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Academic Matters

First Term

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Graduate Orientation Slideshow
Academic Common Market

The Academic Common Market (ACM) is an interstate agreement among southern states for sharing academic programs. Participating states approve their residents who qualify for admission to enroll in specific graduate programs in other states on an in-state tuition basis. Arrangements traditionally are limited to unusual programs or programs not offered within the state of residence. To enroll as an ACM student, an applicant must obtain certification from the State Coordinator in the student’s home state. Students must be admitted to the appropriate degree program by the Office of Admissions, and the letter of certification must be received in the Office of the University Registrar before the first day of classes for the effective term. Information on the state’s authorization of programs or the identity of the coordinator for a particular state may be found at http://home.sreb.org/acm/choosestate.aspx.

Please visit the following FSU website for additional information: http://fda.fsu.edu/Academic-Resources/Academic-Policies/Academic-Common-Market

For information on the programs in which FSU participates, contact the Academic Common Market Coordinator, 115 Westcott, (850) 644-6876.

Conversion of Credits

Students who have fulfilled all class requirements are allowed to register for DIS credits (with the DIS title, “Dissertation Research”), during the semester they register for the Preliminary Exam; MUS 8964.  These DIS credits may be converted to Treatise credits for performance majors (course # MUS 6979), or Dissertation credits for non-performance majors (course # MUS 6980), if the student passes their Preliminary Exam by the 7th week of the semester deadline (early October in Fall, early February in Spring).  The conversion process simply involves completing “Drop/Add” slips that must be signed by the Major Professor, and delivered to the FSU Registrar’s Office at the football stadium (Bldg. A, 3rd floor).  Students must obtain “Drop/Add” forms from our College of Music Registrar in room HMU 203.

Graduate students wishing to convert hours from DIS, Supervised Research, or Supervised Teaching over to treatise or dissertation hours must follow these guidelines:

Only hours taken in the semester you pass your preliminary (comprehensive) exam will be considered for credit conversion.

Satisfactory completion of a preliminary examination shall be required for admission to candidacy for the doctoral degree. No student may register for dissertation or doctoral treatise hours prior to the point in the semester in which the preliminary examination was passed. An admission to candidacy form must be completed and filed in the Office of the University Registrar prior to registration for dissertation/treatise hours. After completion of the admission to candidacy process, the student may retroactively add dissertation hours for that semester in which the preliminary examination was completed.

Credit conversion from DIS to Treatise or Dissertation hours is only permitted if the preliminary examination is passed by the end of the seventh week of the semester. Please refer to the FSU Academic Calendar, found on the FSU Registrar’s website, for the deadline.

Provisional Graduate Students

An academic program may recommend that a student be admitted to the University as a provisional graduate student. This requires that the program stipulate conditions that the student must meet during the initial semester/term of enrollment. The student will remain in this provisional category for only one semester/term, and must meet all of the stipulated conditions during the initial semester/term to continue in the program. Students entering the University under this category register in the same manner as regular degree-seeking students. International students cannot be admitted into the provisional category.

A provisional graduate student must be reviewed by the academic program and the University at the end of the initial semester/term to determine whether the stipulated conditions were met. If the conditions were not met, the student will not be able to continue in the program. While in provisional status a graduate student must register for graded graduate-level coursework (5000- level or above; excludes S/U courses) commensurate with the load requirements of the program, and must earn at least an average of 3.0 for all graduate-level coursework taken.

A hold blocking future enrollment will be placed on the record of a student who fails to meet the stipulated conditions during the initial provisional semester/term; such students will be ineligible to continue in the academic program. Students who met the minimum requirements for admission to the University either initially or during the provisional semester, but failed to meet the program- specific conditions may subsequently seek admission to a different academic program as a degree or non-degree seeking student.

A provisional student who does not earn at least a 3.0 average during the initial provisional term is not eligible for probationary status in the subsequent semester. Otherwise, a provisional graduate student is subject to the retention and dismissal regulations appropriate to a regular graduate student. For information on non-degree classification, see the subsection on ‘Non-Degree Students’ in this chapter.

Transfer Credit: Doctoral

Official posting of transfer credit is not awarded toward the doctoral degree. Doctoral students must complete 40 hours of coursework at FSU; 30 additional hours from the master’s degree are automatically counted for a total of 70 hours of coursework prior to the 24 hours of recital/treatise/dissertation.

Students who have previously completed graduate-level requirements through an accredited institution who wish to request to “waive” similar courses required at our institution must obtain approval from the appropriate area faculty. In other words, a student who successfully completed a graduate-level music theory course outside of FSU would consult the Music Theory Area Coordinator. Likewise, a student who successfully completed a graduate-level music history course outside of FSU would consult the Musicology Area Coordinator. Music Bibliography substitution requests must be directed to the Associate Dean in our Graduate Music Office, room 204-B, HMU. Finally, degree area specific requests, such-as wind/percussion pedagogy course substitution inquiries, would be directed to the student’s Major Professor, or Area Coordinator.

To clarify, prior course experience does not “waive” the mandatory minimum number of credits required for the doctoral degree. Doctoral students must always complete 40 hours of coursework at FSU plus 24 combined hours of Recital credit and Treatise. Please consult the Programs of Study guides on the College of Music website.

Transfer Credit: Masters

Up to six credits of graduate work not taken as part of a completed degree may be transferred from another accredited institution, but those credits must have commenced not more than seven years prior to completion of the degree for the credits to be applicable to the master’s degree. All transfer credit must be evaluated and recommended as graduate work, and must have been completed with grades of “B” or better.

A Transfer Credit Form must be completed, and submitted to the Graduate Music Office for consideration. This document requires the signatures of the Department Chair and/or the student’s Major Professor. An official transcript from the institution from which the requested credits are to be transferred must accompany this form, as-well.

The Transfer Credit Form may be obtained on the College of Music website and in the Graduate Music Office (204-A, HMU).

Classes & Registration

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Auditing Courses

Seating privileges will be afforded to currently enrolled students and non-students on a space-available basis after registration. Admission to Florida State University is not required; no credit will be given and no permanent record will be maintained for audited courses. Standard tuition costs do apply. No more than eighteen hours may be taken on an audit basis in any one semester.

Procedures

  • During the first week of classes, obtain the audit approval form online at http://wwwmusic.fsu.acsitefactory.com/sites/g/files/upcbnu406/files/audit_registration.pdf or you may pick up an audit approval form from the Office of the University Registrar.
  • Fill out the form and obtain both the instructor’s approval and clearance from the University Student Health Center.
  • Return the approved form to the Office of the University Registrar for final approval and class registration.
  • Pay fees during fee payment at A1500 University Center. No waivers or deferments may be used, except for those age sixty or over.
  • Present the form to your instructor at the next class meeting.

Note:If you have already registered for the course you wish to audit, you must drop it within the first week of class, before the audit request can be processed.

