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ii
■ FERPA and FERPA training (requires CU login)
■ EEOC/armative action
■ Title IX
■ Anti-harassment and nondiscrimination
■ Plagiarism
■ Research compliance training
■ Copyright and patent issues
■ Research policies
■ Mandated reporting of abuse or neglect of a minor
About changes in Graduate School policy
Generally, you are subject to the policies in eect when you rst matriculate into your graduate program. Minor
changes in policy that will not aect your progress toward a degree may be implemented immediately when that
is determined to be in the best interest of students and/or the University, or if the changes are required by a legis-
lative or regulatory body. These changes, along with all other substantive changes, will be noted in the “Changes
to Graduate School Policy, Annotated” page(s) of this handbook.
We strongly recommend that everyone consult the most current version of the handbook (linked at http://
www.clemson.edu/graduate/students/policies-procedures/index.html) each time you need a policy reference,
to ensure that you are accessing the most current information.
Graduate School academic policies are created and revised via a shared governance process that begins with
the Graduate School’s Advisory Committee, moves to the Graduate Council, and ends with approval by the Pro-
vost’s Academic Council. If you have questions about policies or how they are created or revised, call the oce of
the Dean of the Graduate School at 864-656-4172 or email Dena Smith, Administrative Coordinator.
TRANSFORMATION BEGINS HERE
Purpose of this Handbook
All graduate students as well as faculty and sta who work with graduate programs are responsible for understand-
in
g and following policies and procedures set forth by the Graduate School. This handbook contains the policies
and relevant procedures that aect the Graduate School as a whole. Students should review the handbook for the
program they are enrolled in or interested in for more detailed department and program policies. These
hand-books are accessible via the Graduate School’s academic programs page. From this page, click on any
program name and you will find a handbook link below the program description.
You are also subject to other Clemson University policies, which you will nd in the Policies section of the
Student Handbook
hosted by Student aairs.
Other University-wide policies, including the following topics, may be found by searching the web pages of
the Registrar, the Oce of Access and Equity, the Oce of Research, and the Oce of Sponsored Programs.
iii
Recent changes to Graduate School policy, annotated
These changes begin with the 2015–2016 academic year, when the Graduate School Policies & Procedures
Handbook was rst published as an interactive PDF document.
Policy Aected
Date of
Change Explanation/Notes
Combined
bachelor’s/master’s
plan
Fall 2015 Number of required credit hours, course level, and maximum research hours were
added to clarify requirements.
Dismissal and
admission appeals
Fall 2016 Dismissal policy and procedure wording updated to clarify roles of program
coordinator, Graduate School dean. Dismissal Appeals changed from subtopic to
topic.
Academic renewal Fall 2016 Updated form GS00, Request for Academic Renewal and claried that Graduate
School approval of form indicates consideration for readmission.
Readmission Fall 2016 New policy outlines conditions and procedures for readmission to the University
following a dismissal as a result of an undocumented/unapproved leave of absence.
Continuous
enrollment
Fall 2016 Updated policy. Topic updated to cross-reference new Leave of Absence policy and
Readmission policy. Includes section on failure to maintain continuous enrollment.
Leave of absence Fall 2016 New policy outlines conditions under which a student may request a time-specic
leave of absence, and procedure for doing so. Includes new form GS-LoA.
Academic Grievance
Policy
Fall 2016 “Procedures for Academic Grievance Committee” updated to replace requirement for
transmission of paperwork by certied mail with transmission via secure email.
Application for
resident status
Fall 2016 Under “State resident status,” clarified procedure and added link to form GS35,
Request for Certification of South Carolina Residency. Form rescinded Fall 2018.
Academic Grievance
Policy
Spring 2017 Updated to include IGRB proceedings prior to full review by Academic Grievance
Committee. Committee structure redened to accommodate new College structure.
Time limit for
doctoral programs
Spring 2017 Time limit for completion of all doctoral program requirements (including master’s
en route to PhD plans) updated from ve years to eight years.
Graduate faculty
status
Fall 2017 New policy and guidelines added.
Advisory committee Fall 2017 Committee structure and member qualications updated.
Theses and
dissertations (ETD)
Fall 2017 Clearer timelines for thesis and dissertations and strict adherence to deadlines
approved by Academic Council for Fall 2017.
ETD embargo Fall 2017 Policy and procedure for thesis/dissertation embargo (delay of publication) updated.
Form GS6-Bachelor-
to-Graduate
Fall 2017 Name of form GS6BSMS, Request for Combined Education Plan updated for clarity
since combined plans are not limited to BS and MS programs.
Withdrawing from
the University
Fall 2017 Ocial Registrar’s withdrawal form approved by Academic Council for Fall 2017.
Replaces online withdrawal via iROAR. Discontinued 2018–19; withdrawal via
iROAR as of this time.
iv
Recent Changes to Graduate School Policy
Policy Aected
Date of
Change Explanation/Notes
Doctoral residency Fall 2018 Outlines and expands upon conditions and alternatives for doctoral candidate
residency, given expansion over time of o-campus, online, and part-time doctoral
study options.
Dismissals Fall 2018 Determines which entities oversee dismissal; details infractions that warrant
dismissal, sanctions, and criteria for student return following dismissal, where
applicable.
Preparing graduate
teaching assistants
for the classroom
Fall 2018 Describes expectations of GTAs and lays out GTA training framework.
English language
prociency for
international
teaching assistants
Fall 2018 Denes state and institutional requirements for teaching-related language prociency
for international graduate teaching assistants.
Refreshments at
defenses
Fall 2018 Students undergoing oral examinations may not provide refreshments, gis, or other
inducements to committee members or attendees.
Approval of thesis/
dissertation research
proposal
Fall 2018 Facilitates process by which advisory committee and Graduate School approve
the student research/manuscript proposal concurrent with results of oral or
comprehensive exams.
Procedure includes a new form, GS-ResearchApproval, Approval of Thesis/
Dissertation Research Proposal.
Application for
resident status
Fall 2018 Form GS35, Request for Certication of South Carolina Residency, discontinued;
all requests for residency information are referred to the Oce of Residency
Classication.
is table of recent policy changes is up-to-date as of 19 August, 2019.
v
Contents
Cover .......................................................................i
Purpose of this Handbook .................................................... ii
About changes in Graduate School policy ....................................................ii
Recent changes to Graduate School policy, annotated .......................................... iii
Part 1: Application and Admission. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.1. Admission Requirements ..................................................................1
The Graduate School’s academic admission requirements
......................................1
Previous degrees
........................................................................1
Transcripts
.............................................................................1
Previous academic work (transfer credit)
..............................................1
English language prociency
................................................................2
Programs’ admission requirements and recommendations
......................................2
Standardized tests
......................................................................2
Other documents
.......................................................................2
Immunization requirements
.................................................................2
Health insurance— mandatory
..............................................................3
1.2. e Application Process ...................................................................3
Dates and deadlines
.........................................................................3
International students
...................................................................3
1.3. Special Applicant Categories ...............................................................4
Non-degree seeking students
................................................................4
Seniors (undergraduate)
.....................................................................4
Combined bachelor’s/master’s degree
.....................................................4
University employees
.......................................................................4
Transient graduate students
.................................................................4
Teacher certication
........................................................................4
1.4. Application Fees and Status ................................................................5
Application fee waivers
.....................................................................5
vi
Table of Contents
Status of application ........................................................................5
Application expiration date
..................................................................5
Disposition of application materials
..........................................................5
1.5. Admission ................................................................................5
Status of admission decision
.................................................................5
Admission classications
....................................................................6
Fully admitted
..........................................................................6
Conditionally admitted
.................................................................6
Provisionally admitted
..................................................................6
Deferred admission (change of term)
.........................................................7
Denied admission
..........................................................................7
Admission appeals
..........................................................................7
Appeals procedure
......................................................................7
Readmission
...............................................................................8
Re-entrance as an undergraduate student
.....................................................9
Academic renewal
..........................................................................9
1.6. Orientation and Registration ..............................................................9
1.7 Ocial University Communication .........................................................9
Part 2: Academics .......................................................... 10
2.1. Graduate Program Basics .................................................................10
Academic integrity
........................................................................10
Graduate philosophy
...................................................................10
2.2. Graduate Faculty Status ........................................................... 11
Policy
....................................................................................11
Guidance for developing college policies
.....................................................11
2.3. Your Advisor and Advisory Committee ....................................................12
Advisor (major advisor, committee chair)
....................................................12
Graduate Advisory Committee
.............................................................13
Your Plan of Study (form GS2, graduate degree curriculum)
...................................14
Continuous enrollment
....................................................................14
Exceptions
............................................................................15
Failure to maintain continuous enrollment
...............................................15
Leave of absence
...........................................................................15
Transfer credit
............................................................................16
Independence of graduate degrees
.......................................................16
vii
Table of Contents
Research, internships, theses and dissertations ............................................16
Courses
...............................................................................16
2.4. Navigating Courses .......................................................................17
Syllabus
...................................................................................17
Class attendance
..........................................................................17
Auditing courses
..........................................................................17
Change of major or degree program
.........................................................17
Enrollment limits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Dropping courses
..........................................................................18
Grading system
............................................................................18
Grade appeal
..........................................................................18
Pass/fail enrollment
....................................................................19
Incompletes (grades of I)
...............................................................19
GPA (grade point average)
.................................................................19
Computing and resetting the grade point average (GPA)
..................................19
Academic records
.........................................................................20
Transcripts
................................................................................20
2.5. Degree Requirements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
The Master’s degree. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Credits required
.......................................................................20
Thesis option
..........................................................................20
Non-thesis option
.....................................................................20
Programs with a minor
.................................................................20
Residence
.............................................................................20
Thesis grades
..........................................................................20
Thesis proposal
........................................................................21
Time limit
............................................................................21
The Specialist in Education degree
..........................................................21
The Doctoral degree (PhD, EdD, DNP)
....................................................21
Program of study and credit requirements
................................................21
Residency
.............................................................................22
Disciplinary depth and breadth
.....................................................22
Scholarly immersion
...............................................................22
Professional socialization
...........................................................23
Professional practice
...............................................................23
Preliminary or qualifying examinations
..................................................23
Comprehensive examinations
...........................................................23
Candidacy
............................................................................24
viii
Table of Contents
Dissertation ...........................................................................24
Time limit
............................................................................24
O-campus research
.......................................................................24
Foreign language requirements
.............................................................25
Senior enrollment in graduate courses
.......................................................25
Combined Bachelor’s/Graduate plan
........................................................26
Dual master’s degrees
......................................................................26
Course restriction, 6000-level. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Duplication of graduate degrees
............................................................27
Certicate programs
.......................................................................27
Credit by examination
.....................................................................27
2.6. Nearing Graduation ......................................................................28
Graduation requirements
..................................................................28
Master’s degree programs
...................................................................29
Doctoral degree programs
..................................................................29
Dissertation proposal
..................................................................29
Submitting your dissertation for committee review
.......................................29
Dissertation oral defense
...............................................................30
Graduate School approval of your thesis/dissertation proposal
................................30
Finalizing your thesis or dissertation aer defense and committee approval
.....................31
Formatting and format approval. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Publishing, archiving and printing
.......................................................31
Restrictions on publication and publication embargoes
...................................31
Restrictions on use
.....................................................................32
2.7. Special Circumstances ....................................................................32
Academic probation
.......................................................................32
Dismissals
................................................................................33
Dismissal appeals
......................................................................34
Withdrawing from Clemson University
.....................................................35
Medical Withdrawal
.......................................................................35
Posthumous graduate degree
...............................................................36
Academic redemption
.....................................................................36
Academic renewal
.........................................................................36
2.8. Academic Grievances .....................................................................37
Academic Grievance Policy
.................................................................37
Committee structure
...................................................................37
Procedures and rules governing academic grievances
......................................38
ix
Table of Contents
Procedures for students ling a complaint ............................................38
Procedures for the Initial Grievance Review Board (IGRB)
............................38
Procedures for the Grievance Hearing Panel (GHP). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
University Ombuds oce
..................................................................41
2.9. Violation of Academic Integrity ...........................................................41
Academic Integrity
........................................................................41
Graduate policy and procedures
........................................................41
A. Denitions, explanations and examples of violations of academic integrity ...........42
B. Levels of seriousness of violations of academic integrity and sample recommended
sanctions .....................................................43
C. Structure of the Graduate Academic Integrity Committee ..........................45
D. Notication of a violation of academic integrity ...................................46
E. Procedures if the student chooses to waive their right to a hearing ...................46
F. Procedures if the student chooses to pursue a hearing ...............................48
G. Findings of the hearing panel ....................................................49
H. Appeals ........................................................................49
I. Administration of sanctions .....................................................49
J. Retention/disposition of les ....................................................50
K. Condentiality .................................................................50
Academic misconduct for former graduate students
..........................................50
Revocation of academic degrees
.............................................................50
Retribution or retaliation
..................................................................54
Part 3: Financial Information andAssistantships ............................... 55
3.1. Financial Basics for Graduate Study .......................................................55
Tuition for graduate students
...............................................................55
State resident status
........................................................................55
Fees for graduate students
..................................................................55
Student loans
.............................................................................55
Payment methods
.........................................................................56
Late registration service charge
.............................................................56
Past due accounts
..........................................................................56
Returned checks, EFTs, and credit card payments
.........................................56
Loan default
..........................................................................56
Refunds
..................................................................................56
3.2. Assistantships and Fellowships ............................................................56
Council of Graduate Schools Resolution
....................................................57
x
Table of Contents
Eligibility for graduate assistantships ........................................................57
Types of assistantships
.....................................................................57
Preparing graduate teaching assistants for the classroom
.......................................58
Appointment process and terms
............................................................59
Start date for fall-semester assistantships
.....................................................60
Tuition as a graduate assistant
..............................................................61
English prociency for international students
................................................61
English prociency for international teaching assistants
.......................................61
Arrival deadline for international students on assistantship
....................................62
Minimum stipends
........................................................................62
Maximum stipends
........................................................................62
Benets
...................................................................................62
Mandatory health insurance
................................................................62
Student responsibilities
....................................................................62
Renewal of assistantships
...................................................................63
Termination of assistantships
...............................................................63
3.3. Fellowships ..............................................................................65
Fellowships administered by the Graduate School
............................................66
Deadlines
.................................................................................66
Tax liability
...............................................................................66
3.4. Hours of Employment ....................................................................66
3.5. International Student Employment ........................................................67
Graduate assistantships
....................................................................67
Hourly o-campus
........................................................................67
Hourly on-campus
.........................................................................67
1
Part 1: Application and Admission
1
1.1. Admission Requirements
The Graduate School’s academic admission requirements
Faculty in the admitting programs recommend students for admission to the Graduate School aer they have
made an assessment of each prospective graduate student’s potential. Each graduate program maintains a graduate
program handbook that describes admissions expectations specic to that program.
Applications are evaluated by faculty of each program. Programs have signicant discretion in determining
admission standards and class size based on factors such as availability of academic advisors, nancial support,
laboratory space, and student distribution within interest areas. The Graduate School works with program fac-
ulty and their recommendations for admission in nalizing admissions decisions. Neither an academic record
exceeding minimum requirements, nor satisfactory scores on standardized tests, nor professional expertise alone
will assure an applicant’s admission in this competitive environment. Rather, the overall record must indicate the
strong likelihood that you will complete graduate study successfully.
Previous degrees
You must hold at least a bachelor’s degree from an approved institution whose scholastic rating is satisfactory
to the University, or an equivalent degree from an institution outside the U.S. operating under the Bologna
process whose scholastic rating is satisfactory to the University, to be admitted to the Graduate School. Some
doctoral programs require a master’s degree also. You must provide proof that you hold all required degrees
(or will have received them by the time of your matriculation into Clemson) by submitting a copy of your
transcript as described below. Any exceptions to this rule must be approved by the Graduate School, and spe-
cically and clearly noted in the respective program handbook, program web page, and admissions materials.
Transcripts
Unocial transcripts showing proof of required degrees are acceptable for an oer of admission, and are
required by the Graduate School to accept an applicant. Once you are admitted, you must arrange for nal,
ocial transcripts showing conferral of all required degrees to be sent directly to Graduate Admissions from
the issuing institution in a sealed envelope or other secure transmission process. Final, ocial transcripts must
be received within the rst semester of your enrollment or your account will be frozen, preventing registration
for future classes.
Previous academic work (transfer credit)
You may request that your advisory committee consider up to 12 credit hours of coursework from another
accredited institution may be applied to a Clemson master’s degree; up to 48 credit hours may be trans-
ferred to a Clemson doctoral program. Courses graded on a pass/fail basis will not be transferred to
Clemson University. For more detailed information, see Transfer credit in the Academics section of this
handbook.
