UCSC’s professional master of science degree in Natural Language Processing is a specialized program that provides both depth and breadth in core algorithms and methods for NLP, and integrates foundational skills of data science and machine learning in order to prepare program graduates to work in the NLP field in industry, governmental agencies or nonprofit organizations. This degree program is offered through the UC Santa Cruz location in Silicon Valley, enabling connection and collaboration with local industry. The curriculum emphasizes practical proficiency in applying the relevant skills through courses focusing on core algorithms in NLP, machine learning, and data science and analytics. The program includes a two-quarter Capstone project where students gain real-world experience working in small groups to address an industry-relevant, research-focused NLP topic.

The NLP M.S. program is housed within UCSC’s Computer Science and Engineering department.

The UCSC Silicon Valley Campus is located at 3175 Bowers Ave, Santa Clara, CA 95054.

Administrative Structure and Department Information

The NLP Program Director is responsible for leading academic, curricular, research, and industry initiatives related to the NLP Program. These initiatives include overseeing the admissions process, evaluating student petitions, assigning teaching assistants to courses, reviewing the academic progress of graduate students in the program, mediating conflicts, and acting as a liaison between graduate students and the department chair and department administration. The Program Director has oversight of the whole NLP M.S. program.

In supporting students, the Program Director is also responsible for providing academic and research advice to students in the program. They are expected to adhere to high standards of professionalism and collegiality; foster academic and professional excellence in their programs; provide regular constructive advice to further the academic progress and professional development of their students; teach them the skills needed to critically evaluate projects; and aid their students in considering and preparing for different career paths.

NLP Program Director: Professor Ian Lane

Location: Silicon Valley Campus, Room 2327

Email: nlp@ucsc.edu

The Graduate Student Advisor is a staff member who coordinates the administrative aspects of the graduate program as part of the BE Graduate Student Affairs Office and the NLP Program Team. This person is responsible for advising graduate students regarding program requirements and milestones, as well as processing student petitions, issuing teaching assistant appointment offers, tracking and reporting student financial support, tracking academic progress, etc. The Graduate Student Advisor is your first point of contact for questions related to the graduate program.

Graduate Advisor: Zian Anna Xie

Location: Silicon Valley Campus, Room 3332

Email: zxie58@ucsc.edu

Students can schedule an advising appointment on the Graduate Advising Contacts page: https://grad.soe.ucsc.edu/about

The Graduate Student Advisor works within the larger BE Graduate Student Affairs office. Information about scheduling advising appointments or walk-in advising can be found on the BE Graduate Student Affairs website: https://grad.soe.ucsc.edu/about

NLP Faculty

The NLP Program is housed within the Computer Science and Engineering department. Courses are primarily taught by CSE faculty, in addition to outside instructors. The following CSE faculty are primarily associated with the NLP Program:

Jeffrey Flanigan	Semantic parsing, language generation from semantic structures, deep learning and machine learning, machine translation
Ian Lane	Natural language processing, speech recognition, machine translation, conversational AI, multimodal and situated interaction

Computer Science and Engineering Faculty

NLP students also have the opportunity to take elective courses at the Santa Cruz Main Campus with other CSE faculty members. There may also be research or independent study opportunities available with CSE faculty. A full list of Computer Science and Engineering Faculty can be found on the CSE website.

Getting Started

Orientation

Newly admitted students will be notified over the summer about when orientation will be held in the Fall. Typically, departmental and campus-wide orientation events are scheduled the week prior to, or the week of, the start of Fall Quarter instruction. Orientation events include an overview of campus resources, information on how to get set up in various UCSC systems, mandatory Title IX training, and an introduction to program requirements, as well as specific sessions for international students.

General Advising

The CSE Graduate Advising Team, should be students’ first point of contact for administrative matters, such as program requirements, enrollment, status changes (leave of absence, part-time status, etc.), financial support, academic employment, applying to graduate, etc. Questions related to the content of individual courses should be directed to course instructors, while questions regarding the Capstone sequence (NLP 271A/B) can be directed to the NLP Program Director. All other questions or concerns can be emailed to nlp@ucsc.edu.

Getting to UCSC Silicon Valley Campus

There are many ways to get to campus. You can take public transportation, drive your personal vehicle, carpool with other students, and bike to school. You are responsible for your own transportation to and from campus.

