Freshwater and Marine Sciences Graduate Program Handbook-Progress Towards Your Degree
The Graduate School provides relevant information you should be aware of as you progress towards your degree. Students must follow Graduate School policies, program-specific policies and if applicable, employment policies. Programs are required to provide doctoral students with annual written feedback on progress toward the degree. The following sections highlight two areas related to courses and enrollment.
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
The Graduate School: Satisfactory Progress policy defines what is expected of students to make satisfactory progress toward degree completion. Probation or dismissal from the Graduate School can impact your academic standing, financial aid or funding (consult your sources of funding as applicable).
An average record of B or better in all work taken as a Graduate Student is required by the FMS Graduate Program (grades of P and S are for this purpose considered to be satisfactory at the B level; grades of Incomplete are considered for this purpose to be unsatisfactory if they are not removed during the following semester of residence). For other requirements, such as residence and credit load, the Graduate School rules apply.
A student may be placed on probation or suspended from the Graduate School for low grades or for failing to resolve incompletes in a timely fashion. In special cases the Graduate School permits students who do not meet these minimum standards to continue on probation upon recommendation and support of their advisor.
Not Meeting Academic Expectations
A student’s failure to comply with the above-mentioned expectations for satisfactory progress may result in disciplinary action or dismissal. If students fail to make satisfactory progress (as identified during committee meetings, by the advisor, in the annual progress reports, or as reflected in grades or coursework), the student may be asked to leave the program immediately. Alternatively, a student’s advisor may present a written statement to the Director of Graduate Studies that explains why the student has not made satisfactory progress and describes plans that the student and the advisory committee have agreed upon to allow the student to remain in the program. This statement should include specific expectations, dates for completion and consequences should expectations not be met. Continuation in the Graduate School is at the discretion of a student's program, the Graduate School, and a student's faculty advisor.