Guidelines for Suspended Programs

Guidelines for Students Currently Enrolled in
Programs Which Might Be Suspended

Please consult with your major professor for additional information or clarification of these guidelines.

MASTER’S PROGRAMS

• New students
  • Immediately suspend admission of new students.
  • Notify students who have already been offered admission that they will have at most two years (spring 2011) to complete the program; they should be encouraged to seek alternative programs.
• Currently enrolled students – Programs are encouraged to be understanding and flexible. High priority must be placed on enabling students to complete their degree programs.
  • Programs should work with students to outline a strategy for completion within two years.
  • Some faculty will be expected to bear a greater course load so that students are able to take needed courses and complete in the time frame.
  • When possible, consideration should be given to allowing a student to switch from a thesis to a non-thesis master’s program if doing so facilitates completion of his/her degree program.
  • Programs should be creative with allowable course substitutions and the provision of a DIS to substitute for a required course.
  • If absolutely necessary, students may be approved to take more than the currently allowable number of courses at another institution. Programs should request such an exception through the normal channels for graduate student exceptions.
  • Students must meet the minimum credit hour requirement for the degree, but programs which exceed the minimum may consider waiving certain requirements if doing so does not compromise license and accreditation expectations.
  • Thesis committee composition must meet university requirements.

DOCTORAL PROGRAMS

• New students
  • Immediately suspend admission of new students
  • Notify students who have already been offered admission that they will have no more than two years (spring, 2011) to complete the program; they should be encouraged to seek alternative programs
• Currently enrolled students – Programs are encouraged to be understanding and flexible. High priority must be placed on enabling students to complete their degree programs or be offered alternative solutions, e.g., master’s or specialist degrees.
  • Each student should be considered a unique case.
  • Programs should work with students to outline a strategy for completion within two years (spring 2011). Clear benchmarks must be established. The plan must be documented in writing and shared with the student, department chair, academic dean, and Dean of the Graduate School.
    • If a student has yet to pass prelims and been admitted to candidacy, the student should be counseled to switch programs, be offered the alternative of a master’s degree track, or be given very strict benchmarks for completion of the doctoral degree. This plan must reflect a realistic assessment of faculty available to provide guidance and serve on a committee.
    • In any event a student who has not been admitted to candidacy by the end of the Fall Semester 2009 will not be allowed to continue in the doctoral program.
    • Students who are ABD must defend and submit a final approved dissertation to the Graduate School by the last day of the Spring Semester 2011. This applies to all ABD students whether currently enrolled or not.
    • Programs should attempt to contact ABD students who have not been enrolled for two semesters and therefore must apply for readmission and explain that the above stipulations apply to them.
  • Some faculty will be expected to bear a greater course load so that students are able to take needed courses and complete in the designated time frame.
  • Programs should be creative with allowable course substitutions and the provision of DIS’s to substitute for required courses.
  • Students must meet the minimum credit hour requirement for the degree.
  • Dissertation committee composition must meet university requirements.

2/06/2009