To offer flexibility amidst the major disruption that COVID-19 may have had on doctoral candidates’ research and scholarship progress, students who achieved dissertator status by the end of the 2020 summer term have automatically had the 5 year time limit extended by 8 months. Dissertators given this 8 month extension who need more time due to continued COVID related disruption to their progress may request a further extension from the Graduate School.  Decisions to extend the deadline beyond the additional 8 months are made on a case-by-case basis upon request of the student and their advisor.  Students requesting an extension need to submit the request, along with a letter of support from their advisor, to gsacserv@grad.wisc.edu.

Flexibility on program-specific time limits: Students also face program-specific time limits, and the Graduate School encourages programs to be flexible on these time limits during these difficult times for the students.