AP-004-112, Policy for Election of Degree Requirements for Graduate Students 1

CALIFORNIA STATE POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY, POMONA

ACADEMIC SENATE

ACADEMIC PROGRAMS COMMITTEE

REPORT TO

THE ACADEMIC SENATE

AP-004-112

Policy for Election of Degree Requirements for Graduate Students

Academic Programs CommitteeDate: 02/29/12

Executive Committee

Received and ForwardedDate: 01-30-13

Academic SenateDate: 02-13-13

First Reading

03-13-13

Second Reading

BACKGROUND

Currently the catalog includes detailed policies governing the election of degree requirements for undergraduate students, addressing students in continuous enrollment, those that stop out, and those that change majors. However, the policy for graduate students concerns only those that are in continuous attendance and does not address students who change degree programs. In the last year, the Graduate Studies Office has received several inquiries related to these circumstances. The proposed policy seeks to provide guidelines similar to what is offered to undergraduates.

RESOURCES RECOMMENDED

Documents:

Proposal attached

Current University Catalog:

Individuals

Extended Graduate Council

Maria Martinez, Registrar

Claudia Pinter-Lucke, AVP for Academic Programs

Rebecca Rivas, Graduate Studies Analyst

RESOURCE CONSULTED

Documents:

Proposal attached.

Current University Catalog:

Individuals

Claudia Pinter-Lucke, Associate Provost and Extended Graduate Council

Rebecca Rivas, Graduate Studies Analyst

Maria Martinez, Registrar

DISCUSSION

The current University Catalog contains a detailed policy regarding the election of degree requirements for undergraduate students. It addresses the cases of students in continuous enrollment, students who have a break in enrollment, and students who change majors. The graduate students policy is not as comprehensive as the undergraduate one. The graduate students section under Election of Requirements considers only students who are in continuous attendance. In addition, a paragraph under Change of Objective addresses students who discontinue working for a master’s degree in one department to undertake master’s work in another department. After proper consultation, the Academic Program Committee suggested amendments to the original policy proposal.

The new policy will be listed under Determination of Graduation Requirements and state the following:

Graduate students may decide to meet the degree requirements listed in the Cal Poly Pomona university catalog (1) at the time they take their first course as a conditional or unconditional student in that degree program; (2) at the time they graduate.

Graduate students who are not in attendance for more than two consecutive quarters, do not have an approved leave of absence form on file, and have more than 9 units left to take are considered to have broken enrollment status and must apply for readmission to return and continue their studies. Returning students must meet with a Graduate Program Coordinator and file a new Master’s contract with their department. Returning students may elect to meet the degree requirements listed in the Cal Poly Pomona university catalog (1) at the time they take their first course after returning; or (2)at the time they graduate.

Returning Cal Poly Pomona graduate students who have satisfied the GWT requirement, and have no more than 9 quarter units left to take, must meet with a Graduate Program Coordinator and file :

1.a graduate academic petition to be allowed to complete requirements on the curriculum being followed when last enrolled;

2.a plan to validate any outdated coursework;

3.a new Master’s contract.

If these three items are approved, the student shall meet the degree requirements listed in the Cal Poly Pomona university catalog at the time when last enrolled.

Whenever a student changes graduate objectives, while this action is not considered a break in enrollment status, the student may elect to meet the degree requirements listed in the Cal Poly Pomona university catalog (1) at the time the objective was changed; or (2) at the time of graduation.

The new policy will be inserted in the section Requirements for Master’s Degree, following General Requirements. The current Election of Requirements section will be deleted.

RECOMMENDATION