GENERAL INFORMATION APPLYING TO ALL COMPUTER ENGINEERING GRADUATE PROGRAMS

A. KEEP US INFORMED!

Graduate students in the Computer Engineering program are responsible for supplying the Assistant to the Director of Graduate Studies with information regarding changes in their status and the meeting of administrative deadlines.

B. COMPUTER ENGINEERING E-MAIL ACCOUNT -- GET ONE! (ALSO PART-TIME STUDENTS)

Every Computer Engineering graduate student, both full- and part-time, should apply for an e-mail account on the department email server ece.umn.edu. Important information is sent via E-mail before being posted on the Computer Engineering Bulletin Board. Check your e-mail account on a regular basis. When you apply for a Computer Engineering e-mail account you will be put on the graduate student e-mail list (grads@ece.umn.edu). If you are a part-time student, you can request e-mail be directed to your company e-mail address so that it will not be necessary to log on to two accounts. To apply for an e-mail account, stop by the Electrical Engineering office, 4-174 EE/Csci Bldg, and ask the receptionist for an e-mail account form or call (612) 625-3300 to have the form mailed to you.

C. MEETING ADMINISTRATIVE DEADLINES

The program views the filing of Graduate School forms in a timely manner as important. The timeline for filing these forms and the completion of exams is noted in each degree section. Ignoring these deadlines may affect the date of graduation and financial assistance opportunities within the program. Administrative deadlines include the processing of the Graduate School Degree Program form. Allow two months for the processing in the program and one to two months for processing at the Graduate School.

D. GRADUATE STUDENTS SHOULD CONTACT THEIR ADVISOR EVERY SEMESTER (INCLUDING UNITE STUDENTS)

The Graduate School requires all graduate students to have an academic advisor to help guide the student’s graduate program, including the selection of courses and the supervision of the thesis or Plan B project.

The advisor must have Associate or Full Member status in the Graduate School in Computer Engineering. See the Graduate School website, Student Services section, Graduate Faculty Roster, at http://www.grad.umn.edu. An academic advisor is assigned when a student is admitted to the program. The academic advisor is not committed to financial support of the student, nor is the academic advisor committed to providing a research project for the student. The academic advisor is assigned to each new student to help orient the student when they begin their graduate studies and to sign forms when necessary. If the student is granted a Research Assistantship by a faculty member, the student will automatically be assigned that faculty member as advisor.

Students may feel free to contact members of the graduate faculty in Computer Engineering to discuss research interests and potential advising relationships if a change in advisor is desired. Similarly, the advisor also may choose to end the student-advisor relationship. A list of the members of the graduate faculty in the Computer Engineering program is provided at the end of this handbook. The Assistant to the Director of Graduate Studies should be notified when an a new advisor is chosen.

E. SECOND MASTERS DEGREE

A student pursuing a second masters degree may have a maximum of 8 credits in common between the two degrees.

F. TERMINATION—NOT MEETING DEPARTMENTAL PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

When performance is unsatisfactory in terms of grades or normal progress toward the student’s degree objective, graduate student status may be terminated. The academic records of each student are reviewed once yearly, when spring semester grades become available.

G. GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES -- STEPS TO FOLLOW

Graduate students with grievances arising from their graduate study should first consult with their advisor. Should the matter not be resolved at this point, or should the issue be an inappropriate for discussion with the advisor, students should consult with the Director of Graduate Studies. In the event that such discussions fail to relieve the grievance, or should the issue be an inappropriate one for discussion with the Director of Graduate Studies, students should consult with one of the Deans of the Graduate School.

H. PETITIONS -- TO REQUEST VARIANCES FROM RULES AND REGULATIONS

A student may file a Petition to request variances from rules and regulations. Each Petition must include a cogent reason why it should be granted. Petitions con-cerning Graduate School approvals and regulations (such as the course list on an ap-proved program form and the degree time limits) must be submitted on a Graduate School Petition Form. Petitions concerning program regulations (such as examination timing) may be phrased as a letter or memorandum to the Director of Graduate Studies or the Graduate Committee. All Petitions are reviewed by the Graduate Committee and require the signature of the Director of Graduate Studies; this process can take time, especially during the sum-mer, so any Petitions should be filed long before the results are required. Graduate School Petitions must be approved by both the program and the Graduate School; Graduate School approval is not automatic even after a positive program recommendation.

I. ORAL EXAMINATION ARRANGEMENTS -- WHO YOU NEED TO CONTACT

The student is responsible for contacting all committee members well in advance of a proposed examination time. One and one-half hours should be scheduled for the MS Plan B Examination and two hours should be scheduled for the MS Plan A Examination. The Graduate School must be notified of the examination times at least one week in advance of the proposed examination time; they will prepare the Examination Report Form and send it to the student. The student is responsible for finding a room and any projection or other equipment required for the presentation. Students whose advisor is in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering should contact the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering office at 625-3300 for assistance with room scheduling and projection equipment. Students whose advisor is in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering should contact the Department of Computer Science and Engineering office at 625-4002 for assistance with room scheduling and projection equipment. All oral examinations are closed examinations, attended only by the student and the examining committee.

J. ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE -- MAINTAIN A 3.0 GPA

Each M.S. candidate must maintain an evaluation GPA of at least 3.0 to CONTINUE REGISTRATION IN ANY Master’s program in Computer Engineering. This standard also must be met at the time of graduation.

K. COURSEWORK APPLYING TOWARD DEGREE REQUIREMENTS MUST BE TAKEN A/F UNLESS ONLY OFFERED S/N

Computer Engineering majors are required to register on an A/F basis for all courses in their graduate program except those courses offered only on an S/N basis.

L. THE MASTER’S DEGREE MUST BE COMPLETED WITHIN 7 YEARS

The Graduate School requires that any Master's degree program shall be completed within seven years. This means that when the student is going to gradu-ate, they impose a seven-year window backwards on the student's transcript and determine whether the courses taken during that time meet the requirements specified on the Degree Program Form. If any deficiency is noted, the student and the program are sent notices about the problem. The seven year window can be extended once with permission of the program and the Graduate School; a student desiring a time extension should complete a Graduate School Petition stating a cogent reason why the extension should be granted. Note that it is not adequate to state simply that you have not been working on the project. Any request for a time extension should be filed before the time limit has expired.