Academic Progress
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Each graduate student's progress toward a degree is monitored by the student's advisory committee, and issues of professional and personal development may be considered. While failure to maintain academic standards merits automatic dismissal, a student also may be dropped from the Graduate School if progress is unsatisfactory in other areas. In such cases, the advisory committee will prepare a statement of deficiencies and/or grievances and discuss it in a meeting with the student. The statement must have the unanimous support of all members of the committee. The student will be warned that corrective measures must be taken within a specified time to avoid action that might result in dismissal. The committee determines the period allowed for correction. Copies of the statement of grievance and summary of the meeting will be provided the student, the department head, the academic dean, and the graduate dean. If the deficiency is not corrected within the time allowed by the committee, a statement reiterating the grievance and recommending dismissal should be sent to the graduate dean with copies to the student, the department head, and the academic dean.
The graduate dean will give the student an opportunity to respond and will make a final determination. The student and the advisory committee will be notified. The action taken will not appear on the student's official transcript, and release of information is restricted under the University's policy on the confidentiality of student records. |
Academic Standing
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Only grades in Auburn University courses approved for graduate credit will be used in determining the overall GPA for continuation in the Graduate School. If at the end of any semester the cumulative graduate GPA (CGGPA) falls below 3.0, the student will be placed on academic probation. If the CGGPA remains below 3.0 after the next nine credit hours of graduate enrollment (both graded and ungraded), the student will be placed on academic suspension. The student may be readmitted only after completion of a remediation plan recommended by the academic unit and approved by the Dean of the Graduate School. No course work taken as part of the remediation plan may count toward the student's degree or CGGPA. Graduate-level courses for which grades below C were earned may not be repeated during the remediation period. |
Activities Involving Animals
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Auburn University's Animal Resources Program requires compliance with the Animal Welfare Assurance negotiated with the Office of Protection from Research Risks/National Institutes of Health (OPRR/NIH). A major part of that Assurance involves the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) that ensures compliance with the Assurance, the policies of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and all other federal, state
and local regulations concerning care, treatment and use of animals. All activities, whether teaching, research, production or display of animals, and whether or not the activity is funded, must be approved in advance by the committee. The use of animals for any purpose that is not approved in advance by the IACUC may involve severe penalties for non-compliance with institutional policy and could jeopardize the University's Animal Welfare Assurance filed with the OPRR and the NIH. Information may be obtained from the Director of Animal Resources, (334) 844-5667. |
Admission of Graduate Transient Students
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A graduate student in good standing in an accredited college or university may be admitted as a transient when faculty and facilities are available. To be eligible, the student must submit a special Graduate Transient Form prior to the beginning of the semester for which transient status is requested. The form, available from the Graduate School or on the web at www.grad.auburn.edu, must bear the signature of the student's graduate dean or his/her designee. Transient status is granted for one semester only and does not constitute admission or matriculation as a degree candidate. |
Admissions Policies and Procedures Review
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Auburn University's mission and the accreditation criteria of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools require graduate programs to establish qualitative and quantitative admissions requirements to identify students whose educational preparation indicates a potential for success in Auburn University's graduate programs. Inherent in this charge is the need to evaluate admissions policies on a regular basis to insure they meet the following standards (modified from SACS Criteria for Accreditation, 11th ed., 2000, 4.3.2):
a. Typically a baccalaureate degree or its equivalent is mandatory; exceptions require a clear demonstration that the student is adequately prepared to complete a graduate program.
b. Applicants must submit official undergraduate and graduate transcripts from all institutions of higher education attended.
c. Applicants must submit official reports on standardized aptitude tests.
d. Applicants must submit evaluations by professionals in the field of study.
e. Interviews should be arranged if practical.
f. Graduate programs must publish admissions standards.
g. Transfer credit must represent graduate course work taken from an accredited institution, be relevant to the degree program, and be of a rigor equal to that taken by students enrolled in graduate programs at Auburn University.
h. Graduate credit must not be awarded for portfolio-based experiential learning from other institutions.
i. Separate admissions criteria must be established for each level of graduate work offered.
j. Departmental or program admissions requirements must be established by the faculty responsible for instruction in that department or program.
The Graduate Council will oversee departmental review of graduate admissions policies and procedures on a five-year basis to insure continuing compliance with these standards. |
Approval Page of Thesis or Dissertation
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All theses and dissertations written at Auburn University must contain the following sentences on the approval page: "Except where reference is made to the work of others, the work described in this thesis is my own or was done in collaboration with my advisory committee. This thesis does not include proprietary or classified information." |
Auditing Courses
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A graduate student may elect to audit any course not on the Plan of Study. The student may not change from audit to credit after classes begin, but may change from credit to audit before the 15th class day. All use of the audit option requires approval of the Graduate School. |
Awarding of Posthumous Degrees
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A graduate degree may be awarded posthumously if work for the degree had been substantially completed before the student's death. The request for a posthumous degree must be initiated by the chair of the student's graduate advisory committee. Requests initiated by family, friends, other faculty members, administrators, or public officials should be directed to the Dean of the Graduate School who will forward them to the faculty chair of the advisory committee. The advisory committee, in consultation with administrative officers of the department, will determine whether to seek such a degree on behalf of the deceased student.
Award of a posthumous graduate degree requires the consent of the advisory committee, which must certify that the student was in good academic standing at the time of his or her death and was likely to have fulfilled requirements for the degree by the anticipated graduation date. In addition, award of a posthumous graduate degree requires the approval of the Dean of the Graduate School, the Graduate Council, the Provost, the University President, and the Board of Trustees.
