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Graduate Bulletin

Admission and Graduate Requirements


GENERAL ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS

Each prospective graduate student must submit a formal application for admission and receive a formal letter of admission before registering for any courses.

Graduate students are expected to hold a bachelor's degree from a college or university of recognized standing. Their preparation must be appropriate to the program they wish to pursue and their academic record should generally be a B or better in course work that the department considers preparatory for graduate study. Meeting this requirement does not ensure that an applicant will be admitted.

The University desires diversity of student backgrounds and points of view. To that end, admissions committees also consider an applicant's accomplishments and personal qualities that are brought to their attention by the applicant or by his or her references. A careful evaluation of accomplishments and promise is at the heart of the process.

Students who wish to enter doctoral or certificate programs in specific fields or master's programs, or who wish to engage in a limited amount of study not directed toward a degree (nondegree study) apply directly to the Office of Graduate Studies (UAB-121).

Students from other countries who wish to enter a program or course in any school or college within the University apply through the Office of Graduate Studies (UAB-121).

Students who hold or who have qualified for a master's degree at the University and who wish to continue in or to re-enter graduate study must reapply.

Programs and Courses

Information concerning specific programs of study may be found by referring to the sections in this bulletin headed: College of Arts and Sciences, School of Business, College of Computing and Information, School of Criminal Justice, School of Education, College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering, Nelson A. Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, School of Public Health, School of Social Welfare, and International Programs.

Application Procedures

All prospective graduate students must apply in a timely manner to either (1) a program leading to a degree or (2) to nondegree (in-service training, professional improvement, scholarly development) study. With few exceptions, students applying for full-time study in regular sessions or for extended study in other sessions are expected to apply for admission in a program leading to a degree. Nondegree study is limited to a total of 12 credits applicable to a degree program.

The applicant must submit an application requesting a specific field of study along with the appropriate supporting credentials:

  1. Official transcripts of all previous college work (This is all that is required for nondegree candidates.)
  2. Three letters of reference from persons who can speak to the applicant's academic potential and ability.
  3. Standardized Test Scores - GREs, GMATs or NTEs may be required. Check the graduate application for a list of requirements by program.
  4. Portfolio - Some departments require a portfolio of your work. Check the graduate application.
  5. Statement of applicant's objectives of intended graduate study.
  6. Application fee.
The application and all credentials received in support of an application become the property of the University and can not be returned.

Once the completed application and all supporting credentials have been received by the appropriate graduate admissions office, they are reviewed by the admissions committee within that academic unit. On recommendation of the committee and approval of the Vice President of Research and Dean of Graduate Studies, the Graduate Admissions Office will offer admission. For requirements for admission to doctoral candidacy see the section on "Admission to Candidacy." Students admitted to graduate study in a specific degree program are assigned a faculty advisor by the chair of the major department.

Application forms for doctoral programs, certificate programs, master's programs, or nondegree graduate study may be obtained from one of the two graduate admissions offices (see above). They should be returned to the appropriate office, as should all supporting official academic credentials, test scores, and references.

Students may be considered for only one graduate program (or for nondegree status) at one time. Applications of students who have applied simultaneously to more than one graduate program will be halted in processing until the applicants indicate a single program which they prefer. If a negative admission decision is made concerning a student's graduate program choice, the student may then apply for admission to another graduate program at this University or for nondegree study.

Applicants for Nondegree Study

Applicants for admission to a limited amount of graduate study not leading to a degree (except applicants from other countries) apply directly to the appropriate graduate admissions office (see above). Nondegree applications are welcomed for any period up to 10 days prior to the desired session of enrollment. Applicants from other countries apply to the Office of Graduate Studies in UAB 121.

Applicants for Study Leading to a Master's Degree

Applicants for admission to graduate study leading to a master's degree apply directly to the appropriate graduate admissions office (see above). Applicants from other countries apply to the Office of Graduate Admissions in Studies in UAB 121.

Applicants for Study Leading to a Certificate of Advanced Study or to a Doctoral Degree

Applicants for admission to doctoral study and certificate programs apply directly to the appropriate graduate admissions office (see above). Students from other countries applying for admission to graduate study in any of the fields previously mentioned apply to the Office of Graduate Admissions in Studies in UAB 121.

Because of the time involved in obtaining all credentials required in support of a doctoral or a certificate application, and since the required Graduate Record Examinations are given only at stated intervals during the year, applicants in these programs must submit their applications and arrange to take the necessary tests well in advance of the date they desire to enroll. Ordinarily the entire procedure involves at least three months.

International Students

The University welcomes students from other countries to engage in graduate study leading to master's and doctoral degrees. This school is authorized under federal law to enroll nonimmigrant alien students.

All inquiries for graduate admission should be made through the Office of Graduate Admissions, Studies in UAB 121, State University of New York at Albany, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, New York 12222.

In addition to any application form required by sponsoring agencies, ALL international student applicants must complete and submit an official International Student Application. Each application must be supported by the submission of official college/university transcripts of all previous marks or grades, an International Student Financial Affidavit, and required standard test scores, as determined by the University.

Applicants whose native language is not English are required to submit a score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) administered by the Educational Testing Service. International graduate students must have a TOEFL score of 600 or above and also be certified by the chair of their department to be competent to conduct classroom discussion before they can be authorized to teach classes or laboratories where the language of instruction is English. If their TOEFL score is less than 600 (less than 90 on the American language Institute of Georgetown University exam or the Michigan Test of English language proficiency), they must pass the Test of Spoken English with a score of 50 and also be certified by their department chair to be competent to conduct classroom or laboratory discussion.

The University operates an International Student Office which provides all newly admitted students pre-arrival information, an orientation program upon their arrival, and continuing counsel on personal matters and University procedures.

The University offers no general scholarship program for the support of international graduate students. Applicants may wish to investigate the availability of financial assistance from various organizations such as the Institute of International Education, the Asian Foundation, the African Graduate Fellowship Program, or the Latin American Scholarship Program of American Universities. They may wish to inquire into the prospects of such awards with the Educational Attache of the U.S. Consulate, with the Education Office of their government, or through literature available at the Office of the U.S. Information Service.

Intensive English Language Program

The Intensive English Language Program (IELP) is designed for students who wish to improve their English in order to gain admission to an American college or university, and also for those who need to use fluent English in their professional lives. There are 23 class hours per week. Classes are communicative, integrating all language skills, and are taught at the beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels. Elective classes are offered one day per week and include TOEFL preparation, accent reduction, computer instruction, and idiomatic English, amongst others. Cultural activities expand each student's ability to use English in a variety of situations.

In addition to the full-time intensive program, IELP also offers ESL 001 - Oral Communication for International Students. This class is intended for matriculated undergraduate and graduate international students. Off-campus students may also participate if their spoken English is at least an intermediate level.

The IELP runs year round (concurrent with the University at Albany's fall and spring semesters) and there is an 8-week summer session. For further information, contact the IELP at: Telephone (518) 442-3870, Fax (518) 442-3871, E-Mail [email protected], Web www.albany.edu/ielp .

Formal Admission

Prospective graduate students, including students entitled to a waiver of tuition, must submit a formal application for admission to the appropriate Graduate Admissions Office of the University and receive a letter formally admitting them to graduate study before registering for any courses in any session and for either full- or part-time study.

Admission to graduate study does not necessarily imply admission to candidacy for a degree. Students admitted in a program leading to a degree are considered later for admission to degree candidacy. Students admitted to nondegree study are limited to a maximum of 12 credits of study in this category unless an extension is granted.

Graduate students who are enrolled in a graduate degree program are not authorized to enroll through the Office of General Studies for undergraduate courses unless they receive prior approval from the Dean of Graduate Studies.

GRADUATE REGULATIONS AND DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

REGISTRATION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

Although the University encourages the widest amount of student responsibility, with a minimum of administrative regulation, it expects students to maintain appropriate standards in their academic and personal life. The University reserves the right to terminate the registration of any student who does not meet the standards acceptable to the University.

The regulations governing graduate study at the University have been established by vote of the General Faculty, the University Senate, the Graduate Academic Council, or their forerunners. They are designed to support the academic standards of the University and the quality and validity of the degrees it confers and to insure fair and equitable treatment of all students engaged in graduate study.

The general regulations apply to all graduate students in the schools and colleges of the University, and the regulations governing master's and doctoral degrees apply equally to all graduate students engaged in programs which lead to these degrees in each of the schools and colleges of the University.

In addition to the University regulations, the schools, colleges, and departments have established various regulations and procedures governing their respective operations.

Registration

Directions for registration are distributed each semester in the schedule of classes. While degree seeking students must be advised in order to register, add, or drop courses for a given academic session, the final responsibility for selecting the courses needed for graduation rests with the student. Students in a degree program will be required to furnish proof that they have had contact with their academic advisors for the specific academic session before they will be allowed to register, add, or drop. Thus, a registration for the term will demonstrate that a degree-seeking graduate student has indeed been advised, and will allow the registered students to adjust their program. While some academic programs do not require nondegree students to be advised prior to registration, academic advisement is available for all admitted nondegree students. Academic programs should be consulted for current nondegree advisement policies.

Dates for registration are given in the University calendar. A late charge is made for registration after the date specified.

Unit of Academic Credit

The credit is the unit of academic value and represents one hour of lecture or recitation or a minimum of two hours of laboratory work each week for one session or the equivalent. Where laboratory work is a part of a course, this fact is indicated in the course description.

Significance of Course Numbers

From September 1943 to September 1967 courses numbered 100-199, except those offered by the Graduate School of Public Affairs, were for undergraduates. Courses numbered 200-299 were open to seniors and graduate students. Courses numbered 300 and above were open only to graduate students. From September 1962 to September 1967 courses offered by the Graduate School of Public Affairs numbered 100 and above carried graduate credit. Beginning in September 1967 each course offered by the University was assigned a designation and a number according to a plan outlined below. The specific course designation and number appear in the bulletin directly in front of the course title. Each course designation consists of three separate units: the school designation, the subject or departmental designation, and the course number. The school or college offering the course is identified by the single letters that follow:

A		College of Arts and Sciences

B School of Business

I College of Computing and Information

R School of Criminal Justice

E School of Education

G International Studies

C College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering

R Nelson A. Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy

H School of Public Health

X Regional Cross Registration

R School of Social Welfare

U University

 

Course Numbers

The subject designation consists of three letters representing an abbreviation for the subject or the department offering the course. The course number is a three-digit number reflecting the general level of the course and the specific number assigned to the course by the department offering the course. The level designations follow:

000-099   Noncredit courses.


