Rackham Graduate School Academic Policies

The graduate programs of the Rackham Graduate School are located in the schools, colleges, and departments of the University of Michigan. The academic policies and regulations in this document have been established by the Rackham Executive Board to ensure consistent standards in admissions, registration, degree requirements, and the awarding of degrees across all Rackham graduate programs. Individual graduate programs have additional requirements and rules. Students are expected to be familiar with both the policies of the graduate school and those of their programs.

The graduate school maintains an academic, scholarly, and professional code of conduct to safeguard standards of learning, research, and professional integrity. Students are expected to understand and observe these standards. In conjunction with the schools and colleges, the graduate school has procedures for investigating allegations of misconduct and imposing sanctions.

The authoritative version of Rackham Graduate School Academic Policies is updated annually and published online. In the event of any discrepancy, the version published on the Rackham website is the authoritative version. Each new edition is archived.

Table of Contents

Fundamental Tenets of Membership in the University Community

1 Admission, Matriculation, and Tuition

• 1.1 Admission to Graduate Programs
  • 1.1.1 Policy for Revoking an Offer of Graduate Admission
• 1.2 Admission as Non-Candidate for Degree
• 1.3 Tuition and Fees
  • 1.3.1 Residency Regulations and Tuition
  • 1.3.2 University Assistantships
  • 1.3.3 Indebtedness to the University
• 1.4 Required Fee Totals for the Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) Degree

2 Registration

• 2.1 Full-Time Study and Enrollment Eligibility
• 2.2 Registration and Enrollment for Ph.D. Programs
  • 2.2.1 Extramural Study Status for Ph.D. Students
  • 2.2.2 Leaves of Absence for Ph.D. Students
    • 2.2.2.1 Leave of Absence for Medical Reasons
    • 2.2.2.2 Leave of Absence for Family Necessity or Dependent Care
    • 2.2.2.3 Leave of Absence for Military Service
    • 2.2.2.4 Leave of Absence for Personal Reasons
    • 2.2.2.5 Services Available to Students on Leave
      • 2.2.2.5.1 Insurance and Health Care
      • 2.2.2.5.2 Academic Services
      • 2.2.2.5.3 Student Loans
      • 2.2.2.5.4 Email and Computing
      • 2.2.2.5.5 Other
  • 2.2.3 Withdrawal and Discontinuation from a Ph.D. Program.
  • 2.2.4 Reinstatement to a Ph.D. Program.
  • 2.2.5 Candidacy Course Registration
• 2.3 Registration and Enrollment for Master’s and Doctorate of Musical Arts Programs
  • 2.3.1 Detached Study for D.M.A. and Master’s Students
  • 2.3.2 Disenrollment and Withdrawal from a Master’s or D.M.A. Program.
  • 2.3.3 Readmission to a Master’s, D.M.A., or Certificate Program.
• 2.4 Within-Semester Medical Accommodation
  • 2.4.1 Continued Student Funding
• 2.5 Graduate Student Parental Accommodation
• 2.6 Time Limit Extensions for Family Care
• 2.7 Emergency Mental and Physical Health Withdrawal and Reinstatement
• 2.8 Retroactive Term Withdrawal 16
• 2.9 Change of Graduate Program.
• 2.10 Special Arrangements for On-Campus and Off-Campus Course Enrollment
  • 2.10.1 Consortial Agreements for Courses Outside the University of Michigan
• 2.11 Non-Candidate for Degree Status

3 Coursework, Grading, and Academic Standing

• 3.1 Adding, Dropping, Modifying, and Repeating a Course
• 3.2 Visiting (Auditing) a Course
• 3.3 Grades and Transcripts
  • 3.3.1 Visit (VI)
  • 3.3.2 Satisfactory (S) and Unsatisfactory (U)
  • 3.3.3 Incomplete (I)
  • 3.3.4 Drop (W) and Unofficial Drop (ED)
  • 3.3.5 Multi-Term Course (Y)
• 3.4 Good Academic Standing
• 3.5 Deficiencies in Academic Progress, Academic Probation, and Dismissal
  • 3.5.1 Unsatisfactory Academic Standing
  • 3.5.2 Academic Probation: Ph.D. and D.M.A. Programs
    • 3.5.2.1 Placing a Student on Academic Probation
    • 3.5.2.2 Length of the Probationary Period
    • 3.5.2.3 Notifications
    • 3.5.2.4 Funding a Student on Probation
    • 3.5.2.5 Option to Appeal Academic Probation: Ph.D. and D.M.A. Programs
  • 3.5.3 Academic Dismissal: Ph.D. and D.M.A Programs
    • 3.5.3.1 Option to Appeal Academic Dismissal: Ph.D. and D.M.A Programs

