Rule R6-200B: Graduate Academic Standing, Performance, Probation, and Dismissal

Purpose and Scope
Definitions
Rule
‌Policies/ Rules, Procedures, Guidelines, Forms, and other Related Resources‌
References
Contacts
History

‌Purpose and Scope‌
1. Purpose.
  
  This rule identifies criteria for satisfactory graduate academic standing, inclusive of any degree program-specific criteria that may exist; and a baseline protocol to address unsatisfactory graduate academic performance, academic probation, and program dismissal for academic reasons.
2. Scope.
  
  This rule applies only to graduate academic standing, academic performance, academic probation, and dismissal for academic reasons; it applies to all academic units that offer graduate programs and all graduate students. Criteria and processes regarding undergraduate academic standing, performance, and probation are addressed in Policy 6-100. For purposes of this rule, graduate academic performance and progress may include clinical, professional, practical, or competency-based performance when such performance is an established component of the curriculum or requirement for progression in the degree program. Roles, rights, responsibilities, obligations, and expectations of graduate students beyond academic performance and progress, as well as respective disciplinary and dismissal procedures, are established and governed by university regulations relevant to particular roles or contexts, as follows:
  1. Graduate students are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with Policy 6-400, which describes student rights and responsibilities relevant to behavior.
  2. Graduate students are beholden to standards of academic integrity and professional and ethical conduct. Policy 6-410 addresses standards and protocols pertaining to these matters.
  3. Policy 7-001 addresses the standards and obligations related to responsible conduct of research by university employees and students. This policy governs research misconduct.
  4. Graduate students with a funded appointment (e.g., as Research Assistants or Teaching Assistants) are considered “educational trainees,” and as such, Policy 6-309 establishes terms of selection, appointment, written agreement, and orderly dismissal from a funded appointment. Terms and procedures of a funded appointment are distinct from a graduate student’s academic status and enrollment; conclusion of or dismissal from a funded appointment does not entail dismissal from a degree program.‌
Definitions‌

