Frequently Asked Questions

 

What are the hours of The Graduate School?

The Graduate School is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. If you have questions, you are welcome to email us or call using UND's toll free number: 1-800-CALL-UND.

Can I get grades and test scores over the telephone?

No, it is not possible for us to give out grades and test scores over the telephone. We need verification information to ensure we are giving this information out to the appropriate individual. Grades are available on CampusConnection. For all other confidential information, you will need to come in and show identification.

 

Do I need to be continually enrolled?

No, this is not a Graduate School requirement, unless you are utilizing University services. However, some departments do require continuous enrollment so you do not lose your standing within the department. Check with your department for this requirement. You will need to be enrolled the semester you graduate.

 

Do I need to file a Leave of Absence or a Readmission application?

You will also need to file a Leave of Absence form if you are not enrolled for the fall or spring semester (summer semester does not count as a break in enrollment). If you do not file a Leave of Absence, you will be required to submit a Readmission Application and $35 before you can register.

 

Can I take undergraduate courses when I’m a graduate student?

Your main goal as a graduate student should be to complete courses pertinent to your program of study. Some programs allow students to take undergraduate courses in their cognate, and it is understood that the student will be required to do additional work, over and above that typically required of undergraduates.

 

Can I take courses for S/U grading?

Graduate students do not have the option of electing S/U grading in either graduate or undergraduate courses, unless that is the only way they are offered.

 

What happens if I can’t complete a course on time?

If you can’t complete a course on time because of something beyond your control, you may request to receive an incomplete grade. Your instructor may allow this if they feel that there is reasonable certainty that you will successfully complete the course without retaking it. There is a form called, “Report of Incomplete Grade”, that will need to be completed by the instructor. Please be aware that the work needs to be completed by the specified deadline that your instructor indicates on this form.

 

I received a D or F in one of my courses—can I retake it?

Courses taken by graduate students, for which a grad of D, F, or U was received, may be repeated once for credit, with only the second grade to count in the grade point average. This option does not apply to students who have been dismissed. Contact The Graduate School so your transcript will be marked as a retake once the course is graded.

 

What happens if I fall below a 3.00 GPA?

If you fall below a 3.00 GPA your record will be reviewed. Students having accumulated 12 or more credit hours will be placed on academic probation for one semester; students having accumulated fewer than 12 credit hours will be placed on academic probation until either (a) the GPA is raised to at least 3.00 (2.75 for M. Engr) or (b) 12 graduate credit hours are accumulated, whichever occurs first. If, at the end of the probationary period, the GPA is still less than 3.00 (2.75 for M. Engr.), the student will be dismissed. Students must maintain a 3.00 GPA to be eligible for assistantships.

 

How do I drop courses after the deadline?

To drop a course after the deadline, you must complete as Administrative Procedures petition. This form can be found on The Graduate School or the Registrar’s web sites. This form, with signatures and recommendations for approval or disapproval, must be brought to The Graduate School for the Graduate Dean’s signature. Explain clearly why you are requesting to drop a course after the deadline. Clearly specify the course and term you are requesting to drop. The administrative procedures committee will meet on these petitions throughout the semester, and you will be notified by letter.

 

What is considered full time?

For students without an assistantship to be considered full time the minimum credits taken in the fall and spring semesters are 9 and during the summer semester are 6. To qualify for Federal Financial Aid you must be registered in a minimum of 6 credits (half-time status).

 

What are the reasons for grad holds?

1. Prerequisites not completed on time as stated in your admission letter.

2. Enrolled in the maximum amount of 996 continuing enrollment credits

3. Failure to complete certain admission stipulations (ex. GRE tests)

4. Dismissals

5. Special Permission to Register

 

If I have a question about my Graduate Assistantship health insurance whom do I call?

If you have questions about your coverage, call Vaaler Insurance at (701) 775-3131. Ask for the UND Graduate School representative.

 

How do I get loan deferments and enrollment verification?

UND is using the National Student Clearinghouse for loan deferments and enrollment verification. Enrollment verifications can be printed from your CampusConnection.

 

North Dakota residency—what is it?

For tuition purposes, please see the section entitled, “Regulations regarding non-resident fees” in the Academic Catalog for information about North Dakota residency requirements.

 

Residency requirements for thesis.

ND residency is not to be confused with the department residency requirement. Students writing a thesis or research project are required to spend a minimum period of time in residence during their course of study. A student must be registered for at least 9 credits in a semester or be a graduate teaching or research assistant. Please check with your department on your particular residency requirement, as not all departments have this requirement.

 

How do I notify The Graduate School of my advisor or committee?

Complete the form “Request for New Advisor or Committee Appointment” and submit to the graduate school with the proper signatures. Be sure the Graduate Director of your department also signs this form, or it will be sent back.

 

How do I change my advisor or committee?

