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Change of Application/Admitting Status for a Master's Level Degree/Major

UW-Madison offers more than 160 graduate programs. Some of these programs do not accept applications for admission but do award degrees. The following policy and procedures defines when master’s level programs may award degrees to students in programs with closed admission, and provides parameters for changes to the application/admission status of programs.

Policy

Change of Application/Admission Status for a Master’s Level Degree/Major Program

Policy Number

UW-1001

Responsible Office

Data, Academic Planning & Institutional Research

Type

University Policy

Rationale/​Purpose

UW-Madison offers more than 160 graduate programs. Some of these programs do not accept applications for admission but do award degrees. This policy defines when master’s level programs may award degrees to students in programs with closed admission, and this policy provides parameters for changes to the application/admission status of programs.

Policy

A master’s level degree/major program that does not accept applications for admission is often associated with a Ph.D. program of the same name. Master’s degrees in these programs may be awarded:

  • to students who leave the Ph.D. program and complete sufficient requirements to earn the master’s degree. An application for admission to the master’s level program is not required.
  • to students whose programs require a milestone for progress toward the Ph.D. An application for admission to the master’s level program is not required.

Governance must review any changes to the application/admission status of a master’s level degree/major. The program faculty must prepare a proposal in Lumen Programs.

  • If the program moves from admitting to non-admitting, the proposal must include rationale for the proposed change; an overview of any “teach-out plan”; and demonstration of support for current and withdrawn students who are expected to return.
  • If the program moves from non-admitting to admitting, the proposal must provide rationale for the change and information about the admission process.
  • If a change of admission status is embedded in a larger restructuring proposal, the proposal must include these same points.

The non-admitting status is noted in the Student Information System (SIS) with an attribute of "Masters plan permanently non-admitting”. In cases where the master’s program has named options, the attribute will be associated with the named option that serves as the non-admitting master’s program for the PhD.

 

Related UW–Madison Documents, Web Pages, or Other Resources

Procedures: Change of Application/Admitting Status for a Master's Level Degree/Major

 

 

Approval Authority

Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

Policy Manager

Vice Provost for Data, Academic Planning & Institutional Research

Contact

Associate Director, Data, Academic Planning & Institutional Research -- Michelle Young, MEYOUNG@WISC.EDU, (608) 262-2143

Effective Date

01-01-2017
Source: View policy UW-1001 in the UW-Madison Policy Library

Procedures/Process for Approval

  1. The program faculty prepare a proposal document in Lumen Programs, formally approve the proposal, and advance the proposal to the dean’s offices. It is required that the department chair, or designee, enters approval information in Lumen Programs indicating the process and/or determination of the faculty.
  2. The dean’s office approves the proposal through their standard process, usually by consideration at the school/college academic planning council. It is required that the dean, or designee, enters approval information in Lumen Programs indicating the process and/or determination of the academic planning council.
  3. The dean/dean’s designee advances the proposal to the dean of the Graduate School and Provost.
  4. The Graduate School will review the materials and schedule the proposal for consideration by the Graduate Faculty Executive Committee. Subsequently, the University Academic Planning Council will also approve the action as a matter of automatic consent.
  5. The Office of the Provost will distribute a formal notice to interested campus individuals involved in implementation.
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