Use the Websites listed below to learn about the history of EMU; to review graduate program offerings, catalog, and tuition rates; to see a profile of demographics about our current graduate students; and to learn about Ypsilanti and surrounding areas. Take a virtual tour of campus and locate specific programs and faculty members.
Doctoral Student Orientation Wednesday, September 2, 2009 202 Porter Building New Doc Fellows 1-2 New Doc students 2-5 p.m. See academic program advisor for program start time. _________
Graduate Assistant (G.A.) Training Fall ‘09 G.A.’s Friday, September 4, 2009 8 a.m. - noon Roosevelt Hall Auditorium ________
Mandatory International Student Orientation EMU Student Center, Sept. 5-6, 2009 (Undergraduate and Graduate F-1 & J-1’s) See OIS website for Fall 2008 (See http://www.emich.edu/ois for pre-arrival procedures.) ____________
Graduate Student (general) Orientation Fall ‘09 -- Sunday, September 6, 2009, 4-5 p.m. EMU Student Center Auditorium ________________
EMU Resource Fair Sunday, September 6, 2009 Help with last minute financial aid, billing, parking, registration, etc. I.D. office and bookstore open 5-6 p.m., EMU Student Center -- 2nd floor ________________
Welcome to the Eastern Michigan University Graduate School! We hope this Website will answer your questions about graduate programs of study, admissions, enrollment, records, and graduation. Important links to other Websites have been provided. Questions about specific items may be sent to Deb deLaski-Smith, Ph.D., Interim Dean of The Graduate School by email (Deb.deLaski-Smith@emich.edu) or by calling:
All new graduate students must complete the University Graduate Admissions Application form (except those wanting to take courses through Continuing Education or be admitted as a guest/MIGS student). The application fee, a statement of purpose, and all official (sealed) undergraduate and graduate transcripts must accompany the form. Some departments require additional admission materials such as a department application form, letters of recommendation, or a portfolio. Departments may have application deadline dates different from those of the University. Consult the Graduate Catalog for specific details. International students must provide visa information, English language test scores (TOEFL, IELTS, or MELAB), a Statement of Financial Responsibility (an EMU form), and an Affidavit of Support/bank statement. See the following Websites for forms and additional information.
Guest Students — Michigan Intercollegiate Graduate Studies (MIGS)
Second Bachelors Degree (Undergraduate Admit)
Teacher Certification - Provisional (undergraduate admit), Professional or additional endorsements (graduate admit)
Nondegree
Unlike an application to a baccalaureate program where the Office of Admissions makes a quick decision and you are given a general University admission, applying to graduate education means applying to a specific program and department. It is the department that makes the recommendation to admit or deny an applicant. Should you change your mind and decide to withdraw your first application and apply to a different program, your materials would be sent to that department for review, resulting in an additional delay.
All application materials are submitted directly to the Office of Admissions (not to the department). Missing documents delay processing. Once all documents have been received, you will get a letter from the Office of Admissions telling you your application is complete and is being sent to the academic department for evaluation. Department review may be a quick process or may require committee evaluation. Once an admission recommendation from the department has been made and returned to the Office of Admissions, you will receive another letter indicating your admission status. If you are admitted, correspondence will indicate the name of your faculty advisor and give you a student number and PIN number you must use to register for classes. International students will receive their I-20 or DS2019 with the letter of admission from the Office of Admissions. This takes approximately 2 weeks after Admission receives recommendation from the department. For questions contact either International Admissions or Graduate Admissions.
Please note that your admission to EMU is valid only for the semester specified in your acceptance letter. If you do not attend classes during that semester, you will need to update your application by completing theEnrollment Change form accessible from the Web or the Office of Admissions. The form may be faxed to 734.487.6559. There is no fee.
The Graduate School’s Webpage,"What Do I Do Next?"answers common questions related to admission issues and provides related forms.
If you wish to apply only for Continuing Educationcourses, you may do so online; this, however, prevents you from registering for other on-campus regular offerings in the future. Courses taken through CE may be used on graduate programs of study.
