General Policies and Regulations

General Policies and Regulations

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GENERAL POLICIES AND REGULATIONS

It is the responsibility of every graduate student to know and comply with all of the policies, procedures, and regulations of the College of Graduate and Professional Studies. Failure to read this Catalog and understand its contents does not excuse any graduate student from the requirements, policies, procedures, and regulations described herein.  All application materials become the property of Indiana State University and are not returned to the student.

ADMISSIONS

ADMISSION TO THE COLLEGE OF GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL STUDIES

Indiana State University has two main categories of admission, degree-seeking and non-degree-seeking. In all cases, applicants must submit one official transcript from each undergraduate and graduate institution attended (this includes any college course work attempted). Transcripts will be accepted as official only when they are sent directly to the Office of Admissions from the registrar of the institution. The College of Graduate and Professional Studies must receive a fully completed Graduate Admission Application with a non-refundable admission application fee (payable by cash, credit card, money order, or check to Indiana State University).

ADMISSION TO THE COLLEGE OF GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL STUDIES: 
DEGREE-SEEKING APPLICANTS

Admission to Master’s Degree Programs

Regular Admission

Regular admission status to a master’s program, upon the recommendation of an academic unit, may be granted to an applicant who meets the minimum admission requirements of that academic unit as approved by the College of Graduate and Professional Studies and Indiana State University. The minimum requirements for graduate admission are:

1. Hold a baccalaureate degree granted by a regionally accredited institution (for international students, a degree granted by a recognized institution).
2. Have earned a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.7 in all undergraduate course work; or have earned a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in the last 60 credits of undergraduate course work; or have earned a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in the applicant’s major field of study; or have earned a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in all courses taken at the graduate level.
3. Where required, submit departmentally acceptable scores in the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or, where applicable, other appropriate standardized measures.
4. Satisfy and/or meet any and all additional admission requirements of the departments/Programs   where admission is sought.
5. Submit to the College of Graduate and Professional Studies a fully completed Graduate Admission Application with a non-refundable admission application fee (payable by cash, credit card, money order, or check to Indiana State University).

Conditional Admission

Conditional admission is intended for those students whose undergraduate record does not reflect their current capacity to do graduate work. In those circumstances conditional admission status, upon the recommendation of the academic unit, may be granted. Conditional admission has a maximum time limit of one academic year. A final admission decision shall be reserved by the academic unit until an applicant’s performance has been evaluated after one academic year of enrollment. The minimum requirements for conditional admission are:

1. Hold a baccalaureate degree granted by a regionally accredited institution (for international students, a degree granted by a recognized institution).*
2. Have earned a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.3 in all undergraduate course work; or have earned a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 in the last 60 credits of undergraduate course work; or have earned a minimum grade point average of 2.5 in the applicant’s major field of study.
3. Where required, submit departmentally acceptable scores in the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or, where applicable, other appropriate standardized measures.
4. Complete nine to 12 credits of undergraduate or graduate courses prescribed by the applicant’s chosen academic unit at Indiana State University, and achieve a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 during the first academic year.
5. Satisfy and/or meet any and all additional admission requirements of the department/Programs  where admission is sought.
6. Submit to the College of Graduate and Professional Studies a fully completed Graduate Admission Application with a non-refundable admission application fee (payable by cash, credit card, money order, or check to Indiana State University).

*Students applying from non-accredited institutions may not be granted regular admission status. However, conditional admission status, upon the recommendation of the academic unit, may be granted.

Admission to Doctoral and Educational Specialist Degree Programs

Regular Admission

Regular admission status to a doctoral program or educational specialist degree, upon the recommendation of an academic unit, may be granted to an applicant who meets the minimum admission requirements of that academic unit as approved by the College of Graduate and Professional Studies and Indiana State University.  The minimum requirements for graduate admission are:

1. Hold a master’s degree granted by a regionally accredited institution (for international students, a degree granted by a recognized institution), unless applying to a department/program that accepts students with undergraduate degrees. In the latter case, an applicant must, at a minimum, meet the regular admission requirements for a master’s candidate (see Admission to Master’s Degree Programs).
2. Have earned a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in all courses taken at the graduate or undergraduate level.
3. Where required, submit departmentally acceptable scores in the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or, where applicable, other appropriate standardized measures.
4. Satisfy and/or meet any and all additional admission requirements of the department/Programs  where admission is sought.
5. Submit to the College of Graduate and Professional Studies a fully completed Graduate Admission Application with a non-refundable admission application fee (payable by cash, credit card, money order, or check to Indiana State University).

Conditional Admission

Conditional admission is intended for those students whose previous academic record does not reflect their current capacity to do doctoral level work. In those circumstances conditional admission status, upon the recommendation of the academic unit, may be granted. Conditional admission has a maximum time limit of one academic year. The academic unit shall reserve the final admission decision until the evaluation of an applicant’s performance after completion of one academic year. The minimum requirements for conditional admission are:

Hold a master’s degree granted by a regionally accredited institution (for international students, a degree granted by a recognized institution), unless applying to a department/program that accepts students with undergraduate degrees. In the latter case, an applicant must, at a minimum, meet the regular admission requirements for a master’s candidate (see Admission to Master’s Degree Programs).

1. Have earned a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in all courses taken at the graduate level.
2. Where required, submit departmentally acceptable scores in the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or, where applicable, other appropriate standardized measures.
3. Satisfy and/or meet any and all additional admission requirements of the department/Programs   where admission is sought.
4. Complete nine to 12 credits of undergraduate or graduate courses prescribed by applicant’s chosen academic unit at Indiana State University, and achieve a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 during the first academic year.
5. Submit to the College of Graduate and Professional Studies a fully completed Graduate Admission Application with a non-refundable admission application fee (payable by cash, credit card, money order, or check to Indiana State University).

