10. Academic Standards

Students are responsible for being aware of and meeting all University, Graduate School and program requirements and deadlines.

10.1. Good Standing

A student’s status in the program is based upon performance in their coursework and in their research. Students will be considered to be in good standing as long as their graduate cumulative grade point average is 3.0 or higher and they are deemed to be meeting the research expectations of the NGSP, their advisor and their candidacy or thesis committee. Failure to maintain good standing can result in the student's dismissal from the University. A doctoral student who has had two unsatisfactory attempts at the Candidacy Examination or the Final Oral Examination is not in good standing and is automatically dismissed from the University.

All students who receive less than a B grade in any of the NGSP core courses (723, 724, 725, 726, or 824) or an overall cumulative GPA of less than 3.0 will be reviewed by the NGSP Committee and Program Director(s). If a student receives a B- (B minus) grade, the NGSP Committee in conjunction with the director(s) of the course will decide the form of remediation. The form of remediation may include, but is not limited to, retaking the course the next time it is offered. If the grade is lower than a B- (B minus), then retaking the course is mandatory. A student who receives a grade of D or E in any NGSP core course will not be considered to be in good standing and may be dismissed from the NGSP.

10.2. Reasonable Progress

A student will be considered to be making “reasonable progress” if he/she maintains a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or above, has been enrolled continuously and is meeting the research expectations of the NGSP program, his/her advisor and his/her candidacy or thesis committee.

10.3. Annual Student Reviews

It is the policy of the NGSP that all students will be reviewed annually by faculty members of the NGSP committee to determine that reasonable progress is being made. Student members of the NGSP Committee may not participate in student reviews. At the review, the student will be asked to provide an update of their progress with respect to course work, candidacy exam, selection of advisor, research progress (e.g., projects completed, publications, meetings attended, presentations given, etc.). The student may also discuss any questions, problems or concerns they may have at that time. The student’s advisor must not be present at this annual review. A written summary of the meeting will be sent to the student and their advisor and a copy maintained in the student’s file in the NGSP office. If the committee determines that reasonable progress is not being made, it will issue a written Letter of Warning to the student which will include a timetable for corrective action to be taken. If sufficient improvement is not demonstrated within the specified time frame then the student will not be considered to be in good standing and may be dismissed from the NGSP.

10.4. Degree Time Limits—5 year rule

Full-time doctoral students should normally complete the Candidacy Examination by the end of their second year in the Ph.D. program. Candidates must complete all degree requirements and defend their dissertations in not more than five (5) years after completion of their Candidacy Examination, though it is normally expected that this period will not exceed three (3) years. Students that exceed the 5 year limit will have to retake the Candidacy Examination before being eligible to submit their Dissertation.

10.5. Course Time Limit—5 Year Rule

Only courses taken within five years of the date of successful completion of the Candidacy Examination and ten years prior to the completion of the Final Oral Examination may be applied toward the degree.

Should a student depart the campus before completing all requirements for the degree, the five-year clock on course work continues to run. Early during the quarter (no later than the second Friday of the quarter) in which the student is NOT in continuous enrollment, the student must send a letter of petition to the Director(s) of the NGSP Committee to request a leave of absence.

10.6. Probationary Status

If after completing 15 hours of graduate credit, a student’s cumulative grade point average falls below 3.0, that student will be placed on probation by the Dean of the Graduate School.

10.7. Denial of Registration or Dismissal

A student who has been warned of failure to make reasonable progress and who has not shown improvement within a specified time period may be denied further registration in the NGSP.

A student who is on probation and who does not raise his/her graduate grade point average to 3.0 or better at the end of the next quarter of enrollment in the Graduate School may be dismissed from the University at the discretion of the Graduate School following consultation with the Director(s) of the NGSP. The student is automatically dismissed from the University at the end of three consecutive quarters on probation, unless good standing is achieved. If there are extenuating circumstances, the NGSP Committee may petition the Graduate School for an exception to this policy.

A doctoral student who has had two unsatisfactory attempts at the Candidacy Examination or the Final Oral Examination is automatically dismissed from the University.

10.8. Letter of Warning

No student in the NGSP may be denied further registration or be dismissed without first being warned by the Graduate School that such action is pending. The Director(s) of the NGSP Committee will send a copy of any letter of warning to the student’s advisor.

10.9. Ethics and Scholarly Conduct

NGSP students are required to observe professional ethical standards in their graduate studies and research as detailed in the Graduate Student Code of Research and Scholarly Conduct available on the Graduate School web site. The Graduate School and the NGSP expects that NGSP students will demonstrate responsibility and integrity in pursuing their research. NGSP students are responsible for learning and following all standards and policies related to ethical research and scholarly conduct.

When NGSP students join the Ohio State community, they become members of disciplinary, scholarly, and professional communities that extend beyond the university. NGSP students are expected to learn, respect, and abide by the professional codes of ethics and responsibilities that are commonly accepted in their field of neuroscience research. These codes include but are not limited to the following: a responsibility to contribute an original body of work to one’s chosen discipline and the recognition that one’s work is based on the work of others which must be respected and properly acknowledged. Graduate students also have the responsibility to treat university faculty, staff, research subjects and other students respectfully and professionally.

A student who fails to exhibit ethical and scholarly conduct may be dismissed from the NGSP and denied further registration.