After Admission
Once admitted to the University, students will need an ID card, parking pass, and my.emich account. Students may also require financial aid, housing, a campus job, or a graduate assistantship. Explore the following Websites to address these and other needs:
Student Affairs (Veteran's Services, Women's Center, Multi-Cultural Center, etc)
To determine your eligibility for financial aid, including need-based aid, you must fill out and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). New graduate students who are seeking financial aid and have attended another college or university during the same academic year in which they enroll at EMU must provide a financial aid transcript from all previously attended universities. Financial aid is not available for continuing education, condition 4 admittees or non-degree students. See Financial Assistance section of the Graduate School Website to learn about other scholarships and fellowships or contact the Financial Aid.
Graduate AssistantPositions are employment on campus with academic departments or other offices, such as Housing, Academic Services, McKenny Hall, or the Learning Center which is a tutoring center located in the library. Graduate students receive income (stipend) and a tuition scholarship (payment of tuition for up to 9 credit hours fall and winter semesters). Complete and submit the Financial Assistance Application for Graduate Students Form. This may be done online.
International students are required to meet with a representative of the Office of International Students after arriving on campus. You must bring your passport , I-20 or DS2019, plus I94 to this meeting. You will receive information about employment opportunities, required health insurance, and EMU policies and procedures. Make an appointment by calling 734.487.3116. They hold a mandatory International Student Orientation the weekend prior to the start of each semester. Consult Office of International Students Website.
Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVIS) - students who hold an F or J visa.
To avoid being out-of-status, it is your responsibility to report within 10 days to the Office of International Students (OIS), 244 Student Center, any change in name, current address of residence, academic status (full or part-time enrollment), date of program completion, program/major change, level change (undergraduate to graduate), change in funding source (employment or graduate assistant position), probation or disciplinary action leading to suspension due to conviction of a crime. EMU has 21 days from the date of the reported event to inform the U. S. Government – Bureau of Border Security. OIS enters the data into a real-time database and new documents or I-20’s are then issued to you. Remember that dropping or withdrawing from course(s) may put you below full-time enrollment. Before a drop/withdrawal change is made that reduces enrollment below full-time status, you must receive permission from the OIS. If you plan to transfer to another university, this process must begin before the end of your last semester at EMU, contact the Office of International Students. Noncompliance could result in actions leading up to a fine, arrest, or deportation per the U.S. Government.
Conditional Admission. It is your responsibility to show your department advisor evidence of completion of conditional requirements. It is then the advisor who emails the Office of Admissions to have the condition removed so you can receive full admission. This should be done within your first year in the program or graduate financial aid may be dropped. If this is not done prior to graduation, your graduation will be delayed. You must be fully admitted to a program in order to graduate from it. Your admission status was noted on the Department Recommendation form sent with your letter of admission to EMU. See What Do I Do Next - Admissions section
Registration
Once admitted, you will need to register for classes.
You must register for classes in the semester for which you applied (e.g., fall 2005 application, enroll first in fall 2005 courses). If you can not attend courses that semester, an Enrollment Change form must be sent to the Office of Admissions to update your application to the semester you intend to enroll. The form may be faxed to 734.487.6559. There is no fee.
You should become familiar with University policies and procedures as stated in the Graduate Catalog. Consult either the paper or online version. A paper copy may be picked up at the Office of Admissions, 401 Pierce Hall or at the Graduate School, 200 Boone Hall. Replacement copies may be purchased at the EMU Bookstore in McKenny Hall.
Schedule an appointment with your academic/graduate advisor as soon as possible. A program of study must be prepared and on file with the Office of Records and Registration, 303 Pierce Hall, within your first semester on campus. The program of study is a list of courses you will take to complete your degree. Your list is unique. It applies only to your program and no one else’s program; therefore, without this document, the Office of Records and Registration will not be able to process your graduation. This document is also used for financial aid awards and the processing of transfer of credit requests or petitions to waive Graduate School policies. Changes may be made to the program of study through an email sent by your advisor to the Office of Records and Registration. An up-to-date copy of the program of study should be sent to Records prior to graduation.
Registration holds are placed in the computer system to prevent students from registering for classes for various reasons.