Additional Requirements for Admission of International Students

International applicants, in addition to meeting the appropriate admission requirements in the respective admission categories as described in other sections of this Catalog, must submit the following:

1. Official academic records (transcripts) demonstrating successful completion of a baccalaureate degree granted by a recognized institution. Academic records from all universities attended must be received in English and the native language.
2. Official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of a minimum of 550 on the regular examination or 213 on the computer-based examination or 79-80 on the iBT version; or a minimum score of 6.5 in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS); or Graduate Record Examination (GRE) verbal scores with a minimum score of 149; or a minimum of 30 credits of earned undergraduate credits at a regionally accredited college or university in the United States or recognized English-speaking colleges or universities approved by the College of Graduate and Professional Studies; or an undergraduate or graduate degree from a regionally accredited institution in the United States.  Applicants from English-speaking countries or former British colonies may be exempted from the above requirements.
3. An Affidavit of Financial Support (United States Department of Justice Form I-134 or equivalent documentation).
4. Submit to the College of Graduate and Professional Studies a fully completed Graduate Admission Application with a non-refundable admission application fee (payable by cash, credit card, money order, or check to Indiana State University).
5. Provide on the application for admission a complete educational history from secondary school or the thirteenth year through the highest level of education completed. Failure to list all institutions attended and the date of attendance could result in denial of admission or academic dismissal.

It should be noted that some academic units may have higher and/or additional admissions requirements.

ADMISSION TO THE COLLEGE OF GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL STUDIES: 
NON-DEGREE SEEKING APPLICANTS

Admission to Education Licensure, License Renewal, or Transition to Teaching Programs

Initial Licensure (Educational Leadership Administrative License only), License Renewal or Professionalization

To be considered for admission into these program, applicants as a minimum must:

1. Possess a valid (current or expired) State of Indiana Instructional License and meet any additional requirements, in their chosen area of interest.
2. Submit to the College of Graduate and Professional Studies a fully completed Non-Degree Admission Application with a non-refundable admission application fee (payable by cash, credit card, money order, or check to Indiana State University).
3. Contact the Indiana State University Education Student Services Office (812-237-3131) for appropriate advising prior to enrolling in any courses toward this license.

Transition to Teaching for Secondary Education (Grades 6-12)

The Secondary Education Program is a graduate level cohort model consisting of 18 credits of study and related teaching experiences over a period of one year. To be considered for admission applicants, as a minimum, must:

1. Possess a graduate degree, in the chosen subject area of interest, from a regionally accredited institution; or possess a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0; or possess a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5, and have a minimum of five years experience in the subject area that applicants teach or plan to teach.
2. Meet the testing requirements  mandated for licensure by the Indiana Department of Education.
3. Submit to the College of Graduate and Professional Studies a fully completed Non-Degree Admission Application with a non-refundable admission application fee (payable by cash, credit card, money order, or check to Indiana State University).
4. Contact the Indiana State University Education Student Services Office (812-237-3131) for appropriate advising prior to enrolling in any courses toward this license.

Admission for Certificate, Guest (Special) and Unclassified Students

ISU Certificate Programs Admission

This category is intended for applicants who wish to earn non-degree certificates issued by Indiana State University. To be considered for admission into ISU certificate programs applicants must:

1. Posses an undergraduate or graduate degree from a regionally accredited institution.
2. Submit to the College of Graduate and Professional Studies a fully completed Non-Degree Admission Application with a non-refundable admission application fee (payable by cash, credit card, money order, or check to Indiana State University).
3. Meet any and all requirements of the academic unit offering the chosen Programs   .

Guest (Special) Admission

Guest (special) admission status is intended for students enrolled in graduate programs at other institutions who wish to take graduate courses at Indiana State University for transfer and/or other purposes. The maximum number of credits under this category of admission shall not exceed 12 per student. Upon recommendation of an academic unit, a student enrolled at another institution may be granted guest (special) admission status. In order to be considered for such admission status in the College of Graduate and Professional Studies an applicant must:

1. Be in good standing (i.e. not under probation, suspension, and/or expelled), and enrolled in, or must have been admitted to, graduate school by a regionally accredited institution in the United States.
2. Have earned a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in all courses taken at the graduate level. If applicant is an undergraduate who has been offered admission to graduate school by another institution, but has not taken any graduate courses at the time of application, then the applicant must:

a. Submit official transcripts showing a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.7 in all undergraduate course work; or submit official transcripts showing a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in the last 60 credits of undergraduate course work; or submit official transcripts showing a minimum grade point average of 3.0 in applicant’s major field of study.

3.     Submit to the College of Graduate and Professional Studies a fully completed Non-Degree Admission Application with a non-refundable admission application fee (payable by cash, credit card, money order, or check to Indiana State University).

Unclassified Student Admission

Unclassified student admission status is intended for applicants who wish to take a limited number of graduate courses for various reasons but are not seeking admission to pursue a degree, educational licensure, or an ISU certificate. A maximum of 12 credits taken as an unclassified student may be transferred to a degree program. Upon approval of an academic unit applicants may be permitted to take certain graduate courses on a semester-to-semester basis, depending on availability of space and the applicant’s academic performance. To be considered for admission with an unclassified status, applicants must meet the following minimum requirements:

1. Posses an undergraduate or graduate degree from a regionally accredited institution.
2. Submit to the College of Graduate and Professional Studies a fully completed Non-Degree Admission Application with a non-refundable admission application fee (payable by cash, credit card, money order, or check to Indiana State University).