100-299   Lower-division courses (courses 200-299 are primarily of interest to
               sophomores). Undergraduate credit only.


300-499   Upper-division courses (courses 400-499 are primarily of interest to
               seniors). Undergraduate credit only.


500-599   First-year graduate courses. Open to seniors with appropriate
               background and consent of major department chairs and the course
               instructors.


600-699   First-year graduate courses. Open to superior seniors with the
               approval of their advisers and the written consent of their
               department chairs and the course instructors.
 
700+       Advanced graduate courses ordinarily beyond the master's degree.
               Open only to graduate students.


Student Responsibility

Graduate students are personally responsible for completing all requirements established for their degree by the University, college and department. It is the students' responsibility to inform themselves of these requirements. Students' advisors may not assume these responsibilities, and the advisors may not substitute, waive, or exempt students from any established requirement or academic standard.

Course Load

Graduate students in full-time study shall ordinarily register for 12 or more credits each semester. Individuals who are employed or engaged in other significant activities are encouraged to adjust their study loads accordingly.

To be certified as in full-time study, graduate students must:
    be registered for 12 credits, or
    hold a full assistantship and be enrolled in 9 credits, or
    be registered for one dissertation load credit (courses numbered 899 only).

Graduate students enrolled for less than 12 credits per semester who are participating in program required full-time field work may also be certifiable as in full-time status, subject to the approval of the Dean of Graduate Studies or the Graduate Academic Council, based upon the recommendation of the program faculty.

Regulations Governing the Transfer of Credit to a Graduate Program

  1. Courses completed before entering graduate study at this University for which transfer credit is desired should be presented with the application for admission to graduate study.
  2. In order to qualify for transfer credit for graduate courses completed at another institution after entering graduate study at this University, the student's average grade in resident graduate courses taken at this university must be B or better.
  3. Candidates for degrees at this University are requested to receive the approval of their advisors or of the Dean of Graduate Studies before registering for courses at other colleges if they plan later to present them for transfer credit.
  4. Courses presented must be appropriate to the student's graduate program. Professional courses offered for transfer must be consistent with the student's graduate program.
  5. Courses presented must have been given by an accredited institution authorized to grant graduate degrees.
  6. Courses presented must be graduate courses, that is, applicable to a graduate degree at the institution offering them.
  7. Graduate courses presented for transfer credit completed while the student was in undergraduate status shall be eligible for transfer only upon receipt of documentation from the institution certifying that such course work was not used to fulfill undergraduate degree requirements at that institution.
  8. Courses presented must be completed with grades of B or better.
  9. An official transcript of the student's record in the course(s) presented for transfer credit should be sent to the Office of Graduate Studies, State University of New York at Albany, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, New York 12222.
  10. An official description of the course(s) should accompany the request for transfer credit.
  11. Courses accepted for transfer credit are not used in computing the student's academic average.
  12. Of the graduate credits required for a 30-48 credit master's degree, at least 24 must be completed while in resident study at this University. For those graduate programs requiring more than 48 credits, at least 50 percent of the program�s requirements must be completed while in resident study at this University.
Graduate Credit Requirements

To qualify for graduate credit in a course, students must hold a bachelor's degree and have completed as a minimum the equivalent of an undergraduate minor in the field in which the course is offered, except where it has been approved by their advisors as a supporting course in a program for a graduate degree.

Registration in Shared Resource Courses

No graduate student may enroll in the graduate section of a shared resource course if he/she has already completed the undergraduate section of the same course.

Undergraduate-Graduate Study

Seniors of high standing in the University may receive graduate credit for graduate courses taken in excess of undergraduate requirements in the last session of their senior year provided not more than 6 credits are needed to complete the student's undergraduate program. Permission of the Dean of Graduate Studies is required and must be obtained in advance of registration to receive such credit. Seniors who are permitted to take courses for graduate credit in their last session also must make formal application for admission to a graduate program and be accepted before registering for study in the final session.

Program Changes and Withdrawal

  1. Adding a Course: A course may be added with the approval of the student's advisor prior to the close of the fifth day of classes for each session. A course may be added with the approval of the student's advisor and permission of the instructor from Day 6 through Day 10. (This includes changes from audit to credit.) See calendar, separate bulletins, and directions for registration.
  2. Dropping a Course: A course may be dropped with a grade of W (Withdrawn) by a graduate student prior to the close of the ninth week of classes with the approval of the student's advisor. After that date a grade of Z (Failing) is assigned, unless an exception is granted by the Dean of Graduate Studies, in which case a grade of W is assigned. Students who reduce the credits for which they are registered during a particular session and do so before the end of the fourth week of classes are eligible for a partial refund.
  3. Withdrawal: Graduate students who withdraw from the University at the end of the session should notify the Office of Graduate Admissions and their department chairs in writing.

  4. Students who drop all courses for which they have registered withdraw from the University for the session.
    A graduate student who withdraws officially from coursework within the first nine weeks of a regular session may do so and receive grades W (Withdrawn). Students may not withdraw after the prescribed date unless their withdrawals are approved by the Dean of Graduate Studies, in which case they receive grades of W.
    A student who withdraws from a course prior to the end of the program adjustment period shall have the course registration deleted from his/her record.
    A student who withdraws from a course during the program adjustment period and substitutes that course with another course registration will have the dropped course deleted from his/her academic record.
  5. Medical Withdrawal: A graduate student, or where appropriate the student's legal guardian or authorized representative, may initiate the medical withdrawal process by presenting information about a disabling medical condition to the Office of Graduate Studies. A medical withdrawal process may additionally be initiated at the University Health Center, University Counseling Center, or the Office of the Vice President of Student Affairs.

  6. Supporting medical documentation for a medical withdrawal will be transferred and stored in the student's medical record in the University Health Center or University Counseling Center, along with the documentation of the withdrawal. At the time of withdrawal the student will be informed in writing of the requirements for reentry.
    Should the University officer reviewing the request for medical withdrawal have questions about the conditions or circumstances, the situation will be referred to the Health or Counseling Center for review by the appropriate licensed practitioner.
    Medical withdrawals effective on or before the mid-semester point may qualify the student for tuition and fees adjustment for the term of withdrawal. However, under current federal regulations, students who receive federal aid and who withdraw prior to the end of the semester, regardless of the reason for the withdrawal, may have some of the aid on their account returned to the federal program, and they may immediately owe repayment of a significant portion of aid they have received for off-campus expenses.
    Students seeking reentry after a medical withdrawal must provide documentation of the reason for withdrawal, treatment outcome, and their preparedness to return to the University. This documentation will be provided to the University Health or Counseling Center by the student, physician, or other licensed health care practitioner or facility. The University�s Health or Counseling Center reserves the right to make an independent evaluation of a student's readiness to return to the University.
Official Leave of Absence from a Graduate Program
A doctoral student shall be eligible to apply for leave of absence prior to reaching doctoral candidacy and/or registering for dissertation credits. A leave may be proposed for an appropriate academic or personal reason and will be subject to approval by the student's department, school or college, and by the Dean of Graduate Studies. Normally, a leave of absence will be granted for a period up to one year. Multiple leaves may be granted up to a combined maximum of four semesters.
The period of authorized leave of absence is not counted as part of the statute of limitations for completion of degree requirements.
Students who are on leave of absence are not entitled use of University facilities and faculty, and other resources exclusively afforded to students.

Auditing Courses

Students may formally audit appropriate courses which will enhance their programs and/or assist them in achieving career and personal objectives. Formal auditors are ones who register as auditors, pay tuition, and receive recognition on their transcripts, as well as other benefits enjoyed by registered students.

The following conditions govern the formal auditing of selected graduate courses:

  1. The student must register for the course as a formal auditor.
  2. The student must pay full tuition and fees based on his/her status as a graduate student.
  3. The course will appear at the end of the session on the student's transcript with a grade of N bearing the number of credits for which the course is offered.
  4. An audited course may not be applied toward satisfying the credit requirements established for any graduate degree or certificate program.
  5. Registration for an audit course must be approved by the student's academic advisor and either the instructor of the course or the chair of the department offering the course and the Dean of Graduate Studies.
  6. A student may not change from credit to audit or from audit to credit after the last day to add a course for the particular session.
  7. Once audited, a course cannot be repeated for graduate credit.
  8. The following types of courses may not be formally audited: practicums, internships, research and independent study courses, field courses, clinical courses, workshops, and foreign study programs or courses.
  9. A graduate student who formally audits a course must participate in the course in appropriate ways as determined by the instructor. It will be the student's responsibility to ascertain from the instructor the degree of participation required. As a minimum, such participation should include regular attendance and minimum reading assignments necessary to follow discussion and to keep up with the other students in the class. In addition, instructors may require individual auditors to participate in other class projects. If in the instructors judgment, the student by the mid-session date is not satisfactorily auditing the course, the instructor will report a grade of W and the student will leave the course. There would be no refund of tuition and fees. After the mid- session date a W can be assigned by the Dean of Graduate Studies upon the instructor's recommendation.
  10. Credits taken on a formal audit basis may count toward the student's eligibility to hold an assistantship, fellowship, veterans benefits, scholar incentive, and toward a student's full-time status under the residency requirement.
  11. Exceptions to these policies may be authorized by the Dean of Graduate Studies.
Independent Study
  1. Independent study provides students with an opportunity to work in specialized areas of their disciplines or professional fields when no formal, organized courses are offered or when the independent study will provide a richer and more productive experience than a comparable advanced course. A clear determination should be made in advance by students, their advisors, and instructors that it is in the best interest of the students to undertake the courses. It should make a positive contribution to their programs, scholarly development, and intellectual maturity.

  2.  

    Independent study is more, rather than less, demanding on the student than formal courses. Not all graduate students have either the experience or necessary intellectual discipline to undertake work of this nature successfully at the time they first enter a program. Students should not, therefore, undertake independent study in the first session of a graduate program, particularly if they have not had previous graduate experience or have not worked within the department or school previously, unless the programs in which they are engaged incorporates independent study as a formal requirement for the degree.

