Academic Policies & Procedures

During the first five class days of a term, students may add, drop, or exchange courses online using DartHub, with no prior approval. When possible, students are strongly encouraged to arrange their course load during this period.

During the second five class days of a term, a student may add or exchange courses only with the approval of the instructor of the intended new course. After this period, and until 10 class days before the last class of the term, students may withdraw from a course at their own discretion.

Students may withdraw from a course, at their own discretion, up until 10 class days before the last class of the term. The student must notify the instructor, as a courtesy, of their intention to withdraw and submit the withdrawal to the Thayer Registrar on or before the withdrawal deadline indicated for each term. The course remains on the student’s transcript with the notation "W" for "Withdrew."

During the last 10 days of classes in the term until the final examination begins, students must petition to withdraw from a course. Most petitions will not be approved, except in the most extreme medical or other circumstances. Once the final examination period has begun, it will be assumed that students intend to complete their courses and no course withdrawal requests will be accepted.

BE candidates must maintain an overall minimum grade point average of 2.33 (C+) or better. Students who fail to maintain a 2.33 average in any term will be placed on probation. Failure to obtain a C+ average in any term while on probation may result in dismissal. BE candidates must also have no more than three courses with a grade below C, where C- is below C, and where this number of three is computed from all courses taken to satisfy BE requirements, excluding the prerequisites to the major in engineering sciences. With the exception of MATH 3, MATH 8, MATH 13, COSC 1, and COSC 10, no courses with a grade of "NR" may be used in the BE program.

MEng candidates: No fewer than 9 courses in total, with no fewer than 8 HP or P grades (or equivalents), may be submitted in satisfaction of the degree requirements.

MEM candidates: No fewer than 14 courses in total, with no fewer than 12 HP or P grades (or equivalents), may be submitted in satisfaction of degree requirements.

MS and PhD candidates: No more than one LP grade (or equivalent) for every 6 courses may be submitted in satisfaction of degree requirements.

1. A student who has received more than one LP grade or who has received one NC grade will be placed on probation for one term.
2. At the end of a term during which a student was on probation, the Graduate Program Committee, in consultation with the relevant program directors for MEM and MEng students, the student’s advisor for MS students or the student’s Special Advisory Committee for PhD students, will review the student’s progress.
   1. For MEng and MEM students: If progress on coursework is satisfactory (normally this will mean a Pass grade or equivalent) the student will be removed from probation.
   2. For MS and PhD students: If progress on coursework and research is satisfactory (normally this will mean a Pass grade or equivalent, but the Committee may require other evidence such as a report on research performed) the student will be removed from probation.
   3. If progress has not been satisfactory the student will be placed in unsatisfactory standing. A student may also be placed in unsatisfactory standing if the student receives more than two LP’s or more than one NC, and may be suspended or permanently dismissed from the program by the Graduate Program Committee. A student in unsatisfactory standing is not eligible for fellowships, teaching or research assistantships or federal loans.
3. If, after being removed from probation, a student receives a grade of LP or lower, the Graduate Program Committee, in consultation with the program directors for MEM and MEng students, the student’s advisor for MS students or the student’s Special Advisory Committee for PhD students, will review the student’s progress and will place the student either on probation or in unsatisfactory standing.
4. A student in unsatisfactory standing will be reviewed at the end of each term by the Graduate Program Committee, in consultation with the program directors for the MEM and MEng students, the student’s advisor for MS students or the student’s Special Advisory Committee for PhD students. The Committee may either place the student in satisfactory standing (with or without probation), continue the unsatisfactory standing or recommend to the Director that the student be separated.
   
   Note: The section above was modified on November 28, 2023 to clarify the application of the Policy for Student Probation and Unsatisfactory Standing for MEM and MEng students.

A student who questions the appropriateness of a grade confers with the instructor and must initiate the appeal to the instructor, in writing, by the last day of the term following that in which the course was taken.

If the instructor agrees to change the grade:

• The instructor makes a written request to the Thayer Registrar, with the approval and co-signature of the appropriate Program Director (MEng, MEM) or Associate Dean (BE, MS, PhD).
• The instructor must indicate one or more specific ways in which the student was done an injustice. A simple change of mind will not suffice.
• It may not be made on the grounds of course work completed after the term in which the course was offered other than in the case of an official incomplete.
• The instructor must submit the final grade to the Thayer Registrar by the last day of the second term following the term in which the course was taken.

