For Students Entering Fall 2007–Present

Expectations

To ensure annual discussion of the student’s progress after he/she reaches ABD status, the Advisory Committee Chair should work with the student to convene a meeting each year after the third year. In the fourth year, the meeting must be held by mid-semester of the seventh semester in residence unless an extension is granted by the GPC. The goal of the meeting (in most cases, though it may vary with the student’s research group) would be to review the scope of a preliminary dissertation outline and very rough timeline for completing the needed work. In the fall of the fifth year (and if needed, sixth year), the goal of the meeting would be to discuss progress on the earlier plan and to identify and deal constructively with obstacles to completing the plan within the year. In both cases, a written summary of the meeting should be prepared by the Committee Chair and shared with the student, Advisory Committee members, and the Graduate Program Committee, ideally with a copy of any thesis outline discussed during the meeting.

Outcomes

If, at any of these meetings, the Advisory Committee finds the student’s performance to be inadequate, the student’s Research Advisor and/or Committee Chair should communicate these concerns to the Graduate Program Committee within one week. The Graduate Program Committee will review the student’s standing in the program at the time of the last departmental review. In serious cases of little or no progress, the advisor, in consultation with the Advisory Committee and the GPC Co-Chairs, may also place a student on probation in the group if he/she is considering terminating the student from the group (see Academic Actions and Appeals). Probation in the group would normally last for 3-4 months during which the student would retain their level of financial support. The advisor is expected to notify the student in writing of the conditions for regaining good standing in the group and when those conditions have been satisfied. If an ABD student is on probation, he/she is strongly advised to consult the departmental ombudsperson regarding strategies to address the situation.