Ordinarily, award of posthumous graduate degrees will be reserved for students who, at the time of their death, were near completion of work required for the degree as determined by the Graduate Advisory Committee. Evidence to this effect should include the following:
a. For award of a posthumous Doctor of Philosophy or Doctor of Education degree, the student should have been admitted to candidacy and should have made tangible progress toward completion of approved dissertation research.
b. For award of a posthumous master's degree in programs requiring a thesis, the student should have completed or have been in the final semester of required course work as defined in the plan of study, and should have made tangible progress toward completion of thesis research.
c. For award of posthumous master's and education specialist degrees in non-thesis programs, the student should have completed or have been in the final semester of required course work as defined in the plan of study.
No student who dies committing a criminal act will be awarded a posthumous degree.
Cases that do not meet the above criteria may be considered when extraordinary circumstances prevail. No graduate degrees will be awarded without the consent of a majority of the student's advisory committee. |
Conflict of Interest on Graduate Committees
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Committees are urged to be attentive to the potential for conflicts of interest in the membership of graduate committees, including the outside reader for doctoral students. Any potential for a conflict of interest should be immediately brought to the attention of the dean of the Graduate School. |
Correspondence Work
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Study by correspondence shall not be counted toward a graduate
degree. |
Deferred Grades and Graduate Grade Point Average
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Deferred grades, including IN (incomplete) and NR (not reported), do not affect the Graduate Grade Point Average. |
Dissertation Outside Reader
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The assistance of outside readers is required in evaluating all doctoral dissertations since the Graduate School staff cannot possibly possess in-depth knowledge of all dissertation subjects. The major professor nominates from three to five potential outside readers from outside the student's department and provides their names to the Graduate School. The major professor may request appointment of the outside reader at any time during the student's doctoral work. If no such request is made, the outside reader will be appointed at the time the first draft of the dissertation is submitted to the Graduate School.
The primary role of the outside reader is to represent the entire Graduate Faculty of Auburn University and advise the Graduate School on the quality of the dissertation from the standpoint of originality, significance, research, analysis, accuracy, and overall scholarship. The reader will recommend to the Graduate School that the committee proceed with the final oral examination or that the document be returned to the student for further work. The judgment of the outside reader is viewed as advice to the Graduate School and is not binding. The Graduate School evaluates each report and may recommend appropriate changes in the manuscript. However, the outside reader should be aware of the importance the Graduate School places upon the reader's opinion in making the final decision on the acceptability of a dissertation. When the Graduate School has reviewed the reader's evaluation, both the student and the major professor will be informed of the reader's comments and recommendations and of the Graduate School's decision. The outside reader will be notified of the disposition of the dissertation by the Graduate School.
Recommendations by the reader should be considered and addressed by the student and the advisory committee either through revision of the dissertation or by response in writing to the Graduate School. The Graduate School expects that appropriate changes will be made and that the student will be able to address during the final oral examination all questions raised by the reader. It is anticipated that the reader will be willing to assist the student and committee, at least by explaining comments and recommendations. Since the role of the outside reader is one of advisor to the Graduate School, it is not expected that the reader will have the same level of involvement with the student and the dissertation as do members of the advisory committee.
Should the Graduate School not approve the dissertation, based on the recommendation of the outside reader, the student can modify the dissertation along the lines suggested by the reader. When the modifications have been made, the student and major professor should submit the revised draft to the Graduate School along with a statement identifying the changes and addressing those recommendations of the outside reader not incorporated into the work. However, if the student and the advisory committee believe that the objections raised by the outside reader are invalid, the student and the major professor have the option of addressing the criticism of the reader in writing to the Graduate School and requesting that the dissertation be reviewed by a second reader. Based upon its evaluation of the first reader's report and the response from the student and the major professor, the Graduate School may appoint a second reader who will have the same role as the first reader. If the first outside reader does not recommend approval and the second one does, the final decision will be made by the Graduate School. If both readers judge the dissertation unacceptable and the Graduate School concurs, it is the responsibility of the student to undertake the work necessary to correct deficiencies.
The outside reader is the designated Graduate School representative at the final oral examination and is expected to be an active participant. The reader must be consulted about the date and time. Arrangements should be made to furnish the reader, as well as other committee members, a copy of the approved draft of the dissertation at least three days in advance. In the case of a second outside reader, the designated Graduate School representative usually will be the second reader. At the final examination, the outside reader will serve both as advisor and observer for the Graduate School to assure the quality and validity of the examination. The reader also may raise questions and issues regarding the dissertation. The reader will judge the examination and sign the form providing an official report to the Graduate School. The student may pass only with unanimous approval of the examining committee except that a negative vote by the outside reader alone is insufficient to fail a candidate. In such cases, the outside reader reports concerns to the Graduate School for the dean's consideration. |
Doctoral Final Examination
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After the first draft of the dissertation has been completed and has been approved by the student's advisory committee, it is submitted to the Graduate School. An outside reader (representing the University's graduate faculty and the Graduate School) will be appointed to review the dissertation. However, the student's adviser may request appointment of the outside reader at any time rather than waiting until after the dissertation is drafted. When the Graduate School has approved the dissertation, the student may apply for the final examination on a form obtained from the Graduate School. The application must be filed with the Graduate School at least one week in advance of the final examination. The examination is administered by the student's advisory committee. The representative of the university's graduate faculty, the outside reader, also attends and participates. The examination, which generally is oral but may be both oral and written, includes the major and minor fields and a defense of the dissertation. Successful completion requires unanimous support of all members of the committee, including the outside reader. Any member of the Graduate Faculty may attend.
