Beginning in Fall 2007, continuous enrollment courses as they’ve been known in the past are being replaced by the series of new courses described below. It is important to note that the policy of continuous enrollment, i.e., being continuously enrolled each fall and spring semester (and for summer if the student is graduating in August), will still be in effect for degree-seeking students.
New forms are on the Graduate School’s Web site at www.grad.mu.edu/forms. As with former continuous enrollment registration, the new courses will require permission numbers from the student’s department and CheckMarq registration by the student.
This new policy will certainly apply to all programs that fall under the umbrella of the Graduate School. Other groups, such as the Graduate School of Management, the Law School, the School of Dentistry’s D.D.S. program, and the College of Heath Sciences (with the exception of the speech-language pathology program) will be making their own determination as to whether or not they will adopt this policy.
Below is the policy that will take effect in Fall 2007.
Every graduate student, except those with non-degree status, must be enrolled as a full-time, half-time, or less than half-time student each fall and spring term to maintain his or her status. Registration in the summer is only required if the student intends to graduate in August. A full-time load consists of 7 or more academic credits; half-time consists of 4-6.99 academic credits; and less than half-time consists of less than 4 academic credits. All degree graduate students must enroll in adviser-approved academic course work, independent study, field placement, graduate assistant teaching or research, thesis, professional project, or dissertation credits, or graduate standing continuation credits. Degree students who fail to enroll for a fall or spring term will be discontinued and must apply for readmission to the Graduate School (see Readmission).
Thesis, Dissertation, or Professional Project Continuation Courses
Thesis Continuation (less than half-time, LHT) = 881
Thesis Continuation (half-time, HT) = 882
Thesis Continuation (full-time, FT) = 883
Doctoral Dissertation Continuation (less than half-time, LHT) = 887
Doctoral Dissertation Continuation (half-time, HT) = 888
Doctoral Dissertation Continuation (full-time, FT) = 889
Project Continuation (less than half-time, LHT) = 884
Professional Project Continuation (half-time, HT) = 885
Professional Project Continuation (full-time, FT) = 886
Students who have completed all credit requirements for their degree, but need to continue work on their thesis, dissertation or professional project may retain graduate status by enrolling in Thesis Continuation (881/882/883), Doctoral Dissertation Continuation (887/888/889), or Professional Project Continuation (884/885/886). Each of these non-credit courses will allow students to be considered full-time, half-time, or less than half-time depending on the amount of work being completed on their project each term. Registration for Thesis Continuation, Doctoral Dissertation Continuation, or Professional Project Continuation requires completion of the Dissertation/Thesis/Professional Project Continuation Registration Form, identification of the type and amount of work to be done, and the approval of the student’s adviser or thesis/dissertation director (and director of graduate studies or chair if required by departmental policy).
Field Placement Continuation Courses
Field Placement Continuation (less than half-time, LHT) = 877
Field Placement Continuation (half-time, HT) = 878
Field Placement Continuation (full-time, FT) = 879
Students who have completed all credit requirements for their degree, but still must participate in a practicum or internship experience may retain graduate status by enrolling in Field Placement Continuation (887/888/889). This non-credit offering will allow students to be considered full-time, half-time, or less than half-time depending on the amount of work being devoted to their placement each term. Registration for Field Placement Continuation will require the consent of the student’s adviser or thesis/dissertation director (and director of graduate studies or chair if required by departmental policy) and completion of a registration form outlining the number of hours a student will devote to the Field Placement Continuation.
Teaching Assistantship, Research Assistantship, and Fellowship Courses
Graduate Assistant Teaching (full-time, FT) = 875
Graduate Assistant Research (full-time, FT) = 876
Graduate Fellowship (full-time, FT) = 874
Graduate School policy states that assistants and fellows must maintain full-time status. Therefore, graduate assistants who enroll in 6 academic credits in a term may earn full-time status by enrolling in a non-credit Graduate Assistant Teaching (875) or Graduate Assistant Research (876) course. Graduate fellows may enroll in six academic credit hours plus a non-credit Graduate Fellowship course (874) to maintain full-time status. Assistants and fellows may use their available tuition scholarship funds to pay the fee for the continuation course.
Graduate Standing Continuation Course
Graduate Standing Continuation (less than half-time, LHT) = 873
Students who are not able to take academic courses in a particular session, but need to maintain active academic status, may take a non-credit course entitled Graduate Standing Continuation (873). This offering is designed to allow graduate students to engage in such activities as preparing for comprehensive examinations or participating in other projects. This option is designated as less than half-time, cannot be used in conjunction with other courses, and will not qualify an individual for financial aid.
All of the above courses shall be graded Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory and charged $100 (the same fee as continuous enrollment). Each course is non-credit.
