Graduate students must be enrolled each fall and spring semester in order to be considered active participants in a graduate program. This Policy outlines procedures to be followed in seeking readmission to the Graduate School if continuous enrollment has not be maintained. It also covers procedures for leaves of absence and educational leaves of absence.
Pursuit of a graduate degree should be continuous. Students pursuing a graduate degree program should normally be enrolled each Fall and Spring Semester, or one semester during the academic year in combination with Summer Session, for course work that is approved for their program of study and selected in consultation with the departmental Director of Graduate Study.
The Policy on Continuous Enrollment requires that normally a student be enrolled continuously, as defined above, from the time of entry into a graduate degree program through the completion of all required course work, including the required hours of 699 and 799. Students who have already enrolled in the minimum number of 699/799 hours, but who have not yet completed the requirements for thesis/dissertation may be required, at the discretion of the department, to enroll in additional course work.
A graduate student who has been admitted with full graduate standing to a graduate degree program but has not completed any 500-level or above courses at the University for two consecutive semesters, or a semester and Summer Session is considered to have withdrawn from the curriculum. The student will be required to file an application for readmission to The Graduate School to resume the course of study. A student who withdraws will be required to comply with regulations and requirements in effect at the time of readmission to The Graduate School.
Leaves of Absence: Graduate students may step out of the University one semester in a calendar year and maintain continuing student status. Students absent for more than one semester without an approved leave of absence must apply for readmission through The Graduate School, after first receiving the endorsement of the departmental Director of Graduate Study. Students in planned summer only programs of study should maintain annual Summer Session patterns of enrollment and course completion throughout the program of study for the degree.
Educational Leaves of Absence: Students are permitted to take up to four consecutive semesters of approved educational leave of absences. An educational leave of absence is appropriate in those cases in which students will be engaged for the majority of the leave time in an a other than attending an accredited college or university, that is directly related to their formal academic careers. Students must (1) apply in advance for an educational leave of absences stating the particular semester(s) they wish to be absent from the University, (2) be recommended by the departmental Director of Graduate Study, and (3) gain the approval of the Dean of The Graduate School. Educational leaves of absence will be granted only to those with full graduate standing who have completed a minimum of one semester at the University and who are in good academic standing as determined by the department and The Graduate School. The time devoted to an educational leave of absence will not count toward The Graduate School time limit for completion of degree requirements.
Other forms of leaves of absence will be considered on a case by case basis by The Graduate School upon the recommendation of the departmental Director of Graduate Study.
Readmission: An enrolled student is eligible (if not disqualified)
to stay out one semester without penalty in each academic year. A
student who withdraws from the University for more than one semester must
file an application for readmission and pay the $35.00 application fee.
Source: Policy on Continuous Enrollment. Graduate School
Catalog 1996-97, pp. 19-20
