Academic Policies

Registration

NOTE: Students attending North Dakota colleges and universities must prove immunization against measles, mumps, and rubella. This policy includes students taking courses offered for credit, non-credit, or audit. Forms to prove compliance are available at the UND Student Health Service, University of North Dakota, P. O. Box 9038, Grand Forks, ND 58203-9038, phone (701) 777-3963.

Any student who holds a baccalaureate degree and has established status as a Degree, Non-Degree, Deferred Admission, Post-Baccalaureate, or Transient student is eligible to enroll in a graduate course (i.e., a course numbered 500 or higher). Enrollment in certain courses may be limited to Degree students, however. Registration and fee payment procedures are outlined by the Registrar’s Office and published in the Time Schedule. Registration is complete only upon payment of tuition and fees. Registration may be cancelled by the Bursar if tuition and fees are not paid.

It is strongly recommended that students consult their advisor before registering and check departmental and program policies on advisement.

Only work taken as a registered Graduate Student may be credited toward a graduate degree. Students classified as Seniors may be granted graduate credit if they meet the criteria defined in the policy on page 169.

The number of credits for which a student may register is subject to certain limits as defined on page 169. Registrations not in compliance with University, Graduate School, and departmental policies are subject to cancellation by the dean’s office.

Common Course Numbers

Course numbers for certain activities are uniform throughout the Graduate School and are not listed separately for each department:

Continuing Enrollment, 1-12 credits 996

Independent Study Report, 2 credits 997

Thesis, 4-9 credits 998

Dissertation, typically 6-18 credits 999

Continuing Enrollment--996

Students who previously have registered for all of the necessary credits of course work, research, Independent Study (997), Thesis (998), or Dissertation (999) on their approved Program of Study, but who have not completed their independent study, thesis, or dissertation, must register for 996 Continuing Enrollment each additional semester or summer session they are utilizing university facilities or the time of the faculty (i.e., laboratories, libraries, examinations, advisement, etc.). The number of credits should be determined by the advisor to reflect the proportion of time devoted by the student to academic study that term, with a full time student registering for 12 credits. Advisor verification of the appropriateness of the number of 996 credits may be required.

After two separate semesters of 6 to 12 hours in 996 for master’s students and after four separate semesters for doctoral students, a student wishing to enroll in additional 996 hours will be required to petition the Graduate School dean.

Continuing enrollment (996) credits will not count toward the requirements for the degree. All students must be enrolled for either 996 credits or other credits the semester of graduation. Students may register for both regular credits and 996 credits in a given term if all other conditions have been met.

MINORS AND COGNATES

Some degree programs require or permit academic work outside of the area of concentration (major) in a supporting area which may be called a minor area or a cognate area and must consist of at least 9 credit hours.

A minor is a concentrated study in a specific supporting field at the graduate level. A minor must be titled and identified on the student’s program of study and be approved by a Graduate Faculty member of the minor department/program. The minor will be listed on the student’s transcript. Only the courses approved for graduate credit may be included in a minor.

A cognate is a selection of courses providing broad support to the major. All courses number 300 or above listed in this catalog, including those offered by departments or fields that do not offer graduate courses or graduate degrees, may be included in the cognate. Courses should be taken in two or three departments of fields. A cognate area will not be titled and will not be listed on a student’s manuscript.

NOTE: When a graduate student elects to use a 300- or 400-level course for graduate credit, it is understood that the student will be required to do additional work, over and above that typically required of undergraduates. Usually, such work is of an independent nature.

GRADUATE COOPERATIVE EDUCATION

Some departments offer Graduate Cooperative Education. The course must meet the following minimum requirements set by the Graduate Committee:

    * The student must be in Approved status and in good academic standing (minimum 3.00 GPA).

    * The student must have completed a minimum of 9 credits of the Program of Study.

    * The student must have the approval of the department (i.e., department chair or graduate director) and of his/her advisor before the co-op begins.

    * Proper work experience on campus may be acceptable, but not employment in the department granting the co-op credit.

    * Credit will not be allowed for current career track positions.

    * Typically, no more than 20% of the Program of Study will be allowed for co-op credit.

    * The student will be required to present a seminar and submit a written report.

    * The co-op experience must be compensated.

The Department’s requirements for registration in Graduate Cooperative Education may be more stringent than the minimums set by the Graduate Committee.

CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS

Some graduate programs offer certificate programs in addition to the degree programs. Certificate programs generally require a minimum of 9 credit hours of course work in approved graduate courses which are transferable to a graduate program. A minimum grade of C in each course is required to earn credit and the certificate.