If the instructor refuses to make a grade change:

The student may appeal, in turn, to the relevant Program Director or (Senior) Associate Dean, and then to the Dean of the Thayer; it is unusual for such appeal to go beyond the Program Director or (Senior) Associate Dean.

• By the last day of the term following the term in which the course was taken, the Instructor makes a written request to the Thayer Registrar, with the approval and co-signature of the Program Director or Associate Dean.
• The Instructor must indicate one or more specific ways in which the student was done an injustice. A simple change of mind will not suffice.
• It may not be made on the grounds of course work completed after the term in which the course was offered other than in the case of an official incomplete.
• If the Thayer Registrar refuses to make the change, the instructor may appeal to the Dean of Thayer.

If the student has graduated, only the Program Director or Associate Dean may initiate a grade change. It must be submitted within one year of the student's graduation and only in the case of clerical, computational or other similar administrative error.

On-Campus MEng students are expected to complete degree requirements within six terms of enrollment.

Online MEng students are expected to complete degree requirements within six years of enrollment.

MEM and MS students are expected to complete degree requirements within seven terms. Students with special preparation (eg. degree not in engineering or not in the area of the thesis) will be informed, upon admission, how long they are expected to take to complete the degree.

If the above time expectations are not met, the MEng, MEM, or MS/ PhD Committee, in consultation with the thesis committee chair for MS students; will review the student’s progress at the end of the time period specified above and each term thereafter, to determine if the student should be placed in unsatisfactory standing.

PhD students who do not meet the course requirements and who do not complete the oral examination or the thesis proposal within the time limits specified in the degree requirements will be reviewed by the MS/ PhD Program Committee, in consultation with the thesis committee chair, which may, if appropriate, decide to put the student on probation or in unsatisfactory standing.

A student who has not completed a thesis 12 terms after the thesis proposal will be reviewed by the MS/ PhD Program Committee, in consultation with the student’s Thesis committee, and may be put in unsatisfactory standing. This review will reoccur in each subsequent term.

A student may withdraw (ie. terminate residence) from degree candidacy at any time. If a student withdraws during the first 10 class days, the notation "Withdrew for the term, in good standing" will be entered on the transcript.

If withdrawal occurs after the first 10 class days, with certification by the instructor of each course that the student is in good standing, the notation "Withdrew for the term, in good standing" will be entered on the transcript; otherwise, each course will be entered followed by the notation "Withdrew."

Students who withdraw from degree candidacy and later wish to resume their candidacy must petition the dean or directors of their degree program in writing for readmission to the program.

If a student has withdrawn in good academic standing, the student will be eligible for fellowship funds, tuition scholarships and, if qualified, for loan funds upon readmission. A timely application is necessary, however, in order to ensure that funds are available.

Students who are suspended for academic reasons or who withdraw in unsatisfactory academic standing or while on academic probation must present positive evidence of the ability to resume satisfactory progress when applying for readmission.

If students feel that the consequences of these procedures are inappropriate due to particular extenuating circumstances, they have the right to appeal to the Dean.

The Dean may elect either to decide on the merits of the appeal or to appoint a committee of two faculty, two students recommended by Thayer Council, and the Director to hear the case. This committee will make its recommendation to the Dean who may then either:

1. accept the committee recommendation, or
2. submit the matter to the faculty for decision; the two student members of the committee will be invited to participate in the discussion.

Official transcripts are available to current Thayer students through DartHub. To order an official transcript, log into DartHub and select the "Request an Official Transcript" link on the Thayer Student Main Menu and click through to the ordering page. There is no fee for ordering transcripts.

Official transcripts are available to graduated Thayer students through Dartmouth's online service.

Official transcripts may be delivered in either certified PDF ("eTranscript") or paper formats. Requests for eTranscripts are generally processed and delivered within one business day of the request. Please note that eTranscripts are only available for the Class of 1999 to present.

Official paper transcripts are generally processed within 2 to 5 business days of receipt of your request. Please order the official paper transcript at least one week in advance of the required mailing date. 

Dartmouth provides current students with two versions of their Unofficial Transcript: a web version, designed primarily for online viewing, and a PDF version sent to your Dartmouth email account. Both versions are available on DartHub:

• To view the online version, click "Unofficial Transcript: Web Version" on the DartHub menu.
• To have a PDF version sent to your Dartmouth email account, click "Unofficial Transcript: PDF Version" on the DartHub menu.