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Faculty Enrollment in Graduate Courses

The continuing education of faculty is recognized as basic to the vitali-

ty of the University. Therefore, faculty are generally encouraged to

enroll in graduate courses which will enhance professional growth.

Since there is concern that the University not have excessive in-breed-

ing, matriculation in graduate degree programs at Edinboro University

which may be used to meet promotions and/or tenure requirements

needs careful monitoring. Faculty are generally expected to pursue grad-

uate degrees and/or courses leading to promotion and/or tenure at other

institutions. It is recognized that retraining of faculty is essential to meet

changing program needs.

Faculty are encouraged to enroll in graduate courses at the

University to provide for their continuing education and profes-

sional growth. Faculty are particularly encouraged to enroll in such

courses where newly-acquired knowledge and skills will better

enable them to respond to the instructional needs of the University.

Faculty may not use graduate courses completed at the University

after their employment as a member of the faculty to qualify for

tenure or promotion. Exceptions to this provision for justifiable rea-

sons may be made with the recommendation of the appropriate

dean and the approval of the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Faculty are encouraged to pursue graduate courses and/or programs

as retraining which will increase the flexibility of faculty use and

will enable existing faculty to meet student needs for courses and

programs.

Independent Study Courses

Independent study is designed to provide students with the opportunity

to organize and conduct a piece of research under the supervision of a

faculty member but independent of scheduled class meetings and regu-

lar assignments.

Enrollment for independent study is limited to an individual who has

been admitted as a degree student, a non-degree certification student or

an advanced certificate student.

A student may earn a maximum of six semester hours of credit in inde-

pendent study and/or individualized instruction with no more than three

credits earned in a semester or in a summer session.

An individual who wishes to register for independent study must, well in

advance of the registration period (1) contact his or her advisor to ask for

assistance in identifying a faculty member who might serve as the super-

visor of the independent study; (2) after the faculty member has been

found who will supervise the independent study, prepare with this facul-

ty member's assistance a prospectus for the independent study and the

application requesting authorization to enroll for independent study; (3)

submit the prospectus and the application to the chairperson of the

department for approval and (4) submit a copy of the prospectus and the

application for approval to enroll for independent study, signed by the

departmental chairperson, to the dean having jurisdiction over the stu-

dent's major, and to the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research for final

approval, and the Vice President for Academic Affairs at least one week

prior to the established registration day.

The independent study must be designed so that it will be satisfactorily

completed before the end of the semester or summer session in which

registration for the independent study took place.

Upon completion of the independent study, a written report of the study

will be submitted to three faculty readers who will evaluate the study and

recommend the grade to be awarded. The readers are assigned by the

departmental chairperson and includes the faculty member who super-

vised the study. A copy of the completed independent study is filed in the

office of the departmental chairperson.

As a general rule independent study will not be authorized as a substi-

tute for a course offered by Edinboro University.

Authorization for independent study is a privilege and not a student

right.

Individualized Instruction

Individualized instruction is defined as individual study of a regular

course during an academic semester when the course has not been regu-

larly scheduled.

Enrollment for individualized instruction is limited to an individual who

has been admitted as a degree student, a non-degree certification student

or an advanced certificate student.

Authorization to enroll in individualized instruction requires the

approval of the department chairperson, the dean having program juris-

diction over the graduate student's major, the Dean of Graduate Studies

and Research for final approval.

The individualized instruction must be designed so that it will be satis-

factorily completed before the end of the semester or summer session in

which registration for the individualized instruction occurred.

Authorization for individualized instruction is a privilege and not a stu-

dent right.

Steps in Earning a Master's Degree

1. Complete application procedure prior to anticipated date of enroll-

ment.

2. Receive an official letter of acceptance from the dean.

3. Make an appointment with your advisor to discuss your graduate

program and prepare a Plan of Study.

4. File the Plan of Study with your advisor.

5. Contact your advisor during the registration period for advice in

course selection.

6. Complete payment of all fees at the time of registration.

7. Notify the Scheduling Office in writing if you wish to withdraw

from a course.

8. Complete an Application for Admission to Candidacy at the end of

the semester or summer session in which you will be enrolled for

your 12th semester hour of credit. This application must be submit-

ted to the program head.

9. Receive a letter of admission to candidacy.

10. If enrolled in a program requiring a thesis or a master's project,

meet with your advisor and other committee members to plan your

research.

11. File an application form for authorization to enroll in a course at

another institution for transfer credit, if you wish to receive transfer

credit.

12. File with the School of Graduate Studies and Research an official

transcript for courses you have been authorized to transfer.

13. At the beginning of the semester or summer session during which

you plan to complete your degree, submit a graduation card to the

Office of the Coordinator of Records. The graduation card may be

obtained from the Office of Records and Registration.

14. Order cap, gown and master's hood from the Campus Bookstore on

the day you complete your graduation card, if you plan to attend

commencement.

15. Make arrangements with the departmental program head to take the

comprehensive examination.

16. File completed thesis, if required, with the program head.

17. File completed master's project with the department program head

of your major.

18. If you wish to do so, attend commencement.

26/Academic Standards