It is possible for a student to lose funding at the end of a term and be placed on probation (without funding) for the subsequent term.

Graduate students are required to demonstrate “satisfactory progress toward the degree” in order to maintain a teaching or research assistantship. Failure to make “satisfactory progress toward the degree” normally results in probation and can lead to dismissal. Satisfactory progress means that master’s students must maintain an overall average of 3.0 and doctoral students must maintain a 3.2 grade average.

The Graduate College monitors all graduate student records at the end of each term once grades have been posted . A list of students whose grades fall under 3.0 (for master’s students) or 3.2 (for doctoral students) is sent on to the degree program for review.

The following should be considered in cases of unsatisfactory progress. The accumulation of two or more Cs, a D, or an F should cause the student and the graduate coordinator serious concern. These grades are clear warnings to the student in question that he or she is not making acceptable progress toward the degree. Students should be notified in person about their lack of satisfactory progress and the graduate coordinator or other members of the graduate faculty should articulate clearly what the student must do to be successful.

If the Graduate College determines that a student is not in good standing at the end of a term, the student will be placed on probation, continued on probation, or dismissed; students will be notified in writing by the Graduate College. Decisions about probationary cases that are not clear-cut and dismissals will be made collaboratively between the graduate coordinator and the dean designate. When a student is continued on probation, the graduate coordinator will prepare a student success plan for the student that clearly states the outcome required for the student to remedy the academic deficiencies.

Students are rarely dismissed after only one semester of low grades unless they were conditionally admitted. However, students should not normally remain on probation for more than two semesters unless they are very close to a 3.0 or 3.2 and can demonstrate the ability to earn A’s. If it is determined that a student already on probation is not likely to earn A’s, dismissal should be considered in a timely fashion, rather than allowing the student to continue with little to no chance of successful completion. Final approval of dismissal rests with the graduate dean designate. If the decision is made to dismiss the student from his or her program of study, the Graduate College will notify the student in writing and the Registrar will make the proper notation on the student’s record.

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