Academic Calendar

Graduate School Academic Calendar, 2008-2009

Fall 2008 Semester
August
1 Fall 2008 registration deadline for matriculated and non-matriculated graduate-level students. Registration received after this date will result in a $150 late charge to the student’s account.
21 Orientation Program for first-year graduate students.
22 International Student Orientation Program.
26 First-year student Fall course registration due in the Offices for Graduate Education. Registration received after this date will result in a $150 late charge to the student’s account.
27 Last day to submit 1 corrected copy of the Ph.D. dissertation to the Senior Associate Dean for the October 2008 degree. NOTE: If this deadline is not met, student must register and pay the appropriate fee for the Fall semester.
27 noon Last day to submit final results of MPH Essays and Master’s Thesis Defenses without registering for the Fall semester. NOTE: If this deadline is not met, student must register and pay the appropriate fee for the Fall semester.
September
1 Labor Day. The University is closed.
2 Fall semester begins.
2-12 No defenses may be held during this time period.
15 First day to hold Ph.D. defense in the Fall semester (having registered the dissertation at least 16 full working days prior to defense date).
25 SMD Convocation.
23 noon Final results of MPH Essays, Ph.D. Qualifying Exams, and Master’s Thesis Defenses must be received by the Senior Associate Dean to receive October 2008 degree. NOTE: You must be registered for the Fall semester if final results are submitted after August 30, 2008.
29 Add/Drop/Audit deadline. NOTE: Classes added after this deadline will result in a $150 late registration charge to the student’s account. Classes dropped after this date will be reflected on the official transcript with a W grade.
October
17 University Board of Trustees meets to approve October 2008 degrees.
November
3 Online registration opens for Spring 2009 semester for current graduate students.
21 noon Last day to register Ph.D. dissertation during the Fall semester. NOTE: If this deadline is not met, the defense cannot be held until the Spring semester.
27-28 Thanksgiving Break. The University is closed.
December
3 Spring 2009 registration deadline for matriculated and non-matriculated graduate-level students. Registration received after this date will result in a $150 late charge to the student’s account.
11 Last day of classes for Fall semester.
11 Course withdrawal deadline. NOTE: Courses dropped after this date will receive a failing grade.
12-14 Reading period. No final examinations may be held during this period.
15-21 Final examinations. Grades must be reported to the Offices for Graduate Education within 48 hours of the final exam for all Fall 2008 courses.
12/22/08 - 1/2/09 No Ph.D. defenses may be held during this time period.
25 Christmas Day. The University is closed.
Spring 2009 Semester
January
1 New Year’s Day. The University is closed.
5-9 Ph.D. defenses may be held during this period only if the dissertation was registered by the November 21, 2008 deadline.
7 Spring registration deadline for first-year students admitted in Spring 2009 semester. Registration received after this date will result in a $150 late charge to the student’s account.
12-23 No defenses may be held during this time period.
13 Last day to submit 1 corrected copy of the Ph.D. dissertation for the March 2009 degree. NOTE: If this deadline is not met, student must register and pay the appropriate fee for the Spring semester.
13 Last day to submit final results of MPH Essays and Master’s Thesis Defenses without registering for the Spring semester. NOTE: If this deadline is not met, student must register and pay the appropriate fee for the Spring semester.
14 Spring semester begins.
19 Observance of Martin Luther King Day. No classes.
26 First day to hold Ph.D. defenses in the Spring semester (having registered the dissertation at least 16 full working days prior to defense date).
February
4 Final results of MPH Essays, Ph.D. Qualifying Exams, and Master’s Thesis defenses must be received by the Senior Associate Dean to receive March 2009 degree. NOTE: You must be registered for the Spring semester if final results are submitted after January 13, 2009.
10 Add/Drop/Audit deadline. NOTE: Courses added after this deadline will result in a $150 late charge to the student’s account. Courses dropped after this date will be reflected on the official transcript with a W grade.
March
13 University Board of Trustees meets to approve March 2009 degrees.
7-15 No classes. This is NOT considered a semester break for Ph.D. students. All Ph.D. students must report to lab or office during this period.
23 Last day to register Ph.D. dissertation during the Spring semester. NOTE: If this deadline is not met, the defense cannot be held until the Summer.
April
22 Last day to hold Ph.D. defense during Spring semester.
23-May 26 No Masters or Ph.D. defenses or Qualifying Examinations may be held during this time.
24 Final results of MPH Essays, Ph.D. Qualifying Exams, and Master’s Thesis Defenses must be received by the Senior Associate Dean to receive May 2009 degree.
27 Last day to submit 1 corrected copy of the Ph.D. dissertation for May 2009 degree.
29 Last day of classes for Spring semester.
29 Course withdrawal deadline. NOTE: Courses dropped after this date receive a failing grade.
30 - May 3 Reading period. No final examinations my be held during this period.
May
1 Summer registration deadline for matriculated and non-matriculated students. Registration received after this date will result in a $150 late charge to the student’s account.
4-11 Final examinations. Grades must be reported to the Offices for Graduate Education within 24 hours of final exam for all Spring 2009 courses.
15 SMD Doctoral Commencement Dinner and Awards Ceremony.
16 University Board of Trustees meets to approve May 2009 degrees.
16 University Doctoral Degree Commencement.
17 SMD Master’s Degree Commencement.
Summer 2009 Semester
May
18 Summer sessions begin. Check with course instructor for session start and end dates.
25 Memorial Day. The University is closed.
27 First day to hold Ph.D. defenses in the Summer (having registered the dissertation at least 21 full working days prior to defense date and not including the date of registration).
July
1 Online registration opens for Fall 2009 semester for current graduate students.
4 Independence Day. The University is closed.
6 Last day to register Ph.D. dissertation during the Summer semester. NOTE: If this deadline is not met, the defense cannot be held until the Fall.
August
3 Fall 2009 registration deadline for current graduate students. Registration received after this date will result in a $150 late charge to the student’s account.
7 Summer sessions end.
14 Summer sessions grade reports due in the Offices for Graduate Education by this date.
19 Last day to hold Ph.D. defense during Summer semester.
20 - Sept 11 No defenses may be held during this time period.
20 Orientation Program for first-year graduate students (tentative).
21 International Student Orientation Program (tentative).
26 First-year student course registration due in the Offices for Graduate Education. Registration received after this date will result in a $150 late charge to the student’s account (tentative).
26 Last day to submit 1 corrected copy of the Ph.D. dissertation to the Senior Associate Dean for the October 2008 degree. NOTE: If this deadline is not met, student must register and pay the appropriate fee for the Fall semester.
September
1 Fall semester begins.
7 Labor Day. The University is closed.
14 First day to hold Ph.D. defense in the Fall semester (having registered the dissertation at least 16 full working days prior to defense date.)

