15

EC133

Linear Algebra for Economists

15

Second Year
Candidates choose between an Economics Major (leading to BSc) and a Politics and International Studies
Major (leading to BA). Candidates for Honors take modules totaling 120 credits. Candidates take a maximum
of 30 credits of optional modules from outside Economics and Politics across years 2 and 3. E.g., candidates
could take a 30-credit module from disciplines other than Economics or Politics in either year or a 15-credit
such module in both years.
ECONOMICS MAJOR
Candidates take core modules worth 90 credits and optional modules worth 30 credits.
Core modules

Credits

EC204

Economics 2

30

EC203 or

Economic and Social Statistics

30

EC226

Econometrics 1

30

PO201 or

Political Theory from Hobbes

30

PO219

Theories of International Relations

30

Optional Module
A second year module in Economics OR Any other approved 2nd-year option

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(Candidates may take a non-Economics or non-Politics 30 credit module in


either their second or third-year of study, but not in both years).
A second-year module in Politics & International Studies OR

30 or 2 x 15

Any other approved second-year option

30 or 2 x 15

POLITICS & INTERNATIONAL STUDIES MAJOR


Candidates take core modules worth 90 credits and optional modules worth 30 credits.
Core modules

Credits

EC204

Economics 2

30

PO201

Political Theory from Hobbes

30

PO219

Theories of International Relations

30

Optional modules
A second year module in Economics OR

30 or 2 x 15

A second-year module in Politics & International Studies OR

30 or 2 x 15

Any other approved 2nd-year option. Candidates may take a non-Economics or


non-Politics 30 credit module in their 2nd or 3rd-year of study, but not in both.

30 or 2 x 15

Third Year
ECONOMICS MAJOR
Candidates for Honors take modules totaling 120 credits, which comprises 30 credits of core modules and 90
credits of option modules. Within the 90 credits of optional modules, at least 60 credits should be contributed
by third-year (300-coded) modules. Candidates may take 30 credits worth of non-Economics or non-Politics
module in either their second or third-year of study, but not in both years.
Core modules
EC304

The Making of Economic Policy

Credits
30

Optional Modules
A third year module in Economics and

30 or 2 x 15

A second or third year module in Economics (see rule above) and

30 or 2 x 15

A third year module in Politics and International Studies or

30 or 2 x 15

IB314

Business Studies II or

30

LA205

International Law or

30

Any other approved second year option (see rule above)

30 or 2 x 15

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Politics & International Studies Major


Candidates for Honors take core modules worth 60 credits and optional modules worth 60 credits: 30 credits
of the optional modules must be contributed by third-year modules. Candidates may take 30 credits worth of
non-Politics or non-Economics modules in either of their second or third year, but not in both modules.

Core Modules

Credits

EC304

The Making of Economic Policy

30

PO301

Issues in Political Theory or

30

PO333

Political, Economic and Legal Problems of European Integration

30

Optional Modules
A third year module in Politics & International Studies and

30 or 2 x 15

A second or third year module in Economics (see rule above) or

30 or 2 x 15

A third year module in Politics & International Studies or

30 or 2 x 15

IB314

Business Studies II or

30

LA205

International Law or

30

Any other approved second year option (see rule above)

30 or 2 x 15

7.1.2.

Implementation Steps
7.1.2.1. Building the academic structure

a) Program of Study
Create a program of study to represent degree program Economics, Politics and International Studies.
Create a module group variant to represent Majors and assign it to the program data infotype in the field
Module Group Variant.

b) Qualifications

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Create two qualifications to represent the degrees of the program of study


o BA - Major in Politics & International Studies
o BSc - Major in Economics
In order to calculate the final overall program grade, a Grade Calculation Method must be maintained
on the tab Qualification Data. To access the customizing settings, use IMG path: SLCM>Master Data in
SLCM> Qualifications> Grade Calculation Methods

c) Module Groups
Create the following module groups:
Module Groups

Purpose

Foundation Year

Group modules belonging to the first year of the program

Foundation Core & Optional

(Logical) Group foundation modules

Major in Economics

Represents a specialization in subject Economics

Core & Optional Modules-Economics

Represent core modules for Major Economics

Major in Politics

Represents a specialization in subject Politics

Core & Optional Modules-Politics

Represent core modules for Major Politics

Step 1: Create Module Group Types.


IMG: SLCM>Master Data in SLCM>Academic Structure>Module Groups>Set Up Module Group Categories

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To customize categories to be used as specializations follow Steps 1 to 4


To customize categories to be used as organization groupings use Step 1

Step 2: Set Up Module Group Variants


IMG: SLCM>Master Data in SLCM>Academic Structure>Module Groups>Set Up Module Group Categories

Create an entry for a Major to allow students to select either an Economics or Politics as Major during
program registration.

