Graduate Programs Office

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New Student Orientation

Welcome
- Graduate Student Handbook
Policies and Procedures
Who to Contact

Welcome to Temple

Welcome to the exciting world of graduate education and particularly to the College of Education at Temple University. We are delighted that you chose Temple and our goal is to ensure that the time you spend here is everything you hoped for.

There’s so much information that you need as you begin your studies at Temple, and to that end we’ve created this Virtual Orientation to help you through this first year. We've tried to include the most relevant and important information you might need, but since everyone is different, no doubt you will still have questions. Please feel free to contact the Graduate Programs Office at any time that you need answers or advice. We have a student handbook which covers this material in depth and which we urge you to read. You can get a hard copy from the Graduate Programs Office or view the Graduate Student Handbook (pdf) online.

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Policies and Procedures

Temple has a few policies that are always confusing to students, so we’d like to go over them for you and highlight the particularly salient points.

Continuous Enrollment:

Temple requires continuous enrollment from the time you first matriculate until you graduate. This means that you must register for classes each semester you are in the degree program. If there are extenuating circumstances that prevent you from registering, then you must request a leave of absence. The form is found online and is submitted to the Director of Graduate Programs for approval (after approved by your advisor and department chair). You are limited to how many you can take, so use them wisely.

If you are a doctoral student and have completed all your coursework, you will maintain your registration by registering for one of the following classes depending on your status in the program:

Ed. 9994 Preliminary Exam Prep
Ed. 9998 Dissertation Proposal
Ed. 9999 Dissertation Writing

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Financial Responsibility:

If you register for a course, you are responsible financially for that course. Should you decide to drop it, you may do so without penalty within the first two weeks of the fall or spring semester (summer follows a bit different timetable). If you do not drop it within the first two weeks, then you may still withdraw from the class up until the ninth week of the term, but you will receive a grade of “W” and you are responsible for the tuition. Should you just forget to drop or withdraw from the class, and never attend, you will receive a grade of “F” and still be required to pay tuition for it. So word to the wise is to make sure that your schedule is what you meant it to be before the two week deadline, and to drop those classes you aren’t going to take.

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Incomplete Grades:

Incomplete grades are treated a bit differently here at Temple. Should it be necessary to take an Incomplete, you must complete a written contract with your professor that outlines what is required to complete the grade. You have one year to complete the work, from the time the Incomplete grade was assigned. At the time of the contract, the professor will assign a default grade that will be awarded should you not complete the work as stipulated in the contract. You may not graduate with an Incomplete grade on your transcript.

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Academic Standing:

To remain in Academic Good Standing, a student, whether matriculated or non-matriculated, must maintain a 3.0 GPA for each semester and a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 for all work completed at Temple. A student who receives more than two grades below a “B-“ or more than one grade of “F” will be dismissed for failure to maintain satisfactory grades. The College has no latitude on this policy. We must dismiss you if your grades fall below the standard. Students may appeal the action by submitting a “Petition to the Graduate School or Graduate Board Student Appeals Committee” to the Director of Graduate Programs. It’s a good idea to check your ISIS records periodically to make sure that any grade changes or other pertinent information is correctly noted. There’s been more than once where an “F” grade was changed by the professor but for whatever reason it wasn’t formally changed and then students are dismissed. It’s a hassle for everyone to reverse this, so help us out by checking your information.

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Registration procedures:

Registration is done online via OWLnet (owlnet.temple.edu). However, you aren’t able to use it to register until you have your first semester with a GPA of at least a 2.0 recorded. This in effect means that you will need to register in person for the first year of study since grades for your first semester won’t be posted until after registration for your second semester.

To register in person, please see your advisor, fill out the Registration/Schedule Revision form and bring it to the Graduate Programs staff. You remain eligible to use OWLnet provided you maintain a 2.0 overall GPA (though of course the College’s graduate programs require a 3.0 overall to remain in academic good standing so don’t confuse them). Remember, if you take a leave of absence you must register in person. A late registration fee of $50.00 will be charged if you do not register on time. Check the web for details. For example, a continuing student must register by Dec. 17, 2006 to be timely for Spring 2007 semester. Plan accordingly for each upcoming term. There is also a $12 fee to add or drop a class after the first two weeks.

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Tuition Payments:

As of Fall 2006, all student billing statements will be available on-line at TUpay using E-Check or credit card. Payments may be made via credit card or by check or money order payable to Temple University and submitted to the University Bursar’s Office. Please note that only Mastercard, American Express and Discover credit cards are accepted and that there is a 2.75% fee charged in addition to your tuition and fees. There is also an installment plan available. Check the Bursar’s website for detailed information and answers to your questions on paying your bill.

You may receive a tuition refund for courses officially dropped within the two week deadline for fall and spring, or the first 3 days of summer session. After these periods, there will be no refunds or reduction of charges for courses dropped or withdrawals transacted.

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Time Limits for Completion of Degree

While we enjoy having you as a Temple student, we really do want you to successfully complete the program and move onward and upward in your career. The University has set specific time frames for completing a degree which defines how much time you can expect (and indeed can be taken) to complete your degree. Time starts from the semester of matriculation and concludes with the semester in which the degree is earned. And remember, leaves of absence do not stop the clock. Time limit for the doctoral degree is seven years. Masters degrees vary from three to six years depending on program. See your advisor or the Graduate Bulletin for confirmation of your time to degree. Students may request an extension of time. A one year extension is typically granted. Any beyond that are at the discretion of your program and the College and are not to be assumed. Students may be required to retake some coursework or exams if the faculty deems it necessary. ANY extension for a doctoral student must go through the Graduate Programs Office and the Graduate School with a proposed completion timeline.

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Academic Appeals and Ombudsperson

The College follows the appeals procedures set out in its by-laws and in accordance with those required by the Graduate School. Please see the pertinent sections of the Student Handbook and website for detailed information. The College also has an ombudsperson who is there for you should you need advice or help in any academic disputes that might arise in your course of study at the College. You can reach that office at http://www.temple.edu/education/contact/ombud.html

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Who To Contact

The College is organized into departments, which are further organized into programs, so you have been admitted to a specific program within a specific department. We've listed below the Department Chairs and the Office Managers. The Office Managers are a valuable first point of contact for you. Your advisor is the other very important person in your life. The Department will have the name of your advisor should you misplace it. And of course you can always contact the Graduate Programs Office for help.

Graduate Program Office

Doreen Conway
Student Services Specialist
Ritter Annex 159
doreen.conway@temple.edu
(215) 204-5631

Linda Pryor
Graduate Secretary
linda.pryor@temple.edu
(215) 204-5634

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New Student Orientation

Welcome to Temple

Policies and Procedures

Continuous Enrollment:

Financial Responsibility:

Incomplete Grades:

Academic Standing:

Registration procedures:

Tuition Payments:

Time Limits for Completion of Degree

Academic Appeals and Ombudsperson

Who To Contact

Graduate Program Office

Academic Program Chairs and Office Managers

Curriculum, Instruction, and Technology in Education (CITE)

Educational Leadership and Policy Studies (ELPS)

Psychological Studies in Education (PSE)