Note: The satisfactory progress requirements on this page do not apply to JD and LLM students. Please consult with the School of Law for satisfactory progress policies.
Graduate students are expected to make satisfactory progress toward their degree or other credential. Satisfactory progress includes the following components:
- Continuous Enrollment: Graduate students must register for at least three graduate credits each term (except Summer), unless on-leave status has been approved. View the full Continuous Enrollment Policy here.
- Time Limit: Graduate students have seven years to complete their degrees/certificates. See specific policies for Master's, Doctoral, and Certificate students.
- Financial Aid Requirements: There is an additional set of satisfactory academic progress standards for federal financial aid recipients. Learn more here.
- Student Conduct: Depending on the nature of the violation, the Division of Graduate Studies may also consider violations of the Student Conduct Code when determining whether a student is in making satisfactory progress.
- Academic Standing: A graduate student’s academic standing may be classified as either ‘satisfactory’ or ‘unsatisfactory’ based on the factors listed below. Unsatisfactory academic standing will result in the student being placed on academic probation, and the student may be dismissed from their graduate program if they are unable to return to satisfactory academic standing.
Satisfactory academic standing includes:
GPA: A cumulative graduate GPA of at least 3.00. Individual graduate programs may have higher GPA requirements.
Grades: Accumulation of no more than 5 credits of N or F grades, regardless of GPA. See Grades and Incompletes for more information.
Incompletes: Accumulation of no more than 7 credits of Incompletes.
Program-Specific Requirements: In compliance with program-level requirements, which may be more stringent than the Division of Graduate Studies’ minimums. Programs may also have other criteria, such as research progress, examinations, or other milestones. Any such requirements must be documented within a handbook or other departmental materials.
Satisfactory academic standing includes:
GPA: A cumulative graduate GPA of less than 3.00. Individual graduate programs may have higher GPA requirements.
Grades: The accumulation of more than 5 credits of N or F grades, regardless of GPA. See Grades and Incompletes for more information.
Incompletes: Accumulation of more than 7 credits of Incomplete.
Program-Specific Requirements: Not meeting program-level satisfactory progress requirements.
Academic Probation: If a graduate student’s academic standing is classified as unsatisfactory, they will be placed on academic probation.
-Either the Division of Graduate Studies may place a student on probation if they are not in compliance with minimum university requirements, or the student’s graduate program may recommend probation if the student is not meeting the program’s requirements for good standing.
-The student’s home academic program must provide the student with a probation letter that includes the requirements and timelines that need to be met to return to satisfactory academic standing. A template is available here.
-The student’s registration for future terms may be blocked until the Division of Graduate Studies receives a copy of the probation letter.
-Probation status will be removed once the student’s GPA reaches 3.0 or higher, or once the student has fulfilled the terms outlined in the probation letter.
-Probation status will not be noted on the student’s transcript.
Dismissal: A program may recommend dismissal for a student in unsatisfactory academic standing under the following conditions.
-A graduate program may recommend that a student be dismissed from their program after at least one quarter of probation.
-Typically, a student may be on probation for a maximum of two consecutive quarters before being recommended for dismissal. Exceptions will be considered in unusual circumstances at the request of the student’s graduate program.
-A graduate program may also recommend that a student be dismissed without probation if the student fails a required milestone exam and all permitted retakes. Exam policies must be documented in the program’s graduate handbook or equivalent.
-A graduate program may also recommend that a student be dismissed without probation if the student’s actions have led to ineligibility to complete all requirements for the degree. For example, a student may be dismissed if they become ineligible to complete practicum or licensure requirements that are required for the degree.
-Other exceptions to the requirement that students be on probation for at least one quarter before departments recommend dismissal will be considered by the Division of Graduate Studies in extenuating circumstances. The program must contact the Vice Provost for Graduate Studies to request and explain the grounds of such dismissals.
-The dismissal recommendation to the Division of Graduate Studies may come from the Department Head (or equivalent) of the student’s academic program or the Dean (or Dean’s designee) of the student’s School or College.
-Final dismissal decisions are made by the Vice Provost for Graduate Studies.
Dismissal Appeals: A student may appeal a dismissal by filing a formal written appeal to the Division of Graduate Studies within 30 days of receiving notice of the disqualification. Formal appeals filed by students under this policy shall include at least the following information:
(A) The approximate date and nature of the events that lead to the dismissal and filing of the appeal;
(B) All the relevant facts the student knows that support the appeal, including any stated policies or procedures that the student believes to have been violated;
(C) The outcome the student is seeking to resolve the situation.
Appeals may be emailed to graduatestudies@uoregon.edu. The appeal will be reviewed by the Graduate Council grievance committee, who will make a recommendation to the Provost. The Provost or Provost's designee will render a decision, in writing, within 30 days of receipt of the appeal.
Requesting Reinstatement after Dismissal: A student may petition for reinstatement to the same degree program no sooner than one calendar year after being dismissed.
-Reinstatement after the mandatory one-year period may be requested by the student using the Petition for Reinstatement.
-The petition must be approved by the student’s advisor and the department head, director of graduate studies, or equivalent position in the student’s program.
-The petition must address the circumstances that led to dismissal and provide evidence of preparedness to resume graduate study.
-If a student's graduate program recommends reinstatement, the Vice Provost for Graduate Studies may grant reinstatement, with or without additional academic requirements, or may recommend continued dismissal.
-A reinstated student with a cumulative graduate GPA below 3.0 must raise the cumulative graduate GPA to 3.00 or higher within the first 18 letter-graded credits after reinstatement or the student will be dismissed. Note: All reinstated students must meet this requirement regardless of whether or not they have completed enough coursework to meet minimum degree requirements, even if this means taking additional graded credits above and beyond their program’s minimum requirements.
Last revised July 25, 2024.