Academic Standards & Policies
Responsibility for progress in a graduate degree program is shared by the student, faculty advisor, program, and Graduate School administration. Students are responsible for compliance with the Graduate School’s rules and procedures and all other program requirements. Students should actively seek the advice of their faculty mentors, graduate program directors, and Graduate School staff members.
Complete information on the special requirements for degrees is found in the publications of the individual programs. The general requirements common to all graduate programs are as follows.
Advisement
Program faculty coordinate academic advising for graduate students. Students are encouraged to seek the advice and counsel of graduate advisors and program directors in planning their curriculum. In addition, the Graduate School provides graduate assistants with the Graduate Assistant Guide, which describes relevant policies and guidelines. Other policies related to student enrollment activities are in the University’s Student Answer Book.
Degree Certification and Awarding of Diploma
The Graduate School publishes a calendar each year showing dates by which students who are in the last semester of their programs must submit forms and meet requirements for graduation. Graduate students are responsible for meeting these deadlines. Students must file their applications for diplomas with the University registrar by the published diploma application deadline date.
The University issues diplomas at the end of the summer, fall, and spring terms. Students who have applied for a diploma but are not able to complete degree requirements as planned must inform the Graduate School as soon as it is determined they will not finish. These students must reapply and complete all remaining requirements for the semester in which they expect to graduate. Students must register for at least 1 credit per semester or session until graduation.