If a student fails the final examination, a re-examination may be given on recommendation of the advisory committee and approval by the Dean of the Graduate School. Further examination requires exceptional circumstances and approval of the Graduate Council. In addition to successful completion of all examinations, final copies of the dissertation must be submitted to the Graduate School before the degree is conferred. |
Doctor of Education Dissertation
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A dissertation is required of all candidates for the degree of Doctor of Education. It shall be a critical study of a significant education problem, an original work in a significant field of education, or a creative work involving new and original procedures for the improvement of education. The student conducts the research and prepares the dissertation under the direction of the major professor. Only dissertations prepared according to The Guide to the Preparation and Submission of Theses
and Dissertations, available at the University Bookstore and on the web at www.grad.auburn.edu, are accepted by the Graduate School. Submission of a dissertation is defined as the time at which the first complete draft of such is submitted to the major professor for review. All dissertations must be microfilmed by University Microfilms International of Ann Arbor, Michigan, which publishes the abstract in Dissertation Abstracts. The student is required to pay for this service. |
Doctor of Education Plan of Study
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After the student has enrolled in the doctoral program, an advisory committee should be selected by the student, major professor and department head or chair. The advisory committee is responsible for developing the student's Plan of Study and conducting the doctoral general and final examinations. It should consist of at least three members of the faculty. At least two, including the major professor, must be members of the Graduate Faculty at Level Two. The formal appointment of the advisory committee occurs when the Plan of Study is approved by the Graduate School.
The Plan of Study should be prepared by the student and the advisory committee and filed with the Graduate School as soon as feasible. It should not be delayed beyond the second semester of doctoral work. composed of two members from the College of Education and one The Graduate School recognizes that changes may be warranted, and a form is available for amendments as required by student needs, research interests and course availability.
The Graduate School requires a minimum of 30 semester hours of graded (e.g. A, B, C) graduate course work (6000-level and above) beyond the bachelor's degree, at least 18 hours of which must be completed as a graduate student at Auburn University. A doctoral student must also complete 30 semester hours of additional course work (may include ungraded courses, 6000-level courses, 7990 and 8990). However, the major is divided into general professional education, area of specialization
and other approved courses. General professional education includes courses in such areas as research methodology and statistics; evaluation of learning, individuals, or programs; human behavior, development, or learning; and social or political perspectives on education. The College of Education requires a minimum of 30 semester hours of graded (e.g., A,B,C) graduate course work (6000-level and above) beyond the bachelor's degree, at least 18 hours of which must be completed at Auburn University. A doctoral student must also complete 30 semester hours of additional course work (may include ungraded courses, 6000-level courses, 7990 and 8990). However, some programs require more, and requirements may vary according to a student's background and interest. A maximum of 4 hours of 7990 (Research and Thesis) from a completed master's program may be counted.
All doctoral students must complete a minimum of 10 hours of 8990. Enrollment in 8990 may take place at any time the student and the advisory committee deem appropriate. During any one semester, the number of hours of 8990 in which the student enrolls should reflect the amount of time being spent on the dissertation and the degree to which university resources are being utilized. Students may enroll, during any one semester, for as few as one hour or as many as 16 hours of 8990. The requisite 10 hours of 8990 should be included in the Plan of Study. No grade is assigned.
The Dean of the Graduate School is authorized to approve alternatives to these course work requirements in exceptional cases and on an individual basis. |
Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation
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A dissertation is required of all candidates for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. It shall constitute an original contribution to knowledge. The student conducts the research and prepares the dissertation under the direction of the major professor. Only dissertations prepared according to The Guide to the Preparation and Submission of Theses and Dissertations, available at the University Bookstore and on the web at www.grad.auburn.edu, are accepted by the Graduate School. Submission of a dissertation is defined as the time at which the first complete draft of such is submitted to the major professor for review. All dissertations must be microfilmed by University Microfilms International of Ann Arbor, Michigan, which publishes the abstract in Dissertation Abstracts. The student is required to pay for this service. Auburn University reserves the right to make copies of the thesis, but the student retains all publication rights. |
Doctor of Philosophy Plan of Study
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After the student has enrolled in the doctoral program, an advisory committee should be selected by the student, major professor and department head or chair. The advisory committee is responsible for developing the student's Plan of Study and conducting the doctoral general and final examinations. It should consist of at least three members of the Graduate Faculty. At least two, including the major professor, must be members of the Graduate Faculty at Level Two. The formal appointment of the advisory committee occurs when the Plan of Study is approved by the Graduate School.
The Plan of Study should be prepared by the student and the advisory committee and filed with the Graduate School as soon as feasible. It should not be delayed beyond the second semester of doctoral work. composed of two members from the College of Education and one The Graduate School recognizes that changes may be warranted, and a form is available for amendments as required by student needs, research interests and course availability.
The Graduate School requires a minimum of 30 semester hours of graded (e.g. A, B, C) graduate course work (6000-level and above) beyond the bachelor's degree, at least 18 hours of which must be completed as a graduate student at Auburn University. A doctoral student must also complete 30 semester hours of additional course work (may include ungraded courses, 6000-level courses, 7990 and 8990). However, some departments require more, and requirements may vary according to a student's background and interests. A maximum of 4 hours of 7990 (Research and Thesis) from a completed master's program may be counted.
All doctoral students must complete a minimum of 10 hours of 8990. Enrollment in 8990 may take place at any time the student and the advisory committee deem appropriate. During any one semester, the number of hours of 8990 in which the student enrolls should reflect the amount of time being spent on the dissertation and the degree to which university resources are being utilized. Students may enroll, during any one semester, for as few as one hour or as many as 16 hours of 8990. The requisite 10 hours of 8990 should be included in the Plan of Study. No grade is assigned.