1. Admission policies approved 25 April 2008.
2
No courses from a partial-term session or enrollment period will be considered. Courses applied
toward another degree may not be considered for transfer (see Independence of graduate degrees). Your
advisory committee and program faculty have discretion over what courses (if any) will be transferred
from another accredited institution so long as they conform to the stated guidelines above.
English language prociency
If English is not your native language, you will be required to demonstrate competence in English by present-
ing one of the following:
1. a satisfactory score on the TOEFL exam; or
2. a satisfactory score on the IELTS exam; or
3. a satisfactory score on the PTE Academic exam; or
4. documentation of having received a previous undergraduate or graduate degree from a U.S.
institution or an institution where the language of instruction was English; or
5. completion of the ELS level 112 course.
Any TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE Academic exam score more than two years old will not be accepted. Any waiver
of language prociency requirements must be requested by the department and approved by the Dean of the
Graduate School using the Request for English Prociency Waiver form.
Programs’ admission requirements and recommendations
Standardized tests
The Graduate School encourages programs to use holistic evaluation of applicants’ information in making
admissions decisions. Programs have complete discretion concerning whether they require standardized test
scores. Where standardized test scores are considered as one factor in the admissions process, programs may
not use cutoff or minimum scores as an initial screening tool or as a requirement.
Once admitted to Clemson, you may not be required to take or retake any portion of any standard-
ized exam. If you have an approved GS-Bachelor-to-Graduate form (see Combined bachelor’s/graduate
degree plan in the Academics section of this handbook), you may not be required to take any standardized
test, as you are considered admitted upon approval of the form. You should refer to your program’s graduate
program handbook for more information about the admissions requirements and process for the program(s)
you are interested in.
If your program requires a standardized test score (e.g., GMAT or GRE), that score must be submitted to
Clemson University’s Oce of Graduate Admission directly from the administering agency.
Other documents
If the program(s) you are applying to require letters of recommendation, a resume or CV, a personal state-
ment, or other documents, these can be submitted or requested through our online application process. It is
your responsibility to ensure all deadlines and requirements are met.
Immunization requirements
Clemson University species basic health and immunization requirements for admission. You may nd these
requirements on the Student Medical Services web page. The additional requirements below are set forth for
graduate students.
3
All students at Clemson must present their immunization records, either through the MyHealth e-portal or
in person directly to Redfern upon arrival.
Health insurance— mandatory
All domestic graduate students enrolled in nine or more hours on campus are required to be covered by some form
of health insurance. Most international graduate students will be required to enroll in Clemson’s student health
insurance plan. Enrollment in the University’s plan, administered by Redfern Health Center, will be automatic
unless the you are covered by other health insurance that meets certain requirements and a waiver request is
approved. If you do not submit the waiver request in a timely fashion, you will be billed for the University’s plan.
The waiver request, current mandatory health insurance requirements for Graduate and International stu-
dents, and Student Health Insurance Plan brochures for both mandatory and voluntary enrollees are available
as PDF les. More helpful information about insurance and billing may be found here. Once the waiver request
form is submitted online, you will receive an email message that the request to has been received. If the waiver is
granted, the insurance company will send that information to Student Accounts and the cost of medical insurance
will be removed from your account. You will receive an email message indicating the decision on their request for
a waiver.
International students will be billed as indicated in the Student Health Insurance Plan brochure for this
insurance coverage with their tuition. This expense is included on the I-20 or DS-2019. International students
who bring dependents are encouraged to purchase dependent health insurance separately at Redfern Health Cen-
ter upon arrival.
1.2. The Application Process
The application is available online. By following the three steps at this link, you’ll set up a secure ApplyWeb
account to complete your online application. Applications are valid for one year beyond the initial semester
desired for enrollment, aer which you would be required to submit a new application and pay the application fee
at the rate in eect at the time of reapplication.
The type of application being submitted determines the application procedures to follow. Instructions and
relevant deadlines for completing each type of application are included with the application.
The Graduate School website features a section for prospective students, “Frequently Asked Questions.” If
you need additional information, contact the Oce of Graduate Admissions via email or call 864-656-3195.
Dates and deadlines
You may submit your application at any time. However, most programs at Clemson have program-specic dead-
lines. Refer to your program’s graduate program handbook for dates and deadlines.
International students
Typically, the University requests that international students’ applications are completed no later than April15
for fall semester enrollment, September 15 for spring semester enrollment, and February 1 for summer enroll-
ment because international students must consider that additional steps, including receipt of necessary immi-
gration documentation from the University (DS-2019 or I-20 forms), require that the nancial certication
process be complete prior to issuance of these forms. Forms I-20 and DS2019 are normally completed by the
Oce of International Services by July1, October15, and April1 for registration in the fall, spring and sum-
mer semesters, respectively, to allow the international student adequate time to secure a visa.
4
1.3. Special Applicant Categories
The online application for all following special applicant categories uses the same online application portal as for
typical applications.
Non-degree seeking students
A non-degree seeking student is any individual who does not seek to attain a graduate degree or certicate creden-
tial. Non-degree-seeking students may only become candidates for graduate degrees by rst applying to, and being
admitted into, a degree program. Taking courses as a non-degree-seeking student does not provide any guarantee
that you will be accepted into a degree program. You may accrue a maximum of 12 credits in non-degree seeking
status. If you as a non-degree seeking student subsequently matriculate into a graduate degree program, that pro-
gram may — at its discretion — accept up to a maximum of 12 credit hours you earned as a non-degree student to
be applied towards the Clemson University graduate degree into which you are subsequently admitted.
Seniors (undergraduate)
A Clemson University senior with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 and above may apply to enroll in any
graduate course, subject to approval by the department oering the course and the Graduate School. Approval
is required prior to registration and may be requested via form GS Request for Senior Enrollment in Graduate
Courses. Your total course workload for the semester must not exceed 18 hours, and your cumulative graduate
credits earned as a senior must not exceed 12 semester hours.
Combined bachelor’s/master’s degree
An undergraduate student enrolled at Clemson University can apply for admission to a combined Bachelor’s/
Graduate degree program if you hold a cumulative grade point average of 3.4 and the program of interest
allows this option. You must submit form GS-Bachelor-to-Graduate Request for Combined Education Plan
to be considered for this program.
University employees
Employees of Clemson University may enroll in classes and pursue degrees at Clemson and may be eligible for
special tuition benets. However, no member of the faculty with an appointment in an academic unit at the rank
of instructor or higher may be considered as a candidate for a degree in the academic department where employed.
For information on how to access the tuition benet for employees, reference the Oce of Human Resources’
Employee Tuition Assistance Benet policy.
Transient graduate students
If you have been admitted to a degree program at another institution and want to take graduate courses for trans-
fer to your institution, you may be permitted to enroll as a non-degree seeking transient student. To indicate this
status when completing the online application, choose “Transient” as program type. Applications should be sub-
mitted at least two weeks prior to registration. You may earn no more than a total of 12 semester hours while in
transient status, and you will not be eligible to matriculate into graduate degree programs at Clemson University
without completing a separate application as a degree-seeking student and being oered admission.
Teacher certication
Initial certication, recertication, and advance certication for teachers and school administrators are all avail-
able through the College of Education. Students and educators may obtain general information about the South
5
Carolina requirements for certication by accessing the South Carolina Department of Education Certication
Regulations web page; contact the College of Education for details. An application fee is required.
1.4. Application Fees and Status
All degree-seeking students (including new students, University employees, and Clemson students applying for a
graduate program aer completing an initial degree) must submit a nonrefundable application fee to the Univer-
sity before your application is processed. The Admissions section of the Graduate School’s website lists current
application fees.
Application fee waivers
McNair Scholars who hold a grade point ratio of at least 3.0 will have application fees waived. The application fee
will also be waived for GEM Fellows, veterans and active duty military personnel, and any applicants associated
with the Institute for International Education (IIE) such as Fulbright Scholars and Humphrey Fellows. Under
certain circumstances, application fee waivers may also be oered by a graduate program or the Graduate School
to select applicants.
Procedure for programs:
Program coordinators should contact the Director of Graduate Admissions, Kath-
leen Costello, for details about obtaining and distributing application fee waiver codes.
Status of application
You can check the receipt status of your application by logging onto the Graduate School’s application portal.
From there, click on “Manage Your Account” and then “View All Forms.” If you are concerned about applications
that are not listed as received, contact the Oce of Graduate Admissions via email, or call 864-656-3195.
Application expiration date
Acceptance under an application is valid for one year beyond the initial semester desired for enrollment, with
approval from the program of study. Applications initiated but not completed within one year will become
invalid. See Deferred admission.
Disposition of application materials
Credentials or supporting materials submitted for admission to the Graduate School become the property of the
University and are not returned. No copies will be provided to third parties outside the University except when
compelled by legal authority. Copies will, however, be provided to appropriate oces at the University in the
interest of academic matters or nancial awards relative to the applicant. Applications and supporting documents
are retained according to the retention policies of the state of South Carolina.
1.5. Admission
Status of admission decision
The faculty of the various graduate programs make recommendations for admission to the Dean of the Graduate
School. Offers of admission are not official until approved by the Dean of the Graduate School. Official admis-
sion decisions are communicated to applicants by email from the Dean of the Graduate School. You can view the
6
status of your admission application online at the application portal. Click “Manage Your Account” and then
“View All Forms.”
Admission classications
Applicants admitted to Clemson University’s graduate programs are classied either as fully admitted or condi-
tionally admitted.
Fully admitted
Fully admitted status indicates that your applicant credentials equal or exceed minimum admission criteria
prescribed for the particular degree.
Conditionally admitted
An applicant may be required to complete specied conditions within two semesters (or on an alternate time-
line specied by program) of enrollment prior to admission. A conditionally admitted student is not ocially
admitted to the university or to a degree program until all conditions are met. Until all conditions are met,
students will be classied non-degree students. Specied conditions may include, but are not limited to:
■ completing an English language prociency program. Admissions conditions for this situation will
be identied in the conditional language admission decision letter issued by the graduate school.
Certication of completion of the program must be submitted to the Graduate School to move from
conditionally to fully admitted.
■ completing additional academic requirements. Admissions conditions for this situation will be
identied in written correspondence provided by the admitting department and must accompany the
graduate school non-degree admission decision letter. The program or department is responsible for
notifying the Graduate School that the applicant has met all specied conditions within the required
timeframe.
Once conditions are met, the student must reapply to the program to be granted fully admitted status. The
Graduate School will provide a fee waiver to cover this process, and if the program accepts the student as fully
admitted (meaning all requirements are met at an acceptable level), the Graduate School will issue a new
decision letter and the student’s status will change from non-degree to degree-seeking. If the student fails to
complete the conditions at the level specied or within the time frame specied by the admitting program,
the graduate school will notify the applicant that they are not being admitted to the university and the appli-
cant will be separated from the university.
Provisionally admitted
Students failing to provide required credential certication (e.g., ocial transcripts) will be admitted provi-
sionally. They are considered admitted but must provide proof of completion of all required degree(s) as soon
as possible following matriculation in compliance with relevant policies.
Procedure for student:
If your nal transcript indicating the awarding of the baccalaureate and/or gradu-
ate degree was not available at the time the admissions oer was made, you must arrange to have ocial tran-
scripts specifying the awarding of a degree submitted to the Oce of Graduate Admissions or the Oce of
Enrolled Student Services within the rst semester of your enrollment. Students failing to provide the appro-
priate documentation within the rst semester of enrollment may be prohibited from enrolling in subsequent
semesters until the necessary documentation is received. Clemson University transcripts do not need to be
requested. Failure to comply may result in dismissal.
7
The registrar’s oce at each institution previously attended must provide ocial transcripts in sealed
envelopes with an ocial signature over the seal. A sealed transcript opened by a student is no longer consid-
ered ocial. Transcripts may be mailed to Clemson University at the following address:
Graduate Admissions Oce
Clemson University
E-209 Martin Hall
Clemson, South Carolina 29634 U.S.A.
Ocial electronic transcripts may be emailed directly from the Oce of the Registrar of the sending institu-
tion to Clemson University at gstranscripts@clemson.edu. A transcript submitted electronically by anyone
other than the issuing institution will not be considered ocial.
Deferred admission (change of term)
You may defer enrollment for up to one year beyond the semester indicated in your oer of admission, pending
approval from the program of study. To defer admission, you must request and receive written approval from the
academic program that recommended admission via the GS Change of Term form. Your application and sup-
porting materials are valid for one year. Should you wish to defer your admission beyond one year of the initial
semester desired, a new application, supporting documentation, and the prevailing application fee must be sub-
mitted (see previous topic Application expiration date). If you are an international student, you should notify the
Oce of International Aairs when your request for deferred admission is approved by the admitting program.
Denied admission
An applicant may be denied admission to any of Clemson’s graduate programs for various reasons. If you are
denied admission and believe the decision was made unfairly or improperly, you may appeal the decision.
Admission appeals
You may appeal an admission denial if you can demonstrate that the admission decision was made unfairly or
improperly. Appeals are heard by the Graduate Admissions and Continuing Enrollment Appeals Committee or
Applicant Conduct Review Appeals Committee, depending on the circumstances regarding the denial.
Appeals procedure
1. You must submit an appeal of denied admission in writing within 30 days of the date of the letter
indicating denial or at least two weeks prior to the beginning of the term in which you desire to begin
classes, whichever is earlier.
2. You must submit the written statement to the Graduate School requesting the appeal on form GS-
Appeal Appeal of Dismissal or Denied Admission and provide evidence that the admission decision was
unfairly or improperly rendered. Any documentation for the Graduate Admissions and Continuing
Enrollment Appeals Committee and/or Applicant Conduct Review Appeals Committee to consider
should be attached to this form.
3. For denial cases initially determined by Applicant Conduct Review Committee, the appeal will be
reviewed and considered by the Applicant Conduct Review Appeals Committee consisting of the Dean
of the Graduate School, chair of the Crisis Management Team, and the Vice President of Student Aairs.
Upon reviewing the case, the Dean of the Graduate School will communicate the appeal decision that
shall be considered nal.
8
4. For cases involving denials for academic reasons, the Graduate School will make available to the Graduate
Admissions and Continuing Enrollment Appeals Committee your appeal request and the complete
admission le (application; transcript[s]; supporting documents) within three days. The Graduate School
will also provide the graduate program coordinator with a copy of your appeal.
5. The Graduate School will identify the earliest hearing date, will schedule the meeting, reserve the room,
and notify all parties of the time and location of the hearing.
6. The Dean of the Graduate School’s designee will attend the hearings to provide procedural guidance but
will have no vote in the decision of the committee.
7. You will be called in rst by the chair of the hearing panel to present your case. Following conclusion of
your presentation, you will be excused.
8. The faculty member[s] representing the graduate program will be called in next by the chair of the
committee to present the rationale of the program for denying admission. This faculty member may bring
to the meeting any relevant documents to share with the members of the committee. These documents
will be retained with the case in accordance with the state guidelines on retention of academic materials.
9. The committee will make a decision on your case, which will be communicated immediately to you and
to the program coordinator. This communication will be in the form of an email notication originating
from the Graduate School.
10. Appeals of the decisions of the committee may be made by you to the Dean of the Graduate School
within ten business days of the decision of the committee.
11. Within 15 business days, the Dean of the Graduate School will render a nal decision for the University
on admission appeals and will communicate that decision to each party and to the members of the
committee.
Readmission
A degree-seeking student who has separated voluntarily from the University without an approved Leave of
absence may apply for readmission, at which time you must pay the standard application fee. Readmission deci-
sions must be approved by the program and the Graduate School.
If you are readmitted, you must pay a fee equivalent to registering for one credit hour for each fall/spring
semester you were absent from the University. All policies, course of study requirements, and tuition and fee levels
in eect at the time of your readmission will be in eect for the remainder of your program of study. Courses
that have exceeded the maximum time limit (which dier for master’s and doctoral degrees), or in which you
did not receive at least a C–, will not be applied to your new program of study. Of those courses that meet the
readmission criteria, programs have sole discretion as to whether or not they accept these courses. Programs also
have the right to impose other requirements as part of the readmission, including (but not limited to) retaking
qualifying or comprehensive exams, completing new courses or internships, etc.
Procedure for student:
Complete the Graduate School application. The application includes instructions
for students seeking readmission, which include addressing program-specific questions and submitting a plan
and timeline for completion as a part of your personal statement. The standard application fee and all supporting
materials are required to be submitted even though the University may already have some of those supporting
materials on file (see Continuous Enrollment and Leave of Absence in the Academics section of this handbook).
Notication of readmission will originate from the Graduate School.
9
Clemson University Graduate School POLICIES & PROCEDURES
Procedure for department: Departments and programs will process the application for readmission in the
same manner as a new application. All policies and course of study requirements in eect at the time of read-
mission will be in eect for the applicant (see Continuous enrollment and Leave of absence). Notication to
students of readmission decisions will originate from the Graduate School.