  3. A student must prepare a written proposal summarizing the intended study. As a minimum this should indicate the objectives, nature, and scope of study, the resources needed or to be used, their location and availability. It must also explain why an existing structured course (including seminars) cannot meet the needs of the student. The proposal must also indicate what the expected end product will be (for example, a paper, annotated bibliography, abstract, theatrical productions, painting or sculpture, questionnaire, etc.). The number of credits which are to be assigned must be specified. Any special or unusual time schedule should be indicated, and the proposal must be signed and approved by the student, the advisor, and the instructor. Copies of the agreement are to be distributed as follows: one copy to the student, one copy to the instructor, one copy to the advisor, one copy to the department, and one copy to the student's official folder. Copies of the agreement form may be secured from the department or school.
  4. An independent study course ordinarily should not be used as a substitute for an organized course specified in the student's program description or letter of admission.
  5. An independent study course may not be taken or approved when its purpose or operation is in conflict with University graduate policy or academic regulations and standards. For example, it specifically may not be authorized to provide for study in absentia when the student's academic status or program requires residence study on campus.
  6. An independent study course may not be taken or approved when its purpose is extraneous to the academic requirements for the degree. For example, it should not be used merely to increase the total credits in a registration by one or two credits.
  7. Each year all approved independent study programs must be reviewed by an appropriate department or school committee.
  8. Included in independent study are the following current types of courses: Directed Study, Independent Study, Directed Reading, Independent Reading, Supervised Study, Supervised Reading, Research and Independent Study, Independent Research and Study, Readings in _______, and Independent Research in_______.
  9. Not included under independent study as here defined: Courses such as Independent Reading or Directed Reading when offered for no credit or for load credit, Seminar courses (680) when independent study may or may not be structured part of the course, Thesis or Dissertation Research, Dissertation (load), Student Teaching, Field Courses, Clinical Courses, Internships, Practicums, Workshops, Laboratory Courses.
Faculty and Professional Staff-Conflict of Interest

The University is concerned that a conflict of interest may exist in situations in which employees or students vote on their own degree conferrals, or in which employees or students might exercise a special and undesirable influence on academic decisions directly influencing their own degree programs or the programs of a member of their immediate families.

  1. Only those below the rank of assistant professor or equivalent status and those with administrative positions below the rank of assistant dean (or equivalent) are eligible to be enrolled in a graduate degree program of study within their own school/college. However, faculty members above the rank of instructor or professional employees at or above the level of assistant dean may be enrolled as graduate degree students in a school or college other than the one in which they are employed provided that there is no conflict of interest nor a restriction by the policies stated here. In addition, no faculty members shall hold voting faculty status (as defined in the by-laws of the University and the individual school or college) in a department, college, or school in which they are also enrolled as graduate degree students.
  2. No graduate degree students shall hold or be assigned any administrative post at or above U-Grade 28 or Professional Rank-7 within the State University of New York system in which they are in a position to (a) alter university graduate student records (transcripts) or (b) influence academic and/or financial decisions bearing directly on the department or nondepartmentalized school in which they are enrolled as degree program students.
  3. Members of the immediate family (spouse, parent, child, brother, sister) of a faculty member (a) may not register for graduate credit in a course taught by the faculty member except where a course cannot be obtained otherwise and is a specific requirement for graduation; and (b) may be enrolled in a graduate degree program in the department or nondepartmentalized school in which the faculty member has voting status only with the approval of the Dean of Graduate Studies. This does not prohibit faculty relatives from enrolling in degree programs in other departments within the same school.
  4. Where a full-time employee desires to enter a graduate program, the responsible administrative officer and the Dean of Graduate Studies should be informed by the employee. The student and administrators should reach a common understanding concerning the relationship between job responsibilities and the required academic study.
  5. Individual academic units should develop governance policies and procedures which will prevent graduate students from voting on their own qualifications for a degree.
  6. This policy was made effective for all graduate students June 1, 1972. Graduate students enrolled in a degree program prior to this date shall not be affected by items 1, 2, 3a above.
  7. Exceptions to this policy may be granted only by votes of the Graduate Academic Council or its designee.
Attendance

Attendance by all graduate students must be regular. Regulations concerning attendance in a particular course are at the discretion of the instructor and are announced in the opening class session. Responsibility for class attendance rests with the student.

In all cases the work missed through absence must be made up. However, permission to make up such work is not automatic and is given at the discretion of the instructor.

The University reserves the right to exclude from a graduate program, course, or final examination students whose attendance in classes is unsatisfactory to their instructors or to the Dean of Graduate Studies.

Section 224-a of the Education Law: Students unable because of religious beliefs to attend classes on certain days

  1. No person shall be expelled from or be refused admission as a student to an institution of higher education for the reason that he* is unable, because of his religious beliefs, to attend classes or to participate in any examination, study or work requirements on a particular day or days.+
  2. Any student in an institution of higher education who is unable, because of his religious beliefs, to attend classes on a particular day or days shall, because of such absence on the particular day or days, be excused from any examination or any study or work requirements.
  3. It shall be the responsibility of the faculty and of the administrative officials of each institution of higher education to make available to each student who is absent from school, because of his religious beliefs, an equivalent opportunity to make up any examination, study or work requirements which he may have missed because of such absence on any particular day or days. No fees of any kind shall be charged by the institution for making available to the said student such equivalent opportunity.
  4. If classes, examinations, study or work requirements are held on Friday after four o'clock post meridian or on Saturday, similar or makeup classes, examinations, study or work requirements shall be made available on other days, where it is possible and practicable to do so. No special fees shall be charged to the student for these classes, examinations, study or work requirements held on other days.
  5. In effectuating the provisions of this section, it shall be the duty of the faculty and of the administrative officials of each institution of higher education to exercise the fullest measure of good faith. No adverse or prejudicial effects shall result to any student because of his availing himself of the provisions of this section.
  6. Any student who is aggrieved by the alleged failure of any faculty or administrative officials to comply in good faith with the provisions of this section shall be entitled to maintain an action or proceeding in the supreme court of the county in which such institution of higher education is located for the enforcement of his rights under this section.
  7. As used in this section, the term "institution of higher education" shall mean schools under the control of the Board of Trustees of the State University of New York or of the Board of Higher Education of the City of New York or any community college.

  8.  

    *This wording is the language of the original and still existing legislation. Until the wording is changed to reflect Title IX provisions, it must be printed in the current form. It should be understood in the above text that masculine pronouns refer equally to female persons.

    +Added L. 1966, c. 826, eff. July 28,1966.

Degree Application

A student who expects to complete requirements for a degree at the end of a particular session must file a Degree Application Request with the Registrar during the final registration period. If for some reason a degree is not awarded after application is made, it is necessary to file another Degree Application Request during the registration of the session when degree requirements are expected to be met.

ACADEMIC STANDARDS

Graduate students who are candidates for a graduate degree or certificate must earn an average of B in all resident graduate courses and credits applicable to their degree completed with grades other than S (satisfactory) or U (unsatisfactory) and receive grades of S in all resident graduate courses applicable to their degree which may be graded S/U.

Only courses completed with grades of A, B, C, or S may be applied to graduate course requirements and to credit requirements for graduate degrees.

Undergraduate courses or credits specified as required in conjunction with a graduate program must be completed according to the following academic standards:

  1. A prerequisite course in the subject field central to the graduate program or in the principal teaching field in a program leading to state teacher certification must be completed with a grade of C or better.
  2. A prerequisite in a supporting subject field must be completed with a grade of C or better.
Graduate students in nondegree study are expected to meet and maintain the same academic standards as students in degree programs.

All graduate students are expected to remain in good academic standing during the course of their study; that is, to maintain an academic record consistent with the standard above. A student whose record falls much below those standards or which otherwise indicates a lack of ability or effort needed to succeed in graduate study will be denied permission for further study.

The candidacy of graduate students who receive a grade of U in a required seminar or research course, in a practicum, student teaching course, internship, field course or similar application course, on a thesis, or in a dissertation course, is terminated unless an exception is recommended for compelling reasons by their department or school, and they may not register for further study unless they are later reinstated. Under certain conditions, and with the recommendations of the student's major department, such a student may apply to the Dean of Graduate Studies for reinstatement, but ordinarily at least one session must intervene before a reinstatement.

Graduate students who are not in good standing academically and who have been denied the privilege of further study on those grounds may petition the Graduate Academic Council for reinstatement provided extenuating circumstances were involved which, in their opinion, warrant review.

The term in good standing (satisfactory academic standing) means that a student is eligible or has been allowed to register and take academic coursework at this campus for the current session. Although in some cases students have been warned and advised that their academic average needs improvement in order to qualify for their degree, they are still considered to be in good standing since they are still authorized to continue studying toward their degrees. Only those students officially terminated from their programs of study are considered not to be in good academic standing.

Graduate Grades

Grades in graduate courses are recorded on University records according to the following scale:

  A    4.0



  A-   3.7



  B+   3.3



  B    3.0



  B-   2.7



  C+   2.3



  C    2.0



  D    1.0 (not applicable to a graduate degree)



  E    Failure: (academic)



  N    Audit only: noncredit



  NR   No grade reported: study in progress



  I    Incomplete: A tentative grade given only when the student 



       has nearly completed the course but due to circumstances beyond the 



       student's control the work is not completed on schedule. The date for 



       the completion of the work is specified by the instructor. The date 



       stipulated will not be later than one month before the end of the 



       session following that in which the Incomplete is received. The grade 



       I is automatically changed to E or U unless work is completed as agreed 



       between the student and the instructor.



  L    Load only: Noncredit: Used to indicate that a student is 



       engaged in a specified scholarly activity in a particular session.



  R    Research credit: Assigned for satisfactory progress in 



       thesis and dissertation research courses. Credits apply to the appropriate 



       degree when the research project is satisfactorily completed and the 



       thesis or dissertation is accepted by the faculty and Office of Graduate 



       Studies.



  S   Satisfactory: Awarded in graduate seminars, student teaching, 



      and special courses



  U   Unsatisfactory: Awarded in graduate seminars, student teaching, 



      and special courses.



  W   Withdrawn: Assigned by the appropriate administrative officer 



      for withdrawal from a course or from the University (without penalty).



  Z   Failing (penalty grade): Assigned by the appropriate administrative 



      officer for excessive absence, unofficial withdrawal, and like situations.



Grading of Graduate Courses

The evaluation of student performance in most graduate courses requires the awarding of A-E grades. In its totality, graduate instruction here is not conceived, organized, and offered to reflect a general S/U or "pass-fail" pattern of evaluation, even though most graduate degree programs do require one or more appropriate graduate courses graded S/U.

