Registration and Academic Policies
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- Registration and Academic Policies
Registration
Full-Time Status
Graduate Credit Course Numbers
Special Permission to Enroll for Graduate Classes
Intercampus Enrollment
Identification Card (MavCARD)
Credit/No Credit Options
Dropping Courses
Incomplete Grades
Repeating a Graduate Course
Quality of Work Standards
Automatic Dismissal for a Grade of "U" or "Fail"
Appeal of Grades in Graduate Courses
Appeal of General Academic Matters Related to Student Programs
Auditing Courses Offered for Graduate Credit
Prep Week
Registration
All persons who attend classes at the University must have been admitted to the University; they are required to register and pay the established tuition and fees. The dates, times, locations and procedures for registration are listed each semester on the Records & Registration web page.
Full-Time Status
A numbering system is used to indicate the availability and level of courses for graduate credit, as follows:
3 - - -/8 - - 5 (e.g. 3110/8115) or 4 - - -/8 - - 6
Courses with these numbers are open to both undergraduate and graduate students. Only 8 - - 5 and 8 - - 6 receive graduate credit; it is expected that students enrolled for graduate credit will do work at a higher level than that which is expected of undergraduate students in the same course.
No more than two 3 - - -/8 - - 5 courses are allowed on a plan of study.
8 - - 0 or 9 - - -
Courses with these numbers are normally restricted to graduate students only. At least one-half the hours of course work on a plan of study must be in courses normally restricted to graduate students only.
With special permission from the Dean for Graduate Studies, exceptional juniors and seniors may enroll in graduate courses.Back to top
Special Permission to Enroll for Graduate Classes
JUNIORS AT AN ACCREDITED INSTITUTION
Exceptional juniors at the University of Nebraska at Omaha who have obtained, in advance, the approval of their advisor, department chair, the course instructor of record, and the Dean for Graduate Studies may receive up to 12 hours of graduate credit for courses taken at the University of Nebraska at Omaha in addition to the courses necessary to complete their undergraduate work. Juniors are allowed to enroll only in courses designated 8- - -. The student must have at least a 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) average in the undergraduate major. Graduate course work taken prior to receipt of the baccalaureate degree may not always be accepted for transfer to other institutions as graduate work or for completion of degree requirements.SENIORS AT AN ACCREDITED INSTITUTION
Seniors at an accredited institution (including UNO) who have obtained in advance the approval of the appropriate campus Dean for Graduate Studies may receive up to 12 hours of graduate credit for courses taken at any campus of the University of Nebraska in addition to the courses necessary to complete their undergraduate work, provided that such credits are earned within the 12 months prior to receipt of the baccalaureate degree and that the student must have at least a "B" (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) average in the undergraduate major. Graduate course work taken prior to receipt of the baccalaureate degree may not always be accepted for transfer to other institutions as graduate work or for completion of degree requirements at UNO.
Students who have been admitted to graduate studies at another campus of the University of Nebraska may register for graduate courses at UNO by using an Intercampus Registration Form.
Identification Card (MavCARD)
Information about the UNO student identification card is available online.
Credit/No Credit Options Offered for Graduate Credit
The grade of "Credit" is interpreted to mean the equivalent of a grade of "B" (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) or better and is not considered in the calculation of grade point averages.
Students cannot drop courses after the date identified in the academic calendar for that semester. Exceptions may be made when there are extenuating circumstances. Students requesting an exception must obtain the instructor's certification that work in progress was at the "B" (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) level or higher. Approval of the request must be obtained from the Dean for Graduate Studies before the request to drop is submitted to the Office of the Registrar.
Incomplete Grades
PURPOSE
The grade "Incomplete" "I" is to be used by an instructor at the end of a term to designate incomplete work in a course. It should be used when a student, due to extenuating circumstances such as illness, military service, hardship or death in the immediate family is unable to complete the requirements of the course in the term in which the student is registered for credit. "Incompletes" should be given only if the student has already substantially completed the major requirements of the course. Each instructor must judge each situation as to whether an "I" is appropriate.REMOVAL
Normally there is no time limit for graduate students to remove an incomplete. However, the instructor does have the option of determining the requirements for completing the course and requisite date for removal of incompletes. It is helpful to have these requirements in writing to ensure there is no miscommunication between the instructor and student.ACCRUAL OF FIVE OR MORE INCOMPLETES
Five or more "I" or "IP" grades (excluding thesis or research courses) will result in a stop enrollment for any new courses; the stop enrollment will stay in effect until the record shows no more than four "I" or "IP" grade.
