Procedures for Granting or Denying Graduate Degrees

Each graduate program that requires a comprehensive examination and/or a thesis has developed its own procedures for granting or denying the degree. These procedures take into consideration the following points:

1. The composition of examination committees and procedures for evaluating performance on comprehensive or qualifying examinations, both written and oral.

2. Policies and procedures governing reexaminations for students who do not pass the first time.

3. For programs that offer degrees at both the master's and doctoral levels, policies and procedures for determining admission to the doctoral program after completion of the master's program.

4. Indicators of minimal expectations for progress on degrees and a well-defined mechanism for communicating to each student his or her relative progress.

5. For degree programs requiring a thesis or dissertation, procedures for selection of a thesis director, topic, and committee; removal or resignation of members from a committee; substitution of a new director if the original director leaves the university; submission and approval of a written thesis; and procedures for oral defense, including the number or percentage of committee members who must approve the thesis.

6. A statement of the involvement of the student in the discussion of his or her coursework, performance in examinations, dissertation or thesis activity, or other work, including whether the student will be allowed to participate in meetings called for this purpose.

Each graduate program has developed a written statement of procedures for guaranteeing students due process. These are available from each graduate program director. The procedures include:

1. Timely notification of examination results.

2. A requirement that students who fail a comprehensive examination or thesis defense be provided with an explanation of the reasons for the negative decision.

3. An appeals mechanism to consider cases in which the procedures outlined in the written statement of policies and procedures may not have been followed.