Continuous Registration for Graduate Students

All graduate students must be enrolled for at least 1 credit hour each academic semester (fall and spring). Students register continuously from the time they first enroll in their graduate degree program until the semester or term in which they graduate. Students must also register for at least 3 semester hours the semester (or summer term) in which they take examinations (including written and oral comprehensive examinations or approved equivalent and dissertation defenses) and the semester (or summer term) in which they graduate.

Exceptions will be considered in these circumstances:

Students make a strong case that their life circumstances do not permit them to continue study for a prescribed period of time. These circumstances might include unforeseen financial burdens, family responsibilities, health problems, or other significant disruption or hardship. Leaves of absence are typically not granted for a period exceeding one year.

However, under extraordinary circumstances, a leave of absence may be extended for a period that exceeds one year; students seeking such a leave are expected to provide documentation.

Students who enroll in summer terms may petition for summer term to count as one of the fall or spring semesters.
Students in summer-only programs and students in off-campus programs with course offerings not resembling on-campus term schedules may apply for exception. However, these students are also expected to adhere to the spirit of the policy, which encourages ongoing and sustained progress toward degree completion.
Programs, and not just individual students, may also apply for exceptions.

Transfer of credit from other institutions will not be considered in lieu of continuous registration.

Request for Exception. Students seeking an exception to the Continuous Registration Policy for Graduate Students are encouraged to follow procedures of the Graduate Student Petition for Exception. Students should complete the petition in a timely fashion so as to ensure their continued status with the university is protected. The form requires the student's completion and signatures by the student, program advisor, school director/division director, and Graduate Dean.

Failure to Follow Continuous Registration Policy for Graduate Students. Students who fail to register continuously and are not approved for exception will be notified with a letter of warning the first semester during which they fail to enroll. At the end of the second semester of non-enrollment they will be classified as discontinued. Discontinued students will need to re-apply to the Graduate School and be re-accepted by their program and the Graduate Dean if they wish to resume their studies. Acceptance is not guaranteed. Additional coursework and examinations may be required for students who are re-admitted.