Repeating a Graduate Course
A student, upon consent of his advisor, may repeat a course in which he/she has previously received the grade of "C+" (2.33 on a 4.0 scale) or below. Both grades will appear on the transcript, but only the second grade will be counted in determining the grade point average.
Quality of Work Standards
1. Automatic Dismissal
Graduate students are expected to do work of high caliber. Failure to do so will result in dismissal. In particular, the following will result in automatic dismissal from the degree or certificate program:
a. Receiving a grade of "C-" (1.67 on a 4.0 scale) or below in any course taken in the student's major field of study or in any course included in the plan of study or program of study. A grade of "U" or "Fail" in any graduate course taken by a graduate student shall be treated the same as for a grade of "C-" or below and shall result in automatic dismissal from the graduate program.
b. Departments/Schools may have additional and more stringent criteria for evaluating a student's performance and progress and may demand a higher level of performance than that demanded by the Graduate College. A department/school or program unit may, under some circumstances, recommend dismissal of a student from a graduate program even though quality of work standards have been maintained. Grounds for dismissal could include, but are not limited to:
i. failure to be accepted by an appropriate thesis or dissertation adviser within stipulated time limitations;
ii. failure to make timely progress toward the degree or certificate; and
iii. failure to perform in course work, qualifying examination or research at an acceptable level in the respective department/school or program unit.
c. The Plan of Study and Grades Which Result in Automatic Dismissal
Grades which result in automatic dismissal from a program (e.g., grade of "C-" or below, "U" , "Fail") may not be applied towards a graduate plan of study.
d. Students Dismissed from a Graduate Program Who then Re-apply as Non-degree Students, Students will be placed on stop enrollment for the department/school from which they were dismissed unless they request and receive permission in accordance with departmental/school graduate program policy to enroll as a non-degree student in that program.
2. Probation or Dismissal
A department/school will recommend that the Dean for Graduate Studies either dismiss, or place on probation with conditions for reinstatement as a student in good standing, in the following cases:a. A Grade of "C+" (2.33 on a 4.0 scale) or below in any course involved in the first 12 hours of graduate study for provisionally admitted students;
b. Receiving at least nine hours of graduate credit with the grade of "C+" (2.33 on a 4.0 scale) or below in any courses taken in the student's major field of study or in any courses included in the plan of study for master's or specialist's degrees or graduate certificates, regardless of the average;
c. Receiving at least six hours of graduate credit with the grade of "C+" (2.33 on a 4.0 scale) or below in any courses taken in the student's major field of study or in any courses included in the program of study for doctoral degrees, regardless of the average;
d. Failure to maintain a "B" (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) average in all graduate work taken as part of the degree or certificate program.
3. Unclassified and Non-degree Students
a. For students with unclassified or non-degree admission, the above quality of work standards apply to course work taken, just as if all such courses were included in a graduate plan of study.
b. A student will be automatically dismissed from all graduate standing or placed on probation should any of the above conditions occur.
4. Additional Requirements
Some departments/schools apply additional criteria of satisfactory performance beyond the requirements of the Graduate College. A copy of the department's/school's policy should be on file in the Graduate Studies Office and a copy distributed to every graduate student enrolled in the program.
5. Monitoring
a. The Graduate Program Committees or the Supervisory Committees in their respective departments/schools shall be responsible for monitoring quality of work in degree, certificate and unclassified programs and for recommending action.
i. The Graduate Studies Office will send a report to each department/school at the start of each semester with the names of students who have received at least nine hours of graduate credit with a grade of "C+" (2.33 on a 4.0 scale) or below as of the end of the previous semester.
ii. The Graduate Studies Office will send a report to each department/school at the start of each semester with the names of doctoral students who have received at least six hours of graduate credit with a grade of "C+" (2.33 on a 4.0 scale) or below as of the end of the previous semester.
b. The Graduate Studies Office shall be responsible for monitoring quality of work in non-degree programs.
c. The Dean for Graduate Studies will make the final decision and notify graduate students of their status.
