Graduate fields are required to develop and disseminate academic handbooks to support their graduate students’ academic progress and to harmonize students’ and faculty expectations by providing clarity on core requirements VSports app下载. Online handbooks are effective recruiting tools, as they provide prospective students with information about the program’s degree requirements, funding, and resources available to support students once admitted.
As we prepare for the fall semester with the CGSU-UE Collective Bargaining Agreement in effect, all graduate fields are expected to review and update their handbooks to ensure alignment with both Graduate School policies and the collective bargaining agreement. To support this effort, we have updated these guidelines to include template language for key policy areas impacted by the agreement. This ready-to-use language is designed to be easily incorporated directly into your handbook to simplify the update process, reduce the workload for fields, and provide a clear pathway for accountability and due process V体育官网.
These updated sections cover key academic policies, including satisfactory academic progress, committee and advisor selection, required coursework, any required teaching responsibilities, funding, examinations (Q, M, A, and B exams), thesis/dissertation, and other field-specific requirements. Each section includes clear guidance on timing, expectations, consequences, and accountability to ensure transparency, compliance, and consistency VSports手机版.
To ensure clarity for all graduate students and faculty, each graduate field should incorporate the language provided below into their handbook. While we prefer that fields adopt this language as written to support consistency and reduce administrative burden, we recognize there may be situations requiring adaptation. In instances that require more substantive adaptation, please contact the Associate Dean of Academics, Josephine Martell (jem522@www.qiuluzeuv.cn), to discuss and schedule a review to ensure alignment with required standards V体育安卓版.
Going forward, we encourage all fields to treat their handbook language as subject to periodic review and to plan for an annual or biennial review process to ensure continued accuracy and compliance.
Academic field handbooks are most easily understood when presented to students in chronological order so that students can understand the progression of their program and the required milestones to achieve each stage.
Handbooks vary by field in content and scope; the checklist below includes essential components for all degree programs. It includes template language and key questions that should be answered by each section V体育官网入口.
Fields that offer multiple degrees should ensure that the handbook makes clear distinctions between the different degree types (e. g. , professional master’s, research master’s, doctoral) and that the handbook is divided appropriately based on this. Each degree should provide learning outcomes, field exam information, milestones, etc VSports在线直播. Alternatively, a separate handbook can be provided for each degree.
1. Satisfactory Academic Progress and Academic Standing (V体育2025版)
Requirement: Summarize the key requirements for satisfactory academic progress and define “good academic standing. ” Explain what occurs when students fall below this level, including timing and corrective options V体育2025版. Note that students must complete Student Progress Reviews (SPRs) regularly (start time varies by field). Students who receive a ‘Needs Improvement’ or ‘Unsatisfactory” rating on their SPRs are not considered in good academic standing. This designation provides graduate fields with a mechanism to support the student in returning to good standing and to document academic concerns should the situation fail to improve or require further action.
Some fields also require additional progress reports VSports. Field handbooks should clarify that field-specific requirements are in addition to those of the Graduate School and the student’s committee (for instance if your field has a first-year review or requires a summer plan) and clarify what the consequences are if not completed. Fields that do not currently have a first-year review may wish to consider developing one as a way to support early feedback and promote student success.
Recommended Language: The Code of Legislation of the Graduate Faculty outlines the core policies governing graduate education at Cornell. This handbook complements the Code of Legislation and Graduate School policies by offering additional academic guidance specific to students in the field of [X].
To remain in good standing and demonstrate satisfactory academic progress, students must meet the academic requirements as outlined in the Code of Legislation, field handbook, and by the chair/special committee. These layers of governance work together to provide oversight and support for academic progress, while the policies help clarify and establish mutual expectations for achieving degree progress
To make satisfactory academic progress and remain in good academic standing in the [Field Name] graduate program, a student must [at minimum]:
- Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of [X] or higher [Note: GPA can be field specific although a minimum GPA of 2.25 is required- see section #5 below].
- Receive a rating of ‘Satisfactory’ or ‘Excellent’ on their Student Progress Review (SPR).
- Make timely progress toward degree requirements, including:
- Completing required coursework by established deadlines.