Notes:

According to the rules of the Faculty, no final examinations may be held during designated reading periods. Non-comprehensive examinations may be held in the last week of the classes during the regular course meeting time.

All Ph.D. candidates in the School of Medicine and Dentistry are required to report to the lab or office during semester breaks. Time away (e.g. vacation) requires the approval of the student’s faculty mentor and/or the cluster or program director. Sick time must be reported to the faculty mentor and/or the cluster or program director as well. Graduate Education Coordinators must be notified when time away from School is taken, whether it is sick time, vacation time, or conference travel.

Ph.D. Qualifying Examinations
Master’s Defenses/Final Oral Examinations

Ph.D. Final Oral Examination – Fall 2008 and Spring 2009 Term Only

Ph.D. Final Oral Examination – Summer 2009 Term

The final oral examination for the degree Doctor of Philosophy during Summer 2009 cannot be held until at least 21 full working days have elapsed after the dissertation has been registered in the Offices for Graduate Education in the School of Medicine and Dentistry and the Office of the University Dean of Graduate Studies.

For summer defenses, all paperwork must be submitted to the Offices for Graduate Education at least 15 full working days prior to the date of thesis registration (36 working days prior to the defense date). Contacting your graduate coordinator before scheduling your defense ensures the timely delivery of your paperwork.

This calendar was accurate at the time of publication and is subject to change without notice. Questions regarding the calendar should be directed to the Linda Lipani, Offices for Graduate Education, Medical Center room G-9555, phone 275-7288.

July 1,2008