Academic misconduct for former graduate students

It is possible that an act of academic misconduct will remain undiscovered until after a degree is awarded. In such a case, Clemson University reserves the right to revoke any degree based on new revelations about scholarly issues including, but not restricted to, admission credentials, all forms of coursework, research, theses, dissertations, or other final projects. (See revocation of academic degrees.)

Academic policies and procedures, general information

All students should be thoroughly familiar with the academic policies and procedures of the Graduate School and Clemson University. This information provides a guide for the minimum necessary steps to matriculate and graduate from Clemson's graduate programs. Procedures are generally outlined and may require additional informatiWoon to be provided by individual graduate programs. Students are advised to consult their graduate program handbooks and graduate program coordinators or department chairs for specifics not detailed in this information as programs may have more stringent requirements or specific time frames for actions to occur.

Academic probation

Policy: Graduate students who fail to meet the following minimum academic standards for graduate studies at Clemson University are placed on academic probation. These minimum standards include: a cumulative B average (3.0 grade-point ratio) in all graduate-level courses (600-level or above), a B average in all courses listed on the Plan of Study, and an overall cumulative B average in all courses (undergraduate and graduate) since admission to the Graduate School, excluding those taken on a pass/fail basis. The cumulative B average requirement applies independently to graduate degrees. That is, a new grade point ratio computation begins after the completion of the first degree; however, when a doctoral degree is pursued after completion of a master's degree in the same major, the grade point ratio computation continues for both degrees. A minimum grade of C on all coursework must be made for the course to apply toward a degree. Students who fail to meet these requirements become ineligible for graduation and remain on academic probation until nine additional semester hours of graduate credit have been earned and the cumulative average reflects the required 3.0 grade point ratio or they qualify for graduation by earning the requisite 3.0 grade point ratio.
Procedure for student: Graduate students placed on academic probation should meet with their major advisor and/or graduate program coordinator to ensure that the expectations for removal of the probationary status are clearly defined and understood. Students who fail to remove the probationary status as prescribed are subject to academic dismissal and will not be permitted to continue in the Graduate School without the recommendation of the program coordinator and written approval of the Graduate School. Withdrawal from a course while on probation will not be allowed unless prior approval is obtained from the Graduate School. Any unauthorized withdrawal will be considered as unsatisfactory academic performance.

Academic probation, graduate assistants and fellowship recipients

Graduate assistants on academic probation may be in jeopardy of having their teaching or research assistantship or fellowship terminated for failure to maintain satisfactory academic progress or to maintain the minimum 3.0 grade point ratio. Rules of the various academic or fellowship programs will govern when assistantships or fellowships are terminated for reasons associated with poor academic performance.

Academic records

The student's permanent academic record is maintained in the Registrar's Office and contains personal identifying information, grades and credits. Where appropriate, statements of a corrective nature, withdrawals, suspension for failure to meet academic standards, suspension for disciplinary reasons and graduation data are added. The academic record is a historical record of the student's academic progress.

Academic redemption

There is no opportunity at the graduate level for academic redemption. All grades earned will factor into the grade point average. Courses repeated will be averaged into the grade-point average and will be recorded on the student's transcript.

Academic renewal

Policy: A student who was dismissed from the Graduate School for a grade point deficiency and who has not enrolled for a period of two or more academic years may apply for readmission under special conditions known as academic renewal. Under these conditions, the previous graduate credits attempted and quality-point deficit will not constitute a liability in a new grade point computation and no credits passed, or their attending quality points, will be available to the student for a degree at Clemson. Courses taken previously may not be revalidated by special examination to count towards the degree. The previous record will remain on the transcript as well as the notation of "readmission under the policy of academic renewal." Academic renewal may occur only once.
Procedure for student: A student desiring to be readmitted under the requirements of academic renewal should contact the coordinator of the program of interest and the director of graduate admissions to discuss the policy and procedures associated with this status. Approval of readmission under academic renewal will be determined by the department. A new application, all documentation and the prevailing application fee must be submitted.

