Continuous Registration | Leave of Absence | Withdrawal/Readmission | Graduation

 

Continuous Registration

• All degree students in the Graduate School of Education must be registered during each fall and spring term until all degree requirements have been met unless a leave of absence has been granted. To satisfy the continuous registration requirement you must be registered for coursework, master's registration tuition, or dissertation supervision
• A degree student who has not maintained active status by registering each term, and who has not been granted an official leave of absence will be considered withdrawn. Inactive students must apply for readmission to the Graduate School of Education in order to resume work toward the degree
• Master's degree students must register for master's registration tuition (EDUC 990) if they have completed all coursework and will be taking the master's comprehensive examination that semester (including summer term) or graduating. Doctoral students, when finished with coursework, must register for dissertation supervision while working on the dissertation and completing exams. Registration is not required during the summer, however students who plan to use University facilities, take comprehensive or preliminary examinations, hold dissertation hearings or graduate, must register and pay the tuition
• Students on dissertation status who withdraw or fail to maintain continuous registration will be charged tuition for past semesters if they seek to re-register, to a maximum of six semesters.

Leave of Absence

If a degree student intends to become inactive, an application for a leave of absence must be submitted to the Associate Dean. Leave of Absence forms are available in the Student Records Office and on-line. In order to maintain good standing in the Graduate School of Education, degree students must either be registered every term or have an approved leave of absence. Leaves of absence are normally approved for up to one year. 

 

 

Ph.D. Student Family-Friendly Policies 

The University recognizes that the birth of a baby can disrupt a student mother’s academic career.  Both to ensure accommodation of the mother’s physical needs and to facilitate appropriate planning by all parties, the University is establishing two new policies. 

 

 

Policy on Childbirth Accommodation for Student Mothers

 

A student in the Ph.D. program at Penn who anticipates giving birth shortly before or during term, or during the period covered by stipend support, is eligible for a “Time Off” period, typically six to eight weeks, for late stage pregnancy, delivery, and post-natal recuperation.  The student mother must notify the graduate group chair and adviser in writing, at an early date, of her plans to initiate a “Time Off” period, so that appropriate arrangements can be made to cover any teaching/research responsibilities. 

• Normally the “Time Off” period commences within two weeks of the birth
• During the “Time Off” period, the student remains enrolled full-time.  In order to facilitate a rapid return, she may participate in her program as fully as she deems appropriate.  It is recognized that remaining in full-time status will eliminate problems that may arise when a student is deemed part-time or on leave, such as visa status, loan repayment schedules, etc.
• The student is entitled to academic accommodation including relief from academic requirements, such as postponement of exams and course requirements
• A student receiving stipend support is entitled to continuation of support during the “Time Off” period as follows:
  • Students in Biomedical Graduate Studies are entitled to benefits set forth by the BGS Parental Leave Policy
  • Students funded by government grants or other external funding sources are entitled to benefits as determined by the funding agency
  • Other student mothers, on full-time status, receiving stipends from University/school funds are entitled to draw support for eight weeks during the academic year

 

Issued by the Office of the Provost (February 24, 2006)

 

• Doctoral students who have reached dissertation status will not be granted a leave of absence except for military duty, medical reasons, or when a grant is received for dissertation research abroad and the grant does not include funds to pay home institution fees. A leave of absence may also be granted for purposes of providing care to children under the age of two if the student is the primary caregiver and not gainfully employed
• Eligible degree students who want a leave of absence must submit a request to the Associate Dean's Office prior to the term when the leave is desired (if possible). Leaves of absence will not be granted retroactively for terms when students failed to register or request a leave. The granting of a leave of absence does not automatically change the time limit for completing degree requirements. Time spent in military service does not count under the time limit
• Students may not register for courses, hold dissertation hearings, sit for exams or graduate during a leave of absence. Students returning from leave of absence must notify the Student Records Office in order to be reactivated as current students. Students with grants to undertake dissertation research abroad that do not provide home institution fees, and who wish to maintain the University Health Insurance Plan may obtain a special registration status entitled "Dissertation Work Abroad." The Associate Dean must approve each case

Withdrawal

A student who intends to terminate candidacy for a degree at the Graduate School of Education should formally withdraw from the school by notifying the Associate Dean in writing. The effective date of separation from the University is the date on which the student files a written request for withdrawal with the Office of the Associate Dean. Students are responsible for tuition charges and other financial obligations to the University incurred before the effective date of withdrawal.

 

Readmission

A student wishing to be readmitted into a degree program must reapply to the desired specialization. In order to be readmitted you will be required to have the support of your former advisor and the current division chair; complete any outstanding coursework from previous courses taken; demonstrate satisfactory performance in previous study at GSE; satisfy all financial obligations to the University; and be able to meet the time limit requirements for completing the degree. As a condition of readmission, inactive doctoral students (Ed.D. and Ph.D.) previously on dissertation status must pay past dissertation fees for each fall and spring term since last enrollment, to a maximum of six terms. All students readmitted to the Graduate School of Education will be subject to current academic policies of the Graduate School of Education.