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Graduate Studies: Progress to Ph.D. Degree

Effective Spring Quarter 1993

Revised Recommendations approved by Executive Committee 3/94

1. Normative progress to the PhD. in Psychology is defined by the requirements for the First, Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth Year programs. Lack of progress toward completion of the degree has two consequences: possible dismissal from the Ph.D. program, and possible loss of departmental resources. Any change in a student's status as regards progress toward degree is to be communicated in writing to the student and the advisor. Recommendations for changes of status that have consequences for departmental resources will be communicated in writing to Departmental Executive Committee and the Chair of the Department.

2. Any student who has met the deadlines and performance standards appropriate to progress toward the degree as described in the requirements for the First, Second, Third, Fourth, or Fifth years, shall be deemed as "making normative progress".

3. Failure to meet a deadline, or failure to pass a program requirement will result in the Graduate Affairs Committee:

  1. notifying the student that his/her status in the program is to be considered and offering the student the opportunity to provide written information for the committee's consideration and/or to appear and speak at the appropriate meeting of the committee, and
  2. notifying the student's advisor that the student's status in the program is to be considered and offering the advisor the opportunity to provide written information for the committee's consideration and/or to appear and speak at the appropriate meeting of the committee.

    After considering all relevant information the Graduate Affairs Committee will either:

  3. maintain the student's status as making normative progress,

    OR

  4. change the student's status to "not making normative progress"
  5. prepare a set of contingencies (normally appropriate completion of specific failed requirements that the student must meet by a specified date normally no more than one academic quarter away);
  6. notify the student and the advisor in writing of the contingencies set, and of the consequences for meeting them (reinstatement of "making normative progress" status) and of failing to meet them (see below);
  7. actively solicit the aid of the student's advisor, other faculty, and other appropriate departmental and college resources in ensuring that such contingencies are met and that the student returns to "making normative progress".

4. Should a student's status be defined as "not making normative progress", according to #4 a), and should that student fail to meet the contingencies specified in #4 b), the Graduate Affairs Committee will:

  1. notify the student that his/her status in the program is to be considered and offering the student the opportunity to provide written information for the committee's consideration and/or to appear and speak at the appropriate meeting of the committee, and
  2. notify the student's advisor that the student's status in the program is to be considered and offering the advisor the opportunity to provide written information for the committee's consideration and/or to appear and speak at the appropriate meeting of the committee.

    After consideration of all relevant information, depending on the student's status with respect to candidacy and the student's past record (including past episodes of non-normative progress), the Graduate Affairs Committee will take one of the actions listed below:

  3. Regardless of whether or not the student is advanced to candidacy, the Graduate Affairs Committee will extend "not making normative progess" status for a second quarter, set new or additional contingencies, or take other remedial action;

    OR

  4. If a student is not yet advanced to candidacy, the Graduate Affairs Committee will take one or more of the following steps, the severity of which will respond to the student's past record:
    1. notify the student, advisor, and the Executive Committee in writing that the student is "off-track" and that unless the contingencies set are fulfilled by the end of the current academic quarter, the student will be recommended to the Executive Committee for immediate dismissal;
    2. place the student in the Terminal Masters program, and notify the student and advisor in writing;
    3. recommend to the Executive Committee that they ask the Graduate Division to immediately dismiss the student from the program and notify the student and the advisor in writing to this effect

    OR

  5. If a student is advanced to candidacy, the student's status will be changed to "off-track"

5. The Graduate Affairs Committee makes recommendations to the Executive Committee and to the Chair about changes in status that have consequences for departmental resources. Any such recommendation can be appealed by the student directly to the Executive Committee or the Chair.

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Department of Psychology • University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9660
Phone: 805.893.2791 • E-Mail: info@psych.ucsb.edu