Department of Statistics

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Graduate Student Handbook

Policies and Procedures

Duration and Plan of Study

Students with TA appointments who are pursuing a Masters program are expected to complete their program within a span of two academic years. A typical Plan of Study for a student pursuing an MS in Applied Statistics may look like this:

Fall Year 1	Stat 562	(Theory 1)	4
	Stat 662	(Methods 1)	3

Spring Year 1	Stat 660	(Theory 2)	4
	Stat 664	(Methods 2)	3

Summer I Year 1	Elective		3
Summer II Year 1	--------

Fall Year 2	Stat 680	(SAS Computing)	3
	Elective		3

Spring Year 2	Elective		3
	Elective		3
	Elective		3
			-----
			Total: 32 hrs

Incoming students are expected to complete a Plan of Study with their graduate adviser by Oct. 15 during their first Fall semester. A tentative plan may be submitted online at http://www.stat.wmich.edu/naranjo/msstat/index.html

Statistics Graduate Examinations
All students pursuing a masters program in Statistics must take and pass the Department Graduate Examinations (DGE) on topics covered by the Year 1 sequences Stat 562/660 and Stat 662/664. The DGE's are given once a year, on the first week of Summer 1 classes. In Summer I 2010, the DGE's will be given on the following dates.

Thursday, May 7, 2-5 PM - Methods DGE
Friday, May 8, 2-5 PM - Theory DGE

Eligible students who plan to take the Exams must register with Cheryl Peters by March 15. Students pursuing a doctoral program must pass the DGE's at a High Level.
Minimum GPA for Good Academic Standing
All students pursuing a graduate program must maintain an overall GPA of at least 3.0. Students whose GPA drop below 3.0 are put on probation, and will lose their TA appointment and stipend for the next regular semester. If their GPA improves to 3.0 or better after one semester, then probation is removed, and TA appointments may be continued at the discretion of the Graduate Committee.

See the end of this document for the Academic Standards section of the WMU Graduate Catalog.
Satisfactory TA Performance
All graduate assistants (TA's and DA's) must perform satisfactorily in their assigned teaching and other duties. The Graduate Committee may withhold renewal of graduate appointments based on poor performance in teaching or other duties.
Duration of Support
Graduate students in good academic standing who provide satisfactory TA performance may expect to receive continued support to the conclusion of their program. However, students will NOT normally be supported more than 2 years for a Masters degree, or more than 5 years for a doctoral degree.

Responsibilities

Graduate students are expected to:

attend all colloquia of the Department of Statistics. Colloquium announcements i will be posted at the Department bulletin board and the Department website http://www.stat.wmich.edu.
read the announcements on the department website regularly. It is recommended that you make the website your browser homepage, in order to facilitate communication within the department.
ensure that your regular email address is included in the department mailing list maintained by Cheryl Peters (Cheryl.Peters@wmich.edu). Job announcements, colloquia AND other announcements are also emailed besides being posted on the website.

Academic Standards (from the WMU 2009-10 Graduate Catalog)

Notwithstanding the Academic Standards policy outlined below, a student admitted with Conditional Admission or Provisional Admission status must meet the specified performance level within the time frame identified in the letter of admission or may not continue to enroll in University courses. Further, the Academic Standards policy inherently presumes the student will first meet satisfactorily any obligations or requirements specified in the letter of admission before the Academic Standards policy shall have any effect on the continuing enrollment of the student.

Good Standing: A graduate student admitted to a graduate degree or certificate program is in good standing whenever that student's degree or certificate program grade point average is at least 3.0.
Warning: Whenever the grade point average for any enrollment period is less than 3.0, but the degree program grade point average is 3.0 or above, the student will be warned.
Probation: If a student's degree program grade point average falls below 3.0, the student will be placed on probation.
Extended Probation: The student will be placed on Extended Probation when, following a semester on Probation, the student’s degree program grade point average is below 3.0 and the student’s grade point average for the enrollment period is 3.0 or above.
Final Probation: The student will be placed on Final Probation when, following a semester on Extended Probation, the student’s degree program grade point average is below 3.0 and the student’s grade point average for the enrollment period is 3.0 or above.
Probation Removed: When the conditions of Good Standing are restored, Probation will be removed.
Dismissal: Students on Probation or Extended Probation who fail to achieve at least a 3.0 grade point average for the enrollment period, or students on Final Probation who fail to achieve a 3.0 cumulative grade point average will be dismissed from the University.
* Dismissed students must apply for readmission through the normal admission process. The student will send a Readmission Application to the Admissions Office that, in turn, will forward the student's Readmission Application to the program or academic unit admission body for decision on readmission.
Appeal Procedure: Upon appeal by the student, the program or academic unit admission body will determine whether to grant Extended Probation or Final Probation status. The status must be granted by the program or academic unit admission body in order for the student to register. The appeal must be initiated and the decision made by the program or unit prior to the subsequent semester's last day to add classes.

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