A.   Registration/Leaves of Absence
Throughout their studies all students must be registered continuously or on approved leave of absence or their student status will lapse.   Leaves of absence are normally granted for periods of one to three quarters a total of one year at the request of the student, with the approval of the Graduate Division.   Students who fail to return to the University after being on an official leave of absence, or who leave the University without an official leave of absence, must apply for readmission to graduate study.

B.   Incomplete Grades
The grade of Incomplete (I) is given only for good cause.   Students who fail to complete the requirements of a course should not expect to automatically receive an Incomplete but should contact the faculty member in charge of the course prior to the end of the quarter to request an Incomplete. If the coursework is not completed by the end of the next full quarter in residence, the Incomplete will lapse automatically to an F or U.   With consent of the instructor, coursework may be completed in a later quarter and the appropriate grade assigned then.   The lapsed Incomplete, however, remains an F or U on the student's record until the final grade is received.

In addition to completing the course work, to remove an Incomplete students must ask the Graduate Advisor to give the faculty member a UCLA Report of Academic Revision which will be submitted to the Registrar's Office (by the Graduate Advisor) when the faculty member has assigned a grade and signed the form. (The student's SBAR account will be billed $5 for the removal of an incomplete.)

C.   Scholastic Requirements
Students must maintain a grade point average of at least 3.0 (B) in all course-work undertaken, as required by the academic senate.   Students failing to do so are placed on probation. Students whose cumulative GPA is below 3.0 for any three quarters will be asked to withdraw from the Program.

D.   Probationary status
For each student who is on probationary status (grade point average falls below 3.0 for the term) or who is making insufficient progress toward the degree, a counseling board is established.   The board consists of three faculty members, including the student's advisor.   The counseling board meets with the student at least once during each term as long as the student remains on probation.   The board has the responsibility of reviewing the student's record, determining strengths and weaknesses, and aiding the student in raising academic performance.

If the student continues to make inadequate progress towards the degree, the counseling board may recommend termination.   Recommendations for termination based on other reasons than a grade point average below 3.0 may be made by (1) the counseling board submits a written statement to the department chair; and (2) the department chair, acting in consultation with the student's advisor, recommends termination.   In certain circumstances a student may be given the option to withdraw from the program. A student may appeal a recommendation for termination to the three-person counseling board.

E. Termination
Students on probation, students admitted provisionally, or others not making sufficient progress toward the degree (e.g., part-time status or failing doctoral examinations twice) may be recommended for termination.   Recommendations for termination may be made either by the counseling board through a written statement to the Department Chair or by the Department Chair, acting in consultation with the faculty advisor.   Students recommended for termination may petition to have their situation reviewed by a three person faculty review board.   The review board, which includes the faculty advisor and two other faculty members (one chosen by the Department Chair and one chosen by the student) reviews the formal record and conducts a personal interview.   The board then makes written recommendations to the Department Chair.   If students do not petition for a review board, or if the review board recommends termination, the recommendation is then made formally by the Department Chair to the Dean of the Graduate Division.

F. Student-Initiated Courses
Any group of seven or more students may petition any faculty member to organize a new course to be offered during a subsequent term.   The petition must be countersigned by (1) the faculty member willing to offer and/or supervise the course and (2) the students who will take the course if offered.   The petition should be submitted to the Director of the MURP Program and the Curriculum Working Group.  Following Curriculum Working Group review and MURP Program Director approval, final approval of the course resides with the Department Chair.     Such approval will take into account the demand for courses that the faculty member would otherwise teach.

Student initiated courses can be student-led under faculty supervision (and numbered 298), or may lead to special topics courses taught by faculty or visitors,  resources permitting.  Students may complete a maximum of two student-initiated (UP 298) courses for credit during their degree program.  All UP 298 courses are graded S/U, while special topics courses may be taken for a letter grade or S/U.

Faculty agreeing to supervise a student-initiated course are responsible for determining that the readings, topics, and assignments are appropriate in scope and scale to a graduate course in UrbanPlanning;  are expected to attend each of the class meetings, except by special arrangement (as with other courses they teach);  and are responsible for overseeing and approving the grading of assignments and the assignment of final grades.

G. UC Intercampus Exchange Program
The UC Intercampus Exchange Program is for graduate students who seek the opportunity for contact with scholars, fields of study, and facilities not available on their home campus.

UCLA Urban Planning students have a one semester limit on intercampus exchanges with any UC campus. Any request for an extension beyond the one semester limit must be accompanied by a proposal explaining why this is relevant to the student's planning education and must be approved by the Chairs of both departments.