- Forming a special committee by the end of the third semester (for Ph.D. students).
- Fully passing the:
- Q (if applicable) by [X] date
- M by [X] date
- A by [X] date
- B by [X] date (the timing of the B exam is ultimately determined by the student’s special committee based on readiness and progress toward completion.)
- Completing required teaching responsibilities (if applicable).
- Meeting all field-specific requirements as outlined in this handbook.
Students are encouraged to work closely with their special committee and the director of graduate studies (DGS) to stay on track and to communicate early about any delays or challenges. Failure to meet these expectations means that a student is not making satisfactory academic progress and is deemed not in good academic standing, which may impact continued enrollment their degree program (see section #7 below, Accountability and Due Process, for more information).
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2. Selecting an Advisor and Forming a Committee
Requirement: Per the V体育ios版 - Code of Legislation, the Graduate Faculty requires both research master’s and doctoral students to have identified (or been assigned) a special committee chair or a temporary advisor no later than three weeks after the first registration in the Graduate School (submitted to the Graduate School via Student Center).
Additionally, in accordance with the Code, the Graduate Faculty requires doctoral students to form a complete special committee by the end of their third semester, and research master’s students by the end of their second semester. The Code includes specific exceptions for graduate students in economics and physics (Code VI.B.6.).
Fields must also clarify:
- Whether students have an advisor at admission, are assigned a temporary advisor, or must identify one after arrival.
- Whether lab or project rotations are expected and how they are structured.
- Any field-specific expectations regarding committee membership (e.g., required areas of expertise or roles).
- The number of required members (minimum three as per the Code).
- What process is in place if a student cannot identify an advisor.
- Should the chair or a committee member resign and the committee falls below the minimum membership requirements, note the timelines for reconstituting their committee (and link to the Code of Legislation (VSports注册入口).) Are there time constraints in order to remain in good academic standing?
- Whether funding is contingent on having an advisor by a certain deadline, and what the consequences are if the deadline is not met.
Recommended Language: In our field, students are typically [admitted to a specific faculty advisor/assigned a temporary advisor upon matriculation/expected to identify a chair within their first few weeks]. This advisor must be recorded in Student Center no later than three weeks after the start of their first semester. Students should consult the DGS for assistance in confirming or changing advisors.
[If applicable:] Our field offers [lab/project] rotations during the first [semester/year]. These help students explore potential research directions and advisors. Students are expected to complete their rotations and formally identify a chair by [insert timeline].
Doctoral students must form a complete special committee of at least three faculty members by the end of the third semester; research master’s students by the end of the second semester. Committee members must meet Graduate School requirements and reflect relevant areas of expertise, including [insert any field-specific requirements here].
Students experiencing difficulty identifying an advisor should contact the DGS early as possible. Failure to secure an advisor by [insert field specific deadline] [or Graduate School language: within the first three weeks of their program, and a permanent special committee chair no later than the end of the third semester] will impact academic standing and funding.
If a chair or committee member steps down, students must find a replacement within expected timeframes outlined in the Code of Legislation of the Graduate Faculty to remain in good standing. Students may not remain registered in the Graduate School if they fail to reconstitute a committee. If a student is unable to find a new chair within the required timeframes, they will be withdrawn from the Graduate School.
Doctoral students may make changes to their special committee at any time prior to the A exam. Committee changes after an A exam require the dean’s approval. Updates must be submitted through Student Center.
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3. Thesis and Dissertation
Requirement: A thesis or dissertation is generally required in the student’s major area of study, though a minor area may be approved with special permission. This work must be completed under the supervision of the special committee chair.
- Doctoral students must submit a dissertation that meets the standards of scholarship and literary quality in their field.
- M.A. and M.S. students must submit a thesis or research project appropriate to their program (except in cases where a non-thesis master’s is awarded to doctoral students).
All special committee members must approve the final thesis or dissertation. Please specify the type of dissertation or thesis required and formatting expectations, especially if the field has specific citation or style guidelines.
Per "V体育官网" The Code of Legislation of the Graduate Faculty:
- A complete and final draft must be submitted to the committee at least six weeks before the exam date.