Bus: The UCSC Silicon Valley Campus is located along the 20 and 57 VTA bus lines. More information about the VTA bus and public transportation options can be found on the VTA website.
Driving: Parking is free at the UCSC Silicon Valley Campus. We encourage you to carpool with your classmates. Slack is a great way to connect with others to coordinate, and you can also connect with commuters through UCSC’s Cruz511.
Bike: There are many bike routes to campus. There is also the Bay Wheels Bike Share.

For questions about transportation options, you can contact UCSC Transportation and Parking Services. The UCSC Silicon Valley Campus Extension website also offers additional transportation information.

UCSC Email Account

All NLP M.S. graduate students should set up their @ucsc.edu email by the time they arrive for Fall Quarter.

Slack

In addition to making sure you can access your UCSC email, you will also be invited to join the NLP Slack channel. Many communications with NLP students from the NLP Program Team will be done through Slack; students should develop the habit of checking Slack at least once a day. Incoming students will receive invites to the Slack via email at the start of Fall Quarter.

Please note that students should not rely exclusively on Slack - there will also be important communication sent to your UCSC email account, so it is important to check that account on a regular basis as well.

Keys/Access Cards

You will use your UCSC Student ID Card (also known as a SlugCard) as key card access to the Silicon Valley Campus. To register for your free SlugCard, you will need to follow instructions listed on the Bay Tree Bookstore's website. This will be programmed with the correct access to the SVC building, and will also give you access to the appropriate buildings on the main campus in Santa Cruz. It is your responsibility to complete the process for acquiring an ID card.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Once you sign up for your SlugCard through ID Card Services, you will NOT need to go to the UCSC Santa Cruz Main Campus to pick up the card. Your Graduate Student Advisor will notify you once your card is ready for pick-up at the Silicon Valley Campus.

Please note that when you receive confirmation from your Graduate Advisor that your SlugCard is ready for pick-up at SVC, you will need to show a government-issued photo ID (e.g., Driver’s License, Passport, Military ID, etc.) along with your UCSC student ID number to receive your SlugCard. We recommend that you get (or confirm that you have) a government-issued photo ID prior to arriving on campus.

Finding Housing in Santa Clara

Housing is not guaranteed for graduate students at UCSC. There is also no on-campus housing available at the Silicon Valley Campus. There are minimal graduate student housing options available at the UCSC main campus in Santa Cruz (see Family Student Housing), however we strongly encourage all NLP students to live in Santa Clara so as to avoid a long commute. We recommend students begin searching for housing in July, so that they can aim to move in by September (the quarter starts at the end of September).

We have created a Slack Workspace for all incoming NLP M.S. students to facilitate opportunities for students to connect and find housing near SVC. To join this group, please check your inbox at the end of June or early July for an invitation from the NLP Program Team or email nlp@ucsc.edu for support.

UCSC Community Rentals

The local community offers a range of housing possibilities. Students are encouraged to begin their search at least four to six weeks before classes start. To assist students looking for housing in the community, the Community Rentals Program maintains current rental listings and names of students who want to share living accommodations. The Community Rentals Office is located at 104 Hahn Student Services and can be reached by email at communityrentals@ucsc.edu.

Housing Emergencies: Students experiencing a housing crisis should contact Temporary Housing Assistance.

Additional Housing Resources

All information regarding off-campus housing should be assessed carefully before making any legal commitments. Any references made from UCSC, its sub-departments and University Housing Services web page do not constitute any type of legal obligation by the university, including faculty, staff, and students.

UCSC does not constitute legal authority nor does it provide any type of legal advice. All off-campus housing information posted below is done so for informational purposes only and the university takes no responsibility for any legal contracts or agreements made. All issues resulting or pertaining within student housing are the sole responsibility of the tenant(s) and the landlord. Be wary of rental scams and study up on the City of Santa Clara’s recommendations for avoiding scams: Close the Door on Rental Listing Scams.

Trulia's Rental Information

Zumper

Zillow

Establishing In-State Residency

Domestic in-state students may be eligible to apply for in-state residency to qualify for in-state tuition. Non-resident tuition is a significant cost (over $5,000 per quarter), so it is strongly recommended that students apply for in-state residency as soon as they are eligible. Students must begin taking action toward establishing in-state residency during their first quarter in the program. Detailed instructions can be found on the Registrar’s website.