Step 3: Set Up Module Group Variant/Category Combinations


IMG: SLCM>Master Data in SLCM>Academic Structure>Module Groups>Set Up Module Group Categories

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Assign the variant to the group type specified as Major in Step 1.

Step 4: Assign Module Group Categories to Specialization


IMG: SLCM>Master Data in SLCM>Academic Structure>Module Groups>Set Up Module Group Categories

Step 5: Creating the Module Groups


Create the module groups specified in Step c above and maintain the module group data infotype according
to the customizing settings created in the previous steps.
For example, assign the category Foundation Year to the module group representing this group of
modules. Repeat this step for all the other module groups.

Step 6: Assign module characteristics


The program of study has two types of modules: Core and Optional. Use the flag Core Item on the
relationship between the module group and module to assign the core modules characteristic.

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The flag core item will be used in Degree Audit to define some of the academic rules. They are used
within the filter to select the core modules or to define a condition all core modules need to be completed.

Step 7: Result Overall Program Structure

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8. Academic structure FAQ


8.1. Solution Implementation
Sequence of implementing different components
Q: Is it mandatory for HCM to be implemented before implementing SLCM?
A: SLCM and HCM can be implemented in the same enterprise system. They share the same organizational
structure and SLCM can use the resources of HCM (Training and Event Management). A full HCM
implementation is not a prerequisite to run SLCM. They can run both in parallel but the shared customizing
and data between both must be considered. Most SLCM customers start from an existing HCM system.
8.2. Infotypes
List of available Infotypes
Q: Where can I find information on available infotypes or create new ones?
A: Transaction PPCI lists all infotypes and allows for creating new ones. You can use report
RHIQ_HROBJINFO in transaction SE 38 -> F8 to display all Infotypes for an object type.
Other useful reports can be found in the SAP Menue at Human Resources -> Organizational Management ->
Info System -> General and Tools (e.g. RE_RHDESC10 Display Infotypes)

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Enhancing existing Infotypes


Q: SAP does not recommend to enhance new fields into existing infotypes. Is it possible to add new fields to
existing standard delivered infotypes or is this considered as modification, e.g. screen modifications?
A: This is possible but it is considered as modification (not only screen modifications, but likely also coding
modifications are necessary). It is not recommended. Rather a new infotype should be created. The reason
for not recommending this approach is that it is difficult to populate this fields via the standard tools (BAPI's)
for data transfer, self-services etc. If only few fields are missing this approach may still be of advantage.

Changing key dates of objects


Q: How can I change the key date of objects in the academic structure?
A: To correct the key date of objects (e.g. SC) use report RHBEGDA0 / TA RE_RHBEGDA0. Select the
relevant object type and enter in the lower part the previous and the new date.
Other useful reports to be used in TA 38 include:

RHBEGDA0 Set new start date for object

RHGRENZ1 Set new end date for objects

RHGRENZ4 Set new end date for objects incl. Infotypes

RHINFT00 Maintain Infotypes

RHINFAW0 Infotype Reporting

RHMOVE30 Transport of HR Objects

RHRHDL00 Deletion of objects


8.3. Academic Structure Objects

Assignment of top organization and company codes


Q: What needs to be considered when assigning a top organizational unit and company codes?
A: The top org or HIORG is used for two purposes:
1) To define the academic session dates for processes such as fee calculation.
2) To set the default company code that is used for Student Account creation.
There can be only one top org. Other existing org units do not have to 'roll up' to it in the organization
tructure. It can exist on its own. Usually the system is set up with a single company code and multiple
business areas instead of defining multiple company codes If you plan to use mulitple company codes use
Badi HRPIQ00_ST_ACCOUNT to set the company code for different students when accounts are created.

Error messages related to a Default Company code


Q: We get an error message which indicates that no company code is maintained for organizational unit
00000000 in plan version 1. We don't have an org unit 00000000. Do we have to add it to the org. structure?
A: When customizing the academic structure you need to define a top organizational unit (IMG: SLCM SLCM Master Data - Academic Structure - Organizational Structure - Define Top Organizational Unit).
Additionally you should execute the report "Check Contract Account Settings in the IMG -> Student Lifecycle
Management-> Master Data in Student Lifecycle Management-> Student Contract Accounts (Student
Accounts) -> Check Contract Account Settings to make sure the settings are complete.