Re-entrance as an undergraduate student
Former graduate students in good standing who are interested in re-entrance at the undergraduate level to pursue
an undergraduate degree should contact Undergraduate Admissions.
Academic renewal
If you were dismissed from the Graduate School for a grade point deficiency and you have not enrolled for
a period of one or more academic years, you may apply for readmission under special conditions known as aca-
demic renewal. For details and procedure, see Academic renewal in the Academics section.
1.6. Orientation and Registration
Policy surrounding new student orientation and class registration— including dates and deadlines— is main-
tained by the Oce of the Registrar. The Graduate School and the Oce of International Services oer infor-
mation, procedures and support for incoming graduate students on their respective websites.
All new graduate students should attend the general Graduate School orientation (see “Register for Orien-
tation(s)” under the First Things First topic on the New Student To Do List page) as well as a specic program
orientation if the department holds one.
New international graduate students, please visit the Students page of the International Services website for
information about arrival, orientation, campus life, and required documentation.
1.7 Official University Communication
According to Clemson University policy, email is an ocial method of communication. Thus, all ocial com-
munications will be transmitted through Clemson University email to your ocial Clemson email address at the
“clemson.edu” domain. It is your responsibility to monitor this email account at all times while enrolled in Clem-
son University. Failure to monitor this account may cause you to miss important announcements and deadlines,
and will not serve as a basis for an appeal or modication of deadlines.
10
Part 2: Academics
2.1. Graduate Program Basics
All students should familiarize themselves thoroughly with the academic policies and procedures of the Graduate
School and Clemson University as outlined in this handbook and provided at the Oce of Student Aairs’ Aca-
demic Policies web page on the University website. Students should consult their graduate program handbooks
and their graduate program coordinators or department chairs for specic details within their degree program,
which may have more stringent requirements.
Academic integrity
Graduate philosophy
An academic environment of integrity is one in which students, faculty and sta interact with each other
from a position of mutual trustworthiness. As a member of the consortium of institutions comprising the
International Center for Academic Integrity, Clemson University has committed itself to preparing a com-
munity of scholars dedicated to integrity in teaching, research, scholarship, mentorship and the acquisition
and display of professional values of trust, honesty, fairness, responsibility, respect, and courage.
2
Clemson grad-
uate students are expected avail themselves of the many opportunities and resources both on and o campus
to learn how to engage in professional practice with integrity. The Graduate School and the community of
scholars engaged in graduate-level education will respond vigorously and expeditiously to charges of viola-
tions of academic integrity.
The Graduate School and the graduate faculty will respond vigorously to charges of violations of aca-
demic integrity. To create a culture that values academic integrity:
■ faculty must be clear on syllabi and in instructions to students about the academic expectations for
completing assignments,
■ students must be aware of academic integrity policies and expectations and must be proactive in asking
for clarication on procedures for completing assigned work,
■ graduate programs must engage students in discussions about disciplinary-specic issues and professional
practice relative to academic integrity,
■ research mentors should inform students of prominent cases of academic dishonesty by other faculty and
graduate students so as to heighten students’ awareness,
■ advisory committees should discuss integrity in relation to master’s or doctoral degree requirements,
comprehensive exams, etc., and should be proactive in screening these products for violations.
2. The Fundamental Values of Academic Integrity, 2nd Edition. The Center for Academic Integrity, October 1999; revised 2013. Accessed at http://
academicintegrity.org/wp-content/uploads///Fundamental-Values-.pdf.
11
2.2. Graduate Faculty Status
3
This policy seeks to establish a graduate faculty composed of faculty members well-equipped to teach graduate
level courses, to lead advisory committees, to serve on dissertation committees, and to chair dissertation com-
mittees. Absent this basic quality-control mechanism, with appropriate checks and balances, we are at risk for
providing sub-optimal education for our graduate students.
Policy
The Graduate Faculty is the group of faculty qualied and approved to direct the learning of graduate student
through eective teaching at the graduate level and mentoring students’ professional development and research
progress. Each college will develop policies and process within their typical personnel review and appointment
structure to dene: (a) qualications for graduate faculty status; (b) dierent qualications (if any) for chairing a
student thesis or dissertation advisory committee; (c) how these decisions are made and approved; (d) the mech-
anism for periodically reviewing graduate faculty status and for removing a faculty member where necessary; and
(e) appeal process. At the beginning of each academic year, each college will provide a list of graduate faculty to
the Graduate School.
Guidance for developing college policies
A. Qualications for Graduate Faculty status vary across disciplines. They oen include:
1. Faculty status (at Clemson, for example, being a Regular or Administrative faculty member, rather
than a Special faculty member),
4
and how unusual cases will be handled (such as scholars or experts
outside Clemson);
2. A clear statement of the minimal acceptable degree (oen a terminal degree) and/or other critical
qualications appropriate for the eld in the discipline or closely related disciplines (e.g., professional
licensure);
3. Prociency in scholarly/creative production as evidenced by indicators such as:
a. Active scholarship documented by publication of scholarly work (e.g., books; articles in refereed
journals or conference proceedings), grants and contracts received, and/or creative activities
appropriate to the eld
b. Recognition of creative contributions and research by awards, prizes, fellowships, and similar
honors
c. Editorial service for scholarly journals, university press, scholarly books, and professional
manuscript review
d. Professional contributions in a relevant eld
4. Prociency in teaching courses at the graduate level and what indicators of teaching prociency will
be valued;
5. Prociency in mentoring graduate students in professional or scholarly endeavors;
6. Other discipline-specic criteria.
3. Revised 16 March 2016 to eliminate senior grad status. Approved 19 September 2016 by Graduate Council with amendment regarding renewal
of status. Revised 19 June 2017 to clarify that units are required to have a policy, and that these are recommendations or guidelines.
4. For denitions of Regular, Administrative, and Special faculty, refer to the current Faculty Manual.
12
B. Dene qualications for chairing a thesis or dissertation advisory committee, if dierent from A, above.
For example, as chairing a thesis or dissertation is a skill that many new faculty have not had a chance to
practice, at some institutions graduate faculty are required to participate in a few advisory committees
or to co-chair prior to chairing a committee. Units should consider not only how to ensure quality
mentoring for graduate students, but mentoring of new faculty in this skill, and whether it is appropriate
for early-career faculty to accept the burden of chairing committee(s).
1. Currently, only Regular or Administrative faculty are eligible to chair a thesis or dissertation, and
Special faculty ranks can serve as co-chairs.
5
C. Determine the mechanism through which graduate faculty status is awarded, both for Regular and
Special faculty ranks (which may dier). In some units, department chairs will make the decision, while
in others, TPR committees will have the responsibility. For newly hired faculty, it is helpful to describe
whether they can receive graduate faculty status as part of the appointment process, and if so, how that
decision is vetted.
D. Determine the mechanism for periodically reviewing graduate faculty (or chairing committees) status,
and the criteria for maintaining this status. Units will oen want to incorporate this review into other
typical and routine faculty review processes (e.g., TPR, post-tenure review, reappointment of lecturers,
etc.).
E. Although unpleasant, units should consider carefully the mechanism for removing a faculty member
from the graduate faculty. Membership in the graduate faculty should be considered a privilege, not a
right. Units might want to carefully scrutinize the privilege of chairing a thesis or dissertation and specify
due process for review and rearmation or removal of graduate faculty status. For example, a unit might
decide that faculty found to be in violation of certain University policies — or out of compliance with
certain federal regulations — might be removed from the graduate faculty.
F. Outline a reasonable appeal process for faculty who feel unfairly treated in this process. Ideally, these
appeal processes should be internal to the college except in unusual circumstances, in which case the
Provost could be the last and nal arbiter of this process, again ideally as part of routine faculty review
processes.
2.3. Your Advisor and Advisory Committee
Advisor (major advisor, committee chair)
Every student enrolled in a graduate program must have a major advisor. The major advisor is the faculty member
who provides general guidance throughout your program of study. The major advisor will recommend initial
courses to be taken until the advisory committee is selected. Initial coursework should be of a fundamental or
core nature so that the full advisory committee, once constituted, will have maximum exibility to formulate the
remainder of your program of study. Your major advisor, in consultation with the graduate program coordinator
or department chair, will assist you in selecting the members of your advisory committee. The major advisor is
responsible for chairing the advisory committee meetings and for providing realistic expectations for completing
the requirements of the degree. An advisory committee may be co-chaired by more than one faculty member.
Note that some colleges or departments will have dierent criteria for faculty to serve as chair of your advisory
committee.
5. For denitions of Regular, Administrative, and Special faculty, refer to the current Faculty Manual.
13
Students pursuing a master’s or specialist’s degree must select an advisor and submit your Plan of Study (cur-
riculum) by the middle of your second semester, and doctoral students must select an advisor and submit your
Plan of Study no later than the beginning of your fourth semester of study following matriculation. Aer these
deadlines, you may be blocked from registering for future courses until you submit a plan of study. Review your
program’s graduate program handbook for the written procedures for selection of the major advisor. The Grad-
uate School supports your right to have signicant control over the selection of your major advisor (including the
ability to change advisors) and your advisory committee.
Graduate Advisory Committee
6
A student’s advisory committee approves your degree curriculum, supervises your graduate program, administers
the nal oral examination (if required), and initiates the recommendation for the awarding of the degree. In addi-
tion, the advisory committee may administer qualifying (or preliminary) or nal comprehensive examinations.
One member of the committee is designated as chair (or major advisor) and normally directs your dissertation or
thesis, if required.
Every student enrolled in the Graduate School must form an advisory committee not later than the middle
of their second semester aer matriculation into a master’s or specialist’s degree program, or not later than the
beginning of the fourth semester of their doctoral program. Individual programs that require a standing exception
to the timeline for curricular reasons may appeal for an alternative timeline to be approved by the Dean of the
Graduate School.
Committee composition: A minimum of three faculty members must be selected by a student seeking a mas-
ter’s or specialist’s degree with a nal exam or culminating assessment. A minimum of four faculty members must
be selected by a student seeking a doctoral degree. All members of an advisory committee must be current mem-
bers of the graduate faculty. The majority of the advisory committee, including the chair, must include full-time
Clemson University Regular or Administrative faculty as dened in the Faculty Manual.
7
Special faculty may
serve as co-chairs or committee members as long as the chair is a permanent faculty member appointed to the
graduate faculty and the Special faculty member(s) are members of the graduate faculty. The chair, co-chair, or at
least half of the committee must have a primary appointment in the program oering the degree. If the student
declares a minor, this area must be represented on the committee. Committee members of interdepartmental pro-
grams are to be appointed according to bylaws (formulated by the program faculty and endorsed by the academic
unit housing the program).
Academic programs at the Master’s or Education Specialist’s level that are non-thesis and do not have a nal
exam or culminating assessment (i.e., do not submit the GS7M) may choose to establish an alternative student
committee structure for the purpose of curriculum guidance. Such programs may choose to appoint a single fac-
ulty member or professional advisor to serve as the advisory chair, with no other committee members required.
Any program requiring any form of comprehensive assessment (e.g., thesis, portfolio, nal exam, etc.) that must be
evaluated by an advisory committee is not permitted to use this advisory structure. The individual in this import-
ant role must be a full-time, permanent employee of Clemson; external individuals may not serve as advisory
committee chair.
Major advisor or committee chair:
Regular or Administrative faculty holding graduate faculty status are eligi-
ble to serve as the major advisor or chair of the committee.
6. Revisions proposed 20 January 2017. Passed advisory committee January 2017. Passed Graduate Council April 2017; revised 11 April 2017 for
terminology consistency about faculty categories in faculty manual.
7. For denitions of Regular, Administrative, and Special faculty, refer to the current Faculty Manual.
14
Academic unit policies: Units may specify more restrictive standards for whom may be eligible to serve as major
advisor or committee chair, and may expand the pool of eligible faculty to include Special faculty categories who
serve as full-time Clemson employees. These unit guidelines should clearly articulate qualications for this status,
what types of special faculty are eligible, and how they are reviewed (e.g., TPR committee and department chair).
Chairing a dissertation: Graduate School policy does not currently dierentiate qualications for serving in
this very challenging and important role. We encourage academic units to specify what qualications, if any, they
look for in serving as a dissertation chair.
Persons not employed by the University
: Certain non-employees may serve on the advisory committee. Exter-
nal individuals (e.g., tenure-track faculty at other institutions, scholars employed in industry or other non-ac-
ademic venues, etc.) who meet the unit standards for graduate faculty status and are active scholars in an area
relevant to the thesis or dissertation may serve as a committee member pending approval of the unit TPR com-
mittee and department chair. External committee members may not serve as chair of the advisory committee.
Once advisory committee members are selected and approved, you, your department, and your committee
members are notied of the fully constituted committee by means of the approved Plan of Study.
Your Plan of Study (form GS2, graduate degree curriculum)
If you are a degree-seeking student, you must le a GS Plan of Study or graduate degree curriculum (accessed
via iROAR) near the beginning of your program of study. This planned program represents your individual cur-
riculum as recommended by your advisory committee. It must adhere to departmental as well as University pol-
icies. The total number of graduate credits required for the degree is determined by your advisory committee,
consistent with the specic program guidelines and Graduate School policy. These credits constitute the core of
your graduate degree curriculum. All transfer courses listed on the GS2 must conform to the policies on transfer
courses (see Transfer credit). These documents may evolve, with advisory committee approval, throughout the
course of your degree program, and changes should be reviewed and approved by your committee, and a new
GS2 form submitted whenever a change occurs. The Graduate School website provides additional Plan of Study
instructions online.
If you experience a problem completing or routing your Plan of Study, you may contact the Graduate School
at gradweb@clemson.edu.
Deadlines: Students pursuing a master’s or specialist’s degree must submit the plan of study by the middle of
their second semester following matriculation, and doctoral students must submit the curriculum no later than
the beginning of their fourth semester of study following matriculation. If you don’t meet these deadlines, you
may be blocked from registering for courses until you submit a plan of study.
Final GS2 and graduation:
In order to be approved for graduation, your nal GS2 must be led by the dead-
line listed on the graduation deadlines web page. Failure to meet these deadlines may result in late fees and/or
inability to graduate when desired.
Continuous enrollment
As a graduate student enrolled in a degree program, you are required to maintain continuous enrollment aer
initial matriculation (i.e., you must register each fall and spring semester until you either have graduated, have
permanently withdrawn, or have been dismissed). If you are enrolled in the spring and fall semesters, you are not
required to register during the summer unless you meet the exceptions below. Registration in a zero-credit intern-
ship or similar course satises this requirement. Registering to audit a course does not meet this requirement. Note
that a student on a 12-month graduate assistantship must maintain continuous enrollment during the summer in
addition to fall and spring semesters (see section ., Assistantships and Fellowships) to keep that assistantship.
15
Exceptions
■ Incomplete grades
A student who anticipates not being able to remove a fall semester I (incomplete) grade by the end of
the semester should register for that spring semester, and any subsequent semesters needed to complete
the work, to stay in compliance with the continuous enrollment policy. A student who fails to remove
a spring I grade by the end of the summer will not be terminated (because summer registration is
not required for continuous enrollment), but you will have to register for the following fall and any
subsequent semesters until the I has been removed (see Grading system: Incompletes).
■ Registration in a summer session for submission of thesis/dissertation and oral examinations, or
other degree milestones
A student who completes any degree milestone (e.g., preliminary or comprehensive exam, defense or oral
exam of any kind) or submits your thesis/dissertation to the Graduate School during any summer session
must be registered during that summer session.
■ Graduation
A student who completes all requirements for the degree (including the Graduate School’s acceptance of
the nal version of your thesis or dissertation) prior to the rst day of classes for the fall or spring semester
or the rst summer session may graduate during the next semester or summer session without being
registered, provided that you were registered in the immediately preceding semester or summer session
and that you applied to graduate during that preceding term.
Failure to maintain continuous enrollment
The Graduate School may dismiss any student who fails to comply with the continuous enrollment policy.
If you are terminated from your program for failure to maintain continuous enrollment, you will be required
to reapply for admission (see Leave of absence). Readmission requires a positive recommendation from your
academic program as well as approval by the Graduate School and, therefore, is not guaranteed.
Leave of absence
A student in good academic standing (minimum 3.0 GPA and has successfully met other program or Graduate
School requirements) who must interrupt a graduate program may request a leave of absence from graduate study.
A leave of absence may be granted for up to 12 months, with a possible renewal of up to one additional 12-month
period.
A student not in good standing (GPA lower than 3.0 or failed critical program or Graduate School require-
ments; e.g., comprehensive or qualifying exams) may also request a leave of absence. However, the Graduate
School may also choose to dismiss the underperforming student where future success seems unlikely. Should the
request for the leave of absence be approved by the Graduate School, the student will return in the same academic
status as prior to the leave.