Please note that audited classes do not count toward any degree program.

DIS – Directed Individual Study

The DIS is a flexible course/project/research idea that is developed between a student and a DIS directing professor.

  • The student proposes an idea and contacts the professor they wish to work with.
  • The student must obtain and complete a blue DIS form (located in the Music Registration Office: 203 HMU).
  • On that form the student, alongside the directing professor, will indicate the number of credit hours; a 20 (max) character DIS title; a description of the course requirements; objectives and expectations; subject matter, etc.
  • If approved, the DIS directing professor must then sign the bottom of the DIS form. When those steps are complete submit the form to 203 HMU for further processing.
Doctoral Annual Review

In order to remain in good academic standing, doctoral students are required to meet with their Major Professor, Supervisory Committee, and/or Area Coordinator, on a yearly-basis.

The intent of the annual review is to assure that each student has the opportunity for scholarly engagement and continues to make timely progression toward completion of the degree program.

This meeting will evaluate the student’s overall degree progress, as well as address any appropriate, concurrent issues. The Graduate School states: “Each year the supervisory committee, the major professor, or the student’s advisor, prior to the selection of a major professor, will assess the progress of the student in writing and make available copies of the annual review to the student, the department chair, and the academic dean.”

A Special Interim Report review may be undertaken, too, as needed.

Dual Enrollment

Note: It is not permissible for a graduate student to request dual enrollment during their first semester of study. Students interested in applying for dual enrollment must complete at least one full semester of study prior to applying for a second degree. Upon completion of one full semester in the original program of matriculation the student’s grades and cumulative GPA must reflect satisfactory performance: Cumulative average minimum of 3.0. No letter grades below “C-” will be counted toward any graduate-level degree program at FSU.

If you are pursuing two degrees at once, or have graduated with one degree and are pursuing a second degree for which coursework overlaps with the first, you will need to submit a Dual Enrollment Request Form to the Graduate Music Office. It is available for pick-up in the Graduate Music Office.  Dual Enrollment Request Forms must be submitted for review/approval at the correct time to ensure proper advisement, prior to the graduate student completing 12 hours in the second degree program and before the student has reached the final semester and applied for graduation so there are no delays in graduation clearance.  This document requires a statement (justification) from you about pursuing two degrees, and the signatures of: 1) the department head for each degree, 2) the Associate Dean, and 3) the Dean of The Graduate School. Submit the form with your statement and the area coordinators’ signatures and the Graduate Music Office will forward the request to The Graduate School for approval. This form should be submitted early in the semester that you plan to apply for dual enrollment so as not to delay graduation clearance.

Students wishing to pursue two degrees offered through the FSU College of Music must also submit:

A.) A Program of Study document filled-out by the student. This must be submitted for review by the Graduate Music Office to evaluate how much coursework has been completed toward the first degree program.

AND

B.) A College of Music application to the Music Admissions Office. Please know that unless you plan to graduate with your first degree before enrolling in your second, an FSU Admissions Application does not need to be completed; alongside the College of Music Application. Please note that admissions requirements may vary among the degree programs. Students may be asked to audition for a performance degree, or interview for a non-performance degree. Students may also be required to submit additional materials relative to the application process. Please contact the Music Admissions Office for information on College of Music application requirements: (850) 644-6102.

Any student wishing to pursue two degrees from Florida State must obtain the requisite number of credit hours for both degrees:

A. For two non-thesis masters degrees, a minimum of 64 graduate-level credit hours must be completed, even if the two degrees have overlapping requirements.

B. For two thesis masters degrees, a minimum total of 60 graduate-level credit hours must be completed, with the same rule about overlapping applying.

C. Students wishing to complete two doctoral degrees must meet the requirements for each degree separately. They must have at least 24 hours of dissertation, and for performance degrees, treatise and recital credit combined, for each degree, as well as the dissertation defense, for each degree. Students must obtain permission from The Graduate School (Dual Enrollment Request Form) to pursue both degrees, unless the student graduates with the first doctorate and intends to begin the second doctorate after graduating from the first. (In this case, an application must be made through the College of Music Admissions Office.) There is no joint degree program for the doctoral degrees, so students wouldn’t be able to “double dip” at all for the degree requirement.

If the two degrees have overlapping course requirements, such-as Music Bibliography, for example, the student is not required to take that course over again. However, the student must earn the same number of credit hours by taking a graduate-level, College of Music course, approved by the Major Professor. Additional ensemble credits, lesson hours – virtually any graduate-level non-remedial class can count here, as long as the student obtains approval from the Major Professor. Remedial classes that will not count toward the graduate degree include MUH 5219 and MUT 5051.

Area faculty may require the dual degree applicant to complete any or all of the typical admissions application components such-as an audition (performance degrees), writing sample(s), interview, etc. Students wishing to pursue dual enrollment should consult the degree area faculty, directly, to find out what is expected of them.

University Policy on Master’s Degrees:

Thesis-Type Program: To qualify for a master’s degree under this program, the student must complete a minimum of thirty (30) semester hours of credit including a minimum of six thesis credits. At least eighteen of these hours must be taken on a letter-grade basis (A, B,C).

Course-Type Program: To qualify for a master’s degree under this program, the student must complete a minimum of thirty (30) semester hours of coursework. At least twenty-one of these hours must be taken on a letter-grade basis (A, B, C).

Full-Time Student Course Load

Domestic, U.S. Residents:

12 hours if not on assistantship; 9 hours if on assistantship or if receiving a partial tuition waiver.

Full-time status for graduate students is required only if the student is receiving a graduate tuition waiver; as-tied to a graduate assistantship OR a partial (8-hr.) tuition waiver. In some cases students may need to be considered full-time for insurance/financial aid purposes. The latter is dependent upon the student’s personal situation.

International Students:

  • Full time, if the student is on assistantship (or receiving a partial tuition waiver) is 9 hours.
  • Full time, if the student is not on assistantship is 9 hours for the first year only; 12 hours for each additional term/year.

The number of hours which a College of Music graduate student may carry without special permission is fifteen (15). A heavier load may be permitted by the Associate Dean (Graduate Office)/ Director of Graduate Studies of the College of Music. If the student requests a heavier course load and the request is approved by the Associate Dean, the number of hours the University will allow a student to enroll for is 18. Anything above that may require additional paperwork. Please speak with the College of Music Registrar for more details.

Included in the calculation of student load are hours of graduate credit other than formal course work, e.g., hours in thesis or dissertation, in directed individual study, in supervised research, and in supervised teaching.

