Satisfactory Academic Progress is a measure of the pace and quality of a student's performance and progress through completion of the competencies and required learning activities toward completion of the degree. Completion of learning activities in a timely manner and with satisfactory academic quality form the basis for determining a student's academic progress and the student's ability to complete the degree within the required period.
The Ph.D. Program uses the following guidelines for determining satisfactory progress:
By the end of the first year and every year thereafter for a total of up to but no more than five years, students are required to have completed a minimum of 9 units annually. At this rate a student would be able to complete his/her 39 pre-Candidacy units within the five year limit, in order to advance to Candidacy and complete his/her Dissertation Proposal and Dissertation within the seven year limit.
Core Faculty review students' progress on an annual basis. If the faculty determine that a student is not making minimum satisfactory progress based on unit completion, quality of work, or deficiencies in performance and professional practice, the faculty can choose one of the following:
* Extensive consultation with the student;
* Probation of no more than half a term (6 months) of closely supervised work with remediation activities stipulated followed by another special review;
* Disenrollment/withdrawal from the program.
The student who is placed on probation will not be deemed as meeting minimum standards for Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), and will be considered ineligible to receive any federal financial aid. In such cases, the Program Office will notify the Financial Aid Office immediately. The Financial Aid Office will then contact the student and indicate that s/he is not making satisfactory academic progress. Within five days, the student, in consultation with his/her Faculty Advisor, must make acceptable arrangements and a plan of action to achieve SAP within the current annual term.
The student who is withdrawn will be processed through the Program Office. If disenrolled, no portion of tuition or fees is refunded. Withdrawal may be appealed using the Grievance Procedure.
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