A leave of absence is usually granted for compelling personal, family, medical, or professional reasons that
require the student to suspend graduate study and to be absent from the University for a period of time. During
a leave of absence, students are expected to be focused on these non-academic priorities. A leave of absence is not
intended to be a mechanism for you to avoid tuition costs while making progress toward a degree. Therefore, you
may not make progress toward your degree requirements while on leave (e.g., taking comprehensive or qualify-
ing exams; completing incomplete grades; submitting, revising, or defending a thesis or dissertation; conducting
independent research, etc.). A student on leave will maintain access to basic CCIT services such as University
email, but should not use other University resources such as research labs, faculty time, recreation facilities, or
health and wellness services.
16
Procedure for student: The plan to take a leave of absence from your program should be discussed rst with
your major advisor and/or program coordinator well in advance of your intended leave. These faculty members
will inform you of concerns at the program level that must be understood and/or addressed prior to leave, includ-
ing issues of departmental or program nancial support. Formally notify the program and the Graduate School of
your intended leave by completing the online form GS-LoA Request for Leave of Absence. Aer you complete this
form, forward it electronically or hand deliver a hard copy to secure the necessary signatures from your graduate
program advisor or coordinator. Incomplete forms will not be approved by the Graduate School and you thus will
be considered not in compliance with the Continuous enrollment policy. If you are an international student, you
should check regulations on how a leave would impact your visa status and other important factors.
Transfer credit
Independence of graduate degrees
A graduate student who has completed the requirements for a graduate degree may not then use those same
credits toward a second degree. The exceptions to this rule are the master’s degree en route to the doctorate
and students approved for the dual degree option.
Research, internships, theses and dissertations
Under no circumstances will transfer credit be awarded for research, internships, master’s thesis or doctoral
dissertation work performed at another university.
Courses
Your advisory committee will make the nal determination about transfer credit. Up to 12 credit hours of
coursework (and no more than one-third of the graded course credit hours required for a master’s degree)
may be transferred to a master’s degree. Up to 48 credit hours of coursework (and no more than one-third of
the graded course credit hours) may be transferred to a doctoral degree. All credits transferred to Clemson’s
graduate programs must have been completed at a regionally-accredited institution and must be veried by
submission of an ocial transcript. Programs may have more restrictive policies on acceptable transfer credits
clearly articulated in their graduate program handbook but may not exceed the guidelines in this policy.
Grades earned for courses taken at institutions other than Clemson University will not be included in
the student’s grade point ratio. Valid transfer credits will appear on your transcript as credits earned. Under
no circumstances will transfer credit be awarded for courses in which a grade lower than B (or its equivalent)
has been received; courses graded on a pass/fail basis; continuing education units; courses completed outside
the six-year (master’s) or eight-year (doctorate) time limit for degree completion; for correspondence, exten-
sion, or in-service courses; or for concentrated courses and workshops that award credit at a rate exceeding
one credit per week. All transfer courses listed on the GS Plan of Study must be courses taken for credit
from a regionally accredited degree-granting institution whose scholastic reputation is acceptable to Clemson
University and to your advisory committee and department.
Procedure for student:
To have courses considered for transfer, you must discuss with your major advisor
and/or advisory committee your proposal to use specic courses from other institutions. Within the guide-
lines established by the Graduate School, the advisory committee will identify courses acceptable for transfer
and will record these courses on your GS Plan of Study. You must then have an ocial transcript sent from
the institution(s) where credit was earned to the Oce of Enrolled Student Services, 104D Sikes Hall. Only
when courses have been veried by Enrolled Services to meet all Graduate School requirements will they
be approved for application toward the degree. This approval should be secured as early as practical once
you matriculate into a Clemson University degree program. The Oce of Enrolled Student Services and
17
the Graduate School have nal authority to approve or deny requests for course transfer. No faculty or sta
outside the Oce of Enrolled Student Services or the Graduate School have authority to approve this type
of request.
2.4. Navigating Courses
Syllabus
A syllabus must be prepared for every graduate class and made available to students enrolled in that class, ideally
on the rst day of class and no later than the last class period before the last day for a student to add a class. The
syllabus should dene the course expectations, including a topical outline of the course, grading information, and
attendance policies.
Procedure for instructors:
Instructors may access the Graduate School’s syllabus requirements on the Faculty
and Sta Resources web page (login required) under “Current Class Regulations.”
Class attendance
You are expected to be well prepared for — and to routinely attend — all classes except when extenuating cir-
cumstances intervene. All students are required to attend the rst scheduled day of classes and labs. Students who
cannot attend the rst class are responsible for contacting the instructor to indicate their intent to remain in that
class. If you do not attend the rst class meeting or contact the instructor by the second class meeting or the last
day to add the class, whichever comes rst, the instructor has the option of dropping you from the roll. Specic
class attendance policies are established by instructors and are included in each course syllabus.
Auditing courses
Permission to audit a graduate course is granted at the discretion of the academic department chair, the coordi-
nator of the program oering the course, or the instructor. Audited courses do not carry credit and are not noted
your academic record. Audited courses may not be used to satisfy stated prerequisites for a graduate course. Addi-
tionally, you may not establish credit through examination in any course for which you were previously registered
as an auditor.
Change of major or degree program
You may request a change of major and/or degree by completion of the iROAR-based GS Request for Change
of Degree and/or Major process. You must meet all program and Graduate School requirements for admission
into the new program and receive approval from the new program’s program coordinator and department chair
before nal approval will be granted. Comprehensive exams must always be completed in the current discipline
regardless of whether you completed them in the previous discipline.
Enrollment limits
Maximum enrollment limits for graduate students refer to graduate and undergraduate credits combined. During
the summer sessions, if the six-week and three-week sessions run concurrently, the total credits are not permitted
to exceed the maximum for the six-week session. Specic enrollment limits are dened in the following table.
Clemson University Graduate School POLICIES & PROCEDURES
18
Graduate student enrollment limits
Maximum credit hours
Student category Semester 6-week session 3-week session Full Summer
(12 wks)
Full-time students 15 6 3
Graduate assistants (10 hours) 15 6 3
Graduate assistants (11+ hrs.) 12 6 3
Full-time CU employees 9 6 3
Procedure for student: If you want to exceed these credit-hour limits, you must get approval from your major
advisor, who will submit an appeal of the enrollment policy to the Dean of the Graduate School, who in turn will
assess your record and make a determination.
Procedure for department:
Departments or programs that want to require graduate curricula to exceed
15credit hours per semester should submit this request to the Graduate Curriculum Committee for review as a
program modication.
Dropping courses
The Academic Calendar provides ocial dates for withdrawing from a class without record or without nal
grades. If you are considering dropping a course, you must ensure you are in compliance with all other policies and
conditions of your awards. You may submit a withdrawal request via iROAR. Failure to attend classes or verbal
notication to instructors does not constitute formal withdrawal. A student who stops attending classes but does
not withdraw is held accountable for all nancial and academic outcomes of that decision.
A student who ocially withdraws within the rst two weeks of classes will have no grades recorded. Those
who ocially withdraw aer the rst two weeks and prior to the last ve weeks will have a grade of W (withdrew)
entered on the academic record. If you are dropping all courses, please see Withdrawing from the University;
the timetable diers between dropping one course and dropping all courses with intent to withdraw. The date on
which you withdraw online is the ocial date of withdrawal recorded by the Registrar.
Prior to dropping courses, international graduate students must receive authorization from an advisor in the
Oce of International Services. It is important that you not fall below the required full-time enrollment man-
dated by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
A student on an assistantship must maintain minimum enrollment levels. See section 3.2, Assistantships and
Fellowships.
Grading system
Graduate students in graduate-level (6000+) courses may be graded using the following letter grades: A, A–, B+,
B, B–, C+, C, C–, F. Faculty have sole discretion as to whether they use the full range of grades available or a subset
(e.g., A, B, C, F). There is no expectation or mandate that faculty should use plus/minus grades. Under no circum-
stances will A+ be awarded. Faculty must describe their grading policy for a course, including whether they will
use +/– grading, in the course syllabus.
A minimum grade of C– (or P) must be earned for each and every course a student applies toward a degree.
Grade appeal
Grades cannot be appealed, although you may le an ocial grievance under certain circumstances. See
Academic Grievance Policy. Students may not le grievance for a faculty member’s use of a particular grad-
ing system (e.g., full range including +/– versus only A, B, C, F).
19
Pass/fail enrollment
Thesis and dissertation research, and a small number of unstructured courses approved by the Graduate
Curriculum Committee as non-graded courses, may be taken at the graduate level on a pass/fail (P/F) basis.
Courses graded P/F are not included in your GPA; however, the grade P or F does appear in your permanent
academic record. Classes not previously approved as pass/fail by the Graduate Curriculum Committee will
not be converted to the pass/fail option at a student’s request. Credit hours for which you receives a grade
of fail (F) will not apply toward the number of credit hours required for your degree but can indicate lack
of satisfactory academic progress and may lead to dismissal. The accumulation of grades of pass (P) in thesis
or dissertation research does not infer completion of the research; such grades indicate satisfactory progress.
Incompletes (grades of I)
A grade of Incomplete (I) indicates that a relatively small part of the semester’s work remains undone and
indicates a reasonable expectation that your completion of the work will lead to a satisfactory grade. Grade
I is not given a student whose submitted work indicates a failure to master the material, failure to turn in
any work, or failure to attend class. Instructors have complete discretion to approve or deny a request for an
incomplete based on their assessment of your progress in the course. This decision is not grievable.
The student is allowed 30 days aer the beginning of the next scheduled session, excluding summers and
regardless of the student’s enrollment status, to remove the incomplete grade. Normally, only one extension
for each I may be granted, and only under unusual circumstances. The extension must be approved in writing
by the instructor of the course and the chair of the department in which the course was taken. The extension
will indicate the nature and amount of work to be completed and the time limit. (Under this policy you are
prohibited from removing the I by repeating the course.) A letter grade of I converts to F unless the incom-
plete is removed within the time specied.
Any student who receives a grade of I is ineligible for graduation, including earning a master’s degree en
route to a doctoral degree, until the incomplete work has been resolved and a letter grade submitted to the
Oce of the Registrar.
Procedure for student:
If an instructor grants you an incomplete, ask your instructor to provide a written
statement of the work to be completed and the due deadline.
Procedure for instructor: At the student’s request, you should provide a written statement of the work
to be completed. Instructors have ten working days aer the deadline to grade make-up work and submit
the nal grade to the Oce of the Registrar. You should not accept work submitted aer the deadline unless
an extension has been approved. If the student has requested an extension, the instructor should submit
the request to the Oce of the Registrar by the deadline specied on the make-up form. Once the student
has submitted the completed work, you should submit the make-up form to the Oce of Enrolled Student
Services for the grade to be recorded.
GPA (grade point average)
In calculating your grade point average (GPA; sometimes referred to as a grade point ratio or GPR), the total
number of grade points accumulated is divided by the total number of credit hours attempted at Clemson during
the semester, session, or other period for which the grade point ratio is being calculated. For each credit hour, the
student receives grade points as follows: A: 4.00, A–: 3.66, B+: 3.34, B: 3.00, B–: 2.66, C+: 2.34, C: 2.00, C–:
1.66, F: 0, I: 0, W: 0. Audited courses do not carry credit and are not noted on your academic record.
Computing and resetting the grade point average (GPA)
Clemson University recognizes the independence of graduate degrees; that is, credits earned for a completed
degree may not be used towards a second degree. As such, it is the policy of the Graduate School to reset the
20
grade point average following completion of any graduate degree, with one exception: that of a master’s degree
earned en route to the PhD in the same discipline.
Academic records
Your permanent academic record is maintained in the Oce of the Registrar and contains personal identifying
information, grades, and credits. The academic record, maintained in accordance with the University’s retention
policy, is a historical record of a student’s academic progress.
Transcripts
All information related to obtaining an ocial transcript is available on the Registrar’s website. A Transcript
request form is also available as a PDF from the Oce of the Registrar. The University does not currently oer
an electronic ocial transcript.
2.5. Degree Requirements
The Master’s degree
Credits required
Consistent with our regional accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission
on Colleges (SACSCOC), Clemson University requires a minimum of thirty hours beyond the bachelor’s
degree for any master’s degree. At least one-half of the total graduate credit hours required by the advisory
committee, exclusive of thesis research, must be selected from courses numbered 8000 or above.
Your GS Plan of Study will determine your specic requirements for the degree as determined by your
advisory committee, consistent with the specic program guidelines and Graduate School policy. These cred-
its constitute the core of your graduate degree curriculum. Supplemental courses (undergraduate or graduate
courses to broaden your academic experience) are not required to be included on the GS Plan of Study;
however, if a listing is desirable, such courses may be included.
Thesis option
Each program includes a minimum of 24 hours of graduate credit and a minimum of six hours of master’s
thesis research (8910).
Non-thesis option
Each program includes a minimum of 30 hours of graduate credit, none of which may be master’s thesis
research.
Programs with a minor
A minor outside the degree program, if chosen and/or required by the program, shall consist of at least sixcredit
hours in that area.
Residence
There is no University-wide residence requirement for a master’s degree; however, individual degree programs
may establish such a requirement.
Thesis grades
Thesis research is graded on a pass/fail (P/F) basis. The accumulation of grades of pass (P) in thesis research
does not infer completion of the research, but only indicates satisfactory progress. Receipt of a grade of fail
21
(F) implies unsatisfactory progress and may be cause for dismissal from the Graduate School, irrespective of
grade point average.
Thesis proposal
Students must submit a thesis proposal to their committee that conforms to any guidelines within their grad-
uate program handbook, and the proposal must be approved prior to substantive work on the thesis. The
GS-ResearchApproval form Advisory Committee Thesis/Dissertation Research Approval should be submitted
to Enrolled Student Services as evidence of approval of the project as proposed.
Time limit
A master’s student has six years from the date of rst matriculation to complete a degree; therefore, all course-
work to be credited toward any master’s degree must have been enrolled in and completed within six (6)
calendar years prior to the date on which the degree is to be awarded. When recommended by your advisory
committee and approved by the Dean of the Graduate School, as many as six credit hours of coursework
taken at Clemson University, but completed outside the six-year limit, may be revalidated by a written com-
prehensive examination based on the latest syllabus and course content. Independent study courses are not
subject to revalidation. Coursework completed outside the six-year time limit at an institution other than
Clemson University may not be transferred to Clemson. Courses taken at any institution other than Clemson
University may not be revalidated for graduate credit at Clemson. A student exceeding the six-year time limit
may be dismissed for failure to maintain adequate progress toward the degree.
The Specialist in Education degree
The requirements pertaining to residence, time limits, and nal examinations for master’s degrees also apply to
the Specialist in Education degree. Coursework required includes 30 credit hours beyond the master’s degree.
Consult the College of Education and individual programs’ graduate program handbooks for details on
the various EdS programs. All graduate degrees below the doctoral level are subject to the six-year time limit.
The Doctoral degree (PhD, EdD, DNP)
Coursework leading to the doctoral degree is planned to give you a comprehensive knowledge of your eld
of specialization and a mastery of the methods of research. The degree is not awarded solely on the basis of
coursework completed, residence, completion of preliminary or comprehensive examinations, or other rou-
tine requirements. The nal basis for granting the degree is your grasp of the subject matter across a broad
eld of study, your competence in planning and conducting research, and the ability to express yourself ade-
quately and professionally both orally and in writing. Ultimately, only your advisory committee can certify
that you have earned this degree.
Some doctoral programs allow students with a bachelor’s degree to matriculate directly into the doctoral
degree program. The Graduate School website hosts a list of these programs, as well as the form that current
Clemson undergraduate students may use to explore shortening their enrollment time in these “direct entry”
doctoral programs by applying graduate credits to both undergraduate and graduate program requirements.
Program of study and credit requirements
8
In accord with SACSCOC
9
guidelines, the Graduate School requires that a doctoral degree comprise a min-
imum of 30 credits beyond the master’s degree, and at least 60 credits beyond the bachelor’s degree. The
8. This policy became eective 1 August 2011. Students enrolled before that date are bound by the minimum credit requirements in eect when
they enrolled.
9. Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
22
advisory committee aids you in developing an individualized curriculum (to be outlined in the GS Plan of
Study) which meets program requirements and provides appropriate training to meet your goals.
A minimum of 12 credit hours of non-research coursework and a minimum of 18 hours of dissertation
research are required for any doctoral degree.
Residency
10
The goal of residency is to facilitate specied engagement with members of the faculty of the University and
under direct mentorship and advisement of a research advisor and advisory committee in the department or
program of the major. Further, it enables the student to participate in other typical activities pertinent to the
development of a scholarly prole. As such, all doctoral programs at Clemson University should integrate
1)disciplinary depth and breadth, 2)scholarly immersion, 3)professional socialization, and 4)professional
practice into the residency expectations of their students. Residency can incorporate research training of
individuals and groups, laboratory activities, networking opportunities with other students and other schol-
ars, assisting with grant proposals, and participation in scholarly outlets such as scholarly publications and
presentations.
