Graduate students are expected to make satisfactory progress toward completion of their degree as outlined below while upholding University policies and regulations. Questions about this policy should be directed to the SOD Director of Graduate Studies or the SOD Director.

EXPECTATIONS OF GRADUATE STUDENTS

ACADEMIC GOOD STANDING
All students are expected to remain in good standing academically. A student’s performance is considered academically deficient unless there is a previous arrangement with the Graduate School for deviation from the requirements listed below. Failure to maintain academic “good standing” may result in probation or dismissal.

All SOD graduate students are expected to

• pass all SOD core graduate courses with a grade of B- or better

• maintain a 3.0 grade point average (this is required by the Graduate School for the student to receive TBP funding)

• select a Thesis Supervisory Committee by the end of the designated semester (Spring year 1 for Ballet MFAs, Fall year 2 for Modern Dance MFAs)

• pass both written and oral parts of the qualifying exam by the end of the anticipated course of study

• successfully complete the thesis proposal process by the end of the third semester of study

• meet individualized requirements specified in writing by the Thesis Committee Chair, the Graduate Supervisory Committee or the SOD Graduate Studies Committee

• conduct research at the level expected for graduate work at a research-intensive university, as determined by the Director of Graduate Studies and/or Graduate Supervisory Committee and/or SOD Graduate Studies Committee

• comply with the University’s policies regarding academic misconduct (See University Policy 6-410)

PROFESSIONAL BEHAVIORS
Graduate students hold dual roles in the SOD, as they are both students and instructors. Given their roles as instructors, graduate students are University employees and are expected to uphold all University employee rules, policies, and regulations. They are also bound to SOD expectations for instructors as outlined in SOD policy and communicated by the SOD Director. Failure to comply with SOD and University rules, policies, and regulations may result in probation or dismissal.

Most notable policy infractions for graduate students include:

• Research misconduct (See University Policy 7-001; Note that allegations of research misconduct will be dealt with according to University policy)

• Behavioral misconduct (See University Policy 6-400 & Policy 6-316; Note that behavioral conduct concerns will be adjudicated through the Dean of Students Office in accordance with Policy 6-400)

ANNUAL EVALUATION

Near the end of each academic year (March 15 - May 15) graduate students will meet with the Director of Graduate Studies and their assigned Graduate Supervisory Committee. These meetings allow time to discuss and evaluate student progress. If there are issues regarding continuation in the program, these issues will be discussed and documented during the meeting. However, if issues arise prior to these annual meetings, the Director of Graduate Studies may trigger a formal review meeting at any time. Regardless of meeting schedule, the Director of Graduate Studies is responsible for documenting a summary of meetings regarding a student’s progress.

If the student’s Graduate Supervisory Committee finds deficiencies in a student’s progress or failure to comply with the expectations of professional behaviors, the Director of Graduate Studies will notify the SOD Director and SOD Graduate Studies Committee and may also notify other University offices (e.g. Dean of Students Office, the Graduate School), as appropriate.

PROBATION, REMEDIATION, & DISMISSAL

If a student has not upheld the expectations and standards as stated above, but their infractions do not yet warrant dismissal, they may be placed on probationary status with a plan for remediation. If students are aware of an infraction, they should promptly appeal to the SOD Graduate Studies Committee if they wish to continue in the program.

If a graduate student is non-compliant with SOD or University rules, policies, and regulations, they will be informed by the SOD or the Graduate School Office. If the situation is not remedied, the Graduate School Office will provide a letter of notification of dismissal.

GRADES – Graduate student are required to achieve a B- or better in all SOD core courses. If a student received below a B- in a course, they are placed on probationary status in the SOD and permitted one additional opportunity to retake the course. Note that TBP will not cover the cost of retaking the same course, so the cost to retake the course will fall on the student. Completing the course with a grade of B- or higher will result in removal of probationary status. Failure to complete the course with a B- or higher will result in dismissal. Re-taking a course may result in the graduate student needing to remain in the program longer. If there is a delay in accruing the required number of credits for graduation, completion of credits may come at the expense of the graduate student.

MINIMUM GPA - If a graduate student fails to maintain a minimum GPA, they will be placed in probationary status by the Graduate School. In this case, one semester is allowed to increase the student’s GPA. Failure to raise the GPA to the 3.0 requirement in the following semester will result in termination of the Tuition Benefit Program (TBP) and dismissal from the program.

ADD/DROP/WITHDRAW - Students adding, dropping, and/or withdrawing from courses after the semester’s published add/drop deadlines are responsible for any charges incurred. TBP will not pay for withdrawn credit hours, and if registration falls below nine credit hours at any time during the semester, a student becomes ineligible for TBP participation and will be billed the full tuition for that semester.

QUALIFYING EXAM/THESIS PROPOSAL - All students must successfully pass the thesis proposal process, which serves as the qualifying exam in the SOD. A student who fails the thesis proposal will be allowed one additional opportunity to achieve a passing assessment by the SOD Graduate Studies Committee. Even if a student is in otherwise academically good standing, a second failure of the thesis proposal process will result in dismissal from the program.

Failure to comply with the expectations and standards outlined above may result in dismissal from the program. The SOD Director or SOD Director of Graduate Studies may initiate the process for dismissal with the Graduate School.

Dismissal from the SOD will result in termination of all funding, including tuition waiver, stipend, health insurance, and loss of graduate student standing in the SOD.

VOLUNTARY DEPARTURE

Students should contact the Director of Graduate Studies as early as possible if they are considering leaving the graduate program. The timing of a student’s departure from the program impacts tuition reimbursement and eligibility for a degree. Reimbursement for tuition is delineated on the description of the TBP on the Graduate School website.

Students will not earn nor receive a Master’s degree if the Graduate School and SOD requirements have not been met when they leave the graduate program. As such, students are advised to discuss degree requirements with the Director of Graduate Studies by requesting a special meeting before they consider leaving the graduate program. The student should recognize that they will be required to re- apply and progress through the audition and admissions process should they wish to continue in the program and work toward an advanced degree.

Graduate students are only eligible to obtain a Master’s degree when they have satisfied all program and Graduate School requirements for the degree. The SOD does not grant non-thesis Master's degrees.

Questions regarding this policy should be directed to the SOD Director or SOD Director of Graduate Studies.

For additional information regarding graduate studies, please see the Graduate School website.