Graduate Policies & Academic Bulletins

Academic Bulletins

Graduate Student Progress and Procedures for Appeal

The School of Communication adheres to the graduate student processes outlined in the University of Miami Graduate Student Academic Bulletin.

For more detailed and complete information, please refer to the University of Miami Graduate Student Academic Bulletin outlined here.

Academic Progress

Graduate students must meet the standards for satisfactory academic progress established by the university, defined as:

maintaining a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average
receiving a C- or higher in each course
earning at least 67% of attempted credits
demonstrating academic and scholarly integrity
completing the degree within six years for the Master’s degree and eight years for the Ph.D.
and making adequate progress toward completion of the thesis project or capstone, if applicable.

Grade Appeal Process

Per the academic bulletin, the academic community is unanimous in its position that the grade an instructor assigns to a student is the instructor’s responsibility and privilege. Any effort to alter this would be a violation of academic freedom.

The grounds for a grade appeal are:

administrative or computational error in the calculation of a grade;
the application of arbitrary or capricious grading standards that differed from those applied to other students in the course;
the assignment of grades based on criteria beyond academic performance, including (but not limited to) violations of the University’s Non-Discrimination policy; and
substantial and unreasonable deviation from stated course requirements, policies, or grading criteria.

Students should appeal the grade in the following order:

First, the faculty member or administrator responsible for the course, program, or activity.
Second, the graduate program director or department chair.
Third, the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies in the School of Communication.

Students should commence the appeal process as soon as possible and in all events by the earlier of: (a) the end of the next regular semester (i.e., fall or spring) following the action to be appealed or (b) the completion of all degree requirements or withdrawal from the university.

If a student wishes to appeal the final determination by the School of Communication, then the student has 20 days to submit a grade appeal to the Office of the Dean of the Graduate School. They may opt to submit the appeal to the University Ombudsperson for a preliminary assessment.

Academic Probation/Dismissal

Students who have failed to meet any of the above standards for academic progress will be placed on probation and notified in writing by the School of Communication Office of Graduate Studies. This notice includes the reason for probation, an outline of the actions necessary to remove the probation, and a specific timeframe to remedy the violation/s. The student must sign the letter confirming receipt by the given deadline. If the letter is not signed by the deadline, the student will not be enrolled and thus will automatically default into discontinued status, after which readmission cannot be guaranteed.

The student is given one semester to raise the cumulative grade point average above 3.0 and /or remedy the breach. In the event that the student fails to meet the required standards in the given timeframe, but has demonstrated significant progress, the Program Director, Chair, and Associate Dean review the case to determine dismissal. If all agree, the student may be given another semester to improve. This process is repeated until the student is dismissed or remedies the infractions/s and probation is lifted.

A student on academic probation for two consecutive or non-consecutive semesters may be dismissed from the University.

Those wishing to appeal probation or dismissal must submit a written appeal to the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies within 30 days of receiving the notice.

Dismissal – Procedures for Appeals

The student has 30 days to initiate an appeal in writing to the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies in the School of Communication. A final determination by the Associate Dean will be made within 10 days of receiving the student appeal.

If a student wishes to appeal the final determination by the School of Communication, then the student has 30 days to submit a grievance review request letter to the Office of the Dean of the Graduate School. Students may opt to submit the appeal to the University Ombudsperson for a preliminary assessment.

Note that when initiating the appeal, the request letter should:

endeavor to be clear and concise;
describe the students’ complaints and allegations;
identify the individuals or units against whom the grievance is being filed;
provide any evidence or relevant materials to be considered; and
state the specific relief sought.

Other Grievances

As student may file a grievance for other reasons, specified in the University of Miami Academic Bulletin, under Graduate Policies and Procedures: Academic Policies. Students wishing to file a grievance should do so in writing within 10 days of the alleged incident. They must prepare a written description of the grievance that is clear and concise, to be submitted in the following order:

First, the graduate program director
Second, the department chair.
Third, the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies in the School of Communication.

If, upon completing the above process, the issue is not yet resolved, the student has 30 academic days from the date of the final written determination of the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies to contact the Graduate School.