Dismissal Policy

Dismissal Policy Department of Curriculum and Instruction

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In general, the necessary precautions are taken during the admission process to select those students who have potential to complete graduate work.  However, some cases can arise in which a student should not continue in a graduate program.  The following are instances in which students will be dismissed from graduate study:

1. A student with undergraduate grade point indices under 3.0 is admitted conditionally.  The conditions are usually to obtain a 3.0 GPA while taking the first 9 hours of course work.  If the condition is not met, the student is usually dismissed.  If extenuating circumstances exist, then the case may be brought to the department Graduate Program Committee for reevaluation.
2. *A student is expected to maintain a graduate cumulative index representing a B average or better.  Indices below this level are marked "low" on the grade reports.  The student's progress should be reviewed each session by the student's department.
   
   The student's progress also may be reviewed by the Graduate School.  Should the student fail to perform on a level satisfactory to the advisory committee, the departmental graduate committee, or the dean of the Graduate School, he or she may be asked to discontinue graduate study at Purdue.
   
   The cumulative index is based on all graded Purdue courses taken as a graduate student except FR, GER, RUSS. or SPAN 601, 603, or 605. (See Section VI-B-4.)  If a Purdue course taken as a graduate student is repeated for a grade, both grades figure in the graduate cumulative index.  Neither excess undergraduate Purdue courses nor courses transferred from another institution figure in the graduate cumulative index.
   
   Courses taken for pass/not pass or satisfactory/unsatisfactory are unacceptable in fulfilling degree requirements, and grade option changes will not be approved by the Graduate School except in cases of a clerical or mechanical error that is detected early and used as the basis for requesting a correction within the normal drop/add period.  Course work required for a degree will be complete when a student obtains grades for all courses on the plan of study that meet grade requirements of the department and the Graduate School.
3. A student, while achieving acceptable grades in his/her course work, is unable to complete satisfactory research work.  The major professor is required to discuss the unsatisfactory performance with the student and to indicate the conditions the student is to meet.  This is to be put in writing.  A copy is given to the student and one is put in his/her COE graduate file.  If after the next semester, the student's research work is still not considered to be of satisfactory quality, the student is dismissed.
4. A student may be dismissed from a graduate program if his/her Ph.D. work has extended five years beyond the successful completion of preliminary exams whether working on campus or in absentia.
5. If a student does not pass his/her preliminary examinations, the decision is left to the major professor and the committee as to what action should be taken.  At least one opportunity to rewrite the preliminary exams is permitted (after one semester lapses) before the student is dismissed.
6. Five-year Rule: Course credits earned by a student whose graduate study and/or professional activity has been inactive for five years or more cannot be used on a plan of study for an advanced degree.  A plan of study approved prior to such a period of inactivity is invalid.  A preliminary examination passed prior to such a period of inactivity is invalid.

*NOTE:  Italicized material refers to wording taken directly from the 1992 Purdue University Graduate School Policies and Procedures Manual for Administering Graduate Student Programs.

(Department Policy, Approved by Department of Curriculum and Instruction Faculty, February 28, 1994)

(Department Policy, Approved by Department of Curriculum and Instruction Graduate Committee, February 1, 1994)

    7.    All doctoral programs must be completed no longer than eight (8) calendar years from the entry to the program area.

(Department Policy, Approved by Department of Curriculum and Instruction Graduate Committee, February, 2005)

Dismissal Policy Department of Educational Studies

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In general, the necessary precautions are taken during the admission process to select those students who have potential to successfully complete graduate work.  However, some cases arise in which a student should not continue in a graduate program.  Graduate School policy as well as Department policy set standards for dismissal.  For master's degree students, numbers A.4 and A.5 below do not apply.  For Purdue University regulations regarding academic dishonesty and criminal behavior, see University Regulations

1. The following are instances in which a student will be dismissed from graduate study based on Graduate School and Department Policy:
   1. If a student does not enroll for a period of 3 consecutive semesters (including summer), the student will be dismissed.  The student must reapply and reentry is subject to favorable approval by the program area.
   2. If a student is admitted conditionally and does not meet the conditions of admission, the student will be dismissed.
   3. A student is expected to maintain a graduate cumulative index representing a 3.0 GPA or better.  If a student does not maintain a GPA of 3.0 or better, the student will be dismissed.
   4. If the Ph.D. work has extended five years beyond the successful completion of preliminary exams, the student will be dismissed from a graduate program.
   5. If a student does not pass preliminary examinations, the student will be dismissed.  If this is the first attempt at preliminary examinations, the student's committee may recommend a second attempt as specified in Educational Studies Preliminary Examination Policy.
2. A student may be dismissed from a graduate program because of a lack of progress.  Procedures to be followed include:
1. Evaluation of student progress is based on an assessment of:
   1. Research Skills (e.g., successful completion of EDPS 533, EDPS 630, a statistical sequence, participation on a research team, progress on dissertation research)
   2. Technical Skills for their area (e.g., teaching, counseling, supervision, assessment, administration)
   3. Professional and Ethical Behavior (e.g., appropriate interactions with clients, students, peers, supervisors, and faculty; behavior consistent with professional standards including confidentiality, honesty, and academic integrity)
   4. Writing Skills for their area (e.g., scholarly writing, grant writing, policy reports, IEP's, case conceptualizations, reports)
2. A student's lack of progress will be recorded in writing with copies given to the student and put in the student's file (kept by the advisor or program area as dictated by program area policy).  If the student's progress is unsatisfactory, a plan of remediation must be specified and a specific time frame for remediation identified.  In special circumstances, program area faculty may decide that remediation is not appropriate and dismissal from the graduate program will be immediate.
3. If a student does not complete the remediation satisfactorily within the specified time frame, the student will be dismissed.

(Department Policy, Approved by Department of Educational Studies Curriculum and Graduate Committee, April 11, 1997)

(Department Policy, Approved by Department of Educational Studies Faculty, April 17, 1997)

(Department Policy, Approved by Department of Educational Studies Faculty, November 20, 2008)