Graduate Division Policy For Satisfactory Academic Progress

The Graduate Council has reviewed and approved (6/8/00) the following policy regarding satisfactory academic progress:

A duly registered graduate student is considered to be in good standing so long as:

1. the student’s department determines that s/he is making satisfactory academic progress toward a terminal degree or certificate; and
2. the student’s progress meets the minimum criteria indicated below:
   1. The academic progress of each continuing graduate student shall be reviewed annually by the student’s department and the results reported to the Dean of Graduate Studies.
   2. A student whose academic progress is judged not satisfactory will be placed on academic probation until such time (one academic year, maximum) as his or her progress has become satisfactory once again, and the Dean of Graduate Studies has been so informed in writing by the Graduate Vice Chair.
   3. Students on academic probation are not eligible for merit fellowship support and will receive lower priority for academic appointments at UCSC (including Teaching Assistant, Teaching Fellows, Graduate Student Researcher, etc.). Special justifications will be required to appoint probationary students if there are any other students in the program who lack financial support.
   4. A student whose academic progress has been found not satisfactory in two successive annual reviews will be subject to dismissal from the University.
   5. A full-time student who has been enrolled in the same graduate program for four calendar years without advancing to candidacy for the Ph.D. is not considered to be making satisfactory progress and will be placed on academic probation until advancement is achieved.
   6. A student who has been advanced to candidacy for more than three calendar years is not considered to be making satisfactory academic progress and may be placed on probation for up to one academic year by the student’s department.
   7. A full-time master’s degree student is considered not to be making satisfactory progress beyond three calendar years of enrollment and may be placed on probation for up to one academic year by his or her department.
      Students on probation will continue to be eligible for institutional, state, and federal need-based assistance for up to one academic year to support their efforts to make up satisfactory academic progress shortfalls.
   8. A student who fails to register promptly following expiration of an approved leave of absence is not in good standing. The usual term for a leave of absence is three academic quarters, and all requests to extend or renew a leave must be approved in advance by the Dean of Graduate Studies.

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