Process and Sanctions for Violations of Conduct Standards

In general:

• Failure to meet the program’s academic or conduct expectations can result in disciplinary action including immediate dismissal from the program. If a student is not making satisfactory progress in regards to academic or conduct expectations, the advisor will consult with the student’s committee to determine if disciplinary action or dismissal is recommended.
• Student progress will be reviewed through student progress reports once per year. Students and their advisors will each complete the “Annual Graduate Student Feedback” and then will meet to revise and submit a final report. If the advisor and graduate committee find that at the annual meetings or at any other time that a student has failed to achieve satisfactory progress with academic or conduct expectations the student may be dismissed from the program.
• Students placed on probation will be on probation for one semester and will be reviewed by the Graduate Studies Committee following the probationary semester. Students placed on probation may be dismissed or allowed to continue based upon review of progress during the probationary semester.
• The status of a student can be one of three options:
• Good standing (progressing according to standards; any funding guarantee remains in place).
• Probation (not progressing according to standards but permitted to enroll; loss of funding guarantee; specific plan with dates and deadlines in place in regard to removal of probationary status.
• Unsatisfactory progress (not progressing according to standards; not permitted to enroll, dismissal, leave of absence or change of advisor or program).

More specifically:

• Any graduate student who fails to meet the program’s expectations during two consecutive semesters (not including summer) will be dismissed from the program at the end of the subsequent semester. Any student who fails to meet the program’s expectations because of failure to pass any required exams and procedures within designated time limits will be dismissed from the program at the end of the subsequent semester.
• A semester GPA below 3.0 will result in the student being placed on academic probation. If a semester GPA of 3.0 is not attained during the subsequent semester of full- time enrollment (or 12 credits of enrollment if enrolled part-time) the student may be dismissed from the program or allowed to continue for 1 additional semester based on advisor appeal to the Graduate School. A cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required to graduate. See the Graduate School Academic Policies & Procedures: Probation and Grade Point Average (GPA) Requirement.
• Students may be disciplined or dismissed from the graduate program for any type of misconduct (academic, non-academic, professional, or research) or failure to meet program expectations regardless of their academic standing in the program. Separate and apart from a violation of Professional Conduct, a student may face University disciplinary action with regard to the same action. Concerns about infractions of the Professional Conduct may be effectively handled informally between the student and the advisor/faculty member. However, if a resolution is not achieved, the issue may be advanced for further review by the program. See Satisfactory Progress – Conduct Expectations

Kinesiology Graduate Studies Committee (GSC)

If graduate students or advisors want to seek formal input from several graduate faculty members the Kinesiology Department has a standing committee, the Graduate Studies Committee. It consists of five graduate faculty members appointed by the Department Chair. Usually, each Committee member will have several years of experience in graduate program administration. The chair dismisses any student member(s) for student personnel matters. You may contact the Committee via your advisor, Director of Graduate Studies, or the Graduate Program Manager.

Disciplinary Actions

• Written reprimand
• Denial of specified privilege(s)
• Imposition of reasonable terms and conditions on continued student status
• Removal of funding
• Probation
• Restitution
• Removal of the student from the course(s) in progress
• Failure to promote
• Withdrawal of an offer of admission
• Placement on Leave of Absence for a determined amount of time
• Suspension from the program for up to one year with the stipulation that remedial activities may be prescribed as a condition of later readmission. Students who meet the readmission condition must apply for readmission and the student will be admitted only on a space available basis. See the Graduate School Academic Policies & Procedures: Readmission to Graduate School: Readmission
• Suspension from the program. The suspensions may range from one semester to four years.
• Dismissal from the program
• Denial of a degree

In addition to the program’s disciplinary actions, the Dean of Students Office may also have grounds to issue one or more of the following:

• Reprimand
• Probation
• Suspension
• Expulsion
• Restitution
• A zero or failing grade on an assignment/exam
• A lower grade or failure in the course
• Removal from course
• Enrollment restrictions in a course/program
• Conditions/terms of continuing as a student