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Graduate / Rules and Regulations
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Students may assume they are making satisfactory progress if they are meeting departmental requirements, taking research seminars and progressing on their theses or dissertations. In order to help entering students articulate their sense of their progress and analyze the direction they see themselves heading in, the department offers Geog 597, Tutorial For Graduate Students. Failure to maintain satisfactory performance and progress may lead to probation or loss of standing in the program, and will jeopardize renewal of graduate student service appointments (including Teaching Assistantships). Students not performing or progressing satisfactorily will be so informed by the Graduate Program Coordinator or their faculty adviser or Supervisory Committee Chair, with whom they must meet to discuss their plans of study. (See Graduate School Memorandum 16, Continuation or Termination of Students in the Graduate School, for a full explanation of policies, guidelines and procedures for "low scholarship" and "unsatisfactory progress" cases.) Evaluation of satisfactory progress may, under varying circumstances, be determined by the faculty adviser, Supervisory Committee Chair, other member(s) of the departmental graduate faculty, or by the Department Chair. It is up to the student's adviser (or Supervisory Committee Chair) or the Department Chair to inform the student, in as timely a manner as possible, when it has been determined that satisfactory progress is not being made. Students are also advised to check with the Student Service Coordinator, in the Geography Advising Office, to make sure all requirements and Graduate School rules and timetables are being followed. Students holding a Graduate School Service appointment(e.g. TA or RA) are required to successfully complete at least 10 credits of course work per quarter. Performance and progress are to be evaluated by criteria set down by faculty members teaching particular courses, or, in the case of the student's adviser (or Supervisory Committee Chair), or the Department Chair, by generally accepted criteria appropriate for that student's chosen field of specialization as well as expectations obtaining for professional geographers in general. Students designated as "low scholarship" cases (those whose cumulative or quarterly grade point average falls below a 3.0) must be reviewed quarterly and provided with an explanation of performance expectations and a timetable for correction of deficiencies. Doctoral program students are to be reviewed by their Doctoral Supervisory Committee, or by a committee of Departmental Graduate Faculty appointed or elected for this purpose in consultation with the student's Supervisory Committee. Pre- and post-Master students are to be reviewed by supervisory committees, if such committees have been appointed, or by the Graduate Faculty members who have been designated to oversee the student's program. "Satisfactory Progress" shall be determined by the student's adviser, supervisor, or Supervisory Committee according to a set of criteria based upon a combination of grade point average; performance in the fulfillment of degree program requirements; performance during informal coursework, colloquia and seminars; research capability, performance and progress; and any other information relevant to departmental academic requirements. A determination of "satisfactory progress" may be made upon consideration of the student's progress relative to other students in the program or to an individually negotiated schedule. Academic Grievance Procedure (For a full description of Graduate School grievance policies and procedures, consult Graduate School Memorandum No. 33.) Graduate students who encounter academic problems related to their academic abilities, but not including evaluation thereof, may seek resolution of their complaints through informal conciliation or formal complaint. These policies apply to such issues as faculty, departmental, college or Graduate School policies affecting individual student prerogatives; deviations from stated grading practices (but not individual grade challenges), unfair treatment, and related issues. Student who believe they have been discriminated against on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, age, handicap, or status as a disabled veteran or Vietnam-era veteran should refer to the Human Rights Grievance Procedure contained in the University of Washington Operations Manual, D 45.5 Appeals may be made directly to the department Chair. Appeals beyond this point should follow the process outlined in Graduate School Memorandum No. 33, Academic Grievance Procedure, available in the Geography Department Office or from the Graduate School. "Full-Time", "Part-Time" and Residence Credit Requirements Full-time registration is required for all TA, RA and Graduate Staff appointments. Students must be registered for a minimum of 10 credits to be considered full-time (except 6 credits in the summer). Any students holding teaching or research assistantships who register full-time and subsequently drop a course may be considered to be making unsatisfactory academic progress. 300-level courses outside the field of geography may count toward satisfying credit requirements, only if the student petitions the Graduate Program Coordinator. Petitions will only be granted if the student can demonstrate that the courses count as graduate minor or as supporting courses. No 100- or 200- level courses may be counted for graduate credit. On-Leave Status See University of Washington Website. Basically, students must: 1) fill out a "Petition For On-Leave Status" form (available in the department office) requesting leave for a designated period not to exceed four consecutive quarters; 2) bring the form to the Graduate Program Coordinator or alternate; 3) after the form has been approved, bring it to the Withdrawal Office, 264 Schmitz Hall, pay a fee and receive an On-Leave identification card. To be eligible for On-Leave status, students must have been registered full-time for at least one quarter at the UW, and must have been either On-Leave or registered the previous quarter. Once the quarter begins, registered students cannot go On-Leave for that quarter; unregistered students must petition for On-Leave status by the fifth calendar day of the quarter. A student withdrawing prior to the beginning of a quarter must petition for On-Leave status for that quarter. A student withdrawing after the quarter has begun must petition for On-Leave status for the following quarter or quarters, if continuous enrollment is planned. Students returning from on-leave simply register (during registration period II) in the quarter they wish to return. Students may use the library and Hall Health Center while on leave. On-Leave Forms The graduate school has a number of online interactive forms
for registration, degree applications, etc. See the Website.
Departmental Services New graduate students are assigned desks and mailboxes by the GGSA, the Geography Graduate Student Association. Since office space is limited, new students may have to share a desk for a few quarters. The department will provide free phones, postage and xeroxing/mimeographing for the preparation and/or submission of materials for activities directly related to the duties of being a teaching assistant or research assistant, and for preparing conference papers or scholarly articles. In other circumstances, please secure permission of the department office before making long-distance calls or using departmental xeroxing or postage. The department will not pay for the production and distribution of resumes. To insure confidentiality and candor, all student academic
files are closed to all persons except the student, departmental
faculty and designated departmental staff. Students may inspect
all material in their files (except letters written confidentially)
in the office of the Student Service Coordinator.
The University of Washington reaffirms its policy of equal opportunity
regardless of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual
orientation, age, marital status, disability, or status as a disabled
veteran or Vietnam era veteran. This policy applies to all programs and
facilities, including, but not limited to, admissions, educational
programs, employment, and patient and hospital services. Any
Discrimination is prohibited by Presidential Executive Order 11246 as
amended, Washington State Gubernatorial Executive Orders 89-01 and 93-07,
Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Washington State Law
Against Discrimination RCW 49.60, Title IX of the Education Amendments of
1972, State of Washington Gender Equity in Higher Education Act of 1989,
Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Americans with
Disabilities Act of 1990, Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 as
amended, Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Vietnam Era Veterans'
Readjustment Assistance Act of 1972 as amended, other federal and state
statutes, regulations, and University policy. Coordination of the
compliance efforts of the University of Washington with respect to all of
these laws and regulations is under the direction of the Assistant Provost
for Equal Opportunity, Dr. Helen Remick, Equal Opportunity Office, Box
354560, 4045 Brooklyn Ave., N.E., University of Washington, Seattle,
Washington, 98105-6261, telephone (206) 685-3263/V or 543-6452/TTY." |
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