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Default company code


Q: I receive error message The company code group x specified in the contract account does not contain
company code PUS1
A: Maintain PUS1 as default company code in the IMG -> Student Lifecycle Management -> Master Data in
Student Lifecycle Management -> Student Contract Accounts (Student Accounts) -> Basic Settings for
Student Contract Accounts-> Define Standard Company Code Group for Student Accounts

Derivation of students organizational unit


Q: How does the derivation of a students Org ID work?
A: The student's Org ID is derived dynamically. Changes performed at the academic structure affect all
students. The SAP System determines the derived organizational unit by evaluating the student's registration
data (registered program or selected module groups). The derived organizational unit is usually the
organizational unit that offers the main program or module group.
You do not have to explicitly assign the student to an organizational unit. If you do not assign an
organizational unit directly to the student, the system uses the derived organizational unit as the principal
organizational unit of the student.
You assign a student directly to an organizational unit by explicitly defining the principal organizational unit of
the student. The system administrator can adapt the algorithm for deriving the organizational unit to
customer specific requirements in Customizing for Student Lifecycle Management (BAdI: Determine/Derive
Student's Organizational Unit).
Derivation of principal organizational unit
Q: Where is the principal organizational unit stored? The data seems to be not maintained in the respective
IT1705 but in another structure, PIQORG.
A: The documentation of function module HRIQ_STUDENT_ORG_GET describes the derivation logic. The
most straight forward way is to use relationship 502 between the objects ST and O to assign the org unit
directly to the student. For more complex scenarios look at the IMG: SLCM - SLCM Master Data - Academic
Structure - Module Groups-> Set Up Module Group Variants and the field 'Derivation Rule for Org. Unit.
HRIQ_STUDENT_ORG_GET
_________________________________________________
Determine Principal Organizational Unit for Student
Functionality
You can use this function module to determine the principal organizational unit(s) for a student in a given
time interval.
The function module derives this information in several steps:
1. First, it reads the direct relationships (502) between the student and an organizational unit in a given time
period.
2. If one or more direct relationships exist, the function module:
a) Writes this/these in an export table
b) Determines the periods in which no direct relationship exists and derives the organizational unit
for these periods.
c) If the end date of the last organizational unit the function module derived is before the end date of
the given time interval, the function module also derives the organizational unit for the period up to
the given end date.
3. If no direct relationship exists, the function module derives the principal organizational units for the time
interval that was completely transferred.

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Reusability of programs of study


Q: We have the same program offered by the separate campuses within one university. Do we have to
create two programs of study?
A: A program of study can be offered by more than one org. unit. What is referred to as 'campus' in SLCM is
object type F 'Location' which can be linked to events or event packages but not to programs of study
directly. Note: SAP SLCM allows students to be registered to more than one program (multiple registrations).

Multiple Campus Environment


Business Scenario:

One campus
Two different locations = Campus 1 and Campus 2. Both campuses belong to the same institute.
Campus 1 & Campus 2 may or may not have the same academic calendar.
Campus 1 & Campus 2 must have 2 admissions / registration periods per academic year.
Campus 1 & Campus 2 may offer same or different courses.
Students from Campus 1 should have the flexibility to attend courses offered at Campus 2 if the
same offering is not available in Campus 1. In such a case, the final transcript should be generated
by Campus 1.

Solution:
a. One top organizational unit 'university'
b. Two lower level organizational units 'campuses'). Create two different F objects (locations) to relate
(A003) the campuses to locations.
c/d. One academic calendar is sufficient if ONLY the registration periods are different. This calendar
must be assigned to the highest org unit.
e/f Programs of study, module groups and modules are offered by the campuses under the related
organizational unit

Excluding programs of study which are not valid anymore in the structure search
Delimiting programs of study is very critical because it affects relationships, especially to CS. SC should only
be delimited if all study segments which are related to it were completed even if this is difficult to control.
A safe approach is to cut only the relationships to the organizational unit if it is ensured that nobody is
studying in this program of study anymore. Thereby outdated programs of study will not be shown in
structure search anymore. There should be an addition available in the description indicating that this
program of study is no longer valid.

Locking problems while creating objects in the academic structure


Q: When creating objects in the academic structure, locking problems occur. This is the case if several users
create relationships to the same objects at the same time.
A: Note 745860 describes a modification to deal with this. Locking problems occur mainly when objects are
created during the initial phase (in insert mode RHV6).
In standard objects R (resource types) are locked when they are assigned to event types. That is standard
behaviour for all objects. When a relationship between two objects is created, both objects are locked. This
problem comes up when many users create a module for an organizational unit in the module catalogue.
For creation of objects SLCM uses the tool RHV6 and for changing objects the PP01 transaction.

