– Failure to maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0

– Failure to fix an I or T grade. After 2 semester incompletes can be changed to a failing grade and will require a re-take. Students and their committee chair will be notified the semester prior to the grade change and can request an exception/extension for extenuating circumstances.

– Failure to pass all required comprehensive examinations within the designated timeframe.

– Failure to make acceptable progress toward the degree as determined by the Graduate Supervisory Committee and Faculty advisor.

– Failure to find a PhD faculty advisor after 1 full semester after being dismissed from a lab.

– Failure to meet other individualized requirements specified in writing by the faculty advisor, Supervisory Committee, or the Graduate Committee.

Academic requirements: ECE graduate students must remain in good academic standing with the Graduate School (GPA ≥ 3.0) or risk probation and/or dismissal. If the student is on probation from the Graduate School, one semester is allowed to increase the student’s GPA before the termination of the Tuition Benefit Plan (TBP, http://gradschool.utah.edu/tbp/tuition-benefit-program-guidelines/) and dismissal from the program.

PhD students who run out of research funding may be required to fund themselves to finish, as long as they maintain the support of their faculty advisor.

PhD students who are dismissed from a research lab will have 1 full semester to find a new lab and faculty advisor. Failure to do so will cause them to be dismissed from the PhD program and/or asked to fund themselves to finish MS degree requirements and graduate (if applicable). Exceptions to this policy may be considered but must be made to the Director of Graduate Studies and Department Chair.

In a research environment, there is an absolute need for trust between a student and their mentor.  Students in the department are held to the highest standards of academic and professional integrity, and academic misconduct will not be tolerated.  Academic misconduct includes but is not limited to 1) cheating, 2) plagiarism, 3) misrepresenting one’s work, 4) fabrication or falsification of data, and 5) intentionally helping another person commit an act of misconduct.

Students committing misconduct can expect up to three levels of sanction; sanctions imposed by the instructor(s), sanctions imposed by the Program, and sanctions imposed by the University. An instructor may impose a maximum sanction of failing the student in the course. The Program could expel the student from the Program, and the University could expel the student from the University or even revoke a previously awarded degree. For each level of sanction, the student has the right to appeal. All cases of misconduct will be documented in the student’s file.

– Misconduct in science is defined as fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism, in proposing, performing, or reporting research. Misconduct in science does not include errors in the recording, selection, or analysis of data; differences in opinions involving the interpretation of data; or misconduct unrelated to the research process.  Scientific misconduct will not be tolerated. Students that are found to have carried out scientific misconduct will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including dismissal from the program. Actions for research misconduct shall follow the process set forth in Policy 7-001 the Regulations Library: https://regulations.utah.edu/research/7-001.php

The ECE department follows the University of Utah’s definition and outline of Behavioral Misconduct as outlined in University Policy 6-400 section 3-D. https://regulations.utah.edu/academics/6-400.php#a.III.D

– Not meeting program milestones, such as failing to complete required coursework or research within the expected timeframes. Students who don’t reach the milestones within a semester (Fall/Spring) after the proposed schedule, will be contacted in addition to their faculty advisor to create a milestone completion plan that will need to be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies.

– Students in the MS program are limited to 4 years (not counting Leaves of Absence). Students who need more time may be approved on a case-by-case basis.

– Students in the PhD program are limited to 7 years (not counting Leaves of Absence). Students who need more time may be approved on a case-by-case basis.

Students occasionally have to/choose to change research labs. This can be due to lack of funding, lack of interest, or other reasons.

PhD students who are dismissed from/choose to leave a research lab will have 1 full semester to find a new lab and faculty advisor. If they do not find a new PhD faculty advisor, they will be dismissed from the PhD program. If eligible, students are encouraged to complete an Electrical and Computer Engineering Master’s Degree, although this may require them to be self-funded.

PhD students who run out of research funding may choose to fund themselves to finish, as long as they maintain the academic support of their faculty advisor.

Plans to change research labs and exceptions to policy may be considered but must be made to the Director of Graduate Studies and Department Chair.