The grading system for all formally organized and structured graduate courses requires the use of the following A-E scale: A; A-; B+; B; B-; C+; C; and E; other grades which may temporarily or permanently be substituted for the above grades are I (incomplete), W (withdrawn), and Z (failure).

The grading system for all graduate courses which by design are unstructured or are organized primarily to provide an independent learning experience are required to be graded on the S (satisfactory) or U (unsatisfactory) scale. In this graduate scale S is equivalent to a B or better, and U is equivalent to a B- or lower. The courses which must be graded on the graduate S/U scale include student teaching, seminars, field courses, clinical courses, internships, practicums, workshops, independent study, directed study or reading, research courses, special projects in community-work courses, and special laboratory courses. Theses are also graded S/U. Theses courses for which students register automatically carry a grade of I until notification of the assignment of an S/U grade for the thesis course by the Graduate Office. According to graduate academic standards, only courses completed with grades of A, A-, B+, B, and S may be applied to graduate course requirements and to credit requirements for graduate degrees. These requirements can also be met by courses graded B-, C+, and C only if they are balanced to a B (3.0). (Example: Three credits of B- must be balanced at least by three credits of B+).

Exceptions to the above pattern of grading practices may be authorized by the Dean of Graduate Studies. Requests for exceptions should be submitted to the dean in writing by the department chair or by the instructor of a course with the endorsement of the department chair. The request should be supported by the rationale for changing the grading pattern and should state whether this change is sought on a temporary or permanent basis. Upon review, the Dean of Graduate Studies notifies the department chair officially of the decision regarding the request. The Registrar is also notified about such grading decisions.

Additionally, an instructor may not award simultaneously both A/E grades and S/U grades in the same graduate course; grades assigned in a course must be either all A/E grades or all S/U grades. All undergraduates enrolled in graduate courses are evaluated by the grading system authorized in graduate instruction. An instructor should not make arrangements with students which vary from the authorized grading practices without having received in advance formal approval from the Dean of Graduate Studies for grading on a different pattern.

Standards of Academic Integrity

As a community of scholars, the University at Albany has a special responsibility to integrity and truth. By testing, analyzing, and scrutinizing ideas and assumptions, scholarly inquiry produces the timely and valuable knowledge that guide and inform important and significant decisions, policies, and choices. Our duty to be honest, methodical and careful in the attribution of data and ideas to their sources establishes the foundations of our work. Misrepresenting or falsifying scholarship undermines the essential trust on which our community depends. Every member of the community, including both faculty and students, shares an interest in maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity.

Violations of trust harm everyone. The academic community has to trust that its members do not misrepresent their data, take credit for another's ideas or labor, misrepresent or interfere with the work of other scholars, or present previous work as if it were new. Acts of academic dishonesty undermine the value and credibility of the institution as a whole, and may distract others from important scholarship or divert resources away from critical research. In particular, students who plagiarize or falsify their work have not only failed to adhere to the principles of scholarly inquiry and failed their peers by taking undeserved credit or reward, they have failed to learn.

When the entire University community upholds the principles of academic integrity, it creates an environment where students value their education and embrace experiences of discovery and intellectual growth. In this environment, grades and degrees are awarded and applauded as the recognition of years of achievement, discipline, and hard work. Maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity insures the value and reputation of our degree programs; these standards represent an ethical obligation for faculty intrinsic to their role as educators, as well as a pledge of honor on the part of UAlbany students. If a violation of academic integrity occurs, faculty, deans, and students all share in the responsibility to report it.

These guidelines define a shared context of values to help both students and faculty to make individual and institutional decisions about academic integrity. Every student has the responsibility to become familiar with the standards of academic integrity at the University. While it is strongly recommended that faculty specify in their syllabi information about academic integrity, as well as a description of the possible responses to violations, claims of ignorance, unintentional error, or personal or academic pressures are not sufficient reasons for violations of academic integrity. Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the standards and behaving accordingly, and UAlbany faculty are responsible for teaching, modeling and upholding them. Anything less undermines the worth and value of our intellectual work, and the reputation and credibility of the University at Albany degree.

Resources for Students

The University Libraries offers the following helpful information:

You have access to many research and information literacy resources here at the University at Albany.

Take an information literacy course. These courses will help you to locate and evaluate information effectively —skills that will help you not only with your studies, but also in the workplace. For more information, check the list of courses (https://www.albany.edu/gened/inflit.html) that meet the General Education Information Literacy Requirement. The University Libraries offer two such courses, one targeted towards the sciences. More information is available on both courses at: http://library.albany.edu/usered/unl205/index.html.

Check out helpful tip sheets and other tutorials (http://library.albany.edu/usered/). The University Libraries provide a wide array of guides and other instruction to answer your research-related questions. These include help on the research process, citation tip sheets, explanations of types of resources, information on how to locate a wide range of materials and how to evaluate them effectively, and much more. You will also find up to date Internet Tutorials (http://library.albany.edu/internet/) that will help make you a pro at searching the Web!

The University Libraries homepage (http://library.albany.edu/) will provide you with access to all sorts of resources for doing research, including the online catalog and a wide variety of research databases. You will find links to contact librarians and to ask for help, and a great deal more. Take a look!

Examples of Academic Dishonesty
The following is a list of types of behaviors considered to be academically dishonest and therefore unacceptable. Even the attempt to commit such acts is a breach of integrity and is subject to penalty. No such list can, of course, describe all possible types or degrees of academic dishonesty, so these should be understood as examples rather than as a comprehensive list. Individual faculty members, Deans of Schools and Colleges as appropriate, and the Office of Conflict Resolution and Civic Responsibility will continue to judge each case according to its particular merit.

Plagiarism: Presenting as one's own work, the work of another person (for example, the words, ideas, information, data, evidence, organizing principles, or style of presentation of someone else). Plagiarism includes paraphrasing or summarizing without acknowledgment, submission of another student's work as one's own, the purchase of prepared research or completed papers or projects, and the unacknowledged use of research sources gathered by someone else. Failure to indicate accurately the extent and precise nature of one's reliance on other sources is also a form of plagiarism. The student is responsible for understanding the legitimate use of sources, the appropriate ways of acknowledging academic, scholarly, or creative indebtedness, and the consequences for violating University regulations.

Examples of plagiarism include: failure to acknowledge the source(s) of even a few phrases, sentences, or paragraphs; failure to acknowledge a quotation or paraphrase of paragraph-length sections of a paper; failure to acknowledge the source(s) of a major idea or the source(s) for an ordering principle central to the paper's or project's structure; failure to acknowledge the source (quoted, paraphrased, or summarized) of major sections or passages in the paper or project; the unacknowledged use of several major ideas or extensive reliance on another person's data, evidence, or critical method; submitting as one's own work, work borrowed, stolen, or purchased from someone else. For more information concerning plagiarism, see the library’s tutorial on the subject on the library web site. Graduate students will find additional information concerning Academic Integrity, Conduct, and Research Regulations on the Graduate Studies web site.

Cheating on Examinations: Giving or receiving unauthorized help before, during, or after an examination. Examples of unauthorized help include collaboration of any sort during an examination (unless specifically approved by the instructor); collaboration before an examination (when such collaboration is specifically forbidden by the instructor); the use of notes, books, or other aids during an examination (unless permitted by the instructor); arranging for another person to take an examination in one's place; looking upon someone else's examination during the examination period; intentionally allowing another student to look upon one's exam; the unauthorized discussing of the test items during the examination period; and the passing of any examination information to students who have not yet taken the examination. There can be no conversation while an examination is in progress unless specifically authorized by the instructor.

Multiple Submission: Submitting substantial portions of the same work for credit more than once without receiving the prior explicit consent of the instructor to whom the material is being submitted the second or subsequent time.

Forgery: Imitating another person's signature on academic or other official documents.

Sabotage: Destroying, damaging, or stealing of another's work or working materials (including lab experiments, computer programs, term papers, or projects).

Unauthorized Collaboration: Collaborating on projects, papers, or other academic exercises when this is regarded as inappropriate by the instructor(s). Although the usual faculty assumption is that work submitted for credit is entirely one's own, standards on appropriate and inappropriate collaboration vary widely among individual faculty and the different disciplines. Students who want to confer or collaborate with one another on work receiving academic credit should make certain of the instructor's expectations and standards.

Falsification: Misrepresenting material or fabricating information in an academic exercise or assignment (for example, the false or misleading citation of sources, the falsification of experimental or computer data, etc.)

Bribery: Offering or giving any article of value or service to an instructor in an attempt to receive a grade or other benefits not legitimately earned or not available to other students in the class.

Theft, Damage, or Misuse of Library or IT Resources: Removing uncharged library materials from the library, defacing or damaging library materials, intentionally displacing or hoarding materials within the library for one's unauthorized private use, or other abuse of reserve-book privileges. Any violation of the University’s Responsible Use of Information Technology policy. This includes, but is not limited to, unauthorized use of the University's or another person's computer accounts, codes, passwords, or facilities; damaging computer equipment or interfering with the operation of the computing system of the University. All students are expected to be familiar with the Responsible Use Policy, which can be viewed at https://www.albany.edu/its.

Penalties and Procedures

The faculty member responsible for educating the student is also responsible for determining when that student has violated academic integrity. When a faculty member determines that a student has violated academic integrity, he or she will inform the student and impose an appropriate sanction. A faculty member may make any one or a combination of the following responses to the infractions of academic dishonesty cited above:

(1) Lowering of a paper or project grade by one full grade or more;
(2) Giving a failing grade on a paper containing plagiarized material;
(3) Giving a failing grade on any examination in which cheating occurred;
(4) Lowering a course grade by one full grade or more; or
(5) Giving a failing grade in a course or other academic exercise.

In addition, faculty members will complete the Violation of Academic Integrity Report, including the sanction they have imposed along with a brief description of the incident, and send it to the Dean of Undergraduate or Graduate Studies, as appropriate. A copy of the report is to be given to the student. The Deans of Undergraduate or Graduate Studies will maintain a copy of such reports for the duration of a student's enrollment at the University.

