From: owner-mme-gdist@listproc.wsu.edu on behalf of Mary Simonsen
[simonsen@mme.wsu.edu]
Sent: Wednesday, October 15, 2003 8:51 AM
To: All, MME graduate students
Cc: Gurocak, Hakan; Westphal, Russ; 'Hussein M.'; 'Richards, Cill';
'Field, David'; 'Grantham, Walter'; 'Jayaram, Sankar'; 'Kim, Dave';
'Mesarovic, Sinisa'; 'Norton, M. Grant'
Subject: Qualifying examination


Dear Graduate Students,

As you know, the faculty has been discussing the qualifying exam for
ME doctoral students.  We have decided that we will no longer require the
qualifying exam to evaluate ME doctoral students.  This does not mean,
however, that there is no evaluation process.  All graduate students are
evaluated on a yearly basis as outlined in our Graduate Student Handbook
(see language below).  The Graduate Studies Committee will use the
annual review process to evaluate the performance of ME doctoral students
in their coursework and research.

----------------------------------------
2.1.6  Annual Review

In adherence with the Graduate School Policies and Procedures, Section
6.1, the School of MME will conduct an annual review of all graduate
students each spring semester, including students who have just begun
that semester.  This is done under the direction of the MME GSC.  The
elements of the annual review include: 

. Cumulative record including admission and classification information,
coursework, research proposals and all examinations, i.e., advisory,
placement, preliminary and final examinations. 

. Progress since last review. 

. Qualitative assessment by faculty of progress in research and
teaching, as appropriate. 

. Statement as to the rate of progress, i.e., satisfactory or
unsatisfactory. 

. Expectations for the next review period. 

The School Director will give written notification to each graduate
student of his/her performance, with suggestions for improvement where
indicated.  The review process and notification will normally be
completed by April 15.  

After appropriate faculty have been consulted, the names of those
students to be dropped from the program shall be sent to the Dean of the
Graduate School. 
----------------------------------------

If you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact
me.

Cill Richards
Associate Professor and
Chair, Graduate Studies Committee
School of Mechanical & Materials Engineering
Washington State University