The Rackham Graduate School administers applications for graduate and graduate/professional degrees offered by more than 120 departments and programs within seventeen of the University's schools and colleges, including the Graduate School itself. The application, as well as detailed information about procedures, requirements, fees, deadlines, and links to descriptions and requirements of individual graduate programs, is available online at http://www.rackham.umich.edu/admissions/prospective_students_degree. Persons seeking a professional degree that is not offered by Rackham should contact the appropriate school or college.
Persons holding master's or doctoral degrees are usually not eligible to apply in the field of specialization and level for which they already have a degree. Admission to a master's program in the same field may be allowed if the previous master's program was not accredited. Applicants to a second master's degree program in a new field must comply with regulations for dual degree programs (section 2.3). Admission to a second doctoral program requires the recommendation of the faculty in the new program and the support of the chair of the graduate program or department. The second doctorate must be in a new field.
Students may not, under normal circumstances, enroll in two doctoral programs simultaneously. Students who seek an exception must submit a "Petition for Modification or Waiver of Regulation" to the Dean of Rackham together with a letter of explanation for the request.
Only when enrollment is necessary for professional development may members of the faculties of the University of Michigan of professorial rank be admitted for graduate work for credit or earn a Rackham degree. Faculty only may do so with the approval of their departments or schools, and of the Rackham Dean. Faculty may not enroll in degree programs offered by their own departments (or schools, if these are equivalent units).
Regular admission is granted to applicants who satisfy all admission requirements of the Graduate School, and who have been admitted by the department or program to which they have applied. For a student to have regular admission status, the Rackham Graduate School must be provided with an official transcript (i.e., one bearing the official seal of the school and the Registrar's signature) indicating award of the bachelor's degree or equivalent.
Conditional admission may be granted to applicants who do not satisfy all admission requirements of the Graduate School. An applicant granted conditional admission must fulfill one or more of the following requirements before any degree milestones (i.e., posting preliminary examinations, advancing to candidacy, or receiving the degree) will be recorded in the official academic record:
Non-Candidate for Degree (NCFD) is an admission status granted to qualified applicants who want to take courses for graduate credit but who do not want to pursue a degree. Professionals, for instance, may seek to continue their development; students in good standing in another graduate school may want to take a course available at Michigan; and others may want to increase their knowledge or test their capabilities in a graduate setting.
Applicants for NCFD status may either select a specific department or program, or apply to be admitted to Rackham more generally. NCFD students admitted to a specific department or program are limited to no more than two terms of enrollment (section 1.3.5). NCFD students admitted to Rackham more generally may elect no more than two courses, and may continue for an additional term only upon successful completion of their courses and with permission of Rackham. Courses elected by students with NCFD status cannot be counted toward a Rackham degree program unless the student receives regular admission and the graduate chair of the degree program and Rackham determine that the courses are acceptable. Requirements and application forms are available online at http://www.rackham.umich.edu/policies/article/forms.
Persons who have been dismissed from a Rackham program for reasons of academic or professional integrity may be ineligible for admission to NCFD status.
The Rackham application fee is non-refundable and subject to change.
Courses taken in fulfillment of Rackham degree requirements must be approved for Rackham graduate credit. Courses at the 300 level or below may not be used for graduate credit. Courses at the 400 level are open to both undergraduates and graduate students but carry graduate credit only if they have been approved by the Graduate School. 400-level courses usually require additional work for graduate students. Approved courses are listed by program in Rackham's Programs of Study website.
Graduate students may petition to receive graduate credit for a 400-level course not normally approved for such credit, but must submit this petition to Academic Records and Dissertations (OARD) before taking the course. Petitioning does not guarantee approval by Rackham. Both the course instructor and the graduate chair of the student's department or program must endorse the petition, which must include an accompanying memo explaining the exception and how graduate-level work will be accomplished in the course. Petition forms are available online at OARD's most requested forms, under Printable Forms.
