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This Policy Guide presents common policies that apply to graduate students and provides guidance to you in advising your students. It is important that students are dealt with fairly and advising takes place consistent with policies. Please contact the College of Graduate Studies anytime you are unsure how to advise your students.
All master’s programs of study must have 50 percent of the content composed of 6000 level courses. 6000 level courses are exclusively graduate courses that may be taken by master’s and doctoral students. Accelerated bachelor’s/master’s programs design the curriculum especially so that students who are enrolled may start taking 6000 level courses without special approval beyond admission to the acc ... More
This is current policy that applies to all graduate students and is enforced for all graduate programs and all catalog years.
When it applies, Interpretation, Possible exceptions, Form, Best Practices.
All credit hours making up the Program of Study at the time of graduation must be no more than 7 years old.
Applies to all master’s and doctoral students.
All students newly admitted to doctoral programs must complete training designed to inculcate awareness and understanding of the fundamental issues of academic integrity and the responsible conduct of research (RCR) in a manner that is consistent with federal regulations. This required training includes: The online Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) “Responsible Conduct of Res ... More
All students newly admitted to doctoral programs, starting with the Fall 2011 admission term. Doctoral students who are readmitted with a new catalog year are required to meet the academic integrity requirements. Doctoral students who are moved forwa ... More
When it applies, Possible exceptions, Form, Best Practices.
Code of Federal Regulations: 8 CFR § 214.2(f)(5)(ii) - Title 8: Aliens and Nationality –– Special Requirements for admission, extensions, maintenance of status/Duration of status/Change in educational levels. http://www.gpoaccess.gov/cfr/retrieve.html
Interpretation, Possible exceptions, Form, Best Practices.
Code of Federal Regulations: 8 CFR § 214.2(f)(6)(iv) - Title 8: Aliens and Nationality –– Special Requirements for admission, extensions, maintenance of status/Full course of study/Concurrent enrollment. www.gpoaccess.gov/cfr/retrieve.html
Doctoral students who have begun work on their dissertation (enrollment in XXX 7980) and master's students pursuing a thesis option who have begun work on their thesis (enrollment in XXX 6971) must enroll continuously in 3 credit hours of thesis or dissertation each semester, including summers, until the successful completion of the thesis or dissertation and graduation.
All students engaged in thesis or dissertation work.
Student’s must maintain a Graduate Status GPA of 3.0 or better in order to graduate and should not earn more than two low grades including WF’s, U’s and C+ or less. Students will be dismissed immediately by the College of Graduate Studies if their GPA falls below a 2.0.
Any student who has maintained less than a 3.0 Graduate Status GPA for 9 semester hours or more will be placed on probation. Any student failing to achieve a 3.0 Graduate Status GPA at the end of the 9 semester hours following probation will be dismi ... More
Code of Federal Regulations:F-1 Students8 CFR § 214.1(e) - Title 8: Aliens and Nationality –– Requirements for admission, extensions, maintenance of status/Employment8 CFR § 214.2(f)(9)(i) - Title 8: Aliens and Nationality –– Special Requirements for admission, extensions, maintenance of status/Employment/On-campus employment8 CFR § 214.2(f)(9)(ii) - Title 8: Aliens and Nationality –– Special Requ ... More
Code of Federal Regulations: 8 CFR § 214.2(f)(6)(i)(g) - Title 8: Aliens and Nationality –– Special Requirements for admission, extensions, maintenance of status/Full course of study/General. www.gpoaccess.gov/cfr/retrieve.html
Code of Federal Regulations: 8 CFR § 214.2(f)(6)(i) - Title 8: Aliens and Nationality –– Special Requirements for admission, extensions, maintenance of status/Full course of study/General; 8 CFR § 214.2(f)(6)(iii) - Title 8: Aliens and Nationality –– Special Requirements for admission, extensions, maintenance of status/Full course of study/Reduced Course Load. www.gpoaccess.gov/cfr/retrieve.html
International Students
Code of Federal Regulations: 8 CFR § 214.2(f)(15)(ii) - Title 8: Aliens and Nationality –– Special Requirements for admission, extensions, maintenance of status/Spouse and children of F-1 student/Studyhttp://www.gpoaccess.gov/cfr/retrieve.html
Graduate students must meet certain eligibility requirements each term that they receive the benefits (stipend, tuition remission, health insurance) of graduate fellowships or assistantships: admitted to a degree programenrolled full-time (see Full-time Enrollment Requirements for details)have maintained good academic performance and progress during each term of the awardStudents will have their f ... More
This policy applies to all graduate assistantship students (job codes 9181, 9182, 9183, 9184, 9186, 9187) and university-wide fellowship students.
