Graduate Student Handbook

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Registration/Tuition Information

If you have questions about your admission, contact the Graduate School Admissions Office, University of Minnesota, 309 Johnston Hall, 101 Pleasant Street S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455 (612-625-3014; fax 612-625-6002). If you contact us, be sure to give us your ID number and complete name as typed on your letter of admission.

If you are able to accept the offer of admission for the term indicated in your admission letter, you should

1. Inform your major field directly that you plan to come. This is especially important if you have been awarded financial aid.

2. Plan to come to the University several days before or during the registration period. If you seek off-campus housing, you should arrive at least three weeks before the beginning of classes. The approximate registration period for each term is as follows:

·      Fall Semester: May-Sep

·      Spring Semester: Dec-Feb

·      Summer Term: May-Jun

You must register before the first day of class to avoid a late fee.

Official registration dates will be published in the Class Schedule, which is only available on the Web at http://www.onestop.umn.edu/.

Although you may register at any time during the registration period, if you plan to register for classes with limited enrollment (these are identified in the Class Schedule), we recommend that you register as early as possible. (Note: Registration in the College of Continuing Education or in another college in graduate-level courses, e.g., in the College of Education and Human Development, does not constitute Graduate School registration.)

Preliminary class schedules and other registration information are available on the Web at http://www.onestop.umn.edu/.

Registration information for the summer term is contained in the Summer Session Catalog .

If you wish to register between the close of the summer term and the opening of fall term (between approximately mid-August to early September) or during the winter recess (mid-December to mid- January), you should contact your department to determine if faculty advisers will be available.

3. If at the time of your admission, we requested credentials (official transcripts, etc.) of you, and if there is a hold on your registration because we have not received that material, come to The Graduate School in room 309 Johnston Hall (third floor) on the Minneapolis campus. The Graduate School is open from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. All official credentials must be mailed directly from your school to our office.  The Graduate School’s address is listed above.

To continue, choose one of the following two registration options.

IN-PERSON OFFICE REGISTRATION

4. Meet with your faculty adviser. If your department does not assign a specific adviser, the choice is at your discretion. For further information, contact your department.

5.  Register at:

East Bank: 200 Fraser Hall, 106 Pleasant St. S.E, Minneapolis, MN 55455
8am-5:30pm, Monday-Thursday; 8am-4pm, Friday
Hours extended to 6 pm Tuesday-Thursday in the first week of classes for both fall and spring terms
FAX 612-625-3002
Campus map | Webcam

West Bank: 130 West Bank Skyway, 219 19th Av S., Minneapolis, MN 55455
8am-4pm, Monday-Friday
Hours extended to 5pm, Monday and Tuesday when classes are in session during fall and spring semesters
FAX 612-626-9129
Campus map

St. Paul: 130 Coffey Hall, 1420 Eckles Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55108
8am-4pm, Monday-Friday
FAX 612-624-4943
Campus map

CLOSED holidays. See the Twin Cities campus calendar

WEB REGISTRATION

All graduate students may register by computer (before the end of the second week of class). Instructions are provided in the Class Schedule available  on the web .

4. Meet with your faculty adviser. If your department does not assign a specific adviser, the choice is at your discretion. For further information, contact your department.

5. To use Web registration, you will need to enter your internet ID and password. If you have not yet initiated your internet account, you can initiate it online . If you have any problems logging on to Web registration, or get bumped off the system, contact the Technology Helpline at 612-301-4357.

6. Check the Enrollment Summary screen at the time you register. The screen should indicate that you are enrolling in the major and degree objective listed in the letter of admission. It is very important to check this screen if you were ever a student at the University of Minnesota in any other program (eg. Undergraduate, MEd, MPH, MBA). If the screen does not show the correct registration information, please temporarily stop the registration process and contact the Graduate School Office of Admissions at 612-625-3014 so that we may assist you in getting registered. Once you have been assisted by the Admissions Office, you will be able to continue registering immediately. If you were admitted to more than one major, make sure that you register for the major you want to pursue.

7. You must complete the entire registration program, including the creation of the enrollment statement, to be officially registered.

8. Print a confirmation of your registration.

Registration Requirement

To maintain active student status, all Graduate School students are required to register in the Graduate School every fall and spring term.

