Policy Updates

Assistantship Policy, Conduct and Professional Behavior (updated 9/11/2024)

Clarifying the legal structures that guide graduate assistantship activities. 

Master's Thesis Oral Defense Outcomes (updated 9/11/2024)

Adding an additional option for master's thesis defense outcomes that, if selected, would require the entire committee to approve the revised thesis and sign the final report. 

Indefinite Dissertation Embargo Policy (updated 9/11/2024)

Adding language allowing the consideration of a student's personal safety as a possible justification for an indefinite embargo of the final dissertation. 

Time Conflicts Between Courses (updated 7/17/2024)

Time overlaps between graduate courses that are greater than 10 minutes must be approved by the Graduate School. This policy details process for gaining approval. 

Revalidation of Courses Older than 5 Years (updated 2/15/2024)

Language about revalidation of courses moved from "Time Extension" Policy. Full members of the program's graduate faculty no longer need to vote unanimously to revalidate courses; instead, a revalidation committee may be used.

Parental Accommodation (updated 2/15/2024)

Accommodation changed from 6 weeks to 8 weeks, may start at the time of birth or adoption, and can be taken within a 12-month period. Both parents can take a combined 16 weeks of parental leave. Language for GAs now included.

GA 60-Day Notice of Termination (updated 2/14/2024)

Notice for termination of a graduate assistantship changed from 30 days to 60 days to align with USM policy. Includes link to USM policy on this.

Inclusion of Credit (updated 12/4/2023)

Degree-seeking students changing programs may request that all coursework already taken at the University of Maryland be included in the new program of study with final approval made by the admitting program.

Time Extensions - Limiting to 3 Total Extensions (updated 11/27/2023)

Clarification that students may be granted a total of three extensions during their time as a graduate student (not 3 extensions pre-candidacy and 3 extensions post-candidacy).

Credit by Examination (updated 11/27/2023)

Students seeking a master's degree may obtain graduate credit by examination in courses at the 400 level previously approved in the program's curriculum.

Tuition Remission Policy - Winter Term (updated 11/14/2023)

Graduate Assistants on full-time appointment (20 hours per week) are eligible for 4 credits of tuition remission in the Winter Term. Graduate Assistants on half-time appointment (10 hours per week) are eligible for 2 credits in the Winter Term. Students enrolled in the 12-week Winter Term are eligible for up to 6 credits of tuition remission, and students enrolled in the OES 3-week Winter Term are eligible for up to 4 credits of tuition remission.

Emeritus Faculty Serving as Dean's Representative (updated 09/01/2023)

Emeritus Faculty may serve as a Dean's Representative during their first five years of Emeritus status, and exceptions to this policy can be made to the Graduate School. This can be extended beyond five years by request. 

Academic Integrity Violations and Termination of Support (updated 07/11/2023)

Graduate Assistants who are charged with any violation of the Code of Academic Integrity, the Code of Student Conduct, another University policy, or with a criminal offense may be suspended from their positions with pay while the charges against them are pending. GAs found responsible for any violation or offense that is related to their GA duties will be terminated, and any commitment to provide future GA appointments will be invalid.

Credit Requirements for 898/899 for Early Completion (updated 04/07/2023)

Every student seeking the Ph.D. or D.M.A. must satisfactorily complete a minimum of 12 semester hours of doctoral dissertation research credits. In cases in which a student is able to defend the dissertation before completing 12 credits of 899, the requirement can be satisfied by completing a combined total of 12 credits of 898 and 899.

Deferrals for Students in a Combined Bachelor's-Master's Degree (updated 04/07/2023)

Students admitted to a combined Bachelor's-Master's Program may not defer the start of their Master's program, but may request a Leave of Absence in their first year in the Master's program.

Grievance Procedures - Removing College-Level Policy Language (updated 04/01/2023)

Removed language requiring a college-level policy for grievance procedures; instead, all units will use the Graduate School policy.

Application for Graduation - Office of the Registrar Update (updated 04/01/2023)

Applications for graduation must be filed with the Office of the Registrar within the first ten days of the semester in which the candidate expects to obtain a degree.

Refunds for Dropping Individual Courses (updated 02/03/2023)

Graduate students can adjust their schedule (add, drop, etc.) without penalty until the close of business on the fifth business day of classes. Any schedule adjustment made after the fifth business day is subject to financial penalty.

Nomination of the Dissertation Examining Committee (updated 01/13/2023)

The nomination of a Dissertation Examining Committee should be provided to the Office of the Registrar (not the Graduate School) at least six weeks before the date of the expected dissertation examination.

Grievance Procedures - Workload (updated 11/18/2022)

As regards workload, a GA may seek review under this Section (Grievance Procedures) if the assigned work that is unrelated to a student's research cannot reasonably be completed in an average of 20 hours per week over the term of the appointment.

3.0 GPA Minimum Policy for Admissions (updated 11/18/2022)

GPA is calculated by the institution that conferred the degree.

Graduate Students as Instructors of Record for Graduate Courses (updated 11/18/2022)

Graduate assistants may be approved by the Graduate School to serve as instructors for graduate courses if certain requirements are met. 

Criteria for Admission - Admissions without a Bachelors Process (updated 10/25/2022)

Programs may make a request to their collegiate dean for an exception to the requirement that students hold a U.S. Bachelor's or comparable degree. Such requests must then be submitted from the collegiate dean to the Dean of the Graduate School for approval.

Graduate Teaching Faculty Members (updated 09/27/2022)

Nominations for Graduate Teaching Faculty no longer require faculty to vote for individuals who have terminal degrees in their field of study to become member of the faculty. Updated the standard for what the letter of nomination should include.

Graduate Credit for Undergraduates (updated 09/27/2022)

Removed 6-credit limit on the Graduate Permission Form to align with current policy.

Fellowship Policy - Supplementation of Support (updated 09/08/2022)

Original policy stated students are not allowed to hold two full fellowships ($17,500 or higher each) concurrently. This update changed the amount to $18,750.