Resources

Student Life and Academics

Please explore the resources and links on this page to learn more about program requirements, academic and student policies, university support resources, and student engagement pathways here at UChicago.

Two students talking to each other on a bench.

UCPE and University offices support our students in a variety of ways. We encourage students to contact the Student Affairs team if they have questions about resources and to explore the information below.

Students wishing to review the curriculum and associated academic requirements for MS programs should use the following links to visit the Graduate Announcements page. 

Master of Science in Biomedical Informatics Resources

Master of Science in Threat and Response Management Resources

A student shall be deemed to be in Good Academic Standing only if they are making appropriate progress toward the degree defined and communicated by the program. Program staff regularly evaluate student academic progress. Staff use the criteria outlined below and their judgment to determine how well a student is doing. In doing so, staff balance a program’s academic or professional expectations with providing appropriate support to students when needed so that they can reach their goals. Adult lives can become complicated, and students are encouraged to talk to their program staff directly should they experience (or anticipate) situations that may impede their progress.

All students in Professional Education degree programs make satisfactory academic progress if they;

  • Receive passing grades in all courses, as outlined by academic program policy.
  • Have one or no incomplete courses.
  • Make measurable progress through coursework and, depending upon the program, other requirements such as writing a thesis or completing a capstone project.
  • Maintain a cumulative B (3.0) grade point average.  

Program staff may determine that a student is making unsatisfactory academic progress if the student:

  • Receives a failing grade in any course. (Note: Students who receive a failing grade may be involuntarily withdrawn from their program of study. Additionally, the course will not count toward a program’s course requirements.)
  • Has not maintained a cumulative 3.0 Grade Point Average
  • Has more than one incomplete course. Registration for additional courses is restricted for students with more than one incomplete course.
  • Has more than one late course withdrawal, which has resulted in a mark of “W” on their official transcript.
  • Does not make measurable progress, especially after a year. Measurable progress is often determined within the context of how long the student has remaining to complete the program.
  • Does not meet degree program grade expectations. Students who do not make satisfactory progress may be:

Students who do not make satisfactory progress may be:

  • Placed on academic probation. The terms will be defined by the program staff and provided to the student in writing.
  • Asked by program staff to develop an academic progress plan that will be considered for approval by program staff. Once a plan is approved, the student is responsible for meeting the specified conditions. Failure to do so may result in being involuntarily withdrawn from the program.
  • Involuntarily withdrawn from their program of study.
  • Unofficially withdrawn for Title IV Federal aid, at which time Financial Aid must cancel and return 50% of the Title IV Federal loans and/or TEACH grant funds received.

Failure to complete the program within the maximum time to complete will result in the student being administratively dismissed and withdrawn from their respective MSc program. The MSc programs are not obligated to readmit a student. If readmitted, the transfer of existing completed units is not guaranteed and must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis based on the program’s current degree progression standards.

This policy is subject to review and revision. All students will be informed of any changes to this policy.

Academic Probation

In each quarter of registration, students must complete all 100-unit courses with passing grades of C and a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. Incompletes are not considered for course completion.  A student who fails to meet this minimum requirement will receive a warning at the end of the quarter.  If a student receives a failing grade for a course lower than a C, that course will not be counted toward degree requirements.

A student who has received a warning will be expected to complete, by the end of the following quarter, all 100 units of course credit with passing grades of C and a minimum GPA of 3.0.  Incompletes are not considered for course completion, and previous incomplete grades must be finalized.  Students will be placed on academic probation for the following quarter if they fail to meet this minimum requirement. Academic probation is a formal sanction but is not permanently notated on the official transcript.

* Students are defined as any/all individuals enrolled in the full-time or part-time MSc in Biomedical Informatics Program or full-time in the MSc Threat and Response Management program. MSc program students can take up to 300 Units per quarter. Students may submit a request to their Graduate Academic Advisor to take 400 units. Students found to be registered for more than 300 units without administrative approval will result in additional courses administratively removed from their schedule.

Time to completion is inclusive of voluntary and involuntary academic breaks. After starting their coursework, students in the programs listed below are expected to complete the program within three years: 

  • Master of Science in Threat and Response Management 
  • Master of Science in Biomedical Informatics 

Currently, enrolled students and students on LOA in the above programs are expected to complete all coursework by the summer quarter of 2025. 

Failure to complete the program within the maximum time-to-complete will result in the student being administratively dismissed and withdrawn from their respective program.  

Except for the Summer quarter, which is self-term activated, students not enrolled in any courses by Week 4 for the Autumn, Winter, and Spring quarters will have a hold placed on their account, preventing registration in future quarters. To remove the hold, students must meet with their Graduate Academic Advisor before resuming coursework in the program. 

For any student considering not enrolling in courses for more than one quarter, we encourage moving forward with a leave of absence request. Please note that approved leave of absence or inactive time away from the program still counts towards the maximum time to completion. In rare cases, on a case-by-case basis, an exception might be made following review by the Director of Graduate Programs and the Director of Student Affairs (or Graham School Dean of Students or their designee); however, exceptions are not guaranteed.  

If you are a student who needs to interrupt your program, you should request a leave of absence by taking the following steps: 

  • Discuss the implications of interrupting your study with your academic program staff. International students should also consult with the Office of International Affairs. 
  • If you are a loan or financial aid recipient, speak with staff in Financial Aid about the implications of leave on current obligations and future financial aid, and conduct an exit interview. 

 

Alerts and Procedures

Emergency Contact Information

  • Emergency/University of Chicago Police Department
    • Dial 123 from on-campus phones
    • Press the red button on an emergency phone 
    • Dial 773-702-8181 on all other phones 
  • UChicago HELP
    • Call 773-834-4357 and follow the prompts to reach a Dean-on-Call
  • Chicago Police Department
    • Dial 911

Students who require accommodations should reach out to their instructors and/or the Enrollment Management and Student Services team as soon as possible to discuss implementation as soon as possible.

 

The Student Manual is the official statement of University policies, regulations, and expected standards of conduct that apply to all students. Students are expected to be familiar with these policies. Students should familiarize themselves with the University Student Manual. 

Policies of particular importance include: 

The Graham School Student Manual is the official statement of divisional policies, regulations, and expected standards of conduct for students in academic degree programs conferred by the Graham School. Students should familiarize themselves with the Graham School Student Manual and its information. 

UChicagoGRAD is a dedicated resource for graduate students and postdocs to receive personalized, flexible training to complement their academic pursuits, from fellowship and writing support, to career preparation, job boards, and internships, to training in public speaking and networking.

UCPE Student Calendar

You may also be interested in the UChicago Calendar of Events