Graduate School Policies

Continuous Registration

Every student must maintain continuous registration throughout the graduate program. To maintain registration, therefore, the student is expected to be enrolled full-time, thus taking two graduate courses (six credits) per semester, reading for exams, or writing a dissertation. The Graduate School will inactivate those failing to do so and require payment of back fees plus a fine for reinstatement before allowing any further progress toward completion of the degree. Contact the Bursar’s Office directly to pay the necessary fee each semester. Besides maintaining continuing registration, students not residing in or near Storrs must take responsibility for informing the Graduate School and the Medieval Studies Program Office of any change of address.

Policy on Incompletes

According to the rules of the Graduate School, a student who has four incompletes cannot be a graduate assistant and must get special permission to register for courses. If one of those incompletes is permanent, the student may compete for an Assistantship. Although the Graduate School allows a student with three incompletes to be a graduate assistant, it recognizes the right of departments to establish more stringent policies.

Advisory Committee

All graduate students are assigned a Major Advisor. Only certain members of the Graduate School Faculty may be Major Advisors of doctoral students. Associate Advisors may be members of any University department. Students may change major or associate advisors (for example, when selecting an appropriate dissertation committee) using the Form to Change Advisory Committee Members from the Graduate School. Courses, fulfillment of language requirements, and a Ph.D. dissertation topic must be discussed with the Major Advisor. Committee members must approve the Plan of Study, the Ph.D. dissertation prospectus, and the dissertation itself.

Plan of Study

The Plan of Study for the M.A. and the Ph.D. should be submitted, in triplicate, to the Graduate Records Office when approximately half of the expected course work for the degree has been completed. After consultation with the Advisory Committee, the student indicates: (1) the courses already taken; (2) the courses that will be taken in fulfillment of requirements. If any changes are necessary after submission of the Plan of Study, a “Request for Changes” form must be submitted to the Graduate Records Office. The form may be obtained from the Graduate School.

Program Committees

Executive Committee

Membership: The Director (or Co-Directors) of the Medieval Studies Program and at least three Faculty members appointed by the Director(s).

Function: The Committee, in consultation with the Program’s Faculty, determines general policy for the graduate program. The Committee’s duties include: initiating program changes; discussing issues of student or faculty concern; acting on admissions; awarding fellowships, Graduate Assistantships (G.A.’s), and lectureships; arranging graduate course schedule; and nominating candidates to the Graduate Faculty.

Admissions Committee

Membership: An Admissions Coordinator appointed by the Program Director along with three Faculty nominated annually by the Executive Committee.

Function: The Committee reads and evaluates applications for admission to the program and presents its recommendations to the Executive Committee and the Graduate School.