Graduate Student Manuscript Clearance

All information pertaining to the submission requirements for Electronic Thesis, Treatise and Dissertation content can be found on The Graduate School’s website: https://gradschool.fsu.edu/.  All ETD content and clearance procedures are located under “Thesis, Treatise, Dissertation”, found by scrolling to the middle of the page.  In order to submit your manuscript successfully, you must adhere to the formatting rules found in the “Requirements for Electronic Theses, Treatises, and Dissertations,” as well as the deadlines outlined for the semester you plan to graduate.  There are two deadlines to adhere to: Format Approval (last day to submit the Thesis/Treatise/Dissertation for pre-defense format review) deadline which comes first, followed-by the Final Clearance (last day for submission of the post-defense, content-corrected Thesis/Treatise/Dissertation and required forms) deadline.  These deadlines occur before the semester is over so be sure to plan accordingly.  FSU theses, treatises, and dissertations are to be submitted to the Manuscript Clearance Advisor through your ProQuest ETD account.

60 Day Rule:

  • Students MUST complete the final clearance of their manuscript within 60 days of the successful defense of their manuscript, or they MUST re-defend their manuscript. Should students have any questions about this rule, please contact The Graduate School at (850) 644-3501.

Before uploading your manuscript, please consult the University Manuscript Clearance Advisor about the uploading process so that you understand the process and decisions to be made. Once you understand the process and are ready to submit, you can start the upload process by going to the ProQuest/UMI site.

Directions are provided as you progress through the screens on the ProQuest /UMIsite.

Please direct any questions to the Manuscript Clearance Advisor (clearance@mailer.fsu.edu; 644-3501). The Manuscript Clearance Advisor and other Graduate School staff members are available to provide further guidance.

Graduation Information

Master’s students are required to complete a preliminary graduation check, (strongly encouraged toward the end of the penultimate semester), and should supply the Graduate Office with a completed Program of Studies Form and a Committee Form. A written list of the remaining degree requirements and procedures will be supplied after the POS has been evaluated. Doctoral students are urged to have a Grad Check during the beginning of the final semester of coursework. A checklist with remaining graduation requirements will be supplied to the student and placed on file. Students writing a thesis, treatise or dissertation that involves human subjects are reminded to clear all appropriate paperwork through the Human Subjects Committee.

  • During the first three weeks of the term in which a candidate expects to receive a degree, students must complete the online application for graduation. Failure to complete this application will result in a delay in your intended semester of graduation. For additional information, contact the Office of the Registrar, Graduation Section, (850) 644-5850. You may also visit their website: http://registrar.fsu.edu/services/graduation/
  • “Late Add” Requests: If a student misses the online window to apply for graduation they will need to hand-deliver a memo (in a sealed FSU envelope) generated by the College of Music Graduate Office (204-A, HMU) to the FSU Office of the Registrar (A3900 – University Center) requesting to be added to the current semester’s graduation list. The student must pick-up this memo from the Graduate Music Office as it must be delivered to the Registrar in a sealed, FSU letterhead envelope. The student is then required to complete a paper application in the Office of the Registrar. Questions? Please contact the FSU Registrar’s Office for clarification on their policy: 850-644-1050.
  • “Early Walk” Requests: If a student wishes to participate in the University commencement ceremony prior to their official semester of degree conferral, they will need to hand-deliver a memo (in a sealed FSU envelope) generated by the College of Music Graduate Office (204-A, HMU) to the FSU Office of the Registrar (A3900 – University Center) requesting to be added to the “early walkers” list. The student is then required to complete a paper application in the Office of the Registrar. Participation in the graduation ceremony does not guarantee that the student will be automatically placed on the next semester’s graduation list, and receive their degree the following semester. Students who participate in the University commencement ceremony prior to their official semester of degree conferral and who wish to complete their degree and have the degree posted to their transcript the following term must remember to re-apply for graduation during the next semester’s online graduation application period (this includes Summer). Failure to complete these steps will result in a delay in your intended semester of graduation. All doctoral students and master’s students with a thesis component must re-enroll for a minimum of TWO (2) Dissertation or Thesis credits during the following semester…No exceptions. Questions? Please contact the FSU Registrar’s Office for clarification on their policy: 850-644-1050.
  • In accordance with the University policy on registration for thesis or dissertation hours, students must be registered for dissertation or thesis hours (minimum of 2) in the semester they hold the defense and submit the ETD.

A graduate Student is not eligible for conferral of a degree unless the cumulative grade point average is at least 3.0 in formal graduate courses. No course hours with a grade below “C-” will be credited on the graduate degree; all grades in graduate courses except those for which grades of “S” or “U” are given or those conferred under the provision for repeating a course will be included in computation of the average.

Masters Degrees (Credits and Independent Studies)

Thesis Programs. To qualify for a master’s degree under this program, the student must complete a minimum of thirty (30) semester hours of credit including six  (6) thesis credits. At least eighteen (18) of these hours must be taken on a letter-grade basis (A, B, C).

Non-Thesis Programs. To qualify for a master’s degree under this program, the student must complete a minimum of thirty (30) semester hours of course work. At least twenty-one (21) of these hours must be taken on a letter-grade basis (A, B, C).

Music Bibliography Course Substitution

Graduate students who have successfully completed a graduate level music bibliography class at another institution may request that it be used as a substitution for the music bibliography course offered at the Florida State University College of Music.

Examples:

A.) Students pursuing a master’s degree from the College of Music, who earned a previous master’s degree in music, and have successfully completed a similar research course.

B.) Students pursuing a doctoral degree from the College of Music, who earned a previous master’s degree in music, and have successfully completed a similar research course.

Procedure:

Submit the bibliography course syllabus to the Associate Dean in the Graduate Music Office for review. Make sure that you indicate where the class was taken, your name, and your email address. If approved, you will not be required to take our music bibliography class, but must make-up for our 2-credit course by taking another 2-credit graduate-level class, at the Florida State University College of Music.

Note:

This is not the same as a request to have credits from another institution transferred-in, to FSU. (I.E. The music bibliography course will not appear on the FSU transcript.) For information on transferring credits please refer to the “Transfer Credit” links within this handbook.

Program of Studies

The “Program of Studies” form, available on the College of Music website and also in the Graduate Music Office, is completed by the student and the Major Professor. This document must be completely filled-out/signed, and submitted to the Graduate Music Office before the end of the student’s penultimate semester of study, and before the student’s final advising session with the Major Professor.

On this form the student lists all of the graduate-level courses taken that apply to the requirements of the specific degree program. This form officially confirms and “clears” degree coursework and must be signed by the Major Professor prior to being submitted to the Graduate Music Office. See also GRADUATION CHECK.

Master’s Program of Study Documents
Doctoral Degree Program Guide
Doctoral Program of Study Documents

A graduate Student is not eligible for conferral of a degree unless the cumulative grade point average is at least 3.0 in formal graduate courses. No course hours with a grade below “C-” will be credited on the graduate degree; all grades in graduate courses except those for which grades of “S” or “U” are given or those conferred under the provision for repeating a course will be included in computation of the average.

