Graduate School Manual

Section 4. Registration

4.10 General
4.20 Full-Time and Part-Time Registration
4.30 Leave of Absence
4.40 Continuous Enrollment
4.50 Withdrawal
4.60 Re-Enrollment
4.70 Registration for Off-Campus Study
4.80 Intellectual Opportunity Credits (Pass/Fail Option)
4.90 Dismissal for Scholastic Reasons
4.95 Dismissal for Other Reasons

4.10 General

4.11. It is expected that students who are admitted to graduate study will demonstrate a seriousness of purpose by completing their work as soon as possible. An interruption in a student’s program, especially in the latter stages, also causes inconvenience and expense to the University. Graduate students must remain continuously enrolled (Graduate Manual 4.40), except for students who are in programs for whom summer sessions are optional, until they have completed all requirements and received their degree. Students who do not enroll for one or more semesters and have not secured a Leave of Absence (see Section 4.30) are considered to have self-withdrawn from their program. A reinstatement application must be submitted and approved for the student to be reinstated into the degree program.

4.11.1. Graduate students whose programs are to be accomplished only during summer sessions must give written notice of this intent to their departments and to the Graduate School, and must thereafter register for each consecutive summer session until they have completed all degree requirements.

4.12. Before initial registration, students shall confer with their advisor to select appropriate coursework for the first semester (see Section 8.21).

4.13 . The following changes in registration for program courses may be made with the approval of the student’s advisor or major professor, and in the case of doctoral programs, the program committee:

1. Courses may be added up until the date specified by the University for each academic semester on its website, or in the University of Rhode Island Catalog.
2. Courses may be changed from audit to credit up until the date specified by the University for each academic semester on its website, or in the University of Rhode Island Catalog.
3. Courses may be dropped up until the date specified by the University for each academic semester on its website, or in the University of Rhode Island Catalog.
4. For a course dropped after the date specified by the University for each academic semester on its website, or in the University of Rhode Island Catalog, the instructor is required to submit a final grade, which may be a failure.

4.14. Non-Matriculating students may register for courses for which they have completed the prerequisites and have received the permission of the department Chair, subject to enrollment limitations and the accommodation of students in degree programs.

Graduate Manual Revisions approved by the Graduate Council on December 10, 2018

4.20 Full-Time and Part-Time Registration

Registration status for students may change over the course of graduate study and may include full-time and part-time status.  Eligibility for specific registration statuses depends on several factors, including degree type (e.g., certificate, master’s, PhD) and citizenship, and each status has different requirements.

4.21. Students who desire or who are required to register for full-time study during any semester or summer term must register and pay tuition and fees for full-time work, except as indicated below in section 4.25. In order to qualify for full-time registration, students (except as indicated below) must register for at least 9 credits during a regular semester or 6 credits during a summer term. Therefore, a half-time registration would be equivalent to an enrollment in a minimum of 4.5 credits per semester. A normal workload is 12 credits for any semester. Maximum loads are 15 per semester and 8 per summer term. Students registering for credits in excess of these limits will be charged the appropriate part-time per credit tuition for each credit over the limit. Simultaneous enrollments at Kingston and CCE locations are combined when determining these limits. Dropping overload credit at either location after the end of the add period does not reduce term bills.

4.22. All students, except those holding assistantships or who are eligible for one of the statuses defined in section 4.25, registered for fewer than 9 credits during the fall and spring semesters are considered part-time students. Those taking fewer than 6 credits in any term of the summer session will be considered part-time students.

4.23. Students holding graduate assistantships will be considered registered for full-time work, and billed accordingly. They must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 credits each semester, unless they have been granted ABD status (section 4.25.1) Graduate students holding assistantships should not register for more than 12 credits without consulting their major professor.

4.24. Students who hold appointments as fellows or trainees are required to register for full-time work during each semester of their tenure to retain their appointments. When the appointment is for a 12-month period, the student must register for full-time work in each of the two summer terms.

4.25. Full-time equivalent registration

Students who meet the eligibility requirements of one of the three special statuses may register for fewer than 9 credits and be considered full time students.

4.25.1 ABD (All but Dissertation) enrollment status

Given that student effort and faculty workload for doctoral dissertation preparation are not accurately accounted for by the credit hour model, domestic and International PhD students who have completed all of their degree requirements (coursework, comprehensive exams, dissertation proposal, and other program specific requirements) except the dissertation are eligible to register for 3 credits, of which a minimum of 2 credits need to be doctoral dissertation research credits (699) and be considered full time students. Students registered as ABD are expected to be solely focused on preparing their dissertations. Major professors and committee members are expected to maintain or increase the amount of time dedicated to advising ABD students. This status is available to PhD students for 4 semesters. Students granted ABD status may hold a graduate assistantship.  (Amended March 6, 2023)

4.25.2 Last semester status for domestic students

Domestic master’s thesis students and PhD students are eligible to register for 1 credit of master’s thesis research (599) or doctoral dissertation research (699) for the last semester of their graduate career and be considered full time students. Students granted last semester status may not hold an assistantship. If students fail to complete their thesis or dissertation, they will revert to regular enrollment status.

