Quality of Work Standards

A "B" (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) average must be maintained in all graduate work taken as part of the degree or certificate program.

Automatic Dismissal

Graduate students are expected to do work of high caliber. Failure to do so will result in dismissal. In particular, the following will result in automatic dismissal from the degree or certificate program:

• Receiving a grade of "C-" (1.67 on a 4.0 scale) or below in any course taken in the student's major field of study or in any course included in the plan of study/program of study.
• Departments/schools may have additional and more stringent criteria for evaluating a student's performance and progress and may demand a higher level of performance than that demanded by the Graduate College. A department/school or program unit may, under some circumstances, recommend dismissal of a student from a graduate program even though quality of work standards have been maintained. Grounds for dismissal could include, but are not limited to:
  • Failure to be accepted by an appropriate thesis or dissertation advisor within stipulated time limitations;
  • Failure to make timely progress toward the degree or certificate; and
  • Failure to perform in coursework, qualifying examination or research at an acceptable level in the respective department/school or program unit.

Probation or Dismissal

A department/school will recommend that the dean for Graduate Studies either dismiss a student or place him or her on probation (with conditions for reinstatement as a student in good standing), in the following cases:

• A grade of "C+" (2.33 on a 4.0 scale) or below in any course in the first 12 hours of graduate study for provisionally admitted students;
• Receiving at least nine (9) hours of graduate credit with the grade of "C+" (2.33 on a 4.0 scale) or below in any courses taken in the student's major field of study or in any courses included in the plan of study for master's degrees, specialist's degrees or graduate certificates, regardless of the average;
• Receiving at least six (6) hours of graduate credit with the grade of "C+" (2.33 on a 4.0 scale) or below in any courses taken in the student's major field of study or in any courses included in the program of study for doctoral degrees, regardless of the average;
• Failure to maintain a "B" (3.00 on a 4.0 scale) average in all graduate work taken as part of the degree or certificate program.

Unclassified and Non-Degree Students

• For students with unclassified or non-degree admission, the above quality of work standards apply to coursework taken, as if all such courses were included in a graduate plan of study.
• A student will be automatically dismissed from all graduate standing or placed on probation should any of the above conditions occur.

Additional Requirements

Some departments/schools apply additional criteria for satisfactory performance beyond the requirements of the Graduate College. 

Monitoring

• The graduate program committees or the supervisory committees in their respective departments/schools shall be responsible for monitoring quality of work in degree, certificate and unclassified programs, and for recommending action.
  • Graduate Studies will send a report to each department/school at the start of each semester with the names of master's, specialist, and certificate students who have received at least nine (9) hours of graduate credit with a grade of "C+" (2.33 on a 4.0 scale) or below as of the end of the previous semester.
  • Graduate Studies will send a report to each department/school at the start of each semester with the names of doctoral students who have received at least six (6) hours of graduate credit with a grade of "C+" (2.33 on a 4.0 scale) or below as of the end of the previous semester.
• Graduate Studies shall be responsible for monitoring quality of work in non-degree programs.
• The dean for Graduate Studies will make the final decision and notify graduate students of their status.

Student Responsibilities

• Students should be aware of the Quality of Work Standards of the Graduate College, as well as any additional criteria of satisfactory performance in their respective graduate programs.
• It is the student's responsibility to know when his or her previous coursework has failed to meet those standards.
• Students who are attending classes are still subject to dismissal if their department/school recommends dismassal based on its review of their previous performance.

Automatic Dismissal for a Grade of "U" (Unsatisfactory) or "Fail"

A grade of "U" or "Fail" in any graduate course taken by a graduate student shall be treated the same as a grade of "C-" or below and shall result in automatic dismissal from the graduate program.

The Plan of Study and Grades Which Result in Automatic Dismissal

Grades which result in automatic dismissal from a program (e.g., grade of "C-" or below, "U", "Fail") may not be applied towards a graduate plan of study.

Students Dismissed from a Graduate Program Who then Re-apply as Non-Degree Students

If a student is currently registered, he/she will be disenrolled from their coursework. A hold will be placed preventing enrollment in future semesters, unless they request and receive permission in accordance with departmental/school graduate program policy to enroll as a non-degree student in that program.

Policy on Petitioning for Reinstatement into a Graduate Program

The process for petitioning and evaluating petitions for reinstatement into a graduate program is the responsibility of each department’s/school’s graduate program committee. For a current copy of procedures, please contact your department/school graduate program committee chair.