A. Leaves of Absence/Registration In Absentia

The Graduate Division has very strict policies regarding Leaves of Absence and In Absentia Registration.

B. Incomplete Grades

The grade of Incomplete (I) is given only for good cause. If the course work is not completed by the end of the next full term in residence, the I grade will lapse automatically to an F or U. In addition to completing the coursework, to remove an Incomplete, students must request that the Graduate Advisor submit a UCLA Report of Academic Revision to Graduate Division.

C. Scholastic Requirements

Students must maintain a grade point average of at least 3.0 (B) in all course work undertaken. 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

The Department will establish a counseling board for each student who is on probation or who is making insufficient progress toward their degrees.  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 reviews the student's record, determines the strengths and weaknesses of the student's record, and aides the student in raising their academic performance.

E. 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.