Health Insurance and Healthcare at SVC

The University of California Regents mandate that all students be covered by a health insurance plan. Because having an insurance plan is required, all full- and part-time students are automatically enrolled in and charged for the UC Student Health Insurance Plan (UCSHIP, also known as GSHIP). If a student wishes to waive out of and not be charged for UCSHIP, they must provide proof of their own equivalent health insurance and submit a waiver by the deadline listed on the Student Health Center's website.

If you exclusively attend UCSC Silicon Valley, you might not use the UCSC Student Health Center. For primary care visits, you can go to any primary care provider in UC SHIP's Anthem Blue Cross PPO network. You will not need a referral from UCSC Student Health Services. For specialist visits, your Anthem primary care provider can refer you. You have access to Urgent Care, hospitals, mental health, pharmacy, vision, and dental care using the Anthem network. You even have a UC Family discount if you use any UC Medical Center. Find Anthem providers in your area.

For information on the cost of in-network services view the Summary of Benefits brochure which can be found on the Health Center website.

Carbon Health is an approved in-network Anthem provider that is covered by UC SHIP, and has a location across the street from the Silicon Valley Campus.

Financial Support

The Master’s program is a self-funded program, meaning that students in the M.S. programs are expected to fully fund their academic and living expenses with their own resources for the duration of their program. Students in the M.S. programs should not expect to receive any form of financial support or employment (teaching assistantships or research assistantships) from the department.

Please review the BE Graduate Website for more information about the different types of Financial Support.

Departmental Fellowships

There are a limited number of small fellowships available to domestic NLP M.S. students, which are distributed during the admissions process and based on both financial need and merit.

Teaching Assistant (TA) Salary & Remissions

Please refer to the published UCSC Salary Scales for the current salary rates. Note: the rates listed are 100% (40 hours per week). The majority of TA positions are 50% (20 hours per week/220 hours per quarter) of work, and students may not work above 50%. The actual salary will be prorated accordingly.

Paycheck dates are scheduled for the first day of the month following the month worked (e.g., the paycheck for the first month of the Fall quarter worked is issued on November 1).

TAships of 25% or more automatically cover in-state tuition, health insurance, student services fees, and campus fees.

Non-resident tuition is not covered by a TAship. CSE will not pay a domestic student’s non-resident tuition beyond the first year in the program.

Teaching Assistant (TA) Language Requirement

Students who are not native English speakers must meet the English language requirement for Teaching Assistants in one of the following ways before they can accept employment as a Teaching Assistant:

89 overall and 26+ on the speaking portion of the internet-based TOEFL; or
7+ overall for IELTS and a 8+ on the spoken portion; or
Successful completion of the Graduate Preparation Program; or
Passing grade in Languages (LAAD) 210 (open to PhD only)

Applicants with a Master's degree earned in the United States, at an accredited university, and with experience as a Teaching Assistant at that university may be eligible for an exemption of the English language requirement for TAs. A final transcript indicating that the degree was awarded, as well as a letter from the TA supervisor confirming the applicant's position, their level of responsibility in the classroom, and their proficiency in English are required to apply for this type of waiver.

Note: The TOEFL/IELTS waiver you may have received during admission is not sufficient to qualify for a TAship. You must also meet one of the above requirements.

If you do not meet the above eligibility requirements, you will not be eligible for a TA position at UCSC.

Applying for TA Positions

The Baskin School of Engineering (BE) sends out a quarterly call for TA applications. Quarterly deadlines for submitting a TA application are also listed on the Graduate Advising website.

You can use the following sites to apply for available TAships.

Information about TA Positions in Baskin Engineering programs.
You can sign up to receive email notifications for TA positions available across campus.

Graduate Student Researcher (GSR) Salary & Remissions

Unlike Teaching Assistant salaries, which are standardized across the UC system, GSR salaries depend on the department. Different departments pay GSRs different Salary Scale Steps. Please contact your department Graduate Advisor for information about the GSR salary level in your department.

Paycheck dates are scheduled for the first day of the month following the month worked (e.g., the paycheck for the first month of the Fall quarter worked is issued on November 1).

GSRs of 25% or more automatically cover in-state tuition, health insurance, student services fees, campus fees, and non-resident tuition. Domestic students entering the program from out-of-state/abroad are expected to establish their California residency before Fall of their second year in order to avoid being charged non-resident tuition in the following years, which will extend financial resources.

Other Employment Opportunities

Students are encouraged to review the Student Employment website for other paid opportunities.

