Institutional Rules, Policies and Procedures

This Graduate Handbook clarifies minimum university-level requirements and policies that apply to all graduate students throughout the University of Cincinnati. Beyond these, each student is also expected to adhere to requirements, policies, and procedures specific to their own degree program and college.

All graduate programs must publish in writing in accessible format the minimum academic standards for each graduate program offered, including the following:

• minimum grade point average, including grades earned in required courses;
  
• acceptable grade distribution, including grades earned in required courses;
  
• nature and number of programmatic examinations, such as preliminary or qualifying, and the consequences of failing all or part of each examination;
  
• specified research requirements;
  
• a time-related definition of normal progress for all full- and part-time students;
  
• standards and procedures for the mandatory annual review of academic performance;
  
• standards and procedures for probation, suspension, and dismissal from the program.
  

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), is the federal law that governs the release of and access to student education records. FERPA affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. For the complete FERPA information, consult the FERPA and Records Privacy page of the Registrar’s Office website.