ACADEMIC POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Advisers and advising
The role of the Student Affairs Officers: Two Student Affairs Officers (SAOs) serve as the professional academic advisers for all Humphrey students. Students are strongly encouraged to check in (in person, or by email or phone) with their SAO every semester. The role of the SAO is to:
- assist in designing a plan to complete the program, including the selection of concentrations and courses
- advise on academic policies, processes and procedures
- connect students with specific faculty based on academic, paper, internship or career interests
- provide students with support and resources if they encounter academic or personal difficulties that are affecting degree progress.
The role of faculty in student advising: Faculty play an extremely important role in student success. The role of the faculty is:
- specific to their area of academic expertise, provide advice, counsel, and guidance regarding course selection, internships, professional connections, and career possibilities
- to supervise professional papers and Masters Theses
- serve on paper committees
Changing advisers (for students entering before Fall 2009): Humphrey Institute students are assigned initial advisers based on the statement of purpose in the admission application. However, students are free to choose a different adviser.
A convenient time to do this is when the degree program is filed. To change advisers, the degree program must simply bear the signature of the new adviser. Students should talk with prospective advisers in advance to be sure that faculty member can take on another advisee. The Graduate School will make a note of the change when they process your Degree Program form.
To change an adviser at any other time, obtain the consent of the new adviser and the former adviser and notify the DGS, using the "Adviser and/or Oral Committee Change" form. This form is available in Humphrey Center room 225 and on the Humphrey Institute Student Services web site at http://www.hhh.umn.edu/img/assets/11160/Adviser%20Oral.pdf. Include the names of both the new and former advisers.
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Tuition and fees
Humphrey Institute tuition rates are published in the summer (usually late July) preceding a new academic year and listed in the University of Minnesota Class Schedule and on Onestop at: http://onestop.umn.edu/onestop/Tuition_Billing/Tuition_Rates.html.
If a tuition waiver was received as part of a financial award from the Humphrey Institute Admissions and Awards Committee, it should be posted by the end of the first week of classes. If your student account does not show the payment by the end of September, please notify Julie Harrold (jharrold@umn.edu).
Computer and printing fees
The Humphrey Institute charges a computing fee applicable to all registered master's students, assessed upon registration. See the University of Minnesota Class Schedule or OneStop for information on this and other student fees.
In addition to fees charged through the registration process, the Humphrey Institute charges Humphrey students a Computer Printing Fee, which is charged when a student prints more than 1000 pages in a semester. Students are notified of outstanding balances by e-mail for each page printed above the limit. Students can verify the accuracy of these charges by checking the detailed listing of their printing record on the web at http://www2.hhh.umn.edu/printing/. Students may correct any errors and receive a revised billing total, which should then be paid at the reception desk in Room 307. Checks should be made out to the U of MN--Humphrey Institute. Students will be given a receipt for their payment, which they should retain for their records.
Penalties for unpaid printing bills: Students have one semester to pay any outstanding charges on their printing bills; penalties will be applied at the end of the semester following the semester in which the fees were incurred. Penalties include suspension of the HHH computer account, which would deny access to Humphrey e-mail and Institute computers and software. Unpaid fees will also mean that a student cannot process necessary paperwork such as degree programs, petitions and final graduation forms. If you have questions about this policy, please contact the Student Services staff in Room 225.
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Grade base policy (A-F vs. S-N) and minimum GPA
The Graduate School uses two grading systems: A-B-C-D-F and S-N. Graduate School policy dictates that at least two-thirds of the coursework on a student's official degree program must be taken under the A-F system. The Humphrey Institute requires that all core courses and all required courses in a concentration be taken A-F. Some courses are offered only under A-F grading. Students must declare their choice of grading system as part of their initial registration for each course. Any changes in grading option must be made as an official registration change no later than the second week of classes.
Please verify both your original registration and any subsequent changes by printing out a copy of your registration and checking it over every semester. Particularly note the selected grade base for each course (A-F or S-N). It is impossible to change an erroneous grade base once the deadline has passed.
Only courses for which you receive A, B, C, and S grades may fulfill degree requirements. S-N grades are not calculated in your grade point average. The Graduate School requires a minimum GPA of 2.80 for courses included on the degree program.
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Grades
For graduate students, grades are "A" (superior work), "B" (satisfactory graduate-level work), "C" (below Graduate School standards, but worthy of graduate credit), and "D" (unsatisfactory work; no graduate credit). Effective Spring 2006, the level of achievement required for an S must be the same as for the C-.
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Incompletes
To receive an "I", the student must contact the instructor before the last day of class to request permission. The instructor and student should discuss specific guidelines, conditions, and/or time limits for course completion, and the consequences of failure to complete outstanding coursework. This understanding will be documented through the use of the "Contract for Completion of Incomplete Grades" form.. This form is also available in Humphrey Center room 225. The student and instructor should each retain a copy, and a third copy will be placed in the student's file.
If the student does not meet the instructor's requirements for completing the course by the established time limit and fails to renegotiate the agreement, the instructor will issue a grade based on the coursework already completed. Instructors are under no obligation to grant additional time.