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If you change an object (a relationship) in PP01, both objects will be locked. Users are blocking each other
since they use also the change mode (PP01). In that case nothing can be done. Also the above modification
proposal will not work.

Making academic structure data available for other systems


Q: How can we provide course information to other systems, e.g. the student portal and eLearning-Systems?
A: A report is available which extracts the academic structure including Module and Event Offerings in XML.
SLCM Menue - Academic Structure - External Academic Structures -> PIQ_XML00 - Generate XML Files
Assigning costs/revenues to courses
Q: Is it possible to assign costs/revenue to courses (SMs)?
A: The distribution of revenues deriving from course fees can be done on SM level. You can assign a cost
centre on which revenue is booked to a module. In SLCM standard delivery there is one example case which
is based on IT 1018 (cost or revenue distribution). Costs can be defined on the level of event packages. Here
also cost centres can be assigned.
Assigning CI objects as thesis
Q: How can we set up an appropriate object in the academic structure for thesis work?
A: When you have a student registering for a thesis project, an internship, or other individual study topic, it
is generally not necessary and not recommended to set up any events or event types at all. Just book the
student to the module and create the individual work. This approach also addresses the case where you
have a course that has both a regular classroom component and an individual work component. E.g., you
may have a course that has a regularly scheduled lecture (event) which needs its own event type of category
'Lecture'. However, the same course may also require each student to complete a special research project
with an individual topic, which is possible as long as the category of the study module still allows for CI.
8.4. Curriculum Planning
Specific characteristics of events in SLCM
Q: Which are the main characteristics of event planning in SLCM?
A: The event type in SLCM defines the template for the event. This includes the definition of the resource
requirements. Resource requirements depend on the category and delivery mode of the event. For different
categories and delivery mode you need to use different event types. The event then "inherits" the attribute
from the event type.
There are two use cases as examples: A course is offered with a classroom instruction and a lab. A student
needs to attend both to complete the course. In this case you have two Ds - one for the classroom and one
for the lab - linked to the SM. In event planning you create for each D one or several Es and then combine
one classroom E with one lab E to an event package (SE). You are not allowed to combine events of the
same type to one SE.
The second use case is where you offer a course either with a classroom or a lab. Again you create two Ds
as above, but attach only one event of one type to an event package.
In most cases you won't need for each course all types of events since you will not for all of them have the
option to deliver them in different categories. Event types for an SM represent the selection of categories and
delivery modes available to offer the course. In SLXM event planning the creation of event types allows to
add additional types if needed. You dont have to set up all possible variants at the beginning.
Planning of several events for the same module
Q: Can I create several events on the same day and time for one module?
A: You can create events on the same day and time for a single module as long as they do not overlap
resources (room, professor).

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Cancellation of an event package/event


Q: What impact does the cancellation of an event package/event have?
A: 1) The function "Cancel Business Event Package" will remove the session of offering for the actual
selected year and period and delete related business events, if they are not used within other business event
packages. If the business event package has already been booked, the cancellation will be rejected. After
executing the save function the business event package will be removed from the database.
2) The function "Cancel Business Event" will cancel the business event. Existing bookings will be cancelled
and prebooked to the business event type and assigned resources will be unassigned. The business event
will not be deleted - it will only be marked as cancelled (Infotype business event info 1026).
The function for deleting business event will only be executed if the business event has not been booked.
After executing the save function the business event will be removed from the database.
Creating events without meting times
Q: How can I create a class that has a start date, end date, and instructor but no meeting times?
A: You can create an event (EL) without a schedule and set the from - to date as start and end date. This
would be used if you add later a schedule to the event. For such a time independent event you can't add an
instructor in standard. For a correspondence/ distance learning course you can also use individual work (SM
with a category for individual work). This is intended not just for thesis etc. but also for correspondence
courses. Multiple students can use one individual work. You can also still book SEs and Es. Once resources
are assigned and a schedule is created for a time independent event EL, the event is time dependent (E).

Building a report for setting the flag for offered sessions in a study module
1. Copy table (HRP1739) to Excel
2. Add the new/extra sessions of offering in the Excel
3. Copy the Excel back to the table.
Use transaction UASE16N. With this transaction you can use &sap_edit again. Alternatively use se16n.

Limiting view on academic offerings to specific student groups


In the module search function, customers can control via BadI the values that appear in the search criteria
drop-down boxes. For different students different search values can be displayed (e.g. undergraduate wont
see graduate academic levels). The Program Context (Program of Study, Program Type) can be controlled via
BAdI HRPIQ00MBSS_SEARCH_CRIT_FILTER.

