STU: AI-Assisted Graduation Planning starts demos this week!

About Sandbox (and stu)

Sandbox is an organization that helps both students and non-students get their tech startups in gear by offering a practical framework and a network of experts—while enabling students to keep earning university credit for the work they’re doing.

stu is our degree-planning software built at Sandbox. You can learn more at stuplanning.com.

All screenshots below are from the Dev site with mock data.

What is stu?

This semester I’ve been working full-time between BYU MISM classes on stu, a degree-planning tool that blends structured catalog data with AI and keeps advisors in the loop. The goal is simple: help students create a graduation plan in minutes, refine it thoughtfully, and keep everyone aligned as things change.

How the Student Flow Works

Pick programs. Students choose their majors and minors.
Auto-place fixed courses. If a class is fixed (e.g., “IS 402 in Fall only”), stu locks it into the correct term automatically.
Offer smart options. For each requirement that allows choice (e.g., “1 of 3 courses”), stu shows the relevant options and enforces rules like credits, prerequisites, and terms offered.
Organize with AI. Once selections are made, an AI organizer lays out an 8-semester plan (12–18 credits/term), spreading GE and electives across semesters and respecting sequencing.
Student tweaks. Students can drag, swap, or pin courses to personalize pacing.
Submit for review. One click sends the plan to an advisor.

The Advisor Experience

Targeted review. Advisors see the proposed plan and can leave notes on specific semesters or requirements.
Approve or request edits. Advisors can approve (the plan becomes the official graduation plan) or send it back with recommendations.
Audit-friendly. Fixed courses and constraints are always visible, so it’s clear why something sits where it does.

Under the Hood (Why It Works)

Structured requirement model. Programs are encoded with things like termsOffered, fixed/choice requirements, credits, and prerequisites.
Scheduling rules. The planner honors credit bands, avoids duplicates, and respects cohort sequences (e.g., IS 402/403/404/415 in Fall, IS 401/413/414/455 in Winter).
Advisor-in-the-loop AI. AI proposes; humans govern. That combination hits speed and accountability.

Roadmap

One-click re-plan with advisor notes. Students can resubmit to AI with the advisor’s recommendations applied automatically—or edit manually and resubmit.
Progress tracking. Combine the official plan with unofficial transcripts (tracking approach may change with university requirements) to show pace, risks, and nudges.
Pathfinder. A career-first exploration tool: students pick careers they’re curious about, see majors that lead there, and—if they’re mid-degree—get optimal switch options that minimize time to graduation.

Screenshots (Dev, Mock Data)

View Active Grad Plan — Students can view their active graduation plans

Edit Active Grad Plan — Students can edit their active graduation plans and resubmit for approval

Create a New Plan — Students can create new graduation plans

List of Grad Plans to Approve — Advisors can view graduation plans for students or programs they are assigned to.

Approve Single Graduation Plan — Advisors can assign revision suggestions and have the student edit them before approving.

Why We’re Building stu at Sandbox

Students change majors. Courses move. Life happens. stu aims to keep plans accurate, adaptable, and transparent—so students stay on track and advisors spend less time firefighting and more time advising.

Questions or feedback? Visit stuplanning.com and reach out—we’d love to hear from you.