Timing of the PhD Preliminary Examination

MEMORANDUM

TO:                   Department Heads and Directors

FROM:              Jodie Redditi Hanzlik, Interim Vice Provost for Graduate Affairs

SUBJECT:        Timing of the PhD Preliminary Examination

The purpose of this memo is to help clarify the policy on the timing between a PhD student’s preliminary examination and final examination.  Per Section E.4.4 of the Graduate and Professional Bulletin, “A preliminary examination shall be administered at least two terms before the final examination to determine whether the student is qualified to continue toward the doctorate.”  That is, a student must have two semesters between the preliminary examination and the final examination.  

In order for the timing to be consistent from year to year, we will align with the university academic calendar’s dates of the first day of classes for each semester.  The schedule is determined by using the first day of the term and the day before the first day of the next term.  

An example of this year’s preliminary examination calendar schedule is shown below:

Fall 2011:          Between August 22, 2011 and January 16, 2012
Spring 2012:     Between January 17, 2012 and May 13, 2012
Summer 2012:   Between May 14, 2012 and August 19, 2012

Potential scenarios:  

If a PhD student completes his/her preliminary examination during the fall 2011 semester, his/her final examination cannot be administered prior to May 14, 2012.  Fall 2011 and spring 2012 count as the two terms.

If a PhD student completes his/her preliminary examination during the spring 2012 semester, his/her final examination cannot be administered prior to August 20, 2012.  Spring and summer 2012 count as the two terms.

Thank you for your assistance and please contact Kelly Geisert at 491-6817 if you have questions.

JRH:kg

Cc:       Graduate Coordinators
            Graduate Secretaries