Complete the “Request for Change of Advisor or Committee Appointment” and submit to The Graduate School with the proper signatures. Be sure the Graduate Director of your department also sings this form, or it will be sent back.

 

How do I change my program of study?

After consulting with your advisor, fill out the form “Changes to a Program of Study.” After your advisor signs the form, submit it to The Graduate School for the Dean’s approval. Do not submit a new program of study, unless there are major changes.

 

Can I change from a thesis option to a non-thesis option?

As you develop your program of study, work with your advisor on making this choice. If you change your option, you will need to submit a new advisor or committee appointment, program of study and topic proposal. Do not enroll in thesis credits until you are sure of this option. If a change has been made after you have enrolled, a permanent SP or UP for thesis credits already taken will be recorded on your transcript, and you will need to enroll for the non-thesis course. No change can be made the same semester you are graduating.

 

Will my credits for 995 Scholarly Project, 997 Independent Study, 998 Thesis, or 999 Dissertation remain an incomplete until I am finished?

Yes, they will remain an incomplete until your final copy is finished. A grade of “SP” Satisfactory Progress, or “UP” Unsatisfactory Progress, will be assigned. The “SP” or the “UP” grade, which usually span several semesters, will be replaced by a grade at the conclusion of the activity, usually a student’s final semester. Grades of “SP” or “UP” are not calculated into term or cumulative GPA values and will be expunged from the record upon submission of final grades.

 

What is the Topic Proposal and where do I get the form?

The Topic Proposal is a summary of the student’s Dissertation, Thesis, Independent Study, Project Design, or Scholarly Project. The form can be found on our web site under current students' forms.

 

Where do I get a policy manual for writing my thesis or dissertation?

The Style and Policy Manual is available on our website as a PDF document . All theses and dissertations are submitted electronically by the student for publishing with ProQuest/UMI. Please refer to our website for information regarding the electronic submission.

 

What can I enroll in if I’m finishing my thesis?

If you have finished all your courses on your program of study, you can enroll in 996 continuing enrollment (1-9 credits) to finish your independent study, thesis, or dissertation. A maximum of 6-9 credits for two semesters for master’s and four semesters for doctoral is allowed. The fee is $100 per credit. Do not enroll in more 998 thesis credits, or 999 dissertation credits than are on your program of study.

 

Where do I bring my thesis or dissertation for a format check?

The Graduate School will provide one format check after you have received “Preliminary Approval” from your committee. A list of formatters/editors is also available at The Graduate School if you prefer to hire your own formatter.

Submit a complete draft of your thesis or dissertation to The Graduate School so that the format review can begin. You can bring in a draft copy or mail it to: Attn: Rita Amundson, The Graduate School, UND, 264 Centennial Drive Stop 8178, Grand Forks, ND 58202-8178

• Be sure to include the Format Checklist with your document.
• If you have scheduled your defense in advance of the deadline , you must submit the complete draft within two weeks before the defense date.

Please note that it is expected there will be content revisions needed after receiving feedback from your committee. However, it is also expected that the document is ready to defend, meaning that your document is in its final stage of completion.  

How much does the electronic submission of my thesis/dissertation cost?

There is no submission fee for submitting your document electronically through ProQuest/UMI. The publishing fee is waived when submitting in this way. The only required charge when submitting your manuscript is $43 for a hard-bound copy to be kept at the Chester Fritz Library. Other optional fees may be charged depending on the publishing agreement you choose and if you choose to register a copyright. You may also choose to order personal bound copies of your manuscript during the submission process for an additional fee. Please refer to our website for more information on the submittal process.

How do I apply to graduate?

You need to be advanced to candidacy the semester before you plan to graduate. This means you need to be in approved status (not qualified or provisional), and your program of study and topic proposal need to be approved by the graduate school. Doctoral students also need to complete their comprehensive exams. You will receive a status sheet every time you turn in a form to the graduate school. When all the above is turned in and approved by The Graduate School, you will automatically be advanced to candidacy. You can then go online and apply to graduate. The link to the graduation application is on our website and the registrar’s office website. Please be aware of the deadlines, which are printed each semester on the Dates & Deadlines listed on The Graduate School website and the registrar’s office website. Deadlines are also found in the front of the UND academic catalog.

 

The online graduation application asks to list my “hometown”. Why?

The UND commencement program lists all the students graduating and where they are from. Write down the name of the town or city that you want listed in program. This is only for the commencement program and does not change your address in CampusConnection.

Is there a time limit on finishing my degree?

Yes, graduate courses more than seven years old are considered obsolete and may not be counted to fulfill course requirement for an advanced degree program. Programs of study more than 7 years old also are obsolete. Obsolete UND graduate courses may be revalidated and may be counted toward an advanced degree on the recommendation of the student’s faculty advisory committee and the Dean of The Graduate School. The revalidation form is available on our web site. Graduate work from another institution, which is overage, cannot be revalidated and will not count towards a UND degree.