Academic Difficulty
REG 02.45.1
Authority: Dean of the Graduate School
History: First Issued: June 1, 2002. Last Revised: February 13, 2008. Additional History Information.
Additional References:
Graduate Administrative Handbook 3.19
Graduate Administrative Handbook 4.2
Contact Info: Dean of the Graduate School (919)-515-7956.
1. Introduction
Graduate students may be terminated from the program at any time if, in the judgment of the degree-granting Department and the Graduate School, a student fails to make satisfactory progress towards the completion of the degree (regardless of grades). The definition of satisfactory progress toward completion of the degree program may differ among degree offering units. Examples of unsatisfactory progress may include, but are not limited to, inadequate GPA, inadequate research and/or research skills, failure to obtain satisfactory grades in required courses for the program, or failing the candidacy, comprehensive, or final oral examination.
2. Academic Warning
Graduate students are given a notice of academic warning if they have accumulated less than nine hours at the 400-level or above and have less than a 3.0 GPA. Any student with a GPA less than 3.0 cannot hold an assistantship or fellowship.
3. Academic Probation
If a student has attempted between nine and 18 credit hours at the 400 level or above and has a GPA of less than 3.0, then that student will be placed on academic probation and will be ineligible for appointment or reappointment to an assistantship or fellowship.
4. Termination
A student's graduate study will be terminated if 18 or more credit hours at the 400 level or above have been attempted with a resulting GPA of less than 3.0. A student may also be terminated for violation of the NC State Student Code of Conduct or upon recommendation by the Department if the student is not making satisfactory progress toward the degree as determined by departmental guidelines.
5. Reinstatement
Under extenuating circumstances, the Director of Graduate Programs may recommend and provide justification to the Dean of the Graduate School to reinstate a student's graduate classification. This recommendation must be in writing and must be signed and approved by the advisory committee and the Director of Graduate Programs or the Department Head before the Graduate Dean will consider it. It should include a reasonable schedule for achieving the 3.0 average.
When students are reinstated, they must obtain a reinstatement card and letter from the Graduate School. The student must complete and sign the reinstatement card and submit it to Registration and Records.
Students who also need to have their assistantships/fellowships reinstated, should ask their DGP to submit an assistantship/fellowship reinstatement request to the graduate school along with the academic reinstatement request.