The definitions provided in Policy 6-200 apply for this rule.
‌Rule‌
1. ‌Satisfactory Academic Standing and Performance‌
  1. A graduate student must maintain a minimum cumulative 3.0 Grade Point Average (GPA) in coursework counted toward the graduate degree to be in satisfactory academic standing unless the graduate student’s department or program has a different GPA or other academic performance requirement that a student must meet to remain in satisfactory academic standing. These requirements must be clearly identified in the University Catalog and detailed in the department or program’s graduate handbook.
  2. Satisfactory academic standing also requires that students make consistent and steady progress toward degree program completion established by:
    1. the department or program’s degree program timeline, curricular requirements, associated designated milestones, and any clinical, professional, practical, or competency-based requirements integral to the curriculum or progression through the degree program; and/or
    2. any time limits for completion of graduate degrees established by the university or the department or program.
  3. Departments and programs are strongly encouraged to review and record each graduate student’s academic progress and performance formally at least annually and provide that review to the student. Graduate student review processes are determined by departments and programs.
2. ‌Unsatisfactory Academic Standing and Progress‌
  1. If a graduate student’s cumulative GPA is below 3.0, the Graduate School will notify the director of graduate studies or program director for the graduate student’s program. The department or program may initiate formal academic probation for the subsequent semester at the time of notice, at the department or program’s discretion. If the student has not restored the GPA to 3.0 or above (or a GPA above the department or program required minimum grade requirement, if different) within 12 months of the initial Graduate School notice, the department or program must place the student on academic probation.
  2. At the earliest indication, a department or program should provide written notice to a student of any deficient or unsatisfactory academic performance or progress that could lead to probation if not corrected. This written notice should identify the specific area(s) of concern as well as concrete steps to correct the unsatisfactory academic performance or progress and guidance and relevant resources to aid the student in correcting them.
    1. The same written notice may address deficiencies in meeting both Graduate School criteria and department or program criteria, if both are applicable.
    2. The notice must inform students of the consequences that may result from failure to correct the deficiencies (e.g., academic probation or academic dismissal from the program).
    3. Ordinarily, this first notice of deficiencies will precede placement of the student on academic probation.
3. ‌Academic Probation‌
  1. If unsatisfactory academic performance and/or progress are significant and/or sustained, the department or program may place the student on formal academic probation for the duration of the subsequent semester, with notice to the Graduate School. The department or program must communicate probationary status in a letter to the student, and provide a copy to the Graduate School, as early as possible before the probationary semester. The letter must describe:
    1. the reason(s) for the probation, referencing the specific standards that the student is failing to meet, as described in the University Catalog and detailed in the department or program handbook and/or in Graduate School rules or guidelines;
    2. the steps the student must take in the probationary semester to restore satisfactory academic standing, one of which must be meeting with the director of graduate studies, program director, or other appropriate administrator at least once;
    3. the potential consequence of dismissal of the student from the degree program if probationary status is not resolved; and
    4. any university resources that may be relevant or appropriate to the circumstances of probation, as determined by the department or program, including information regarding the student’s appeal rights described in this rule.
  2. Following posting of grades for the probationary semester, the department or program must provide a letter to the student, and provide a copy to the Graduate School, that describes the student’s progress in meeting conditions required to redress probationary status and updates the student’s academic standing accordingly.
  3. In the absence of full correction of deficiencies in the probationary semester, the department or program may extend a student’s academic probation for up to one additional semester or may dismiss the student from the degree program.
  4. A department or program that allows a student to retake a required course or exam following unsatisfactory initial performance need not place the student on academic probation in the interim.
4. ‌Academic Probation and Graduate Student Funding‌
  1. A graduate student placed on academic probation who is funded as a research assistant, teaching assistant, trainee, or fellow may continue in that role during the student’s first probationary semester unless prohibited by funding terms and conditions. However, a letter of probation issued to a funded student must note that if satisfactory academic standing is not restored at the end of the first probationary semester, renewal of funding and benefits is not guaranteed even if the probationary period is extended for one additional semester.
  2. Policy 6-309 addresses unsatisfactory performance in a funded role.
5. ‌Academic Probation and International Students‌
  1. A letter of probation issued to an international student must direct the student to notify and work with International Student Scholar Services (ISSS) to verify and assess implications of academic probation relevant to F-1 visa status.
6. Dismissal
  1. A student may not be dismissed from a degree program on grounds of deficient academic performance or progress in the absence of a probationary semester unless failure to satisfy a university or degree program requirement is clearly and explicitly tied to dismissal in university policy or in the University Catalog and department or program’s graduate handbook (e.g., Policy 6-203, regarding qualifying exams for Doctor of Philosophy degrees).
  2. A department or program that dismisses a graduate student for academic reasons must issue a letter of academic dismissal to the student and provide a copy to the Graduate School as soon as possible following the determination. The letter must clearly identify the degree program and/or Graduate School requirements that the student has not met and cite the probationary corrective actions and/or timeline that the student has not satisfied. The letter must also describe the student’s appeal rights described in this rule.
  3. A student dismissed from a graduate degree program for academic reasons may apply to the same or another university graduate degree program following their dismissal. If admitted, they must meet all requirements of that degree program; any eligible coursework or milestones completed in the prior program may or may not be transferred or applied to the new program, in accordance with the new program requirements, university regulations, and Graduate School guidelines. In cases of reapplication to the graduate degree program from which the student was dismissed, departments or programs may establish a waiting period before the student may reapply.
  4. Because dismissal from a graduate degree program has significant implications for international student visa status, a department or program that dismisses an international student must direct the student to consult with International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) as soon as possible to identify next steps. A department or program that issues a letter of dismissal to an international student must also provide a copy of the letter to ISSS.
7. ‌Appealing Probationary Status or Dismissal‌
  1. Placement of a student on academic probation and dismissal of a student on grounds of academic performance or progress are academic actions, as defined in Policy 6-100. Accordingly, a student may appeal either academic action following the process described in Policy 6-100 and Rule R6-100C.
  2. A graduate student wishing to appeal a pending dismissal must consult with the director of graduate studies or program director as soon as possible to discuss the appeals process. Letters of academic dismissal issued to students must direct students accordingly.
8. ‌Exceptions‌
  1. The dean of the Graduate School may approve exceptions to any of the requirements described in this rule upon petition from the department chair, graduate program director, or director of graduate studies of the department or program.
    
    Sections IV- VII are for user information and are not subject to the approval of the Academic Senate or the Board of Trustees. The Institutional Policy Committee, the Policy Owner, or the Policy Officer may update these sections at any time.
‌Policies/ Rules, Procedures, Guidelines, Forms, and other Related Resources‌
1. Policies/ Rules.
  1. Policy 6-200: Graduate Studies and Degrees [re: Role of Graduate Council and Undergraduate Council]
2. Procedures, Guidelines, and Forms. [ reserved ]
3. Other Related Resources. [ reserved ]
‌References‌
1. Policy 6-100: Instruction and Evaluation
2. Rule R6-100C: Appeals of Academic Actions
3. Policy 6-203: Graduate Studies and Degrees, Doctor of Philosophy
4. Policy 6-309: Academic Staff, Educational Trainees, Postdoctoral Fellows, and Medical Housestaff
5. Policy 6-400: Student Rights and Responsibilities
6. Policy 6-410: Student Academic Performance, Academic Conduct, and Professional and Ethical Conduct
7. Policy 7-001: Research Misconduct Policy
‌Contacts‌

The designated contact officials for this regulation are:
1. Policy Owner(s) (primary contact person for questions and advice): Dean of the Graduate School
2. Policy Officer(s): Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Executive Vice President for Health Sciences
  
  See Rule 1-001 for information about the roles and authority of policy owners and policy officers.
‌History‌

Revision History.
1. Current version. Revision 0.
  1. Approved by the Academic Senate on September 28, 2026 with effective date of September 28, 2026.
  2. Legislative History
  3. Editorial Revisions
2. Previous versions.
3. Renumbering
  1. Not applicable

Revision 0. Effective date: September 28, 2026