The Dean of the Graduate School is authorized to approve alternatives to these course work requirements in exceptional cases and on an individual basis. |
Education Specialist Advisory Committee
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The student works under the direction of an advisory committee composed of three members recommended by the appropriate department head or chair. Two must be members of the graduate faculty. This committee will approve the student's program of study, conduct required examinations and direct the required field project. Students in a teaching field (e.g., music education, science education, foreign language education) work under a committee composed of two members from the College of Education and one member from a related academic field. |
Education Specialist Plan of Study
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A minimum of 30 semester hours beyond the master's degree must be taken in a program approved by the student's advisory committee. The Plan of Study should be submitted to the Graduate School no later than the second semester of study. Professional educators pursuing sixth-year certification are responsible for adapting their Plans of Study to requirements in the states in which they will need advanced certification. A relevant field project, approved in advance by the student's committee, must be completed under the supervision of the major professor. A final written report on the field project will be submitted to the advisory committee by the student. The advisory committee will conduct a final examination on the area of specialization and the field project. The student has five calendar years to complete the degree. No student will be permitted to graduate who fails to submit a Plan of Study and graduation check to the Graduate School prior to the semester of expected graduation. Graduation day is the official last day of each semester and, therefore, is the deadline for submitting Plans of Study for graduation the following semester. |
E-mail Policy
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E-mail is considered an official medium for communicating with students. All students are responsible for checking their Auburn University issued e-mail account in a timely fashion and on a regular basis. (The official e-mail system for students is identified by user@auburn.edu and can be accessed via TigerMail , pine, or any other IMAP type client .) |
English Proficiency of International Graduate Teaching Assistants
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International graduate teaching assistants who are assigned to scheduled lecture or laboratory sections must first be certified in spoken English proficiency. Certification may be attained through a minimum score of 50 on the Test of Spoken English (TSE) offered by the Educational Testing Service or approval by the director of the English as a Second Language Program (ESL). Applicants who hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution whose instruction is in English may be exempted from this requirement. |
Exceptions to Graduate School Policies
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Exceptions to Graduate School Policies Exceptions may be made to policies of the Graduate School under special circumstances. A person wishing to request an exception should write a letter to the dean of the Graduate School stating the nature of the request and the reasons for it. If a student is making the request, the letter should be submitted first to the major professor, who will write a letter of recommendation. Both letters go to the department head. If a member of the faculty is making the request, the letter goes to the department head, who will write a letter of recommendation. In all cases, requests for exceptions must have the approval of three members of the department's Graduate Faculty as well as the department head. All letters go to the academic dean for approval. Letters and comments then are forwarded to the dean of the Graduate School. A request for an extension of time to meet degree requirements must be justified. It must be accompanied by a proposed schedule for completion and assurance that the student is current in subjects included in the plan of study. |
General Doctoral Examination
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A general examination, often called the "preliminary examination," is required of all applicants for the degrees of Doctor of Philosophy and Doctor of Education. It consists of written and oral testing by the student's advisory committee in the student's major and minor. The written portion of the examination does not require approval in advance by the Graduate School. The oral portion, however, does require such approval. Arrangements for the oral examination must be made by application to the Graduate School at least one week in advance of the examination. The primary purpose of the general examination is to assess the student's understanding of the broad body of knowledge in a field of study. The examination also affords the advisory committee an opportunity to review the student's proposed research and understanding of research methods and literature in the chosen field. If the general examination reveals deficiencies in any of these areas, the advisory committee may recommend remedial work, reexamination, or discontinuation of doctoral study.
The general oral examination should be conducted immediately after the successful completion of the written examination and well before the final examination. At least one complete semester (preferably more than one) must intervene between the general oral and final examinations. The two examinations thus cannot be taken either in the same semester or in consecutive semesters. Some departments have specific requirements for conducting these examinations, and the student should become familiar with these. Successful completion of the oral examination requires unanimous support of the student's advisory committee. If the general oral examination is failed, a re-examination may be given on recommendation of the committee and approval by the dean of the Graduate School. Further examinations require exceptional circumstances and approval by the Graduate Council.
The student becomes a candidate for the degree on successful completion of the general examination and has four calendar years thereafter to complete all additional requirements. If unable because of reasons beyond the candidate's control to complete the requirements on time, the student may petition the Dean of the Graduate School for an extension. Otherwise, the student will revert to the status of an applicant and must petition the Dean of the Graduate School to retake the general oral examination. |
Grades
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To receive a graduate degree at Auburn University, a student must earn a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale on all courses carrying graduate credit. No more than nine hours beyond the student's Plan of
Study is allowed in obtaining the cumulative graduate GPA (CGGPA). No grade below C (including unsatisfactory grades for courses taken under the S/U option) is acceptable for credit toward a graduate degree. Each graduate course in which a grade below C is received must be repeated at Auburn University whether or not it is listed on the student's Plan of Study. Both the original grade and the grade for the repeated course will be counted in calculating the CGGPA. Course credits transferred from another institution may not be used to satisfy this requirement. Courses retaken will not count against the nine-hour limit beyond the student's Plan of Study in obtaining the minimum CGGPA. |
Graduate Admissions
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a. Domestic applications must be accompanied by a fee of $25; international applications must be accompanied by a fee of $50. These fees may be paid online via credit cards or by checks or money orders (made payable to Auburn University).
b. One official transcript of all undergraduate- and graduate-level study from each school previously attended. An applicant who, because of current enrollment, cannot provide final transcripts at the time of application, must submit transcripts of all completed study, as well as incomplete transcripts from the current institution. Applicants do not need to provide transcripts for credits earned at Auburn University.
c. Standardized Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) general test scores. Management, Finance, Marketing, Business Administration, and Accounting applicants must submit scores on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). Management will accept the GRE or GMAT. The Master of Business Administration program will allow the substitution of the GRE for the GMAT under some circumstances. International applicants must also submit Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores.
d. Academic programs typically require additional materials in order to evaluate an applicant's potential for graduate study. Prospective students must also contact the department in which they wish to study to obtain information regarding additional admission requirements, such as writing samples and letters of recommendation. With the exception of the application, official transcripts, and standardized test scores, which should be sent to the Graduate School, materials requested by programs should be sent directly to the academic department.
e. Departments make admissions decisions based on the compatibility of the applicant's goals with departmental resources, the availability of spaces for new students, and a holistic evaluation of the applicant's potential for success in the program. Other considerations might typically include standardized test scores, grades and/or GPAs, letters of recommendation, writing samples, research or applied experience, and interviews.
f. The applicant must hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited U.S. institution, or the equivalent from an international institution.
g. The applicant must be in academic good standing at the institution last attended.
