Student Designations

Graduate students are admitted with a certain status, depending upon the specific application decision and the student’s individual circumstances. The admissions committees try to select candidates who are not only academically strong but who can benefit from the program and who will also contribute significantly to the learning experience of their peers. The admission decision will be based on an evaluation of all criteria rather than upon academic record alone.

Matriculated

Applicants who meet the program admission requirements qualify for matriculated status.

Conditionally Matriculated

Applicants who marginally meet the admission standards but appear to have potential for success in the program based on other evaluation criteria may be matriculated with conditional status. Conditional students can take courses for a maximum of two semesters and should meet with the program director at the end of each semester to discuss their plan and progress. At the conclusion of the second semester, the program director may remove the conditional status for students with a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher. All conditional students with a cumulative GPA below 3.00 will be referred to the Graduate Academic Standing Committee for consideration. The committee may place a conditional student on academic probation or dismiss the student from the program.

Provisionally Matriculated

Students are admitted on a provisional basis if supporting documentation is not complete at the time of admission. If all admission components are not in place by the date specified in the letter of acceptance, these students may not be allowed to register for any subsequent courses until their application is complete. Official degree-bearing transcripts must be submitted and received within 30 days of the first day of class of the semester a student matriculates. If you do not submit complete transcripts by this time, you may be withdrawn from Fisher and not allowed to re-enroll until these transcripts have been received by the Transfer and Office of Transfer and Graduate Admissions. Full graduate standing is granted when the documents are received in the Transfer and Office of Transfer and Graduate Admissions by the date specified in the letter of acceptance.

Non-Matriculated

Students with baccalaureate degrees from accredited undergraduate colleges may register for graduate coursework on a space available basis. These individuals must submit a transcript from the undergraduate institution indicating completion of a bachelor’s degree and must complete a Non-matriculated form. Non-matriculated status does not indicate acceptance into a graduate program at Fisher. Students may be non-matriculated for only one semester and enroll in no more than six credits, after which they must submit an application for admission. Financial aid is not available to non-matriculated students.

Continuous Matriculation

Maintenance of matriculation requires the successful completion of at least one graduate-level course at Fisher during the calendar year. Pre-approved transfer credit may be used to meet this requirement for continuous matriculation. Degree requirements existing at the time of admission will remain in force if the student maintains continuous matriculation. A student who discontinues enrollment for more than two semesters must apply for readmission. The student must meet any new requirements for admission, as well as any new requirements for the degree.