Home Faculty and Staff Resources for Directors of Graduate Programs Supporting Academic Progress Through Extended Time to Degree Decision Tree Supporting Academic Progress Through Extended Time to Degree: Decision Tree An updated process to review and approve student requests for extensions of time to degree is launching in fall 2026. This page is meant to help programs more fully understand steps in the process as Rackham and programs continue to partner to support academic progress and completion. Is the Ph.D. student approaching Rackham’s time-to-degree limit? No Continue monitoring the student’s academic progress and time in the program. Follow both Rackham and department or program policies. Yes Determine the student’s counted terms: Do not count approved leaves of absence. Do not count parental accommodation periods. Do not count spring/summer enrollment. If the student is also enrolled in another, non-Rackham, graduate degree (eg., MD, JD, MSW) contact Rackham OARD Is the student at or approaching the 13th counted term? Yes Rackham will make every effort to notify the program and student at least one term in advance—normally at the beginning of the 13th term. The program and student should begin an early conversation about: Academic progress Remaining research and degree requirements A realistic completion timeline Potential funding opportunities No notice received, but the program believes the student will exceed the time-to-degree limit at the end of the current semester. The program should notify Rackham. Will the student complete by the end of the 14th counted term? Yes No time-to-degree extension petition is required. Continue supporting and monitoring the student’s completion. No The student must prepare a time-to-degree extension petition. Has the student’s dissertation committee been filed with Rackham? No File the dissertation committee with Rackham before submitting the extension request. Yes Proceed with the extension petition. Does the petition include all required components? Required components include: A completion deadline A detailed timeline for work during the extension period A clear and realistic plan for completing the remaining degree requirements Support from the dissertation chair or both co-chairs Support from the director or chair of the graduate program A candid assessment from the dissertation chair or co-chairs and the program director about whether the proposed plan is achievable No Revise the petition before submission. Yes Submit the petition to Rackham. Is the extension based on academic progress toward the degree? Yes Continue the review. No Conditions unrelated to academic progress will not normally justify an extension, including: Future employment expectations Research unrelated to the student’s degree Is the requested extension one academic year or less? Yes Rackham may approve the extension based on the submitted plan. No—more than one academic year Approval is at the discretion of the appropriate Rackham associate dean. The associate dean may account for differences in research and creative-expression practices across divisions. If approved, the student and advisor must complete a check-in after one academic year to: Assess the student’s progress Confirm whether the student remains on track to complete After approval, is the student progressing according to the approved plan? Yes Continue working toward completion by the approved deadline. No Determine whether compelling justification exists for another extension. Are the circumstances new and compelling? Yes The student may request an additional extension. Program support for an additional extension does not guarantee Rackham approval. No The student may request an additional extension, however, circumstances that already existed when the original plan was approved will not normally constitute compelling justification. At the end of the approved extension, the program or Rackham may discontinue the student without an additional probationary period. Is discontinuation being considered? The student has never been subject to Rackham’s extended time-to-degree policy The student may not be dismissed without: The due process required under Rackham’s probation policy Compliance with applicable department or program policies The student has an approved time-to-degree extension and completion plan If the student does not finish within the approved period, the program or Rackham may discontinue the student when the extension expires. A further probationary period is not required.