AUDITING GRADUATE COURSES

Students who wish to audit a graduate course for no credit must obtain written permission from the instructor of the course, the chairperson of the department which offers the course, and the dean of the College of Graduate and Professional Studies during the add period. Permission to Audit forms are available in the College of Graduate and Professional Studies. Permission may be denied at the professor’s discretion. Those who audit do so for the purpose of hearing and seeing only; they do not have the privilege of participating in class discussions, laboratory work, or field work. They do not take tests, submit term papers, or receive grades. Students who audit a course will not appear on grade rosters and no notation of the audit will be made on the student’s transcript. A student may not transfer from audit to credit or from credit to audit. A fee will be assessed per credit hour.

ENROLLMENT IN A GRADUATE COURSE AS AN ISU SENIOR

A senior student at Indiana State University with an overall grade point average of 3.0 or above may be granted permission to enroll in a limited amount of 500-level graduate courses with approval of the student’s advisor, graduate program representative, and the dean of the College of Graduate and Professional Studies.  Once approved, the registration form must be taken to the Office of Registration and Records for processing.

GRADUATION

REQUIREMENTS FOR EARNING THE MASTER’S DEGREE

A master’s degree is awarded to a student upon successful completion of one of the graduate curricula in this Catalog, earning a minimum of 32 credits of graduate credit for non-terminal degree programs and as many as 93 for terminal degree programs. Students must conform to all rules and regulations of the College of Graduate and Professional Studies as well as meet all of the requirements of the student’s chosen academic department/program. Generally, requirements include completion of a minimum of 18 credits in the major and six credits outside the major. At least one-half of the credits required for the degree must be earned in courses numbered 600 or above. Research experience and/or a culminating experience are required of all programs leading to the master’s degree and must be satisfactorily completed. Neither the research experience nor the culminating experience may be transferred from one master’s degree program to another by a student who wishes to pursue a second master’s degree.  It must be noted that the degree requirements of certain programs exceed the minimum standards of the College of Graduate and Professional Studies. Therefore, the student should contact the appropriate department chairperson or program director for information about specific program requirements.

Progress Toward Degree

During the period of study leading to the master’s degree, a graduate student must show evidence of sound scholarship. The following standards must be met to retain good standing as a graduate student:

1. Maintain a GPA appropriate for graduate work (standards are program specific)
2. Continuous enrollment in graduate work. Any student admitted to the College of Graduate and Professional Studies and to a department who has not enrolled and received graduate credit for work at Indiana State University for a period of two consecutive years will be required to re-apply for admission.
3. Meet program completion expectations within seven years. Students who exceed the standard timeline should consult with the College of Graduate and Professional Studies.
4. Have no encumbrances on his/her record.

Thesis Expectations

A thesis, if required by the master’s program, should be the result of scholarship that contributes to the discipline.  A Thesis Committee form must be submitted and approved one semester prior to the proposal defense.  A thesis committee consists of three graduate faculty and includes no more than one special purpose faculty.  Students are expected to defend their thesis proposal at least one semester prior to the final thesis defense.  Thesis requirements include registration for the minimum credits stipulated by the program.  In preparing the thesis, the candidate should read carefully the material found in this section and follow the procedures outlined in the chapter on Regulations.  Continuous enrollment during the fall and spring semesters is required until a student has completed all degree requirements and all documents are submitted to and accepted by the College of Graduate and Professional Studies, regardless of whether a student is in residence or is away from campus. Only students who apply for August graduation must register in the summer. 

SECOND MASTER’S DEGREE

A student with a master’s degree from an accredited institution may apply for admission to a second master’s degree program for the purpose of completing a new major area of graduate study. Students admitted to such programs are directed to the appropriate department chairperson or program director who may accept up to 30% of the minimum credits required from the student’s first master’s degree program as transfer credit. Credits applied from the previous master’s degree can be older than seven years. The statute of limitations of seven years (see Progress Toward Degree) applies on all other credits.  All regular requirements for the master’s degree program also must be met. Second master’s degree programs must include a new research component or culminating experience, neither of which can be transferred from the first master’s degree program.

REQUIREMENTS FOR EARNING THE DOCTORAL AND EDUCATIONAL SPECIALIST DEGREE

The doctoral degree is conferred only upon those students who have completed, with high distinction, a period of intensive study in a selected field. Candidates must have gained a thorough knowledge of the materials in the field, mastered the method of advanced study, and demonstrated this mastery through a dissertation or research project. The educational specialist is regarded as an advanced practitioner’s degree and as such, is a continuation of work completed in pursuit of the master’s degree in the area in which it is sought.  The following standards must be met to retain good standing as a graduate student:

1.       Complete a program specific minimum number of credits of graduate course work at a program specific GPA with at least one-half of the work toward the doctorate in courses numbered 600 or above. 

2.       Complete all general and academic requirements of the College of Graduate and Professional Studies as well as specific requirements of the student’s chosen degree program.

3. Have no encumbrances on his/her record.

Progress Toward Degree

During the period of study leading to the doctoral or educational specialist degree, a graduate student must show evidence of sound scholarship. The following standards must be met to retain good standing as a graduate student:

1. Maintain a GPA appropriate for graduate work (standards are program specific and should be articulated at the onset of enrollment in a program of study approved by the program director).
2. Continuous enrollment in graduate work. Any student admitted to the College of Graduate and Professional Studies and to a department who has not enrolled and received graduate credit for work at Indiana State University for a period of two consecutive years will be required to re-apply for admission.
3. Meet program completion expectations within nine years (eight years for Ed.S). Students who exceed the standard timeline should consult with the College of Graduate and Professional Studies.
4. Have no encumbrances on his/her record.