Important Payroll Information

UCSC has different systems for distributing different types of funding (i.e., Fellowships vs. TA/GSRships). You need to set up distinct accounts in order to receive funding. Please see a chart below for an explanation and instructions for how to set up the two different types of payments. You must sign up for direct deposit in each system as the systems do not talk to each other. Contact your Graduate Advisor with questions.

Payment System	1) Financial Aid/Student Business Services	2) Payroll
Type of payments	Fellowships, fee/tuition remission, loans	TA and GSR salary, any other payment for employment (tutoring, GSA rep, etc.)
Where to access payment system	Authorize direct deposit and keep your mailing address updated on your MyUCSC Portal	Authorize direct deposit and keep your mailing address updated on UC Path
Check payments/find forms	Log into MyUCSC: https://my.ucsc.edu/ Check financial aid and account activity for up-to-date information	UC Path: https://ucpath.ucsc.edu/
When payments are processed	Fellowships are paid in 1 lump sum per quarter. Payments and tuition are posted around the beginning of each quarter.	Checks are disbursed the month after you work and paid the 1st of the month- Fall: Nov, Dec, Jan Winter: Feb, Mar, Apr Spring: May, June, July Summer: Aug, Sept, Oct
For help, contact your Graduate Student Advisor and the following offices	Student Business Services – email sbs@ucsc.edu or call 831-459-2107	Contact your divisional payroll specialist or email payhelp@ucsc.edu

Other Financial Aid Resources

Registration and Enrollment

Enrolling in Courses

Graduate students are expected to enroll in at least 10 units of graduate courses (#200-299) each quarter to maintain full time status. Students can enroll in a maximum of 19 credits per quarter without special permission. Please consult the UCSC Catalog entry for your program to review the courses that will count toward your program’s degree requirements. You can also review the NLP Program Overview page for guidance on the courses you are expected to enroll in each quarter. Please see the individual program description below for all required courses and academic planners.

Enrollment dates can be viewed on the Academic and Administrative Calendar (bookmark this page!).

How to Enroll and Late Fees

Students enroll in classes online through their UCSC Student Portal my.ucsc.edu. Students are responsible for verifying their enrollment on the website by the published deadline for each quarter (see the Academic and Administrative Calendar at https://registrar.ucsc.edu/calendar/academiccalendar.html). No credit can be earned for courses in which students do not officially enroll.

You may be administratively withdrawn from the University and your tuition remissions put on hold if you fail to enroll in classes by the published deadline. If you are a teaching assistant (TA) or a graduate student researcher (GSR) and fail to enroll in classes, your employment with the University may be terminated.

If students have not enrolled in at least 5 units by the first day of the quarter, a hold will be put on their financial aid – meaning TA or GSR fee credits, fellowships, loans, etc. cannot be disbursed.

For enrollment help, see the Registrar's website or email registrar@ucsc.edu.

IMPORTANT: A $50 late enrollment fee is assessed if students have not enrolled by the 7th day of instruction in any quarter. Refer to the quarterly Schedule of Classes or the annual Academic and Administrative Calendar for dates https://registrar.ucsc.edu/calendar/academiccalendar.html

Independent Study

NLP students interested in conducting research or collaborating with faculty in the Computer Science and Engineering department outside of their NLP coursework may do so by first confirming with a faculty member that they are available to supervise the student’s research. Students interested in engaging in an Independent Study with a UCSC faculty member need to work directly with faculty to explore and articulate research/Independent Study opportunities. Once it has been determined that a faculty member is willing to supervise a student’s Independent Study, students should follow the instructions outlined on the BE Graduate Student Affairs’ website to register for a two- or five-credit Independent Study course (CSE 297) sponsored by the faculty member.

Please note: Independent Studies will not count toward the NLP M.S. degree requirements, and the NLP M.S. program must be completed in four to five quarters, and so an Independent Study should not take priority over a student’s engagement in and completion of NLP program requirements.

Questions about Independent Studies should be directed to the Graduate Student Advisor.

Grading Options: Letter Grades vs. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U)

By default, all grades for graduate courses are set to S/U when students enroll. Students must manually change the grade option to a letter grade at the time of enrollment in order to receive a letter grade.

IMPORTANT: Starting in Academic Year 2023-24, all courses in the NLP M.S. program must be taken for a letter grade with the exception of seminar courses (i.e., NLP 280). The grade option change deadline is listed on the Academic and Administrative Calendar. After this deadline, the grade option cannot be changed. Failure to change the grading option to the appropriate grade option by the deadline will result in courses not being counted towards degree requirements (see the NLP M.S. Grade Option Policy outlined in the UCSC Catalog).