Tuition

The current tuition and fee rate information are available on the Web at OneStop .

You must pay tuition and fees by the date printed on your bill or pay a fine; check the Class Schedule for late fees, installment payment plans, and other special payment plans. Student Accounts Receivable, 20 Fraser Hall (612-624-1111), handles all questions about day school tuition and fee billing statements.

If your application for admission was received in The Graduate School by the deadline date, but your formal letter of admission reaches you after the first day of classes, you may be eligible for a waiver of late fees. Please check in 309 Johnston Hall for assistance.

Refunds

A refund will be based on the date you officially cancel (by canceling on-line or by taking a completed Course Request form to a One Stop Student Services Center in 200 Fraser Hall, 130 West Bank Skyway, or 130 Coffey Hall) not on the date you stopped attending class.

In a very limited number of circumstances (e.g., medical, military activation, academic advisement), retroactive cancellation may be possible. If retroactive cancellation is authorized and a tuition refund appeal form is received no later than August 31 of the current academic year, you may be entitled to a tuition refund. Appeals for tuition refunds based on failure to cancel or nonattendance will not be approved. If your appeal is approved, W (for Withdrawal) will remain on your academic record for each course.

Before requesting retroactive cancellation and/or a tuition refund appeal, you need to discuss the implications with your advisor as well as with One Stop Student Services so your decision will be based on a clear understanding of the consequences of withdrawing from courses. Retroactively canceling courses may result in being billed for financial aid that has been disbursed based on your original enrollment or it may result in Boynton Health Service charges that were previously covered under the Student Services Fee.

Check with One Stop Student Services at the above locations (612-624-1111) for more information and an appeal form. Forms are also available here.

Changing the Term of Admission

If you wish to be considered for a term earlier or later than the one specified in your letter of admission, you must notify The Graduate School at least six weeks before the opening of the term you wish to begin (individual departments may require earlier notification). The application for admission fee is valid for one academic year (e.g., fall 2005 through summer 2006).

Approval of such a change is not automatic. If you do not register in The Graduate School, your file will be discarded at the end of two years.

Graduate Assistants

If you are a graduate assistant, carefully review the information on the Graduate Assistant Employment web site at http://www1.umn.edu/ohr/gae. If you have questions, contact Graduate Assistant Employment, 612-624-7070; fax 612-625-9801.

Residence—Because the University is a state institution, Minnesota residents pay lower tuition than nonresidents. For more information on eligibility requirements for resident status, contact the Resident Classification and Reciprocity Office, University of Minnesota, 240 Williamson Hall, 231 Pillsbury Drive S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455 (612-625-6330).

Reciprocity—For residents of North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, or Manitoba who qualify for reciprocity privileges, tuition rates are lower than for nonresidents and are, in some cases, comparable to resident rates. For more information, contact the Resident Classification and Reciprocity Office (see above).

Grading/Transcripts

Grading System

The Graduate School uses two grading systems: A-B-C-D-F (with pluses and minuses) and S-N. Students have the option of choosing the system under which they will be graded, except in courses in which grading has been restricted to one system with approval of The Graduate School. Students choose their grading system at the time of initial registration. 5xxx and 8xxx courses with grades of A, B, C (including C-), and S may be applied to a Graduate School degree program; changes in grading option are not allowed after the second week of the term. Under some circumstances and with approval of the student’s major field, 4xxx, 6xxx, and 7xxx courses may also be applied to a Graduate School degree. At least two-thirds of the total number of course credits included on any degree program form must be taken A-F. Individual major fields have the option of specifying more stringent requirements regarding the application of S-N courses to a degree program. All A-F registrations in The Graduate School, regardless of course level, will be calculated in the cumulative GPA.

Incomplete Grades—The symbol “I” may be assigned by an instructor to indicate “incomplete,” in accordance with provisions announced in class at the beginning of the semester, when in the instructor’s opinion there is a reasonable expectation that the student can successfully complete the work of the course. An “I” remains on the transcript until the instructor replaces it with a final A-F or S-N grade. Course instructors may, at their discretion, establish a time limit for the removal of incomplete grades. The maximum number of credits of incompletes allowable at any given time is established by each major field for its graduate students. Students should refer to the Graduate School’s Web site for further information.