- The final dissertation/thesis must be submitted within 60 days of passing the final exam (M or B exam).
- Final submission of the thesis or dissertation to the Graduate School is only permitted after successful completion of the M or B exam.
- Enrollment in a future semester that starts after the exam date is not permitted after passing the M or B exam, even if the 60-day submission window extends into a subsequent semester. However, students who receive a conditional outcome may be eligible to enroll in the subsequent term, depending on the nature and extent of the conditions. In such cases, a detailed academic plan outlining the conditions must be developed and shared with the Graduate School
- Students must meet all submission deadlines in order to be eligible for graduation.
Recommended Language: Doctoral candidates in our field are required to complete a dissertation that demonstrates original research contributing new knowledge to the discipline. The dissertation should address significant theoretical questions and may take the form of a traditional monograph or a set of three [or # determined by field] publishable articles. Projects may develop new theoretical frameworks, introduce innovative methods, or examine [X].
The dissertation must include an abstract and adhere to a recognized academic style guide, such as the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, as approved by the special committee chair. It must also meet the Graduate School’s formatting requirements for doctoral dissertations.
A complete draft of the dissertation must be given to each committee member at least six weeks before the B exam is scheduled and submitted to the Graduate School within 60 days of passing the final exam. Enrollment in future semesters is not permitted after passing the final exam, even if the 60-day submission window extends into a subsequent semester.
4. Exams (Q, M, A, and B) (VSports在线直播)
Requirement: For each exam, include: when it must be taken, number of attempts allowed, what outcomes are possible, what happens if the exam is failed or delayed, and who enforces the outcome (pass, conditional outcome, and fail).
Recommended Language:
- Qualifying (Q) Exam: If your field requires a qualifying exam (Q exam), or concentration exams, include language tailored to your field requirements: The Q exam(s) must be taken by the end of [year X]. One retake is allowed within [Y] months. Failure to pass after [X] attempts will result in program withdrawal.
- Master’s (M) Exam [tailor to your field requirements]: The M exam must be scheduled through the Graduate School and taken by the end of year [Z]. Conditional outcomes will include a written remediation plan and timeline. If the committee agrees, one retake allowed within [Y] months. Failure to pass the exam after [X] attempts will result in withdrawal from the program.
- Admission to Candidacy (A) Exam [tailor to your field requirements]: The admission to candidacy exam must be scheduled through the Graduate School and completed before the start of the seventh semester. Conditional outcomes will include a written remediation plan and timeline. If the committee agrees, one retake is allowed within [Y] months. Failure to pass the exam after [X] attempt(s) will result in withdrawal from the program. A terminal master’s degree may be granted, if appropriate.
- Doctoral (B) Exam [tailor to your field requirements]: The B exam must be scheduled through the Graduate School and attempted before the end of the [X] semester. Conditional outcomes will include a written remediation plan and timeline. If the committee agrees, one retake is allowed within [Y] months. Failure to pass the exam [after [X] attempt(s)] will result in withdrawal from the program.
Except for the Q exam, all other exams must be documented and reported through official Graduate School processes, and consequences must be clearly communicated in advance. Students who attempt their M or B exams and fully pass prior to the start of the subsequent semester are not eligible for student status and enrollment.
5. Required Courses and Minimum GPA
Requirement: Handbooks must specify if courses are required, and if so, what they are and their type, such as required core, concentration/track, or electives. Handbooks must also specify whether they must be completed by or in a specific semester, what grades are necessary, whether course substitutions are allowed, and what happens if requirements are not met.
Clearly state the GPA threshold for your field and what happens when students fall below this level. Include timing and corrective options. Clarify what constitutes satisfactory progress to maintain good academic progress.
Recommended Language: Students must take a core curriculum consisting of [X, Y, Z.] Students must complete [X] credits of required coursework by the end of their [Y] semester. A minimum grade of [field minimum GPA standard] is required for all required courses. Students who do not meet this grade threshold may not advance to the next academic milestone and will no longer be in good academic standing. Exceptions or substitutions to course requirements require approval by the special committee and must be submitted before the semester begins. Failure to meet course requirements will trigger an academic review, the results of which can affect eligibility for exams or continued funding.