Advisory committee

Policy: Every student enrolled in the Graduate School must have an advisory committee. The advisory committee approves the student's degree curriculum, supervises the graduate program, administers the final oral examination (if required), and initiates the recommendation for the awarding of the degree. In addition, the advisory committee may administer qualifying (or preliminary) or final comprehensive examinations. One member of the committee is designated as chair or major advisor and normally directs the student's dissertation or thesis, if required.
Procedure for student: A student must select an advisory committee in consultation with the department chair or graduate program coordinator. Students should refer to their graduate program handbooks for proper program procedures for selecting this committee in accordance with the rules of their specific program. Once advisory committee members are selected and approved, the student, department and committee members are notified of the fully constituted committee by means of the approved Plan of Study (Form GS2). The Plan of Study must be filed in the Office of Enrolled Student Services, 104D Sikes Hall. Form GS2 is available on-line at www.grad.clemson.edu/forms/GeneralForms.php.

Advisory committee, composition

A minimum of three faculty members are to be selected by a student seeking a master's or specialist's degree, and a minimum of four faculty members are to be selected by a student seeking a doctoral degree. The majority of the advisory committee, including the major advisor, must be comprised of Clemson University faculty who hold full-time, tenure-track positions. Either the major advisor or at least half of the committee must hold rank in the program offering the degree. If a minor is declared, this area must be represented on the committee. Emeriti faculty may serve as advisory committee members but may not serve as chair of the advisory committee. Committee members of interdepartmental programs are to be appointed according to bylaws formulated by the program faculty and endorsed by the Graduate School that assure appropriate representation of the participating departments. Part-time visiting and other nontenure-track faculty employed by Clemson University may serve on the advisory committee but may not serve as chair. Persons not employed by the University may serve on the advisory committee; if they serve as one of the statutory members of the committee, they must be appointed to adjunct faculty status. All duly appointed committee members have full voting status on the outcomes of all examinations given by the committee. It is possible for co-chairs to direct the activities of the advisory committee. This special arrangement must be made with the consent of the dean of the Graduate School.

Auditing

Permission to audit a graduate course is at the discretion of the academic department chair, the coordinator of the program offering the course, or the instructor. Principal factors involved in granting permission are that the auditor must have the necessary academic background and space must be available. Audited courses do not carry credit and are not noted on the student's academic record. Auditors are not required to take tests or examinations; however, the instructor, at his/her discretion, may require or deny the auditor's participation in class to whatever extent deemed desirable. Audited courses may not be used to satisfy stated prerequisites for a graduate course. Additionally, a graduate student may not establish credit through examination in any course for which he/she was previously registered as an auditor.

Candidacy

A doctoral (Ph.D., Ed.D.) student becomes a candidate for the doctorate (or is "admitted to candidacy") upon successful completion of the comprehensive examination for the degree and submission to the Office of Enrolled Student Services Form GS5-D, Doctoral Candidacy. Once admitted to candidacy, the student has five years to complete all requirements for the doctorate degree.

Change of major or degree program

A student who has enrolled in a degree program within the past two calendar years may request a change of major and/or degree without submitting a new application. The student must submit to the Office of Enrolled Student Services, 104D Sikes Hall, Form GS14, Request for Change of Degree/Major, approved by the department chair or graduate program coordinator. All program and Graduate School requirements must be met before final approval will be granted. Doctoral students who have passed the comprehensive examination may not then use those exams to satisfy the requirement of comprehensive examinations in the new major or degree.

Class attendance

All students are required to attend the first scheduled day of classes and labs. Students who cannot attend the first class are responsible for contacting the instructor to indicate their intent to remain in that class. If a student does not attend the first class meeting or contact the instructor by the second class meeting or the last day to add the class, whichever comes first, the instructor has the option of dropping the student from the roll. General class attendance policies are included in each course syllabus.