Retaking Courses—The Graduate School discourages the retaking of courses to improve grades. If a course is retaken, appropriate tuition and fees will be assessed. All registrations and grades for the course remain on the student’s transcript and are calculated into the cumulative GPA.

Grade Changes—To preserve the integrity of the graduate transcript as an accurate record of a student’s academic progress, The Graduate School does not approve requests to change final grades assigned to students in prior semesters.

Holds

If you have a hold on your record, you may not register or, in many cases, obtain transcripts until that hold is cleared with the office imposing it. Holds may be imposed for unpaid tuition or fees (e.g., library fines) or for disciplinary or scholastic reasons. For example, at your department’s request, The Graduate School will place holds for not filing your degree program or thesis proposal on time, for a low GPA, or for too many incompletes.

You should be notified of an existing or impending hold by the department or office authorizing the hold (see Class Schedule).

Transcripts

The One Stop Student Services Center in Fraser Hall maintains and releases student transcripts, the official University record of grades and registration symbols for all courses a student takes beyond the second week of a semester. Go to http://www.onestop.umn.edu/onestop/grades.html for information on how to obtain transcripts.

Traveling Scholar Program

Committee on Institutional Cooperation Traveling Scholar Program—The University of Minnesota participates in the Traveling Scholar Program for graduate students enrolled in Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC) institutions. The 14 participating universities are the members of the “Big Ten,” the University of Chicago, the University of Illinois at Chicago, and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

The program enables doctoral students at any CIC university to take advantage of educational opportunities—specialized courses, unique library collections, unusual laboratories—at any other CIC university without change in registration or increase in fees. Students may take advantage of these educational opportunities for three quarters or two semesters.

Graduate students interested in graduate course offerings not available at the University of Minnesota should confer first with their major department and major adviser concerning which of the cooperating institutions to select for program enrichment and diversification. Information on procedures for participating in the Traveling Scholar Program is available at http://www.cic.uiuc.edu/programs/TravelingScholars/index.shtml or contact Andrew Lucas in the Graduate School Admissions Office, 309 Johnston Hall (612-625-3014).

Graduate Student Services

Filing Programs

Graduate students must file an official Degree Program Form listing all courses that will be completed for a degree. The program must be approved by your adviser, the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) in your major field (and minor field, if designated), and The Graduate School. Ordinarily, master’s degree candidates are required to file their programs after completing 10 credits. Doctoral students are ordinarily expected to file in the second year of study (or at least 1 term prior to the Preliminary Oral Examination).   You can obtain a Degree Program Form in 316 Johnston Hall or at http://www.grad.umn.edu/current_students/forms/index.html .

You can change your program at any time by submitting a petition, with approval from your adviser, Director of Graduate Studies, and The Graduate School. If you do not file your program on time, a hold may be placed on your registration at your department’s request.

Contact your major department for specific coursework requirements needed to complete the degree. Once The Graduate School has approved your program a copy will be sent to you and your major department.  The original approved Degree Program Form is kept on file in 316 Johnston Hall.

Credit Transfers

Courses taken for graduate credit outside the University of Minnesota Graduate School may sometimes be transferred to your graduate program. The Graduate School, however, limits the number of credits you may transfer. Regulations and procedures are in the Graduate School Catalog, but department policies may be more restrictive. To request credit for courses taken at other schools, you must file transcript copies with your official program in 316 Johnston Hall. Note: Transfer courses must be listed on an official transcript from a recognized graduate school. The Graduate School will not post degrees earned at another institution on your University of Minnesota transcript.

Language Requirements

Though The Graduate School has no foreign language requirements, some major fields do require proficiency in one or more foreign languages. The Graduate School monitors the fulfillment of foreign language requirements for the major field.  Check your department requirements, and obtain the appropriate forms from 316 Johnston Hall or at  http://www.grad.umn.edu/current_students/forms/index.html . Check with 316 Johnston Hall for conditions under which proficiency is recorded on the official transcript.