An ESL (English as a Second Language) hold is placed on a student’s registration if you had low English-language test scores (TOEFL, IELTS, or MELAB). You were admitted conditionally and a handout accompanied your admit letter. It indicated what ESL courses you would need to take based upon your test sub-scores for reading, grammar, listening and writing. Communicate with the ESL coordinator so she can register you for classes both in ESL and your academic program. See ESL/TESOL. This can be completed prior to your arrival on campus. Students may re-take the TOEFL at local centers or the MELAB at the University of Michigan to test out of ESL courses.
If there are no registration holds, then you can register online or in person at the Office of Records and Registration. Each student must activate a my.emich account using his/her student ID and PIN number. Through the Student Service section of my.emich, one can search for classes, register, view and accept financial aid offers, view bills and pay online. View the following Websites for the schedule of regular and Continuing Education offerings and the process for registering.
The Graduate School’s Webpage, "What Do I Do Next?"Answers common questions related to registration issues and provides related forms.
Once registered, what are the policies you need to follow?
The Graduate Catalogfully explains all University policies in both the paper and online versions. Be an informed advisee. Ask questions, research answers, don't make assumptions, and be proactive. Saying, "No one ever told me" does not change University policy.
The Graduate School’s Website, "What Do I Do Next?"addresses all Graduate School policies in a question/answer format with the needed forms, time frame, indication of required signatures, and related policies explained. It covers the following topics:
Preparing Programs of Study
Getting credit for a 400-level course
Transferring graduate credit hours from previous degree programs, other universities, or courses taken while an undergraduate student
Withdrawing from a course
Receiving an E-grade
Removing an Incomplete grade
Taking an undergraduate course for a pass/fail grade
Extending the time limit for your overall program beyond the three, six, or seven-year time limit
Validating or updating old coursework
Waiving the 10 hour rule (taking 10 hours after program admission and prior to graduation)
Having too many independent study or special topic credit hours on your program of study
Filing a grade grievance
Dealing with probation (having a GPA below a 3.0)
Being dismissed from your department or the Graduate School
Getting ready to graduate.
Once you have turned in a Program of Study to the Office of Records and Registration, they will use that document to track your progress toward degree completion. Be aware that transfer courses or 400-level courses marked on your Program of Study must also be approved by University policy. Refer to the "What Do I Do Next?" Graduate School Website to determine what you need to do and download appropriate forms to seek approval. Only pre-approved 400-level coursesmay be used on a Program of Study; see the approved list of courses. Do not register for 400-level independent study numbers; these courses have NOT been approved. Use as 500-level number to enroll. Call the Graduate School or academic advisor
Grade Point Average (GPA)Grades from all graduate coursework, including graduate courses not on your program of study, will be used to calculate your graduate GPA. Grades from undergraduate courses taken while you are a graduate student do not count toward your graduate GPA. Marks of CR (credit), I (incomplete), or W (withdrawal) also will not count toward your graduate GPA. You must maintain a 3.0 overall graduate GPA and a 3.0 GPA in your program of study in order to graduate.
Final Project/ExperienceEach graduate program has a different culminating or capstone experience required for graduation. Some require a thesis or dissertation; others require a special project or internship, while others require students to pass a final exam. Your graduate advisor will explain what you need to do to finish your program. If you are working on a thesis or dissertation, consult the Graduate School’sThesis Manual or Dissertation Manual. Deadlines for submitting a completed thesis to the Graduate School are November 15, March 15, June 1 and July 15. Deadlines for submitting a dissertation to the Graduate School are November 1, March 1, May 15, and July 1. If the date falls on a weekend, the following Monday is the deadline. By this date, the document must be complete and have sign-off from all committee members and the department head before coming to the Graduate School for final format check. Editing needs to be done by an editing service or faculty committee members.
Graduate Research FairOnce you are nearing completion of a culminating or capstone experience, you are highly encouraged to share your outcomes or findings with others on campus. The Graduate School and the Division of Academic Affairs annually sponsor a Graduate Research Fair in Marchto showcase student work. Many students use this forum to practice their oral or poster presentation skills before presenting at local, state, or national conferences. Its very exciting to see the variety and breadth of work completed by EMU graduate students. Nomination forms to participate in the event are due to your department head in January. Students graduating in December are encouraged to return and share their research along with those who anticipate program completion in April, June or August.