Research Proficiency

Evidence of proficiency in appropriate research tools is expected of all doctoral candidates. Such proficiency shall be determined and judged by each candidate’s academic program or department. The College of Graduate and Professional Studies does not require and/or administer proficiency examinations of any kind. However, individual academic units may, at their discretion, require, establish, and administer their own proficiency examination(s). Any research proficiency requirement (such as foreign language, computer applications, or statistics) shall be established by the candidate’s major department.

DOCTORAL PROGRAMS WITH A DISSERTATION REQUIREMENT

Doctoral Committee

Early in the student’s program, upon the student’s formal request and supported by the recommendations of the advisor, a doctoral committee is appointed (students should be in consultation with the advisor to ensure the doctoral committee meets the specific program requirements). The doctoral committee consists of a minimum ofthree members of the graduate faculty appointed in the same manner that the advisor was appointed. One of the doctoral committee members must be from outside the student’s major area and the committee may include no more than one non-tenure track faculty. The doctoral committee conducts examinations, supervises the dissertation, and recommends the student for the degree to the dean of the College of Graduate and Professional Studies. The dean of the College of Graduate and Professional Studies is an ex-officio member of all committees. 

Qualifying Examination

The student must satisfactorily pass program specific examinations. The department will set dates for the administration of the examinations.  The examination(s) will be prepared according to regulations established by the various departments and follow evaluation procedures developed by the program. The evaluation results will be certified by the appropriate department chairperson, the appropriate dean, and the dean of the College of Graduate and Professional Studies.  When there is disagreement at the program level resulting in lack of consensus regarding overall performance, the case will be referred to the department chairperson and dean of the College of Graduate and Professional Studies. The preliminary examinations will be evaluated according to program criteria (which may allow for a single retake) as follows:

1. Pass.
2. Fail. Eligible for re-take pursuant to program rules.
3. Fail. Student is ineligible for a re-take and eliminated from the program.

When the student has met all requirements for candidacy, the chairperson of the committee will recommend to the department chairperson, to the appropriate dean, and to the dean of the College of Graduate and Professional Studies that the student be approved for admission to candidacy. Upon approval, the dean of the College of Graduate and Professional Studies notifies all concerned.

Admission to Candidacy

A student cannot and does not become a candidate for a doctoral degree until such time as he/she has been formally admitted to candidacy. Admission to candidacy must be based on the following:

1.       Academic record with specific coursework and other program requirements satisfied.

2.       Successful completion of the qualifying exam.

Dissertation

A dissertation, required of all candidates for the doctor of philosophy and doctor of psychology degrees, is the result of an original investigation which makes a contribution to knowledge of sufficient significance to justify its publication. The Dissertation Committee form must be submitted and approved by the College of Graduate and Professional Studies prior to scheduling the proposal defense.  Students are expected to defend their proposal at least one semester prior to defending the dissertation.  In some programs, students are advised to defend their proposal even earlier.  Dissertation requirements include registration for the minimum dissertation credits stipulated by the program.   In preparing the dissertation, the candidate should follow the Steps for Completing a Thesis or Dissertation. Continuous enrollment during the fall and spring semesters (e.g. program approved course) is required until a student has completed all degree requirements and all documents are submitted to and accepted by the College of Graduate and Professional Studies. Only students who apply for August graduation must register in the summer.  Formal approval of the dissertation proposal is accomplished after admission to candidacy. Registration for dissertation credit may only occur following admission to candidacy and/or advisor approval. Late registration (under no penalty) for dissertation credits may be approved by the dean of the College of Graduate and Professional Studies during the semester of admission to candidacy.

Dissertation Proposal

After admission to candidacy, and under the direction of the dissertation committee, the student prepares and submits a dissertation proposal for approval by the student’s committee, the appropriate academic dean, and the dean of the College of Graduate and Professional Studies. The proposal, as completely and explicitly as possible, describes the proposed original scholarship for the dissertation.

Dissertation Defense

At least nine weeks prior to the date the degree is to be conferred and at least two weeks prior to the final oral examination, copies of the dissertation should be made available to all members of the student’s doctoral committee.  The oral examination may be set at any date convenient to the committee and the student, providing the University is officially open, but must be at least seven weeks (six weeks during the summer session) prior to the date the degree will be conferred. The time and place of the examination, together with the names of the student, the doctoral committee, and chairperson or dissertation director, and the title of the dissertation must be submitted to the College of Graduate and Professional Studies at least one week prior to the defense.  The College of Graduate and Professional Studies will post notification to the campus community.  Attendance at the defense is open to any member of the campus community. Other interested individuals may attend the examination at the discretion of the committee chairperson.  No later than six weeks (five weeks during the summer session) prior to the date the degree will be conferred, the chairperson of the student’s doctoral committee will certify to the department chairperson, the appropriate dean, and the dean of the College of Graduate and Professional Studies the report of the doctoral committee on the oral examination. The College of Graduate and Professional Studies must approve the final copy of the dissertation. The student must deliver a PDF of the approved dissertation (after all required changes/revisions including a final format and technical review of the PDF file by the College of Graduate and Professional Studies) and one original paper copy of the signature page (Approval of Thesis or Dissertation Defense form) to the College of Graduate and Professional Studies.  (See additional requirements related to dissertation in section below.)