Courses not approved for Rackham graduate credit appear on the transcript with the notation NFC or NDC (section 1.4). The course grade will appear, but will not be averaged into the cumulative grade point average or the total credits required for the program (CTP) total.
Most students enroll in coursework for credit on their home campus, i.e., Ann Arbor, Dearborn, or Flint. A student who registers on or after the first day of classes—not including adds, drops, or changes to an initial registration—will be charged a late registration fee. For information on the registration process, consult the Office of the Registrar's website.
Students must fulfill the minimum credit hour requirement at their home campus. A student in a Rackham master's program may transfer up to 6 semester hours from other accredited graduate degree-granting institutions toward the degree requirements. A student in a Rackham doctoral program may not transfer credits toward the doctoral degree requirements, but may transfer master's credits toward a master's degree.
As described below, a student may transfer credit hours for graduate-level courses offered at each of the three U-M campuses; for graduate-level courses offered at other universities through special agreements with the University of Michigan; and for graduate-level courses taken at other accredited graduate degree-granting universities.
U-M Campuses in Ann Arbor, Dearborn, and Flint
Graduate students admitted to programs at one of the three U-M campuses may take courses for credit offered at another U-M campus subject to the approval of their own departments and the availability of space in the courses desired. Courses approved for graduate credit on the Flint and Dearborn campuses are listed under program information on their respective websites. Students uncertain if a course is approved for Rackham credit should check in advance with the department offering the course. Non-Rackham courses may not be applied toward the degree program.
The following procedures for registering for courses at another U-M campus must be observed:
For more information, contact the appropriate graduate studies office: Dearborn Graduate Studies Office, 1080 Administration Building, (313) 593-1494; or Flint Office of Graduate Programs, 251 Frances Willson Thompson Library, (810) 762-3171.
Consortial Agreements for Courses Outside U-M
The University of Michigan participates in the Michigan Intercollegiate Graduate Study (MIGS) and the Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC) which have agreements that allow students to take courses or use facilities uniquely available at an institution other than their own.
The Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC), a consortium of the Big Ten Universities and the University of Chicago, sponsors the Traveling Scholar Program which enables doctoral-level students to take advantage of educational opportunities and facilities at other CIC universities. Traveling Scholars pay regular fees to their home institution, where they remain registered. Visits are limited to two semesters or three quarters, and graduate credits earned at the host university are automatically accepted by the home university. The application is available online at http://www.rackham.umich.edu/rns.php?faqid=1610.
The Michigan Intercollegiate Graduate Study (MIGS) Program creates exchange possibilities for graduate students currently enrolled in Michigan universities. Students can take advantage of course and research opportunities offered at another institution, provided that such opportunities are not available on the home campus. Students in master's or specialist degree programs may enroll for six credit hours while doctoral students may enroll for up to nine credit hours at a host institution. These credit hours will not count towards the Required Fee Total requirements (section 1.5). The application is available online at: http://www.rackham.umich.edu/rns.php?faqid=1610.
Graduate credits may be transferred to master's degree programs only. While graduate credits from another institution cannot be transferred to a doctoral program, graduate work done elsewhere may be used to satisfy certain requirements but will not appear on the University transcript. Transfer credits must be taken and earned in residence; credits for extension or on-line learning may not be transferred.
Students eligible to transfer credit must:
Students may transfer credits for courses taken at their undergraduate institution only if these courses were at the graduate level and required graduate-level work, and for which confirmation is provided to Rackham. Credits for these courses may not be transferred if used, in whole or in part, to fulfill requirements for a bachelor's or other degree or certificate, or will be used, in whole or in part, to fulfill requirements for any degree in the future.
Credit may not be transferred for courses taken at an exclusively undergraduate institution or community college; for courses that have been, or will be, applied, in whole or in part, toward any other degree or certificate; for courses taken more than five years before admission to the student's current Rackham master's program; or for courses for which a letter grade of less than "B" has been awarded.
