The academic progress of each graduate student is evaluated on a quarterly basis by the student’s research advisor and is also tracked by the Department of Chemistry’s Graduate Education Committee. The committee comprises of the Associate Chair for PhD Studies, the Chair for PhD Training and Mentoring, the Chair for PhD Admissions and Recruiting, and the Graduate Program Coordinator.
Students are responsible for maintaining their Good Academic Standing status by following the Elements of Good Academic Standing. Students who do not adhere to the Elements of Good Academic Standing could see the following consequences:
- Warning from the Graduate Education Committee. Students who receive a warning still maintain their Good Academic Standing status.
- Academic Probation by the Graduate School. Students who receive probation for a given quarter do not have Good Academic Standing status.
- Final Academic Probation by the Graduate School. Final Academic Probation occurs for any quarter that follows a first Academic Probation quarter if circumstances or obligations are not satisfactorily resolved or completed. Students who receive Final Academic Probation do not have Good Academic Standing status.
- Drop from the graduate program. If the circumstances that led to Final Academic Probation are not satisfactorily resolved or completed, then the student can no longer remain in the program.
Academic Probation and Final Academic Probation always result in the loss of Good Academic Standing, and as a consequence, the student’s UW Academic Student Employees (ASE) appointment will be terminated for failure to maintain Good Academic Standing. Students placed on Probation may be granted continued financial support, but this is not guaranteed. The student may petition the Graduate Education Committee to retain the ASE appointment if there are extenuating circumstances. Academic Probation and Academic Final Probation do not appear on the student record. However, students on a fellowship (for example, NSF GRF) are at risk of losing their support if they fail to maintain Good Academic Standing status.
Please see the Graduate Program section of the Department of Chemistry Policies & Procedures Manual, the Graduate School Policy 3.7 and Presidential Executive Order 28.
Elements of Good Academic Standing
| Elements of Good Academic Standing | To be completed by the following deadline1: |
|---|---|
|
Academic Progress
|
Continuous |
|
Research Group Students must formally join a research group before the end of Winter Quarter of their first year, and ideally, students will have joined a research group by mid-February. |
End of the Spring Quarter of the first year in the program. |
|
Maintain Formal Membership in a Research Group Upon leaving a research group, the student will be placed on Academic Probation beginning the quarter after the student has left the research group. |
Continuous after the first academic year |
|
Complete at least 18 graded credits Due to course scheduling, completion of the 18 graded credits by the end of the Spring Quarter of the first year is not always possible; however, graded coursework must be completed as expeditiously as possible and prior to, or concurrent with, taking the Second-Year Exam. |
End of Spring Quarter of first year |
|
Complete Second-Year Examination 2 If the Second-Year Exam is not completed by the end of the Winter Quarter (must end the quarter with a “pass”) the student will be placed on Academic Probation for the Spring Quarter absent a successful petition to the Graduate Education Committee (submitted by the end of the Winter Quarter) explaining the extenuating circumstances (e.g., committee member unexpectedly unavailable for scheduled exam time). |
End of Winter Quarter of second year |
|
Establish Formal Supervisory Committee and Complete General Examination2 Students are encouraged to complete their exam in the Spring Quarter of their third year. If the General Exam is not completed by the end of the Autumn Quarter of the fourth year, the student will be placed on Academic Probation for the Winter Quarter absent a successful petition to the Graduate Education Committee before the end of the Autumn Quarter explaining their extenuating circumstances. |
End of Autumn Quarter of fourth year |
|
Satisfactory Progress Toward Degree The student’s advisor will assign a grade of Credit (CR), In Progress (N), or No Credit (NC) for CHEM 600/800 based on the student’s satisfactory progress toward their degree. |
Continuous after passing the General Exam |
|
Complete Final Examination 2 If the Final Exam is not completed by the end of the Summer Quarter of the fifth year, a new deadline quarter will be established through communication between the student, their Research Advisor, and the Associate Chair of the Graduate Program. The student must provide a plan for graduation that is approved by their Research Advisor and Associate Chair of the PhD Graduate Program. |
End of Summer Quarter of fifth year |
|
Academic and Scientific Integrity All students will adhere to the highest standards of academic and scientific honesty and integrity with respect to exams, experiments, and written documents. |
1. Assuming student entered in Autumn Quarter. Students who enter in Winter or Spring quarter will be assessed by quarters of study.
2. In the event of failure of the Second-Year Examination, General Examination or Final Examination, the student cannot continue with their doctoral studies.