Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the Research and Graduate Programs’ Office, and where is it located?

   The Research and Programs’ (RGP) Office, located on the 2nd floor of Eaton Hall in 2011, 2018, and 2015, is an administrative unit – often referred to as the “Graduate Division” – within the School of Engineering, whose function is to serve the engineering graduate student population in the School of Engineering. It also promotes and facilitates the School’s research activities. Students are encouraged to contact a Research and Graduate Programs’ staff member if they have any questions about graduate study or research.

2. What is the Graduate Studies Office?

   The Graduate Studies Office is a unit within the Office of Research and Graduate Studies (RGS), which is an administrative body that serves the entire university; it is not part of the School of Engineering.

3. What happens if I miss an enrollment deadline?

   You may file a petition to enroll late. If your petition is granted, requirements are more stringent, enrollment is offline, late enrollment fees are higher and more classes are closed. For information on petitioning to late enroll, contact the Student Record Center, 151 Strong, 785-864-4423, kuregistrar@ku.edu.

   For comprehensive enrollment information, please visit the Office of the University Registrar’s Website at http://www.registrar.ku.edu/.

4. What happens if I miss a graduation deadline?

   As long as you meet the early deadline for submission of all graduation materials, you will not need to enroll for the new semester. If you do not meet the early deadline for submission, you will need to enroll in at least 1 credit-hour for the semester in which you plan to graduate. The Graduation Check List includes detailed information on graduation requirements.

   Contact Anna Paradis, aparadis@ku.edu if you have extenuating circumstances that caused you to miss the Graduate Studies’ “Application for Graduation” deadline in Enroll & Pay.

5. When is the Engineering Recognition Ceremony?

   The School hosts a Recognition Ceremony in the Fall and Spring semesters. Ceremonies are normally on the Saturday after Stop Day. Students will be invited to attend the ceremony in the semester in which they graduate. Summer graduates may attend either ceremony. The May ceremony is tentatively scheduled for 8 a.m., Saturday, May 18, in Allen Fieldhouse. 

6. When is the University’s Commencement Ceremony?

   The University hosts a Commencement Ceremony in the Spring semester. All students who have graduated in that class (which includes Summer, Fall, and Spring graduates) are invited to attend the University’s formal ceremony, which normally takes place the Sunday after Stop Day in the Spring semester. The 2013 Commencement Ceremony is scheduled for May 19, 2013.

7. What do I do if I am not able to enroll for a semester or longer?

   All students who plan to sit-out for at least a semester must request a Leave of Absence from their program. This policy applies for the fall and spring semesters for master's and pre-comprehensive examination doctoral students. Doctoral students who have passed their comprehensive examination must be continuously enrolled, including summer sessions, until all requirements for the degree are completed. Information about post-comprehensive examination enrollment requirements is available in the Graduate Catalog under "Candidacy." 

8. What happens if I get a “C” in one of my classes?

   Normally, if you receive a “C” and your cumulative GPA is at least a 3.00, you will receive a warning and a reminder that you must maintain a 3.00 GPA as a graduate student. If the course in which you earned a “C-“ or lower is included on your Plan of Study, you will need to re-take the class.

9. What if my GPA goes below 3.00?

   If your cumulative GPA drops below a 3.00, you will either be placed on academic probation or dismissed from the School of Engineering. Students who are placed on probation are encouraged to review their goals and program requirements with their advisor to make sure that they are taking the appropriate courses and have met all prerequisite requirements. According to Graduate Studies’ rules, students who are not in good academic standing cannot hold a GTA/GRA appointment; these appointments will be cancelled for students who fail to remain in academic good standing. Furthermore, students who do not bring up their overall GPA to at least a 3.00 by the end of the following semester could be dismissed from the School of Engineering.