The maximum number of credits of incompletes allowable at the Humphrey Institute is six (6). When incompletes exceed this limit, a hold will be placed on the student's record. This hold will be removed by the DGS when total incomplete credits fall below six (6), or a satisfactory agreement for completion of the work is negotiated between the student and the DGS.
All coursework included on a student's degree program must be complete, with grades posted, to be eligible for degree clearance. However, incomplete courses not included on the degree program do not need to be completed for this purpose.
Graduate School students are not permitted, under any circumstances, to withdraw from a course after the end of the semester in which the course was taken, including any incomplete course that is not a degree requirement. Incompletes are not calculated into a Graduate School student's grade point average (GPA).
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Limits on independent study credits
Students may take up to three (3) credits of independent study registration (PA 8991) towards their degrees as elective credits or, with permission, as part of a concentration. Students work with an individual faculty member who guides the research and final product. They will register for that faculty member's section of PA 8991.
Exception: Students using an independent study to complete a final MPP Plan B or Professional Paper may take an additional three (3) credits with their paper superviser, pending approval of the paper topic by the academic adviser and the DGS.
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Limits on 4000-level courses
Graduate students are able to take 4000-level courses within college rules and limits. The University's official stand on the appropriateness of 4000-level courses for graduate credit is as follows:
"4000 level courses can be counted for a Graduate School degree. However, no 4000 course can be counted for a Graduate School degree unless it is taught by a member of the graduate faculty or an individual appointed to Limited Teaching Status (LTS). Also, a graduate program may restrict the use of 4000 level courses in the program."
The Humphrey Institute will allow its students to include 4000 level classes in their degree programs with the written consent of both the student's adviser and the class instructor. Students should contact the Graduate Programs Office for the "Authorization to Apply a 4XXX Class to a Humphrey Institute Degree" form (pdf, html). Humphrey Institute graduate students will be allowed to count no more than six (6) credits of 4000 level classes towards the degree program.
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6000- and 7000-level courses
Courses at the 6000 (6xxx) and 7000 (7xxx) levels are for postbaccalaureate students in professional degree programs not offered through the Graduate School (such as the Law School or the School of Public Health). 6000 and 7000-level courses may be applied toward a Graduate School degree with approval by the student's major field and if the course is taught by a member of the graduate faculty or an individual authorized by the program to teach at the graduate level. A student is granted approval from the major field when the adviser and DGS sign the degree program. Information is available from the Graduate School here.
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Optional Minors
MPP, MS, and MURP students may complete a designated minor (which is certified on the transcript but does not appear on the diploma). Minor credits can be part of the the total number of credits required to graduate (45 for MPP, 40 for MS, and 48 for MURP).
Minors may or may not be associated with a major program. If you are interested in seeing if a minor is allowed, please go to the University Catalogs. For minors that ARE associated with a major, click on "See all Graduate School Majors" and then read the description of the program you're interested in to see if a minor is allowed and what the requirements are in the section entitled "Minor Requirements for Students Majoring in Other Fields." Some minors are not associated with a major program, and a list of these can be found by clicking on "See all Graduate School Minors."
Procedure: Include the minor name and minor coursework on your degree program when you submit the degree program to the Director of Graduate Studies and Graduate School. Courses that fulfill the minor should have the "Other Program Course" box checked on the degree program. Coursework for a minor is taken from non-PA courses except where an exception has been made. The Humphrey Institute has requested and received an exception to this policy for the Conflict Management minor. It is in the process of requesting a similar exemption for the Population Studies minor.
MS students MAY use their 6 (six) non-PA credits used for "complementing the student's previous training" towards a minor.
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Transferring course credits
Students wishing to apply degree program coursework taken prior to entering the Humphrey Institute or coursework taken during their Institute tenure with a college other than the University of Minnesota Graduate School are advised to read carefully the pertinent sections in the Graduate School Catalog. Keep in mind that your seven year time limit to complete the degree starts with the date of the first course taken, including any courses transferred into the program (so courses taken more than 5 years ago are unlikely to apply toward your degree). The following sections address the most commonly asked questions.
Double counting credits from another post-baccalaureate degree
Subject to the approval of an adviser, the DGS, and the Graduate School, course credits used as part of a completed graduate degree already earned at the University or another accredited institution may be included as part of the student's graduate program. A copy of your transcript as well as a syllabus or official course description is generally needed. A limit of eight (8) credits can be transferred in this way. The transfer of credits to the Humphrey Institute degree is accomplished by including the courses on the proposed Degree Program form, or, if the transferred course is a modification to a degree program already on file, through the completion of a Petition form (both forms are available in 225). An official transcript must be included with the program or petition, unless the transcript was included with the original application to the Graduate School.
Credits from other sources
Subject to the approval of an adviser, the DGS, and the Graduate School, the student is allowed to transfer graduate credits from courses taken outside the Graduate School representing up to 40% of his/her degree program (up to 18 credits in a 45 credit program, for example). Any work to be transferred from the University of Minnesota or from another accredited graduate school must be graduate level (post-baccalaureate), and must have been taught by faculty members authorized to teach graduate courses. Credits transferred from other institutions must appear on official graduate school transcripts of the institutions. The coursework must not be part of an earned degree or it will fall under the limits of double counting (see above). Courses taken before the awarding of the baccalaureate degree cannot be transferred. Students must take 60% of the credits for their degree while registered in a Humphrey Institute degree program.
