Scholastic Standing

M.S. and Prequalifying Ph.D.

Each semester, the program committee reviews the scholastic record of all students in the program and decides about warnings, probation, or dismissal. The graduate program director notifies students of any action taken. Students who have a grade below B in a course receive a warning. Students whose records show more than two courses with grades below B or whose GPA is below B may be dismissed. Students may appeal in writing to the program director within one month of the decisions. Acceptable grounds for appeal are technical errors, new information, or extenuating circumstances.

Postqualifying Ph.D.

In all but extreme cases, students must be placed on at least one semester of probation by the graduate program director (GPD) (not the adviser) before dismissal.

Initiating Probation. Probation for a postqualifying student can be triggered by the following: 1) two consecutive or three nonconsecutive committee reports with progress from previous meeting that is "Significantly Below Expectations" or 2) request from the PI to the GPD that the student be placed on probation, with justification and a summary of what the student must do to to get off probation. The GPD has the option to request that the PI go through the committee process above.

Concluding probation. The student must have at least one committee meeting during the probationary period, with the GPD present. After meeting with the PI, student, and committee members, the GPD can make one of three possible decisions:

Dismissal. The student can file an appeal with the graduate school.
Probation is extended for one semester, under a new advising structure. This could include a switch to an entire new lab or a much larger role for a co-adviser.
Student returns to good academic standing.

Students at any stage may further appeal dismissal to the senior associate dean of the Rutgers Graduate School-Camden.