4.25.3 Reduced course load for international students

International graduate students are eligible for one semester of reduced course load and will be considered full time students. Students must contact the International Students’ Office to ensure compliance with visa requirements.

4.30 Leave of Absence

4.31. Students who must leave the University for a period of one semester or more, whether before or after they have completed the work prescribed in their Program of Study, due to military service, illness, financial hardship, childbirth, adoption or other circumstances should apply for a Leave of Absence. The request should be made in writing by the student to the Dean of the Graduate School, accompanied by a Leave of Absence form, carrying the endorsement of the Graduate Program Director. This written petition must be sufficiently specific to enable the Dean to determine whether the leave is warranted. A Leave of Absence, granted under such unusual circumstances, has the effect of suspending time limitations such as those for completion of the degree or for the removal of incomplete grades. Accordingly, a leave will be granted only for sufficient reason and only if it is to be for one year or less. It may be renewed for a maximum of one additional year if circumstances warrant. A request for a Leave of Absence must be submitted to the Graduate School by the last day to add courses as specified on the URI academic calendar. Requests received after the designated dates will not be approved. See Section 4.52 for effects of failure to register or to request a Leave of Absence.

4.40 Continuous Enrollment

Graduate students must remain continuously enrolled in one or more graduate-level credits until they have completed all requirements and have received their degrees. During the summer session, enrollment is required only for students who plan to take comprehensive examinations or to defend theses/dissertations, for those who plan to graduate, and for those who plan to take courses only in summer sessions (see 4.11).

4.41. Once students have completed all the coursework and research specified in their Program of Study, they must register each semester as indicated below or they will be considered to have voluntarily withdrawn from graduate status (see 4.52). If they are actively engaged in research, they must register for an appropriate number of credits of thesis/dissertation research, non-thesis research, or special problems per semester (as determined by their major professors or program committees), for which they will receive a grade of Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory, and pay the associated fee (https://web.uri.edu/tuition-billing/tuition-and-fees/). If they have completed all requirements for the degree and do not need the privileges afforded by graduate student status, they must register for continuous registration (CRG 999) each semester and pay the associated fees. No grade or credit is associated with CRG 999. This option is only appropriate for students who have completed all requirements except for making up grades of Incomplete, taking the master’s comprehensive exam, or submitting the final version of a research project, thesis or dissertation. If a student does not register in the above manner once all required coursework and research credits are completed, the provisions of (section 4.52) will take effect.

4.42. A student registered for continuous registration (CRG 999) does not have the privilege of consulting regularly with professors on research or thesis work nor of using the laboratory, computer, and other educational facilities of the University. Therefore, CRG 999 is to be used by students who have completed all requirements except for making up grades of Incomplete, taking the master’s comprehensive exam, or submitting the final version of a research project, thesis or dissertation. Students who are still actively engaged in research after having taken the research credits required by their Program of Study must register and pay for additional research credits (as determined in consultation with their major professors or program committees). Such additional research credits may be accumulated without limit and will appear with the associated grades on the student’s transcript.

4.50 Withdrawal

4.51. Withdrawal from the University is a serious matter, which deserves careful consideration by the student in consultation with their advisor or major professor. If the student concludes that a Leave of Absence is not in their best interest, then they need only fill out a withdrawal form to officially terminate their graduate status. This form should be submitted to the Dean of the Graduate School.

4.52. A student who does not register or submit a Leave of Absence request before the Enrollment Services’ deadlines at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters will be administratively withdrawn. The interpretation of this inaction will be that the student does not intend to return for graduate study. A subsequent return to the University to complete their degree requirements will require the student to follow the reinstatement procedures outlined in 4.60. (Amended September, 19 2022)

4.60 Re-enrollment

4.61. If a student has been administratively withdrawn as provided in 4.52 and later desires to resume graduate work, they will be required to request reinstatement by completing the Reinstatement Application available on-line at the Graduate School website (http://web.uri.edu/graduate-school/forms/). It will be to the student’s advantage to submit this request as early as possible. The student must obtain the approval of their Graduate Program Director and the Dean of the Graduate School. Permission to be reinstated will be granted only after a review of the student’s entire academic record and only if the student can be accommodated within the department’s course offerings and research facilities for that semester, and can be reasonably expected to complete all degree requirements within the time limits based on original admission. (Amended May 17, 2018)