6. Student Responsibilities
a. Students must be aware of the Quality of Work Standards of the Graduate College, as well as additional criteria of satisfactory performance in their respective department/school programs.
b. It is the student's responsibility to know when his or her previous course work has failed to meet those standards.
c. Students who are attending classes are still subject to dismissal if their department/school recommends that action based on its review of their previous performance.
7. Policy on Petitioning for Reinstatement into a Graduate Program:
The process for petitioning and evaluating petitions for reinstatement into a gradute program is the responsibility of each department/school Graduate Program Committee. For a current copy of procedures, please contact your department/school Graduate Program Committee Chair.
Automatic Dismissal for a Grade of "U" or "Fail"
THE PLAN OF STUDY AND GRADES WHICH RESULT IN AUTOMATIC DISMISSAL
Grades which result in automatic dismissal from a program (e.g., grade of "C-" or below, "U" , "Fail") may not be applied towards a graduate plan of study.STUDENTS DISMISSED FROM A GRADUATE PROGRAM WHO THEN REAPPLY AS NON-DEGREE STUDENTS
Students will be placed on stop enrollment for the department/school from which they were dismissed unless they request and receive permission in accordance with departmental/school graduate program policy to enroll as a non-degree student in that program.POLICY ON PETITIONING FOR REINSTATEMENT INTO A GRADUATE PROGRAM
The process for petitioning and evaluating petitions for reinstatement into a gradute program is the responsibility of each department/school Graduate Program Committee. For a current copy of procedures, please contact your department/school Graduate Program Committee Chair.Appeal of Grades in Graduate-Level Courses
Appeal of grades in graduate-level courses shall be made through the graduate student grade appeal procedures for the campus through which the grade was awarded. Students who believe their evaluation in a course has been prejudiced or capricious must first attempt to resolve the matter with the course instructor and then the department through which the course was offered.
The initiation of the appeal in writing by the student must be filed within six weeks following receipt of the grade from the Office of the Registrar.
In cases where a grade lower than a "C" will result in dismissal from the graduate student's program, the Dean for Graduate Studies will notify the Graduate Program Committee Chair and student that the student will be automatically dismissed from his/her graduate program. The student will have a two-week grace period from the date of the dismissal notification to the date of the request to the Registrar for disenrollment in all graduate coursework. This two-week period allows the student an opportunity to present his/her case informally to the course instructor and, if necessary, to the chair of the graduate program committee before being terminated from the program and disenrolled from courses. A student who has been dismissed from a graduate program and disenrolled from course work may still file a formal appeal to the campus Dean for Graduate Studies, but is no longer a student in good standing and is prohibited from taking graduate courses until the formal appeal has been resolved.
If the matter is not resolved, the student may file an appeal in writing to the campus Dean for Graduate Studies, who shall inform the student of the grade appeal procedures approved by the Graduate Faculty or by their duly elected representative Graduate Council for that campus, and shall forward the appeal to the student-faculty committee or council which is designated to hear graduate-level course grade appeals on that campus. Since awarding grades in courses occurs at the individual campus level, the decision of the campus committee or council designated to hear the case on behalf of the campus Graduate Faculty shall be final and is not subject to further appeal.
Appeal of General Academic Matters Related to Student Programs
1. Graduate students holding admission with Unclassified status in the Graduate College, admission with a master's objective or admission with a doctoral objective (but prior to the appointment of a doctoral supervisory committee) should appeal as follows:
a. Initially, the appeal may be submitted to the student's adviser.
b. If denied, the appeal may be submitted to the department/area Graduate Program Committee administratively responsible for the student's graduate program.
c. If denied, an appeal may be made to the Graduate Council for the campus administratively responsible for the student's graduate program. Normally, this will be the final appeals body (for exceptions, see the last part of this section).