Admission to the certificate program may be different from admission to a degree program. Please consult the department for specific requirements.

Graduate Credit

* Graduate credit may be earned only by students enrolled in the Graduate School and in courses listed in the Graduate section of the catalog.

* UND seniors who have obtained special permission as described in page 169 may also receive graduate credit for graduate courses.

* All courses listed in the "Departmental Program" section carry graduate credit and are eligible for use in the major or minor of any Program of Study for a graduate degree, subject to the approval of an advisor or Faculty Advisory Committee and the dean.

* All UND courses numbered 300 and above may be applied to the cognate part of a Program of Study.

(When a graduate student elects to use a 300- or 400-level course for graduate credit, it is understood that the student will be required to do additional work over and above that required of undergraduates. Usually, such work is of an independent nature.)

* At least one-half of the credits for all degrees must be in courses numbered 500 or higher.

* Graduate courses used for credit for one degree at UND may not be used for credit toward a second UND graduate degree.

Eligibility to Work For

an Advanced Degree

Only those who have been officially admitted to the Graduate School as Degree Students on the basis of a letter from the dean may work for an advanced degree.

Eligibility of Faculty to Pursue Graduate Degree

A UND faculty member above the rank of instructor may be admitted to and enrolled in a graduate degree program at this University two years after the date of termination as a faculty member. In those instances where there is clearly no potential for serious conflict of roles or interests, the two-year interval may be waived by the University Graduate Committee upon the recommendation of the department to which admission is sought. This policy does not apply to members of the Department of Military Science.

Petitions and Appeals

Students who wish to be excused from Graduate School requirements must petition the dean of the Graduate School on a form available from the Graduate School. The forms require the written endorsement of the advisor, instructor (if appropriate), and department chairperson.

Graduate Students or members of the Graduate Faculty may appeal decisions of the dean to the Graduate Committee.

Academic grievance

An "academic grievance" is a statement expressing a complaint, resentment, or accusation lodged by a student about an academic circumstance (such as grading, testing, quality of instruction) which is thought by the student to be unfair.

Academic issues subject to grievance procedures differ from those subject to the academic petition process. If a student thinks that a petition has not been handled fairly, the student may initiate a grievance based upon unfair treatment, but not upon the substantive issue of the petition. The grievance process available to graduate students depends on the issue as follows:

1.  Grades

An academic grievance involving the work in a course by a graduate student shall be resolved by the process prescribed by the college in which the course is offered. The process must commence with a discussion between the student and the instructor.

2. Other Issues (involving Graduate School policies and procedures)

Resolution of all other grievances by graduate students shall commence by discussion between the student and the party against whom the grievance is lodged. In the absence of resolution by such discussion, the grievance may be advanced by either party beginning at the next level and continuing as necessary through the persons/units/committees in the following sequence:

1. Advisor or Advisory Committee

2. The person assigned administrative responsibility for the graduate program in which the student is a major, i.e., the director of graduate study or, in the absence of such a position, the department chairperson

3. The dean of the Graduate School

4. The Graduate Committee

5. The Student Academic Standards Committee (as described in the Code of Student Life)

Grievances must be submitted in writing when advanced beyond the first discussion. Similarly, responses to such advanced grievances must be in writing. Responses by the parties described in items 2 and 3 shall be within 10 class days of their receipt; response by the Graduate Committee shall be within a reasonable period of time consistent with its meeting schedule.

Withdrawal from the University

A student wishing to withdraw from the University before the end of a semester must secure a Withdrawal Report Form from the Office of the Registrar or the Dean of Students Office. Failure to do so will result in a grade of F in all classes and no refund of fees.

Although there is no specific policy regarding withdrawal from the Graduate School, it is recommended that the student inform the Graduate School of withdrawal from a degree program. Students who are not enrolled for extended periods of time cannot be assured of a place in some programs.

Graduate Work by Undergraduates

Graduate courses normally are open only to graduate students. An undergraduate senior at UND may enroll in graduate courses (500-level) for undergraduate credit. A student below the standing of a senior must have the permission of the instructor to take a graduate course.

A senior may be granted graduate credit for the courses listed in this section of the catalog if the student:

(1) secures the prior approval of the dean of the Graduate School on a form available from the Graduate School and does so no later than the last day to add a course;

(2) is within twelve credits of the baccalaureate degree;

(3) completes the degree requirements in the current semester;

(4) has an overall GPA of at least 3.00;

(5) is carrying a total academic load of no more than 16 credits during a semester or 8 credits during the summer session;

(6) is not taking the courses for S/U credit;

(7) the credits sought will not be used to complete requirements for the baccalaureate degree.

