Maintaining good academic standing and satisfactory progress

This policy sets minimum standards for master’s students to maintain academic good standing and satisfactory progress in their degree programs. Programs and collegiate units may have additional and/or more stringent requirements.

I. Annual Progress Review

University policy requires graduate students to complete an annual progress review at least once per year. The annual review checks on the student's performance and timely progress toward meeting degree and professional development goals while at the University of Minnesota. Reviews are conducted by the student’s adviser

 Annual review evaluations can be “satisfactory” or “unsatisfactory.” Most students receive satisfactory evaluations. Those students who receive unsatisfactory evaluations will be given clear instructions and a time frame for how to return to good standing in the program. All students receive written feedback from their advisor.

 Requirements for good academic standing are:

• Maintaining a minimum overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.8.

• All courses eligible to be included in the M.Ed. program must be graded at “C” or higher for satisfactory progress and for degree completion.

• All FSoS courses required for licensure or the certificate must be graded at a “C” or higher for satisfactory progress and for degree completion.

• A student may not have accumulated more than one course graded “incomplete” on their record.

II. Performance Standards

1. Continuous Enrollment and Readmission

All graduate students must enroll and register for at least one credit every fall and spring semester to maintain active status. For additional information see https://onestop.umn.edu/academics/special-registration-categories-graduate-and-professional-students. 

Students who do not register for credit each semester are dropped from their program and must reapply for admission to the program (fee required).

Readmission requests must go through the Office of Graduate Admissions. Full instructions are available on the Graduate School website: http://www.grad.umn.edu/admissions/readmission.

2. Time Limit for Degree Completion

All requirements for the graduate degree must be completed and the degree awarded within the following time limit after initial enrollment in the graduate program:

Family Education M.Ed. 

Students admitted July 2013 and after: All requirements once admitted must be completed and the degree awarded within five calendar years after initial enrollment.

Family Education M.Ed. - with Parent Education Teaching License

Students admitted July 2013 and after: All requirements once admitted must be completed and the degree awarded within five calendar years after initial enrollment.

Parent Education Teaching License:

Students admitted July 2013 and after: All courses taken once admitted must be completed within four calendar years, with the exception of Drug Education and Human Relations requirements, in order to be recommended for MN teacher licensure.

Parent Education Post-baccalaureate Certificate:

Students admitted before or after July 2013: Courses taken once admitted must be completed within four calendar years.

Students who are unable to complete a program or degree within the time limits due to extraordinary circumstances may petition for an extension of up to 12 months. Students must obtain the approval of their faculty advisor by submitting an Academic Policy Petition form. This form is located on the One Stop forms website: http://www.onestop.umn.edu/forms/index.html (under the Registration Forms section).

• If a petition is approved, the student is notified in writing of the expectations for progress and of the expected timeline for completion and award of degree.

• If the petition is denied, the student is notified in writing that they will be terminated from the graduate program upon expiration of the limit.

Students who have been terminated under such circumstances may apply for readmission to the program (fee required); however, readmission is not guaranteed. If readmitted, the student would complete the program requirements in place at the time of readmission.

All requirements for the master’s degree must be completed and the degree awarded within five calendar years after initial enrollment in the graduate program or the more restrictive time frame specified by the program.

3. Minimum Grade Requirements

To remain in good academic standing, students throughout their graduate studies must meet the minimum GPA requirement specified by the graduate program or 2.800 (on a 4.000 scale), whichever is higher. Students who have filed a master’s degree plan must maintain a 2.800 GPA for courses included on the degree plan. Only courses with grades of A, B, C (including C-) and S can  be counted toward the degree. Students who have not yet filed a degree plan should maintain an overall GPA of 2.800. All repetitions of a course count towards the GPA, meaning that repeated failed courses are going to have a significant impact on an overall GPA. Students who fall below the program's minimum GPA requirement may be terminated from the program.

If it is determined that a student is at risk of falling below the program’s minimum GPA and/or grade requirement, 

• The student’s academic adviser will communicate individually with the student about their standing and expectations that must be completed before they are able to register for the next semester. 

• If the issue continues, their academic adviser will place a hold on their record so that the student cannot continue into the next semester until a discussion has been held, or certain expectations have been met. The hold can only be removed if and when the student meets with their academic advisor and/or the instructor to complete a progress plan.

• Students will be placed on academic suspension if at the end of the probation term (semester), both the term and the cumulative GPA are below 2.800, or the conditions of the progress plan are not fulfilled.

4. S/N grades for courses

A minimum of 2/3 of the course credits included on a degree plan must be taken A/F.

III. Graduate Student Policy for Incomplete Grades

According to University policy, an 'I' grade "will be assigned at the discretion of the instructor when, due to extraordinary circumstances (as determined by the instructor), the student who has successfully completed a substantial portion of the course's work with a passing grade was prevented from completing the work of the course on time."

For more information see the FSoS Incomplete Policy . You will be required to complete the Incomplete Grade Agreement.

IV. Leave of Absence and Reinstatement from a Leave

Graduate students who experience circumstances that prevent them from maintaining active status through continuous registration (excluding summer term) may apply for a leave of absence (LOA); limit is four semesters. LOA requires advisor, DGS, and college approval. LOA policy and forms: https://policy.umn.edu/education/gradstudentleave

When a student returns from LOA, they are required to fill out a Leave of Absence Reinstatement Request (no fee required) before they will be able to register for courses. 

V. GRAD 999

GRAD 999 is a zero-credit, zero-tuition registration option intended for graduate students to maintain the continuous enrollment registration requirement while completing their degree. Students who must maintain full-time status to defer loans and/or receive financial aid cannot use GRAD 999 to meet registration requirements.

Students may register for GRAD 999 as a way to maintain active student status without taking coursework. Master’s Plan C (M.Ed.), additional licensure, and post-baccalaureate certificate students are eligible to register once at any point during their program. Advisor and DGS permission is required.