4 Doctoral Degrees

• 4.1 Cognate Requirement
• 4.2 Responsible Conduct of Research and Scholarship Training
• 4.3 Advancing to Candidacy
  • 4.3.1 Ph.D. Candidacy Requirements
  • 4.3.2 D.M.A. Candidacy Requirements
• 4.4 Doctoral Dissertation Requirements
  • 4.4.1 Time Limit for Completing a Doctoral Degree
  • 4.4.2 Candidacy Course Registration
    • 4.4.2.1 Course Registration for D.M.A. Candidates
  • 4.4.3 Formation of the Dissertation Committee
  • 4.4.4 Human Subject and Other Research Approval 30
  • 4.4.5 Use of Copyrighted Material 30
  • 4.4.6 Dissertations in Languages Other Than English
  • 4.4.7 Dissertation Formatting Requirements
  • 4.4.8 Oral Defense Preparation
  • 4.4.9 Oral Examination Report and Approval 30
  • 4.4.10 Post-Defense Dissertation Submission and Revisions
  • 4.4.11 Submitting the Dissertation to the University Library
  • 4.4.12 Dissertation Embargo
  • 4.4.13 Final Dissertation and Degree Requirement Deadlines, and Commencement Eligibility
• 4.5 Student-Initiated Ph.D. Programs

5 Master’s Degrees

• 5.1 Residency Requirement
• 5.2 Credit Hours
• 5.3 Cognate Requirement
• 5.4 Additional Program Requirements
• 5.5 Time Limit
• 5.6 Application for Degree
• 5.7 Transfer of Credit
• 5.8 Accelerated Master’s Programs

6 Dual Degree Programs

• 6.1 Student-Initiated Dual Degree Programs
• 6.2 Double-Counting Credit Hours for Dual Degree Programs

7 Certificates of Graduate Studies Programs

8 Rackham Academic and Professional Integrity Policy

• 8.1 Forms of Academic and Professional Misconduct
  • 8.1.1 Cheating or Obtaining an Improper Advantage
  • 8.1.2 Plagiarism.
  • 8.1.3 Research Misconduct
  • 8.1.4 Dishonesty in Publication
  • 8.1.5 Abuse of Confidentiality
  • 8.1.6 Misuse of Computer Facilities
  • 8.1.7 Misuse of Hazardous Substances in Research-Related Activities
  • 8.1.8 Fabrication, Falsification, or Unauthorized Modification of an Academic Record
  • 8.1.9 Obstruction of the Academic Activities and Research of Another
  • 8.1.10 Illegal or Unauthorized Use of University Resources
  • 8.1.11 Other Forms of Academic Misconduct and Attempted Academic Misconduct
  • 8.1.12 Professional Misconduct
• 8.2 Handling Allegations of Misconduct
  • 8.2.1 Inquiries Concerning Non-Academic Misconduct
  • 8.2.2 Who Conducts Investigations into Allegations of Academic and Professional Misconduct
  • 8.2.3 Reporting Allegations of Misconduct to Rackham.
    • 8.2.3.1 Preliminary Inquiry
  • 8.2.4 Procedures for Academic Misconduct Hearings
    • 8.2.4.1 The Hearing Board
    • 8.2.4.2 Graduate Program Representative
    • 8.2.4.3 Student Advisor
    • 8.2.4.4 Preparation of Evidence
    • 8.2.4.5 Witnesses
    • 8.2.4.6 Procedures of the Hearing Board
    • 8.2.4.7 Recording of the Hearing
    • 8.2.4.8 Deliberative Session
    • 8.2.4.9 General Guidelines for Sanctions
      • 8.2.4.9.1 Restitution
      • 8.2.4.9.2 Educational Project
      • 8.2.4.9.3 Service
      • 8.2.4.9.4 Corrective Action
      • 8.2.4.9.5 Formal Reprimand
      • 8.2.4.9.6 Grade Change
      • 8.2.4.9.7 Course Repeat
      • 8.2.4.9.8 Disciplinary Probation
      • 8.2.4.9.9 Restriction from Employment at the University
      • 8.2.4.9.10 Removal from Specific Courses or Restriction from Particular Activities, Services, or Locations
      • 8.2.4.9.11 Suspension
      • 8.2.4.9.12 Expulsion
      • 8.2.4.9.13 Withholding a Degree
      • 8.2.4.9.14 Revoking a Degree
  • 8.2.5 Findings and Decision
    • 8.2.5.1 Advisory Report
    • 8.2.5.2 Review of Recommendations for Sanctions
    • 8.2.5.3 Records
  • 8.2.6 Appeal
    • 8.2.6.1 Filing an Appeal
    • 8.2.6.2 The Appeals Board
    • 8.2.6.3 Decision and Communication

9. Rackham Academic Dispute Resolution Policy and Procedures

• 9.1 Scope of the Policy
• 9.2 School and College Resolution Officers
• 9.3 Dispute Resolution Principles and Responsibilities
  • 9.3.1 Impartiality
  • 9.3.2 Confidentiality
  • 9.3.3 Timelines
  • 9.3.4 Communication
• 9.4 Informal Dispute Resolution Process
• 9.5 Formal Dispute Resolution Process
  • 9.5.1 Rackham Dispute Resolution Process
  • 9.5.2 Rackham Appeal Process
• 9.6 Non-Retaliation

Appendix A: University Policies on Rights, Integrity, and Conduct

Appendix B: Informal Dispute Resolution Process Descriptions

Appendix C: Rackham Academic Dispute Resolution Policy Flow Chart