If a student is not qualified to continue in his or her program because of unsatisfactory academic performance, including a final (second) failure on comprehensive or qualifying examination or the dissertation defense, the department, school, or college will recommend to the Graduate School that the student be dropped.
Students who are dropped from the Graduate School may appeal, in writing, to the Assistant Vice Provost for Graduate Programs, stating why they believe the decision should be changed. An appeal must be based on evidence that the departmental recommendation for a drop was a procedural error. In such cases, a subcommittee of the Board of Graduate Studies will be convened for a recommendation. The appeals procedure from this point will be the same as for other appeals.
