Establish GRAD 7999 and GRAD 9999

Date: May 4, 2012
To: University College
From: Office of Academic Affairs
Approved On: November 4, 2003
Implementation Date: 2012

Note: Deletions are strikethroughs. Insertions are underlined.

Summary

Background

Currently graduate residency credit is a means by which a graduate student may maintain continuous enrollment if all other requirements for the degree have been completed. One hour of residency credit (RES designation) has a grade type of NF (nongraded, full time) and should have the title Master’s Degree Graduate Residence, XXXX-7999 or Doctoral Degree Graduate Residence, XXXX-9999.

A recent review of the Graduate Catalog and course bulletin showed that there is significant variation among the programs regarding how residency credit is described and applied within programs. For example grade types range from GF (graded, full-time) to NG (not graded) to PF (pass/fail). Also the range of available credit has been listed from 0 to 10 hours for a single term. In some cases the 7999 and 9999 are used as numbers to describe thesis or dissertation credit courses in different degree programs. The problem is further compounded by the fact that under normal circumstances, residency credit simply serves as a “place holder” to allow the student to meet the continuous enrollment requirement in order to graduate. As such, the course does not remain on the student’s transcript at the end of the term. This use of residency credit can make it appear on the transcript that the student was not enrolled at the University for extended periods during his or her time of study. This can pose a serious problem for international students who must show continuous enrollment in order to comply with current SEVIS requirements. The variation in the way that residency credit is being applied has been the cause for considerable confusion among faculty, staff, and students.

This proposal also changes the way that residency credit would be utilized. A graduate student would only be eligible to register for residency credit if he or she was in the final semester of the degree program, had completed all the degree requirements, and was only required to remain enrolled in order to graduate. Students who exceeded the required number of hours without completing their work would no longer register for “7999” or “9999” until the thesis, dissertation, or directed study was completed. Instead these students would register for the appropriate number of thesis, dissertation, or directed study credit hours that accurately reflect the academic obligations of the student to the University and the University to the student, even if the student cannot apply these additional hours toward graduation.

Rationale

Because residency credit has a very specific function in the academic program of a graduate student, its use and application should be narrowly defined. However, since each academic program sets its own schedule each term, residency credit is often treated inconsistently leading to confusion. Listing 7999 and 9999 credit with a single abbreviation and course description through the Graduate School will maintain the specified application of this credit and eliminate inconsistencies.

Once a graduate student begins the capstone requirement for the degree he or she must remain continuously enrolled until graduation. In some instances the student may have enrolled in all the capstone credit hours that can be applied to the graduation requirement, but he or she has not yet completed the work necessary to receive academic credit. In these cases, the student should continue to enroll for the appropriate credit hours for the capstone project until it is completed. It is important that a student’s academic record in Graduate School is accurately reflected by the credit hours in which he or she is enrolled. Students actively engaged in thesis, dissertation, or other directed study, should not enroll for graduate residency credit. As stated above, because residency credit is non-graded it is not entered on a student’s transcript. As such, students who might register for 7999 or 9999 in subsequent semesters will generate transcripts that make it appear that he or she was not actually registered for these terms.

Catalog Copy

GRAD 7999. Master’s Degree Graduate Residency Credit. (1) Required for continuous registration and enrollment as specified by University policy. Permit required from the Graduate School. (Fall, Spring, Summer)

GRAD 9999. Doctoral Degree Graduate Residency Credit. (1) Required for continuous registration and enrollment as specified by University policy. Permit required from the Graduate School. (Fall, Spring, Summer)