Academic Catalog

Policy Summary

Defines the requirement for graduate students to maintain continuous enrollment, including the criteria and enrollment expectations for completing a final project, thesis, or dissertation.

Entities Affected by this Policy

• Associate Deans
• Chairs/Directors
• Faculty
• Office of Graduate and Professional Studies Coordinators
• Graduate Program Coordinators
• Graduate Program Directors
• Institutional Research and Analysis
• Office of Curriculum and Assessment
• Office of the Registrar
• Graduate Students
• University Advising

Policy

Graduate students are expected to pursue graduate degrees with little to no interruption by maintaining continuous enrollment.

Students in a graduate degree program who do not enroll for three consecutive semesters (excluding summer and winter) will be considered withdrawn from the university and must reapply for admission to resume their degree program. Students are expected to be continuously enrolled each fall and spring term until all degree requirements have been fulfilled.

Even if all course requirements for a degree have been completed, students may need to use university resources (e.g., library access, lab, university facilities, etc.) to complete a required independent study or research project. For the protection of both students and the university, students must enroll during any term, including summer, when they use university facilities or require the professional time of faculty members.

Enrollment Requirements for a Final Project, Thesis, or Dissertation

When students begin working on a Master’s Final Project (689), Thesis (699), or Dissertation (799), the university expects them to enroll in these courses each semester from the time they begin this work until the degree is completed. Enrolling in these courses signifies that the student is actively writing a thesis or dissertation or working on physical materials (e.g., a portfolio) required for their final project.

If completing multiple degree programs, students will be required to enroll in distinct 689, 699, or 799 courses under different prefixes (e.g., ENG 699 and ME 699) for separate degree requirements. 689, 699, and/or 799 credits may not be double counted toward the requirements of more than one degree program.

Note: If students are engaged in activities such as, but not limited to, data collection, research, or literature reviews, a different university course line (e.g., 685 – Graduate Research) might be a more appropriate reflection of their efforts and will avoid issues surrounding continuous enrollment in 689, 699, or 799.

Units of Credit

Individual graduate programs are responsible for articulating the criteria for 689, 699, or 799 and ensuring their students begin this work at the appropriate time in their degree progress. Per the Arizona Board of Regents’ (ABOR) policy, each unit of credit is equivalent to 45 clock hours.

• 1 unit of credit per semester = 45 clock hours (3 hours/week)
• 3 units of credit per semester = 135 clock hours (9 hours/week)
• 6 units of credit per semester = 270 clock hours (18 hours/week)
• 9 units of credit per semester = 405 clock hours (27 hours/week)

To accurately reflect the demand and use of faculty/staff time and university resources, students are required to register for a minimum of one (1) unit of credit in 689, 699, or 799 each fall and spring semester once they begin their thesis, dissertation, or final project until they graduate. Programs may require students to enroll for additional units above the degree program requirements as indicated in the Academic Catalog.

Leave of Absence

In extenuating circumstances, graduate students may petition for a Leave of Absence, which allows for an exception to the continuous enrollment policy. The petition form, Graduate Leave of Absence, must be approved by the student’s advisor, graduate coordinator, and/or department chair and sent to the Office of the Registrar.

Students who do not have an approved leave of absence on file with the Office of the Registrar and wish to resume work on a thesis, dissertation, or master’s final project after one or more semesters of non-enrollment may be required to register for any additional units of Master’s Final Project (689), Thesis (699), or Dissertation (799).

Personalized Learning

Graduate students are expected to pursue graduate degrees with little to no interruption by maintaining continuous enrollment.

Students in a master’s degree program who have not been in an active subscription within the last 365 days will be considered withdrawn from the university and must reapply for admission to resume their degree program.

By the last day of the subscription period in which a student expects to graduate, students completing a Final Project must submit their work to the faculty responsible for their project. Students unable to meet this deadline will have their graduation deferred to the next term, pending the completion of their degree requirements.

Leave of Absence

In extenuating circumstances, graduate students may petition for an exception to the continuous enrollment policy. The petition form, Graduate Leave of Absence, must be approved by the student’s advisor, graduate coordinator, and/or department chair and sent to the Office of the Registrar. The request must be filed and approved before the anticipated absence.

Financial Implications

Eligibility for financial aid, Veterans assistance, graduate assistantships, and university housing may be impacted by the number of units a student is enrolled in. Contact Financial Aid for more information.