Graduate credits may be transferred to master's degree programs in three ways:
Doctoral students may request that graduate credits earned at another institution be used to satisfy the cognate requirement (section 2.1.1.1) or to reduce the Required Fee Totals when a doctoral student has a master's degree from another institution that is relevant to the doctoral work pursued at the University (section 2.1.2.1). A doctoral student who is also enrolled in a master's degree program may request transfer of credit for the master's program, but only after the master's program has been activated for the student (section 1.5).
Transfer course numbers and credits appear on the University transcript, but grades will not be listed and will not be computed in calculating the cumulative grade point average.
All requests for transfer of credit must be approved by the student's program and by Rackham OARD, which provides instructions on procedures and a transfer of credit request form at http://www.rackham.umich.edu/downloads/oard/forms/transfercredit.pdf. Questions may be directed to OARD.questions@umich.edu.
With permission of the advisor and the course instructor, a student may enroll in a course as a visitor (auditor), rather than for credit. A visit (audit) will not be counted toward degree credit requirements. Full fees will be assessed at the current rate of tuition. After registering for the course online via Wolverine Access, the student must register for this status in person at the Registrar's Office, and present a Drop/Add form with the signatures of both the instructor and the student's department graduate chair or advisor. Before enrolling, the student must confer with the instructor to reach an agreement on what will constitute satisfactory completion of the course. The student is expected to attend class regularly and may be asked to submit assignments and to take examinations. See below for an explanation of how visits (audits) are noted on the permanent academic record.
Elections of visited (audited) courses must appear on the class schedule printout provided at registration. Students should check their class schedule printouts for accuracy and completeness.
After a grade has been issued, a course may not be changed from letter grade to visit (audit) status, or vice versa.
Students are urged to change course selections only after consultation with their advisors. The Registrar's Office evaluates revised course elections to determine if an adjustment in fees is necessary.
Through the third week of classes in a full term (or the second week of classes in a half term), students may add or drop a course, change status from credit to visit (audit), or increase or decrease the hours for a course within the range listed in the Time Schedule via Wolverine Access. The Registrar's Office publishes each year's Drop/Add deadline on its website: http://www.umich.edu/~regoff/. Departmental approval is necessary to change course elections. Departments and programs may have separate deadlines or procedures. A student who seeks to drop the only course for which he or she is registered must follow procedures for a term withdrawal as outlined on the Registrar's website.
After the third week in a full term (or the second week in a half term), and until the last day of classes of that term or half term, students must obtain signed approval from the course instructor and the chair of the home department or program before an add, drop or change of status from credit to visit (audit) can be made. Students should contact the department or program administrator for election worksheets or contact the Registrar's Office at 1210 LSA Building, 500 S. State St.; or at Pierpont Commons on North Campus. Note: Any course for which a drop is registered after the third week in a full term (or the second week in a half term) will appear on the permanent record as "W" (withdrawn).
No changes to a course are allowed after a grade has been assigned. Retroactive changes to a course or credit are exceptions to normal policy, and permission is granted only for unusual reasons and with approval from the department or program. Petitions must be submitted to Rackham OARD for approval. Additional information and procedures for changing courses is available the University Registrar's website.
International students should consult with the International Center before dropping courses, as this may affect their immigration status.
Students may repeat a course with permission of the advisor and course instructor. Credits for the course may not be earned beyond the limit set by guidelines of the department or program. Each election and grade for a course that is repeated will remain on the transcript, and will be counted into the grade point average as separate elections.
A student's registration status may change during the course of graduate study, and may include full-time study, detached study, dissertation research/writing, and non-enrollment. Each registration status has different requirements. Not every status provides the same access to services as that which is available to full-time registered students, such as courses, consultation with faculty, access to laboratories and other campus research facilities, computing services, University Library privileges, financial aid, University Health Services, and recreational sports memberships.