Specialized Studies in Music

Degree-seeking students in the College of Music may be eligible to complete Specialized Studies Programs in Music in the following areas:

Arts Administration (doctoral, only), College Teaching, Early Music, Jazz, Music Education and Leadership, Music of the Americas, Organ Performance, Piano Pedagogy, Sacred Music (Vocal emphasis), Special Education, and Theory Pedagogy.

Applications and a detailed listing of required courses for each Specialized Studies Program in Music can be found on our website. Interested students should contact the Specialized Studies Programs coordinators for more information about each individual opportunity.

Satisfactory Degree Progress

In addition to degree-related curricular assessments, faculty members also consider the overall professional development of each individual student. This is to assist students in gauging their continued progress towards two goals: timely degree completion and future long-term contributions to the discipline. It is conceivable for an individual to earn high grades and still have issues to address relative to degree completion and future success in the profession. If concerns are expressed, they will be summarized (in writing) for the student; suggestions for improvements will also be given to the student, as well as a timeline for addressing said concerns. Assessments pertaining to satisfactory degree progress impact the ability of students continuing study in a given degree, as well as meritorious financial aid awarded or continued.

For the purposes of financial aid, the FSU Office of Financial Aid assesses Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) annually at the end of each Spring term. This assessment is based on several factors, including the number of credit hours completed compared to a maximum for the specific degree. If students exceed the maximum, a hold is placed on their continued eligibility for federal aid.

This hold can be lifted if the student and program provides a justification using one of the SAP Appeal Forms, which are available through the Office of Financial Aid. Additional information regarding the SAP process may be viewed here.

The Chart below indicates both the minimum required hours and the maximum hours for SAP for the various graduate programs in the College of Music.

SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS

for Graduate Studies at the College of Music

Primary Academic Plan Minimum Required Hours Maximum Hours for SAP
Arts Administration/Music – MA 36 70
Brass Performance – MM 32 70
Choral Conducting – MM 32 70
Instrumental Conducting – MM 36 70
Jazz Studies – MM 35 70
Music Composition – MM 31 70
Music Education – MME 32 – 36 70
Music Performance/Accompaniment – MM 36 70
Music Theory – MM 31 – 33 70
Music Therapy – MM 30 – 36 70
Music/ Liberal Arts – MA 31 – 32 70
Musicology – MM 32 – 35 70
Opera Production – MM 36 70
Percussion Performance – MM 32 70
Piano Pedagogy – MM 34 70
Piano Performance – MM 34 70
String Performance – MM 34 70
Voice Performance – MM 36 70
Woodwind Performance – MM 32 70
Brass Performance – DM 94 135
Harp Performance – DM 94 135
Music Composition – DM 94 135
Music Education – PHD 94 135
Music Theory – PHD 94 135
Musicology – PHD 94 135
Percussion Performance – DM 94 135
Piano Performance – DM 94 135
String Performance -DM 94 135
Voice Performance – DM 94 135
Woodwind Performance – DM 94 135
Scholarly Engagement Enrollment Requirement: Doctoral Students

The following Scholarly Engagement Requirement for all doctoral students goes into effect Fall 2016. Returning doctoral students who have not yet completed the current Residency Requirement may elect this new Scholarly Engagement Requirement instead.

Scholarly Engagement Requirement:

Please consult the current Florida State University Graduate Bulletin for an overview of the Scholarly Engagement requirement for all doctoral students in the university. To meet the Scholarly Engagement requirement, College of Music doctoral students must 1) complete 24 graduate (5000-level or above) credit hours within any consecutive 12-month period; or 2) complete a minimum of eighteen (18) graduate credit hours in any consecutive 12-month period and submit to their Area Coordinator and/or faculty advisor evidence of additional Scholarly Engagement activities equivalent to 6 credit hours prior to completion of the degree. These activities may include enrolling in courses (additional credit hours); attending or presenting/performing in seminars, masterclasses, workshops, symposia, conferences and festivals; engaging in creative activities, research and collaborative study beyond the university campus; utilizing the library, laboratories and other facilities provided by the University; and other scholarly or creative activities as determined by area faculty and approved by the area coordinator and by the Director of Graduate Studies for the College of Music.

In sum, doctoral students in the College of Music must complete 24 Scholarly Engagement “points”, with each credit hour counting as one point and points for other activities determined by each area and degree program.

Please consult your major professor for information on Scholarly Engagement activities recommended in your degree program. The faculty are best-equipped to advise you on recommended activities.

Time Limits
MASTER’S

The work for the master’s degree must be completed within seven years from the time the student first registers for graduate credit. Coursework older than seven (7) years will not be counted in the student’s “Program of Study” and may need to be repeated if required for the degree.  If the master’s degree is not completed within seven years from the time the student first registers for graduate credit, and the program and/or Academic Dean does not choose to approve an Extension of Time (EOT), then the student may no longer be enrolled in that program or at Florida State University.

If the Supervisory Committee is not requiring the student to re-take coursework older than seven years, an Extension of Time document must be completed, and submitted for consideration, to the Graduate Music Office. It requires a written statement by the student, as-well-as by the Major Professor, and must include the signatures of all Supervisory Committee Members. In addition, the Area Coordinator must sign this document. This form can be obtained from the Graduate Music Office, and is utilized only if the student is not required to re-take coursework older than seven years.

DOCTORAL

Doctoral students must complete their degree requirements within five calendar years from the time the Preliminary (comprehensive) Examination is passed; otherwise they may be required to re-take the Preliminary Examination. If the student’s major professor and/or Academic Dean does not choose to either approve an Extension of Time (EOT) or require the student to take the Preliminary Exam and/or coursework again for readmission to candidacy, then the student may no longer be enrolled in that program or at Florida State University. When the student re-takes, and successfully completes, the Preliminary Exam, the time for completion of the degree (five calendar years) “re-sets” and a new Admission to Candidacy form must be completed in the College of Music Registrar’s Office. The student should call 850-644-4689 with any questions about the Admission to Candidacy form, and how that process is handled.

If the Supervisory Committee is not requiring the student to re-take the Preliminary Exam, an Extension of Time document must be completed, and submitted for consideration, to the Graduate Music Office. It requires a written statement by the student, as-well-as by the Major Professor, and must include the signatures of all Supervisory Committee Members. In addition, the Area Coordinator must sign this document. This form can be obtained from the Graduate Music Office, and is utilized only if the student is not required to re-take the Preliminary Exam. For questions on where to locate this form, please contact The Graduate School at 850-644-3501.

Academic Exceptions

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Cancelling of Student Schedules for Non-Payment

The Florida State University Graduate General Bulletin states the following:

In accordance with Board of Governors Rule 6C-7.002 (6), F.A.C., students who do not pay tuition and fees or make arrangements for tuition and fee payment by the published deadline each semester will have their schedules canceled. Students will be notified using their FSU e-mail account concerning outstanding tuition delinquencies and given an opportunity to pay tuition and fees or make arrangements for tuition and fee payment with the Office of Student Financial Services prior to cancellation. Students whose schedules are canceled for non-payment of tuition and fees will have their academic progress discontinued for the term in question and will not be able to attend class or receive grades.

