General Policies

Graduate Courses

Courses approved at the 600, 700 and 800 level may be taken for graduate credit and used to satisfy course requirements on the student's graduate plan of study.

Didactic courses are those courses approved for graduate credit numbered 601-689, 691; 700-789,791; 800-889, 891. Courses numbered 690, 692-699, 790, 792-799, 890, 892-899 are considered special or experimental courses and are not to be included as didactic courses on a plan of study.

Courses that a student has used to fulfill the requirements of a baccalaureate degree may not be used on that student's graduate plan of study, unless take as part of an accelerated degree program.

Enrollment Status

  • Students be registered for at least one credit fall and spring semester until all degree requirements are completed, including Graduate School approval of the thesis, paper or dissertation. 
  • Nine credits are considered a full-time graduate load.
  • Graduate Assistants working 20 hours per week are considered full-time if registered for five or more graduate credits.
  • To receive financial aid, students must be enrolled at least half-time (i.e. 5 credits). Loan deferment may also require full- or half-time status. Eligibility varies with financial aid programs; students should contact their lender for requirements.

Registration for Research Credit

  • A student conducting research for the disquisition is to be enrolled in 797, 798 or 899 for the number of credits specified on the plan of study.
  • Such registration is required even in absentia when faculty and/or administration time is consumed in manuscript review, communication, and other forms of assistance.

Time Limitations

  • Master’s degree program course work that is more than seven (7) calendar years old at the time of the final examination cannot be used to satisfy degree requirements.
  • Doctoral degree coursework that is more than ten (10) years old at the time of the final examination cannot be used to satisfy degree requirements.
  • These time limits apply to transfer credit as well as NDSU credit.
  • The student will have one (1) year from the date of the final examination to complete the Graduate School disquisition review process and all other degree requirements. Should the disquisition not receive final approval or any other degree requirements not be completed within this time limit, the student must repeat the final examination.
  • If a period of time two years or greater lapses before the disquisition is approved by the Graduate School, the student must reapply to the Graduate School, redefend the disquisition and register for a minimum of two credits.

Continuous Enrollment

  • Students are required to register for at least one credit each semester (fall and spring) until all degree requirements are completed, including Graduate School approval of the thesis, paper, or dissertation. Students taking their final examination in the summer semester must register for summer semester.
  • Degree approval will be delayed until a student registers for one credit for each fall and spring semester in which he/she was not enrolled and not on a Leave of Absence, up to four (4) credits.
  • A student who has not registered for longer than a continuous two-year period must also reapply for admission and is subject to the degree requirements at the time of readmission.

Leave of Absence

Students who interrupt their graduate program prior to the completion of all degree requirements must obtain a leave of absence, using the Request for Leave of Absence from Graduate Studies form. A leave may be taken for up to two (2) years at which time a student must reapply to the Graduate School.

NOTE: Leaves of absence do not amend in any way the seven and ten-year time limitations.


Academic Standing

  •  A student must have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 to be in academic good standing and to receive a graduate degree,
  • All courses taken by a graduate student for which grades are given will be used in calculating the GPA.
  •  Credits taken as Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory are not used in calculating the GPA.
  • When a course has been repeated, both grades will appear on the transcript, but only the second grade will be used in calculating the GPA. A specific course can be retaken only once, and only three total courses can be retaken.
  • Grades of A, B, C or S may be used to fulfill graduation requirements. Programs and/or supervisory committees may require a higher grade than C in certain courses.
  • Earning more than two grades of C, D, F or U may be grounds for dismissal upon recommendation by the program administrator.

These minimal scholastic requirements apply to each student enrolled in the Graduate College. Additional requirements may exist for certain graduate programs.

Academic Warning

Any student in GOOD STANDING whose cumulative GPA drops to less than 3.0 at any time of attendance is automatically placed on academic WARNING. Any student admitted in CONDITIONAL status because of grade deficiency is automatically placed on academic WARNING. A student on academic WARNING cannot register for the following semester until the grades for the current semester post.

If a student on academic WARNING fails to achieve a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 in the subsequent semester of attendance, then the student will be placed on academic PROBATION.

Academic Probation

A student on academic PROBATION may not continue the pursuit of a graduate degree program without a recommendation from the appropriate program administrator and a waiver from the Dean of the Graduate College. This recommendation must include a review of the student's current status and a proposed plan of remediation which provides the student an opportunity to return to a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 within one additional semester (fall or spring) for full-time students and two semesters for part-time students (i.e. students taking 5 credits or fewer).

The remediation plan must be developed in collaboration with the adviser and approved by the graduate program coordinator or department chair; the approved remediation plan has to be submitted to the Graduate College in order to receive a waiver from the Dean of the Graduate College. 

This plan must include: 

  • the specific course(s) you plan to take
  • verification that the course(s) will be offered
  • the grade you plan to earn in order to return to a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 within one semester
  • any additional information that addresses past obstacles to academic success (optional).

