The policy is based on broad guidelines from the Office of Graduate Studies copied below:

From the Office of Graduate Studies, General Requirements of Graduate Studies, Item 12:  "Continuous enrollment in the University or in a specific graduate program is dependent upon a satisfactory evaluation of academic performance and progress toward the completion of a specified degree.  A student's progress is considered satisfactory unless judged to be unsatisfactory by the department and/or the dean of the college offering the program."

"To be eligible for the comprehensive/preliminary examination, a graduate student must maintain an overall "B" average in all graduate courses attempted while in a specific program.  Individual programs may have additional requirements."

Additional requirements, established by the Mechanical Engineering Department, include a list of academic deficiencies that would initiate the dismissal process.  These requirements also establish the general sequence of considerations leading to academic dismissal:

Grounds for Academic Dismissal
1. Failure to maintain an overall GPA of at least 3.0
2. A single grade of "U", "D", or "F" in any course
3. More than two grades below a "B" in any semester
4. More than two grades below a "B" in courses taken for graduate credit
5. Unsatisfactory research progress as determined by the student's Major Advisor

Academic Dismissal Process
1. Deficiency recognition by student's Major Advisor or the Graduate Program Coordinator
2. Case consideration and findings by the faculty
3. Concurrence by Department Head
4. Recommend dismissal to the Dean of Engineering

This policy sets reasonable standards for consideration of academic dismissal, while allowing for full consideration of special circumstances by the Mechanical Engineering faculty.