Students whose schedules are canceled for non-payment of tuition and fees may appeal to the University Registrar for reinstatement and continuation of academic progress for the term. A written appeal must be submitted to the University Registrar no later than the end of the 12th week of the Fall and Spring semesters (consult the Registration Guide for Summer term deadlines). Prior to a student’s appeal being approved, the Office of Student Financial Services must verify that payment for the current term has been received or that appropriate arrangements have been made for tuition and fee payment. Students whose schedules are reinstated are subject to a $100.00 late registration fee and a $100.00 late payment fee. Check or credit card payments that are returned or refused will negate any tuition payment agreement for the reinstatement of a student’s schedule. The University reserves the right to deny reinstatement when a demonstrated pattern of tuition delinquencies over two or more semesters has occurred.

Dismissal from a Degree Program

A graduate student whose cumulative grade point average for courses taken at the Florida State University falls below 3.0 at the end of a term (not counting courses for which ‘S’ or ‘U’ grades may be given) will be considered not in good standing by the University and will be placed on academic probation. If a 3.0 cumulative grade point average is not attained by the end of the next full term of enrollment, the student will not be permitted to register for graduate study, including registering as a special student. However, at that time the major professor may petition the Director of Graduate Studies and the Dean of Graduate Studies for consideration of special circumstances which the professor thinks constitute justification for an exception to this regulation (known as Reinstatement), but under no circumstances will a student be allowed more than one additional term of probation. After one probationary period, however, a student whose average falls within the probationary range will receive automatic dismissal. Also see ‘Diagnostic/Comprehensive Exams’ for further reasons for dismissal.

A graduate Student is not eligible for conferral of a degree unless the cumulative grade point average is at least 3.0 in formal graduate courses. No course hours with a grade below “C-” will be credited on the graduate degree; all grades in graduate courses except those for which grades of “S” or “U” are given or those conferred under the provision for repeating a course will be included in computation of the average.

Dismissal for a reason other than GPA may occur for a variety of reasons, including but not limited to:

  • Inability to conduct independent research in a fashion appropriate with the accepted norms of a discipline,
  • Inability to function within a team environment to the degree that it negatively affects the learning, practice and/or research of fellow graduate students,
  • Behavior that does not meet the professional standards of a discipline (typically clinical, social work or school settings),
  • Failure to meet one or more major milestone requirements,
  • Inability to pass the diagnostic/preliminary examination/comprehensive examination (note that university policy limits preliminary examination attempts to two),
  • Failure to complete the doctoral degree/make timely progress towards the dissertation, or
  • Extensive petitions for candidacy extension.

Steps to program termination:

Step 1: A graduate student is identified by his/her academic program/department as not making sufficient progress towards the degree, failing to complete the degree within the specified time-period, displaying substandard academic performance, regardless of GPA, or exhibiting unacceptable behavior(s) that are relevant to professional standards.

Step 2: The graduate student meets with his/her major professor and/or program director to develop a remediation plan for improvement.

  • The department should provide a written remediation plan or written academic “warning” to the student containing specific information about improvement(s) needed to avoid dismissal.
  • The remediation plan/academic warning should be developed by the department/program for the individual student and be documented accordingly. (For doctoral students, the annual evaluation is one opportunity to document unsatisfactory progress.) NOTE: programs should establish a reasonable timeline for the graduate student to respond to the remediation plan/warning. The length of time for remediation is dependent on the situation and is up to the program to decide.
  • The academic dean, or appropriate designee, must also be notified of the situation, the deficiencies, and the remediation steps presented to the student.

Step 3: If the graduate student fails to resolve/remediate the specified and documented deficiency within a reasonable time-frame, the department may initiate a program termination. If the program chooses to terminate the academic progress of the student, the following steps must be completed prior to notifying the student.

  • The academic unit must consult with the academic dean (or designated individual) regarding their plan to terminate. The consultation should include the unit’s handbook language, the remediation steps taken, the student’s efforts to date to resolve or address the deficiencies, and the grounds for the program termination.
  • At the time of dismissal, the department chair/unit head may petition the academic dean for consideration of special circumstances that they believe justify an alternative resolution.
  • The academic dean’s office should inform the Registrar’s Office and the Graduate School of its intent to move forward with program termination.  In conjunction, the three offices will tailor a letter specific to the circumstances of the student. The dismissal letter must be sent to the student, but also sent to several offices for processing (see below).
  • At this point, programs may offer the student the opportunity to change their degree program level within the same major/plan (i.e., PhD to EdS, PhD to MS, etc.) or change their academic plan to another degree program, but this is at the unit’s discretion.

Step 4: A written letter must be sent to the graduate student being dismissed. The dismissal letter should be sent to the student and copied to the dean’s office, the Registrar’s Office (Kim Barber), the Office of Faculty Development and Advancement (Jennifer Buchanan), and the Graduate School (James Beck). The letter   should specify the following information:

  • The process followed to notify the student of their deficiencies and allow them an opportunity to rectify those deficiencies;
  • The termination reasons;
  • Benchmarks missed;
  • The fact that dismissal from the program constitutes dismissal from the University, and an academic hold will be placed on registration to prevent future registration;
  • Outlining alternatives a student could request, e.g., graduating with a master’s instead of Ph.D. (assuming coursework and degree requirements are met);
  • Timeline to complete specific coursework, if any. For example, the letter needs to clearly articulate to the student that the courses in which they are currently enrolled need to be completed by the dismissal date in order to earn credit for them;
  • Notification of the right to appeal and information about how to do so; and
  • A deadline for any appeal submittal. *See “General Academic Appeals Process” for more information.
Dropping a Course

A student wishing to drop a course after the designated University drop period (the end of the seventh week) must complete a ‘Petition to Drop’ form which can be obtained here, from the COM Registrar’s Office, or the Graduate Office. This form must be completed and signed by both the student and the instructor of the class to be dropped. It is then submitted to the Associate Dean for consideration. Course drops are very rarely approved. If approved, the student will then complete a Drop/Add slip in the COM Registrar’s Office, obtain the Associate Dean’s signature, and take the form to the University Registrar for final processing. Refunds for dropped courses after the designated University time period are approved or denied by the Associate Dean. There are no appeals for denied drop requests. All registration adjustments must be handled through the COM Registrar’s Office. Drops are not permitted after the term has ended.

If a student drops the only course they are registered for in a given semester, then a ‘Petition to Drop’ is not sufficient; they must complete a University Withdrawal form from Withdrawal Services and then be readmitted the following semester. See ‘Withdrawal from the University’ in the University Bulletin for details.