h. The applicant must submit standardized examination scores (GRE, GMAT, and/or TOEFL). Applicants with an earned doctorate (Professional, Ed.D., Ph.D.) from an accredited institution whose instruction is in English may be exempted from this requirement.
i. The successful applicant normally will meet one of the following: a) a grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.75 on all undergraduate course work at an accredited United States institution in fulfillment of the requirements for a baccalaureate degree; b) a GPA of at least 3.0 on the last 60 semester hours of undergraduate course work at an accredited United States institution in fulfillment of the requirements for a baccalaureate degree; c) a GPA of at least 3.0 on all
graduate course work at an accredited United States institution in fulfillment of the requirements for a graduate degree; or d) an acceptable GRE or GMAT score as determined by the program to which the applicant applies.
j. Applicants whose native language is not English must submit TOEFL scores of at least 550 on the written test, or 213 on the computer-based test.
k. The applicant must be recommended for admission by the graduate faculty in the applicant's area of study. Departments may (and frequently do) establish higher standards than those described here, and may require that applicants submit additional materials. Applicants should contact the department to which they seek admission for information about additional requirements. |
Graduate Assistantships
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a. To be on assistantship, a graduate student must be in a degree-seeking program. The student must be registered in the OASIS classification of MST, EDS, PHD, EDD, or GPR.
b. To be on assistantship, a graduate student must be registered for at least one course (anything carrying an Auburn University course number) during each academic term of the assistantship.
c. To be on assistantship, a graduate student must satisfy the minimum course load specifications of the individual departments and be making satisfactory progress toward the degree.
d. International graduate students on F1 visas cannot hold a greater than 50 percent work appointment. International graduate students on F2 visas cannot hold a work appointment. Rules for summer terms are different. Please check with the International Education office in Hargis Hall.
e. Graduate students may hold multiple assistantships and the assistantships may come from different units on campus, but together they cannot add up to more than a 100 percent appointment. Multiple assistantships for international graduate students cannot add up to more than a 50 percent work appointment.
f. To receive the out-of-state tuition waiver for non-resident students, a graduate student must be on no less than a 25 percent graduate assistantship and must be paid no less than $426.66 per month (for FY2004). This dollar figure is adjusted yearly during the budget process. Waivers are available only to graduate assistantships assigned for an entire semester, defined as beginning no later than the eighth class day each semester and ending no earlier than the last day of classes each semester.
g. Non-Alabama resident graduate assistants who have been on assistantship for at least two consecutive semesters will automatically have their out-of-state tuition waived for the next semester whether or not they are on assistantship that semester. The "next" semester is defined as the next calendar semester. For example, a graduate student on 25 percent or higher assistantship for consecutive fall and spring semesters will still have the out-of-state tuition waived if registered summer semester whether the student is on assistantship or not that summer semester. If the student were not to enroll the summer semester in this example, but were to enroll the following fall semester, this benefit would not apply because fall would not be the next calendar semester.
h. After June 30, 2000, all graduate assistants registered for at least one hour are exempt from FICA and Medicare (Section 218 of the Social Security Act).
i. Graduate assistants who meet the requirements for GRAD7@@0 Thesis Completion or GRAD8@@0 Dissertation Completion and register concurrently for at least one hour of Research and Thesis/Research and Dissertation are considered full-time students and are exempt from FICA and Medicare on graduate assistant stipends. |
Graduate Assistantship Work Loads
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Work loads for graduate assistants are defined on the basis of a normal teaching load or the equivalent time in other duties as determined by each department head and the dean of the school or college in which the assistant is employed. For example, a one-third work load is one-third of a normal teaching load. Graduate students may hold
multiple assistantships and the assistantships may come from different units on campus, but together they cannot add up to more than a 100 percent appointment. Maximum course loads for graduate assistants are determined by individual departments. It is recommended that graduate students working more than half-time not carry a full academic load. |
Graduate Course Numbering
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A graduate course at Auburn University is numbered 6000 or above. |
Graduate Grade Point Average
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The Graduate Grade Point Average (GGPA) at Auburn University is calculated on a 4.0 scale (each hour of A equals 4 points, B 3 points, C 2 points, D 1 point, and F 0 points). All grades earned as a graduate student at Auburn University are included in the GGPA except for S/U satisfactory/unsatisfactory), TD (thesis/dissertation), NN (not graded), CO (cooperative education), NG (not graded), IN (incomplete), NR (no grade reported), and AU (audit) grades. Grades earned in undergraduate or professional courses do not count in the calculation of the GGPA. The official source for all GGPA is OASIS, the Auburn University Student Information System. Grades earned at other institutions, including those accepted for credit in meeting degree requirements, do not count in the calculation of the Auburn University GGPA. All graduate grades earned in different graduate degree programs at Auburn University are included in the GGPA.
No grade below C (including the grade of U) is acceptable for credit toward a graduate degree, but will be included in the calculation of the GGPA. Courses in which a failing grade has been earned (D, F, or U) must be repeated at Auburn University whether or not it is listed on the student's Plan of Study. Both the original grade and the grade for the repeated course will be counted in calculating the GGPA.