Because Cornell’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (V体育ios版) policy stipulates that students in research degrees must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.25 to be in good academic standing or to be eligible for Title IV Aid, it is required that a MINIMUM GPA of 2.25 be set. A GPA below this threshold triggers a formal academic warning, requiring a remediation plan. If GPA is not raised within [X] semesters, the student faces loss of funding or dismissal, following Graduate School and CGSU‑UE due process procedures.
6. Teaching Requirement
Requirement: If required, define how much teaching is required, when it must be done, and what happens if it is delayed or not completed. Indicate support and evaluation practices. For example, if your field does not require teaching but your students have the option to serve as a teaching assistant, be sure to include relevant language outlining expectations and opportunities and make it clear that teaching is optional and not a degree requirement.
Ph.D. students may be required to complete up to two semesters of teaching as part of their academic preparation, in line with University Policy 1.3. This requirement must be completed within the first four years of enrollment.
Recommended Language: All Ph.D. students must serve as a teaching assistant (TA) for at least [X] semesters within their first four years of enrollment. At least one appointment must be completed by the end of year [Y]. The faculty teaching advisor will support students in meeting this expectation by providing appropriate teaching opportunities, training, and mentorship.
Teaching performance will be formally evaluated by supervising faculty, with constructive feedback shared to promote professional growth in pedagogical skills. The mid-semester and final evaluation will be shared in writing with the student, director of graduate studies (DGS), and graduate field administrator (GFA). If teaching performance is found to be unsatisfactory or incomplete, the student will not be considered in good academic standing.
7. Funding
Requirement: State what students can expect in terms of funding, how continued funding is tied to satisfactory academic progress, and what happens in cases of poor academic progress. Policies must align with the CGSU‑UE Collective Bargaining Agreement on notice, transitional funding, and due process. All language regarding funding should be consistent with the field described during the admission process.
Recommended Language: Doctoral students enrolled in our program normally complete their degrees within [5-6] years and receive full financial support for the duration of their graduate studies if they remain in good academic standing, make satisfactory academic progress towards the degree, and (if applicable) perform satisfactorily in their assistantship responsibilities.
This financial support is provided through a variety of sources [Sage Fellowship, Cornell Fellowship, external fellowships, teaching and/or research assistantships]. Students in our program regularly apply for and receive external fellowships and grants. Cornell will supplement qualified external awards.
[If applicable] All eligible students in our field are required to prepare and submit an external fellowship application by the end of their third year. Qualified external fellowships will replace internal funding. If a student receives an external fellowship or grant, the GFA must be notified as soon as possible so appropriate arrangements can be made.
Failure to make timely, satisfactory academic progress may result in the loss of good academic standing, funding, and/or eligibility for future opportunities.
Students appointed to assistantships are subject to the terms of the CGSU‑UE Collective Bargaining Agreement. Students appointed to fellowships are not included in the bargaining unit and therefore not represented by the union.
Sage Fields: Students in our field are generally funded through a Sage Fellowship or Dean’s Excellence Sage, as shared in your offer of admission. These academic requirements are described on the Fellowships page.
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8. Accountability and Due Process
Requirement: Fields must ensure that any stated policies include clear mechanisms for implementation, including how decisions are communicated to students, expected timelines, and the student’s right to appeal or file a grievance in accordance with Graduate School policies and the CGSU‑UE Collective Bargaining Agreement. In alignment with the CGSU‑UE Collective Bargaining Agreement, and as a best practice to support student success, graduate students must receive written notice from their special committee chair or advisor, that is copied to the DGS.
Recommended Language: All field policies will be enforced consistently across students and timeframes. A doctoral student is expected to design, execute, and manage an independent research agenda and meet their academic milestones in a timely manner. If a student is not meeting expectations, their special committee chair or advisor and the director of graduate studies (DGS) will provide timely written notice (as soon as concerns become evident) outlining the issues, outcomes, or potential consequences, including:
- Written notice of a lack of academic progress or loss of academic standing (separate, and in addition to, the SPR).
- A clear explanation of the concerns and specific expectations for improvement.
