Tuition Policy Statement

Policy Statement for Graduate Tuition Scholarships for Research, Teaching and Graduate Assistants and Fellows

The University of Delaware provides tuition scholarships to full-time graduate students who are awarded stipends for an entire semester/academic year as a research, teaching or graduate assistant or fellow. Graduate departments and programs select the recipients of these awards based on the student's high academic standing. The stipulations of the tuition scholarship policy are:

• The stipend must be at least $15,200 per academic year or equivalent to $1,688 per month in 2009-2010; In 2008-2009, $14,600 per academic year or equivalent to $1,622 per month.
• Overhead must be charged on stipends from external contracts and grants;
• When graduate tuition is available from external sources, it must be charged to the external source (reverse tuition grants to departments will not be processed);
• When summer stipends are paid from external sources and when graduate tuition is available from external sources, the tuition charge for summer must be charged to the external source;
• Students on sustaining status qualify for a waiver of the sustaining fee but will not qualify for a tuition scholarship;
• Tuition scholarships are not awarded for winter session under this policy;
• Should a student leave the University after the free drop/add period of the semester of an appointment, the stipend will be immediately terminated. The tuition scholarship originally accompanying the stipend will become the responsibility of the student unless an appeal is presented in writing and approved by the Office of Graduate and Professional Education. If the appeal is approved, the tuition scholarship will continue to be applied to the student's account and will not be available to be awarded to another student in that semester;
• According to UD regulations, students are limited to 20 working hours per week within the University and may not be employed outside the University. Any exception to this policy must be represented in writing by the appropriate departmental/college office to the Office of Graduate and Professional Education for consideration and action.

The recipients of these awards are eligible for coverage by the University's Accident and Sickness Insurance Blue Plan at a reduced cost which saves the recipient 80% of the cost of the insurance.

Program Policy Statement Template

Procedures for Submitting Proposals and Program Policy Statements to the Graduate Studies Committee

Download a .pdf of the Procedures.

These guidelines are developed to address the submission process for:

1. Change in the academic, curriculum or admission requirements of a current graduate program

2. Request for the establishment of a new graduate program

Step 1.  Hold preliminary discussion of the proposal with the Assistant Provost for Graduate and Professional Education.

Step 2.  After the approval at the College level, submit the proposal to the Assistant Provost for Graduate and Professional Education who will review the proposal along with the Chair of the Graduate Studies Committee.  The proposal must include the Academic Approval Form.  http://www.udel.edu/facsen/forms/checklist2004.doc  (For new programs, the proposal must include a memo from the Dean with regard to the support of the new program.)

Step 3.  The Chair of the Graduate Studies Committee will notify the originator of the proposal to attend a Graduate Studies Committee meeting so as to discuss the rationale and demand for the program, and answer questions of the Committee.

Step 4.  The Graduate Studies Committee will forward to the Faculty Senate Office the proposal, the Academic Approval Form, and its recommendation to be given to the Faculty Senate Coordinating Committee.

Step 5.  The Faculty Senate Coordinating Committee sends the proposal forward through the appropriate Committees of the Senate and Board of Trustees for final action.

Note:  Refer to the Faculty Senate Approval Process for Provisional and Permanent Academic Programs for further information: http://www.udel.edu/facsen/course/index.html

Template

Download a .pdf version of the template.

Part I. Program History

1. Statement of purpose and expectation of graduate study in the program.
2. Date of Permanent Status (or current status).
3. Degrees offered (include brief description of concentrations, fields, etc.).

Part II. Admission

1. Admission Requirements (be specific about GRE, GMAT, and TOEFL Scores, G.P.A and others).
2. Prior degree requirements.
3. Application deadlines.
4. Special competencies needed (i.e., specific courses or experience).
5. Admission categories (explain other than regular such as provisional).
6. Other documents required (i.e., letters of recommendation, essays, portfolios, interviews, writing assessments, etc.).
7. Must include University statement: Admission to the graduate program is competitive. Those who meet stated requirements are not guaranteed admission, nor are those who fail to meet all of those requirements necessarily precluded from admission if they offer other appropriate strengths.

Part III. Academic (present all information separately for each degree)

1. Degree Requirements
1. List course requirements according to categories such as core requirements, concentration options, electives, research credits and dissertation credit requirements. List number of credits in each category and include total credits required for degree.
2. Give non-registered requirements in detail; includes residency requirements, qualifying examinations (number and format), portfolios, seminars, English proficiency, language requirements, teaching experience, internships, etc.
3. Give procedure for petitions for variance in degree requirements (e.g., course substitution policies, completion deadlines, etc.).
4. Define any grade minimums in courses that are different from University policy.
5. Identify any courses, which may not be used towards the degree (i.e., independent study, pre-candidacy study).
6. Identify expectations of facility of expression in English (oral and written) as part of the degree requirement.
2. Committees for exams, thesis, or dissertations
1. Identify initial procedure for advisor and advisement procedures.
2. Identify each student committee needed and procedures for selecting committee members.
3. Give deadlines for establishing and preparation requirements for comprehensive examinations.
4. Give policies for dates of examinations, grading of committee examinations and retake options.
5. Give guidelines for approving research proposals involving human or animal subjects.
6. Define procedures for thesis/dissertation approval in the department (e.g., role of department chair, dean, etc.).
7. Define departmental and student obligations for finding committee members.
8. Define departmental and student obligations and procedures for changes in committee members.
3. Timetable and definition of satisfactory progress towards the degree
1. Academic load (full & part-time) expectations. Define normal progress. Define departmental review procedures for evaluating normal progress and evaluation of performance.
2. Grade requirements (general and specific). Include any special departmental expectations such as minimum grades in specific courses, limits on special problem courses, etc.
3. Thesis/dissertation progress timetable guidelines.
4. Thesis/dissertation defense guidelines.
5. Forms required.
6. Identify consequence for failure to make satisfactory progress.
7. Protocol for grievance procedure if student has been recommended for termination for failure to make satisfactory progress.

Part IV. Assessment Plan

Indicate how the program will be evaluated and assessed. Every learning outcome needs to be assessed in at least two ways. One measure must be a direct measurement (where you can see the student demonstrate their learning). Other measures can be direct or indirect (such as a survey).  Success should be measured against the criteria listed including the stated learning outcomes and against whatever objectives have been set forth in the first section of the proposal. Academic units are encouraged to consult with the Center for Educational Effectiveness to develop appropriate learning outcomes, assessment criteria, and benchmarks for success. 

Part V. Financial aid

1. Financial Awards
1. Types of awards, policy for granting financial awards, summer appointments, and number of years of support.
2. Responsibilities of students on contract.
3. Evaluation of students on contract.

Part VI. Departmental Operations

1. General student responsibilities
1. Up-to-date addresses, etc.
2. Laboratories and research equipment.
3. Hazardous Chemical Information Act.
4. Vehicles.
5. Keys, offices, mail, telephone, copy machine, computer terminals, etc.
2. Student government and organizations (both student and professional).
3. Travel for professional meetings or presentations

International Forms

• Department Information for Non-US Employees and Visitors
• Green Card Information
• Non-Resident Alien Honorarium Regulation
• Request for Visiting Scholar Form
• UDW8 Form
• H1-B
  • Information and Processing
  • Sample Letter
  • Questionnaire