General Academic Appeals

General Academic Appeals Process

(Approved by Faculty Senate and  included in 2006/2007 General Bulletin and new Faculty Handbook):

Students who allege that academic regulations and procedures have been improperly applied in specific instances may have their grievances addressed through the general academic appeals process. In this process, the student brings a complaint first to the instructor, then to the department chair, and finally to the academic dean appropriate to the course involved, stopping at the level at which the complaint is resolved. If no resolution is reached, the student brings the complaint to the attention of the Dean of the Faculties for either resolution or referral to the Student Academic Relations Committee of the Faculty Senate. A graduate student whose complaint is unresolved must see the Dean of Graduate Studies prior to meeting with the Dean of the Faculties. The Student Academic Relations Committee has the authority to direct, through the Vice President for Academic Affairs, that corrective action be taken when justified.

Grade Appeals

A graduate Student is not eligible for conferral of a degree unless the cumulative grade point average is at least 3.0 in formal graduate courses. No course hours with a grade below “C-” will be credited on the graduate degree; all grades in graduate courses except those for which grades of “S” or “U” are given or those conferred under the provision for repeating a course will be included in computation of the average.

Please visit the following website for more information: http://fda.fsu.edu/Academic-Resources/Academic-Integrity-and-Grievances/Grade-Appeals-System

The purpose of the grade appeal system is to afford an opportunity for a graduate student to appeal a grade the student feels was inequitably awarded, in that it involved a gross violation of the instructor’s own specified grading standards (which the instructor has an obligation to announce at the beginning of the course). The student may appeal the grade as outlined in the University Bulletin.

Incompletes

Grades of “I” are not assigned to any courses if a student withdraws from the University, and should be used only in those exceptional cases when a student, for reasons beyond his or her control, has failed to complete a well-defined portion of the course. Unless the instructor notifies the Office of the University Registrar of an extension in time, an “I” or an “NG” not removed by the end of the next term in which the student is enrolled will be recorded as “IE” or “GE”. Both “IE” and “GE” compute as an “F” in grade point average calculations.

Leave of Absence

Under special circumstances, graduate students may apply for a leave of absence from the university for a specific period of up to three consecutive semesters (includes summer term). The circumstances justifying a leave include, but are not limited to: personal or family medical conditions, call to active military duty, parental leave, death in immediate family, or completion of an off-campus internship. The student must provide appropriate documentation and a rationale for the leave request.

To apply for a leave of absence, a student must complete the Request for Leave of Absence Form (available on the Graduate School website) and submit it together with appropriate documentation to the major professor/advisor/Program Director. If the major professor/advisor/Program Director approves the application it should then be forwarded to the department head and subsequently to the college dean for consideration. If approved at all of these levels, the college dean should notify the Registrar and the Dean of the Graduate School of the decision. The college dean should also notify the student of the decision (approved or denied). The Registrar will place a notation on the student’s record. A student who is denied a request for leave at any step may appeal the decision to the Dean of The Graduate School.

An approved leave of absence preserves the student’s academic status in his or her degree program, and the time off will not be counted against the time limits for awarding degrees. Consequently, registration is not required during the leave period and the student need not re-apply to the program to return to active status at the end of the approved leave period. A leave may be extended for additional consecutive semesters (includes summer term). A student should apply for the leave extension no later than four weeks prior to the end of the final semester/term of his or her initial leave to allow time to consider and process the request. Extension of a leave is subject to approval of the program, college, and the Graduate School. The cumulative number of consecutive leave semesters (including summer term) shall not exceed six. The total consecutive or non-consecutive leave time a student is not registered in the program shall not exceed 24 months. At the conclusion of the approved leave, a student must enroll at Florida State University and return to active status no later than the start of the next academic semester. Students cannot be on leave during their semester of graduation and must be registered for a minimum of two hours that semester.

A student on a leave of absence may terminate the leave at any time prior to the approved ending date. In such cases the student would be immediately subject to the continuous enrollment and registration policies. Students returning from a leave of absence of more than one year will be required to disclose any legal or campus disciplinary charges that arose during the leave and provide updated contact and mailing address, residency documentation, and other biographical information as required by the University for reporting and processing purposes.

Programs may have more strict leave of absence and registration policies. For example, a program may decide that under no circumstances would it allow a formal leave of absence or a program may choose to only allow a leave of not more than three consecutive semesters. Such policies shall be detailed in the program’s graduate student handbook.

While on leave a student will not have access to campus facilities and personnel. This means a student will not have access to labs, libraries, and online resources that require an FSUID. Students on leave cannot remain in student housing. There is no guarantee that financial aid will be continued. Students with financial aid or student loans should confer with the Financial Aid Office and review their loan agreements prior to requesting a leave of absence to ascertain the consequences a leave will have on their loan status. University assistantship and fellowship support will be discontinued for the duration of the leave. Programs are not obligated to reinstate funding support that was provided prior to the leave though they are encouraged to do so if funds are available. Students receiving external support e.g. an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship should check the terms of the award to determine the impact of being on leave. In-state residency status may be impacted if the student moves out of the State of Florida, and then returns to resume the degree program. Students should seek guidance from the Registrar on the potential impact on in-state residency. International students should check with the Center for Global Engagement to determine if a leave would adversely affect their visa status. Students should also consider other factors that might impact their circumstances upon their return to active status. For example, a major professor might depart the university, or under extreme circumstances a degree program might be suspended or terminated. The University has an obligation to provide a path to completion for enrolled students as well as students on a formally approved leave of absence.

Note: If allowed by the student’s academic program and University policy, an alternative to taking an official leave could involve reducing the standard course load temporarily because of exceptional personal circumstances.

Medical/Mental Health Withdrawal

Medical Course Drops are generally approved for unforeseeable illnesses or injuries which have interfered with the student’s ability to complete specific course(s). Similarly, Medical Withdrawals (all courses removed) may be approved for acute, severe illnesses or injuries that incapacitate the student. Chronic conditions generally do not qualify unless the student has been stable for a sustained length of time complicated by a sudden, unexpected change in status. Students with chronic or recurring health problems should consult with their clinicians and carefully assess a realistic schedule based on their condition and their likelihood of relapses. Preventable medical conditions or failure to comply with medical advice may also not qualify.

Where to Begin: Start at your Dean’s office to meet with your academic Dean for information and the appropriate Medical or Mental Health Course Drop application.

