II. General Regulations

Registration

Maximum Registration

Graduate students who do not complete their program within the prescribed completion period (as indicated in the offer of admission) will be notified at the end of that semester, and both the student and the advisory committee will be asked to submit a single plan of study for completion by the time of the maximum program duration (the plan must be submitted to the Admissions and Progress Sub-committee via the Office of Graduate Studies (OGS) by no later than the 40th class day of the semester following notification). On approval of the plan of study by the Admissions and Progress Sub-committee, master's students may continue up to the maximum program duration. With approval, doctoral students may continue for a further three semesters; continuation to the maximum program duration will require a second application to the Admissions and Progress Sub-committee. If the student and the advisory committee do not submit the plan of study as requested, the student's registration for the subsequent semester will be blocked pending submission of a plan of study to the Admissions and Progress Sub-committee, and this may delay continuation to completion.

In the event that a student does not complete the program by the maximum duration period, he/she will be required to withdraw from the program for failure to complete. Should the student wish to appeal the withdrawal from their graduate program and continue beyond the maximum duration period, he/she would be required to submit an appeal for a time extension to the Admissions and Progress Sub-committee, including the following elements:

• A rationale for the requested extension, outlining why the graduate student is unable to complete the program within the stipulated time frame

• An evaluation report from the student's advisory committee which includes a letter of recommendation from the student's faculty advisor in support of the request for extension

• An approved plan of study for timely degree completion, signed by the student, the faculty advisor, and the members of the student's advisory committee

[In the event that the student, faculty advisor, and members of the student's advisory committee are unable to agree on a plan of study for degree completion, the graduate program coordinator would be expected to provide a letter commenting on the feasibility of the plan provided by the student.]

In considering the request for extension, the Admissions and Progress Sub-committee will also review all departmental evaluation reports submitted to date regarding the student. (As per existing policy, such reports will have been provided to the student via his/her advisor each semester.)

The Admissions and Progress Sub-committee will grant or deny the request for the extension based on the submissions provided. Where the Sub-committee supports the request, it may also provide advice and recommendations on the proposed plan of study. Failure to complete the degree program within the prescribed time frame following the appeal to the Admissions and Progress Sub-committee will result in a Requirement to Withdraw.

Students may appeal the decision of the Admissions and Progress Sub-committee to the Senate Committee on Student Petitions. An appeal to the Senate Committee on Student Petitions involves an examination of all relevant documents and evidence to determine the appropriateness of a finding. The procedures for conducting an appeal and for holding a hearing are set out in the Regulations of the Senate Committee on Student Petitions.