Deferred grades of IN (incomplete) and NR (no grade reported) do not calculate in the GGPA. |
Graduate Program and Curriculum Review
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Auburn University's mission and the accreditation criteria of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools require graduate program offerings to meet special standards, which the University must evaluate frequently and systematically to insure the following (modified from SACS Criteria for Accreditation, 11th ed., 2000, 4.3.4; and Auburn University Faculty Handbook, iv.2.1.Article 4, Section 15.):
a. Graduate programs maintain a substantial and clearly demonstrable difference between graduate and undergraduate instruction.
b. Graduate programs are at a level of complexity and specialization that extends the knowledge and intellectual maturity of students.
c. Graduate programs require students to analyze, explore, question, reconsider, and synthesize old and new knowledge and skills.
d. Graduate programs insure that students receive a depth of education, specialized skills, and a sense of creative independence that will allow them to practice in and contributed to a profession or field of scholarship.
e. Graduate curricula must be directly related and appropriate to the purpose and goals of Auburn University and the degree program.
f. Graduate programs must maintain a clear distinction between courses of study at the master's, specialist, and doctoral levels.
g. Master's and specialist programs must require a minimum of one year of full-time study at the graduate level and provide an understanding of research and the manner in which it is conducted; an understanding of the subject matter, literature, theory, and methodology of the discipline; and a means for certifying and evaluating the knowledge and skills of each candidate for the degree. Non-thesis programs must require an understanding of the accepted professional practices in the field. All must demonstrate an effective relationship between curricular content and current practices in the field and that the program length is appropriate to the degree.
h. Doctoral programs must be of sufficient duration to provide for substantial mastery of the subject matter, theory, literature, research and methodology of the discipline, including the languages or skills needed to pursue independent research as evidenced by the doctoral dissertation. Doctoral programs must include a substantial period of residence during which the program offers the student access to necessary support facilities needed for the intellectual growth of the student, significant faculty-student and student-student interaction, mentoring for students, and time for in-depth faculty evaluation of students. Programs must demonstrate an effective relationship between curricular content and current practices in the field and that their length is appropriate to the degree.
The Graduate Council will oversee departmental review of graduate program requirements and curricula offerings on a five-year basis to insure continuing compliance with these standards. |
Graduate Student Membership in the Graduate Faculty
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A graduate student cannot belong to the Graduate Faculty of the department in which he or she is pursuing a degree. |
Graduation Requirements
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No student will be permitted to graduate who does not have an approved Plan of Study on file in the Graduate School or who fails to submit a graduation check request to the Graduate School prior to the semester of expected graduation. Graduation day is the official last day of each semester and, therefore, is the deadline for approved plans of study and graduation checks for graduation the following semester. It is the responsibility of graduate students to check records for compliance with graduation
requirements. Students who have completed a Plan of Study and graduation check for a previous term must notify the Graduate School of pending graduation before the 15th class day of subsequent semesters. Graduate degrees are awarded at the end of each semester. Candidates wishing to
graduate in absentia must inform the Office of Records and Admissions.
Students who have in a previous term completed all requirements for the degree, upon receipt of a "certificate of completion" form from the Graduate School, will not be required to register in a future term if their graduation is delayed or postponed. |
Incomplete Grades
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A grade of "incomplete" must be removed within the following six months or it will be recorded permanently as an F and the course will have to be repeated. This applies regardless of the student's enrollment status. A student not enrolled during the following six months is not exempt from this rule. No student may graduate until "incomplete" and "no record" grades are removed, and the removal must be completed at least three weeks before the date of graduation, regardless of whether the course is included on the Plan of Study. |
Level 2A Graduate Faculty
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For full-time administrators only. Each department or relevant program will decide individually whether to include this option in their departmental criteria for Graduate Faculty membership. If department X decides to add level 2A, all full time administrators who are members of department X will be eligible to apply for level 2A if they so choose.
The new level 2A is for full time administrators who originally held level 2 memberships. Level 2A membership allows limited graduate program participation and continuation as a member of the Graduate Faculty without a vote by the level 2 graduate faculty within the department and without having to satisfy the other usual level 2 criteria. Level 2A precludes administrators from directing doctoral students (without special exceptions granted by the Dean of the Graduate School) but permits directing master's students, teaching graduate courses, and serving on graduate committees at both levels. Some administrators may need a few years after they return to teaching and research to restore their research, publication, and graduate teaching credentials to Level 2 reappointment requirements and for this purpose administrators are allowed to retain their level 2A membership for 4 years after they step down from an administrative appointment. |
Master's Advisory Committees
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The student works under the direction of an advisory committee composed of three members recommended by the appropriate department head or chair. Two must be members of the graduate faculty. This committee will approve the student's program of study, conduct required examinations and direct the required field project or thesis. Students in a teaching field (e.g., music education, science education, foreign language education) work under a committee composed of at least two
members from the College of Education and one member from a related academic field. |
Master's Plan of Study
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Early in the graduate program, each student should confer with the appropriate departmental adviser or major professor to select courses and discuss research interests. Then a Plan of Study should be prepared and submitted to the Graduate School. The Plan of Study form is available on the web at www.grad.auburn.edu or in the Graduate School.
For full-time students, the Plan of Study must be submitted no later than the end of the first semester in Graduate School. For part-time students, the Plan of Study must be submitted before registration for the fourth course taken in Graduate School. Notification of all changes must be provided before the beginning of the final semester. One to three changes may be made by using the simplified "Change in Existing Plan of Study Form" available at the Graduate School or on the web. Four or more changes require a new Plan of Study. The student is responsible for carrying out the planned program and for asking the major professor to make necessary changes.
No student will be permitted to graduate who fails to submit a Plan of Study and a graduation check to the Graduate School prior to the semester of expected graduation. Graduation day is the official last day of each semester and, therefore, is the deadline for submitting Plans of Study and graduation checks for graduation the following semester. |
Master's Time Limit
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All graduate work toward a master's degree must be completed within a period of five calendar years. |
Minimum Course Loads for Graduate Assistants
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Graduate students enrolled in academic degree programs are guided by plans of study approved by their major professors/advisors. Each plan of study includes but is not limited to didactic course work which addresses the requirements established by the Graduate Faculty for each graduate degree program. For thesis and dissertation students, the plan of study also includes research/thesis and research/dissertation hours which reflect the academic research requirements for the degree program and the involvement of the faculty in working with students in mastering those requirements.
Accordingly, departments will not require graduate students to register for hours not included in the plan of study as a condition of employment or to enhance credit hour production for administrative purposes. Similarly, requiring hours on the plan of study beyond the degree requirements established by the Graduate Faculty for such administrative purposes is also not permitted.