Procedures for Medical/Mental Health Withdrawal

  1. Before applying for M/MHW, explore other academic options like incompletes and/or the drop policies.
  2. To qualify for M/MHW, the student will be required to complete and submit the Medical/Mental Health Withdrawal packet with supporting medical documentation to University Health Services. Medical documentation should be provided from a physician, counselor, or other health care provider, and must document treatment during the semester in question. The documentation needed are:
    • the dates of treatment
    • the nature of the illness/injury
    • An indication that the illness/injury is severe enough to necessitate a withdrawal from the current semester/term.
  3. Once it’s determined that M/MHW is appropriate, proceed with the following:
    • Withdrawals for Medical/Mental Health – the student should start at the Withdrawal Services office located on the 4th floor of the University Center, building A, room 4100, to obtain a withdrawal application and medical withdrawal forms.
    • Please contact Ms. Angelia Wood of the University Health Services (850.644.1624) for any questions or guidelines regarding what type of supporting documentation to obtain.
    • The student must complete the University withdrawal application and the medical/mental health professionals statement (filling out the student section allows the professional to disclose your situation). Incomplete forms will not be processed!
    • The student must have their health professional submit supporting documentation. This includes providing the correct documentation, which means office visit notes, admission/discharge summary (if hospitalized), or emergency room exam note. Documentation should note dates of service, exam findings, diagnosis, plan of treatment, and recommendations. Documentation provided should be for the semester in question. Hospital or physician bills will not be accepted as documentation. A signed letter from a physician will not be accepted instead of office visit notes.
    • The student statement is the student’s personal statement of how the health problem affected their academic courses.
    • The completed Medical/Mental Health Application must be submitted to Ms. Angelia WoodUniversity Health Services.
  4. Documentation will be reviewed by the committee(s) and determination made whether criteria has been met. The committee’s recommendation will be forward to the Withdrawal Services for documentation and processing.
  5. The withdrawal staff will forward the withdrawal application w/the medical results to the Dean’s office for final consideration (approval or denial). Withdrawal Services will notify the student of the final decision in writing or via e-mail.
  6. If the M/MHW is denied the student is allowed one appeal. To appeal a denied medical, the student must be able to furnish additional documentation from the medical or mental health professional that gives stronger support to the reasons for the withdrawal. The student should submit additional documents to Ms. Angelia Wood of University Health Services (850.644.1624). The University Health Services office will then forward the additional information to the M/MHW committee. Please write “APPEAL” on the first page of the new documentation.
  7. The M/MHW process normally takes about 7 to 10 working days. This does not include the time necessary for the review of the Withdrawal application by your Academic Dean’s office. Questions about completing the forms or the withdrawal procedure can be answered by calling Withdrawal Services at 850.644.1741, University Health Services at 850.644.1624 or the University Counseling Center at 850.645.3803.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Considerations and Criteria

  • Documentation means written evidence (such as letters, forms, and patient records) produced by a mental health professional. The documentation should include dates of treatment, diagnoses, recommendations, and medications prescribed. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain and submit copies of all documents they wish to be considered as part of their application. Documents produced by the University Counseling Center need not be submitted since they are already available to application reviewers. However, records from the Student Health Center and all other sources must be requested separately and submitted by the student.
  • ConsiderationPlease be advised that course load reductions may adversely affect academic, financial aid, scholarship, or visa status. There may be time limits on applying for withdrawals, course drops, and tuition refunds. Application processing can be expected to take at least 10 – 14 working days.
  • ConsiderationThe decision to drop an academic course or withdrawal from the university is a significant one, requiring approval from each student’s Academic Dean. Mental Health Course Drop and Withdrawal applications are decided based upon information submitted by each student, including: (a) Course Drop or Withdrawal application; (b) documentation from medical/mental health professionals; and (c) personal statements submitted by students or shared in conversation with the Academic Dean.
  • Criteria: In general, for a mental health Course Drop or Withdrawal to be approved, the student’s condition must be severe enough so as to warrant inpatient hospitalization for treatment (not just evaluation) and/or extensive (multiple sessions of) counseling, psychotherapy, or psychiatric consultation. The University Counseling Center will treat Mental Health Course Drop or Withdrawal application materials confidentially. Any documents received by the University Counseling Center will remain there and once received will not be released to anyone, including the student. The UCC will issue a recommendation (Support Course Drop/Withdrawal OR Does Not Support Course Drop/Withdrawal) to the student’s Academic Dean. The University Counseling Center will not release specific confidential information to the student’s Academic Dean for the purposes of consideration of the Mental Health Course Drop or Withdrawal.
Modified Credit Policy

The College of Music does not modify credit for courses. With the exception of courses that have variable credit, which can be selected at the time of registration, all courses must be taken for the number of credits they are assigned. Any requests to take courses for a lower number of credits than assigned will be denied.

Readmission

Returning graduate degree-seeking students who (1) have been absent from the University for two or more consecutive terms (including summer); (2) have been dismissed from the University and have been absent for two or more consecutive terms (including summer); (3) have withdrawn from the University and have been absent for two or more consecutive terms (including summer); (4) have had their last term of enrollment at the University administratively cancelled and have been absent for two or more consecutive terms (including Summer); or (5) have earned a graduate degree from the University and wish to enroll in a second graduate program, must submit an application for readmission to the Office of Admissions. Academically dismissed students are not eligible for readmission unless they have been reinstated by their academic dean. Reinstatement to continue does not guarantee a favorable readmission decision or admission into a specific major. This application and all supporting documents must be submitted at least two (2) months prior to the beginning of the term for which readmission is desired.

The application for readmission can be found here:

https://admissions.fsu.edu/Readmissions/

Returning graduate degree-seeking students who have been absent for seven years or more, must complete a new graduate application.

Students who have attempted college work (including correspondence work) at any college or university since their last enrollment at Florida State University must have official transcripts sent to the Office of Admissions. Transcripts are considered official when they are sent directly from a college or university to the Office of Admissions and contain an official seal and/or signature. Transcripts bearing the statement “Issued to Student,” notarized transcripts, or transcripts submitted by the applicant are not considered official.

Returning graduate degree-seeking students who have been absent from the University for seven or more years or former provisional graduate students must submit a graduate application to the Office of Admissions according to the procedures prescribed for new admission.

The readmission application and all supporting documents should be submitted by the published deadline of the term for which readmission is desired. (Consult the “University Calendar” chapter of the Graduate Bulletin for specific deadlines.)

Readmitted students are subject to retention requirements in effect at the time of reentrance. In addition, students claiming Florida residency must reestablish their eligibility for this classification when applying for readmission.

The University reserves the right to refuse readmission to any student who has an unsatisfactory academic, conduct, or health record. The student will be notified by the Office of Admissions when the readmission application has been approved. Students may be required to re-audition prior to readmission acceptance. Please consult the Florida State University Graduate Bulletin for more information.

Reinstatement – After Academic Dismissal

When a graduate student’s cumulative grade point average falls below a 3.0, the student is placed on Academic Probation. Academic Probation means that the student has one semester, (the following term), to raise their cumulative GPA to the required 3.0. Failure to do so will result in the student being Academically Dismissed from the University. When a student has been Academically Dismissed, they must be reinstated by the Academic Dean. In order to be considered for reinstatement, the student must first submit a written appeal to the Major Professor. If the Major Professor feels that the student’s petition warrants further review, and wishes to pursue the reinstatement request, the petition must be brought to the Academic Dean. The Academic Dean will then review the petition and make a decision.