 Graduation

A student enrolled in a doctoral degree program requiring a dissertation must take the following steps toward graduation:

1.  Apply for graduation by the published deadline for the semester/term in which graduation is anticipated.
2. Complete the culminating experience and defend it in an examination before the student’s doctoral committee and any other interested members of the graduate faculty.
3. Make any changes in the dissertation as directed by official action of the student’s doctoral committee and the College of Graduate and Professional Studies.
4. Obtain approval (Approval of Thesis or Dissertation Defense form) of members of the student’s doctoral committee, department chairperson, dean of the appropriate college, and the dean of the College of Graduate and Professional Studies.
5. Deliver a PDF of the approved dissertation (after all required changes/revisions including a final format and technical review of the PDF file by the College of Graduate and Professional Studies) and one original paper copy of the signature page (Certificate of Approval) to the College of Graduate and Professional Studies.  Students must adhere to the submission guidelines provided by the College of Graduate and Professional Studies.  Submission guidelines are located on the College of Graduate and Professional Studies’ Web site.  Copyright may be secured. The student is responsible for all associated fees.
6. Pay all costs associated with publication of the abstract of the dissertation.
7. Remove any encumbrances and/or incomplete grades on his/her record.

DOCTORAL PROGRAMS WITHOUT A DISSERTATION REQUIREMENT

Students enrolled in doctoral programs that do not require a dissertation are still responsible for demonstrating research proficiency through a culminating project. Students must consult with the doctoral committee about the research expectations.  

Graduation

A student enrolled in a doctoral degree program not requiring a dissertation must take the following steps toward graduation:

1.  Apply for graduation by the published deadline for the semester/term in which graduation is anticipated.
2. Complete the culminating experience and defend it in an examination before the student’s doctoral committee and any other interested members of the graduate faculty.
3. Pay all costs associated with publication of the abstract of the dissertation.
4. Remove any encumbrances and/or incomplete grades on his/her record.

AWARDING TWO OR MORE GRADUATE DEGREES

Two or more graduate degrees or certificates may be granted simultaneously provided all requirements for the degrees have been completed, no more than 30% of the coursework is shared between the degrees, and the research and/or culminating experiences (if required) are unique.

ISU offers several professional certificate programs and all certificates require no fewer than 12 credits.  Since many students may chose to pursue a certificate as well as a formal degree program, all credits completed as part of a certificate program can be counted toward a subsequent or simultaneous degree award.

PREPARATION OF THESES/DISSERTATIONS

For the convenience of graduate students, the College of Graduate and Professional Studies has prepared a Thesis and Dissertation Handbook. A thesis or dissertation should represent original scholarship. Expectations regarding the type of thesis/dissertation as well as the scope of the project will be determined by individual graduate programs and the thesis or dissertation advisor and committee.

Once the general area of research is determined through conference with the appropriate departmental faculty, the student begins the steps for completing a thesis or dissertation.

1. Early in the student’s program, upon the student’s formal request and supported by the recommendations of the advisor, a thesis/doctoral committee is appointed.  The thesis committee consists of three graduate faculty and includes no more than one non-tenured track faculty.  The doctoral committee consists of at least five members of the graduate faculty (or at least three members of the graduate faculty in the College of Education and College of Technology) appointed in the same manner that the advisor was appointed.  One of the doctoral committee members must be from outside the student’s major area.  No more than one non-tenure track faculty member may serve on the committee.  The thesis/dissertation committee form must be submitted and approved by the College of Graduate and Professional Studies prior to scheduling the proposal defense.
2. Under the direction of the committee, the student prepares and submits a thesis or dissertation proposal for approval.  The proposal, as completely and explicitly as possible, describes the proposed original scholarship for the thesis or dissertation. After successful completion of the proposal, the committee will sign the Approval of Thesis or Dissertation Proposal Form. If the research involves human subjects or animal subjects, approval from the appropriate ISU committee (Institutional Review Board, Approved Institutional Review Committees, or Animal Care and Use Committee) must be granted in writing, which requires a signed Thesis and Dissertation Proposal Form. The Approval of Thesis or Dissertation Proposal form along with a hard copy of the proposal document and, if required, approval of the appropriate institutional review board, must be presented to the dean of the College of Graduate and Professional Studies prior to any data collection. Master’s students may register for course 699 (Thesis) only after formal approval of their thesis proposal and/or approval from their advisor. Doctor of philosophy students may register for course 899 (Dissertation) after admission to candidacy and/or approval from their advisor. Doctor of psychology students and Ed.S. students may register for course 799 (Ed.S. Advanced Thesis or Doctoral Project) after admission to candidacy and/or approval from their advisor.
3. Students must enroll for thesis or dissertation credit in course 699 (Master’s Thesis), course 799 (Ed.S. Advanced Thesis or Psy.D. Doctoral Project), or course 899 (Ph.D. Dissertation).  Once a student enrolls in course 699, 799, or 899, continuous enrollment during fall and spring semester is required until the student has completed all degree requirements, regardless of whether a student is in residence or away from campus. A student who applies to graduate in the summer must register for the appropriate summer term in course 699, 799, or 899 dependent upon degree program.
4. The student defends the thesis or dissertation at an open meeting, the time and place together with the names of the student, the committee, and chairperson or director, and the title must be submitted to the College of Graduate and Professional Studies at least one week prior to the event. To verify successful completion of the defense, the committee will sign and the student will submit an Approval of Thesis or Dissertation Defense form with the approved thesis/dissertation (described below).
5. The student delivers a PDF of the approved thesis or dissertation (after all required changes/revisions including a final format and technical review of the PDF file by the College of Graduate and Professional Studies) and one original paper copy of the signature page (Approval of Thesis or Dissertation Proposal) to the College of Graduate and Professional Studies.  Students must adhere to the submission guidelines provided by the College of Graduate and Professional Studies.  Submission guidelines are located on the College of Graduate and Professional Studies’ Web site.  Copyright may be secured. The student is responsible for all associated fees.
6. The College of Graduate and Professional Studies must approve the thesis or dissertation after the student’s defense of the thesis/dissertation.  During preparation and final approval of the thesis/dissertation, the student has available for consultation, a staff member in the College of Graduate and Professional Studies. It is expected, however, that when the copy is presented to the College of Graduate and Professional Studies few corrections will need to be made.
7. Upon final approval of the thesis or dissertation, the thesis or dissertation committee chairperson submits a letter grade for the thesis or a “satisfactory” for the dissertation.