Residency for doctoral degree programs can be accomplished through one of three mechanisms:
■ Two consecutive semesters of full-time enrollment on a Clemson University campus: Students
will be expected to be immersed in research and professional development activities consistent with the
expectations of the residency requirement listed above.
■ Alternative program plan: Specic degree programs may propose an alternative plan by which all
enrolled students in that program will achieve residency expectations to be approved by the Graduate
School. Alternative plans may be proposed for o-campus, online, and traditionally part-time enrolled
programs.
■ Alternative student plan: An alternative proposal for an individual student to achieve residency goals
must be approved by the advisory committee and the Graduate School. The plan must be submitted
at least one semester before implementation and included on the GS Plan of Study. Approved plans
may be revised and resubmitted as warranted.
Each doctoral program must determine the permissible options for doctoral students to meet the residency
requirement and include in their respective program handbook. Programs may incorporate any or all of the
three options listed above. All students will be required to adhere to the full-time enrollment based require-
ment unless an alternative plan has been submitted by the program and approved by the Graduate School.
New program proposals must include the mechanism for satisfying the residency requirement.
Alternative residency plans (program and student) must include specic descriptions as to how the goals
of residency will be met. As such, the plans should address the following:
Disciplinary depth and breadth
■ Access to a variety of classes and academic experiences within the student’s eld and related disciplines;
■ Access to library resources, information technology, and laboratory resources;
■ Quality and rigor of the program through engagement with and scrutiny by peers.
Scholarly immersion
■ Development of the student’s capacity to make signicant original contributions to the knowledge
base in their eld (e.g., individual and group research training, assisting with external funded
10. Approved by Graduate Council 4 May 2017. Approved by Academic Council 18 January 2018.
23
grant proposals, participation at scholarly conferences, publications or other forms of scholarly
dissemination).
■ Ability to understand and evaluate critically the literature of the eld and to apply appropriate
principles and procedures to the recognition, evaluation, interpretation and understanding of
contemporary issues and problems within the eld.
Professional socialization
■ Substantive interaction with faculty and other scholars for disciplinary guidance and mentorship;
■ Interaction with fellow graduate students on scholarly and professional issues;
■ Provision of a broad range of professional development experiences to develop dispositions and guard
against over-specialization;
■ Access to a wide spectrum of seminars, professional presentations, and contact with leaders within
their discipline.
Professional practice
■ Awareness of and commitment to the ethical and regulatory principles and practices appropriate to
theeld.
Preliminary or qualifying examinations
The Graduate School does not require programs to administer preliminary or qualifying examinations.
However, some doctoral programs require that preliminary or qualifying examinations be taken prior to the
comprehensive examination. These types of examinations are intended to provide an early, general assessment
of a student’s mastery of content and/or conceptual understanding of the research process. The structure,
duration, review and re-examination policies for qualifying examinations are dened in writing by the pro-
gram faculty in the graduate program handbook for the respective program.
Comprehensive examinations
The comprehensive exam is designed to evaluate your overall mastery of a body of knowledge and skills aer
most of the program of study is completed. The particular form of the comprehensive examination in any
degree program is described in that graduate program handbook. You may attempt the comprehensive exam-
ination only on the recommendation of your advisory committee and only aer completion of most of the
required coursework. This examination must be administered by faculty of the Clemson University pro-
gram oering the degree, according to published program policies. A majority decision is required; dissenting
members of the examining committee may forward a minority report to the Graduate School. Your perfor-
mance on this examination will determine whether you will be recommended for admission to candidacy for
the degree.
Satisfactory completion of the comprehensive examination must occur at least six months prior to the
date of graduation, except where the program handbook species a dierent timeline.
Should you fail to pass the comprehensive examination, you may be given a second opportunity only by
recommendation of the examining committee. Committees are encouraged to carefully consider a student’s
likelihood of successfully completing the exam aer they fail the rst attempt and to recommend dismissal
for any student whose performance is so poor that it is unlikely that a second attempt will be successful. For
a student who is permitted a second attempt, a minimum of two months must pass before the student can
undergo a second comprehensive examination. A second failure will result in the student being dismissed
from Clemson University.
Doctoral students who have passed a comprehensive examination, and who decide to change degree pro-
grams, must complete a comprehensive exam in the new degree program.
24
Procedure for student: Prior to scheduling the comprehensive examination, you must have selected an
advisory committee and have an approved graduate degree curriculum (GS Plan of Study) on le in the
Oce of Enrolled Student Services. Comprehensive examinations are scheduled individually by the depart-
ments. Consult with your graduate program coordinator and major advisor for appropriate advice on prepar-
ing for and scheduling the comprehensive examination.
Procedure for committee:
Within three weeks of the examination, the chair of the advisory committee
will inform the Oce of Enrolled Student Services of the result of the comprehensive exam, via form GSD
Results of the Doctoral Comprehensive Exam and Candidacy.
Candidacy
A doctoral (PhD, EdD, DNP) student becomes a candidate for the doctorate (or is “admitted to candidacy”)
upon successful completion of the comprehensive examination and dissertation proposal. Completion is doc-
umented by submitting the GSD form Results of the Doctoral Comprehensive Exam and Candidacy to the
Oce of Enrolled Student Services, and submitting the GS-ResearchApproval form Advisory Committee
Thesis/Dissertation Research Approval to Enrolled Student Services indicating that the committee has
ap proved the proposed research topic.
Dissertation
The candidate for a doctoral degree receives academic credit for conducting research and preparing a disserta-
tion under the direction of the research advisor. A dissertation, mandatory for all candidates for the doctoral
degree, requires 18 hours of doctoral research (9910) exclusive of any research credits earned at the master’s
level. See also Finalizing your thesis or dissertation aer defense.
Time limit
All requirements for the doctoral degree must be completed within eight (8) years from the date you rst
matriculate into a doctoral degree program at Clemson. The time limit applies to all doctoral programs, even
cases where a student is receiving a master’s degree en route to the doctorate. This clock does not stop for leave
of absence. Programs may petition for dierent time limits for their program for good cause. In exceptional
circumstances, a student may petition the Graduate School for additional time with approval of the advisory
committee. A student who exceeds the time limit without an extension can be dismissed from the Graduate
School for failure to maintain adequate academic progress.
O-campus research
Although thesis and dissertation research is normally performed at Clemson or at Clemson-aliated locations,
in some cases the University may not own appropriate, specialized equipment or facilities. Permission may be
granted for o-campus research according to the following provisions:
1. Written consent and research plan: You must have the written consent of your thesis/dissertation
advisor, full advisory committee, and department chair prior to engaging in o-campus research. You
must submit a written plan for the research eort to the advisory committee for approval. The plan
should include a discussion of the problem and intended scope of the investigation, and should be
structured in terms of a specic time frame.
2. Statement from the organization where research will be conducted: Your advisory committee may
require a statement from an appropriate ocer of the organization at which you will be located, agreeing
to a) your plan to complete thesis/dissertation research using the organization’s equipment and facilities;
b) the apportioning of at least 25 percent or other appropriate amount of the your employment hours to
25
thesis research; and/or c) the organization’s release of patent rights or copyrights arising from discoveries
or concepts that evolve during the course of your master’s or dissertation research.
3. Travel: You may be required to travel to the Clemson campus at your own expense to meet with your
thesis/dissertation advisor and advisory committee as oen as the committee deems necessary.
4. Continuous enrollment: You must maintain continuous enrollment at Clemson University while the
research is in progress.
5. Supervision and reports: When research is conducted at a non-Clemson facility, we must be sure that
we are exercising proper and necessary control over this important phase of your study. The following
requirements must be met:
a. An employee at the facility must be identied to supervise your research. This individual must be
qualied and certied for the supervisory position by the department and college involved and by the
Dean of the Graduate School, and must be suitable for graduate faculty status within the academic
unit housing your degree program;
b. A resume of the research supervisor must be submitted to your full advisory committee for review
and recommendation to the Dean of the Graduate School;
c. The research supervisor must provide updates to the advisory committee as to your progress.
Foreign language requirements
Language requirements are determined by programs rather than by the Graduate School. Consult your program’s
graduate program handbook for foreign language requirements and guidelines.
Senior enrollment in graduate courses
Clemson University seniors meeting the accepted academic standard for graduate work (3.0 cumulative grade
point average) are eligible to request enrollment in graduate level courses. Enrollment of seniors in any gradu-
ate course is subject to approval by the department oering the course and by the Graduate School. The total
course workload for the semester must not exceed 18 hours, and the cumulative graduate credits earned by seniors
shall not exceed 12 semester hours. The credits and quality points associated with senior enrollment in graduate
courses will be part of the undergraduate record. Graduate courses used toward an undergraduate degree cannot
be counted toward any graduate degree (including total minimum credit count of 120). Graduate courses taken
beyond the requirements of the undergraduate degree may count toward a graduate degree.
Seniors with 3.4 or higher grade point average. Seniors with 3.4 or higher grade point averages are eligible for
participation in a combined bachelor’s/graduate plan.
Seniors with 3.0 grade point averages. Seniors with 3.0 or higher grade point averages are eligible to request
enrollment in graduate level courses. Courses cannot be taken at the 6000 level if their 4000-level counterparts are
required for the undergraduate degree in the same academic major as the proposed graduate degree (see Course
restriction, -level).
Procedure for student:
Approval by the Graduate School is required prior to registration in any graduate
course. The student should use the appropriate form GS Request for Senior Enrollment or the GS- Bachelor-
to-Graduate Request For Combined Education Plan.
26
Combined Bachelor’s/Graduate plan
A combined bachelor’s/graduate degree plan may provide a seamless and ecient path for students to complete
both degrees at Clemson. There are several advantages to this process, including automatic admission into the
master’s program (bypassing the application fee and the need to take the GRE), and potentially applying graduate
credits to both undergraduate and graduate program requirements.
To be eligible, the student must have completed the bachelor’s curriculum through the junior year (minimum
90 credits) and have a minimum overall grade point average of 3.4. A maximum of 12 credit hours of graduate
courses in the master’s program may be applied to the bachelor’s program; however, the total credit hours taken
for the two degrees must be at least 150 unique credit hours for the bachelor’s to master’s plan, or 180 unique
credit hours for the bachelor’s-to-doctorate plan. That is, the credit hours counted towards the bachelor’s degree
plus the credit hours taken aer the bachelor’s is awarded must total at least 150 (master’s) or 180 (PhD). Fur-
ther, this total may contain a maximum of six credit hours of thesis/dissertation research, and all credit hours to
be included in the total that are completed aer receiving the bachelor’s degree must be in 6000-level or higher
courses. As determined by the participating bachelor’s program, graduate courses may be applied to the bache-
lor’s degree as electives or technical requirements or by substitution of 7000- or 8000-level courses for required
undergraduate courses. Under no circumstances can 6000-level counterparts of 4000-level courses required for
the bachelor’s degree be counted toward graduate degree requirements. Combined bachelor’s/graduate plan stu-
dents are not eligible for graduate assistantships or fellowships until their bachelor’s degrees have been awarded.
Form GS-Bachelor-to-Graduate Request for Combined Education Plan should be completed and signed by the
student and relevant faculty members, and returned to the Graduate School.
Procedure for student:
While a senior you should consult both your academic advisor and the graduate pro-
gram coordinator of the master’s program you wish to pursue and ocially request participation in the combined
bachelor’s/master’s program by completion of form GS-Bachelor-to-Graduate Request for Combined Education
Plan. Endorsements by the program coordinator or department chair of both programs are required. Note: The
GRE cannot be required for students who are approved via GS-Bachelor-to-Graduate forms to pursue graduate
degree programs.
Procedure for department:
Departments and graduate programs that wish to oer a combined bachelor’s/
graduate program should submit a written notication to the Dean of the Graduate School, identifying the date
on which they intend to make this option available to their students. For each student in this program, depart-
ments and graduate programs should ensure that: 1)the courses to be counted meet the requirements specied
above; 2)there are at least 150 total, unique credit hours counted towards the two degrees; and 3)courses com-
pleted aer the baccalaureate to be counted toward the 150 credit-hour requirement are at the 6000 level or above.
Dual master’s degrees
If a student pursues two master’s degrees simultaneously, one-sixth of the graded graduate coursework may be
applied toward both degrees. The one-sixth course rule references one-sixth of the curriculum with the highest
number of graduate credits. Required core courses for either degree may not be displaced by selecting the option
to participate in the dual degree option.
Procedure for department:
The graduate degree curricula (as recorded on form GS Plan of Study) must
clearly denote that the student is working toward two degrees and must identify the courses that are being applied
to both programs. The Plan of Study form must be submitted in accordance with the Plan of study policy. Com-
mittee members, department chairs, and deans of both graduate programs must approve the two plans of study.
At least one committee member must serve on both committees.
27
Course restriction, 6000-level
6000-level courses are graduate counterparts of undergraduate 4000-level courses. To enroll in or receive credit for
any courses at the 6000 level or above, you must have been ocially admitted by the Graduate School, either to a
degree program or as a non-degree student, or have been approved to enroll as a senior in graduate-level courses
through request using form GS Request for Senior Enrollment in Graduate Courses, or
form GS- Bachelor-to-
Graduate Request for Combined Education Plan (see previous topic, Dual master’s degrees). You may not enroll
in 6000-level courses for which the corresponding undergraduate 4000-level credit has been awarded, nor can
graduate credit be awarded retroactively for 4000-level undergraduate courses already completed.
Duplication of graduate degrees
A student holding a master’s degree or a doctoral degree (from Clemson or any other institution) may not, as a
rule, become a candidate for the same degree in the same eld of study.
Certicate programs
Graduate certicates are ocial credentials oered by Clemson University and approved by the South Carolina
Commission on Higher Education in the same manner as are all degree programs. Each has its own application and
admission process, as well as individual requirements. Graduate certicates will be noted on ocial transcripts, and
a written certicate will be given to the student upon completion of the requirements. Tuition and fees vary by cer-
ticate program and number of hours the certicate encompasses. Find more information at the Graduate School’s
Tuition and Fees web page or in the individual certicate description provided by the hosting department.
Graduate certicates require a minimum of nine credit hours. No more than one-third of the total credit
hours may be 6000-level credits from 4000/6000 courses. All other credits must be at the 7000 level or higher and
may include no more than three credit hours of research. A minimum grade of B is required in all courses. Courses
counted toward a certicate can also be counted toward a degree program. A Graduate Certicate Curriculum
form should be completed and submitted.
Credit by examination
Graduate students are not eligible to receive credit by examination other than through utilization of the form,
policy and procedures on course revalidation (form GSCV). All course work to be credited toward any of the
master’s degrees must have been enrolled in and completed within six (6) calendar years prior to the date on
which the degree is to be awarded. For example, a student graduating in the spring semester must have started and
completed all course work within the 72-month period beginning with the summer term six years earlier. When
recommended by the student’s advisory committee and approved by the Dean of the Graduate School, as many
as six semester hours of course work at Clemson University completed outside the six-year limit may be validated
by written examination. Such examinations will be under the direction of the department regularly oering the
course or courses for which the student seeks validation. Course work completed outside the six-year time limit at
an institution other than Clemson University may not be transferred to Clemson or validated for graduate credit.
Exceptions to the credit limit and time period may be considered only in unusual circumstances and with approval
from the Graduate School.
28
2.6. Nearing Graduation
Graduation requirements
A candidate for graduation is a student who has submitted an application to graduate via iROAR by the Apply to
Graduate deadline prescribed in the University calendar for a particular graduation date. Only candidates who
have completed all graduation requirements are permitted to participate in the graduation ceremony.
Procedure for student:
Follow the steps below and visit the Graduation deadlines web page and the theses
and dissertations web pages for additional information.
■ Early in the year you expect to graduate: Contact the Enrolled Student Services Oce early in the
calendar year in which you plan to graduate to conrm your graduation status and eligibility. Ensure
you have proposed and secured approval for your thesis or dissertation, and have submitted the research
approval form, prior to engaging in substantive work on the project.
■ At the beginning of the semester in which you desire to graduate: A candidate for a degree is required
to apply for the diploma within three weeks following the opening of the nal semester or the opening of
the rst summer session prior to the date the degrees are to be awarded. Applications for graduation must
be submitted online through the student’s iROAR account.
■ Work with your chair/advisor to nalize your thesis/dissertation: Your research advisor will
determine when your thesis/dissertation is suitable for initial review by the rest of your advisory
committee. At this point, you and your advisor will provide a copy of the manuscript to each committee
member. This must take place at least three weeks prior to the defense. Committee members may request
more than three weeks to review the thesis/dissertation. These deadlines should be coordinated through
your committee chair. For your convenience, the Graduate School website provides templates, sample
les, and other information to help you format your manuscript.
