Change Log for Guide to Graduate Policy

This page is a brief summary of policy changes made to the Guide to Graduate Policy. It does not include conforming changes (e.g., to reflect a change in name or title) or other purely editorial changes.

November 6th, 2025

F1.4 Unit Credit for the Master’s Degree

Clarification of backdate graduate standing language.

August 27th, 2025

D1.9 Reenrollment

Slightly clarification that matriculated students (not just registered) need to reenroll.

August 21st, 2025

F4.6 Academic Senate Status

Lecturer with Security of Employment series of titles was renamed to Teaching Professor series (per APM 285).

August 13th, 2025

D3. Exchange Progams

Clarified that only students in state-supported programs are eligible for UCEAP.

August 6th, 2025

E1.7 Academic Probation

Added some wording to clarify that exceptions can be requested for students to GSI while on probation. Also added wording about warning letters being sent to Grad Div before being sent to students.

August 1st, 2025

F1.4 Unit Credit for the Master’s Degree

Added clarification bullet regarding incompatibility with self-supporting degrees.

June 12th, 2025

E1.10 Graduate Student Academic Misconduct Policy

Under Definitions of students this policy applies to, 2a was removed; applicants who become students, for offenses committed as part of the application process;

Under Procedures, this paragraph was added:

The resolution between the faculty and the student, when a student accepts responsibility for academic misconduct, may be documented with the utilization of the Early Resolution Form (ERF), which provides an official record of the case. This resolution must also be approved by the (Chair or Dean). For early resolution cases, either disciplinary probation or a non-reportable warning (see Appendix I) are suitable additional sanctions to the sanction agreed between the faculty and the student.

November 7th, 2024

B1.3 Evaluation of Applicants

Added requirement that admission committee members must acknowledge that they’ve read the Proposition 209 and Graduate Admissions primer.

September 30th, 2024

D1.2 How Students Register

Removed out of date references to a Registrar Late Enrollment petition that’s no longer needed.

May 6th, 2024

F2.1 Doctoral Degrees with a Designated Emphasis

Designated Emphasis in Energy, Science, and Technology removed from list because DE was discontinued.

April 10th, 2024

Updated DCF work rules to exclude GSR Trainees and Fellows when on tenure.

April 2nd, 2024

updated name of FASO

updated Graduate Funding office name.

updated name of funding unit

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mcJTHSonPETay9FMdxQ6C9iMzk8t1egM0Kpl0Q7Sq2Q/edit?usp=sharing

Updated name of Graduate Funding Unit.  Updated fellowship and stipend cap information.  Removed procedures for renewal of multi-year fellowships.  Removed Procedure for combining University and External Fellowships.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mcJTHSonPETay9FMdxQ6C9iMzk8t1egM0Kpl0Q7Sq2Q/edit?usp=sharing

Updated and clarified information and language.  Included information about 5-year funding. Removed outdated information regarding multi-year fellowships and fellowship competition.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mcJTHSonPETay9FMdxQ6C9iMzk8t1egM0Kpl0Q7Sq2Q/edit?usp=sharing

Added language about the 5-Year Funding Initiative and other small updates.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mcJTHSonPETay9FMdxQ6C9iMzk8t1egM0Kpl0Q7Sq2Q/edit

Updated names of units.

April 1st, 2024

A1.1 Partners in Student Progress

Added clarification that Head Graduate Advisor must be different Senate faculty member than the chair of an academic unit or program.

February 15th, 2024

D3. Exchange Programs

Updated participating colleges and universities.

December 20th, 2023

B1.2 Admission Cycle and Requirements

Duration of admission cycle clarified.

September 5th, 2023

B1.3 Evaluation of Applicants

Updated to include required attestation of no conflict of interest by committee members.

June 28th, 2023

E1.10 Graduate Academic Misconduct Policy

E1.10 Graduate Academic Misconduct Policy was added to the Guide to Graduate Policy. This policy is effective as of Fall 2023.

May 9th, 2023

F3.1 Doctoral Completion Fellowship (DCF)

Updated first bullet under Eligibility for the DCF to read:

  • Students must be advanced to candidacy, no later than in the previous semester

February 17th, 2023

F4.6 Academic Senate Status

Updated list of titles that confer membership in the Academic Senate to include Senior Lecturers with Potential for Security of Employment
and Lecturers with Potential for Security of Employment, per Academic Senate bylaw.

February 8th, 2023

F6. Student Parent Policies

Updated “Employment and Financial Accommodations due to Pregnancy and Childbirth” and accompanying form to reflect eight (8) weeks of paid leave per ASE and GSR contracts; was six (6) weeks.

November 16th, 2022

F2.1 Doctoral Degrees with a Designated Emphasis

Added Computational Precision Health to list.

August 31st, 2022

F1.4 Unit Credit for the Master’s Degree

“Unit Credit for Different Degrees (PhD vs. master’s)” updated to clarify that joint degree students are also required to have Berkeley designated as their home campus during the semesters in which they are working toward the master’s degree

June 14th, 2022

B1.3 Evaluation of Applicants

Updated to reflect new policy on evaluation of applications (see memo).

April 18th, 2022

D1.9 Readmission and Re-enrollment

Updated to clarify that students who were in good academic standing when they withdrew and are denied re-enrollment have the right to appeal under the Graduate Appeal Procedure. Programs should advise such former students of this option if they deny such a request. Also added cross-reference to policy on parenting leave for graduate students with re-enrollment.

March 22nd, 2022

F1.7 Comprehensive Final Examination or Capstone Project (Plan II)

Updated to reflect registration requirement for summer degrees.

January 18th, 2022

D1.3 Registration Fees

Updated section on In Absentia registration to reflect change in UCOP policy (see memo).

December 17th, 2021

F2.1 Doctoral Degrees with a Designated Emphasis

Added DE in Cognitive Science.

November 10th, 2021

F4.7 Configuration Requirements for Higher Degree Committees

Added clarification that the Head Graduate Advisor for programs that establish higher requirements than the minimum may approve exceptions. Programs must retain documentation of such approvals, but do not need to inform Graduate Division.

October 12th, 2021

F2.1 Doctoral Degrees with a Designated Emphasis

Added the DE in Political Economy.

October 11th, 2021

F2.6 Qualifying Examination

Updated to reflect new policy on hybrid and remote qualifying exams (see memo).