If a faculty member informs the student that he or she will receive a failing grade in the course or other academic exercise as a result of academic dishonesty, the student receiving such a penalty will not be permitted to withdraw from the course unless the grievance process or Office of Conflict Resolution and Civic Responsibility rules in favor of the student. Students who feel they have been erroneously penalized for an academic integrity infraction or think that a penalty is inappropriate may grieve these issues through procedures developed for each college, school, program, or department of the University. Copies of the procedures are maintained in the School and College Deans' Offices or on their respective websites. A copy of the disposition of any grievance arising in matters of academic dishonesty will be attached to the Violation of Academic Integrity Report filed in the Offices of the Deans of Undergraduate or Graduate Studies.

Any faculty member or School or College Dean encountering matters of academic dishonesty in a class or academic program for which he or she has responsibility may, in addition to, or in lieu of, the actions cited above,

(6) refer a case to the Office of Conflict Resolution and Civic Responsibility.

After considering the case, the Office of Conflict Resolution and Civic Responsibility will recommend to the Dean of Undergraduate or Graduate Studies, as appropriate, the disposition of the case, which can include revoking a student’s scholarship or fellowship, or teaching or research assistantship, as well as or in addition to disciplinary probation, suspension, or expulsion. Students should be aware that violations of academic integrity may cause subsequent difficulties in admission to graduate or professional schools and/or in employment in certain professions.

When a student violates academic integrity in more than one academic exercise, whether those infractions occurred during the same or different periods of time, or in the same or different courses, the University regards the offense as an especially serious subversion of academic integrity. The matter becomes particularly severe when the student has been confronted with the first infraction before the second is committed. Whenever the Offices of Undergraduate or Graduate Studies receive a second Violation of Academic Integrity report on a student, the Dean will request a hearing before the Office of Conflict Resolution and Civic Responsibility.

The Director of Libraries or Chief Information Officer, upon a finding of theft, damage, misuse of facilities or resources, or a violation of University policies, will forward all such cases to the Office of Conflict Resolution and Civic Responsibility for review and disposition, which can include suspension or expulsion from the University. The Director of the Libraries or Chief Information Officer may, in individual cases, limit access to the Library or IT resources pending action by the Office of Conflict Resolution and Civic Responsibility. In all other cases of academic dishonesty by students which come to the attention of any staff, faculty, or student, it is expected that the Dean of Undergraduate or Graduate Studies, as appropriate, will be consulted about such infractions.

The Office of Conflict Resolution and Civic Responsibility was established by the governing bodies of this campus and is administratively the responsibility of the Vice President for Student Success. Any questions about the procedures of the Office of Conflict Resolution and Civic Responsibility may be secured by inquiry to that office.

Exceptions to Regulations

In some instances, students may seek to be excepted from a University, school, college, or departmental regulation or from a program requirement.

Program Requirements: A request for an exception from the program requirements should be submitted in writing initially to the department chair or an appropriate departmental committee. If the department is not authorized to act on the request, it will refer the request to the official or committee responsible.

Departmental Regulations: A request for an exception from a departmental regulation should be submitted in writing to the chair or the departmental committee responsible. If the department is not authorized to act on the request, it will refer the request to the committee or official responsible.

School or College Regulations: A request for an exception from a school or college regulation should be discussed first with the department chair. If the request is within the responsibility of the department, it should then be submitted in writing to the chair or departmental committee responsible. If the department is not authorized to act, the request should be submitted in writing to the dean of the school or college or to the school or college committee responsible. If the school or college is not authorized to act on the request, it will refer the request via the Dean of Graduate Studies to the Graduate Academic Council.

University Regulations:A request for an exception from a University regulation shall be discussed with the department chair. If the request is within the responsibility of the department, it should then be submitted in writing to the chair or departmental committee responsible. If the department is not authorized to act, the request should be submitted in writing to school or college officials or committees if they are responsible, or to the Dean of Graduate Studies and the Graduate Academic Council if they are responsible.

Requests for exceptions to any of the following regulations established for the award of a graduate degree will not be considered:

1. academic grade standards;
2. credit requirements;
3. residence study requirements;
4. seminar, thesis, research, and field course requirements for a master's degree; field examination for a master's degree;
5. tool and foreign language requirements;
6. requirements established for admission to candidacy for a doctoral degree;
7. dissertation requirements for a doctoral degree.

Procedures for Resolving Academic Grievances

Students who seek to challenge an academic grade or evaluation of their work in a course or seminar, or in research or another educational activity may request a review of the evaluation by filing an academic grievance.

The Graduate Academic Council (GAC) and the Undergraduate Academic Council (UAC), through the work of their respective Committees on Admission and Academic Standing (CAAS) are responsible for insuring that approved procedures exist within the schools, colleges, departments (if applicable) and programs of the University for students to file academic grievances. Copies of established grievance procedures shall be filed by each academic unit with the Offices of the Dean of Graduate Studies and the Dean of Undergraduate Studies and available to students at each school/college dean�s office.

It is expected that the grounds upon which an academic grievance may be based should be clearly identified. Such grounds may include variance from University grading standards/policies, grade calculation inconsistencies with that announced in published course syllabi, procedural abnormalities, or other factors that are alleged to have denied the student a fair evaluation. It is not expected that grievances will propose that the professional obligation of faculty to fairly evaluate academic material within their field of expertise will be supplanted by alternate means without procedural cause.

A student who seeks to dispute a grade or evaluation must initially pursue the matter directly with the faculty member involved. If not satisfactorily resolved directly with the faculty member, a written grievance may be filed with the program/department, or directly with school/college for units that are not departmentalized.

Should the grievance not be satisfactorily resolved at this initial level of review, students may pursue further consideration of the grievance at the next organizational level until such time as the grievance is considered at the University level by the GAC or UAC CAAS, as appropriate. Action on an academic grievance by the appropriate CAAS, upon acceptance by the GAC or UAC, as appropriate, is final and not subject to further formal review within the University. Only at this final level of grievance determination by the CAAS may a grade or other such evaluation be changed against the will of the faculty member(s) involved. In such rare cases, the Chair of the GAC or UAC, or its respective CAAS, as appropriate, may consult at his/her discretion with departmental faculty and/or appropriate scholars to determine an appropriate grade and authorize its recording by the Registrar.

In reviewing an academic grievance, the CAAS will consider the formal written petition from the student and corresponding written response/comment from the faculty, along with all records of consideration of the matter at prior levels of review. Although rare, the CAAS reserves the right to conduct a hearing with all parties present or it may decide to meet with each party separately. The nature and number of the representatives attending any such meeting will be at the discretion of the CAAS. These procedures adopted are those which the University believes will provide all parties involved the opportunity to present complete and factual information as necessary for the CAAS to render a fair decision.

Academic Termination and Transcripts

Graduate students who are terminated for academic reasons will have placed on their graduate transcripts a notation that they were academically terminated and date of termination. If such students are subsequently readmitted to the program from which they were terminated, their termination notations will be deleted from their transcripts.

Reinstatement

A graduate student whose authorization to register for further study has been terminated officially by the Dean of Graduate Studies and who seeks reinstatement should submit a formal request for reinstatement along with a supporting statement to the Dean of Graduate Studies.

The Dean of Graduate Studies will refer such a request to the Graduate Academic Council and its Committee on Admissions and Academic Standing for review and action.

POLICY FOR FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION

  1. The University reaffirms its commitment to the principle that the widest possible scope for freedom of expression is the foundation of an institution dedicated to vigorous inquiry, robust debate, and the continuous search for a proper balance between freedom and order. The University seeks to foster an environment in which persons who are on its campus legitimately may express their views as widely and as passionately as possible; at the same time, the University pledges to provide the greatest protection available for controversial, unpopular, dissident, or minority opinions. The University believes that censorship is always suspect, that intimidation is always repugnant, and that attempts to discourage constitutionally protected expression may be antithetical to the University's essential missions: to discover new knowledge and to educate.
  2. All persons on University-controlled premises are bound by the Rules and Regulations for Maintenance of Public Order, which deal in part with freedom of expression (adopted by the Board of Trustees of the State University of New York June 18, 1969; amended 1969, 1980). Members of the University community should familiarize themselves with those rules and regulations. In addition, University faculty are protected by and bound by Article XI, Title I, Sec. 1 of the Policies of the Board of Trustees (adopted January 1987), entitled "Academic Freedom."
  3. University officials or other members of the University community in a position to review posters, publications, speakers, performances, or any other form of expression may establish legitimate time, place, and manner regulations for the maintenance of an orderly educational environment; however, they may not prohibit expression for any reason related to the content of the expression, except as permitted in those narrow areas of expression devoid of federal or state constitutional protection.
  4. Speakers invited to campus by University groups or individuals, and other speakers who may be legitimately present on campus, will be given the utmost protection to communicate their messages without disruptive harassment or interference. Opponents to those speakers enjoy the same protections for expressing their dissent.
  5. All members of the University community share the duty to support, protect, and extend the commitment to the principle of freedom of expression, and to discuss this commitment with groups or individuals who seek to take part in University life. While all persons may seek to discourage peacefully speech that may be unnecessarily offensive to particular individuals or groups, speech that may be antithetical to the University's values, those persons must support the legal right of free speech.
  6. The Council on Academic Freedom and Ethics will serve as a hearing body available to those members of the University community who feel their freedom of expression has been unfairly suppressed. The Council will report its findings to the President for further review and action.
REGULATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS GOVERNING THE MASTER'S DEGREE

Requirements given in this section are those which generally apply to all master's programs except as indicated. However, the programs of individual colleges or schools may involve additional requirements applicable only to particular programs.

Master's Degrees Conferred

Graduate programs in the arts and sciences, public health sciences, nanosciences and nanoengineering, public affairs, and education lead to the M.A., M.S., or M.F.A. degrees. Graduate programs in business lead to the M.S. or M.B.A. degrees, graduate programs in criminal justice to the M.A. degree, graduate programs in library and information science to the M.S. degree, graduate programs in public administration to the M.P.A. degree, and graduate programs in social welfare to the M.S.W. degree. Graduate programs in regional planning lead to the Master of Regional Planning (M.R.P.) degree. Graduate programs in public health lead to the Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) degree.

Credit Requirements

Each program leading to a M.A. or M.S. degree includes as a minimum 30 credits of appropriate graduate study (31 credits minimum in public affairs; 54 credits minimum in rehabilitation counseling; 54 credits in counseling; and 30-64 credits minimum for one- and two-year programs in accounting). Programs leading to professional master's degrees include the following minimum number of credits of appropriate graduate study: for the M.B.A., 43 to 63 credits, depending on previous preparation in business; for the M.S. in Information Science, 42 credits; for the M.P.A., 40 credits; for the M.S.W., 60 credits; and for the M.R.P., 48 credits; for the M.P.H., 51 credits; and for the M.S. in Health Policy and Management, 56 credits. Refer to descriptions of individual programs for required courses and distributions.