APPLYING FOR GRADUATION

Students who expect to complete a graduate degree during the academic year or subsequent summer must file an Application for Graduation in the College of Graduate and Professional Studies no later than October 1 for December (fall semester) graduation, or February 1 for May (spring semester) graduation, or February 1 for August (summer semester) graduation. Only students who meet these deadlines can be assured of having their names appear in the commencement program. In order to qualify for a degree, the student must complete all academic program requirements, all College of Graduate and Professional Studies requirements, and have submitted a completed Program of Study Form signed by the student, the student’s advisor, and the dean of the College of Graduate and Professional Studies.  While degrees are conferred in May, August, and December, commencement ceremonies are held only in May and December. Participation in commencement is not required but it is encouraged as a memorable part of the university experience. Candidates for the doctoral and educational specialist degrees must have completed all degree requirements prior to participation in a commencement ceremony. Students who only have internships remaining may participate in the appropriate ceremony.  Those attending the ceremony may purchase or rent the appropriate cap, gown, and hood from the University Bookstore.

GRADING

GRADING

Letter grades indicating the quality of graduate course work completed and for which the credits earned can be applied toward graduation requirements generally can be interpreted as follows:

Students must maintain the minimum grade point average as specified in their program to remain in the College of Graduate and Professional Studies, for admission to candidacy, and for graduation on any graduate degree program. Grades of “DP” (passing at time of drop) and “DF” (failing at time of drop) will be assigned to courses dropped after the fourteenth calendar day of the semester through the end of the tenth week of the semester. A grade of “W” will be assigned to officially withdrawn courses after the tenth week of the semester. “DP,” “DF,” and “W” grades will not be calculated in the student’s grade point average.

The letter grades assigned for unsatisfactory course work at the time of drop or withdrawal during summer terms are “F” (failure) and “U” (unsatisfactory), for specially approved courses.

GRADE APPEAL

Basis for Appeal

A student may appeal a grade granted by any instructor of any course. The student may appeal the grade based on one of more of the following:

1. An error in the calculation of the grade.
2. The assignment of a grade to a particular student by application of more exacting or demanding standards than were applied to other students in the same section of the same course, in the same semester, with the same instructor.
3. The assignment of a grade to a particular student on some basis other than performance in the course.
4. The assignment of a grade by a substantial departure from the instructor’s previously announced standards for that section of that course.
5. The assignment of a grade by a substantial departure from the written departmentally approved standards for a course.

Informal Appeal

All students must follow the informal appeals process for questioning grades prior to engaging the formal appeal. In so doing, they are to, where possible, seek out the instructor for a face-to-face conversation. The instructor is encouraged to listen to the entirety of the student’s case and then to consider whether the current grade is appropriate. Should no resolution occur, the student is required to contact the department chairperson. The chairperson is required to meet with the student one-on-one, to seek a conversation with the instructor one-on-one, and then highly encouraged to meet with the two of them together. Students must initiate their informal appeal within 30 working days of the posting of the grade. Should no resolution occur, the student may choose to engage the formal appeal process.

Filing a Formal Appeal 

A formal appeal is made in writing to the dean of the college of the instructor, hereafter referred to as “the dean.” When filing an appeal, a student must specify the basis of the appeal and do so within 30 working days of the conclusion of the informal appeal. The student must indicate one of the following: 

1. The instructor is unable or unwilling to communicate with the student on the appeal and the informal appeal could not proceed.
2. No resolution resulted from the informal appeal process.

The contents of the appeal should include as much of the relevant physical or electronic record as is possible for the student to collect. If the second basis (differential standards) is asserted, the student should provide a list of the names of other students and specific assignments so that a review of the relevant materials and appropriate comparisons can be made. 

Verification of the Appropriateness of the Appeal

An instructor “cannot respond” if he/she has suffered a debilitating physical or mental condition. For appeals to grades submitted by instructors who have been terminated, resigned, or retired, it is the dean’s responsibility to manage the notification process. In doing so, the dean shall make three separate attempts at contact within 30 days with the last one in writing by registered letter to the last known address. If after ten working days of the dean receiving of the registered letter receipt, the instructor still refuses to discuss the grade appeal, the dean shall convene the Grade Appeal Committee.

If an instructor has denied the grade appeal after having met with the department chairperson, the dean must review the materials and discuss the matter with the student. The dean may choose to discuss the matter with the instructor, the chairperson, or both. If the dean cannot create a resolution satisfactory to the instructor and student, the dean shall convene the Grade Appeal Committee.

COURSE REPEAT POLICY

Graduate students receiving a grade of C+ or lower may retake a non-repeatable course a maximum of one time. Once repeated, both the original and new grade will be included in the student’s grade point average. Both grades will remain on the student’s transcript.

IN PROGRESS GRADE POLICY

An “in progress” grade (IP) can be used for graduate courses which require work of a continuing nature to extend over more than one semester.  Upon completion of the course work, the instructor will assign a grade.  A student changing from a program requiring a thesis/dissertation may, at the discretion of the major department, receive a grade “S” for the portion of the work completed.  If a change of grade form is not submitted, any remaining “IP” grades on the transcript will be changed to “U” at the time of graduation or the designated time limits for completion of degree or an approved time limit extension.  A student is not eligible to graduate with any “IP” grades remaining on their transcript.

