The annual evaluation process is designed to ensure program expectations are clear and students know exactly what they need to do in order to succeed. Students are rarely dismissed from our program. However, in keeping with the requirements of the university and the psychology department, the program has established a policy on satisfactory performance that protects the rights of students while clearly setting out program requirements.
 

Students are expected to maintain high standards in the quality of their work and progress in a timely fashion according to an approved program of study designed to meet their individualized training goals.
As specified in the psychology department handbook, although no formula for an overall evaluation exists, poor or substandard performance in any single area will be a matter for substantial concern, and probation or dismissal are possible outcomes. If a training area wishes to recommend probation or dismissal, the area head will forward that recommendation to the dean of the Graduate College.
 

Recommendations for probation or dismissal may also be made at times other than the annual evaluation. If a student is placed on probation, the written notification will describe the conditions for necessary for ending the probationary period, including time limits and requirements. Students have 10 working days to appeal this recommendation in writing to the dean of the Graduate College.

Dismissal Criteria

Some categories of possible causes for probation or dismissal are:

1. Deception or falsification of statements in the admissions application,
2. Unauthorized periods of absence from the graduate program,
3. Seriously compromising the relations of the Department with the public,
4. Breaches of ethical judgment or professional responsibility,
5. Breaches of academic or scientific honesty (e.g., plagiarism, falsification of research data),
6. Serious instances of personality or character traits or behaviors inappropriate for the professional roles for which the student is attempting to prepare him/herself,
7. Serious misuse of departmental or university facilities,
8. Failure to pass the speak test in English after three years,
9. Lack of satisfactory academic progress.

Lack of satisfactory academic progress includes performance in coursework, research, and the development of relevant professional competencies (e.g., quantitative skills, teaching). These dimensions include:

1. Failure to complete required coursework in a timely manner according to program requirements,
2. Failure to maintain a 3.0 GPA,
3. Poor performance in research,
4. Poor performance in professional activities (e.g., teaching or research assistantship performance),
5. Failure to complete program milestones in a timely fashion.
    

Program Milestones

With regard to timing, as described above, ideally the typical student’s program of study will take five years for completion. In recognition of the fact that the program enrolls students who have both basic and applied interests that may require specialized training experiences involving additional coursework or pursuing joint degrees in law and psychology, or experience with time-consuming community-based research, the program allows for some flexibility in milestone timing for students who are otherwise exhibiting excellence in other areas of performance.
 

Such flexibility will reflect negotiations with the student’s academic advisor. The program faculty shall monitor student progress towards training goals. The student's annual evaluation will include specific feedback about what the student is expected to do to stay on track with regard to milestone timing, and students who do not meet timing expectations will be put on probation. After a year of probationary status, progress will be considered unsatisfactory if expectations continue to be unmet.
 

The program specifies the following time frames as the outside limits for accomplishing program milestones :
We distinguish four circumstances, one for students who enter the program with a bachelor’s degree (I), one for students who enter the program with a master’s degree (II), one for students jointly pursuing law and psychology degrees with a bachelor’s degree (III), and one for students jointly pursuing law and psychology degrees with a master’s degree (IV).
 

(I) To be considered as making satisfactory progress, students who enter the social psychology program with a bachelor’s degree must :

• Successfully defend their master's within three years,
• Complete and defend the comprehensive examination within two years following completion of the Masters oral defense, and
• Complete and defend the dissertation within two years following completion of the comprehensive examination.

(II) To be considered as making satisfactory progress, students who enter the social psychology Ph.D. program with a master’s degree must :

• Complete and defend the comprehensive examination within four years, and
• Complete and defend the dissertation within two years following completion of the comprehensive examination.

(III) To be considered as making satisfactory progress, students who enter the joint law and psychology program seeking a social psychology Ph.D. with a bachelor’s degree must:

• Successfully defend their Masters within four years (their first year in the program being devoted to studies in the law school),
• Complete and defend the comprehensive examination within three years following completion of the Masters oral defense, and
• Complete and defend the dissertation within two years following completion of the comprehensive examination.

(IV) To be considered as making satisfactory progress, students who enter the joint law and psychology program seeking a social psychology Ph.D. with a master’s degree must:

• Complete and defend the comprehensive examination within five years, (their first year in the program being devoted to studies in the law school), and
• Complete and defend the dissertation within two years following completion of the comprehensive examination.