Theses and Projects

The Plan B option for a Master’s Degree requires the completion of at least one Plan B project. The graduate faculty in each major may require as many as three such projects. More information regarding the Plan B option is available in the Graduate School Catalog and at http://www.grad.umn.edu/current_students/forms/masters.html . The Plan A option for a Master’s Degree requires the completion of a thesis/project to be submitted to The Graduate School. The formatting requirements for the thesis/project are outlined in the “Preparation of the Master’s Thesis/Project,” available outside 310 Johnston Hall and at http://www.grad.umn.edu/current_students/forms/masters.html .

Doctoral students must file a Thesis Proposal Form separately from the Degree Program Form which should be submitted to The Graduate School at least one term prior to your final defense. The formatting requirements for the Doctoral Thesis/Project are outlined in the Preparation of the Doctoral Thesis/Project,” available outside 310 Johnston Hall and at http://www.grad.umn.edu/current_students/forms/doctoral.html .

All research on the Twin Cities, Duluth, Morris, and Crookston campuses that involves the use of human or animal subjects must be reviewed and approved before initiation by the Institutional Review Board: Human Subjects Committee (IRB) or the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). This includes research for Plan B projects, theses, and dissertations. For more information, contact the Research Subjects Protection Office, Box 820 Mayo, (612-626-5654; fax 612-626-6061) or visit www.research.umn.edu/subjects .

Examinations

Master’s candidates. The Graduate School requires final exams for both Plan A and B master’s degrees. The exams may be written, oral, or both, depending upon the major field.

Doctoral candidates. Doctoral students must take both written and oral preliminary examinations, which cover the major and supporting program (or minor if declared).

Department policies on the written exam vary widely; check on the requirements during your first semester of graduate study.
A doctoral student must write a thesis project and must successfully defend it in a final oral exam. This exam must be scheduled with The Graduate School and cannot be held until all work on the official program has been completed, the preliminary exams have been passed, Thesis Proposal Form has been approved, and the thesis has been certified as ready for defense.

Graduation

Degrees are granted on the last working day of every month.  To qualify for graduation for a particular month, you must apply to graduate on or before the first working day of the month you intend to graduate and complete examinations and all other requirements (including necessary forms and fees) by the last working day of that month. Have all your requirements fulfilled well before the dates specified in your graduation materials from 316 Johnston Hall.

Commencement Ceremonies

Two Graduate School commencement ceremonies are held each year – spring and fall.  You are encouraged but not required, to attend. For details and deadlines, see the Class Schedule or http://www.grad.umn.edu/current_students/forms/index.html under the various degrees.

Changing Majors, Reentering

If you have been admitted to and registered in The Graduate School and wish to change your major, degree objective, track, or campus, or be readmitted to The Graduate School, you must file a Change of Status/Readmission Application along with a $55 change-of-status/readmission fee. Most students must submit the application online. For access to the online application and information about exceptions to online submission visit http://www.grad.umn.edu/prospective_students/apply_online.html . Students who wish to enter a doctoral program after obtaining a master’s degree must also complete the form and pay the fee.
Effective fall 2002, all Graduate School students must register in The Graduate School every fall and spring term to maintain their required active student status. If you have not registered in The Graduate School fall and spring term, you must apply for readmission and must register before you will be permitted to resume work on a master’s, specialist, or doctoral degree, including (but not restricted to) working on a master’s thesis, Plan B papers, or doctoral thesis; taking final examinations; or filing for graduation

Mutual Responsibilities

The Graduate School values and respects its graduate students for being a vital part of the University’s community of scholars. As a measure of the esteem in which graduate students are held, the dean of the Graduate School appointed a joint faculty-student task force charged with creating a mutual responsibilities document. This document outlines the responsibilities of both graduate students and graduate faculty at the University regarding such issues as communication about academic status, research contributions, and employment conditions. The document is available at  http://www.grad.umn.edu/faculty-staff/governance/Policies/mutual_responsibilities.html.

Your Responsibilities

The University, as you might expect, has a multitude of regulations; The Graduate School adds its own rules; individual departments add still others. Find out which rules apply to you and keep informed of deadlines; it is your responsibility. The Graduate School, your adviser, and your director of graduate studies are particularly valuable resources. Review the first section of the Graduate School Catalog, and read The Graduate School section of each semester’s Class Schedule. Also keep copies of all official papers, schedules, fee statements, and receipts.

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