NOTE: The 300- or 400-level courses listed in this section of the catalog were approved by the Graduate Committee for graduate credit on the basis that the student be required to do additional work, generally of an independent nature.

Maximum and Minimum Academic Loads

A full course load for a graduate student is twelve credit hours in a semester or six credit hours in a summer session. A graduate student may carry no more than sixteen credit hours per semester or 9 credits in a summer session. Graduate research assistants whose research is part of their degree requirement must carry at least 12 credits each semester or 6 credits in a summer session. Graduate teaching or service assistants and some graduate research assistants must enroll in the following number of credits:

Graduate 1/2 Time 1/4 Time

Appointment (minimum-maximum) (minimum-maximum)

Semester (16 weeks)  6-10  8-12

Summer (8 weeks) 3-5  4-6 

Grading System

A graduate student will be allowed credit for a course only when a grade for the course has been reported to the Registrar’s Office. Grades awarded in all courses are indicative of the quality of the work done. Their significance is as follows:

Grade Honor Point Equivalent

A (Superior) 4 Honor Points

B (Excellent) 3 Honor Points

C (Acceptable) 2 Honor Points

D (Passing, but no 1 Honor Point

graduate credit awarded)

F Failure 0 Honor Points

I Incomplete

S Satisfactory

U Unsatisfactory

W Withdrawn

Graduate Grade Point Average

A graduate student’s cumulative GPA is based on all course work, graduate or undergraduate, taken while the student is registered in the UND Graduate School.

Grades of less than C are not included in the number of credits accepted for a graduate degree, but they are counted in determining the cumulative GPA. Credits and grades for courses accepted in transfer, or courses graded on a Satisfactory-Unsatisfactory basis are not counted in determining the GPA. Courses with grades of Incomplete are neither counted as partial fulfillment of degree requirements nor calculated in the GPA.

Satisfactory-Unsatisfactory Grading

Some seminars, research, thesis, dissertation, and field work may be graded on a Satisfactory-Unsatisfactory basis. Those courses usually are marked in the Timetable of classes, and the entire registration for the course will be graded on the S-U basis. The student does not have the option of receiving a grade. Graduate students do not have the option of electing S-U grading in either graduate or undergraduate courses.

Removal of Incomplete Grades

University policy specifies that the grade of Incomplete is to be given only when circumstances beyond the student’s control have prevented completion of the course within the official dates of the session, provided the work completed up to four weeks before the end of the semester was satisfactory. The grade of "I’’ is temporary and indicates that the student’s work must be made up and completed without repeating the course.

A graduate student who receives a grade of "Incomplete" is obligated to complete the necessary work and submit it to the instructor in a timely manner in order that the "Incomplete’’ can be replaced by a permanent grade. The letter grade must be submitted to the Registrar by the date specified by the instructor on the Incomplete grade form or within the first five weeks of the beginning of the next regular semester, whichever date occurs first. If the Incomplete is not replaced before the deadline, it will be converted by the Registrar to the grade specified on the Incomplete grade form submitted by the instructor.

The grade of "Incomplete" received for registration in Thesis (998), Dissertation (999), Independent Study (997), Research Design (Engineering 595), English 591, Professional Exhibition (VA 599), or Research (leading to the thesis or dissertation), activities which usually span several sessions, need not be replaced until the conclusion of the activity, usually a student’s final semester.

Students may not register in courses in which they currently hold grades of Incomplete. This rule does not apply to registration for Thesis, Dissertation, Research, or Engineering Research Design.

For students to remain on the graduation list for a given semester, Incompletes in all courses/seminars/practica, etc. must have been made up by the date designated in the academic calendar.

Repetition of Courses

All courses taken by graduate students, for which a grade of D, F, or U was received, may be repeated once for credit, with only the second grade to count in the grade point average. This option does not apply to a student who has been dismissed. Courses with grades of C or better may not be repeated without the written approval of the Dean of the Graduate School.

Academic Standards

A cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.00 for all work taken as a graduate student (i.e., while registered in the UND Graduate School) must be maintained in order to remain in satisfactory academic standing in the Graduate School; however, mere maintenance of a 3.00 GPA or better may not be considered adequate satisfactory performance. Satisfactory performance may include, but is not limited to, satisfactory research performance, a satisfactory GPA in the major, satisfactory performance in examinations, such as the comprehensive examination, or satisfactory performance in other specific program requirements.

