The graduate program in Natural Resources Science and Management has certain broad expectations of students throughout their time in the program. Students are expected to:
- Maintain satisfactory academic performance - including meeting GPA requirements (i.e., minimum of 2.8) and making timely progress toward degree completion
- Demonstrate satisfactory progress in carrying out research responsibilities, which typically includes meeting the research performance expectations of the advisor, committee, lab, department, or program
- Conduct themselves professionally - students must follow University and program-level policy, codes of conduct, and standards of ethical behavior
If students do not meet these expectations, they may be considered for dismissal from the program. Before dismissal can take place, there must be adequate notification and documentation of concerns. Advisors must meet the following expectations:
- The student must receive clear and direct communication of any concerns, and records of these communications must be maintained. This may include e-mail communications or notes taken after an in-person meeting.
- Advisors and students are strongly encouraged to take advantage of resources at the University to proactively avoid dismissal, including mediation and a variety of student support services.
- The student must receive explicit feedback when they are failing to meet expectations, with a clear explanation of the concern and any expected improvements the student needs to make to remedy the situation.
- Unless the issue is of an extreme nature, the student must be given a reasonable timeframe of at least four months to take corrective action.
Supports for Assisting Student Improvement
- Prior to preparing a recommendation of dismissal letter, advisors must work with the student to draw up a scholarly work agreement to assist in clearly outlining timelines and expectations for improvement.
- The advisor will write out their expectations in the scholarly work agreement and provide them to the student and the DGS and GPC.
- The scholarly work agreement must include specific targets for and realistic and fair timelines for achieving those targets.
- The student, DGS, and GPC will have 2 weeks after the sharing of the scholarly work agreement to respond with any suggested edits.
- The advisor must then prepare a final version which will be signed by the student, DGS, and advisor within another 2 weeks.
- The student or the advisor may wish to consult with program staff (i.e., DGS and GPC) or set up a meeting to discuss the situation.
- Where relevant, advisors should remind students about existing campus resources that may be of benefit, such as the Student Writing Support office, the Student Ombuds Service, or mental health related resources.
- The student will have at least four months after the signing of the scholarly work agreement to demonstrate progress as it is defined by the scholarly work agreement.
Procedures for Dismissal
If there continue to be concerns after the student has received at least four months after the signing of a scholarly work agreement to rectify the situation, or if there are non scholarly concerns such as unprofessional conduct that warrants dismissal, the actual dismissal process can begin.
- The dismissal may be initiated by the student’s advisor or by graduate program leadership. If the advisor is initiating the dismissal, they must write a formal recommendation of dismissal to the director of graduate studies (DGS).
- The advisor must inform the graduate program coordinator (GPC) or relevant departmental leadership, such as the advisor’s department chair. The DGS may also choose to consult with the GPC or departmental leadership.
- If the dismissal is initiated by the graduate program leadership, the leadership will also write a formal recommendation of dismissal letter.
- The recommendation of dismissal letter will be shared with the student.
- All documentation pertaining to the dismissal, as outlined above, must be included with the formal recommendation.
- The student may respond in writing within two weeks. The student’s response must be shared with the advisor, DGS, and GPC.
- The DGS will review. Possible outcomes may include:
- agreeing that dismissal is warranted
- determining that more time or additional opportunities for improvement should be granted
- The DGS must provide the student with a written notification of the recommendation and ultimate decision.
- If the student is being dismissed, a rationale must be provided.
- If the student is not being dismissed, additional steps for further action should be provided to the student, graduate program, and advisor.
Process for Appeal
Information on filing an appeal is available in the CFANS Graduate Programs Resource Guide.