In general, full-time study is defined as 8 credit hours of course enrollment per term, or 4 credit hours per half term. Selected graduate programs may have other minimum credit hour requirements to be considered full-time. Graduate students may be required to be enrolled full-time to be eligible for certain University services and to meet the certification requirements of outside agencies, such as the Veterans Administration and US Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Students enrolled full-time for the fall and winter terms have nine-month privileges for all student services, and are eligible to receive these services during May as well. Students enrolled full-time during the fall and winter, and either the spring half term or the summer half term, are considered to have twelve-month privileges and are entitled to these services during the half term they are not enrolled.
Decisions related to enrollment eligibility are the shared responsibility of Rackham departments and programs and of the Rackham Graduate School. A student who has fulfilled all degree requirements may be prohibited from enrolling.
Note for International Students
US Citizenship and Immigration Services requires that students holding a J-1 or F-1 visa be registered full-time to maintain their visa status. For this purpose, the Graduate School defines full-time study for international students as follows:
International students who wish to be registered less than full-time must obtain permission in advance from the International Center or risk compromising their status with US Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Because of the nature of doctoral study, the University extends some services to doctoral candidates who are not enrolled for courses and not on Detached Study. Non-enrolled doctoral candidates have library privileges for up to two years beyond any term of enrollment, and may have a recreational sports membership at the continuing rate while working toward their degree. Non-enrolled Rackham students should contact the appropriate office to learn about their conditions of eligibility for computing services, library privileges, access to University Health Services, financial aid, recreational sports memberships, and parking.
Detached study is a registration status for master's or doctoral students who are not enrolled for courses or directed research, but who are working toward completion of the degree as a primary activity. It assures the student of re-admission to the Graduate School at the end of the period and may be used for certification to the student's employer or to an external agency granting support. Students on detached study may continue to defer or apply for student loans. Students working as a GSI, GSRA, or in any other capacity at the University, including hourly employment; or who are using laboratory facilities or taking examinations (including preliminary examinations and the oral defense) may not have detached study status.
International students who elect detached study must work full-time on their studies to maintain their visa status, and should seek further information and guidelines on the Rackham OARD website.
A student eligible for detached study must plan to make work toward the degree his or her primary activity during that period of time, and must not require access to University services beyond library privileges, a computing account and certain forms of financial aid. Detached study may not be used for medical reasons or job search.
To be eligible for detached study, a student must:
Only one period of detached study, not to exceed twelve months, can be approved at a time, for a combined total of three years (nine full terms) during the course of study for the degree. Detached study will not be made retroactive for any reason.
A form requesting Detached Study must be submitted to OARD no sooner than five months prior to the beginning of the requested detached study period and no later than the last day of classes of the first term of the requested detached study period.
Students returning from detached study to full-time registration status do not need to seek readmission. Students who enroll for courses while on detached study automatically lose their detached study status.
Dissertation research/writing is a designation for full-time doctoral candidates. International students actively engaged in dissertation research and writing, but not enrolled for coursework, may apply for this designation in order to maintain their visa standing. With this designation, students have access to services provided to students on detached study. Those who are US citizens are not eligible for loan deferment. Students may not hold GSI, GSRA, or GSSA appointments, or other positions related to their academic program, but may, with prior permission from Rackham OARD, have other part-time University employment.
Students may apply for the dissertation research/writing designation for a period of three consecutive terms, or twelve months. Students may not be on dissertation research/writing for more than a total of three years, or nine full terms, during the course of study for their degree. The student's department chair and the Dean of the Graduate School (or their designates) must approve the application.
Non-candidate for degree students (NCFD) who have been admitted to a specific department or program are normally limited to no more than two terms of enrollment. NCFD students admitted to Rackham more generally may elect no more than two courses, and may continue for an additional term only upon successful completion of their courses and with the permission of Rackham. Students are required to: have an average cumulative GPA of at least a B (5.00 on a 9 point scale); not register for a pattern of courses which indicates a field of specialization (i.e., usually not more than two courses in one field); and obtain written approval of the instructor on an election worksheet for each course to be taken.