INCOMPLETE GRADE POLICY

An incomplete grade (IN) may be given only at the end of a semester or term to those students whose work is passing but who have left unfinished a small amount of work–for instance, a final examination, a paper, or a term project which may be completed without further class attendance.  When a grade of incomplete (IN) is assigned, the professor will specify, via Web grading, the work necessary to complete the course and receive a grade, the deadline date for completion, and the grade to be assigned if the work is not completed by the specified date. The date for completion will normally be within four weeks of the beginning of the next semester, but will not be longer than one calendar year. The sole exception is for graduate research courses, which will have no maximum deadline.  In the event that the instructor from whom students receive an “IN” is not on campus, the disposition of students’ eventual grade resides with the appropriate department chairperson.

ACADEMIC RENEWAL

Indiana State University provides Academic Renewal as an option to returning applicants who have been out of school for a significant period of time and whose previous academic performance may not be indicative of the academic work of which they are now capable. Academic renewal recognizes that such students are often hampered by a previous, low grade point average and it offers them the opportunity to complete a graduate degree program.

While a student who has successfully petitioned the dean of the College of Graduate and Professional Studies for academic renewal may be permitted to graduate as an exception to the existing grade point average guidelines, the overall grade point average and transcripts will remain unchanged. The following conditions apply:

1.       One or more years must have passed between the student’s previous enrollment in an ISU graduate program and the current term of readmission to the student’s initial program of application; OR one or more years have passed between the student’s previous enrollment in an ISU graduate program and the current term of readmission to a new program. Department review is required.

2.       Academic Renewal can occur only once, and it is irreversible.

3.       All academic requirements in place at the time of readmission must be met.

4.       Students who have completed all degree requirements, met the minimum grade point average, and earned no grades lower than a “B” (3.0) following readmission will be graduated as an exception by a memorandum from the dean of the College of Graduate and Professional Studies to the Provost.

To apply for Academic Renewal, students should consult with the College of Graduate and Professional Studies.

RETENTION, TRANSFER, AND OTHER

RETENTION

A student whose grade point average drops below a 3.0 (or higher in certain programs) will be placed on probation, suspended from graduate study, or dismissed from the College of Graduate and Professional Studies. The dean of the College of Graduate and Professional Studies, in accordance with the regulations of the student’s academic department and the College of Graduate and Professional Studies, will make decisions in such matters. In addition to academic standing, students may be removed from an academic program at the request of the program coordinator or department chairperson for failing to meet professional or licensure standards, or not meeting program specific expectations outlined in the catalog or a program’s student handbook. A student who is suspended from graduate study or dismissed from the College of Graduate and Professional Studies may request a review of the case by the Graduate Student Appeals Committee of the Graduate Council.

CONTINUOUS ENROLLMENT / READMISSION AT ISU

Any student admitted to the College of Graduate and Professional Studies and to a department who has not enrolled and earned graduate credit for work at Indiana State University for a period of two consecutive years, except when there is an approved leave of absence, will have his or her admission automatically cancelled. In order to re-enroll in classes, a student whose admission has been cancelled must reapply for admission to the College of Graduate and Professional Studies and the department/program of interest. Students who are readmitted in the above manner will be governed by the policies and regulations in effect at the time of readmission.

LEAVE OF ABSENCE

Students in good standing in his/her respective program, prior to suspension of enrollment, may apply for a leave of absence. Applications must be approved by the graduate committee, program director, and Dean of the College of Graduate and Professional Studies. Reasons for leave of absence may include military service, illness, family medical leave, etc.

TRANSFER CREDIT

General Information

Work taken for graduate credit at other institutions may be transferred in partial fulfillment of degree requirements under the following conditions:

1. Transfer of credit will be considered for graduate work taken only at regionally accredited institutions or at institutions recognized by the Department of Education. Graduate credits earned from an international college or university will be evaluated by the International Programs and Services Office before being considered for transfer into an ISU degree program.
2. The research requirement must be taken at Indiana State University. Graduate credits appropriate to the degree taken at Indiana State University may be accepted for transfer at the recommendation of the department or program.
3. Transfer credit requests on courses that are not part of a completed graduate degree, licensure, or post-bachelor’s certificate program and that were taken outside of the time to-degree completion guidelines, must be sent to the College of Graduate and Professional Studies.  Each department or program is responsible for evaluating the currency of the student’s knowledge from courses presented for transfer.
4. Transfer credits approved at enrollment remain current within the specified time-to-degree completion period (seven years for masters, eight years for education specialists, and nine years for doctoral degrees).
5. Credit may be transferred, but grades earned in courses taken at other institutions do not transfer.
6. Only graduate courses in which a student has earned a grade of B (or 3.0 on a 4.0 scale) or better may be considered for transfer.
7. Graduate courses taken at another university on a credit/no credit, pass/fail, or satisfactory/unsatisfactory option are not accepted as transferable unless approved by the department or program.

Master’s Degree Transfer Information 

1. Master’s programs in the College of Graduate and Professional Studies will accept for transfer a maximum of nine credits for programs that require fewer than 40 credits, 12 credits for programs that require 40-49 credits, and 15 credits for programs that require more than 49 credit. Such credits, however, must be earned at an institution that is regionally accredited to award graduate degrees. No course in which a grade lower than a “B” (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) was earned will be accepted for transfer. Furthermore, transfer work must meet the standards for the credits earned at Indiana State University. All transfer credits must be appropriate to the particular program in which the student is enrolled.
2. Individual graduate programs may set lower limits on transfer credit and therefore students should consult with the appropriate director or department chairperson for such information.