■ Schedule your thesis or dissertation defense: You must hold your defense at least two weeks (14
calendar days) prior to the deadline for submission of the GS form, or a minimum four weeks (28
calendar days) prior to the commencement at which you plan to graduate. This provides minimal time
for edits and responses to the defense, formatting review, and further edits based on formatting review. If
your thesis or dissertation requires signicant revisions, or substantial formatting changes, you may not
have enough time to provide edits and complete all other steps for graduation. We encourage students to
schedule defenses as early as is practical.
■ Notify Enrolled Student Services of date, time, location and other details of your defense at least ten
(10) calendar days prior to your defense. To do this, complete the online defense form that will add your
defense to the calendar. Submitting the form will generate an email to Enrolled Services, and this email
will serve as your ocial written notication.
■ Hold your defense as scheduled. Note that students may not provide refreshments, snacks, gis, or other
inducements during the defense. The department may provide these if desired, as long as the student does
not pay for them.
■ Revise your thesis/dissertation to respond to committee recommendations during defense. Once your
committee and chair are satised with your thesis/dissertation and all revisions are nal and approved,
they will complete the appropriate GS form. This form must be submitted to Enrolled Student Services
at least two weeks (14 calendar days) before commencement. Note that if committee-required revisions
are substantial, you may not be able to meet subsequent deadlines for graduation and may have to defer to
a future graduation date.
29
■ Submit to the Graduate School for formatting review: You must submit your approved thesis or
dissertation to the Graduate School at least two weeks (14 calendar days) before commencement. The
Graduate School will review the thesis or dissertation to ensure that it complies with the formatting
guidelines established by the Graduate School, particularly the preliminary pages of the document but
including the page size and margins, and consistent formatting throughout the manuscript. Manuscript
submission and review is completed online. Step-by-step instructions and helpful tips for the process,
including formatting, defense, le conversion, submission via upload, revision, and nal approval, are
available at the Theses and Dissertations page on the Graduate School website. You will be notied via
email when the review is complete. Manuscripts will be approved by the Graduate School only if and
when no changes are required. Typically, theses and dissertations are reviewed within three business days
of receipt by the Graduate School, though it may take longer if you submit close to or on the deadline
date. In addition, you must allow for the possibility that format revisions will be required aer one (or
more) initial reviews and plan your submission accordingly. Note that ocial approval for graduation
includes both manuscript acceptance by the Manuscript Review Oce and the receipt of the completed
form GSM Final Exam and Thesis Approval Form or form GSD Dissertation Defense and Approval by
Enrolled Student Services.
Master’s degree programs
For degree programs that require a nal examination, your graduate program handbook should outline the
nature of the exam, when students are expected to complete the exam, and how it is evaluated.
Following successful completion of the exam and acceptance of the terminal project, if one is required, form
GSM Final Exam and Thesis Approval should be submitted to Enrolled Student Services.
For degree programs that require a thesis, the Graduate School provides programs broad latitude for creating
appropriate processes for proposal, formatting, and defense of theses. The graduate program handbook should
outline the processes required regarding proposal of a thesis project, guidelines for how the thesis should be for-
matted, how it is evaluated, and how it is defended. In addition, you must le a completed GS-ResearchApproval
form with your committee members’ signatures concurrently with your GS5D form (with Enrolled Student Ser-
vices). See Approval of your thesis/dissertation proposal topic below. Information about thesis formatting for
electronic publication and archiving is covered in Finalizing your thesis or dissertation aer defense below.
Doctoral degree programs
Dissertation proposal
Once advanced to candidacy, you must submit a proposal to your advisory committee outlining the details of
the research you hope to do to fulll the dissertation requirement. Each program should have a process for the
evaluation, defense, and endorsement of dissertation proposals. Endorsement of the proposal by the commit-
tee (ideally in written form) serves as the “contract” between the committee and you outlining scope of the
project, and should occur prior to data collection. In addition, the Graduate School requires you to le (with
Enrolled Student Services) a completed GS-ResearchApproval form with your committee members’ signa-
tures concurrently with your GS5D form. See Approval of your thesis/dissertation proposal topic below.
Submitting your dissertation for committee review
You will present your completed dissertation manuscript to your committee chair and advisory committee
in accordance with the guidelines outlined in your program’s graduate program handbook and within the
timeline established by your major advisor and/or advisory committee. This timeline must meet University
deadlines above.
30
Your committee chair determines when the manuscript is suitable for initial review by the remaining com-
mittee members. Once your advisor decides the dra is ready to share with the rest of your committee, you
will provide each committee member with a copy of the manuscript for review. Committee members should
normally complete the initial review of your dissertation in three weeks or less; however, agreements may be
made to allow for additional time if necessary.
Dissertation oral defense
You must pass an oral examination (the dissertation defense) which your committee will administer. Defenses
are public events — members of the Clemson University community are invited to attend the examination.
Defenses not open to the public should be rare and for good cause. Personal preference does not constitute
“good cause” but reasonable University accommodations for documented accessibility needs do constitute
“good cause.” Departments may have a standard procedure for these announcements/invitations, which will
be outlined in the program’s graduate program handbook.
The student should schedule the oral defense with enough time for committee review and for each com-
mittee member to be in attendance (in person or virtually). A majority decision from synchronously par-
ticipating committee members in support of the oral examination is required for a student to considered to
have passed the exam; dissenting members of the examining committee may forward a minority report to the
Graduate School. A vote of “pass” at a thesis/dissertation defense should only be rendered when each partic-
ipating committee member indicates nal approval (or dissent) of the dissertation by signing form GSD
Dissertation Defense and Approval.
Note that students are not allowed to provide refreshments, snacks, gis, or inducements for the oral
defense. Programs or faculty may provide these if they desire, as long as the student does not pay for them.
A committee member who is unable to participate synchronously in the defense, either in person or via
audio or video conference, may not vote on the oral defense. They must be counted as an abstention, as they
did not participate in the oral defense. Meeting individually with the student is not an acceptable substitute
for participating in the oral exam.
A student must still receive a passing vote from the majority of the committee members (two out of four
counts as majority where an advisory committee contains four members). If one is absent and counted as an
abstention, a student would then need two armative passing votes if a committee contains either three or
four members, or three passing votes if ve or six members constitute the advisory committee.
The committee should not sign form GS7D until the manuscript is responsive to all committee members’
concerns and recommendations. If a student submits a manuscript requiring substantial revisions, there might
not sucient time for revisions and committee review and approval before the submission deadline for for-
mat review. In these cases, graduation may have to be deferred to a future graduation date.
A student who fails an oral defense may be allowed a second opportunity only at the recommendation of
the advisory committee. Committees should only grant a second attempt when there is a strong probability of
success. If the performance in the rst exam leaves committee members feeling that there is a low probability
for success on the second attempt, the student should be recommended to the Graduate School for dismissal.
Failure of the second dissertation defense must result in dismissal from the Graduate School.
Graduate School approval of your thesis/dissertation proposal
Research activities with the intention of leading to the completion of a thesis or dissertation must be approved
by the student’s advisory committee. Typically, this process involves a formal proposal with the advisory com-
mittee members present. Upon approval of the student’s research plan, the GS-ResearchApproval, Approval of
Thesis/Dissertation Research Proposal form is to be submitted to Enrolled Services. This form communicates for-
mal approval for the student to embark on the research project as proposed. If signicant deviations from the
approved plan become necessary, another proposal defense is warranted.
31
The student is expected to bring a copy of the GS-ResearchApproval form to the scheduled proposal defense.
Upon committee approval (minor changes notwithstanding) the form is to be completed by the advisory com-
mittee and submitted to Enrolled Student Services. If additional changes are expected before commencing with
the research, those may be included on the form and/or as an attachment. Unsuccessful proposal defenses (e.g.,
signicant changes required) necessitate another proposal defense to be scheduled. The form is not to be submit-
ted until a successful proposal defense (as determined by the advisory committee) has been veried. If the pro-
posal process is commensurate with the requirements for the comprehensive exam, this form should be submitted
concurrently with the GSD form.
Finalizing your thesis or dissertation aer defense and committee approval
Formatting and format approval
The Graduate School has delegated authority to graduate programs and students’ advisory committees to
determine the appropriate format for publication of theses and dissertations in accordance with standards
acceptable to the discipline. Consequently, each program handbook must contain specific information about
program expectations for theses and dissertations.
The Graduate School will review the thesis or dissertation to ensure that it complies with the guidelines
established by the Graduate School for formatting, particularly the preliminary pages of the document but
including the page size and margins, and consistent formatting throughout the manuscript. Manuscript sub-
mission and review is completed online. Step-by-step instructions and helpful tips for the process, including
formatting, defense, le conversion, submission via upload, revision, and nal approval, are available on the
Theses and Dissertations pages on the Graduate School website. Review typically requires at least three busi-
ness days, and if formatting corrections are needed, the entire review process may take longer.
Publishing, archiving and printing
The Graduate School publishes theses and dissertations electronically in partnership with ProQuest and
the University Libraries. You will nd a step-by-step guide to the submission process in the Theses and
Dissertations section of the Graduate School website. There are no fees required to upload, publish, and
archive your thesis or dissertation; fees apply only to the order of printed, bound copies and to certain
ProQuest publishing options such as open-access publishing (note that the University Libraries provide this
at no charge) and copyright ling with the U.S. Oce of Copyright.
The Graduate School does not require you to purchase any printed copies, but some departments do (see
the online list of departments requiring bound copies). You may order printed, bound copies of your man-
uscript when you initially submit them for review, or aer your manuscript has been published. Any program
requiring a student to purchase printed copies must state this clearly in the program handbook, along with
any requirements for binding style, size, paper quality, etc. You may, of course, have your own personal copies
printed and bound wherever you wish, and are not limited having your manuscript printed only by ProQuest.
Approximately eight weeks aer your graduation (or aer your publication embargo expires, whichever is
later) your thesis or dissertation will be available for viewing online at ProQuest and in the TigerPrints repos-
itory on Cooper Library’s website.
Restrictions on publication and publication embargoes
It is expected that the results of research performed using University facilities be published in the open litera-
ture (i.e., theses, dissertations, journals, magazines, or books) and that any information obtained may be freely
disclosed by the faculty in the teaching programs of the University. Exceptional cases may arise, however. The
guidelines below shall apply to any projects requiring that results be kept condential for a limited period of
time; a request for delay of publication is also referred to as an embargo.
32
■ The University shall not accept external contracts/grants that require research results to be kept
condential forever. A denite term of condentiality shall be stated in a written nondisclosure
agreement that is approved by the Dean of the Graduate School and shall not exceed one year beyond
the date of notication to the sponsor that a manuscript suitable for publication has been prepared.
Exceptions and extensions may be granted by the University administration only under unusual
circumstances (e.g., national security, national emergency, classied activities, pursuit of patents, or
certain condential agreements), with the approval of the Dean of the Graduate School.
■ Students associated with condential projects must have prior approval for the use of results in
preparing reports, theses, or dissertations in fulllment of degree requirements. The Graduate School
usually will not accept a thesis or dissertation that must be embargoed for more than one year.
Documents submitted in partial fulllment of degree requirements will be retained by the Graduate
School (or the department in the case of project reports for non-thesis programs) in accordance with
the nondisclosure agreement. The student’s thesis or dissertation defense shall not be open to those not
bound by the nondisclosure agreement.
■ Students may request an embargo period not to exceed one year, but may request a renewal for
additional years with approval from the Graduate School.
Procedure:
Students have the opportunity to specify an embargo period as part of the online
submission process. In addition, embargo requests must be directed via email originated by the
advisor to the Graduate School Director of Communications, Jill Bunch. Students must include their
advisor(s) in embargo consideration and correspondence. It is preferred that the advisor originate the
email request to the Graduate School. Embargoes are granted for up to one year, with the option to
request renewal for up to one additional year.
Restrictions on use
Theses and dissertations submitted to the Graduate School in partial fulllment of the requirements for grad-
uate degrees and deposited in the University Library are, as a rule, open to the public for reference purposes.
Extended quotations or summaries may be published only with the permission of the author and the Dean of
the Graduate School.
2.7. Special Circumstances
Academic probation
Graduate students who fail to meet the following minimum academic standards for graduate studies at Clemson
University are placed on academic probation. These minimum standards include a cumulative 3.0 grade point
average in:
■ all graduate-level courses (6000-level or above); and
■ all courses listed in the GS Plan of Study;
Courses taken on a pass/fail basis are not included in GPA calculations, but failures can indicate failure to maintain
adequate performance or to make satisfactory progress toward degree and can lead to probation. The cumulative
3.0 GPA requirement applies independently to graduate degrees; that is, a new grade point average computation
begins aer the completion of the rst degree.
The Graduate School recognizes any course completed with minimum grade of C– for the course to apply
toward a degree. Programs may have higher expectations if desired, and these must be clearly articulated in the
33
graduate program handbook. Students who fail to meet these requirements become ineligible for graduation and
remain on academic probation until they earn the requisite 3.0 grade point average or are dismissed.
Procedure for student:
If you are a graduate student placed on academic probation, you should meet with
your major advisor and/or graduate program coordinator to ensure that the expectations for removal of the pro-
bationary status are clearly dened and that you understand them. You must submit an R Plan for Success or R
Second Plan for Success form not later than the date specied in the probation notication (typically around the
beginning of classes for the next term).
Graduate assistants and fellowship recipients:
If you are a graduate student on academic probation, you may
be in jeopardy of having your assistantship or fellowship terminated, particularly if you are on probation more
than one semester. Programs may choose not to reappoint a student failing to perform to expected standards
academically or in reference to assistantship duties. You should consult your graduate program handbook for
program expectations. The Graduate School reserves the right to declare a student ineligible for an assistantship
or fellowship independent of program decisions.
Dismissals
11
A student may be dismissed from the Graduate School for failure to maintain adequate academic status or prog-
ress, receipt of F or NP for thesis or dissertation credits, second failure on a nal or comprehensive exam, second
failure on a thesis or dissertation defense, failure to meet required program expectations, failure to maintain con-
tinuous enrollment, student conduct issues, or academic integrity violations. Dismissed students are permitted to
reapply to the Graduate School to pursue the same or dierent degree program unless they have been permanently
dismissed. Admission decisions will be considered upon recommendation by the program area. Permanently dis-
missed students will not be considered for any Clemson academic degree, certicate, or non-degree enrollment.
Student dismissals for academic reasons are determined by the Graduate School, whereas student dismissals
for conduct reasons are determined by the Oce of Conduct and Ethical Standards (OCES).
Infraction
Sanction
(if mandated or
recommended) Returning criteria
Failure to maintain adequate academic status or
maintain satisfactory progress
Dismissal ■ 1-year waiting period if requesting academic renewal
■ New graduate application required if not employing
academic renewal
Failure to maintain adequate academic status or
maintain satisfactory progress
Dismissal ■ New graduate application required
Receipt of F or NP for master’s or doctoral research
credits
Dismissal ■ New graduate application required
Second failure of comprehensive exam Dismissal ■ New graduate application required
Failure of second nal exam or thesis for master’s
degree programs
Dismissal ■ New graduate application required
Failure to complete other program milestones
(e.g., prelim exam, required projects, not meeting
stipulations in Plan for Success, etc.)
Dismissal ■ New graduate application required
11. Revision dra date 21 April 2017. Approved by Graduate Council 9 May 2017. Approved by Academic Council 18 January 2018.
34
Infraction
Sanction
(if mandated or
recommended) Returning criteria
Failure to complete dissertation in allotted time
period
Dismissal ■ New graduate application required
Failure of second dissertation defense Dismissal ■ New graduate application required
Failure to maintain continuous enrollment Dismissal ■ New graduate application required
Student conduct Dismissal ■ Dependent on results and sanctions from conduct
hearing; communicated by OCES
Level four academic integrity violation Permanent
dismissal
■ Permanent dismissal from the university
Procedure for department: A program wishing to recommend dismissal of a graduate student should sub-
mit a request, along with a rationale, to the Dean of the Graduate School. At the end of each semester, program
co ordinators are notied of students who have grade point averages below 3.0 or who have other indicators of fail-
ure to make satisfactory progress (e.g., failure to complete milestones according to stated deadlines). The Gradu-
ate School will designate the level of probation (R1 or R2) to be assigned to each student or will determine that
the student should be dismissed.
Dismissal appeals
Appeals of dismissal related to academic performance/satisfactory progress are heard by the Graduate Ad -
missions and Continuing Enrollment Appeals Committee. The burden of proof is on the student to demon-
strate the dismissal decision was the result of improper or unfair process. This constitutes the only grounds
for appealing a dismissal decision. Disagreement with the decision does not constitute grounds for appeal or
reversal of decision.
Procedure for student:
An appeal of continuing enrollment (dismissal) must be submitted in writing by the
graduate student within 30 days of the date of the ocial letter received from the Graduate School indicating
dismissal.
1. The student should submit the written statement requesting the appeal on form GS-Appeal and provide
evidence that the dismissal decision was unfairly or improperly rendered. Any supporting documentation
for the committee to consider should be attached to this form.