The demands of caring for immediate family (such as children, ill or injured partners, or aging parents) may seriously affect the time and energy graduate students can devote to educational responsibilities. Because of the difficulty of combining educational pursuits with such dependent care demands, a graduate student may, upon written request to the relevant department/program chair and the Dean of the Graduate School, be granted an extension of one year to the maximum time limits to degree and candidacy as established in the Rackham’s General Requirements and Regulations and fellowship guidelines (section 2.1.2.3 and 2.2). Students should write a memo or use the Rackham OARD Petition for Modification or Waiver of Regulation form with a note that the petition is for a one year extension for dependent care and that explains the specific reasons for the request. The department or program chair determines the outcome of this petition with input, as needed, from Rackham.
Graduate student parental accommodation allows a student to maintain registered full time student status immediately following the birth or adoption of a young child, along with all the benefits of such status, while facilitating the return to full participation in courses, research and teaching. Eligible students may be granted a parental accommodation of up to six weeks, with extension of certain time limits. Rules of research funding or external fellowships may require suspension of payments during the parental accommodation period. In this instance, the Rackham Childbirth Accommodation Fund may provide salary or stipend, and benefits.
Eligible students must submit a Request for Graduate Student Parental Accommodation after consultation with her/his advisor, principal investigator, and graduate chair. The form with appropriate documentation of the anticipated birth or adoption (a letter from the student’s medical provider with an estimate of delivery date or from the adoption agency with an estimate of adoption date) must be submitted to the student’s graduate program office for approval and to Rackham OARD for approval.
For other family care issues affecting time to degree, see section 1.3.6.
Disenrolling from a term. Students who have registered for courses but change their plans may disenroll prior to the first day of classes of the term. A student who wishes to disenroll should notify the Registrar's Office by written notice, email or in person, providing University identification number, graduate program, and term for which the student should be disenrolled. The Registrar assesses a late fee for disenrollment after the first day of classes of the term.
Withdrawing from a term. After the first day of classes, students who wish to withdraw from the current term must obtain a signed Term Withdrawal Notice from their department or program and present this to the Registrar's office. A student who is away from campus or otherwise unable to present the notice in person should contact the department or program for assistance.
Students who withdraw after the term begins are responsible for registration and disenrollment fees regardless of their class attendance. Tuition adjustments follow the dates and amounts set by the Registrar. Withdrawing completely from all elections may affect eligibility for federal financial assistance and repayment obligations, and students should consult with the Office of Financial Aid.
International students must consult with the International Center before disenrolling or withdrawing, as this will affect their visa status.
With the exception of doctoral candidates and students returning at the end of a certified period of Detached Study or Dissertation Research/Writing, students who have not been enrolled in the Graduate School for more than one year (12 months) must apply to Rackham for readmission. Students who have been placed on probation after exceeding the time limit for reaching candidacy or completing the degree, and who are subsequently dismissed for failing to demonstrate sufficient progress, may be allowed to seek readmission (sections 1.3.12, 2.1.1, 2.1.2.3, 2.2). Readmission is dependent upon departmental approval and upon availability of space and facilities for the term in which readmission is requested. International students seeking readmission will need to certify proof of adequate funding in order for Rackham Admissions to issue the appropriate documents to obtain a visa.
A student who seeks readmission after withdrawing for health reasons may be asked by the department or program to provide a physician's certification of readiness to return to active status. If a student seeking readmission was on probationary admission, academic probation, or extended probation, that standing will continue in effect if readmission is granted, unless the program and the Graduate School remove or modify the status. If a student is dismissed or required to withdraw, readmission may be granted only by obtaining approval of the program and the Graduate School.
Students may apply to change from one graduate program to another within the Graduate School. This change requires full consideration by the new program's admissions committee. The student should contact the new program for information about the required application and supporting materials, and must submit a "Change of Program (includes Change of Degree Level) or Dual Degree/Program" application (http://www.rackham.umich.edu/rns.php?faqid=1606) to the department or program. International students must supply documentation of additional funding if a change of field will result in an extension of the expected study period. Students, other than doctoral candidates, who have not been enrolled in the Graduate School or on detached study for 12 consecutive months before the term of proposed change of program, must apply for readmission to the Graduate School.
