High school and college is a time for people to figure out who they are and what they want to be, but sometimes it’s not always so simple. What can I take that meets my interests? Am I on track to graduate? Did I take the right course to get into my dream college? These are some of the questions students are bogged down by on their often overwhelming academic journeys. 

Degreely, a budding startup conceived by a team of USC Iovine and Young Academy graduate students, intends to make the course planning process uncomplicated, more personalized, and optimized to fit individual passions. Their software solutions offer an easy-to-use portal where students can build and keep track of their ideal flexible schedule, while administrators can monitor progress seamlessly from their end. In an age of red tape and digital inundation, Degreely is making the academic road less bumpy – and more enriching – for both learners and advisors.

“We’re really looking to ultimately understand who a student is, what they like, and suggest them to take the best classes for them. Then, give the advisors and administrators the oversight and the window in, so they can give the students attention – their number one priority,” Danny Pugh, CEO and founder shares of the company’s mission. 

Pugh, who has 15 years of marketing experience under his belt with brands like Sony and Samsung, saw a need for putting the focus back on learning after witnessing the administrative burdens his mother dealt with as a longtime teacher and middle school founder. Pugh’s father was a software engineer, so an understanding of both computers and education is in his blood. When he wasn’t busy building revamped computers from scrap parts as a child, he assisted his mom with things like classroom PowerPoint presentations. Pugh sensed that educators like her wanted to spend their time counseling and supporting students, not navigating complex systems and computer programs. 

“I know that people go into academia because they want to not just help students, but help young people become who they want to be in the world. They don’t necessarily go into it to be on spreadsheets all day …” he shares. “But most of these advisors, they want to be coaching these students, they want to be figuring them out who they are and guiding them. My mom wanted to teach, she didn’t want to do gradebooks. So by creating tools like this, it enables administrators and teachers and advisors to do what they really want to do, which is to help students build their futures.”

Now Pugh and his team have found a better way. Through Degreely, Students can create an optimal curriculum, drag and drop courses into a semester column to total up their credit count, and get a big-picture view of what their entire program looks like. Advisors can oversee active courses and students, keep track of registration, and get the insight they need to plan ahead. 

Alana Zaleski, a recent MS in Integrated Design, Business and Technology grad, says Degreely helped her visualize her courses and make the right academic decisions. 

“Degreely is a very easy way to make a plan or even more than one plan to assess how you want to go about designing your degree,” she shares. “It gives you a sense of autonomy and control over your own education and it feels good to know that I am on the right track. I would recommend students use this resource to lighten their own cognitive load and contribute to their success and happiness!” 

After testing at several schools, Degreely is on its way to making a name for itself in the education technology space. The edtech startup recently joined forces with its first official partner – Sonoma Academy, a prestigious private high school in Northern California. They hope to continue to build out resources that assist students on a path of rewarding self-discovery. 

“How do we get to know these students and make it fun for them and also inform their advisors of what their interests are so we can help navigate and direct them?” Pugh asks.

Degreely was a concept born and nurtured through a string of IYA classes and evolving iterations. What began as a Tech Essentials course idea unfolded into an Integrative Project pitch that eventually culminated through an enduring Capstone project. Pugh assembled his dream team of fellow students along the way, including VP of Brand and Comms Nina Romans, VP of Sales and Marketing Ricklyn Hukriede, and VP of Engineering Garrett Sanderson. Along with VP of Product, Jacob Flores, they’ve combined their wealth of experience in everything from software engineering to pitch design to corporate branding to make Degreely happen. Their IYA education was integral in making sure they had the right knowledge to take their vision to the next level. 

“If I could make a major for myself, that’s the major that would describe me … ,” Pugh says, recalling his reason to pursue a Master’s in Integrated Design, Business and Technology. “That’s what drew me to the program – rounding out my education in a formal way and filling in those missing pieces, and of course, meeting this community of such talented people.”

Pugh was a graduate speaker at the 2023 IYA commencement ceremony. In his moving speech, he noted the emotional intelligence of his IYA peers, a sensibility he believes has led him to confidently follow his entrepreneurial dreams.

“I feel like we are very emotionally intelligent as well, which is the perfect combination for an entrepreneur to be – skilled and emotionally aware. That’s where those insights really come, the intersection of a problem and a solution. People-centric design and solutions are really the foundation of a successful company.”

In an age of red tape and digital inundation, Degreely is making the academic road less bumpy – and more enriching – for both learners and advisors.

Edtech Startup Optimizes Degree Planning for Students and Advisors

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