11.04.99.R0.16 Graduate Academic Probation, Retention and Suspension
Effective September 1, 1996
Revised
Supplements System Policy
Reviewed by Graduate Council FY03
Revised April 2004

1. Master's Students:

a. Students with full admission status who fail to achieve and maintain an overall grade point average of 3.00 after the completion of twelve semester hours (4 courses) of graduate enrollment will be placed on academic probation. A student who fails to achieve a 3.00 overall grade point average by the end of the next semester of enrollment will be placed on academic suspension for a period of two semesters. (Two summer terms count as one semester.)

A student on academic suspension may, after the suspension period, be allowed to re-enroll only upon the recommendation of the major department and with the approval of the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research. Failure to achieve an overall 3.00 grade point average during any subsequent semester of enrollment will result in suspension, and the student will not be allowed to pursue further graduate study in a degree program for three years.

b. Students with probationary admission status who fail to achieve a 3.00 grade point average after the completion of twelve semester hours (4 courses) will be suspended and will not be allowed to pursue further graduate study in a degree program for three years.

c. No more than three courses with a grade of "C" will be counted toward a master's degree. A student receiving a grade of "C" or lower in four graduate courses will be suspended and will not be allowed to pursue further graduate study at this institution for three years. This provision applies to all courses taken, except for duplicated courses (courses with the same prefix, number and title); in which case, only the most recent grade will be used.

d. All courses completed while the student is on probation and those completed upon enrollment following suspension must be appropriate to the degree sought.

e. A student who fails a departmental candidacy or comprehensive examination may, upon the recommendation of the major department and with the approval of the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research, be prohibited from pursuing further study in that particular program. This provision is also applicable to students pursuing a minor in a particular area.

f. Individual departments may reserve the right to suspend from their programs, students who, in their judgment, would not meet the professional expectations of the field for which they are training.

2. Doctoral Students:

a. A student who fails to achieve and maintain an overall 3.00 grade point average during any semester of enrollment will be placed on academic probation. A student who fails to achieve a 3.00 overall grade point average by the end of the next semester of enrollment will be placed on academic suspension for a minimum of two semesters.

b. A student on academic suspension may, after the suspension period, be allowed to re-enroll only upon the recommendation of the major department and with the approval of the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research. Failure to achieve an overall 3.00 grade point average during any subsequent semester of enrollment will result in dismissal, and the student will not be allowed to pursue further study toward the doctoral degree at this institution.

c. All courses completed while the student is on probation and those completed upon enrollment following suspension must be appropriate to the degree sought.

d. No course with a grade of "C" or lower will count toward a doctoral degree. A student receiving a grade of "C" or lower in a third graduate course will be disenrolled and will not be allowed to pursue further doctoral study at this institution. This provision applies to all courses taken, including duplicated courses.

e. A doctoral student who does not pass the qualifying examinations may be suspended from the doctoral program; however, upon the recommendation of the advisory committee and with the approval of the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research, the student may be permitted to repeat the examinations. A doctoral student who does not pass the qualifying examinations on the second attempt will not be allowed to pursue further study at the doctoral level. This procedure also applies to the final oral examination and dissertation defense.

f. Individual departments may reserve the right to suspend from their programs, students who, in their judgment, would not meet the professional expectations of the field for which they are training.

3. Courses taken from other institutions will not be transferable if taken during a period of suspension from Texas A&M University-Commerce. Students on academic suspension from another institution will not be admitted to A&M-Commerce until their specific period of suspension expires.

4. A graduate student who has not been enrolled for a period of at least six years may petition the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research to have previous graduate grades eliminated from the calculation of the official grade point average. No courses eliminated from such calculation could be used toward a graduate degree.

References: Prior ETSU Policy B-62; Procedure A11.40

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CONTACT FOR INTERPRETATION: Dean of Graduate Studies and Research