Satisfactory Progress

These are Dr. Allen’s requirements for satisfactory progress. The department university and/or other major professors may have more strict or lenient guidelines.

Our doctoral handbook states:

5.1 Program Expectations for Student Progress: Each student is expected to make satisfactory progress towards the completion of their doctoral program. Consider adequate yearly progress to be completing at least twelve credit hours per academic year prior to completing the qualifying exam. A student who fails to make satisfactory progress, as indicated by the annual review report submitted by the major professor and the review conducted by the IS Ph.D. Program Office may be removed from the doctoral program. At the request of the department, the student will be notified via email and in writing by the IS Ph.D. Program Office of their removal from the program, at the last address filed with the university. Such notification will cite the reason(s) for removal.

If you are not making satisfactory progress, you will receive an email from me addressing your “non-satisfactory progress” copied to the department chair/Doctoral Program Administrator. It will say something to this effect:

“. . life sometimes simply gets in the way of us completing our goals. Let’s set up a time as soon as possible for us to get you back on track. If I do not hear from you by [date], I will consider you are no longer interested in pursuing a doctoral degree in the program, and I will need to remove myself as a major professor.”

As a major professor, I will not remove you from the program.  I will simply remove myself as your major professor.

This is not meant to be unkind, but doctoral students are expected to manage their own educational progress and proactively communicate with the major professor. The student’s major professor, committee, and graduate faculty members are available to assist students in finding avenues of needed support. However, the student must be proactive in seeking this counsel and support.

Extenuating circumstances may exist that hinder a student’s ability to complete their doctoral program. The major professor must be informed as soon as possible by the student of circumstances that hinder progress. The student MUST obtain written approval from the major professor, and appropriate paperwork must be filed in the student’s record to take a leave of absence. This provides written evidence that can be used to make exceptions to unsatisfactory progress but does not guarantee that the graduate school will grant an extension to the dissertation timeline.

Why so strict?

I have a limited number of slots for doctoral students.  A new set of students are looking for a major professor each year. As stated on my advising page: I typically only accept five to seven doctoral students at a time, plus four to six committee memberships. This good UPPER ratio provides me and the doctoral students fantastic interaction and a supportive cohort of students. When students are not making progress in the program, it’s taking away opportunities for other students in the doctoral program.

Coursework Progress

  • Students must have an approved degree plan filed with the graduate school no later than two long semesters of admission to the doctoral program.
  • Students must provide a written update of their doctoral program progress to their major professor at the end of each long semester. Lack of communication is a major reason for getting a warning for non-progress.
  • Students must remove any incomplete grades within one year after receipt of the incomplete and no later than 30 days after completion of the final semester of coursework.
  • Students cannot accumulate more than six semester hours of in-completes during the degree program.
  • A student cannot accumulate more than one grade of C or below or two W or WF grades.
  • If a full-time student, doctoral candidacy (ABD) must be approved no later than the end of the third year (sixth semester) of admission to the doctoral program.  If a part-time student, doctoral candidacy (ABD) must be approved no later than the end of the fourth year (eighth semester) of admission to the doctoral program.

Doctoral Candidacy (ABD/Dissertation) Progress

  • The doctoral candidate must provide a written update of their doctoral program progress to their major professor at the end of each long semester.  Lack of communication is a major reason for getting a warning for non-progress.
  • Doctoral candidates will be enrolled continuously in dissertations (6950) each of the long semesters until they complete their doctoral studies. This is a graduate school requirement. Failure to enroll during the long semesters can result in program removal.
  • The dissertation proposal must be approved no later than the end of the fifth year (10th semester) of admission to the doctoral program. If a longer period of time is necessary, the student must receive PRIOR written approval for an extension from their major professor. This should include a plan for proposal defense within 6 months.
  • The dissertation defense must be approved by no later than the end of the sixth year (12th semester) of admission to the doctoral program. If a longer period of time is necessary, the student must receive written approval for an extension from their major professor.
  • Students not defending by the end of the sixth year must file a detailed one-year doctoral program plan. This plan must be approved by the major professor and completed as approved.

Additional Expectations

I adhere to the Academy of Human Resource Development’s standards on Ethics and Integrity and Graduate Program Excellence. The student is expected to exhibit high standards of professional behavior, fulfill all responsibilities of a doctoral student, and understand and demonstrate collegial behavior toward faculty, support staff, and peers.

Students are expected to meet all University expectations as presented in the Dean of the Graduate School guidelines and the department handbook.

Furthermore, doctoral students are expected to attend all activities deemed appropriate and part of a doctoral education by faculty, and attendance will be considered to evaluate satisfactory progress. For further information on graduate school policies: http://www.unt.edu/catalog/grad/policies.htm