Maintaining Your Academic Standing

 

Continuous Enrollment

Students must register for and complete at least one graduate course within two academic semesters (fall/spring) or they will be dropped from the program and must apply for readmission. Reapplication must be made in accordance with the established deadline dates and current admission requirements. Students seeking readmission must pay the $65 application fee.

Time Limit for Degree Completion

All coursework and degree requirements must be completed within the six-year period immediately preceding a student's graduation. Coursework completed more than six years prior to date of graduation cannot be used to satisfy degree requirements unless approved by the adviser, department chair, and school dean through a Waiver of Six Year Time Limit form.

Probation and Dismissal

All graduate students are required to maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (4.0 scale). A student is automatically placed on probation if the GPA falls below 3.0.

Matriculated full-time students are given one semester and matriculated part-time students are given 9 credit hours to achieve a 3.0 GPA, provided total credit hours do not exceed the degree program by more than 6. Failure to achieve a 3.0 GPA within the specified time results in academic dismissal. In addition, failure to maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA during each semester of academic probation results in academic dismissal.

Premajor (undeclared) students must have a 3.0 GPA by the completion of 12 or more credit hours. Failure to achieve a 3.0 GPA by the completion of 12 or more credit hours of graduate-level coursework results in academic dismissal. A student with fewer than 12 credit hours automatically is placed on academic probation should the GPA fall below 3.0. Failure to achieve a 3.0 GPA by the completion of 12 credit hours results in academic dismissal. In addition, failure to maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA during each semester of academic probation results in academic dismissal.

Nondegree students have until the completion of the next semester in which enrolled to bring their GPA to 3.0 after being placed on academic probation. Failure to do so renders the student ineligible for further registration.

A student who has been academically dismissed must wait one full year from the time of dismissal before applying for readmission.

A student may be readmitted to the university only once after academic dismissal. If readmitted, the student is automatically returned to academic probation if his or her cumulative GPA is below 3.0. The student then has one full-time semester or 9 credits of part-time study to achieve a 3.0 cumulative GPA, and must maintain a minimum of 3.0 GPA during each semester of academic probation. Failure to do so results in final academic dismissal.

Students wishing to transfer from one curriculum to another must apply to the new degree program in accordance with established deadline dates and current admission requirements. Those seeking to change majors should follow instructions for applying as directed at How to Apply.

Degree Works is an online tool that outlines a course of study necessary to receive a degree or certificate and monitors a student's progress towards graduation.

The Degree Works audit system is used in close coordination with the process of academic advisement, including course planning, preparation for the capstone experience, and graduation in relation to the degree, graduate certificate, or certificate of advanced study sought. Students and faculty advisers should work to assure that the audit is accurate and up-to-date.

Students should periodically review Degree Works to ensure accuracy and follow-up with their adviser if there is a discrepancy.  

PINS
Some departments may utilize advising PINS which prohibit registration without adviser approval.

In these cases, students must see their adviser for advisement prior to registration.

Advising Pins

Application Deadlines

May Degree Conferral - February 1
August Degree Conferral - June 1 (February 1 if the student would like his/her name listed in the May Commencement Booklet)
December Degree Conferral - October 1

Requirements for Master's Degree or Certificate of Advanced Study Award

  1. Completion and submission of the Application for Graduation to Graduate Studies by the date listed above.  Failure to apply by the deadline date may delay the granting of the degree and may result in the omission of the student's name from the commencement program.
  2. Completion of at least the minimum of required graduate-level credit hours as determined by each academic program.
  3. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (B) in all graduate coursework.
  4. Completion of all coursework and degree requirements within the six-year period immediately preceding the date of graduation.
  5. Completion of a minimum of 15 credit hours of 600- or 700-level coursework.
  6. Receipt by the Graduate School of official transcript(s) of approved transfer credit as listed in the note section of Degree Works. Transfer credit must meet all requirements as defined in the Graduate Catalog.
  7. All graduate and undergraduate courses with a grade status of I, IP, N, or X must be completed and appropriate grades submitted.
  8. Coursework taken to fulfill degree requirements for one degree may not be applied to an equivalent degree.
  9. All financial obligations to the university must be met, and all university property must be returned.  
  10. Students who write a master's thesis must submit the final submission of their approved theses (to be done electronically) through Digital Commons before a diploma can be issued.  Students should discuss the submission process with their thesis adviser.

Students who do not meet the requirements for graduation by the semester for which they applied must submit a new application for graduation, in accordance with established deadlines, for the semester in which the requirements will be completed.

Steps for Students who have left Buffalo State who wish to graduate.

Common Deficiency Issues and Corrective Actions

Issue: Course(s) exceed the 6-year time limit
Action: See your adviser and complete the appropriate "Graduate Student Approval for Waiver of Six-Year Time Limit" form for the expired course(s)

Issue: You have an X, N, I, IP grade
Action: Complete coursework and/or talk with the instructor to complete change of grade form

Issue: Not enough credits at the 600/700-level
Action: See your adviser

Issue: No transcript on file for requested transfer credit
Action: Submit transcript to the Graduate Studies Office

Issue: Your cumulative G.P.A. is below 3.0
Action: See your adviser

Issue: You have more than 6 credits each in workshops, conferences, or independent study
Action: See your adviser and file an academic appeal requesting a waiver of this requirement.

Commencement

Commencement is held once each year at the end of the spring semester in May. Students eligible to participate in the Commencement ceremony are those who complete their degree requirements in August (previous) December (previous), January (previous), May (current), or August (anticipated). Visit the Commencement website for more information.

Students are responsible for notifying the Graduate School of any change of name and the Registrar's Office of any address change so that registration information and other mailings can be properly directed.

Visit the Registrar's Office to complete the appropriate form and submit any required documentation.

