Progress Toward Degree
1. Satisfactory Progress
A graduate student is expected to maintain satisfactory progress toward an approved academic
objective as defined by the faculty of the program, and in accordance with the Policies and
Procedures for the student’s Graduate Group, and policies of the Graduate Council and UC
Merced, as outlined in this Handbook. Graduate Group Policies and Procedures can be found on
the website for each graduate program, as well as on the Graduate Division website. Student
progress towards the degree should be assessed at least annually, and this assessment should be
provided to students in writing. The Graduate Group should inform the Graduate Division of any
action taken with regard to a student's academic record, and should provide copies of any related
correspondence between the program and the student.
A graduate student is expected to have a faculty advisor at all times during their graduate studies.
In the absence of a faculty advisor, the Graduate Group Chair becomes the student’s temporary
advisor. It is the responsibility of the student to secure a permanent faculty advisor in a timely
manner, according to their respective Graduate Group’s Policies and Procedures.
Satisfactory progress is determined on the basis of both the student's recent academic record and
overall performance. Minimum criteria for determining satisfactory progress toward degree are
outlined below, specific Graduate Groups may have higher standards, as identified in their Policies
and Procedures:
- GPA - the student must maintain at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average.
- Normal Time to Degree – the student must advance to candidacy and complete the degree within the limitations established by the Policies and Procedures of the student’s Graduate Group, in accordance with Graduate Council policy.
- Grade Reports - all I, W, U, or NR grades should be reviewed and appropriate action taken as needed.
- Enrollment Units - students must be enrolled in at least 12 units of coursework in a given semester, including course credits for supervised research or teaching occurring during the academic year, such as 295, 299, and 399 units, unless part-time status or an ELP has been approved in advance by the Graduate Dean. In cases of approved part-time status, enrollment in seven or fewer units of credit toward the degree is expected each semester.
- Distribution of units - the number of upper-division and graduate-level units of credit completed toward degree requirements each semester should be at least eight and no more than 16 units, unless an exception has been approved in advance.
- Academic Residency - time in residence prior to advancement to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree should be within acceptable limits (ordinarily, no more than four years).