A full-time degree-seeking graduate student must take at least 9 credit hours in the fall and spring semesters. A half-time load is defined as enrolled in at least 4.5 credit hours in fall and spring terms. During the summer term, full-time is 6 credit hours and half-time is 3 credit hours. There are two special cases:For master's students pursuing a thesis option and enrolled only in thesis cours ... More
This is current policy that applies to all graduate students, per federal requirements.
Grade changes for graduate students may be requested by the instructor no later than the end of the next major semester if the degree has not been conferred. If the degree has been conferred, grade changes may not be requested.
Any instructor of a graduate course may request a grade change for a graduate student when an administrative grading error has occurred, the student completed the work after grades were due (resolving “I” grade), or a student request for grade change ... More
Graduate students are not allowed to be appointed more than 20 hours per week in fall and spring.An assistantship agreement is contingent upon full-time enrollment as specified in the Graduate Catalog.An assistantship may be curtailed, diminished, or terminated at any time, by reason of any one of the following: failure of the graduate assistant, in the academic judgment of the College or Universi ... More
All graduate assistants.
Graduate Certificate programs are different from master’s and doctoral degree programs and have different rules and requirements. Graduate Certificate programs are meant to provide a narrowly focused curriculum that would supplement an existing graduate program and provide current state-of-the-art content in that topical area. A graduate certificate is often used as a stepping-stone for entry into ... More
Applies to all graduate certificate students
Fellowships are awarded on the basis of academic merit to the most highly qualified students. In order to receive and retain fellowships, students must:Meet general financial support requirementsMeet general fellowship requirementsMeet any fellowship-specific requirementsMust not be employed full-time in on-campus or off-campus jobs
This policy applies to students nominated for or awarded university-wide fellowships.
When it applies, Form, Best Practices.
The College of Graduate Studies pays for health insurance coverage for qualifying university fellowship students and assistantship students with appointments totaling 20 hours per week.
This policy applies to students with university fellowships that are accompanied by tuition waivers and graduate assistants who have a single appointment of 20 hours per week (.50 FTE) or two appointments of at least 10 hours per week (.25 FTE) and t ... More
When it applies, Possible exceptions, Best Practices.
A Graduate Status GPA is calculated on graduate courses taken at UCF since admission into the degree or certificate program, and used to monitor the student’s academic status in the program. A 3.0 Graduate Status GPA is required to maintain regular graduate status and to qualify for graduation. This GPA requirement cannot be petitioned.Graduate students whose Graduate Status GPA falls below 3.0 ar ... More
The Graduate Status GPA is computed for all graduate students.
To support the university’s teaching mission and help students prepare for their teaching experiences, the university requires graduate students who will serve as graduate teaching associates, assistants, and graders to complete training prior to assuming their GTA responsibilities. In addition, graduate students with English as a second language who will serve as graduate teaching associates or a ... More
GTA Training requirements apply to all students who will be appointed as GTAs (job codes 9183, 9184, 9187). SPEAK Test requirements apply to all international students admitted to the university Fall 2004 or later who will be appointed as associates ... More
Graduate teaching associates, assistants, and graders (GTAs) support the teaching mission of the university and can be hired under three job codes: Graduate Teaching Associate (9183, Instructor of Record); Graduate Teaching Assistant (9184); and Graduate Teaching Assistant - Grader (9187). GTAs may be assigned as instructors of record for undergraduate courses, as assistants to the faculty in thei ... More
All GTAs. Graduate students who are not appointed in GTA job codes cannot serve in an instructional capacity or support credit-earning courses.