Students with non-degree (NCFD) status who wish to change to degree status within the same field of specialization must submit a "Change of Program (includes Change of Degree Level) or Dual Degree/Program" application (http://www.rackham.umich.edu/rns.php?faqid=1606) to the department or program. The student should also contact the program office directly for information about program content and supporting materials needed. An international student must submit documentation of additional funding to Rackham Admissions if a change of degree level will result in an extension of the expected study period.
Students who wish to change from one degree program to another within the same field of specialization, such as from the master's program in Economics to the doctoral program in Economics, should also follow the procedures described above. Candidates applying to another doctoral program will revert to precandidacy status.
A student in good academic standing
Each graduate student should discuss periodically with his or her advisor whether the department finds the student to be performing satisfactorily and making sufficient progress toward the degree. Departments should immediately notify students in writing when their performance falls below an acceptable level.
In response to a student's academic deficiencies, the University may take any of the following actions that affect the student's academic status: 1) admit a student on probationary status; 2) place a continuing student on probation; 3) require a student to withdraw from the University; or 4) not confer a degree or certificate.
A student whose cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) falls below a B (5.00 on a 9 point scale) in a given term or half term will be placed on academic probation for the following term or half term of enrollment. During that term, such a student will not be awarded a graduate degree or certificate and cannot transfer credit to a Rackham master's program, be advanced to candidacy, be approved for detached study, or be allowed to change his or her program (i.e., dual degree, degree level, etc.). Upon the recommendation of the graduate chair, and with the consent of the Graduate School, a student may be granted an opportunity to correct the scholastic and/or academic deficiency. In addition to these requirements, degree programs may require students to achieve minimum grades in the overall program of study and/or in particular courses.
A student on probation when last enrolled in the Graduate School who wishes to be readmitted or change fields or degree level, must petition the department or program and the Graduate School to modify the conditions of academic standing or discipline. The petition should: provide reasons for the poor academic record; explain how conditions that produced this poor performance have changed; and present specific plans for improvement. The department or program must approve the petition before a student can re-enroll (section 1.3.9).
A student who is not making satisfactory progress or has failed to demonstrate the ability to succeed in his or her program may be required to withdraw or be dismissed. A student whose cumulative GPA falls below a B (5.00 on a 9 point scale) may be denied permission to register, required to withdraw, or dismissed from the program. Other reasons for withdrawal or dismissal may include not making satisfactory progress toward the degree, or failing to demonstrate an ability to succeed in his or her plan of studies. Time limits for achieving candidacy (section 2.1.1), completing the doctorate (section 2.1.2.3) and finishing a master's degree (section 2.2) are defined in this Handbook.
Students may also be dismissed for failing to meet the standards of academic and professional integrity (Appendix, Academic and Professional Integrity and Procedures for Investigating Allegations of Academic and Professional Misconduct).
A program must provide the student written notification of the grounds for dismissal.
To maintain satisfactory academic standing, graduate students must make satisfactory progress toward their degrees and have a minimum Rackham cumulative grade point average (GPA) of B (5.00 on a 9 point scale). Programs and departments may have separate requirements for grades necessary to maintain satisfactory academic standing. Students who fall below this average are placed on academic probation. Courses in which grades of D or E are earned cannot be used to fulfill degree requirements.
Instructors enter grades on the student's permanent academic record. Students may elect courses without letter grades, either as a visit (audit) or for Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U) grading. A visit (audit) does not count for credit, but a grade of S does.
The academic transcript is part of a student's academic record. Other University offices collect and maintain necessary information (records) about students. These records and the transcript together constitute the student's permanent academic record. For more information about the permanent academic record, see "Student Rights and Records."