Explanatory note: University policy requires that graduate assistants be registered during each term of appointment. This statement does not supercede that policy, but rather addresses requirements for excess hours as a condition of employment or for other administrative purposes. |
Non-Graduate Students and Graduate Course Work
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An Auburn University student who will receive a bachelor's degree from this institution may register for graduate courses provided that the following conditions are met: the student has at least a 3.0 GPA, is within 30 semester hours of graduating, has the written consent of the instructor of each graduate course, and obtains approval in advance from the Graduate School. A maximum of 6 semester hours of graduate course work taken in this option later may be applied toward a graduate degree at Auburn University with the approval of the student's advisory committee provided that appropriate arrangements are made in advance with the Graduate School and a grade of B or higher is achieved on all courses used for graduate credit. The total course load taken at the time the undergraduate student is in a graduate course does not exceed 16 semester hours. The same guidelines apply to undergraduate students taking graduate courses for undergraduate credit. A student may not use the same graduate course for both undergraduate and graduate credit. Any post-baccalaureate, non-degree student desiring enrollment in a graduate course must receive written consent of the instructor and approval of the Graduate Dean in order to register for such a class. |
Piggyback Courses
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Subject to departmental policy, there is no Graduate School prohibition against a graduate student enrolling in both the undergraduate and graduate piggyback course. No graduate credit will be awarded for the undergraduate course, however. |
Non-Resident Tuition Waivers for Graduate Assistants
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To receive the out-of-state tuition waiver for non-resident students, a graduate student must be on no less than a 25 percent graduate assistantship and must be paid no less than $426.66 per month (for FY2004). This dollar figure is adjusted yearly during the budget process. Waivers are available only to graduate assistantships assigned for an entire semester, defined as beginning no later than the eighth class day each semester and ending no earlier than the last day of classes each semester.
Non-Alabama resident graduate assistants who have been on assistantship for at least two consecutive semesters will automatically have their out-of-state tuition waived for the next semester whether or not they are on assistantship that semester. The "next" semester is defined as the next calendar semester. For example, a graduate student on 25 percent or higher assistantship for consecutive fall and spring semesters will still have the out-of-state tuition waived if registered summer semester whether the student is on assistantship or not that summer semester. If the student were not to enroll the summer semester in this example, but were to enroll the following fall semester, this benefit would not apply because fall would not be the next calendar semester. |
Registration Requirements
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Every student expecting credit toward a graduate degree must be registered with the Graduate School, and no student is considered a candidate for a degree unless properly registered. A student must be
registered in the term in which degree requirements are completed. Students who have completed all course requirements but who lack other requirements (non-thesis final exam, internship, etc.) must register for the term in which those requirements are completed. The student also must register in any semester during which the staff or the facilities of the university are used for work on a thesis or dissertation, for the taking of oral examinations, or for removal of an "incomplete" grade. Thesis and dissertation students needing thesis or dissertation final approval and submission and the final examination, or non-thesis graduate students needing to complete projects, would register for 7990
Research and Thesis, 8990 Research and Dissertation, or 7980 Project, as applicable. Non-thesis graduate students requiring only a final examination would register for GRAD 7000.
A graduate student may carry a maximum course load of 16 hours per semester. (14 in the summer term). This includes undergraduate courses, but does not include 7990 (Research and Thesis) and 8990
(Research and Dissertation) when required of all graduate students in a department each semester. Graduate students must carry nine hours per semester or enroll in GRAD 7@@0/8@@0 with concurrent enrollment for a minimum of one hour of 7990/8990 to be classified as full-time
students. Enrollment in GRAD 7@@0/8@@0 requires the completion of a certification available at the Graduate School or on the web at www.grad.auburn.edu. Master's (thesis option only) students are eligible for up to three semesters of GRAD 7@@0; doctoral students for up to six semesters of GRAD 8@@0. |
Requirement for GRE or GMAT
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All applicants to The Graduate School are required to submit scores from the standardized GRE, GMAT, and/or TOEFL examinations.
For master's degree applicants only, attainment of either an earned professional degree at the doctoral level or an earned graduate degree at the doctoral level (Ph.D., Ed.D.) from a regionally accredited institution or an international institution recognized by the Graduate School may be substituted for the GRE/GMAT requirement. Such substitutions must be recommended on a case by case basis by the unit program to which application is made and approved by the Graduate School.