Form, Best Practices.
Faculty supervisors of GTAs are required to assess their GTA students each semester and complete a GTA Performance Assessment form. The assessment must be shared with the GTA student. Overdue GTA performance assessments can delay assistantship appointments in subsequent semesters.
This policy applies to all students who are appointed as graduate teaching associates, assistants, or graders (job codes 9183, 9184, 9187). A GTA must have a GTA Performance Assessment submitted for each term that the student serves as a GTA.
All students receiving an incomplete in a course must have a written plan for resolving the incomplete. Those receiving financial aid must resolve the incomplete by the agreed upon date in the plan.Incompletes that are not made up in a year revert to F’s.Incompletes cannot be used in a program of study and must be changed to another grade before graduation certification.Students receiving fellowsh ... More
This is current policy that applies to all graduate students.
Up to 6 hours of independent study may be used in a master’s program of study. The 6 hours of independent study may be partially used to satisfy the requirement of 24 hours of core and elective courses, exclusive of thesis and research, in a master’s program of study.There are no limits on the hours of independent study that may be used in a doctoral program of study. Independent study hours may n ... More
Up to 6 hours of independent study in a master’s program is existing policy. The requirement of 24 hours of core and elective courses in a master’s program of study that may include independent study applies to all students who were admitted in Summe ... More
For master’s applicants to programs that do not require the GRE or GMAT and for applicants to master’s programs located in the College of Business Administration, Rosen College of Hospitality Management and the Physical Therapy DPT program, a course-by-course evaluation of the student’s official transcript must be submitted to a credential evaluation service recommended by UCF (WES or Josef Silny) ... More
International applicants that have received their education outside of the United States must have the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree, or higher, to be admissible as a graduate student at UCF. Applicants for master’s programs in the College o ... More
Courses should be added to a student’s records by the last day of regular registration/add for the term.
Any graduate student who was not enrolled in courses by the regular registration deadline may request a late add of courses for a term with evidence of an extraordinary event preventing the add during regular registration. Faculty and staff may reque ... More
Students and/or the program should drop courses by the last day of registration / drop for the term.
Any graduate student may request a late drop of courses for a term within 6 months of the end of the term (refunds only if within 6 months) if they can provide compelling justification for why they were unable to drop courses by the normal deadline a ... More
Effective beginning in the fall 2010 term, students must have passed candidacy, have an approved Program of Study, and have the candidacy and dissertation advisory committee documentation received and processed by the College of Graduate Studies prior to the first day of classes for the term in order to enroll in dissertation hours for that term.
All doctoral students who have passed candidacy are eligible to enroll in dissertation hours in future terms.
When it applies, Interpretation, Possible exceptions, Best Practices.
Students may withdraw from courses until the withdrawal deadline for the term.
Any graduate student may request a late withdrawal of courses for a term if they can provide compelling justification for why they were unable to withdraw from courses by the normal deadline and/or evidence of an acute event that occurred within the ... More
Code of Federal Regulations: 22 CFR § 62.14 - Title 22: Foreign Relations –– Exchange Visitor Program/Insurancehttp://www.gpoaccess.gov/cfr/retrieve.htmlFlorida Board of Governors regulations: 6.009 – Students http://www.flbog.org/documents_regulations/regulations/6_009_Admission_of_International_Students.pdf
Students who are suffering from a medical condition that prevent the succesful completion of a term.
All students in a graduate career who have experienced a medical event that has prevented completion of the term are eligible to request a medical withdrawal. The request must be filed within one year from the end of the withdrawal term. Students may ... More
Minimum University Admissions Requirements – regulations:UCF-2.003 (Admission of Graduate Students)UCF-2.0031 (Post-baccalaureate Non-degree Students)UCF-2.009 (Admission of International Students)
All applicants to graduate programs.