The permanent academic record is the history of a student's academic progress in the Graduate School and cannot be altered except in conformance with policies governing dropping, adding, and modifying courses, and the achievement of milestones (e.g., receipt of a degree, advancement to candidacy, etc.). This record may not be altered because of dissatisfaction with a particular instance of academic performance.
Coursework is graded with a letter system (A, B, C, D, or E), except for special courses noted below. An instructor may add "+" or "-" to grades. Letter grades are converted into numbers, or points, as follows:
| A+ = 9 | B+ = 6 | C+ = 3 | D = 0 |
| A = 8 | B = 5 | C = 2 | E = 0 |
| A- = 7 | B- = 4 | C- = 1 |
These numbers are used to calculate Michigan Honor Points (MHP) and the Grade Point Average (GPA).
Michigan Honor Points (MHP) are calculated by multiplying the number of credit hours for which the course was elected by the number of points earned on the grading scale. For example, a grade of B+ for a 3 credit hour course produces 3 (credit hours) x 6 (points for a grade of B+), or 18 honor points. The grade point average (GPA) is calculated by dividing Michigan Honor Points earned for a term or more by the number of semester hours (or credit hours) for the courses. A total of 91 MHP for 13 course credit hours produces a GPA of 7.00.
Other transcript notations include:
Visits (VI)
A notation of "VI" appears on the transcripts of students who successfully complete a course which they have elected to visit (audit). These courses do not count for degree credit requirements. Students who do not complete a course to the satisfaction of the instructor, and who have not dropped the course, receive a notation of "E" or "ED" (unofficial drop) on their transcript. This grade will be calculated into the student's GPA.
Satisfactory (S) and Unsatisfactory (U)
The department or program designates courses for which S/U grading is used. A student may, however, with permission from the advisor and the course instructor, elect S/U grading in a course that would otherwise be letter graded. Instructors cannot assign letter grades to students electing courses designated as S/U. A grade of "S" indicates that the instructor considers the student to have performed satisfactorily at the graduate level, and is counted toward the credit hour requirements of the degree program. A grade of "S" is considered to be a grade of "B" or better. A grade of "U" is assigned when a graduate student's level of performance is not acceptable, and is not counted toward a student's required credit hours. Grades of "S" and "U" are not converted into numbers, and are not factored into the Grade Point Average or Michigan Honors Points.
Incomplete (I)
A student may receive a grade of Incomplete ("I") only if the work remaining to be done for the course by the end of the semester is small and the instructor approves an extension for completing the unfinished work. The instructor must agree to this arrangement and determine a deadline for finishing the assigned work before a grade is assigned. The notation of "I" remains a permanent part of the academic record. When coursework is completed to the satisfaction of the instructor, the grade will appear on the transcript as, for example, "I B+." The grade point average is based only on hours of coursework completed.
Drops (W) and Unofficial Drops (ED)
A course that is officially dropped after the first three weeks of a full term (or the first two weeks of a half term), will be recorded with the notation of 'W," and will not earn credit hours toward the degree program or Michigan Honor Points.
A student who registers for a course and either never attends or stops attending—but does not officially drop the course—receives a notation of "ED" (Unofficial Drop). A notation of "ED" is equivalent to a grade of "E" (failure). After the end of the term, but before the grade is posted, a student may petition to have a "W" recorded for the course. Students must complete an election worksheet, available from their department or program, or from the Registrar's Office at 1210 LSA Building, 500 S. State St., or at Pierpont Commons on North Campus.
Multi-Term Course (Y)
Departments may designate a graduate course as a multi-term sequence. The instructor may report a "Y" grade at the end of the first term to indicate that the work is still in progress. When a final grade is reported, the grade will be posted for both terms and the "Y" notation will be removed.
Students may access their unofficial transcripts or order official copies of their transcripts through Wolverine Access.
Note: The Graduate School does not provide copies of academic records from other institutions. Students must obtain such records directly from the institution.
