Academic Probation & Dismissal Policy for MS Students

If you do not maintain good academic standing as described in Rackham Academic Policies, including satisfactory academic progress as described above, you may be placed on academic probation. The decision to recommend academic probation will be made by a committee of at least three faculty members consisting of the Program Director (or delegate), your faculty advisor, and one or more additional faculty members as needed. The committee will meet with you as part of their review of your case and before rendering a decision. If the committee decides to recommend academic probation, the Director will communicate to Rackham the committee’s decision and the conditions to be met for you to return to good academic standing, including the timeline in which you must meet the conditions, and you will be notified of the same by email sent to your University of Michigan (umich.edu or med.umich.edu) email address and by letter mailed to your local address as listed in Wolverine Access.

To appeal either academic probation or dismissal, you may put the reasons for your appeal in writing and deliver to the Associate Chair for Educational Programs or assigned designee (e.g. the HILS Associate Program Director) within two weeks of the probation or dismissal notice. The Associate Chair will then appoint a committee of DLHS faculty to review the appeal. Per Rackham’s Academic Dispute Resolution Process, if the concern is not resolved, the student may seek a formal resolution conference with the Medical School’s Rackham Resolution Officer (see http://www.rackham.umich.edu/policies/academic-dispute-resolution for full policy and the contact information for the current resolution officer).

The standard length of the probationary period is one semester, after which you may be returned to good standing, given an extended probationary period, or asked to leave the MS program.

Grade Grievance

Grading dispute resolution regular feedback on graded assignments and timely resolution of any grading concerns is helpful for student learning and overall positive experience. Students are encouraged to discuss any assignment grade concerns with the instructor within two weeks of the grades being posted on Canvas. Similarly, any concerns and grievances related to the overall course grades should be raised by contacting the faculty of record within two weeks of the course grades being posted on Wolverine Access.

For HILS courses, the grade dispute arbitration will happen within the Department of Learning Health Sciences (DLHS). After initial discussion with the faculty of record for the course, there is an opportunity for a second look by another DLHS faculty member with appropriate expertise for resolving grade disputes. If the student and faculty are not able to come to an agreement about the grade dispute, the Associate Chair for Educational Programs or assigned designee (e.g., the HILS Associate Program Director) will adjudicate the dispute. Per Rackham’s Academic Dispute Resolution Process, if the concern is not resolved, the student may seek a formal resolution conference with the Medical School’s Rackham Resolution Officer (see http://www.rackham.umich.edu/policies/academic-dispute-resolution for full policy and the contact information for the current resolution officer).

Independent Study

If you wish to pursue independent study with a faculty member, HILS requires you produce an outline of the material to be covered and what deliverable(s) are expected before you register for the credit hours. At the end of the semester, provide HILS with confirmation that the independent study has been successfully completed. Direct these communications to the program manager.

PhD Academic Dismissal

Under development.

Satisfactory Progress

Ordinarily you are expected to complete the Ph.D. program within four to five years of entering it. You, your advisor, and the governing faculty may jointly approve an alternate schedule, which shall be put in writing. During its annual review of doctoral students, the HILS Program Committee may recommend that the doctoral program director issue a formal warning to any student who is not making satisfactory progress. This warning will consist of placing you on Probationary Status and giving you specific milestones and deadlines for the upcoming academic year. Failure to meet these requirements will result in termination from the program.

Summer Classes

HILS generally supports Ph.D. student tuition through GSRA positions for fall and winter semesters, and provides stipend support for one summer to enable the implementation project. In special cases, your advisor may provide summer tuition support. The student must request such support from their advisor; the request must include a justification. The justification should indicate why this particular course is important for the student’s Ph.D. program of study, and also must provide sufficient evidence that a course of comparable coverage and quality is not available during fall or winter semesters of the subsequent year.