4.70 Registration for Off-Campus Study

4.71 Students who wish to register for credits to be counted toward a degree but who will be earning these credits through off-campus activities are required to enroll in OCSG 997, 998, or 999 (Off Campus Study – Graduate). OCSG 997 is for graduate students completing approved off-campus experiences, such as research activities, in Fall or Spring semesters. OCSG 998 is for graduate students taking approved URI courses, such as research courses, elsewhere for URI credit. OCSG 999 is for graduate students taking approved full-time courses at another institution for transfer credit to URI. For such courses taken at another institution, prior approval before taking the course(s) is needed from a student’s major professor/advisor and the Dean of the Graduate School. The required Prior Approval for Off-Campus Study form to be submitted to the Graduate School requesting approval can be found at (http://web.uri.edu/graduate-school/forms/). A fully-approved Program of Study predating, and containing such transfer courses constitutes prior approval and makes the submission of the Prior Approval for Off-Campus Study form unnecessary. In cases where course credits have not been previously established, credit evaluation should conform to provisions in the University Manual (https://web.uri.edu/manual/l) as far as practicable — one credit for three hours per week per semester — and may not exceed the limits of full-time registration, namely 15 credits per semester and 8 per summer term 4. In any given semester, off-campus students enrolled exclusively in URI online courses during that semester are not required to register for OCSG credit.

 4.80 Intellectual Opportunity Credits (Pass-Fail Option)

4.81. In order to encourage graduate students to explore new areas of knowledge without fear that their scholastic average will suffer from a venture into an area in which they have had no previous training, the Graduate Council has approved the following Intellectual Opportunity option:

1. A master’s degree student may choose to register for a maximum of 4 credits on a pass-fail (S or U) grade option, which may be taken for credit as part of their Program of Study. A doctoral student may register for a maximum of 8 credits, including any taken as a master’s student, under the same option. To be eligible for this option, the student’s major professor or advisor must certify on the form provided by the Graduate School that the course or courses are outside the student’s major field of study, are not entrance deficiencies, and are not specific requirements of the degree program in which they are enrolled. The exercise of this option must have the approval of the Dean of the Graduate School prior to enrollment in the course(s) in question.
2. A student receiving a grade of S (satisfactory) will receive credit toward the fulfillment of degree requirements, but the grade of S will not be used in calculating the student’s grade point average. A grade of S will be given for all courses taken under this option provided the student earns a grade of B- or better in 400-level courses, or a C or better in courses that are 500-level or above.
3. A grade of U will be given for courses in which the above grade minima were not reached. A student receiving a grade of U (unsatisfactory) will receive no credit toward degree requirements nor will the U be included in calculating a grade point average, although it will appear on the student’s official transcript.

4.90 Dismissal for Scholastic Reasons

A student failing to maintain acceptable scholastic standing is subject to dismissal from a graduate program (see 10.10 Scholastic Standing, and 10.20 Acceptable Averages). All students are expected to maintain a cumulative average of B (3.00) or better. Students who do not maintain a cumulative B (3.00) average will have their status reviewed and may be placed on provisional status, or dismissed, as indicated in Section 10.22. A student may be dismissed for failure to satisfy stipulations imposed upon admission to the program. If a student has been admitted and matriculated in a graduate degree program, is not on an approved Leave of Absence, and has not made progress in coursework or thesis/dissertation research applicable to that program for 12 consecutive months, then the student is subject to dismissal. If a student has failed to satisfy program requirements in timely fashion according to established policies or has exceeded the time limit set forth in Sections 7.42 and 7.51 for completing all degree requirements, then that student may be dismissed. A student who has been dismissed for scholastic reasons must wait at least one year before they are eligible to petition to re-enroll or re-apply to a University of Rhode Island graduate program.

4.95 Dismissal for Other Reasons

A student in good scholastic standing is also subject to dismissal from a graduate program and from the Graduate School for falsification of application materials. Satisfactory progress in a program also involves maintaining the standards of academic and professional integrity. Failure to maintain these standards may result in dismissal from the program and the Graduate School. A graduate student may be dismissed for a serious infraction of University standards and policies, as outlined in the University of Rhode Island Student Handbook. This would include, but not be limited to, such infractions as intent to plagiarize, purposeful falsification of data or experimental results, knowingly presenting false data in journals, publications or at conferences, malicious destruction of laboratory equipment, or making false claims about credentials or progress. A student who has been dismissed for non-scholastic reasons is not eligible to re-enroll or to re-apply to the Graduate School.