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POLICY TITLE: Carnegie Mellon University Doctoral Candidate Policies for All But Dissertation (ABD)
DATE OF ISSUANCE: This policy was approved on February 28, 1991 and most recently revised on May 8, 1995.
ACCOUNTABLE DEPARTMENT/UNIT: The HUB. Address specific questions about your status to your home department/school. Questions on general policy content should be directed to The HUB, x8-8186.
ABSTRACT: Policies cover a definition of ABD status, time limits on doctoral candidacy status, a definition of in residence and in absentia status for ABD candidates and the tuition charged for candidates in residence and candidates in absentia.
The university has a series of policies that cover: a definition of ABD status, time limits on doctoral candidacy status, a definition of in residence and in absentia status for ABD candidates and the tuition charged for candidates in residence and candidates in absentia.
These rules apply to all graduate students, except those who were enrolled or on leave of absence as graduate students in the spring semester 1990. Each student to whom this exception applies shall continue to be governed by the policies of his/her department/college at the time of matriculation, unless the student wishes to opt for the current set of policies. Any student so doing will be subject to all the rules and conditions of these policies from the beginning of the semester of this option; any charges incurred prior to that date will be applicable. Under extraordinary circumstances, appeals of these charges may be made in writing to Enrollment Services.
After the completion of all formal degree requirements other than the completion of and approval of the doctoral dissertation and the public final examination, doctoral candidates shall be regarded as All But Dissertation (ABD). Achieving ABD status is verified by the candidate's home department. Once a student meets department criteria, ABD status must be certified by the department in writing to Enrollment Services.
Once students achieve ABD status, their doctoral degree candidacy shall continue for a maximum of seven full academic years, unless terminated earlier by conferral of the degree, by academic or administrative action, or by a lapse of candidacy due to more restrictive department or college policy. At the expiration of the seven-year period, candidacy status shall lapse. Once candidacy has lapsed, the person may resume work towards a doctoral degree only if newly admitted to a currently offered doctoral degree program under criteria determined by that program.
Under extraordinary circumstances, such as military or public service, family or parental leave, or temporary disability, a school or college may, upon the relevant department's recommendation and with the written approval of the dean, defer the lapse of candidacy status for a period commensurate with the duration of that interruption.
Once students achieve ABD status, they must choose whether to complete their dissertation in residence, in absentia under the current policies, or in absentia under the old policy (if they were enrolled in their doctoral program during the fall semester 1990).
A candidate in absentia must meet the specific criteria noted below. No candidate in absentia will be verified by the university as a "student" for immigration or loan purposes. ("Non-resident alien" students on J1 or F1 visas who became ABD must continue to follow Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) regulations. The intent of INS regulations is that the student continues to pursue completion of the degree on a full-time basis under the jurisdiction of the university that will award the degree. In general, foreign students who enter ABD status are advised to remain in residence while they complete their degree. Questions about ABD status and visa requirements should be addressed to the Office of International Education.)
When a candidate decides whether to be ABD in residence or ABD in absence, he/she must complete a Doctoral Candidate Contractual Agreement form available from their academic department. The Agreement form declares the candidate's choice of following the current or old policy, if the old policy is an option, as well as whether the candidate wishes to be designated as in residence or in absentia. The Contractual Agreement form may be used several times; however, a candidate who has chosen to be in absentia must return for at least one semester of full-time status before qualifying for final semester tuition benefits for ABD candidates in residence.
ABD candidates in residence maintain student status and all consequent student privileges and must be enrolled for the number of units required by the policy of their home college. No ABD candidate in residence may be enrolled for less than five units, nor for fewer than thirty-six units if he/she receives full-time support paid by or administered by the university. ABD candidates in residence should consult their department or college policies regarding enrollment units within this range.
ABD candidates in residence shall, in the semester in which all degree requirements are completed, pay their college's full-time tuition pro-rated by the quarter of the semester, whether used fully or partially. Payment will be waived if all degree requirements are completed by the end of the first full month of the semester in which the degree is completed (for the fall semester, September 30; for the spring semester, January 31; for the summer session, June 30). Doctoral candidates' departments shall notify Enrollment Services of the appropriate completion date. ABD candidates in residence who complete their final semester during the summer term will be assessed tuition according to the number of units registered for and, if necessary, pro-rated according to the same guidelines.
An ABD doctoral candidate may, upon departmental certification thereof, be regarded as being in absentia when, and so long as, the following three conditions concur:
According to university guidelines, candidates in absentia may:
They may not:
Enrollment Services will provide in absentia candidates with a sticker that provides identification for access to the library and other services permitted under the guidelines.[2]
While an ABD candidate is in absentia, no formal enrollment or payment shall be required with one exception: An ABD candidate who is in absentia shall be required to pay five units of graduate study, or greater if required by college policy, based on their current school/college's tuition before the degree is conferred. Under extraordinary circumstances, an exception may be granted by petition. A petition should be made to the student's school/college's associate dean, who will forward it for consideration by Enrollment Services.
As noted above, ABD candidates in absentia are extended only minimum access to university resources: "The candidate does not receive a stipend predicated on his/her status as a graduate student or doctoral candidate and paid by or administered by the university whether for teaching or research assistantship, scholarship or fellowship." An ABD candidate in absentia cannot be hired for work directly related to completing his/her dissertation and/or make substantial use of resources for work toward the doctorate as noted above. In order to be in compliance with these policies, the university's employment policies and the Internal Revenue Service, an ABD candidate in residence may only be hired for university employment as a regular employee and through the regular employment process.
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