Candidacy is terminated for students who fail to meet the requirements for the degree within the minimum of credits of graduate study required for a particular degree and applied to their degree programs at this University or, for students whose required graduate programs exceed the usual minimum for the degree, within the minimum number of hours specified in the letter of admission.

Students who fail to qualify under the conditions above may take additional courses at this University for not more than 6 credits in an attempt to qualify, provided their records do not include an unsatisfactory seminar or thesis, except that students in 60-credit programs for the M.B.A. or M.S.W. may be permitted an additional nine credits in an attempt to qualify. Courses taken for this purpose must be selected by the student's advisor, and a record of the recommended courses must be filed with and approved by the dean of the appropriate school before the additional study is undertaken. Forms for this purpose may be obtained in the offices of the separate schools.

Independent study courses or work or research in absentia will not be approved for this purpose.

Residence Study

Of the minimum number of credits required for a master's degree, (1) at least 24 credits of residence graduate study must be completed at this University in each 30-48 credit master's program, and (2) at least 50 percent of the program's total credits must be completed in residence study at this University in each master's program which requires more than 48 graduate credits.

Transfer Credit

Under certain conditions and with the approval of the Dean of Graduate Studies, credit not to exceed 6 credits for graduate work completed at another institution may be accepted and applied to a 30-credit program. Between 7 and 24 credits for graduate work completed at another institution may be accepted and applied to master's programs requiring 31-48 credits (with the proviso above that at least 24 of the required 31-48 credits be completed in residence study at the University). For those graduate programs requiring 48 credits, up to 50 percent of a program's total credit requirements may be satisfied by the application of appropriate transfer credit. Courses presented for transfer study must be graduate courses, applicable to a graduate degree at the institution offering them, and completed with a grade of B or better at an accredited institution authorized to grant graduate degrees.

Requirements for the satisfactory completion of research seminars, theses, field courses, clinical courses, student teaching, internships and practicums may not be satisfied by courses taken at other institutions, and they are not eligible for transfer credit for these purposes.

Under regulations similar to those governing transfer credit earned in graduate courses, a maximum of 6 graduate credits earned in the College Proficiency Examinations administered by the New York State Education Department may be accepted for transfer credit into master's degree programs upon the approval (1) of the department or school in which the student is enrolled, and (2) by the Dean of Graduate Studies.

Credit accepted for College Proficiency Examinations is part of the total credit accepted as transfer credit in a program and the total transfer credit may not exceed the limits stated above.

Full-time Study in Residence

Although full-time study is recommended, it is not a general requirement for a master's degree, and many programs can be completed through part-time study. However, certain programs may have full-time study requirements. Refer to descriptions of individual programs for this information.

Field of Specialization

Most programs call for a minimum of 18 credits in the field of specialization. Some schools and departments require more. Also, the nature of the student's undergraduate preparation or special licensing or other professional requirements may make it necessary in some cases to require more credits in the special field than university, school, or departmental minimums.

Research Tool Requirement

A reading knowledge of a foreign language or competence in another appropriate research tool is required in many but not all of the general sequences in the arts and sciences.

Regulations and procedures governing the satisfaction of foreign language and other research tool requirements in all graduate degree programs are given in separate sections of this bulletin.

Seminar and Thesis Requirement

Candidates for a master's degree must complete satisfactorily at this University a graduate research seminar or an acceptable thesis in their field of specialization for at least 2 credits, except for candidates in the developmental reading, rehabilitation counseling, or special education programs in education or in programs leading to the M.B.A., M.P.A., M.P.H., MSIS, or M.S.W. degrees. Candidates in those programs must satisfactorily complete at this University appropriate field courses, internships, or practicums.

Special Field Examination

Some programs require the satisfactory completion of a comprehensive examination in the field of specialization.

Students must take the major field examination within one calendar year of completion of coursework in their program of studies.

Students who fail a special field examination may, on the recommendation of their advisor and with the approval of the department chair or dean, take a second examination in an attempt to qualify. The second examination may not be taken before that given in the following session and must be taken within a calendar year of the attempt to pass the examination. A student may not take a third examination to qualify.

Statute of Limitations

All requirements for a master's degree must be completed within six calendar years from the date on initial registration in the program, unless the Graduate Academic Council grants an extension of time. This provision applies equally to students who enter with or without advanced standing or transfer credit.

GENERAL REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE MASTER'S THESIS

A thesis is the culmination of a program of advanced study leading to a master's degree and, as such, must attest to the attainment of a basic understanding of scholarly investigation and reporting in an academic or professional field.

Responsibility for the evaluation and acceptance of a thesis rests with the major department.

Regulations governing the preparation and submission of a master's thesis follow. Detailed procedures and the Subject Approval Form required preliminary to registration for work on a thesis or in a research course requiring the writing of a thesis are available in the Office of Graduate Studies. These should be obtained by the students (and advisors) at the beginning of the planning for the research and writing of a thesis.

Permission to undertake a thesis is at the direction of the student's major department.

Masters thesis research involving human subjects, animals, or biohazardous materials must be approved in advance by the applicable University compliance committee(s): Institutional Review Board (IRB), Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) or an IRB, IACUC, or IBC that has been designated by the University as demonstrated by an approval letter, or written acknowledgement by the student and advisor that such research must be approved in advance by the committee(s) and that engaging in such research without such approval would constitute misconduct.

After the subject and scope of the research have been determined, students formally apply for approval of the project. The student submits the Application for Approval of Subject of Thesis for the Master’s Degree for this purpose to the advisor and upon her/his approval to Office of Graduate Studies for final approval.

Unless there is some reason to suggest a reconsideration, the Office of Graduate Studies files one copy of the approval in the student's folder and returns two copies to the advisor, one copy for the advisor's file and one to be returned to the student along with the set of directions.

Students include the research course or master's thesis course in their registered program for the session. Students in the sciences register for appropriate research courses (e.g., Atm 699, Bio 699, Chm 699T). Students in other fields register their thesis effort and credits under a standard, departmental listing such as Fre 699, Tch 699, His 699, Cll 699. The student registers in the research 'course' or thesis 'course' for an appropriate number of credits for the session in question. If the work is to be spread out over two or more sessions, the student reregisters for the same course in each of the following sessions.

The student should be guided by the directions to students for format, style, paper, margins, and general procedures in writing and submitting the thesis. Directions for the preparation of a thesis are obtained from the Office of Graduate Studies.

The student submits unbound two final copies of the thesis and two final copies of an abstract to the advisor. The copies of the thesis submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies must be in the following physical mode:
A printed original without errors or corrections, on 100 percent non-recycled cotton or rag bond paper, and a printed copy, without errors or corrections, on 25 percent non-recycled cotton or rag bond paper.

The department chair notifies the student and the Dean of Graduate Studies as to the official evaluation of the thesis.

Upon final acceptance of a thesis, the student makes a prepayment of charges to the University Library to cover the costs of binding and gives the receipt to the department chair.

Students may request permission of their department and of the Dean of Graduate Studies to arrange for publication of their thesis. In such cases the publication must state on the title page, or in the foreword, or in a footnote in the case of publication in a journal, that the publication has been presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a master's degree at the University at Albany.

The department chair or dean of the college or school transmits the thesis to the Dean of Graduate Studies with a) the statement of acceptance signed by the readers, and b) a receipt from the student for the prepayment of binding charges.

Unless copies of the thesis are unacceptable to the Dean of Graduate Studies (in which case the dean notifies the student and the department), the dean authorizes the Registrar to assign the appropriate grade and credits to the student's record. Subsequently the dean transmits the thesis to the University Library for binding, distribution, and filing (ordinarily after the degree has been conferred).

Theses which have been approved should be transmitted to the Dean of Graduate Studies by May 1 for degrees to be conferred in May, by December 1 for degrees to be conferred in December, and by August 1 for degrees to be conferred in August.

COMBINED BACCALAUREATE-MASTER'S DEGREE PROGRAMS

Standards and Requirements

  1. In qualifying for the baccalaureate, students will meet all University and school requirements, including the second field requirement, the minimum liberal arts and sciences credit-hour requirement, and residency requirements.
  2. In qualifying for the master's degree, students will meet all University and school requirements, including completing a minimum of 30 graduate credits, and any such conditions as research seminar, thesis, comprehensive examination, or other professional experience where required, and residency requirements.
  3. Total minimum credit-hour requirements for combined degree programs in the arts and sciences: 138 to 150 credits, of which at least 30 must be graduate credits. To earn the baccalaureate degree students must complete 120 credits of appropriate study; to receive the master's degree students must complete 30 credits of appropriate graduate study. Up to 12 graduate credits may be applied simultaneously to both the undergraduate and to the graduate programs. Although it is permissible for combined degree programs to require a minimum of 138 total credits, faculties responsible for specific combined degree programs may require more than 138 total credits to satisfy the unique characteristics of differing disciplines. Combined degree programs may not, however, require additional baccalaureate major credits that exceed current credit limitations for majors.
  4. Because of the wide range of total credits required in professional master's degrees (30-63), total credit-hour requirements for combined baccalaureate-professional master's degree programs can be approved on a range from 138 to 175 credits.
  5. Exceptions to the program minima stated in sections 3 and 4 may be approved by the Graduate Academic Council and/or Undergraduate Academic Council.
  6. All combined degree programs must be approved by both the Graduate Academic Council and Undergraduate Academic Council. Programs will be monitored under procedures jointly established by both academic councils.
Admissions and Administrative Procedures
  1. Students may be admitted to an integrated degree program at the beginning of their junior year, or after the successful completion of 56 credits. A GPA of 3.2 or higher and three supportive letters of recommendation from faculty are required.
  2. Although admitted to an integrated degree program, students will be considered as undergraduate students for the purposes of tuition, financial aid, and headcount identification until completion of 120 credits of satisfactory work. Upon meeting that requirement, students will be considered graduate students for purposes of tuition, headcount identification, and eligibility for graduate assistantships, fellowships, and loans. A graduate transcript will be initiated for the students at the 120 credit-hour threshold.
DUAL MASTER'S DEGREE PROGRAMS