Combined bachelor's/master's plan

Policy: Students may reduce the time necessary to earn both degrees by applying graduate credits to both undergraduate and graduate program requirements. To be eligible, the student must have completed the bachelor's curriculum through the junior year (minimum 90 credits) and have a minimum overall grade-point ratio of 3.4. A maximum of 12 credit hours of graduate courses in the master's program may be applied to the bachelor's program. As determined by the participating bachelor's program, graduate courses may be applied to the bachelor's degree as electives or technical requirements or by substitution of 700- or 800-level courses for required undergraduate courses. Under no circumstances can 600-level counterparts of 400-level courses required for the bachelor's degree be counted toward master's requirements. Combined bachelor's/master's plan students are not eligible for graduate appointments for financial aid until their bachelor's degrees have been awarded.
Procedure for student: Since neither all undergraduate nor graduate programs participate in this academic option, seniors should consult both their academic advisor and the graduate program coordinator of the master's program they wish to pursue. Students must officially request participation in the combined bachelor's/master's program by completion of Form GS6BS/MS, "Request for Combined Bachelor's/Master's Education Plan", available on-line at www.grad.clemson.edu/forms/GeneralForms.php. Endorsements by the program coordinator or department chair of both programs are required.

Procedure for department: Departments and graduate programs desiring to participate in the combined bachelor's/master's program should submit a written notification to the dean of the Graduate School identifying the date on which they intend to make this option available to their students.

Continuous enrollment

Policy: Graduate students are expected to pursue their degrees with a minimum of interruption. Students who do not remain continuously enrolled (summers excluded) are subject to the requirements in effect at the time of return. Only students who are enrolled are eligible to use University facilities and human resources and/or receive any form of financial aid. Students who have completed all required work and who find it necessary to be enrolled during a given semester in order to use facilities or human resources may enroll in GS 799 for a minimum of one and a maximum of nine credit hours.
Procedure for student: To register for GS799 graduate students must first secure approval of their major advisor, who will determine the maximum number of GS799 credit hours in which the student may enroll. The form, GS799, "Request for Enrollment in Graduate Course 799", is on-line at www.grad.clemson.edu/forms/GeneralForms.php. The completed form is then submitted to and processed by staff in the Graduate School, E-108 Martin Hall.

Course restriction, 600-level

600-level courses are graduate counterparts of undergraduate 400-level courses. To enroll in or receive credit for any courses at the 600-level or above, the student must have been officially admitted by the Graduate School, either to a degree program or as a nondegree student, or have been approved to enroll as a senior in graduate-level courses through request on Form GS6, "Request for Senior Enrollment in Graduate Courses", or Form GS6BS/MS, "Request for Combined Bachelor's/Master's Education Plan". Students may not enroll in 600-level courses for which the corresponding undergraduate 400-level credit has been awarded, nor can graduate credit be awarded retroactively for undergraduate courses already completed.

Course revalidation

Policy: When recommended by the student's advisory committee and approved by the graduate dean, as many as six credit hours of graded coursework taken at Clemson University, completed outside the six-year time limit, may be revalidated by a written comprehensive examination based on the latest syllabus and course content. Independent study courses are not subject to revalidation. Courses completed outside the six-year time limit at an institution other than Clemson University may not be transferred to Clemson. Courses taken at any institution other than Clemson University may not be revalidated for credit at Clemson.
Procedure for student: Students desiring to request revalidation of courses should contact the graduate program coordinator for instructions on how to proceed.
Procedure for department: The "Recommendation for Course Revalidation" form can be found in the general forms section of the Graduate School web page, www.grad.clemson.edu/forms/GeneralForms.php. The course revalidation form is sent to the Office of Enrolled Student Services, 104D Sikes Hall, once it is approved by the instructor and the department chair. The revalidated credits will be posted on the student's transcript once the student becomes a candidate for graduation.

Credit by examination

Graduate students are not eligible to receive credit by examination other than through utilization of the policy and procedures on course revalidation.