Academic Standing, Academic Withdrawal and Academic Dismissal
Ed.D. in Leadership in Urban Schools
ACADEMIC STANDING, ACADEMIC WITHDRAWAL,
AND ACADEMIC DISMISSAL
Required Grade Point Average
According to University policy, students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in order to receive their degree. A student who finishes two semesters, consecutive or otherwise, with a GPA of 2.8 or below is subject to dismissal from the program.
Graduate Grading Policy
The instructor of a class has full responsibility for grading and is the best judge of student performance; however, there may be instances in which a graduate student believes that an unfair grade has been assigned. In such cases, the student should discuss the grade with the instructor. Following this discussion, the student should submit a written request to the graduate program director asking for a meeting with the faculty member to discuss a fuller explanation of the grade and/or reconsideration of the grade. Although the graduate program director serves as mediator in this meeting, the faculty member is the final authority for any grading decision.
Incomplete Work
Students with incomplete work in more than one course may be suspended from the program. They may not be permitted to register for either second- or third-year courses until all incomplete work from prior years has been made up.
Removing an Incomplete Grade
The instructor of the specific course determines the requirements for removing a grade of Incomplete (I) from the student’s record. Normally, all Incomplete grades must be resolved within six weeks of the end of the course. Failure to remove a grade of Incomplete after one year will result in a grade of F for the course.
Academic Withdrawal and Leave of Absence
A student who desires a leave of absence from the program must write a letter to his or her advisor explaining the reason for the request. The advisor brings the request to the Program Committee, which will vote on whether to approve the leave of absence. The Program Director will forward the approved requests to the Dean of Graduate Studies, who must approve all leave requests.
A student who desires to withdraw from the program must submit a letter of intent to his or her advisor. The student is strongly encouraged to have an advising session with the Director before starting the withdrawal process. The student must also complete the required forms available from the Office of Graduate Admissions. The effective date of withdrawal from the University is that on which all forms are completed, signed, and returned to the Office of Graduate Admissions and the Graduate Registrar. Failure to complete a withdrawal form will result in the recording of the grade F (failure) for all courses at the end of the term.
Registration After Coursework is Completed
Degree candidates must maintain continuous registration until the degree sought by the student has been formally awarded. If the student does not register in any semester for courses, Dissertation Research or Dissertation Seminar credits, he or she may maintain continuous registration by paying a program fee. For further information on program fees, see the Graduate Bulletin.
Accommodations: Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 offer guidelines for curriculum modifications and adaptations for students with documented disabilities. If applicable, students may obtain adaptation recommendations from the Ross Center (287-7430). The student must present and discuss these recommendations to each professor within a reasonable time period, preferable by the end of the Drop/Add period.
[Students are required to adhere to the Code of Student Conduct, including requirements for academic honesty, delineated in the University of Massachusetts Boston Graduate Studies Bulletin, Undergraduate Catalog and relevant program student handbook(s).]
