Time Limit

There is a ceiling of five years for the completion of all requirements of the Ph.D. degree, including the dissertation and defense. Extensions may be granted on a year-to-year basis if the student can demonstrate continuing progress. The PSP Faculty meets annually to review the student’s class performance, progress toward degree, commitment to the field of study, and appropriate contribution to the university community. Failure to demonstrate progress may result in termination from the program; such terminations will be done in consultation between the dissertation committee chair, the PSP Director, and the Office of Graduate Studies. If, in the professional judgment of the program faculty, a student has failed to make satisfactory progress toward meeting the academic standards of the program, the faculty may vote to dismiss that student from the program. In the case of dismissal, the PSP Director is required to send a report to the Office of Graduate Studies that states the faculty vote on the decision causing dismissal and the justification for this action. The Office of Graduate Studies will notify the student in writing when the student is being dismissed for failure to make satisfactory progress in the program. In the case of academic dismissal, the student may appeal the termination in writing to the Office of Graduate Studies.