The Regents of the University determine tuition and fees, which are subject to change without notice. Information about average student expenses is available from the Office of Financial Aid (Guide for Graduate Students). For programs that require an enrollment deposit (Ann Arbor programs), the deposit will be applied to tuition for the term to which the student is admitted and is not refundable. Mandatory fees include Registration, Michigan Student Assembly (MSA), Student Legal Services, and Rackham Student Government. Students who receive Rackham or other University fellowships are responsible for paying University fees.
The tuition schedule for the Ann Arbor campus, available from the Registrar (http://www.umich.edu/~regoff/tuition/), is based on the number of credits a student elects during a specific term and on his or her residency status. A tuition reduction of 50 percent, exclusive of fees, is available to qualified students age 65 or older. Students eligible for such reduced charges should contact the Registrar. Tuition and fees are different at the Dearborn and Flint campuses. Please consult these campuses for further information.
Residency Regulations and Tuition. The University's two-tiered tuition structure has Michigan resident and non-Michigan resident rates. To be eligible for resident classification, a student must demonstrate compliance with the University's Residency Classification Guidelines. The Residency Guidelines are independent of guidelines used by state authorities to determine residency for purposes such as tax liability, driving, voting, etc. Students are responsible for applying for admission and registering under the correct University residency classification. Those who believe they are eligible to be classified as Michigan residents should consult the Registrar for the circumstances under which they need to file a Michigan residency application. These include persons who have lived or worked outside the state within three years of application to the University.
Required Fee Totals (RFTs). The Required Fee Total (RFT) (section 2.1.2.1) designates the number of fee hours, or credit hours, for which tuition has been paid, that a Rackham student accumulates, within certain conditions, during the degree program. Precandidate tuition is not charged for more than 9 credit hours per full term (5 for a half term or up to 9 for a combined spring/summer term); students who enroll for more than 9 credit hours in a full term (including the Spring/Summer term) are assessed tuition for a maximum of 9 credit hours and earn 9 fee hours. For example, a precandidate enrolled for 9 or more credit hours in a full term earns a maximum of 9 fee hours per semester. A candidate enrolled for at least 8 credit hours earns a maximum of 8 fee hours. A student who pays for an additional course earns corresponding fee hours.
Rackham doctoral students must accumulate a minimum number of 36 fee hours to be recommended for candidacy and a total of 68 fee hours to receive the doctorate. If a student has earned a master's degree from an accredited institution that his or her program deems relevant to the doctoral degree being pursued, the required RFT may be reduced to 18 fee hours to be recommended for candidacy, and 50 fee hours to receive the doctorate. A student requesting credit for a non-Rackham master's must contact the department or program. This request does not guarantee approval by the department or Rackham.
Courses taken outside the University that may be used to satisfy the cognate requirement for the doctorate (section 2.1.1.1) and courses elected during candidacy that are taken without tuition charges (section 2.1.2.1), will not be counted toward the RFT.
Occasionally a student will lack a few fee hours needed to advance to Candidacy or to receive the degree. With the exception of the 18 credit hours required to be recommended for candidacy, students may elect to not enroll for the missing fee hours, but to pay these at the student's current appropriate tuition rate per credit hour, which is set by the Registrar.
University Assistantships. Depending on appointment fraction, Graduate Student Instructors (GSIs) and Graduate Student Staff Assistants (GSSAs) receive tuition payment under the terms of the Graduate Employees Organization (GEO) contract. Graduate Student Research Assistants (GSRAs) are not part of the GEO contract but receive many of the same benefits. For information, contact Employee Relations and Compensation, Office of Human Resources.
Indebtedness to the University. Students must pay all accounts due the University in accordance with regulations established for such payments by the Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer of the University. Students failing in their financial obligations to the University will have a hold credit placed on their account that may prevent them from registering or receiving transcripts or diplomas.
The definition of full-time enrollment for periods of less than a full term is subject to change in accordance with a formula provided by the Veteran's Administration.