Student Directory Withholding Procedure

An electronic directory of student campus e-mail addresses is provided to the campus community in the interest of building community and fostering communication between and among students, faculty, and staff.

The university allows you, the student, to decide if you wish to withhold your campus e-mail address from the student directory.  To withhold your e-mail address, follow these instructions:

  1. Log in to Banner. 
  2. Go to Personal Information > Student Directory Profile.
  3. To suppress your directory listing, check the "Do Not Display" box next to your name, then click "Submit Changes."
  4. If you change your mind later, you can go back to the page and uncheck the "Do Not Display" box.

The requested change may take up to 24 hours to take effect.

Please note that failure on the part of any student to request withholding of their campus e-mail address from the directory indicates individual approval for release of the campus e-mail address.

Students are expected to complete registration within two weeks after they become eligible to register and to attend the first meeting of all classes in which they have enrolled.

Immunization Requirement

All students born on or after January 1, 1957, are required to submit proof of immunization against measles, mumps, and rubella. All students must submit a completed Meningitis Information Response Form indicating immunization or decision not to obtain immunization. Students who do not submit proof of immunizations are not permitted to register. Contact the Weigel Health Center to submit proof of immunizations or for more information at (716) 878-6711.

Advisement

The department chair/graduate coordinator designates a member of the graduate faculty to serve as an adviser to the student and to assist in planning the course of study. It is the student’s responsibility to seek a conference with the adviser before registration, application to degree candidacy, and application for graduation.

Dropping Courses

Students may drop courses online through the first week of a fall or spring semester or the first two days of a Summer Session or January Term without financial penalty. Officially dropping a course removes all record of the course from the student’s transcript, and no financial penalty is assessed.

Unit of Credit

The credit hour is the unit of course credit. It represents completion of one 50-minute class period per week for one semester. A course having three class periods a week will earn 3 credit hours. Studio, laboratory, and shop classes usually earn 1 credit for each two hours of attendance. The university expects student preparation of two hours for each hour in class.

Withdrawal from Courses

Students who wish to discontinue a course after the drop/add period but before the final withdrawal date (the end of the 10th week of the semester or the equivalent point in a Summer Session or January Term; see Academic Calendar) must complete and submit an official withdrawal form to the Registrar’s Office, Moot Hall 210.

Withdrawal forms are available at most academic department offices. A course from which a student has officially withdrawn remains on the transcript, recorded as W, but does not count in credit hours or GPAs.

Instructors are required to apprise students of their academic standing no later than the end of the ninth week of the semester (or the equivalent point in a Summer Session or Intersemester; see Academic Calendar). If a student stops attending but does not officially withdraw from a class, a grade of E (Failure or unofficial withdrawal) is recorded.

An exception may be made for unusual circumstances beyond the student’s control. In such cases, procedures for Waiver of Academic Regulations apply. Withdrawal from a course may affect eligibility for financial aid in current and future semesters. For additional information about financial aid eligibility, refer to the Financial Aid section of this catalog or www.buffalostate.edu/financialaid.

Students withdrawing from coursework may be eligible for a tuition refund in accordance with the schedule. No refunds are issued beyond the end of the refund period.

A student who does not register for any course or withdraws from all courses during his or her first semester should inform the Graduate School.

Initial/Permanent/Professional Certification in Education

Buffalo State's graduate-degree programs in education are registered with the New York State Department of Education.

All graduates who meet state certification requirements are recommended by the university for the appropriate certification.

Students eligible for initial/permanent/professional certification can apply online. Contact the Teacher Certification Office, Chase Hall 222, (716) 878-6121.

District Letter

Complete the following form if you need to submit proof of graduation to your school district prior to degree posting. District letters may only be requested and sent after the final graduation review is completed by Graduate Studies. A district letter will be generated within 24-48 hours and mailed directly to the school district; a copy will be mailed to the student.

Graduate students who do not complete their capstone thesis or project requirement by the end of the term in which they have registered will receive an IP grade on their transcript. Once a graduate student has (a) registered for the maximum number of credits included in their graduate program's standard curriculum, (b) has received an IP grade in the required thesis or project course(s), and (c) not completed the capstone requirement within two academic semesters, the student must register for 722 Thesis/Project Extended – non-credit bearing but billable for 1 credit at existing graduate tuition rates, until the thesis or project has been completed. If the student does not register for the 722 course, they will become an inactive student and will have to reapply for admission to Graduate Studies and pay all other appropriate fees. Reapplication must be made in accordance with the established deadline dates and current admission requirements.

Once a student has completed the thesis or project, the IP graduate will be changed to the appropriate grade.

Supplying Transcripts from Colleges and Universities Attended

Official transcripts must be requested by the applicant from each institution they attended. If requesting an official physical (paper) transcript, the school may send it directly to the Graduate Admissions Office (1300 Elmwood Avenue, Moot Hall 110, Buffalo, NY 14222) or to the applicant. 

Physical transcripts must be received by Graduate Admissions in unopened, sealed envelopes.

If requesting an official electronic copy, the school must send it directly to Graduate Admissions.  Electronic copies will not be accepted if sent from the applicant.

Requesting Buffalo State Transcripts

Please visit the Registrar's Office's website for information and directions on requesting a Buffalo State transcript.

Incomplete Transcripts

Conditional admission may be granted to applicants whose baccalaureate or master's degrees have not been conferred or whose grades for the current term have not yet closed at the time of application.

Upon confirmation of degree, applicants must send a final official transcript showing the awarding of the degree to Graduate Studies. The Graduate Studies Office will obtain final transcripts for Buffalo State graduates. Failure to meet this requirement constitutes grounds for a rescission of acceptance and cancellation of course enrollment.