2. Within ve business days (excluding days the University is closed) of receipt, the Graduate School will
make available to the committee the student’s appeal request, the student’s Enrolled Services le, the
recommendation for dismissal, and any relevant documents provided by the student. The Graduate
School will also provide the graduate program coordinator with a copy of the student’s appeal request
within the same time frame.
3. The Graduate School will identify the earliest hearing date, and will schedule the meeting, reserve the
room, and notify all parties of the time and location of the hearing.
4. A designee of the Dean of the Graduate School will attend the hearings to provide procedural guidance
but will have no vote in the decision of the committee.
5. The student will be called in rst by the chair of the committee to present their case. Following
conclusion of the student’s presentation, they will be excused.
35
6. The faculty representing the graduate program will be called in next by the chair of the committee to
present program’s rationale for recommending dismissal. The faculty may bring to the meeting any
relevant documents to share with the members of the committee. These documents will be retained with
the case in accordance with the University’s regulations on retention.
7. The committee will make a decision on the case, which will be communicated immediately to the student
and the program coordinator. This communication will be in the form of an email notication. A letter,
under the signature of the Graduate School, will also be mailed to each party.
8. Appeals of the decisions of the committee may be made by the student to the Dean of the Graduate
School within ten calendar days of the decision of the committee. Appeals of these decisions can only
be made when there is evidence that the appeals committee unfairly or improperly applied policy or
procedure in arriving at their decision. Disagreement with the decision is not grounds for appeal.
Withdrawing from Clemson University
Withdrawing from the University occurs when you voluntarily decide to leave Clemson and discontinue your
degree program (as well as any assistantship or fellowship or other nancial aid). This is dierent from a medical
withdrawal or dropping a course. To withdraw from Clemson University, you should visit the Registrar’s With-
drawal checklist and follow the instructions to eect immediate separation from the University. Withdrawal
includes dropping all courses via iRoar, but you must notify Enrolled Student Services and your program coordi-
nator as well. Note that if you have pending issues of concern, such as an academic integrity or community stan-
dards violation, the Graduate School may delay taking action on your request until those issues are settled. The
Graduate School reserves the right to dismiss a student rather than approving a withdrawal.
For international students, withdrawing from Clemson University will likely have visa implications. Be sure to
communicate with International Services prior to withdrawing.
Withdrawal from Clemson does not prevent you from reapplying to a program in the future.
Medical Withdrawal
A medical withdrawal request may be considered in unexpected cases in which serious illness or injury (medical)
or other documentable challenge prevents a student from continuing academic work during the semester, and an
arrangement for incompletes is not possible. Medical withdrawals can be considered for both physical and mental
health circumstances. Approved medical withdrawals will replace all course grades for the approved term with a
W grade. This action applies to all courses a student is enrolled in during the semester in question; it may not be
applied selectively to some courses but not others.
Procedure for student:
Requests for a medical withdrawal are submitted directly to the Associate Dean of the
Graduate School. The request may be submitted via email or by sealed envelope if condential documentation
is involved. Such requests are considered only for current terms and involve withdrawal from all classes. Medical
withdrawal requests received aer the last day of classes will only be considered in exceptional cases where the
student is physically incapable of submitting the request (e.g., incapacitated physical state) and requires additional
documentation for the extension.
A medical withdrawal request must include medical documentation along with a student statement justifying
the withdrawal. The statement must be accompanied by credible documentation from a healthcare provider that
species the following:
■ the date of onset of illness;
■ the dates you were under professional care;
36
■ the general nature of your medical condition and why/how it prevented you from completing your
coursework;
■ the date of your anticipated return to school; and
■ the last date you were able to attend class
If approved, an administrative hold will be placed on the student record until the healthcare provider supplies
documentation conveying that the student is well enough to return to the university and resume academic re quire-
ments.
The eective date of withdrawal from class (last date of attendance) will be used to calculate any tuition refund,
if applicable. Students receiving nancial assistance are encouraged to review how a withdrawal will impact their
nancial status. Medical withdrawal requests from students supported by an assistantship may not be granted if
the assistantship responsibilities for the term have been completed. Each such case will be considered individually
based upon the nature of the request. International students are encouraged to consult the International Services
oce to determine the impact a withdrawal may have on their status.
A written appeal of the decision regarding a medical withdrawal may be made by the student to the Dean of
the Graduate School within ten calendar days of the decision. Appeals of these decisions can only be made when
there is evidence that the appeals committee unfairly or improperly applied policy or procedure in arriving at their
decision. Disagreement with the decision is not grounds for appeal.
In cases where a matriculated student needs to take time away from the program or needs to withdraw before
classes start (e.g., anticipated surgery) a Leave of Absence request should be submitted instead of a medical with-
drawal request.
Posthumous graduate degree
A graduate student who has passed away aer making signicant progress toward the degree, and who had a strong
likelihood of successfully completing the degree, may be awarded that degree posthumously on the recommen-
dation of the faculty of the college concerned. The student’s advisory committee should recommend awarding of
the degree to the department chair, who will then send the recommendation to the college dean, who will forward
to the Dean of the Graduate School. The Dean of the Graduate School will forward this request to the Oce of
the Registrar, where it will be processed. The diploma will be mailed to the requesting relative of the decedent.
Posthumous degrees are not awarded during commencement ceremonies.
Academic redemption
There is no opportunity at the graduate level for academic redemption (i.e., repeating a course to replace a prior
grade with a new grade). When a course is repeated, the new grade will be added to — not substituted for — the
original class grade. The exception to this is academic renewal.
Academic renewal
A student who was dismissed from the Graduate School for failure to maintain an adequate academic status or sat-
isfactory progress, and who has not enrolled for a period of one or more academic years, may apply for readmission
under special conditions known as academic renewal. Under these conditions, all previous graduate credits and
course grades will be ignored for purposes of evaluating new GPA and academic status or satisfactory progress.
However, these courses cannot be counted toward the new degree program. The previous record will remain on
the transcript as well as the notation “readmission under the policy of academic renewal.” Academic renewal may
occur only once. To apply to be readmitted under the requirements of academic renewal, contact the coordinator
of the program of interest and the director of graduate admissions to discuss the policy and procedures associated
37
with this status. Submit form GS Request for Academic Renewal along with a new application for admission.
Approval of consideration for readmission under academic renewal will be determined by the department.
2.8. Academic Grievances
Academic Grievance Policy
12
It is the policy of the Graduate School to address all grievances of an academic nature led by enrolled graduate
students. Graduate student grievances are heard by the Graduate Academic Grievance Committee.
Grievances must be led with the Graduate School within 60 days of the alleged act and may involve the
following:
1. violations of program, department, college, or Graduate School policies related to nal grades in courses
or research (8910 or 9910);
2. violations of program, department, college, or Graduate School policies and procedures related
to the completion of any academic requirement including theses and dissertations, oral or written
comprehensive examinations; and
3. graduate student assistantship employment including allegations that oers of assistantship appointments
made during recruiting were not honored aer enrollment.
The Graduate Academic Grievance Committee will not hear allegations of discrimination based on age, color,
disability, gender, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran’s status. All such allegations or com-
plaints should be submitted to the Oce of Access and Equity. The Graduate School will promptly refer any
such complaints received to the Oce of Access and Equity.
The Graduate School will support a timely process to hear and respond to grievances, and will handle all doc-
uments in such a way to protect the condentiality of the information. Members of any committee and parties to
any hearing are expected to keep all information related to a grievance condential.
Committee structure
The Graduate Academic Grievance Committee (GAGC) is a committee of faculty and student represen-
tatives. Faculty are selected by their colleges and serve two-year staggered terms. Student representatives are
selected by the Graduate Student Government through an application and interview process in the spring
semester, and are approved by the Dean of the Graduate School. Students serve one-year terms. The Associate
Provost and Dean of the Graduate School (or Dean’s designee) serves as nonvoting chair. No member of the
Graduate Academic Grievance Committee may simultaneously be a member of the Undergraduate Academic
Grievance Committee, nor may they be members of the undergraduate or graduate academic integrity com-
mittees. The selection of faculty and student membership on the Graduate Academic Grievance Committee
will occur in April of each year as needed.
The Initial Grievance Review Board (IGRB) is a subcommittee of the GAGC, responsible for deter-
mining which grievances will go forward to the Grievance Hearing Panel. The membership of the IGRB is
selected from the larger membership of the GACG, and should comprised one faculty representative from
each college. One graduate student representative also serves on the IGRB. The IGRB selects a faculty mem-
ber to serve as its chair. The IGRB will serve for an entire academic year. A majority of the voting members
must endorse a grievance to move forward to the hearing panel.
12. Academic Grievance Policy implemented Fall 2010. Updated Spring 2017.
38
The Grievance Hearing Panel (GHP) is a ve-person subcommittee of the GAGC, composed of three
faculty and two graduate students, appointed by the chair of the GAGC as cases are received from the IGRB.
The GHP is responsible for hearing student grievances forwarded to it by the IGRB, proposing resolutions
and, in the case of appeal, preparing the le and forwarding recommendations to the Dean of the Graduate
School. A chair of each GHP will be selected from the faculty members of the panel. Members of the hearing
panel should not be members of the college of the student ling the grievance.
Procedures and rules governing academic grievances
Procedures for students filing a complaint
At any time prior to ling a grievance, you may consult with the University Ombudsman charged with
mediation in cases involving graduate students.
Step 1. Any student wishing to le a complaint must rst make every attempt to resolve it within the
college. You must rst take the complaint to the faculty or sta member(s) involved. If no resolution can
be reached, you should request assistance from the department chair and the Dean of the college. The
University Ombuds Oce may be a resource for you during this time.
Step 2. If the grievance remains unresolved, you may le the complaint with the Graduate School. You
must rst meet with the Associate Dean of the Graduate School charged with oversight of the Graduate
Academic Grievance Committee. The Associate Dean will describe the grievance process to you. If you
wish to proceed with the grievance, the Associate Dean will provide you with Graduate School form
GS-g-A Filing of Grievance, which will enable you to provide a written statement detailing the grievance
and your attempts to resolve it at the college level by documenting (a) the dates of consultations at the
college level, (b) the names of the people consulted, and (c) the signature of the collegiate dean attesting
that no resolution could be reached. You must return the fully executed form GS-g-A to the Graduate
School within 30 days of your initial meeting with the Associate Dean. If you fail to le the grievance
within this timeframe, you forfeit your opportunity to proceed unless you can show clear evidence that
it was impossible to comply with this deadline. Questions concerning possible impacts on your graduate
status should you not be successful in the grievance may be discussed at this time with the Associate Dean
of the Graduate School.
You may seek external counsel (an advisor, an attorney, etc.) to assist with preparation of materials to
submit to the Academic Grievance Committee. You may also request such individual accompany you to
the hearing, but this advisor may not actively participate in the hearing.
Step 3. You and the Associate Dean of the Graduate School will le the grievance with the Initial
Grievance Review Board.
Procedures for the Initial Grievance Review Board (IGRB)
1. An associate or assistant dean (dierent from the associate or assistant dean above providing
assistance to the student ling the grievance) from the Graduate School will serve in a non-
voting advisory role to the Graduate Academic Grievance Committee and IGRB, if needed.
2. The chair of the Initial Grievance Review Board (IGRB) will be provided a copy of the
grievance (form GS-g-A), at which time the chair will convene the IGRB (either in person or
asynchronously) to review the grievance. The Graduate School will retain the original copy of
form GS-g-A.
3. The IGRB will determine, by majority vote, if the complaint constitutes a grievance as dened
by the grievance policy above, rendering it either nongrievable or grievable.
39
■ Nongrievable. If the IGRB nds the complaint to be nongrievable, or that the grievant
has not followed policies, procedures, and timelines outlined in the Graduate School Policies
& Procedures Handbook, the IGRB will execute its portion of form GS-g-A, explaining the
reasoning for its determination, and return the case to the Associate Dean with oversight of
academic grievances. The Associate Dean will notify the student of the IGRB’s decision. The
student may appeal this determination to the Dean of the Graduate School within ten days
by requesting a review of the complaint. The student’s request to the Dean must provide a
convincing rationale for the appeal based on factual evidence that policies were not followed
or were misinterpreted. Disagreement with the decision is not a basis for an appeal to the
Dean. This appeal must be in writing and will be attached to form GS-g-A. The Dean of
the Graduate School may elect to uphold the IGRB’s decision or forward the case to the
Academic Grievance Committee for a hearing. If the Dean of the Graduate School upholds
the decision of the IGRB — that the case is nongrievable — the Graduate School will notify
the student and the University will take no further action. The Dean will respond with an
appeal decision, which is not subject to further appeal or due process. The Associate Dean
of the Graduate School will notify all parties involved in the case, including the chair of the
Graduate Academic Grievance Committee, the student, and all department faculty and sta
reported on form GS-g-A, of the decisions of the IGRB and results of any appeal.
■ Grievable. If the IGRB nds the complaint to be grievable, and that the grievant has
complied with all relevant policies, procedures, and timelines contained within the Graduate
School Policies & Procedures Handbook, the IGRB will forward the case through the Associate
Dean of the Graduate School to the chair of the Graduate Academic Grievance Committee,
who in turn will appoint the Grievance Hearing Panel to hear the case.
Procedures for the Grievance Hearing Panel (GHP)
1. In the case that the IGRB recommends that the grievance be heard, and that it meets all
requirements for a grievance, the chair of the GAGC will appoint a Grievance Hearing Panel
of ve individuals (three faculty and two graduate students not from the same college as the
student ling the grievance and also not from the same college as the faculty member against
which the grievance was led) to hear the case. The GHP will select a faculty member to serve
as chair and notify the Associate Dean of the Graduate School.
2. A copy of the recommendation of the IGRB and all supporting documents related to the case
will be provided to the Hearing Panel chosen to hear the case.
3. Prior to convening the hearing, the chair of the Hearing Panel will contact the student who has
led the grievance as well as the faculty member against whom the grievance has been led.
The chair of the Hearing Panel will provide copies of the grievance to both parties, answer
procedural questions that the parties have concerning the hearing, and also ask each party if they
have submitted all written documentation to the committee. If additional written materials are
received prior to the hearing, the chair of the Hearing Panel will distribute copies to all Hearing
Panel members and to all parties to the grievance.
4. The hearing will be informal and will be closed. The chair will take whatever action is necessary
to ensure appropriate due process and an equitable, orderly, and expeditious hearing. All parties
to the grievance will be given an opportunity to be heard. In addition, the chair may request
the presence of any other person who can supply information pertinent to the grievance. If any
witness is unable to be present at the hearing, the chair may, at their discretion, accept a written
40
statement from that witness to be presented at the hearing. Witnesses will be present in the
hearing room only when they are called to speak before the Hearing Panel. All parties will be
permitted to question all individuals who present information, including each other. All parties
may bring one advisor of their choice to the hearing to provide counsel; however, advisors
will not be permitted to participate in the proceedings in any way except to communicate
condentially with the individual they are present to advise. They may not ask questions,
speak, provide any written information, or in any other way communicate with panel members
or individuals present to speak on the topic, and may not in any way interrupt or inuence
the proceedings. The chair is directed to immediately remove any advisors who violate this
restriction in any way. Removal of an advisor from the proceedings will not be considered as
grounds for appeal. No other person may be present for the hearing.
5. Upon conclusion of the hearing, the Hearing Panel will by majority vote reach a recommended
resolution to the grievance. The Hearing Panel chair, in consultation with the Associate Dean
of the Graduate School, will then formulate the ndings in writing. The written ndings and
recommended resolution will be forwarded via ocial University email to all designated parties.
Each party will be asked to indicate acceptance of the recommended resolution by replying to
the ndings/resolution email within 14 days of its original send date. Failure to respond within
14 working days will constitute acceptance.
6. If all parties to the grievance accept the resolution recommended by the Hearing Panel, the
matter of the grievance will be considered closed. The Associate Dean of the Graduate School
will notify all involved individuals that the case is resolved. The Associate Dean of the Graduate
School will ensure that the resolution is eected and will notify other appropriate University
ocials as necessary.
7. If either party rejects the recommended resolution to the case, all materials will be referred to
the Dean of the Graduate School. When grievances are referred in this manner, this constitutes
an appeal of the decision. The Dean of the Graduate School will make the nal decision within
ve working days of receipt of the appeal. This decision is nal and not subject to further
appeal. The Associate Dean of the Graduate School will notify all parties included on form
GS-g-A of the decision of the Dean and will ensure that the resolution, including notication to
the University Registrar if needed, is communicated promptly.
8. Should a grievance be led against the Dean of the Graduate School in the Dean’s capacity as a
member of the faculty, the substitution of the Vice President of Academic Aairs and Provost of
the University (or Provost’s designee) must be made for a student wishing to appeal the nding
of the Hearing Panel.