Standards and Requirements

  1. In qualifying for dual master's degrees (DMDP), students will meet all University and school requirements, including completing a minimum of 30 graduate credits for each degree, and other such conditions as a research seminar, thesis, comprehensive examination, other professional experience where required, and residency requirements for each master's degree.
  2. Total minimum credit-hour requirements for dual master's degrees programs will be 48 credits. Up to 20 percent of the total graduate credits normally required for dual programs may be applied simultaneously to both graduate programs. Although it is permissible for some dual degrees programs to require as few as 48 total credits, faculties responsible for specific dual master's degrees programs may require more than 48 total credits to satisfy the unique characteristics of differing graduate areas.
  3. Exceptions to the program minimum stated in section 2 may be approved by the Graduate Academic Council.
  4. All dual master's degrees programs must be approved by the Graduate Academic Council. Programs will be monitored under procedures established by the Graduate Academic Council.
  5. These programs are not student initiated.
Admissions and Administrative Procedures
  1. Students may be admitted to a dual master's degrees program at the beginning of their graduate studies, but no later than after completing 20 graduate credits applicable to a dual master's degrees program. Work done for an awarded master's or doctoral degree may not be used for this program. A minimum GPA of 3.0 and three supportive letters of recommendation from faculty are required. GRE scores may be required also. Faculty from both participating academic units will form the admission committee for each dual master's degrees program.
  2. A student admitted to a dual master's degrees program may receive a graduate assistantship from either or both of the participating units; the total sum cannot exceed what each unit provides for a graduate assistant for an academic year.
  3. For purposes of headcount identification, each participating unit will receive a headcount for an admitted dual master's degrees program student.
  4. Students admitted to a DMDP will receive a single transcript identifying both degrees and programs titles.
  5. Both participating academic units in a DMDP will receive recognition for one awarded master's degree when a DMDP student has completed her/his full program.
  6. A student may leave the program before completion of both degrees. If the requirements for one degree have been fulfilled, that degree may be awarded.
POLICY OF ADVANCED STANDING AND RESIDENT STUDY FOR A SECOND MASTER'S DEGREE

Applicants for admission to a master's degree program who have already completed one master's degree program may apply for admission with advanced standing. The award of advanced standing to a successful applicant for a second master's degree program is governed by the following conditions:

  1. Up to 30 percent of the credits required for a second master's degree may be allowed for advanced standing by the application of appropriate courses from the first completed master's degree program. All remaining course requirements must be completed satisfactorily in resident graduate study at the University at Albany.
  2. Courses applied to a second master's degree program from a completed first master's degree program must be approved by the faculty responsible for the second program.
  3. Courses accepted for advanced standing may not be used normally to satisfy a second master's degree program's requirements of such key courses as research seminars, theses, field courses, clinical courses, student teaching internships, and practicums.
  4. Courses allowed for advance standing status must be graduate courses completed with a B, or better, or S grade at accredited institutions authorized to grant graduate degrees.
  5. A graduate student may not apply both conventional transfer credit and advanced standing credit to the second master's degree program: the former or the latter, but not both, can be applied to a single program.
  6. Exceptions to criteria governing advanced standing may be approved by the Graduate Academic Council.
  7. The amount of advanced standing awarded will be placed on the student's second program transcript.
REGULATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS GOVERNING THE CERTIFICATES OF ADVANCED STUDY

Certificate of Advanced Study Award

A Certificate of Advanced Study attesting to advanced preparation and competence may be earned for the completion of organized programs which normally extend at least one year beyond the master's degree.

Many of these programs operate in conjunction with doctoral programs, and essentially the same academic and admission standards apply.

Credit Requirement

Each program leading to a certificate of advanced study includes a minimum of 48 (60 for those in education) credits of appropriate graduate study. Refer to descriptions of individual programs for required courses and distributions.

Residence Study and Advanced Standing

Of the minimum number of credits of graduate study beyond the baccalaureate established for a certificate in a particular field, at least one-half must be completed in resident graduate study at this University.

An applicant for admission to a program leading to a 60-credit certificate who holds a master's degree with an appropriate specialization may apply for admission with advanced standing not to exceed 30 credits.

Comprehensive Examination

Satisfactory completion of a comprehensive examination in education and in the field of specialization is required in each program in education. Satisfactory completion of a comprehensive examination in school psychology is required in that program.

Statutes of Limitations

All requirements for the certificate must be completed within six calendar years from the date of initial registration in the program.

This statute applies equally to students who enter with or without advanced standing and to students who formally change their areas of specialization after admission and study in one advanced program.


Statutes of Limitations

The required full-time study in residence for education certificate programs must be completed within four calendar years from the date of initial registration in the program in the fall, three and one-half years from the date of initial registration in the spring.

All requirements for the certificate must be completed within five calendar years from the date of initial registration in the program.

These statutes apply equally to students who enter with or without advanced standing and to students who formally change their areas of specialization after admission and study in one advanced program.

REGULATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS GOVERNING THE DOCTORAL DEGREE

Requirements given in this section are those which apply generally to all doctoral programs except as indicated. The programs of the individual colleges or schools may involve additional requirements applicable only to their particular programs.

Doctoral Degrees Conferred

A program leading to the Doctor of Arts is offered in Humanistic Studies. Programs leading to the Doctor of Philosophy are offered in many fields in the College of Arts & Sciences, and the Schools of Public Health, Education, Social Welfare, Criminal Justice, Nanosciences and Nanoengineering, and the Nelson A. Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy. Interdisciplinary Ph.D. programs are additionally offered in Organizational Studies and Information Science. A program leading to the Doctor of Psychology is offered in School Psychology, and a program leading to the Doctor of Public Health is offered in the School of Public Health.

Credit Requirements

Each program, including the dissertation, leading to a doctoral degree requires as a minimum three years of full-time study beyond the baccalaureate or the equivalent over a longer period. In addition, special requirements for competence in research methodology, foreign languages, and in other research tools ordinarily extend the basic time requirement.

Each program leading to a Ph.D. includes as a minimum two years of full- time graduate study (60 credits), or the equivalent, and at least one additional year devoted to the necessary research and writing of an acceptable dissertation. Programs leading to a D.A. include as a minimum two years of full-time graduate study (60 or 63 credits), or the equivalent, one regular session given full-time to an appropriate internship, and at least one regular session devoted to the necessary preparation and writing of an acceptable dissertation. The programs leading to an Ed.D. and Psy.D. include as a minimum 78 credits of appropriate graduate study plus at least one regular session devoted to the necessary research and writing of an acceptable dissertation. However, the minimums in a particular program may and frequently do exceed these amounts, and students are held to those applicable to the particular program to which they have been admitted.

Residence Study and Advanced Standing

Of the credits of graduate study required beyond the baccalaureate and antecedent to final dissertation research and writing established for all doctoral programs at least 50%, or 30 credits minimum for programs of less than 60 credits total, must be completed through graduate study at this University.

Applicants for admission to the doctoral programs who have completed graduate courses or programs elsewhere may apply for admission with advanced standing

Doctoral Study in Residence

Prospective doctoral students should be aware that some doctoral programs require a period of full-time study in residence. Individuals should consult the policy guidelines of the specific doctorate-granting unit to which they seek admission with respect to this issue. If none is listed within the program description, then the policy listed below is in effect.

Each student in a doctoral program must engage in full-time study beyond the master's degree or equivalent at the University in at least two sessions after admission to the advanced program. This requirement is designed to insure for each doctoral student a sustained period of intensive intellectual growth. For this purpose a student will enroll in full-time study (12 credits) taken in each of two sessions, or in a regular session and a summer session, not necessarily consecutive, which must be completed satisfactorily.

Graduate assistants holding a full assistantship may meet the full-time residency requirement by completing one academic year in such a position, including the satisfactory completion of a minimum of 9 credits per term plus satisfactory completion of assigned duties.

Any appeals of this policy will be made and approved at the departmental level.

Research Tools

Programs leading to the Ph.D., D.A., or Ed.D. require the demonstration through examination at this University of a reading knowledge of at least one foreign language and/or the demonstration at this University of competence in another appropriate research tool.

Refer to the descriptions of individual programs for the requirements which apply.

General Regulations Governing Research Tool Requirements:

Foreign Language: A knowledge of an appropriate foreign language is a communication skill required in several graduate programs as a scholarly tool essential to research in the major field. In other programs it is an optional research tool. The requirement may call for a reading knowledge or for a high degree of competence in the language. In either case, a basic knowledge of the structure and vocabulary of the language is required in addition to a knowledge of the vocabulary of the field or discipline. A high degree of competence in a language requires, in addition, a knowledge of the language as a humanistic study and a sensitivity to it developed through a wide reading of its classics.

Responsibility for the level of competence required, for the nature of the examination to be taken by the student, and for the standards utilized in the evaluation rests with the department which offers the program.

General regulations and procedures governing the satisfaction of foreign language requirements follow. Description of individual programs should be consulted for departmental regulations and procedures. Information concerning schedules of examinations, reading lists, nature of examination, standards, and general procedures may be obtained from the appropriate academic department.

  1. Depending on the program, a foreign language requirement may be met in one or more of the following ways:
  2. a. By local examination constructed, administered, and evaluated by the student's major department;
    b. By completion of an appropriate Graduate School Foreign Language Test of the Educational Testing Service (E.T.S.) (available in French, German, Russian, and Spanish);
    c. By local examination conducted by the appropriate foreign language department;
  3. Unless otherwise specified by the department, there is no limit on the number of times a graduate student may take a language examination;
  4. English may not be used to satisfy a foreign language requirement;
  5. With the approval of their major department, foreign students may present their native language in meeting a requirement for one foreign language;
  6. In programs in which the E.T.S. examination is an authorized option, the passing score varies by department but may not be lower than 500. Consult individual program descriptions for requirements;
  7. In the programs in which the E.T.S. examination is an authorized option, a score on an E.T.S. test taken prior to admission to a program may be applied to the satisfaction of a foreign language requirement at the discretion of the department;
  8. The limit of time between the satisfaction of a foreign language requirement and admission to candidacy for a graduate degree is at the discretion of the department;
  9. Graduate students may not be required to take a language course. However, students may be encouraged to audit or take a regular language course, or to take a language course especially designed to assist them, if this seems to be the best way to build language competence to the desired level;
  10. Official designees of a department may certify the language competence of candidates for advanced degrees who have completed graduate study in the language or who otherwise present superior qualifications in the language. This evaluation will be accepted by the Dean of Graduate Studies in place of the required examination upon proper substantiation. This authorization does not include acceptance of a foreign language requirement completed at another college or university;
  11. Successful completion of a foreign language requirement is recorded on a graduate student's transcript. Examinations failed are not recorded on the transcript.
Other Research Tools: A competence in quantitative techniques, a knowledge of statistics, or mastery of other special tools for research and investigation, apart from a foreign language, is considered essential in many disciplines and for many kinds of research.

