The expectation of the Department is that most students students with adequate funding should be able to finish a Ph.D. in four years. Students receiving financial aid are eligible to apply for funding for four years. Recognizing that some programs take longer, however, the Department has for many years had a rule that a student must finish all requirements for the Ph.D. in five years, excluding leave(s) of absence. Should a student not have finished, s/he will be required to withdraw. Readmission for purposes of defending the thesis is fairly automatic, if the thesis is completed within a reasonable time. The Student Affairs Officer in the Dean's office (495-1816) has the withdrawal forms.
In recent years the CHD has on occasion granted exceptions to this rule to allow students who are in good standing otherwise to register in residence for a sixth year. Students need to petition the CHD, and should present a letter of support from their advisor stating that they are making progress. A passed prospectus will normally be required for extension. Students will not be eligible for financial aid in the form of tuition grants in the fifth or sixth year, nor will they get first priority for Teaching Fellow assignments. Sixth-year students may still hold Research Assistantships and be granted a Teaching Fellowship if there is availability.
A fifth-year student who anticipates defending the thesis in September for a November diploma should not withdraw: s/he will be in a state of limbo for a couple of months, but the Spring term registration will count for a November diploma. One can safely ignore fall term tuition bills; they will eventually be sorted out. If a student will get a March or June diploma, s/he should withdraw and then be readmitted once the thesis committee has approved the final thesis. Normal registration deadlines do not apply for such readmission, so it is wise to wait until the thesis has been approved before initiating readmission.
Students are responsible for the Active File Fee--currently $125/semester--for every semester withdrawn, and for the Facilities fee for the semester in which the degree is received.
Questions about withdrawal and readmission, and the required fees, can be addressed to the Student Affairs Officer in the Dean's office, 495-1816.