A “Satisfactory” or passing grade for a graduate student corresponds to a letter grade of B- or better. Letter grades of C+ and below and “Unsatisfactory” grades are not considered passing and do not earn the student any units. Two or more non-passing grades will result in academic probation.

Please note that students must take at least 25 units of graduate courses for a letter grade in order to have a grade point average (GPA) calculated on their transcript. The GPA will not appear on the transcript until all 25 units have been completed.

Academic Progress

The faculty and Graduate Advisor reviews the progress of every student on an ongoing basis to ensure the student remains on track to complete the degree in four or five consecutive academic quarters. Students not making adequate progress toward completion of degree requirements are subject to probation and ultimately dismissal from the program. Students with unsatisfactory academic progress may be required to take additional courses. Full-time students with no unsatisfactory grades are expected to maintain full-time enrollment for the duration of the program and complete all degree requirements within four to five quarters.

The curriculum of each quarter in the NLP M.S. program builds upon the learning of preceding quarters, and the program has sequenced courses that are typically only offered once per year. As such, it becomes very difficult for students to continue with the program if they do not pass a course, since they will not have the opportunity to retake the failed course during the following quarter. Failing an NLP course may also affect the student’s eligibility to take other NLP courses if the failed course is a prerequisite for subsequent classes. If a student fails a core course, they will be required to retake and pass that course the following year when it is offered. If a student fails an elective course, they may make up those credits by passing an additional elective course in a subsequent quarter. If a student chooses to retake a course, both instances of the course will be listed on the student’s transcript and will be factored into their GPA if taken for a letter grade. Retaking a course will not erase the previous grade.

Students receiving two or more unsatisfactory grades (U or grade below B-) in Baskin Engineering courses, or who have not identified and joined a Capstone project team by the end of Winter Quarter, are not making adequate progress and will be placed on academic probation for up to three quarters of registered enrollment. Students are responsible for working with their Program Director to develop a plan to complete the failed coursework.

Withdrawing or taking a leave of absence does not count as enrollment. Part-time enrollment is counted as a half quarter of enrollment and is only available in exceptional circumstances as the NLP M.S. program is designed to be completed in four or five consecutive quarters at full-time enrollment.

Students who are on academic probation or are not enrolled full time are no longer guaranteed any previously committed funding. Should students receive an unsatisfactory grade (U or below B-) in a Baskin Engineering course while on probation, the Computer Science and Engineering Department may request the Graduate Dean dismiss that student from the graduate program. If after being removed from probation, the student again receives an unsatisfactory grade (U or below B-) in a Baskin Engineering course, the student will return immediately to academic probation.

Graduate students experiencing circumstances or difficulties that impact their academic performance should contact their Graduate Student Advisor and their Program Director immediately. Students may appeal their dismissal.

Plagiarism - Definitions, Guidelines, and Consequences

The UCSC Code of Student Conduct states: "Plagiarism is defined as the use of intellectual material produced by another person without acknowledging its source. This includes but is not limited to: 1) copying from the writings or works of another into one's academic assignment without attribution or submitting such works as if it were one's own; 2) using the views, opinions, or insights of another without acknowledgement; or 3) paraphrasing the characteristic or original phraseology, metaphor, or other literary device of another without proper attribution." In assignments for classes and when writing research articles and grants, students must express ideas in their own words and must give credit to the sources of the ideas.

If a case of plagiarism is discovered, the instructor will generally not give credit for the assignment, and the Department Chair and the Graduate Dean will be notified of the incident. The Advising Committee, the instructor, and the student will meet to ensure that the student understands the meaning and usual reasons for plagiarizing, what the correct approach should have been, and the consequences of future incidents. After a second incident of plagiarism, the program will recommend to the Department Chair and the Graduate Dean that the student be expelled from graduate school.

Transfer Credit

For information on the policy governing the transfer of credit from other institutions or through UCSC’s concurrent enrollment program, please review the program statements for the NLP M.S. program.

Program Transfers

Program transfers between Master’s programs or from a Master’s program to a Ph.D. program, are an exception and will be only considered on a case-by-case basis. Any such transfer requests will require approval from your current Program Director and the intended new Program Director or Graduate Director. The request should explain why the program transfer is appropriate and adhere to any requirements from the intended new program or department. For transfers to the PhD program, the request must include a detailed funding plan from the intended PhD faculty advisor.

