Academic and College Policies

A student should regularly monitor their student records in the Self-Service portion in My Portal. The academic deans monitor the records of students enrolled to assure that reasonable progress is being made toward the students’ educational objectives. Student records are reviewed at the end of each semester. Based upon this review and regardless of formal notice, the Dean may place the student on the Dean’s List (for excellence), note that the student is in good standing, place the student on academic probation, give him/her an academic warning or dismiss the student from the college/school for poor scholarship. Academic standings are noted on the students’ official academic records and in the Self-Service portion in My Portal.

Academic Warning
Undergraduate students will be warned whenever the semester GPA falls below 2.00. Such warning enables students to take early corrective action concerning their academic performance.

Academic Probation
Students are placed on academic probation when it appears that their performance places their academic objectives in jeopardy. Undergraduate students will be automatically placed on academic probation when the cumulative GPA falls below 2.00. An undergraduate student who fails to raise the cumulative average to at least 2.00 or satisfy the additional program/school criteria in the following term is subject to academic dismissal for poor scholarship.

When a student has been placed on academic probation, the Dean may, at his/her discretion, establish specific requirements or conditions that the student must meet. The Dean may require the student to enroll in particular courses, repeat courses, establish minimum or maximum number of credit hours to be attempted or earned, require a specific minimum GPA for the next term, require the student to consult a counselor or tutor, or engage in supervised study, etc. Failure to meet such conditions, when established, may lead to academic dismissal.

Academic Dismissal
Students may be dismissed from the College and University as a result of poor academic performance. Students are automatically subject to dismissal the second consecutive term the cumulative average falls below 2.00 for undergraduate students. Dismissal may occur when an undergraduate student has not achieved a 2.00 cumulative quality point average in the term following one in which he/she was placed on probation, when terms or conditions established for probation have not been met, or when the academic record reflects poor performance.

Students who wish to appeal an academic dismissal should contact the Dean’s Office immediately upon their receipt of notice that they have been dismissed. If first contact is made by telephone or in person, it should be immediately followed by a written statement of their intent to appeal the dismissal.

Students who are enrolled in accelerated five-year bachelor's to master's programs can take up to four graduate-level courses at the 5000-level or above in their senior year (up to 12 credits total with a maximum of six credits in one term and six in the second term) while an undergraduate student when approved by the director of the graduate program and the dean's office as part of the five-year curriculum plan for their degrees. Such courses cannot be counted for credit towards their undergraduate degree and would appear only on a graduate transcript. The student must have earned senior status with at least 90 credit hours and have maintained at least a 3.25 GPA in all terms at Detroit Mercy.

In order to complete both the bachelor's and master's degrees in five years, the student must maintain an undergraduate GPA of 3.25 at University of Detroit Mercy and maintain full-time enrollment in each semester of the five years (10 consecutive semesters). See program details for additional requirements.

Students who have enrolled in the 6-Year Law Scholars Program must be enrolled as a full-time undergraduate at Detroit Mercy each fall and winter term. All necessary undergraduate course work must be completed at the McNichols Campus within the three calendar years immediately prior to beginning the law school phase of the program at Detroit Mercy Law.

Students must fulfill the requirements of the University Core Curriculum, as well as the required courses in their chosen major. Students will be eligible to apply for the law school phase of the program in their third year of undergraduate studies. The following requirements must be met:

• The undergraduate school/college must certify that the student has or will have completed and passed all of the University and major requirements necessary for the conferral of their undergraduate degree (other than elective credits) by the end of the junior year.

• Overall undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.5 at the end of the junior year.

• Take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) no later than December of the junior year and obtained a score of at least 154.

• Complete the Detroit Mercy Law admission application with all required components by February 1 of the junior year.

• Meet the character and fitness requirements for admission to Detroit Mercy Law.

• Interview with the Detroit Mercy Law Admission Committee.

In some instances a student may believe that the final grade received in a particular course is unjustified. In such cases the student may choose to appeal the grade received. Each college or school has published written grievance procedures which must be followed. In general, students are advised to consult with the instructor concerned prior to beginning the appeals process. All appeals should be filed in a timely manner, within 30 days after the final grade is issued. Click here for a copy of the Academic Policy, Procedure, and Petition.

The process includes moving the grievance through various stages including through the instructor, chairperson, a College committee composed of faculty and students, and then the dean. The decision of the dean is final. All grade appeals must be finalized before a degree can be conferred. Appeals to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs will be considered only on procedural grounds.

Application for Graduation

An “Application for Graduation” should be filed early in the academic year in which the student intends to graduate. Candidates for degrees must file their applications online through Self-service at my.udmercy.edu no later than the first week of the semester they intend to graduate. Applications for a degree or certificate (i.e., Legal Studies or a language) should be filed by the last week of August for fall/December graduation; the first week of January for winter/April through August graduation. Applications are completed online through the student's MyPortal account. Applications received after the deadline or failure to file an application may result in denial to participate in the commencement ceremony and/or delay in the date of graduation. Application deadlines are set by the University. Be sure to follow all necessary steps and additional deadlines outlined by the Registrar such as RSVPs, caps and gowns, etc. Applications received after the deadline or failure to RSVP by the deadline may result in denial to participate in the Commencement ceremony and/or delay in the date of graduation.

Commencement

The Commencement ceremony occurs once a year in May. Students must apply for graduation to be considered eligible for Commencement. Students who have completed their degree requirements at any point in the preceding academic year are invited to participate. June and August graduates may be permitted to participate in the May Commencement exercises with permission of the Dean’s Office as long as they are enrolled in all of the courses to complete their degree by August. Participation in Commencement will be denied to students who have more than 12 credit hours remaining. The remaining credit hours cannot include the math requirement or ENL 1310 Academic Writing (or its equivalent). Applications received after the deadline or failure to RSVP by the deadline may result in denial to participate in the Commencement ceremony. Commencement is ceremonial; participation in Commencement exercises does not assure that all requirements have been met or that a degree has been or will be granted.