You're done! Time to graduate!
Many students get wrapped up in finishing their course work or culminating project and forget to apply to graduate. There are over 4,800 graduate students at EMU and the Office of Records and Registration has no way of knowing when you are done unless you tell them to review your records for graduation. Therefore, you must apply for graduation. Applications are due within the first two weeks of the semester in which you will complete the requirements for the degree. The forms are in the front of each Class Schedule Book, on records & registration Web Site or on the Graduate School’s "What Do I Do Next?" (Records) Website. The forms and a fee are submitted in person or by mail to the Cashier’s Office (Student Business Services), 203 Pierce Hall.
The Office of Records and Registration will compare your program of study and any changes made to that document by way of emails from your advisor to Records. Any differences will be noted and a graduation audit form will be sent to you and your department advisor. The advisor verifies completion and signs off on your program. You will receive a letter from the Office of Records and Registration indicating you have met program requirements. This letter may be used with an employer to verify that a diploma is forthcoming. A degree-posted transcript and your diploma will be mailed to you six to ten weeks after the end of the semester.
If for some reason (e.g., thesis not finished), you do not complete coursework during the semester you applied to graduate, you must notify the Office of Records and Registration in writing that you wish to graduate in a later semester. Failure to do so will prevent graduation.
International Students in Last Term of Program of Study There are several options available, but it is imperative that you act upon one of them early in your final term on campus. Options include:
1. Extension of Stay
2. Prepare for departure from USA
3. Optional Practical Training
4. Begin another degree program inside the USA
5. Marriage to a US citizen
6. Permanent employment with a US company Please see the Office of International Students Website for additional information.
Commencement Ceremony: December and April
Once you have applied to graduate, the Office of Records and Registration will send you information about commencement tickets, event logistics, and details for ordering cap and gown. If you are finishing your work during the spring or summer terms, your name will appear in the December commencement program and you may return to participate in the event. If you want to participate in the April graduation, notify the Office of Records and Registration and they will send commencement information to you as long as you have 6 or fewer credit hours to complete on your program of study. Your name will not be in the program but you can walk across the stage and celebrate with family and friends.
Career Services
The Career Services Center, 200 McKenny, provides a variety of services for both undergraduate and graduate students. They assist with resume development, interview strategies, and have off-campus job listings. See their Website.
Done with one graduate program, on to another one?
Many EMU graduate students return to complete a second master’s degree, a certificate program, a specialist degree program, or a doctoral program. Once you graduate, your student number becomes inactive. You must submit a new admissions application, another fee, new personal statement, and any other admission materials the new program may require. New transcripts from other Universities will be needed if you have been gone from EMU longer than seven years. Once your application has been reviewed by the new department and has been processed by the Office of Admissions, your student number will be activated and you may register for classes. The cycle begins anew.
Website resources for graduate students
The Graduate School does not recommend any specific stand or issue taken by these references but provides them as additional information for students to explore.
http://gradresources.org/menus/about.shtmlis the Website for the organization, Grad Resource, that provides support to graduate assistants via articles, discussion, news, and surveys of graduate life.
http://www.asgs.orgis the site for the Association for Support for Graduate Students. This is a service organization for graduate students, for graduate student organizations, and graduate degree-granting institutions. It provides useful information and links to other Websites.
http://www.nagps.orgis the site for the National Association of Graduate-Professional Students. This organization works to address national, state, and campus-level graduate student causes.
http://www.cgsnet.org/ is the site for the Council of Graduate Schools. This organization is dedicated to the improvement and advancement of graduate education. Its members are colleges and universities engaged in research, scholarship and the preparation of candidates for advanced degrees.
Phone Resource
The National Graduate Student Crisis line provides phone counseling for graduate students experiencing problems for which immediate help is needed. Phone 1.877.GRADHLP (1.877.472.3457)