Descriptions of individual programs should be consulted for departmental requirements in these research tools and their evaluation.

Responsibility for the evaluation of a student's competence in such techniques rests with the student's major department. The department may, however, require the student to be examined, or otherwise meet standards of accomplishment in another appropriate department.

Comprehensive Examination

Prospective doctoral candidates are required to pass a comprehensive exam. The examination is designed to ascertain the student's general knowledge of the subject, acquaintance with scholarly research methods and skills, and ability to organize and present materials. The examination is not restricted to the content of graduate courses but is comprehensive in character. The timing, precise content, and format (written, oral, or both) of the comprehensive examination are specified by departmental/program regulations: Students have the responsibility to inform themselves of these details at the commencement of their program.

Admission to Candidacy

Admission to doctoral candidacy means that, in the judgment of the faculty, the doctoral student has an adequate knowledge of the field and the specialty, knows how to use the academic resources, has potential to do original research, and complete the dissertation. The qualifying procedures include the following:

  1. passing all requisite departmental/program comprehensive/qualifying exam(s)
 
  • satisfying University resident study requirements
  •  
  • achieving a satisfactory academic record: at least a B (3.0) average in all resident graduate courses applicable to the degree
  •  
  • satisfying the research tool requirements
  •  
  • certification that dissertation research involving human subjects, animal subjects, or biohazardous materials has been approved by the applicable University compliance committee(s): Institutional Review Board (IRB), Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) or an IRB, IACUC, or IBC that has been designated by the University as demonstrated by an approval letter, or written acknowledgement by the student and advisor that such research must be approved in advance by the IRB, IACUC, or IBC and thatengaging in such research without approval would constitute misconduct
  •  
  • satisfying all other program specific candidacy requirements.
  • Admission to candidacy is not automatic, and a graduate student becomes a candidate for a doctoral degree only with the approval of the Dean of Graduate Studies, on behalf of the Graduate Academic Council, acting upon the recommendation of the program faculty and/or the dean of the school or college directing the program.

    Students in doctoral programs should be admitted to candidacy at least one session (exclusive of a summer session) before the acceptance of their dissertation and the completion of all requirements of the degree.

    Continuous Registration of Doctoral Students

    All students enrolled in doctoral programs must maintain continuous registration for each fall and spring session (except for periods of official leave of absence prior to candidacy) until they have completed all program requirements. Minimum registration consists of 3 credits of approved course work, registration for dissertation load (899 courses only), or registration for other field work courses that have been approved as full-time by the Dean of Graduate Studies or the Graduate Academic Council.

    Summer sessions registration cannot be accepted in lieu of registration for fall and spring sessions. A student who neither registers for each fall and spring session nor has received an official leave of absence is subject to termination unless good cause not to do so is shown by the student after notification of such pending action.

    Statutes of Limitations

    1. The required full-time study in residence must be completed within four calendar years from the date of initial registration in the program in the fall, three and one-half years from the date of initial registration in the program in the spring.
    2. All requirements for a doctoral degree must be completed within eight calendar years from the date of initial registration in the program.
    3. These statutes apply equally to students who enter with or without advanced standing and to students who formally change their areas of specialization after admission and study in one advanced program.

    Policies Pertaining to the Doctoral Dissertation

    Dissertation

    Doctoral programs require the submission of an acceptable dissertation. The dissertation is the culmination of a program of advanced study leading to a doctoral degree and, as such, is expected to attest to the attainment of a high degree of scholarly competence. The dissertation must report in accepted scholarly style on an investigation of a problem of significance in the major field of study that modifies, enlarges and/or makes a unique contribution to what has previously been known. It must demonstrate that the candidate is capable of sophisticated, independent research, analysis, and scholarly reporting in an academic discipline or professional field.

    Policies and procedures pertaining to dissertation development in each doctoral program, consistent with the minimal University standards that follow, should be available from each doctoral program office or department.

    The Dissertation Committee

    Doctoral students must have a dissertation or research committee to guide their dissertation project or research and to approve each stage of the process. Ordinarily, each dissertation committee must have a University at Albany full-time faculty member as chair. Individual exceptions to this requirement must be approved by the Dean of Graduate Studies. A faculty member may continue as chair of the dissertation committee after leaving the University. It is the committee chair�s responsibility to be accessible to the student and to see that the other members of the committee are kept informed of the student�s progress so that the committee members may react constructively and in a timely fashion. It is the student�s responsibility to keep the dissertation chair informed of his/her progress.

    Students must play a role in shaping the membership of their dissertation committee. The student and committee will have to agree mutually on a topic. There should be as much consistency as possible in the membership of the committee which initially agrees to the topic, advises the student, and recommends the final evaluation of the dissertation to the appropriate academic unit.

    The dissertation committee must consist of a minimum of three members, two of which must be from the student�s school/college, and at least one of these must be from the student�s major program/department. Departments and /or programs are encouraged to include at least one committee member external to the department or program faculties. Ordinarily, only those with an earned doctorate or those who hold a full professorship are eligible to participate formally in dissertation advisement and the approval of a dissertation. The final membership of each dissertation committee must be approved in accordance with the process specified in the program specific policies/procedures.

    Dissertation Approval

    Responsibility for the final evaluation and acceptance of a dissertation rests with the departmental or program faculty and the candidate�s dissertation or doctoral committee.

    While students must be given an on-going evaluation of their dissertation by their dissertation committee as various sections or chapters are completed, final approval shall be given only to a completed work. Departments and/or programs are encouraged to provide, or require, an opportunity for students to publicly present and defend the results of their research as part of the final approval process. Too, a final review or examination may be scheduled with the comments, advice, recommendations, and evaluations of outside readers being considered by the dissertation committee. To be accepted, a dissertation must be approved by a majority of the dissertation committee.

    The final dissertation presented to the Office of the Dean of Graduate Studies in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the doctoral degree must be the one approved by the dissertation committee.

    Submittal of Approved Dissertations

    In order for a dissertation to be accepted by the University in partial fulfillment of requirements for the doctoral degree, it must be submitted in acceptable form according to procedures specified by the Office of the Dean of Graduate Studies, by May 1 for degrees to be conferred in May, by August 1 for degrees to be conferred in August, and by December 1 for degrees to be conferred in December. Specifications for such submittal procedures and �acceptable form� shall be developed and maintained by the Dean of Graduate Studies in consultation with the Graduate Academic Council and University Libraries for archival purposes.

    Doctoral students admitted in Spring 2006 or thereafter will be expected to submit the approved dissertation in authorized digital form. Students should familiarize themselves with all digital dissertation submittal regulations and procedures early in their doctoral studies.


    FACULTY ELIGIBILITY TO TEACH GRADUATE COURSES

    Graduate instruction may only be given by:

    1. Faculty members who hold an earned doctorate or the Master of Fine Arts (MFA); or
    2. Faculty members who hold the rank of associate professor or higher or;

    Exceptions to allow other faculty to provide graduate instruction shall be considered within each school/college, with action on such requests by the respective school/college dean to be reported (with rationale for decision) to the Graduate Academic Council & Graduate Dean, and (without rationale) to the Registrar. It is expected that all requests for exception shall minimally contain (1) Instructor�s CV or r�sum� (2) duration of proposed authorization (not to exceed five years), (3) course syllabus, (4) support correspondence from Chair or Program Director explaining why the exception is warranted, summarizing qualifications in relation to course content, audience, enrollment, and need. Schools/colleges may develop policy/procedures that require additional information. The Graduate Academic Council retains final authority regarding any exception to graduate instruction policy.

    STUDENT COMPLAINTS

    Section 494C(j) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, provides that a student, faculty member or any other person who believes he or she has been aggrieved by an institution of higher education has the right to file a written complaint.

    In New York State, a complaint may be filed by any person with reason to believe that an institution has acted contrary to its published standards or that conditions at the institution appear to jeopardize the quality of the institution's instructional programs or the general welfare of its students. Any person who believes he or she has been aggrieved by an institution on or after May 4, 1994, may file a written complaint with the Department within three years of the alleged incident.

    How to File a Complaint

    1. The person should first try to resolve the complaint directly with the institution by following the internal complaint procedures provided by the institution. An institution of higher education is required to publish its internal complaint procedure in a primary information document such as the catalog or student handbook. (The Department suggests that the complainant keep copies of all correspondence with the institution.)
    2. If a person is unable to resolve the complaint with the institution or believes that the institution has not properly addressed the concerns, he or she may send a letter to the Postsecondary Complaint Registry to request a complaint form:

    3.  

      New York State Education Department
      Office of College & University Evaluation
      Mezzanine 5 North
      Albany, New York 12230

    4. The Postsecondary Complaint Registry Form should be completed, signed, and sent to the above address. The completed form should indicate the resolution being sought and any efforts that have been made to resolve the complaint through the institution's internal complaint processes. Copies of all relevant documents should be included.
    5. After receiving the completed form, the Department will notify the complainant of its receipt and make any necessary request for further information. When appropriate, the Department will also advise the institution that a complaint has been made and, when appropriate, the nature of the complaint. The complainant will also be notified of the name of the evaluator assigned to address the specific complaint. The evaluator may contact the complainant for additional information.
    6. The Department will make every effort to address and resolve complaints within ninety days from the receipt of the complaint form.
    Complaint Resolution

    Some complaints may fall within the jurisdiction of an agency or organization other than the State Education Department. These complaints will be referred to the entity with appropriate jurisdiction. When a complaint concerns a matter that falls solely within the jurisdiction of the institution of higher education, the complainant will be notified and the Department will refer the complaint to the institution in question and request that the matter receive a review and response.

    Upon conclusion of the Department's complaint review or upon a disposition of the complaint by referral to another agency or organization, or to the institution of higher education, the Department will issue a written notice to the complainant describing the resolution of the complaint. The complainant may contact the Department evaluator directly for follow-up information or for additional assistance.


     

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