The remediation plan must be submitted and approved in time for the student to register for the academic term (fall or spring) that immediately follows the term in which the student was placed on probation. If the student does not submit an acceptable plan in time to enroll for the next academic term (fall or spring), or if the cumulative GPA is not at least 3.0 after the probationary period, the student will be dismissed from his or her graduate program.

A student on academic PROBATION is not eligible for a graduate assistantship or tuition waiver.

Dismissal from the Graduate College

Graduate students may be suspended or dismissed from NDSU as a result of failure to meet our scholastic standards, academic or professional misconduct, insufficient progress toward a degree, failure to meet professional expectations or standards or failure to submit an acceptable remediation plan. Students suspended or dismissed from the Graduate College are not eligible for admission into any degree-granting or certificate program or into non-degree status for a period of at least one calendar year from the date of their suspension or dismissal.

Suspension or dismissal does not become complete until the completion of any appeal process.

 

Family and Medical Accommodation Policy for Graduate Students

The Graduate School at NDSU is committed to promoting an environment where students can successfully balance their academic and family responsibilities.  The goal of this policy is to provide consistent, equitable treatment to all graduate students, regardless of family status, by providing timeline extensions for completing preliminary/qualifying examinations and by offering modified duties to students experiencing a serious health condition or needing to provide care to a new child or a seriously ill family member.

1. Extensions for Completing Preliminary/Qualifying Examinations, Final Examinations, and/or Disquisitions


Eligibility:

A graduate student is eligible to apply for a time extension on completing preliminary/qualifying examination, final examination, and/or disquisition upon a showing that they are:

  1. In good academic standing and making progress toward degree completion, and
  2. Undergoing childbirth, caring for their newborn, caring for their child with a serious medical condition, adopting a child, accepting foster placement of a child, experiencing their own serious medical condition, or experiencing a serious medical condition of a spouse/partner or parent for which they have caretaker responsibilities (medical certification may be required).

Length of Extensions:

While each extension granted under this policy will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, absent extraordinary circumstances, the additional time granted by this policy will not exceed two years. 

A graduate student undergoing childbirth, adopting a child, or accepting foster placement of a child shall be entitled to receive an extension of up to one extra year for completing preliminary/qualifying examination, final examination, and/or submitting a disquisition.

A graduate student experiencing their own serious medical condition, caring for their child with a serious medical condition, or experiencing a serious medical condition of a spouse/partner or parent for which they have caretaker responsibilities shall be entitled to receive an extension of up to six extra months for completing a preliminary/qualifying examination, a final examination, and/or submitting a disquisition.

Application/Approval Process:

Graduate students who wish to obtain an extension under this policy must document their eligibility in writing to their academic unit prior to the effective date of the extension – retroactive requests will not be considered, absent extraordinary circumstances.  The student’s academic unit and the Graduate School will then assess the student’s eligibility and approve/deny the extension.  Additionally, international students on a visa must have their extension approved by the Office of International Programs.

Leave of Absence

Students requesting an extension may also choose to take a leave of absence from their graduate program.  International students will need to consult with the Office of International Student and Study Abroad Services to determine if they are eligible for a leave of absence.

2. Modified Duties for Graduate Assistants


Eligibility:

A graduate assistant is eligible for “modified duties” if the graduate assistant:

  1. Becomes a parent through childbirth, adoption, or foster placement of a child;
  2. Has a health condition that makes him or her unable to perform regular duties but does not necessitate a reduction in workload; or
  3. Will be caring for a child, spouse/partner or parent who has a serious health condition.    
  4. Must have served as a graduate assistant for at least one academic term.


Definition and Length of Modified Duties:

“Modified duties” means a change to duties and goals without reduction of stipend for a limited period of time.  A graduate assistant taking modified duties will still be at a 100% workload and 100% stipend; however, the nature of the responsibilities for this time period will be adjusted.  Modified duties will include a revision of workload for up to the equivalent of a semester.  If warranted and supported by appropriate medical documentation, graduate students can be excused from most, if not all, of their regular duties for up to six weeks without a reduction in pay.  All eligible students will be granted a Parental Accommodation period for up to six weeks immediately following the birth of a child or the adoption of a child under the age of 6 for which the student has parental responsibilities.  (Additional time may be granted based on medical documentation of exceptional medical circumstances experienced by the student or his/her child, spouse, partner, or dependent parent.)   

Regardless of circumstances, modified duties agreements must conclude within 12 months.

Application/Approval Process

A graduate assistant requesting modified duties shall document their request in writing to their supervisor and department chair/head.  The graduate assistant and the department will engage in an interactive process to determine how the graduate assistant’s duties will be modified and the duration of the modified duties.  In the event that an agreement cannot be reached between the graduate assistant and the department, the Dean of the Graduate School shall assist in reaching an agreement.  To ensure that all parties are operating under the same understanding, the agreement for modified duties shall be put in writing.  Graduate assistants accepting modified duties are subject to the regular evaluation procedures used in the program; however, such evaluations shall be based on the agreed upon modified duties.