Policy on Continuous Enrollment

Purpose

The purpose of the Continuous enrollment policy is to provide a mechanism for allowing continuous usage of university resources (library, advising, etc.) during periods of sustained research and scholarship and to account for student enrollments and faculty involvement in capstone and theses projects not completed within the semester in which the student is registered for the final capstone course.

Definitions

"Continuous Enrollment" is defined as a 1-credit hour graduate course (INDS 695) that a graduate student is required to register for during each semester following a capstone course until completion of thesis/capstone work.

Grading

A grade of 'IP' (In Progress) will be assigned to the original thesis/capstone course and will remain on the student's transcript until the student either completes the work or fails to complete the thesis/capstone work within five (5) years of admission to the degree program. A final grade for the original thesis/capstone course will replace the 'IP' grade upon completion of the work. A grade of 'S' (Satisfactory) or 'U' (Unsatisfactory) will be assigned to each INDS 695 course for which the student enrolls.

Student Responsibilities

A student must submit final copies of thesis work to the Graduate Studies Office by the last day of the semester in which the student completes his/her defense. A student must submit final copies of capstone work to the appropriate academic department by the last day of the semester in which the student completes all capstone requirements. If the student fails to meet this requirement, he/she will be required to enroll in INDS 695 until the thesis or capstone requirements are met and the final project is submitted.

Restrictions

A student is not eligible for academic leave for the purpose of thesis/capstone completion once work on thesis/capstone research has begun. If a student must suspend work on the research for compelling reasons, the student must formally withdraw from the graduate degree program and apply for resinstatement when he/she is prepared to complete the thesis/capstone project. Withdrawing from a graduate degree program curtails student usage of university resources, including the faculty advisors involvement in the research project. Resinstatement to a graduate program following a leave of absence requires both Department and Graduate Studies Office approval.