9. At the conclusion of the hearing, all printed materials provided to individual members of the
Academic Grievance Committee will be collected by the Graduate School.
10. To the extent permitted by law, all records and discussions relevant to the grievance will be held
in condence; however, information will be available to succeeding members of the Academic
Grievance Committee. The Graduate School will retain one complete le of each grievance in
a locked le for the required length of time in accordance with state guidelines on retention of
academic materials.
11. These policies and procedures can be changed by recommendation from the membership of
the Academic Grievance Committee with approval of the Graduate Advisory Committee, the
41
Graduate Council, and the Provost’s Academic Council. Such changes will not aect any case
under consideration at the time of the change.
University Ombuds oce
The ombudsman is an independent, condential resource who provides assistance to faculty, graduate students,
and postdoctoral students in resolving problems, complaints, and conicts when normal procedures have not
worked satisfactorily. The Ombudsman’s oce serves as a central information source on policies, procedures, and
regulations aecting faculty, graduate students, and postdoctoral students. The oce refers individuals to people
and oces able to resolve problems or handle appeals at the lowest possible level. Where appropriate, the ombuds-
man can facilitate communication or mediate between parties.
The ombudsman strives to ensure that faculty, graduate students, and postdoctoral students receive fair and
equitable treatment within the University system. They provide an independent point of view in an informal and
condential environment. The ombudsman will not identify you or discuss your personal concerns with anyone
without your permission. Private condential meetings can be arranged at your convenience. All communications
will be treated with strict condentiality, to the extent permitted by law.
The ombudsman works toward resolutions based on principles of fairness. They are neither an advocate for
faculty, administration, or students, nor an agent of the University.
The Oce of the Ombudsman is available to assist faculty members, graduate students, and postdoctoral
students who
■ need guidance in resolving a problem or a concern relating to the University;
■ need information about policies or procedures;
■ need someone to mediate between individuals or within the University;
■ feel the University has made an error in a particular case;
■ feel they have been victims of harassment or discrimination;
■ are unsure about which University policies, procedures, or regulations apply to a given situation;
■ have specic academic problems that cannot be resolved by following regular University procedures;
■ feel they have been unfairly treated;
■ have a problem that requires someone to negotiate a solution or to help facilitate communication
between parties; and/or
■ feel that a University policy, procedure, or regulation has been applied unfairly or erroneously.
Additional information about the ombudsman’s standards, practices, and condentiality, plus oce location and
contact information, are available at the University Ombudsman web page.
2.9. Violation of Academic Integrity
Academic Integrity
Graduate policy and procedures
13
Violations of the principles outlined in the graduate philosophy on academic integrity will be pursued to the
fullest extent according to the procedures outlined below. Violations of academic integrity include violations
13. Academic Integrity Policy and Procedures implemented in 2010.
42
in coursework, research,
14
independent projects, practica, internships, comprehensive and qualifying exams,
theses and dissertations and other publications
15
or works submitted as requirements for receipt of a degree.
Non-degree seeking students may also be charged with violations of academic integrity.
This policy broadly denes and provides examples of violations of academic integrity, categorizes the
seriousness of violations into four levels,
16
and establishes guidelines for discerning appropriate sanctions for
each. As there is no way to identify within this policy all of the possible violations of academic integrity, the
policy and ensuing procedures are intended as a general guide for faculty in all colleges to enable consistent,
reasonable, and fair judgments of graduate student actions incongruous with the fundamental values and
general philosophy described above.
The authority to resolve cases of violations of academic integrity by enrolled graduate students is vested in
the Graduate Academic Integrity Committee.
A. Definitions, explanations and examples of violations of academic integrity
17
Violations of academic integrity may include, but are not limited to, the following:
Cheating. Cheating involves giving, receiving, or using unauthorized aid on any academic work sub-
mitted for grading including but not limited to coursework, laboratory assignments, research projects,
comprehensive and qualifying examinations, theses and dissertations, or using digital logins and account
numbers that belong to another person without the permission of the account owner. Unauthorized aid
includes collaborating with classmates or others when explicitly prohibited, using online paper mills or
paying individuals to prepare research papers, reports or projects, submitting identical work to satisfy the
requirements of more than one class without the approval of the faculty, or using textbooks, notes, the
internet, and other sources when instructed to work alone.
Fabricating/falsifying information.
Fabricating or falsifying information involves actions such as mak-
ing up data that were not collected, stating that studies were conducted that were not, indicating that
original source material was read when information was obtained from secondary or tertiary sources,
making up references not used, or identifying sources that were not consulted (e.g., telephone interviews).
Facilitating violations of academic integrity.
Facilitating violations of academic integrity involves a
student intentionally helping another violate the principles of academic integrity (for example, allowing
friends access to their work, or instructing students on ways to solicit aid on papers, projects, take home
exams, tests for state and national licenses, etc.).
Failing to cite contributors.
Failing to cite an author or multiple authors involves not giving credit to
individuals who have contributed signicantly to a work (paper, research project, poster, etc.) and claim-
ing the nal product as one’s own.
Plagiarizing.
Plagiarizing is the of the work accomplished by someone else. It includes copying and
pasting words, phrases, sentence structure, computer code or les, images, or ideas from any source,
including the internet, and attributing the work to one’s own eorts. Blatant examples of plagiarism
include failure to use quotation marks, failure to indent quoted text of more than three lines, and failure
14. Depending on the research infraction, the University’s Research Division Policies may in some cases take precedence over the Academic
Integrity Policy.
15. Depending on the research infraction, the University’s Research Division Policies may in some cases take precedence over the Academic
Integrity Policy.
16. Levels based on the academic integrity model of Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ; used by permission. Rutgers’ document accessed at
https://slwordpress.rutgers.edu/academicintegrity/wp-content/uploads/sites////AI_Policy_.pdf
17. Based on the academic integrity model of Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ; used by permission. Rutgers’ document accessed at https://
slwordpress.rutgers.edu/academicintegrity/wp-content/uploads/sites////AI_Policy_.pdf
43
to cite consulted sources either in footnotes, endnotes or within the body text of a document. More subtle
examples of plagiarism include paraphrasing or using others’ conceptual frameworks for developing cre-
ative works without acknowledgment or permission or citing a source within the text, but then directly
quoting the materials without the use of quotation marks or text indentation.
Thwarting others’ progress.
Thwarting others’ progress involves editing, deleting or otherwise destroy-
ing electronic les that belong to another person or intentionally stealing or destroying property which
prevents others from using it to gain needed information to complete assignments; for example, library
materials on reserve, materials on loan by a faculty member, or reports and documents made available for
student use by external companies, state and federal agencies, etc.
B. Levels of seriousness of violations of academic integrity and sample
recommended sanctions
18
At the graduate level, it is expected that students exhibit sophistication in understanding the tenets of aca-
demic integrity. Even so, it is clear that some types of violations are more serious in nature than others and
that some types of violations require deliberate, calculated actions on the part of the student. This policy
categorizes academic integrity violations into four levels. To provide guidance on the administration of
sanctions, examples of violations of academic integrity are delineated below by the level of seriousness.
This list is by no means exhaustive but is reective of the types of violations that have been observed
at Clemson University. Guidance may be sought from the Graduate Academic Integrity Committee to
determine the appropriate level of seriousness in unusual or highly complex instances.
Level One violations of academic integrity and sample recommended sanctions
Includes instances where it is determined that a rst-year graduate student is essentially unaware of the
principles of academic integrity at Clemson, where a student has misunderstood instructions from a
professor and has committed an infraction impacting a minor portion of assigned work, or has com-
mitted an infraction on an assignment of minor signicance to the nal grade. Level One violations are
addressed by the professor. Examples of Level One violations include the following:
1. failure to follow instructions to work independently;
2. plagiarism aecting very minor portions of an assignment or project;
3. rst-time oenses by students unfamiliar with the academic integrity expectations at Clemson.
Sample recommended sanctions for Level One violations include one or more of the following:
1. failure on the assignment;
2. requirement to make appropriate corrections and resubmit the assignment for grading;
3. verbal or written reprimand;
4. assignment to attend a seminar on academic integrity and to write a paper on knowledge gained
to be submitted for credit or no credit, at the professor’s discretion.
18. Based on the academic integrity model of Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ; used by permission. Rutgers’ document available at https://
slwordpress.rutgers.edu/academicintegrity/wp-content/uploads/sites////AI_Policy_.pdf
44
Level Two violations of academic integrity and sample recommended sanctions
Includes instances that impact a moderate portion of an assignment, course, project, laboratory, or
research activity. Level Two violations are addressed by the faculty member, the graduate program
coordinator, and the department chair. Examples of Level Two violations include the following:
1. failing to acknowledge sources by use of quotation marks, footnotes, endnotes or indentations
of lengthy direct quotes;
2. using unauthorized aid (notes, books and other references, other students’ work, websites, etc.)
in violation of explicit instructions to complete in-class or take-home exams;
3. failing to acknowledge sources of materials paraphrased;
4. failing to acknowledge sources of assistance or other contributors in preparation of assignments,
papers, posters, or projects, etc.;
5. using the conceptual frameworks of others in developing creative works without
acknowledgment or permission.
Sample recommended sanctions for Level Two violations include one or more of the following:
1. failure on the assignment with no opportunity to amend;
2. assignment of a similar task with a higher level of diculty and more stringent grading;
3. receipt of zero on the assignment.
Level Three violations of academic integrity and sample recommended sanctions
Includes instances where it is determined that a student agrantly and intentionally has violated the
principles of academic integrity in a signicant portion of an assignment, course, or research activity.
Level Three violations are heard by the Graduate Academic Integrity Committee. Examples of Level
Three violations include the following:
1. knowingly plagiarizing major sections of papers submitted for grading;
2. knowingly plagiarizing major sections of the thesis or dissertation prior to submission for
publication;
3. purchasing papers or reports and submitting them for grading;
4. thwarting others’ progress by destroying computer les, laboratory resources, or library
materials;
5. devising means with classmates to cheat on exams of any sort (qualifying, preliminary, state
exams for licensing, etc.).
Sample recommended sanctions for Level Three violations include one or more of the following:
1. receipt of a grade of F in the course;
2. suspension from the University for one or more semesters;
3. termination of the student’s graduate assistantship and/or University fellowship;
4. notation in the Graduate School of the violation of academic integrity and the sanction.
45
Level Four violations of academic integrity and sample recommended sanctions
Includes instances where it is determined that a student has intentionally committed violations of
the principles of academic integrity serious enough to constitute academic aud, actions which have
the impact of bringing the reputation of the institution itself into question. Level Four violations are
heard by the Graduate Academic Integrity Committee and may involve interaction with the Faculty
Senate and the Vice President for Research if sponsored research is involved.
1. fabricating data in research projects, papers, and reports;
2. creating false sources for references which do not, in fact, exist;
3. plagiarizing in materials to be submitted for publication, including nal submission of theses
and dissertations and journal articles;
4. falsifying transcript records, altering any supporting documents submitted to the University
with the application for admission;
5. paying an individual or company to produce a thesis or dissertation;
6. forging a faculty or sta member’s signature on any document.
Sample recommended sanctions for Level Four violations include one or more of the following:
1. mandated permanent dismissal from the University with no possibility of academic renewal;
2. notation in the Graduate School of the violation of academic integrity and the sanction;
3. notation of the dismissal on the student’s permanent academic record (transcript).
Note: Repeated violations of the policy of academic integrity, irrespective of the level, should result in
serious sanctions, up to and including permanent dismissal.
C. Structure of the Graduate Academic Integrity Committee
Faculty. Three tenured faculty members from each of the seven academic colleges and the Library,
elected by the faculty accorded voting rights in each college and the Library, serve staggered three-year
terms on the Graduate Academic Integrity Committee. Members of the Graduate Academic Integrity
Committee must not simultaneously be members of the Undergraduate Academic Integrity Committee,
nor of the grievance committees of either the graduate or undergraduate programs. Faculty representa-
tives are selected by college rules at the end of the spring semester to serve two-year staggered terms that
begin in the fall.
Students. Seven graduate students — one from each college — are selected and approved by the Grad-
uate Student Government (GSG). These students are then recommended for one-year appointments to
the Associate Provost and Dean of the Graduate School. Graduate student committee members must
maintain good standing within the University for the entire duration of the appointment and must have
completed nine credit hours at the graduate level prior to being selected by GSG.
Chair. The Associate Provost and Dean of the Graduate School (or Dean’s designee) serves as chair and
is a non-voting member.
Hearing Panel. Cases will be heard by a panel of ve committee members comprising two graduate
students and three faculty members from dierent departments. Decisions of the hearing panel require a
majority vote.
46
Meetings and Hearings. The committee convenes throughout the calendar year, including summers,
when there is a case to be heard. The Graduate Academic Integrity Committee will meet to review and
revise its procedures, if necessary, prior to the last day of classes of every spring semester. Revised proce-
dures will go into eect on the rst day of the subsequent fall semester.
Recusal. To avoid possible conict of interest, faculty and graduate student representatives should
recuse themselves from cases involving colleagues or peers in their colleges.
D. Notification of a violation of academic integrity
1. When, in the opinion of a faculty member, there is evidence that a student has committed a
violation of academic integrity, the faculty member will fully document the charge in writing in
a statement delivered in a sealed envelope to the Associate Dean of the Graduate School. At the
same time, at their discretion, the alleging faculty member is encouraged, but is not required, to
privately inform the student charged of the nature of the allegation.
2. When, in the opinion of a student or sta member, there is evidence that a student has
committed a violation of academic integrity, he or she should contact the faculty member for
the course (including the research advisor or internship/practicum/co-op supervisor) to discuss
the incident. Aer being contacted, if, in the opinion of the faculty member, there is evidence
that the student has committed a violation of academic integrity, the faculty member will deliver
a formal written charge in a sealed envelope to the Associate Dean of the Graduate School.
At the same time, at their discretion, the alleging faculty member is encouraged, but is not
required, to privately inform the student charged of the nature of the allegation.
3. When, in the opinion of anyone outside the University, there is evidence that a student has
committed a violation of academic integrity, that person should bring this allegation to the
attention of the Associate Dean of the Graduate School. The Associate Dean will contact
the appropriate faculty representative of the student’s program (consistent with the alleged
violation). The faculty member will determine if charges are to be brought against the student.
If the faculty member determines that there is sucient evidence to le a charge, the faculty
member will fully document the charge in writing in a statement delivered in a sealed envelope
to the Associate Dean of the Graduate School. At the same time, at their discretion, the alleging
faculty member is encouraged, but is not required, to privately inform the student charged of
the nature of the allegation.
4. Within ten working days from the date the Associate Dean of the Graduate School has received
a formal charge of an alleged violation, they will provide the student with a copy of the charge
and the policy and procedures of the Graduate Academic Integrity Committee.
5. The Graduate School will notify the Academic Integrity Committee that a case has been
received and will indicate whether or not this violation constitutes a rst oense (veried by
documentation of previous violations sanctioned at Level Two or above as noted on the record
retained in the Graduate School).
6. The Graduate School will identify a panel to hear the case depending on the availability of
committee members and the faculty member bringing the charge.
E. Procedures if the student chooses to waive their right to a hearing
1. The student must meet with the Associate Dean of the Graduate School to request to waive
their right to a hearing. This usually happens when the student is informed of the charges.
47
2. If the student wants to waive their right to a hearing, the Associate Dean will allow the student
to execute form GS-ai-A Request to Waive Academic Integrity Hearing, and will inform the
student of the classication/level of the oense (Level Two to Level Four). A student may not
request a hearing for a Level One violation.
3. A student who requests to waive their right to a hearing will have no right to appeal the sanction
imposed, unless the sanction includes suspension or permanent dismissal from Clemson
University.
4. The Graduate School will notify the professor of the decision of the student to waive their right
to a hearing.
Application of sanctions in cases without a hearing
When the student has waived their right to a hearing, sanctions may be imposed by the faculty mem-
ber if Level One; by the faculty member and department if Level Two; or by the Academic Integrity
Committee hearing panel if Level Three or Four.
1. In cases of Level One violations, the professor should meet with the student and inform him or
her of the sanction. The professor should provide an email notication to the Associate Dean
of the Graduate School including the date of the meeting with the student and the sanction
imposed. Level One violations will not become a part of the student’s permanent academic
record at the University but will be recorded for data purposes only in the Graduate School.
In keeping with the commitment to encourage students’ understanding and embracing the
tenets of academic integrity, Level One violations will be used as a warning and as a teaching
opportunity.
2. In cases of Level Two violations, the professor and department chair should meet with
the student and inform him or her of the sanction. The professor should provide an email
notication to the Associate Dean of the Graduate School including the date of the meeting
with the student and the sanction imposed. Level Two violations will not become a part of the
student’s permanent academic record at the University but will be recorded in the Graduate
School and considered as the student’s rst oense of violation of the policies of academic
integrity.
3. In cases of Le