Procedure: Students transfer credits to the Humphrey Institute degree in each of the cases above, by listing the courses on their official degree program or by submitting a petition form (along with an official transcript) naming the courses they wish to transfer to the program. An official transcript must be included with the program or petition, unless the transcript was included with the original application to the Graduate School.
More information on the above policies can be found in either the Graduate School Catalog or by calling the Graduate Student Services Office of the Graduate School at (612) 625-3490 or viewing the Graduate School website at http://www.grad.umn.edu/.
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Obtaining a course waiver
Students may request a waiver of either a core course or a concentration course if they believe they have already studied that material at a comparable level. Waiving a course does not reduce the number of credits required for the graduate degree but does allow the student to add elective or concentration credits in a program. Waivers are obtained by using the "Course Waiver" form or the "MPA Course Waiver" form. These forms are also available in Humphrey Center Room 225 and in this Handbook.
Providing evidence of the course content is the basis of the waiver request. A student should take the waiver form, syllabus, and transcript showing a grade in the substitution course of B- or better to either the instructor of the course he/she is trying to waive or to the concentration head (the waiver form tells whom to consult), then to his/her academic adviser. The completed form should then be brought to Room 225 for review and approval by the director of graduate studies.
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Policies on workload per credit
One semester credit is to represent at least three actual hours of work per week (including lectures, labs, recitations, study time, and so on).
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Degree time limits and readmission policies
The MPP, MURP and MS programs are designed to be completed in two years, if the student is attending full time. The MPA program is designed so that full time students can complete the degree in three semesters, though most students attend part time and complete the degree over a 2-3 year period. The Institute works very hard to facilitate degree completion in these time frames. It is recognized, however, that for a variety of reasons this may not be possible for all students. The Graduate School sets a time limit for degree completion. All requirements for a master's degree must be completed within seven years of the date of the first course listed on your degree program form (including transferred courses). It is possible to request an extension of up to one additional year by completing a petition available from the Graduate School or the Humphrey Institute Graduate Programs Office. Extensions of more than a year are sometimes granted in extenuating circumstances. For more information, consult the Graduate School Catalog.
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Grad 999
As of fall 2002, Graduate School policy stipulates that students must register in the Graduate School every fall and spring semester to maintain their active status as graduate students. Registrations in the College of Continuing Education, even for graduate level courses, do not meet this requirement.
If a student has completed coursework, but has outstanding incompletes, or has not finished any remaining non-coursework requirements (such as an internship or a final paper) s/he may register for GRAD 999, a non-credit, no-cost, ungraded registration option. Grad 999 serves as a placeholder to allow students to complete their degree requirements when they do not have to be registered for any other reason than to meet the Graduate School's fall/spring registration requirement.
- Students registering for Grad 999 will not be required to pay the University Student Services fee nor the Humphrey computing fee.
- Students may register online. No special permission numbers are needed; however all registration deadlines, including late fees, apply.
- At present, the Graduate School does not restrict the number of terms for which students may register for Grad 999.
- More information about Grad 999 is available at the Graduate School website.
Readmission for inactive students
Those students who do not register for any given fall or spring semester are considered to have withdrawn, and must seek readmission to resume work toward degrees, take examinations, file for graduation, or otherwise participate as Graduate School students.
Students seeking readmission may find the Change of Status/Readmission form at 309 Johnston Hall, Room 225, or online at the Graduate School website.
If readmitted, students must register (for coursework or for Grad 999) in the term for which they are readmitted to activate their status. The Graduate School readmission fee is $55. This fee cannot be waived or deferred and is not refundable. Readmission form and status questions should be directed to the Graduate School at (612) 625-3014. If the student is requesting an express readmission, submit the form to Room 225, along with the $55 payment in order for the DGS to approve it.
The Graduate School has specific readmission deadlines for every term.
| Fall semester |
June 15 |
| Spring semester |
October 15 |
| Summer session |
March 15 |
Students who choose to file after these deadlines are not guaranteed admission for the desired term. Registration deadlines and fees will still apply.
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Change of status
After the first semester or academic year, students may wish to change from one Humphrey degree to another or to declare a joint degree. Students should only seek such a change after conferring with their academic adviser and the chair of the degree program that interests them. Students should complete the Change of Status/Readmission Request form as soon as they are certain they wish to change, as a change of status will take several weeks to process. Requesting a change of status after the second semester may interfere with a student's ability to submit graduation paperwork.
Procedure: Changing Major. In the third section of the Change of Status/Readmission Request form, Proposed Change, mark the "Change of Major" box and fill in your desired degree. Codes for degrees are available from Student Services, and are listed on the form.
Procedure: Adding Major. Students pursuing dual degrees who are already currently enrolled in one of the majors, should check the box "Additional Major" to declare the change. See the Dual Degree section to see whether you should add or change your major.
Note: Each Change of Status requires a $55 application fee.
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