2. Graduate student holding admission with a doctoral objective in the Graduate College and for whom a doctorial supervisory committee has been appointed should appeal as follows:
a. Initially, the appeal should be submitted to the student's adviser.
b. If denied, the appeal may be submitted to the student's supervisory committee.
c. If denied, the appeal may be submitted to the department/area Graduate Program Committee administratively responsible for the student's graduate program.
d. If denied, an appeal may be made to the Graduate Council for the campus administratively responsible for the student's graduate program. Normally, this will be the final appeals body (for exceptions, see the last part of this section).
3. When a student's graduate program consists of registrations essentially or entirely on one campus, the Graduate Council of the campus administratively responsible for the program will constitute the appeal board. When a student's graduate program includes substantial registrations on a campus other than the one administratively responsible for the program, three members of the Graduate Council for the other campus will be designated by the Dean for Graduate Studies on that campus to augment the Graduate Council on the campus administratively responsible for the program. In this case, the augmented Council will constitute the appeal board. The decision concerning augmentation of a campus Graduate Council for a specific appeal involving registrations on a campus other than the one administratively responsible for the student's program will be made by the Deans for Graduate Studies on the campuses involved.
4. In all cases, appeals should be made in writing to the appropriate adviser, committee or council. In those cases where the appeal concerns graduate-level qualifying exams, comprehensive exams or final oral exams, the following deadlines must be observed. It is the responsibility of the student to make reasonable efforts to ascertain the results of the examination within 30 days after its completion.
The initiation of the appeal, in writing, by the student must be filed within 30 days following the student's receipt of notification of the evaluation.
In those cases involving an appeal of termination of program, initiation of the appeal, in writing, by the student must be filed within 30 days following the student's receipt of the official written notification by the Office of Graduate Studies.
a. There is no absolute right of appeal to the Executive Graduate Council. The Executive Graduate Council will accept appeals only in those cases where in the exercise of its sole discretion it shall first find that one or more of the following grounds for accepting the appeal exist:
i. That the campus Graduate Council has violated some element of fair procedure (example: has failed to allow the parties concerned to present their cases fully to their campus Graduate Council);
ii. That the campus Graduate Council has failed to examine or give adequate weight to important evidence relevant to one party's position;
iii. That the campus Graduate Council has given undue weight to evidence not pertinent to the case; or
iv. That some gross miscarriage of justice would be perpetrated if the decision of the campus Graduate Council is allowed to stand.b. Appeals to the Executive Graduate Council must be made in writing and must specifically outline the grounds for appeal. Such appeal must be made within 20 working days of the day the decision of the campus council is received (working days shall not include those days the University is not in session).
c. The Executive Graduate Council must make a decision to hear the appeal or not to hear the appeal within 30 working days after receipt of the appeal. Acceptance or denial of jurisdiction over the appeal will be made in writing.
d. The decision of the Executive Graduate Council on the merits of the case will be made and transmitted to the concerned parties within 40 working days after the decision to hear the appeal.
e. No person who was a member of the department or campus graduate council involved in the case will be eligible to participate in the decisions of the Executive Graduate Council either to decide whether the case should be heard or to decide the merits of the case. However, the Dean for Graduate Studies may replace members of the Executive Graduate Council not eligible for participation in the decision to hear the appeal or in the appeal itself.
Auditing Courses Offered for Graduate Credit
In order to audit courses for graduate credit, students must be admitted to graduate studies. Permission of the adviser and approval of the instructor of the course should be obtained prior to registration. It is the instructor's prerogative to determine privileges, including examinations connected with the course. Students registered for credit may change to audit registration during the first 11 weeks of a semester or during the first half of a class if it runs longer or shorter than a semester.
Prep Week
The last week of regularly scheduled classes during fall and spring semesters is designated as Prep Week. Except for makeup examinations, tests in self-paced courses, post-tests in the English Composition Program or laboratory exams, no major examination (accounting for more than 20 percent of a student's grade) may be given during this period.
Papers, projects or presentations assigned well in advance (at least two weeks) of Prep Week may be due during this period.
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