Academic Policies & Code of Conduct

Good Academic Standing for CECS Master's Students

A graduate student in good academic standing must have an overall grade point average of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale. 

Academic Probation for CECS Master's Students

At the end of each term, the department reviews the standing of each student with a scholastic average below 3.0.  Those whose grade point average (GPA) for the term falls below 3.0 will receive a warning regardless of the cumulative average. If a student's cumulative GPA is below a 3.0 upon reaching a total of 6 credit hours, or at any point thereafter, the student will be placed on academic probation. 

Students on probation will be notified via email from their department about their status and will be required to meet with their academic advisor. The student will be allowed to continue on probation as long as the student is making progress toward the degree and earning above a 3.0 term GPA.

Required to Withdraw for CECS Master's Students

After two semesters on probation, the student’s case must be reviewed by the department to determine if the student will be granted no more than one additional semester on probation or if they will be required to withdraw. Students required to withdraw may petition to be readmitted.

A student may appeal any decision in the probation process.

Good Academic Standing and Successful Progress for Doctoral Students:

To earn a doctoral degree, a student must meet the academic requirements of the doctoral program, which includes achieving the required overall and curriculum area-specific GPA were specified by the individual program, completion of course requirements, achieving milestones, meeting timeline requirements, and making satisfactory progress on dissertation research. Students who fail to meet the minimum standards are subject to academic probation, withdrawal, or dismissal. The dismissal process is in line with the Rackham policy on the dismissal of Rackham Ph.D. students for academic reasons. To be eligible to teach courses, students holding GSI positions must be in good academic standing and not on probation per the Graduate Employee Organization contract. A student on probation receives a minimum time period of two months funded probation to make sufficient progress towards the degree. Students who fail to make sufficient academic progress may lose funding. The following describes the probation policy at each stage of the doctoral study.

CECS Academic Probation for Doctoral Students:

Conditional Admits:

A student who is conditionally admitted with a requirement to complete specified coursework is placed on academic probation in his or her first term in the doctoral program. A student who fails to meet the conditions of admission within the specified timeframe and with the minimum grade requirement will be dismissed from the program.

Pre-Candidacy:

A student whose cumulative grade point average (CGPA) falls below the minimum GPA required for the doctoral program in a given term, or half term will be placed on academic probation for the immediately following term or half term of enrollment. During the probationary term, the student will not be awarded a graduate degree or certificate and cannot transfer credit to a master’s program, be advanced to candidacy, or be allowed to change his or her program. The student will have one term to correct the deficiency. Correction applies to achieving the minimum grades in the overall program of study and particular courses. A student who fails to achieve the required grade and the required average GPA within the required time limit will be required to withdraw from the program. Students dismissed from the program will have an opportunity to transfer to an appropriate master’s degree program. The department doctoral program committee reserves the right to waive or deny the probation period based on a review of the student’s overall academic progress and performance in the program.

Exams:

A student who does not complete the qualifying exam, dissertation proposal exam, and final oral defense within the timeline requirements will be placed on academic probation or dismissed from the program. Students who fail the exam on the first attempt, if granted a second attempt, must successfully pass the exam in the next term. 

A student who fails to pass the examination in two attempts or to pass the exam within the required time limits, at the discretion of the department doctoral program committee, may be dismissed from the program. Students dismissed from the program will have an opportunity to transfer to an appropriate master’s degree program.

Students who fail to meet the timeline may file a petition for an extension with the department Doctoral Program Committee and submit it to the Associate Dean of Graduate Education and Research for approval. If approved, the student will receive a new date to fulfill the requirements. The extension may not exceed 1 year.

The department doctoral program committee reserves the right to deny a retake or time extension based on a review of the student’s overall academic progress and performance in the program. 

Candidacy:

The doctoral program committee conducts annual reviews of all doctoral students to assess progress toward completion of the degree. Doctoral candidates who do not demonstrate successful progression toward a degree as demonstrated by dissertation research progress, research accomplishments, and performance in the required seminars may be placed on academic probation or dismissed from the program at the discretion of the department doctoral program committee. Such instances will be addressed on a case-by-case basis.

In each case, the doctoral program committee will work with the student and his or her faculty advisor to remediate the situation. Each student receives a minimum time period of two months funded probation to make sufficient progress towards the degree.  If these efforts fail or if a doctoral candidate fails to complete the doctoral degree within the required time limit, a request for dismissal will be submitted to the CECS Doctoral Committee for approval. 

A student may appeal any decision in the probation process.

Dismissal:

Academic probation is normally required before a program may recommend dismissal for academic reasons. At the end of the probationary period and the recommendation of the department Doctoral Committee, with the endorsement of the Associate Dean, a student may be dismissed from the program.  Every dismissal case is submitted to the CECS Doctoral Committee. The CECS Doctoral Committee will examine each case and render a decision. A student may appeal the dismissal decision.

Students may also be dismissed for failing to meet the standards of academic and professional integrity. 

Appeal:

A student may appeal the decision. All appeals are presented to CECS Executive Committee for consideration and a recommendation is made to the CECS Dean. The Dean's decision is final.

Reinstatement:

Students dismissed due to academic reasons when last enrolled may seek reinstatement through a petition submitted to the graduate program and the Associate Dean of Graduate Education and Research after the specified time period. The petition should provide reasons for the poor academic record; explain how conditions that produced this poor performance have changed, and present specific plans for improvement.   

A student who has been permanently dismissed for academic or professional misconduct, may not apply to or enroll in any other Rackham program for five years from the date of dismissal or for the period specified in the letter of dismissal.

*Students may also be dismissed for failing to meet the standards of academic and professional integrity. Students dismissed under this policy should follow the related process.