These earned professional degrees at the doctoral level, according to the Center for Education Statistics of the US Department of Education, include: Dentistry (DDS or DMD), Law (JD), Medicine (MD), Optometry (OD), Osteopathic Medicine (DO), Podiatry (DP), Theology (DD), Veterinary (DVM), Pharmacy (Pharm.D), and Chiropractic (DC, DCM). |
Research Involving Humans
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Auburn University established the Institutional Review Board for the Use of Human Subjects in Research (IRB) to evaluate research for compliance with the guidelines and policies of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Food and Drug Administration and other federal, state and local regulations. All research in which human subjects are used, whether by faculty, staff or students, must be approved in advance by the IRB, regardless of the
source of funding, lack of funding or any other consideration. Research involving human subjects not approved in advance may be disallowed and may incur severe penalties for non-compliance with institutional policy. Information and review forms may be obtained from the Administrator for Special Programs, 307D Samford Hall, (334) 844-5966. |
Satisfactory Unsatisfactory Grading Option for Graduate Students
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A graduate student may elect any course to be graded under the Satisfactory (S)-Unsatisfactory (U) option, except for courses required on the Plan of Study, if the major professor so recommends. Students are not allowed to select this option after the 15th class day. Courses listed on the Plan of Study must be graded A, B, C, D, or F except for those designated as S/U. All use of the S/U option requires approval of the Graduate School. |
Second Master's Degree
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For a second master's degree, the student fulfills all major requirements applicable to any other master's degree, including the thesis, if appropriate. The student may, on recommendation of the advisory committee, transfer credit hours from the previous master's degree. The student must earn at least 24 semester hours, or half of the total hours required for the master's degree, whichever is greater, in the second master's program at Auburn University. |
Submission of Theses and Dissertations
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Submission of a thesis or dissertation is defined as the time at which the first complete draft of such is submitted to the major professor for review. |
Time Limit on Submission of Dissertation
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There is no limit on the time between the defense and the submission of the dissertation, as long as that period does not violate the four-year time limit between the general exam and the submission of the dissertation. |
Transfer of Credit from Other Institutions
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Graduate credit taken in residence at another approved graduate school may be transferred to Auburn University. No prior commitment is made concerning whether transfer credit will be accepted. A student must earn at least 24 semester hours, or half of the total hours required for a master's degree, whichever is greater, at Auburn University. A program that requires 30 hours of credit will be limited to 6 semester hours of transfer credit. No such limitation is applied to doctoral degrees except 18 semester hours must be earned as a graduate student at Auburn University in graded course work at the 7000-level or above. The credit must be acceptable to the student's advisory committee and be pertinent to the student's Plan of Study. No transfer credit will be approved without an official transcript. No course on which a grade lower than B was earned may be transferred. Additionally, credit will not be allowed if the combined GPA on graduate work taken at other schools is less than 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, nor may transfer credit be used to improve the GPA on courses taken at Auburn University. All transferred credit to be counted toward a master's or specialist degree must have been earned within five years of the date the Auburn degree is awarded. There is no such time limit on credit for doctoral degrees. |
Transfer to a Different Degree Program
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For a student to transfer from one department to another requires a new application for admission. Changes in application status (master's to doctoral, doctoral to master's) or enrollment status (master's to doctoral, doctoral to master's) must be requested by the applicant/student involved and endorsed by the department head or chair, major professor, and advisory committee for enrolled students and approved by the Dean of the Graduate School. Current international students must recertify full financial sponsorship for the issuance of a "new" I-20 form. |
Two-Campus Studies
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A student seeking a graduate degree at Auburn University, Auburn University at Montgomery, the University of Alabama, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, or the University of Alabama at Huntsville may take up to half the course work at another of these institutions. The courses taken must be approved in advance by the student's Advisory Committee and the respective graduate deans. All credit must be earned at the two institutions in which the student is working, and none may be transferred from another institution. |
Undergraduate Courses Taken by Graduate Students
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A graduate student may register for undergraduate courses (1000-4000-level). For students enrolled in Graduate School, grades earned in undergraduate courses will not be used in calculation of the GPA for either retention or graduation, but will appear on the graduate transcript. This policy took effect with the posting of grades fall 1998. For courses taken before fall 1998, grades earned in undergraduate courses may be used in calculation of the GPA for retention, but not for graduation. |
Use of Proprietary or Classified Information in a Thesis or Dissertation
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No thesis or dissertation should be based exclusively on a proprietary or classified research project, nor should a thesis or dissertation include proprietary or classified information. Any graduate student and advisor engaged in such research should identify an alternate topic for the thesis or dissertation. Should a thesis or dissertation include such information, the document must be rewritten with the offending material excised. The Approval Page of all Auburn University theses or dissertations must include the following sentences: "Except where reference is made to the work of others, the work described in this thesis is my own or was done in collaboration with my advisory committee. This thesis does not include proprietary or classified information." |
Withdrawing from Courses
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Prior to 1st day of class.
Students may withdraw from any or all classes without special permission or academic penalty prior to the first day of class. To do so, simply log onto OASIS/BANNER and use the “add/drop” option to withdraw from the course(s). Tuition and fees are not charged for these classes and such classes do not appear on transcripts.
Day 1 - 15 (Day 1 - 5 in all Summer sessions)
In this time period, students (except international students, see below) may withdraw from one or more (but not all) courses without special permission or academic penalty by logging onto OASIS/BANNER and using the “add/drop” option. Tuition and academic fees are not charged for classes from which students withdraw in this period, but an administrative fee of $100 is charged. These classes do not appear on transcripts.
Day 16 - midterm (Day 6 - midterm of all Summer sessions)
Students (except international students) may withdraw from one or more (but not all) classes in this time period without special permission or academic penalty by logging onto OASIS/BANNER and using the “add/drop” option. Full-tuition, however, is due for these classes and each such class appears on the transcript with a grade of WD (Withdrawn).
After mid-term
Withdrawal from courses after mid-semester is allowed only under unusual conditions. To document these conditions, the student's advisor or department head should send a written message (or e-mail) to the Graduate Dean indicating (a) the course(s) from which the student wishes to withdraw, (b) the last day of attendance, (c) the student's grade at the time of the request and (d) the specifics of the unusual conditions. If the Graduate Dean approves withdrawals under such circumstances, a W (Withdrawn) is assigned only when the student is passing the course at the time of withdrawal. Otherwise a grade of WF (Withdrawn Failing) is assigned.
RESIGN (WITHDRAW FROM ALL COURSES)
In order for students to withdraw from all of their classes after the beginning of a semester, they must resign for that semester. To resign, a student should print this FORM.
This form is complete when the requested information for each course is noted, all required signatures are obtained, and documentation of the relevant circumstances is attached. When complete, the form should be delivered to the Graduate Dean. Once a semester has begun, the timing of resignations elicits the same policies regarding tuition, fees, transcripts, and grades as noted above for withdrawal.
WITHDRAW OR RESIGNATION FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Once classes begin, no international student should withdraw from any course before contacting the International Student Office to verify implications of the withdrawal/resignation for their visa status. Find more information HERE.
MORE INFORMATION
Withdrawals and resignations may have implications for students with financial aid or student loans. For more information about the process of withdrawal or resignation and for their implications for student finances, call Student Financial Services [334-844-4770] or consult their WEB PAGE.
Students with significant chronic physical or psychological issues should consult with The Program for Students with Disabilities regarding withdrawal/resignation at 334-844-2096. More information is available HERE. |