Searching for course offerings based on certain search criteria


Function module HRIQ_RFC_OFFERS_GET_LIST allows the search for module offerings via filter
parameters. Users can search module offerings filtered by:
o
o
o
o
o

Instructor
Location
Room
Date
Credits

Manual for the usage of program HRIQ_COPY_ROLL_FORWARD, transaction PIQCOPY

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You use the function for copying event offerings to create academic events for a specific academic period
(session). This function simplifies your event planning tasks.
Prerequisites:

Existing session serves as template for a later academic period (eligible if the new term is similar).
Maintain target session in academic calendar first.
Check if resources (rooms, instructors are available)

To copy the event offerings of an academic session, proceed as follows:


1. Choose an evaluation path and a root object.
The system uses the evaluation path to find modules. Then it determines the event offerings (event
packages and academic events) for the modules.
Example:
Object Type

Root Object

Evaluation Path

Organizational Unit

Teaching Centre

PIQOF_O

2. Choose the processing type Copy Business Events (flag use templates for event offerings deactivated)
3. If you want the system to check if it already used event offerings to copy from, set the indicator Check If
Already Copied
4. Specify if you want to copy planned or firmly booked (active) business events.
5. Choose an academic year and academic session (in the Copy From and Copy To frames).
6. To further restrict the business event selection, set the appropriate indicator in the Copy Business Events
with Following Attributes frame.
It is recommended to set these flags:
Take Sess. Pattern into Account: If you set this indicator, the system processes only those modules
and event packages which are offered in the selected academic year and academic session.
Copy Locked Business Events. A Business Event will be copied even in the case it is currently used.
7. Set the indicator for test run and parallel processing, if required. Optional: Create a variant to reuse your
settings.
8. Choose the pushbutton with the quick info text Execute.
The new academic period contains the event offerings you selected from the given academic period. The
system automatically creates the business events you create with this program as business events with the
schedule category regular schedule. These business events have a schedule and resource description
(schedule elements).
8.5. Academic Calendar

Multicampus institution
There is a country institution with an academic calendar which has been in place for some time. Historical
bookings exist. In the country there are two teaching centres (TC A and TC B). Both inherit the calendar from
the higher level. Countries and TCs are Org Units in the academic structure.
The calendar is assigned at the higher level from 01.01.1980 - 31.12.9999.
From January 2012 on, TC A wishes to remain on this calendar.
TC B wants to use a different Calendar going forward starting with relationships from 01.09.2011 31.12.9999, and keep the old calendar historically.
Solution approach:
The validity of the new calendar used for TC B can also be set from 01.01.1990 - 31.12.9999. It is sufficient
to maintain timelimits in the new calendar dates only for years and sessions from 01.09.2011 onwards.

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The system will behave as follows: if it has to derive the dates for session X year 2010, it will first go to the
calendar linked directly with TC B and will not find any timelimits for 2010/X there. From there it will search
higher in the hierarchy and will get to the country calendar. If the system searches for session X in year
2012, it will again go first to the calendar attached TC B directly, will find the date and will not search further.

Deletion of Academic Calendar


Q: How can we delete the academic calendar which is used in the production system?
A: An academic calendar is an object of object type CA and as such it can be deleted using transaction PP01
(as any other PD object like org unit, etc). Note that a deleted object will disappear from the database
together with all its Infotypes and relationships to other objects. There is no 'undo' function for this.

Reading academic calendar data


Q: Is there a RFC which allows other systems to read the academic calendar?
A: RFC HRIQ_READ_TIMELIMITS_CA provides dates for academic periods without regard to a specific
context (i.e. if for module booking other periods are relevant than for registration).
HRIQ_ACAD_DEFAULT_CA_GET -> Reads Top Calendar
HRIQ_ACAD_READ_TIMELIMITS -> Reads data from source/top calendar
If HRIQ_ACAD_READ_TIMELIMITS is called without start object it will go to the top org unit automatically.
RFC HRIQ_CAL_INSERT_TIMELIMITS_RFC maintains/writes new time limits into an existing calendar.
Together with the objects that belong to it, it can be used as template for writing reports that are used for
generating time limits. It's not possible to change or delete timelimits with this function module, only new lines
are inserted in infotype 1750.

Academic event requires two rooms


Q: Can I assign several locations to an event (like I can do with teaching personnel)?
A: It is not possible to book to rooms for the same time. You will need to set up two business events (E).

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