The academic standing and progress of Degree Students will be reviewed by the departments and Faculty Advisory Committee periodically to ensure that appropriate progress is being made toward the degree. Students may be placed on probation with conditions or dismissed as a result of unsatisfactory academic performance or progress. Dismissal will be noted on the student’s transcript.

The conditions regarding Grade Point Average are as follows:

1. No decision on dismissal will be reached until a minimum of 12 graduate credits has been accumulated.

2. The academic standing of all graduate students whose cumulative GPA falls below 3.00 (2.75 for Master of Engineering program) will be reviewed at the end of each academic term by the graduate dean. Students having accumulated 12 or more credit hours will be placed on academic probation for one semester; students having accumulated fewer than 12 credit hours will be placed on academic probation until either (a) the GPA is raised to at least 3.00 (2.75 for M.Engr.) or (b) 12 graduate credit hours are accumulated, whichever occurs first. If, at the end of the probationary period, the GPA is still less than 3.00 (2.75 for M.Engr.), the student will be dismissed.

Transfer of Graduate Credits

A limited amount of graduate work completed at a regionally accredited North American institution prior to, or after matriculation in the Graduate School at UND, may be applied toward a graduate degree at the University of North Dakota. Graduate work is considered for transfer only on an individual basis and only after the student has completed satisfactory work in residence at UND. Those transfer credits approved by the student’s advisory committee and the dean of the Graduate School are included in the program of study for the UND graduate degree and only those transfer credits will be recorded on the UND transcript.

The basic purpose of the transfer policies is to ensure that transferred work is of comparable content, level, timeliness, and quality to that which would be taken at UND and included on the program of study for the degree. The following policies are generally applicable to the acceptance of the graduate work for transfer to UND:

* The work must have been taken at an accredited North American institution.

* The student must have been enrolled as a Graduate Student.

* The work must have received graduate credit at the institution where it was earned.

* The student must have earned a grade of B or better.

* The work must be less than 7 years old at the time the UND degree is awarded with the exception of work that was part of a completed prerequisite degree.

* The amount of transfer credit that will be accepted toward the master’s degree is one-fourth (usually 8 semester credits) of the credit hours required for the degree.

* The work credited toward a completed master’s degree may be accepted for a specialist’s diploma or doctoral degree.

* Work beyond the master’s degree must be post-master’s level and from an institution that offers post-master’s degrees in the discipline.

* Work beyond the master’s degree from an institution offering only master’s level work in the discipline may be applied to the minor or cognate areas.

* For the Ph.D., only 30 credits may be transferred beyond the credits allowed for the master’s degree, i.e., a total of 60 credits.

* For the Specialist Diploma, only 15 credit hours will be transferred beyond the credits allowed for the master’s degree, i.e., a total of 45 credit hours.

Residence Requirements

Some graduate degree programs, especially those with a significant research/ creative component, require that students spend a minimum period of time in residence during their course of study. The purpose of residence is to provide an opportunity for sustained and concentrated intellectual effort, to provide for immersion in a research environment, and to permit extensive interaction with fellow students and faculty of the major department.

In order to meet a residence requirement, a student (a) must devote full time to academic study and (b) must be registered for at least twelve credits in a semester or six credits in a summer session, or be a graduate teaching or research assistant.

The Residence Requirements are stipulated for each graduate degree program in this catalog. A year of residence requires two consecutive semesters of residence. Two years of residence requires four consecutive semesters of residence or three semesters and two summer sessions, all without interruption.

Off-campus graduate courses offered by the University of North Dakota through the Division of Continuing Education do not carry credit toward meeting the residence requirement.

Any exceptions to the policies stated above must be approved in advance by the student’s advisory committee, the student’s department, and the dean of the Graduate School.

Maximum Period Allowed

for Graduate Programs

Graduate courses more than seven years old are considered obsolete and may not be counted to fulfill course requirement for an advanced degree program. Programs of study more than seven years old also are obsolete.

Overage UND graduate courses may be revalidated and may be counted toward an advanced degree on the recommendation of the student’s Faculty Advisory Committee and with the consent of the dean of the Graduate School. In no case will more than one-half a program be accepted for revalidation. Revalidation of an overage graduate course can be approved only if it can be demonstrated that a student’s knowledge of the subject matter of the course is current. Oral and/or written examination on the subject matter of the course normally is required. The prior approval of the dean must be obtained for the proposed revalidation procedure.