Academically dismissed students are not eligible for readmission unless they have been reinstated by their academic dean. Reinstatement to continue does not guarantee a favorable readmission decision or admission into a specific major.

If the student has been approved for reinstatement they must complete the application for readmission, via the FSU Admissions website. Additional application materials may be required, as deemed appropriate by the degree area (i.e. College of Music application, re-audition, new letters of recommendation, writing sample, etc.).

Withdrawal From The University

All students, including regular (degree seeking), special (non-degree seeking), and all US transient students, who wish to leave the University during a semester must formally withdraw. Dropping all classes does not constitute formal withdrawal.

Points to consider:

A. It is highly recommended that the student notify each of their professors.

B. If the student is receiving financial aid in the form of federal loans it is highly recommended that the student contact a loan officer to discuss how the withdrawal will impact their financial aid status.

C. If the student is receiving a tuition waiver it is important to understand that dropping below nine (9) credit hours will eliminate the waiver funding, (i.e. the tuition waiver will be removed from the student’s account), and the student may owe that funding back to the University.

All students (degree-seeking and non-degree) who wish to leave the University after the fourth day of a term must officially withdraw from the University no later than seven days prior to the last day of the semester or term. See the “Academic Calendar” for the specific deadline date. For more information, contact Withdrawal Services at (850) 644-1741. Students who withdraw within the first seven weeks of a term (to be adjusted accordingly for Summer sessions) have no liability for grades; afterward, they will be assigned a grade of “W” or “F” at the discretion of their instructor. Students who do not officially withdraw will be assigned a grade of “F” for each course for which they are registered but fail to attend. These grading policies also apply to courses taken S/U.

International students who wish to withdraw must request and receive prior authorization from a Center for Global Engagement adviser. In addition, international students should submit the SEVIS Update Form, available at http://www.cge.fsu.edu.

For additional information regarding withdrawals, including fee liability, please refer to the FSU Withdrawal Services website, listed below.

General Information

To initiate the Withdrawal Process students will first discuss their circumstances with their Academic Dean’s Office (Graduate Music Office, room 204-A, Housewright Music Building).

If the Academic Dean supports your request you will be referred to Withdrawal Services to initiate a withdrawal by completing several forms (a withdrawal contact and application form, etc.)

The student will sign the withdrawal application in the presence of a withdrawal advisor or a notary. The withdrawal process will be explained and the student will either be referred to his or her dean or the withdrawal application will be placed in Campus mail for consideration.

For the withdrawal to be processed, the withdrawal application must be returned to Withdrawal Services within ten (10) working days for processing.

The withdrawal staff will centrally facilitate all paperwork through the appropriate university officials to finalize the withdrawal process.

Withdrawal Information on Transcript

The statement “Withdrew from the University” will appear on the transcripts of students who properly withdraw within the first seven weeks of class. After that date, depending on the quality of work at the time of withdrawal, grades of“W” or “F” will be assigned by your instructor(s) and placed on the student’s transcript with the withdrawal statement.

Under unusual and or extenuating circumstances and upon recommendation of the appropriate academic dean, a student withdrawing from the university may receive “WD” grades (does not calculate into the Grade Point Average) in all courses taken that term.

Please visit the following website for more information: http://withdrawal.fsu.edu/

The Dean of Students Department
Withdrawal Services
University Center A, Suite 4100
850.644.1741

Hours:
M-F, 8:00am – 4:00pm

Refer to the University Bulletin for further information.

Student Rights

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Congress of Graduate Students

The purposes of COGS, Congress of Graduate, Professional, and Post-Baccalaureate Special Students of the Florida State University, are:

  1. To provide the means whereby the members of the Student Body may express themselves effectively in University programs that do not directly affect their welfare.
  2. To inform the Student Body on matters of policy that directly affect their welfare.
  3. To coordinate and regulate the activities of the Student Body for the benefit of the entire educational community.
  4.  To act as a service organization for the University.
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act

Both federal and state statutes are clear: once an individual is 18 years of age and enrolled in a post-secondary institution, the student has exclusive rights to his/her academic record. As such, records are not discussed with family members, partners, colleagues, friends, etc. If the student would like his/her record discussed with a third party, the student is to submit a written release to the teacher and/or the Graduate Music Office, given explicit approval to discuss his/her record with a particular, named individual or individuals.

For more information please contact the FSU Registrar’s Office: (850) 644-1050, and visit: http://registrar.fsu.edu/records/ferpa/

Money Matters

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Curricular Practical Training for International Students

External professional opportunities for students are extremely valuable and beneficial to their future musical career paths. These include being contracted to perform in orchestras; serving in churches, mosques, or synagogues; or various other opportunities. For graduate music students, professional engagements typically supplement formal instruction by providing practical opportunities to perform, conduct or study relevant musical literature in diverse contexts.  Such co-curricular experiences may be advisable and entirely appropriate, even during the first semester of study. In addition, many of these may qualify as Curricular Practical Training (CPT).

Federal regulations at 8 CFR 214.2(f)(10)(i) define Curricular Practical Training as “alternative work/study, internship, cooperative education, or any other type of required internship/practicum that is offered by sponsoring employers through cooperative agreements with the school.” An international student advisor from the Center for Global Engagement can authorize CPT for a program “that is an integral part of an established curriculum.”

The College of Music works with CGE to ensure that our international students are complying with federal regulations so that all of this may be possible. Through enrollment in the course MUS 5941 “Music Performance Internship” (0-12 credits), students may petition for CPT approval to pursue eligible professional opportunities. Students may register in MUS 5941 at the zero-credit level for a maximum of two semesters; subsequent registrations must be at least one credit.

CPT will only be considered for F-1 students who have completed one full academic year at FSU.  In order to be considered for CPT, students must register for the CPT course (via a one-to-one form) using the following course number: MUS 5941. The course title is “Music Performance Internship”, and it can be taken for a minimum of 0 and a maximum of 12 credit hours. This course offers advanced performance activities in an internship setting and may be repeated to a maximum of twenty-four hours.

Students interested in Curricular Practical Training must visit the FSU Center for Global Engagement’s website to obtain a copy of the Curricular Practical
Training document(s). This explains what CPT is, who is eligible, and the proper steps that a student is required to take in order to apply. Students are encouraged to read through all of the information carefully. Any questions about this document may be directed to the Center for Global Engagement: (850) 644-1702. After the student has read the document they must complete the top area of the Application portion. Students must fill-in their name, contact information, employer information, etc. The section directly below that is to be completed in its entirety by the student’s faculty advisor. Incomplete applications will not be accepted by the Center for Global Engagement.  Finally, a one-to-one form must be completed with the College of Music Registrar in 203 HMU.