Code of Federal Regulations: 8 CFR § 214.2(f)(6)(i)-(ii) - Title 8: Aliens and Nationality –– Special Requirements for admission, extensions, maintenance of status/Full course of study-Institutions of Higher Learninghttp://www.gpoaccess.gov/cfr/retrieve.html
All new employees who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents must complete payroll sign-in at ISC in order to receive paychecks and benefits if applicable.
Possible exceptions, Form, Best Practices.
Graduate students must maintain a 3.0 graduate status GPA in order to be eligible to graduate. Graduate students should not earn more than two low grades including U’s and C+ or less. Note that WF’s are calculated as F’s.
All graduate students whose graduate status GPA falls below a 3.0 will be placed on probation by the College of Graduate Studies and given 9 semester hours to raise their GPA above the minimum 3.0. Also, students who have earned up to two low grades ... More
A Program of Study is a listing of coursework agreed to by the student and the degree program specifying course degree requirements. It must be formulated jointly by the student and the appropriate committee or adviser in the program area. Programs of Study for students seeking a master’s or specialist degree should be on file with the College of Graduate Studies by the end of the student’s second ... More
All graduate students in degree programs must have a Program of Study. Master's programs of study must be submitted to the College of Graduate Studies by the second major semester or the term prior to the graduation term, with all transfer work compl ... More
Code of Federal Regulations:22 CFR § 62.4(b)-(g) - Title 22: Foreign Relations –– Categories of participant eligibility22 CFR § 62.20 - Title 22: Foreign Relations –– Professors and research scholars22 CFR § 62.21 - Title 22: Foreign Relations –– Short-term scholars22 CFR § 62.21 - Title 22: Foreign Relations –– Specialistshttp://www.gpoaccess.gov/cfr/retrieve.html
A full graduate assistantship is 20 hours per week in fall or spring. If a hiring department wishes to appoint a student for total hourly commitments that extend beyond a full assistantship, it must request an exception for the student using the Supplemental Assignment Form. Approval is required from the student’s academic program, thesis/dissertation faculty adviser (if applicable), college offic ... More
This policy applies to second-year or later graduate assistantship students; first-year graduate students should not be given a supplemental assignment. International students on visa are not allowed to work more than 20 hours per week during fall or ... More
When it applies, Interpretation, Form, Best Practices.
Any credits taken prior to the term of admission to a student’s program and used to satisfy specific program requirements are considered graduate transfer credits. The acceptance of transfer credits is at the discretion of the graduate program.Only graduate-level or higher courses may be accepted as transfer credits.Only courses with a grade of B- or higher are allowed to be transferred into a pro ... More
Applies to all master’s and specialist students.Students admitted to a graduate certificate program prior to Fall 2009 may transfer up to 9 hours of formal coursework AND up to the entire hours of a graduate certificate program taken at UCF, if they ... More
Graduate assistants and graduate students who receive certain university-wide fellowships receive tuition support (formally referred to as "tuition remission") as part of their financial package. Tuition remission is in the form of either tuition waivers or tuition payments from university funds. Certain university-wide fellows and GTA appointments qualify for tuition waivers; all other graduate a ... More
This policy applies to university fellows and assistantship students. Both the student and their assistantship appointment must meet all eligibility requirements in order to qualify for tuition remission (see Graduate Assistantship Requirements for d ... More
Up to 30 hours of an earned master’s degree may be included in the credits for a doctoral program, provided the master’s degree is in the same discipline as the doctoral program. These 30 hours can be brought in in either of two ways.A full 30 hours of doctoral program requirements can be waived on the basis of the earned master’s degree, not based on individual courses. In this case, the eligibil ... More
Applies to all doctoral students. The acceptance of waived and transfer credits is at the discretion of the graduate program.
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