- A reasonable timeline and opportunity to meet expectations before any adverse action (e.g., changes in funding status or withdrawal recommendations).
- Further, all students should be provided with an opportunity to meet with the DGS to discuss the concern and plan for improvement.
If a student fails to meet the conditions of that plan, the special committee in collaboration with the field DGS will consult with the Graduate School to review the case and determine next steps. This can include academic withdrawal from their degree program and the Graduate School accompanied by documentation showing that the process above was followed, and in accordance with Graduate School policy and the terms of the CGSU-UE Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Graduate students will be given an opportunity to respond or appeal as outlined by the Graduate School and CGSU‑UE policies. Final decisions will be documented and archived by the DGS and GFA and the Graduate School.
1. Program Overview
Include a general description of the graduate program, required registration, residency on campus, degrees, links to further information, and program recognitions or achievements, including program timeline and average time to degree.
2. Student Learning Outcomes
List the intended program-level learning outcomes identified by the field faculty (these should match what is posted for the degree on the Graduate School Fields of Study page). The outcomes should articulate what students are expected to know, and be able to do, upon completion of the degree.
- Describe any core competencies, language requirements, or learning goals.
- Describe how students’ achievement of the intended outcomes will be assessed (e.g., milestone exams; major papers, presentations, and projects; evaluation by the special committee).
3. Setting Mutual Expectations for Mentoring
Cornell supports the Faculty Advancing Inclusive Mentoring (FAIM) framework for faculty/student mentoring that draws upon a strengths-based and identity-informed approach to support mutual growth, development, and success ("VSports手机版" NASEM, 2019; Windchief, 2019).
The FAIM philosophy, key principles, and core mutual expectation areas for inclusive mentorship provide a foundation for fulfilling mentoring relationships by:
- supporting mentors and mentees as they seek to develop an understanding of one another’s expectations, cultures, values, and sources of motivation;
- helping mentors and mentees develop a mentorship plan better aligned to a mentor’s and mentee’s strengths, needs, and goals; and
- providing resources and tools that can be adapted and adopted by mentors and mentees to be contextually relevant.
Please direct your students to the FAIM website for resources and tools to support their mentoring relationships. Remind students to work with the graduate field administrator (GFA), who can serve as a liaison between faculty and students, and the director of graduate studies (DGS) in their department who can both provide advice and help navigate mentoring challenges.
4. Required Training
Some fields require training or courses related to safety and other topics in addition to university-required training on research with human subjects, animal care and use, etc. Describe these requirements relevant to the field’s students, including additional training required by the funding source and when and how students should complete the requirements.
Per the Code of Legislation, the Graduate Faculty requires all research degree students, both master’s and doctoral, to complete responsible conduct of research (RCR) training. This includes training on authorship, peer review, and avoidance and consequences of research misconduct. This training is through the Cornell Office of Research Integrity and Assurance (ORIA) and must be completed before the end of the second semester (Code E.2.a.).
5. Field- or Program-Specific Requirements and Resources
In this section, please include any additional field-specific academic requirements that are part of the academic program in your field.
Examples of items that might be included:
- Manuscript submissions and any requirements or expectations for publishing
- Field awards and recognition
- Colloquia presentations, conference posters, or papers
- External fellowship applications
- Individual Development Plans (IDPs)
- Minors/concentrations available to students in the field
- Summer progress
- Table or figure of program timeline and schedule
- Any additional milestones or requirements for professional degrees that aren’t captured in the Graduate School milestones section
6. Field-based Professional Development
Some fields have a seminar, series, or workshop to help students with writing a fellowship application, developing and writing the dissertation proposal/prospectus, the job search, and other topics. If these are required or strongly suggested in your field, please describe them in sufficient detail here.
- If your field expects or requires eligible students to write grant or fellowship applications as part of either the academic requirements or funding plan, describe the deadline, criteria, and sign-off process.
These Cornell graduate fields have graduate student handbooks that are useful as examples for their content, scope, and format. Please note: As of 8/6/25, the examples below have not yet been updated to meet the new CGSU-UE collective bargaining agreement requirements. As we move forward in the transition, this list will be updated with more current examples.
