Policies

IMPORTANT NOTE:
Due to COVID-19, exceptions to UC Davis and/or UC system-wide policy may be in effect.
Please review the "Exceptions to Policy Due to COVID-19" table below for a list of exceptions affecting graduate students and programs. If you have any questions, please contact the Graduate Studies Policy Analyst, Jasmine Bonite, at jedurias@ucdavis.edu

On this page you will find the information, policies and guidelines relevant to the governance and administration of graduate education on the UC Davis campus. The policies listed below are both academic and administrative in nature. Academic policies are those developed by the Graduate Council and coded as "GC." Administrative policies are those developed by Graduate Studies and coded as "GS."

Exceptions to Policy Due to COVID-19

Exception	Description	Quarters Affected
Procedure for Instructors (including AIs) seeking an exception from in-person instruction in Winter 2022 (See message July 22 message from Academic Affairs)	University policy for the 2021-22AY is that the default mode of instruction is in-person, as described by Academic Affairs. Associates In_ (AI) and other instructors of record who wish to request an accommodation or exception should submit a request to the Winter Instructional Adjustment for Teaching Assistants (WIATA) .	Fall 2021 Winter 2022
Temporary Exception for English Language Course Requirement (See temporary exception approved on June 25, 2021)	In addition to the three existing conditions stated in the policy on Graduate Student Course Requirements – English as Second Language (GC2018-02), the following conditions can be used to exempt a student from the English language course requirement (UWP 225/226): Duolingo score of 130 or higher or A qualifying TOEP score	Through Fall 2022
Remote Participation on Advanced Degree Committees (Exception to GC1998-01 and GC2005-02)	*(Temporary Blanket Exception rescinded as of Fall 2021)** More than one committee member, as well as the student, may participate remotely/virtually. This applies to doctoral qualifying examination, thesis, and dissertation committees.	Spring 2020 Summer 2020 Fall 2020 Winter 2021 Spring 2021
Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory Grading (Exception to DDR A546)	A graduate student in good standing (or who receives approval from the Office of Graduate Studies) is authorized to undertake, in addition to courses graded on a Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory only basis, not more than two courses on an optional Satisfactory (S) or Unsatisfactory (U) basis. Requests for S/U grading must be approved by the student's graduate advisor in accordance with the grading policies of the student's program.	Spring 2020 Summer 2020 Fall 2020 Winter 2021 Spring 2021 Summer Session 1 2021 Summer Session 2 2021
Time to Degree (Blanket 1-year Exception) (Exception to GC2000-01)	The quarters from Spring 2020 to Spring 2021 will not be counted against a graduate student’s normative time to degree. This blanket exception of normative time to degree is not a guarantee of extended funding.	Spring 2020 Summer 2020 Fall 2020 Winter 2021 Spring 2021 *Note The one-year blanket extension of time to degree will be automatically applied all graduate students who were active students during the affected terms.
Temporary Extension of 18-Quarter Service Limit for Academic Student Employees (ASE's) (See June 19, 2020 Announcement and August 6, 2021 Announcement from UC Provost Michael Brown)	The maximum total length of service for Academic Student Employees (ASE) is now up to 21 quarters (previously 18 quarters). Matriculated students in a graduate program during the quarters in which instruction is substantially impacted by COVID-19 (see Affected Quarters on the right) will be *eligible* for an exception for serving up to 21 quarters as an ASE during their graduate studies at the University of California. Note: this extension of allowed service is not a guarantee of additional funding. Students should work closely with their program to determine what options for extended service may be available.	Spring 2020 Summer 2020 Fall 2020 Winter 2021 Spring 2021 Summer 2021 Fall 2021 Winter 2022 Spring 2022