Doctoral or Educational Specialist Degree Transfer Information

No specific rule regulates the number graduate credits that are transferable from other institutions approved by the appropriate regional accrediting agency to offer graduate work leading to an advanced degree beyond the master’s degree. However, doctoral programs may set a limit on maximum number of transfer credits, thus students should review transfer information at the program level. The dissertation and a minimum of 30 credits of work, exclusive of the first 32 credits, must be taken in residence on the Terre Haute campus.  Graduate work which has been completed previously will be evaluated by the program or department to determine what credits are applicable to the student’s program. Graduate credits earned more than seven years prior to admission to the program will not count toward fulfilling the minimum credit requirements for the doctoral degree.

Educational Specialist’s Degree

A student working toward the educational specialist degree may transfer up to 39 graduate either applied to a completed master’s degree, or to an administrative license or certificate issued by a state department of education. Courses must be approved in advance by the department’s admission committee or the advisor, in light of guidelines established by the committee.

ASSESSMENT OF PRIOR LEARNING

Select graduate programs may provide students with an opportunity to receive a limited amount of graduate credit as a result of an appropriate and rigorous assessment of prior learning which would ordinarily include the submission of documentary evidence such as a professional portfolio or a comprehensive examination.

Students must be enrolled at ISU and have departmental consent to be eligible for credit by assessment of prior learning. If a student’s performance on the departmental assessment meets or exceeds departmental standards, credit will be granted. Students who earn credit through an assessment of prior learning do not receive a letter grade.

No student may earn more than 30% of their total graduate credits through the assessment of prior learning. In addition, the combined total of transfer credit and assessment of prior learning may not exceed 30% of the total minimum credits required for the program. As such, Master’s programs in the College of Graduate and Professional Studies will accept credits for transfer and/or prior learning that have been approved by the department and College of Graduate and Professional Studies for a maximum of nine credits for programs less than 40 credits, 12 credits for programs that require 40-49 credits, and 15 credits for programs that require more than 49 credits. Departments with specialized programs may seek an exception to this policy by petitioning the College of Graduate and Professional Studies through the Graduate Council. All associated testing fees, protocols, and related policies for the assessments are determined by the University Testing Office and approved by the University Board of Trustees. All students earning credit are additionally required to pay the standard credit by exam fee per hour earned as determined by the University Board of Trustees. All program proposals for a credit bearing assessment of prior learning are to be approved by the Graduate Council.

STUDENT WITHDRAWAL

The University recognizes that numerous circumstances may arise which will necessitate a separation of the student from the institution for a semester. If a student leaves without properly withdrawing, the absences from class will be justification for the grade of “F” to be assigned for the courses in which the student is enrolled.

Students who participate in registration must initiate a semester withdrawal if they elect not to attend any classes during the session for which they are registered. To withdraw from a semester, a student must complete a Withdrawal form and submit it to the Office of Registration and Records.  Refund schedules can be found in the Schedule of Classes and on the web site of the Office of Registration and Records at www.indstate.edu/registrar. Withdrawals occurring and processed beyond the tenth week of classes are assigned a W.

STUDENT LOAD

A full-time course load is considered to be nine credits during the fall and spring semesters. During a regular semester the maximum course load, graduate courses or any combination of graduate and undergraduate courses, is 12 credits. In the summer terms, a student is allowed to earn no more than a total of 15 credits. However, upon the approval of a student’s academic advisor, the department chairperson, and the dean of the College of Graduate and Professional Studies a student may be permitted to enroll in additional credits beyond the limits indicated above.  Full-time graduate assistants must maintain full-time enrollment as outlined in the Graduate Assistantship and Scholarship/Fee Waiver Award Guidelines. Except for unusual circumstances, a class load of 12 credits per semester will not be exceeded. Part-time graduate assistants must enroll in a minimum of nine credits each semester and one credit per summer session.

STUDY WEEK

Study Week is intended to encourage student preparation for final examinations given during the final examination week, but class attendance is expected.  No examination of any kind, including quizzes that count for over four percent of the grade, shall be given during Study Week preceding Finals Week.  Papers due during Study Week shall be specified in the class syllabus handed out to the student at the beginning of the semester.  The student is responsible for notifying the Student Government Association of a violation of any of the above terms. The Student Government Association will take the correct procedures for informing the faculty member and the academic department chairperson of the failure to comply with the terms of the Study Week policy.  The student’s name will be confidential to the Student Government Association.  Examination for laboratory, intensive, mini-courses, or summer sessions are permitted.

COURSE NUMBERING SYSTEM

Courses bearing the Catalog number 500 or above carry graduate credit. Those numbered in the 500 series may also have 400 counterparts, which are open to undergraduate students. A course taken at the 400 level for undergraduate credit may not be repeated at the 500 level for graduate credit without permission of the academic unit and the dean of the College of Graduate and Professional Studies. Courses numbered in the 600 series and above are open only to graduate students. At least one-half of the credits required for a graduate degree must be earned in courses numbered 600 or above. Courses numbered in the 700 and 800 series are designated for students in post-master’s and doctoral programs.

PETITION PROCEDURES AND GRADUATE STUDENT APPEALS COMMITTEE

Students wishing to request an exception to any of the policies of the College of Graduate and Professional Studies should contact the assistant dean.  The Graduate Student Appeals Committee considers academic petitions.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

Graduate students are expected to abide by the University’s Code of Student Conduct, which includes a statement about academic integrity.  Issues of plagiarism discovered in a thesis, dissertation, or culminating project could result in withholding or revoking of the graduate degree.