A student should regularly monitor their student records in the Self-Service portion in My Portal. The academic deans monitor the records of students enrolled to assure that reasonable progress is being made toward the students’ educational objectives. Student records are reviewed at the end of each semester. Based upon this review and regardless of formal notice, the Dean may note that the student is in good standing, place the student on academic probation, give the student an academic warning or dismiss the student from the College for poor scholarship. Academic standings are noted on the students’ official academic records and in the Self-Service portion in My Portal.

Academic Warning
Graduate students will be warned whenever the semester GPA falls below 3.00. Such warning enables students to take early corrective action concerning their academic performance.

Academic Probation
Students are placed on academic probation when it appears that their performance places their academic objectives in jeopardy. Graduate students will be automatically placed on academic probation when the cumulative GPA falls below 3.00. Individual programs may establish additional criteria for placing a student on probation.

When a student has been placed on academic probation, the Dean may, at his/her discretion, establish specific requirements or conditions that the student must meet. The dean may require the student to enroll in particular courses, repeat courses, establish minimum or maximum number of credit hours to be attempted or earned, require a specific minimum GPA for the next term, require the student to consult a counselor or tutor, or engage in supervised study, etc. Failure to meet such conditions, when established, may lead to academic dismissal.

Academic Dismissal
Students may be dismissed from the College and University as a result of poor academic performance. Students are automatically subject to dismissal the second consecutive term the cumulative average falls below 3.00 for graduate students. Dismissal may occur when a graduate student has not achieved a 3.00 cumulative quality point average in the term following one in which the student was placed on probation, when terms or conditions established for probation have not been met, or when the academic record reflects poor performance.

Students who wish to appeal an academic dismissal should contact the Dean’s Office immediately upon their receipt of notice that they have been dismissed. If first contact is made by telephone or in person, it should be immediately followed by a written statement of their intent to appeal the dismissal.

In some instances a student may believe that the final grade received in a particular course is unjustified. In such cases the student may choose to appeal the grade received. Each college or school has published written grievance procedures which must be followed. In general, students are advised to consult with the instructor concerned prior to beginning the appeals process. All appeals should be filed in a timely manner, within 30 days after the final grade is issued. Click here for a copy the Academic Policy, Procedure, and Petition.

The process includes moving the grievance through various stages including through the instructor, chairperson, a college committee composed of faculty and students, and then the dean. The decision of the dean is final. All grade appeals must be finalized before a degree can be conferred. Appeals to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs will be considered only on procedural grounds.

Application for Graduation

An “Application for Graduation” should be filed early in the academic year in which the student intends to graduate. Candidates for degrees must complete their application in the Self-Service portion in My Portal. Application deadlines are set by the University. Be sure to follow all necessary steps and additional deadlines outlined by the Registrar such as RSVPs, caps and gowns, etc. Applications received after the deadline or failure to RSVP by the deadline may result in denial to participate in the commencement ceremony and/or delay in the date of graduation.

Commencement

The Commencement ceremony occurs once a year in May. Students must apply for graduation to be considered eligible for Commencement. Students who have completed their degree requirements at any point in the preceding academic year are invited to participate. June and August graduates may be permitted to participate in the May Commencement exercises with permission of the Dean’s Office as long as they are enrolled in all of the courses to complete their degree by August. Participation in Commencement will be denied to students who have more than 12 credit hours remaining. Applications received after the deadline or failure to RSVP by the deadline may result in denial to participate in the Commencement ceremony. Commencement is ceremonial; participation in Commencement exercises does not assure that all requirements have been met or that a degree has been or will be granted.

Students may transfer up to nine credits for a 30- to 35-credit-hour master's degree program and up to 12 credits for a master's degree program greater than or equal to 36 credit hours. If the number of required credits differ, the transfer limit is of the lesser-credit program. Courses only transfer if taken for graduate credit with a grade earned of B (3.0) or higher. The approval of the department chairperson / program director is also required. Other restrictions may apply.

Students may not earn more than 12 graduate credits toward a master's degree before formal acceptance into the program.

The maximum number of credits a student can register for is 12 credits per semester. Some programs may request an allowance up to 15 credits per semester.

Thesis Requirements - Plan A

Master’s candidates in programs requiring a thesis and candidates in other programs who elect to write a thesis, as well as all doctoral candidates, must present a thesis or dissertation approved by their advisor and program director on some phase of their field of specialization. The thesis or dissertation must be written and typed according to the prescribed format, available in each college Dean’s Office, and be in accord with the other regulations of the University.

The thesis or dissertation topic must be filed with the dean no later than the date determined by the specific program.

All research that involves human subjects must be submitted to the Institutional Review Board before research can begin. Information about regulations governing research involving human subjects may be obtained from the Office of Academic Affairs, 2nd Floor, Student Union.

The thesis or dissertation must be completed, in accordance with all regulations, not later than two years after course requirements have been fulfilled. Master’s theses must be filed in duplicate and dissertations in triplicate with the McNichols Library, Technical Services not later than the date determined by the specific program. Note that some programs require shorter time limits.

Non-Thesis Master’s Program - Plan B

Several departments offer degree candidates an option to receive a master’s degree without requiring a thesis. See individual department listings for details. In all circumstances, the Plan B papers must be filed with the department and college within one year after course requirements have been fulfilled.