diff --git a/app/models/role.rb b/app/models/role.rb
index 606fb62..fd3883a 100644
--- a/app/models/role.rb
+++ b/app/models/role.rb
@@ -1,9 +1,19 @@
 class Role < ActiveRecord::Base
+  include FlagShihTzu
+
   ##
   # Associations
   belongs_to :user
   belongs_to :plan
 
+  ##
+  # Define Bit Field Values
+  # Column access
+  has_flags 1 => :creator,
+            2 => :administrator,
+            3 => :editor,
+            column: 'access'
+
 
 
   # EVALUATE CLASS AND INSTANCE METHODS BELOW
diff --git a/db/migrate/20161213101804_replacing_plan_roles__with_bitflags.rb b/db/migrate/20161213101804_replacing_plan_roles__with_bitflags.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fa9d143
--- /dev/null
+++ b/db/migrate/20161213101804_replacing_plan_roles__with_bitflags.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+class ReplacingPlanRolesWithBitflags < ActiveRecord::Migration
+  def change
+    # create the field to hold the user's role in plans
+    add_column :roles, :access, :integer, null: false, default: 0
+    # rename creator, editor, and aministrator column names so we can access data
+    rename_column :roles, :creator, :create
+    rename_column :roles, :editor, :edit
+    rename_column :roles, :administrator, :admin
+    # transfer the data from the other fields to the bitfield
+    Role.find_each do |role|
+      if role.admin
+        role.administrator = true
+      end
+      if role.edit
+        role.editor = true
+      end
+      if role.create
+        role.creator = true
+      end
+      role.save!
+    end
+    # remove the other columns
+    remove_column :roles, :create
+    remove_column :roles, :edit
+    remove_column :roles, :admin
+  end
+end