GCAC-803 - Procedures for Termination of the Degree Program of a Graduate Student for Unsatisfactory Scholarship

Policy Statement

1. Where the basis for unsatisfactory scholarship is behavior that is believed to fall within the Code of Conduct, it should first be referred to the Office of Student Conduct for adjudication. (See GCAC-801 Conduct).
   1. If the Office of Student Conduct determines that the graduate student did not engage in a Code of Conduct behavior, and if the sole basis for unsatisfactory scholarship was if the behavior did fall within the Code of Conduct, no further action should be taken.
   2. If the Office of Student Conduct determines the graduate student has engaged in a Code of Conduct behavior and issues a sanction(s), this does constitute unsatisfactory scholarship and further action may be taken by the program and/or the Graduate School.
2. When a graduate program head, program committee, or, in the case of a doctoral student, the doctoral committee determines that the program of a graduate student must be terminated for unsatisfactory scholarship, the student must be given advance notice, in writing, which in general terms shall advise the student of the reasons for the termination.
   1. Examples of unsatisfactory scholarship may include, but are not limited to:
      1. failure to exhibit and promote the highest ethical, moral, and professional standards;
      2. inadequate grade-point average;
      3. failure to obtain satisfactory grades in required courses for the program;
      4. failure to make satisfactory progress in research or other activities related to the culminating experience; or
      5. failing the qualifying, comprehensive, or final oral examination for doctoral students.
3. Upon receipt of this notice, the student has the opportunity to seek a review of the decision. If the student desires such a review, the student must, within ten days of receipt of the notice, submit a written appeal to the program head.
4. If the student alleges that discrimination either was the reason for the termination or caused the unsatisfactory scholarship, and the discrimination or harassment was committed by an individual in a role of authority, such as an administrator, faculty member, instructor, teaching assistant, or research assistant, the matter shall be referred to the Affirmative Action Office of the University, established to review such claims.
   1. If the Affirmative Action Office determines that the student's allegation has merit, the Affirmative Action Office will manage the investigation and report back to the program head and any other University office as appropriate.
   2. If the Affirmative Action Office determines that the student's allegation is unfounded, the graduate program head then provides an opportunity for the student to meet with him/her and, if applicable, the program committee, doctoral committee, or other faculty involved in the decision to terminate the student's program.
5. If there is no allegation of discrimination within the written appeal, then the graduate program head provides an opportunity for the student to meet with the faculty member(s) who made the decision to terminate the student's program.
   1. This meeting must be held within 30 days of receipt of the student's written appeal.
      1. Under extraordinary circumstances, either party may request a stay to the 30-day time limit. A request for such a stay must include a justification and indicate the desired duration of the stay, and be directed to the Dean of the Graduate School, whose decision on the stay will be final.
   2. Formal rules of evidence are not applicable to the meeting, and attorneys are not permitted to represent any person attending the meeting.
   3. If the student's faculty adviser would not otherwise be present (i.e., was not involved in the decision to terminate), the adviser should be permitted to attend this meeting if requested by the student or graduate program head, or if the adviser wishes to do so.
   4. The graduate program head is responsible for ensuring that minutes of the meeting are taken and copies distributed to all those in attendance.
6. Following this meeting, the graduate program head must notify the student within five days, in writing, whether the termination decision has been sustained or reversed.
   1. If it is sustained, the graduate program head shall notify the Dean of the Graduate School. If the termination is based upon failure to exhibit and promote the highest ethical, moral, and professional standards expected of graduate students, the Graduate School may also make a determination to dismiss the student from continued or future enrollment in any graduate program at the University. If the Graduate School dismisses the student from continued or future enrollment in any graduate program at the University, notification of that decision will be given to the student within this time frame as well.
7. Within five days of receiving this notice of termination for unsatisfactory scholarship, the student may make a written request to the Dean of the Graduate School for a further review of the decision. The student is permitted to submit additional information or statements in writing.
   1. Although not required to do so, the Dean of the Graduate School may meet with the student and/or graduate program head, or request additional information from the student and/or the graduate program head. If a meeting is held, the student may not be represented by an attorney, but may have present a faculty adviser of his or her choice.
   2. The standard of review by the Graduate School is whether the decision to terminate for unsatisfactory scholarship was arbitrary and capricious. The terms "arbitrary and capricious" mean that the decision to terminate is not supportable on any rational basis, or that there is no evidence upon which the decision may be based. The Graduate School does not review faculty judgments as to the quality of a student's academic performance (e.g., the quality of a thesis or dissertation, performance on a comprehensive examination, etc.), but only whether a program's decision was arbitrary and capricious, including in cases of failure to exhibit and promote the highest ethical, moral, and professional standards expected of graduate students.
8. After this review, the Dean of the Graduate School either sustains the termination or, if he/she determines that the decision was arbitrary and capricious, reverses the decision with any corrective action, and permits the student to continue in the program.
   1. If the termination is sustained, the Dean of the Graduate School directs, at their discretion for termination from the Graduate School and, at the discretion of the program for termination from only the graduate program in which the student is enrolled, that the termination be entered on the student's transcript.
   2. The Dean of the Graduate School gives written notice of the decision to the program head and to the student within three weeks of receipt of the student's written request to the Dean.
   3. In the event of a reversal, such written notice shall contain a statement of the basis upon which the decision was made.
9. The decision by the Dean of the Graduate School is final.
10. A registration hold may be placed on the student's records while action is pending under these procedures.
11. Nothing in this policy is intended to constitute a contract or contractual terms. No provisions of this policy shall confer contractual rights upon any parties. To the extent that this policy may be applicable to faculty or staff, the terms outlined herein do not constitute terms, benefits, or conditions of employment. The terms set forth herein are subject to change unilaterally and without notice by University administration.

Revision History

• Adapted from the Graduate Bulletin: June 2018.
• Revisions proposed by the Graduate Council Committee on Academic Standards and approved by Graduate Council, February 2013.
• Revisions by the Graduate Council Committee on Academic Standards, January 2008.
• Revised by special Ad Hoc Committee on Student-Related Policies, April 2007.
• Revised by special Ad Hoc Committee on Student-Related Policies, August 2005
• Approved by the Graduate Council, May 8, 2002.
  • New policy.