Graduate work from another institution which is overage may not be revalidated for a UND graduate degree. Work which was part of a completed prerequisite graduate degree program does not become overage.

Research on Human Subjects

The University of North Dakota Policy and Principles on the Use of Human Subjects requires that any biomedical or behavioral research which involves the use of humans as subjects be reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board prior to initiation of the project or activity. This policy applies to both faculty and student research. Forms and directions for submission of a project to the Institutional Review Board can be obtained from the Office of Research and Program Development.

Challenge Examinations

Students who believe they are eligible to establish credit for courses because of superior preparation may apply to take challenge examinations. Application should be made on a Graduate School petition form to the instructor of the course and must be approved by the student’s department and the dean of the Graduate School before it may be submitted to the Office of the Registrar. If the application is approved, a committee of that department will administer the examination and will report a grade of either Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory. Challenge examinations will not be permitted for courses which were audited or for courses which were dropped, nor will they be permitted for a student who is not currently enrolled.

CONTINUING EDUCATION

Extended Degree Programs and

Distance Education Opportunities

The University of North Dakota, through the division of Continuing Education Division, offers extended degree programs and distance education opportunities to North Dakota citizens as well as to students located throughout the United States and internationally. Many of the degree programs are delivered via the North Dakota Interactive Video Network (IVN) utilizing two way compressed video and audio. Other degree programs are offered on site at distance locations, and some are offered using delayed video and the Internet.

Extended degree programs currently being offered include:

* Master’s Degree in Public Administration delivered from Grand Forks to Bismarck via IVN.

* Master’s Degree in Business Administration delivered from Grand Forks to Bismarck and Dickinson via IVN.

* Master’s Degree in Space Studies offered by Internet and delayed videotape to students throughout the United States and Internationally.

* Master’s Degree in Nursing (Rural Health specialization) delivered from Grand Forks to Valley City, Jamestown, Minot, and Bismarck via IVN.

* Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership delivered from Grand Forks and Fargo (joint program of UND and Tri-College University) to Grand Forks, Fargo, Minot, Williston, and Bismarck via IVN.

* Master’s Degree in Social Work delivered from Grand Forks to Bismarck via IVN.

* Master’s Degree in General Studies/Education offered on-site in Bismarck.

* Master’s Degree in Education/Elementary offered on-site in Bismarck and Belcourt.

Workshops

Graduate level workshops are short-term organized learning experiences which provide for active, hands-on participation or for concentrated study on a specialized topic. Registration is limited to persons holding a minimum of a baccalaureate degree, and grading is on the Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory system. Students register as Continuing Education students and do not have to be formally admitted to the Graduate School.

Graduate level workshops are offered by the graduate departments under the course number "900-Graduate Workshop." For each workshop registration, a transcript entry will be made showing the title, credit, and grade for the workshop.

Since graduate level workshops are not designed for the purpose of being a part of a graduate degree program, their credit normally may not be applied toward graduate degree requirements. The Graduate dean may approve the inclusion if the workshop involves critical review, analyses, discussion, theory, or content similar to graduate courses. No more than four workshop credits will be considered for a Master’s degree or Specialist’s diploma, and no more than eight credits for a Doctor’s degree.

Correspondence Courses

Correspondence study work is not accepted for graduate credit. With the consent of the student’s major department, the advisor, and the graduate dean, a student may take work by correspondence to remove deficiencies in the undergraduate background.

Candidacy for Degrees

Admission to the Graduate School does not imply admission to candidacy for an advanced degree. The rights to candidacy can be earned only by demonstrating the preparation for and ability to pursue graduate work and by fulfilling requirements prerequisite to candidacy. Those requirements are described in detail for each degree.

Advancement to candidacy does imply that the student has been judged by the advisory committee and the dean to have satisfactorily completed much of the formal course work and examination requirements and to be fully qualified to pursue the remaining, usually more independent, portion of the degree work.

Graduation--Application for

Degree or Diploma

Students who expect to receive a degree must file an Application for Graduate Degree in the Graduate School by the deadline noted in the Academic Calendar. All graduate students must have been advanced to Candidacy the semester preceding the semester in which they expect to graduate.

After the student applies for the degree, the Graduate School checks the academic record to ensure that the student is eligible to graduate. A new application must be filed if the student fails to graduate.

Students must be registered for the term in which they expect to receive their degree.