Deadlines & Policies

Advising

Students admitted to the MSME or MSMSE degree programs are assigned an initial advisor. This assignment is tentative and is meant to provide support to new graduate students entering the program. It is very important for students to consider their course of study, program goals, and interests before meeting with potential permanent advisors. Students should focus on choosing an advisor that is best able to provide the graduate training in his or her area of interest.

An official advisor selection must be made by the end of the student's second term in the program or the student will be switched to the coursework-only track of their degree program. Only MME faculty can be advisors for students within the MME graduate programs.

The courses in a student's graduate program are selected in consultation with a student's faculty advisor. The advisor approves elective courses and the Department submits documentation to the Graduate School indicating that the selected courses meet established criteria.

In addition, students pursuing the MSMSE degree program will need to establish a Student Program Committee, consisting of faculty members in the materials group, upon acceptance to the program. This Committee meets with students each term to approve the courses to be taken in the subsequent term, to outline the course of study the student and advisor have chosen, and to provide an extra point of contact between the student and department.

The following list of MME Faculty will help you learn about faculty technical specialties, academic backgrounds, and current research interests.

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Satisfactory Academic Progress & Dismissal Policy

All MME graduate students must maintain satisfactory academic progress during the course of their graduate program as outlined in the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) and Dismissal Policy.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

• All admitted graduate students must enroll and complete at least one credit per term*. Students who wish to take time away from their studies must complete a Graduate Leave of Absence Request and adhere to the Leave of Absence Policy outlined by the Graduate School (GS).
• A student’s Permanent Advisor will determine if satisfactory progress has been made each term*, especially in regards to dissertation, project or thesis credits and research. If the student is within their first two terms and a Permanent Advisor has not been established, satisfactory progress will be determined by term GPA and credits completed. Students without Permanent Advisors must earn a B- or higher in each course and a term GPA of 3.0.
• In addition, conditionally admitted students must complete all conditions within one year of admission as outlined in the admission letter; and
• PhD students must meet the program’s comprehensive exam timeline and criteria as well as the University’s prospectus and dissertation timelines.

Probation

• An admitted graduate student will be placed on SAP probation if:
  • the student does not register for at least one credit and does not have an approved Graduate Leave of Absence Request for the term;
  • if the student receives a grade of I, X, W, AU, and/or a letter grade of C+ or lower for all credits attempted; or
  • the Permanent Advisor determines that satisfactory progress has not been made, or, for a student without a Permanent Advisor, term grades and GPA do not meet SAP guidelines.
• A student who is placed on SAP probation will be ineligible to hold a GA (TA or RA) or hourly position.
• A student will be removed from SAP probation if the student:
  • registers and satisfactorily completes at least one credit in the term after beginning probation status; and
  • the Permanent Advisor determines that satisfactory progress has been made in the term after beginning probation status. A student who does not have a Permanent Advisor must meet the grade and GPA requirement in the term after beginning probation status.

Dismissal

• Dismissal occurs if:
  • the student fails to register and complete at least one credit in the term* after beginning probation status;
  • the student fails to make satisfactory progress in the term* after beginning probation status; or
  • the student becomes subject to a SAP probation a second time within their degree program
  • In addition, conditionally admitted students will be dismissed if all conditions are not completed within one year of admission; and
  • PhD students will be dismissed if: the program’s comprehensive exam timeline and criteria are not met; the University’s prospectus timeline is not met; or the University’s dissertation timeline is not met.
• Students who are dismissed may not: register for graduate credits; perform research within an MME lab; or hold a GA (TA or RA) or hourly position.

*Excluding summer

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Departmental Deadlines

Master's and PhD Final Presentation Scheduling

Students who need to schedule their defense or project presentation are required to do so at least two weeks prior to their intended defense/presentation date via the Master's and PhD Final Presentation Form. This ensures that the announcement is sent at least a week prior to the scheduled date, and there are no time conflicts with other students. Please note that all defenses and project presentations are open to the public.

Students are required to choose three presentation times in case of conflict, as well as submit their abstract and title. The Department will verify the date and time of the defense before sending out the announcement.

For remote defenses/presentations, students must share their meeting link with the Department so it can be added to the presentation announcement.

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