Assignment of Advisor

Students are assigned an advisor at the time of their admission based on their career objectives and research interests.  The advisor will assist the student with planning a program of study including selection of electives and give other advice.  All students are encouraged to contact their advisor once they are admitted to the program.  Succeeding in graduate school requires motivation, professional ambition, and the ability to maintain a high level of commitment.  Students are expected to make appointments with their advisors in a timely manner, before registration and significant activities.  If a student needs to delay their academic progress, they should discuss a leave with their advisor and then inform both Graduate Studies and the department graduate secretary.

If the assigned advisor is no longer able to serve in that capacity, the Department will assign another advisor.

Changing Advisors

During the course of study a student may change career goals or their initial research focus and, for those or other reasons, decide that another faculty person would be more appropriate for guiding their program and research activity.  If you wish to change advisors, you should first discuss making a change with your current advisor or the Graduate Chair.  The student, in consultation with the Graduate Chair, will identify another advisor.  When the new advisor has agreed to work with you, the Graduate Chair will inform the current advisor regarding the change and process the necessary paperwork to notify Graduate Studies.

Role of the Graduate Secretary

The graduate secretary is available to answer questions pertaining to academic procedures related to degree programs. The current graduate secretary is Cindy DeRyke (cderyke1@unl.edu or 402-472-3729).

Registration

You will be given an NU ID number at the time of application through Graduate Studies.  Using your NU ID and password a student can register through MyRed for up to 9 hours per semester and 6 hours per summer session.  Permission from Graduate Studies must be granted to increase hours.

It is not necessary to be enrolled in a degree program just to take a course, but students who are enrolled in a degree program or intend to seek a degree should make sure when signing up for a course that it is on your program of study.  Permission needs to be sought from your advisor before taking a course that is not listed on your program of studies.

Specific enrollment requirements exist for students who have advanced to candidacy in the doctoral program.  Following admission to candidacy, the doctoral student must register for at least one credit hour during each academic-year semester (fall and spring) until he/she receives the doctoral degree, even if the doctoral student has reached the total dissertation hours on their approved program of study.  Failure to register during each academic year semester will result in termination of the program of study.

Retention

It is recommended that Doctoral students finish in five (5) years (3 years for course work and 2 years to complete a dissertation).  Masters students should complete degree requirements within 2 ½ years.

Transfer of Credit

Masters Degrees

No graduate credits will be accepted as transfer credit toward a masters program at UNL if the course work is 10 years or older or if the course work has been applied toward a previous masters degree.  Not less than 50% of the course work (excluding thesis) of the minimum number of graduate credits required for any masters graduate degree must be completed at the University of Nebraska.  No graduate credits will be accepted as transfer credits unless earned at an institution fully accredited to offer graduate work in the field of the student’s major; nor should the student expect any graduate credits to be transferred unless the graduate committee evaluates the quality and suitability and determines that they are equal to or superior to offerings available at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Doctoral Degrees

At least half of the total program of courses and dissertation research must be completed at the University of Nebraska following submission of the program of studies to the Office of Graduate Studies.  The supervisory committee is not obligated to accept credits beyond the master’s degree that are completed prior to filing a program of studies or are 10 years or older or if the course work has been applied toward a previous doctoral degree.  No graduate credits will be accepted as transfer credits unless earned at an institution fully accredited to offer graduate work in the field of the student’s major; nor should the student expect any graduate credits to be transferred unless the graduate committee evaluates the quality and suitability and determines that they are equal to or superior to offerings available at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Grading Systems

The University uses an A through F grading system.  The letter grades with point value (in parentheses) are: A+ (4.0), A (4.0), A- (3.67), B+ (3.33), B (3.0), B- (2.67), C+ (2.33), C (2.0), C- (1.67), D+ (1.33), D (1.0), D- (0.67), and F (0).  Grades of W (dropped/withdrew), I (incomplete), P (pass/C or better), and N (no pass) may also be given.  W, I, P, and N are not assigned grade points. 

Scholastic Grade Requirements

A minimum grade of B is required for graduate credit in 800-level courses with 400 or lower counterparts within the student’s major department or area.  A grade of B- is not acceptable.

A minimum grade of C or P (pass) is required for graduate credit in 800-level courses in your minor, or supporting areas of work.  A grade of C- is not acceptable.  NOTE: A grade of B- or lower received in a course in your minor department will result in a comprehensive being required in that minor department.

A minimum grade of C or P (pass) is required for graduate credit in 900-level courses, or 800-level courses without 400 or lower counterparts.

A student failing to receive a minimum acceptable grade for graduate-level credit may not continue his/her program of studies without permission of the supervisory group or the departmental graduate committee concerned, which may require a special examination to determine the student’s qualifications for further work. 

Incompletes

Students taking graduate courses should check with their instructor on what their responsibilities are to remove an incomplete.  Normally there is no time limit for graduate students to remove an incomplete.  However, the instructor does have the option of determining the requirements for completing the course and requisite date for removal of incompletes.  It is helpful to have these requirements in writing to ensure there is no miscommunication between the instructor and student.  Typically, thesis and dissertation credit hours are graded following the defense of these projects. 

Time to Degree

The Graduate College imposes limits on how long a student may take to earn a degree.  The work required for a master’s degree must be completed within ten consecutive years.  The time limit on granting the doctoral degree is eight years from the time of filing the student’s program of study in the Office of Graduate Studies.  The Department recommends that Doctoral students finish in 5 years (3 years for course work and 2 years to complete a dissertation) and Masters students finish within 2½ years.

Graduate Assistantships

A number of graduate assistantships are available in various campus offices to students pursuing the MA, Option 1 with a major in educational administration and a specialization in student affairs.

The Department also sponsors a number of graduate assistantships that are awarded on an annual basis.  Normally, assistantships offered to masters level students will be offered for no more than two years and assistantships offered to doctoral level students will be offered for no more than four years.  To be considered for a departmental assistantship, a student must be on campus and enrolled full time.

Doctoral students seeking financial support should also be alert to other opportunities on campus.  At times, some administrative offices need help with projects and can fund graduate assistantships.  In addition, faculty members in the college may have positions supported through grant opportunities.

Fellowships

In addition, the department offers a limited number of fellowships to qualifying students.  See the EDAD website for more information on the following fellowships.

Educational Administration "Legacy of Leaders" Fellowship

Dale & Thomas Hayes Fellowship

John A. Lammel "Leaders of Tomorrow" Fellowship

Wesley A. Paap Fellowship

Educational Administration Graduate Student Association

The Educational Administration Graduate Student Association (EDAD GSA) is a student organization run by and for all graduate students of the Department of Educational Administration.  Officially recognized by the Association of Students of the University of Nebraska (ASUN), the purpose of the Educational Administration Graduate Student Association is to:

  1. Develop and promote a sense of community for all Educational Administration scholars: graduate students, graduate assistants and alumni;
  2. Serve as a conduit for scholarly and social interaction among peers, faculty and administrators;
  3. Advocate for EDAD graduate students; and
  4. Create and disseminate educational and professional information and materials.

For more information, contact the EDAD GSA by sending an e-mail message to unledadgsa@gmail.com