Please note that a faculty-initiated request does not guarantee a transfer will be approved. All transfer requests are subject to review by the NLP Program Director and the Graduate Director of the receiving department.

In order to be considered for a program transfer, the student must:

Have completed a minimum of two quarters in the department to which the student was offered admission originally.
Have completed a minimum of 15 credits of coursework in the department to which the student was offered admission originally.
Be in good academic standing with the department to which the student was offered admission originally.

The student is responsible for completing the Program Transfer Petition and must include a detailed description of:

Primary reasons they are requesting to change their degree objective
Approximate completion dates of all applicable upcoming milestones (course requirements, advancement to candidacy, time to degree etc.), including a detailed course plan for meeting the new program’s requirements.
A discussion of any special conditions (i.e., continued or discontinued fellowship support, TAships, GSR appointments) as relevant. If petitioning a transfer to a PhD program, the new faculty advisor must include a financial support plan to cover the 5-year funding mandate.

Process for Submitting:

Student discusses potential program transfer with their Program Director to receive approval.
Student completes the Program Transfer Petition.
Student obtains the signature of their current Program Director (signs as Current Graduate Director/Dept. Chair)
Student obtains the signature of their new Program Director (signs as New Graduate Director/Dept. Chair). If applicable, the student may also need to obtain the signature of their new faculty advisor and provide a plan for financial support (especially if transferring to a Ph.D. program).
Student emails form to their current Graduate Student Advisor (cse-gradadvising@ucsc.edu) for processing.

Natural Language Processing M.S. Program

Program Description

Natural Language Processing (NLP) focuses on the development of computer programs that can understand, generate, and learn from human language for useful purposes. It provides key capabilities for applications in many areas of artificial intelligence, and provides algorithms, methods and tools for analyzing both text or speech for such applications as conversational agents, machine translation, question answering, knowledge discovery from text, and sentiment analysis. The UC Santa Cruz professional Master of Science in Natural Language Processing program provides both depth and breadth in core algorithms and methods for NLP, and integrates foundational skills of data science and core aspects of linguistic theory in order to prepare program graduates to work in the natural language processing field in industry, governmental agencies or nonprofit organizations. The degree is offered through the UCSC campus location in Silicon Valley, enabling connection and collaboration with local industry and a focus on career development. Students are expected to complete coursework in four or five consecutive academic quarters, without leaves of absence.

Students in the NLP M.S. program are expected to complete coursework in four to five consecutive academic quarters, without leaves of absence.

NLP Coursework

Please refer to your program’s entry in the UCSC Catalog for the most up-to-date record of your program requirements. Students in the NLP M.S. program are required to complete at least 59 units of coursework, which must include the courses below:

Core Courses

NLP 201 Natural Language Processing I (5 units)
NLP 202 Natural Language Processing II (5 units)
NLP 203 Natural Language Processing III (5 units)
NLP 220 Data Science and Machine Learning Fundamentals (5 units)
NLP 243 Machine Learning for Natural Language Processing (5 units)
NLP 244 Advanced Machine Learning for Natural Language Processing (5 units)

Seminar

Students are encouraged to take the NLP seminar each time it is offered; however, a maximum of 4 units of NLP 280 can be counted toward the 59 units required for the degree. All students are required to take two instances of NLP 280.

Elective Courses

NLP M.S. students are required to take two elective courses (10 units). Students generally take their elective courses during Winter and Spring Quarters. Course offerings may vary from year to year, and students can review the NLP and CSE Course Schedules to view which electives will be offered during their graduate experience.

IMPORTANT: When enrolling in elective courses, students should check where each course is scheduled to be facilitated as most CSE courses are only offered in-person at the Santa Cruz Main Campus while NLP courses are offered in-person at the Silicon Valley Campus.

A list of approved elective courses are listed below and in the UCSC Catalog:

NLP 245 Conversational Agents (5 units)
NLP 255 Topics in Applied Natural Language Processing (5 units)
NLP 267 Machine Translation (5 units)
NLP 270 Linguistic Models of Syntax and Semantics for Computer Scientists (5 units)
CSE 245/LING 245/CMPM 245 Computational Models of Discourse and Dialogue (5 units)
CSE 272 Information Retrieval (5 units)
CSE 290C Advanced Topics in Machine Learning (5 units)
CSE 290K Advanced Topics in Natural Language Processing (5 units)

Capstone Sequence

NLP 271A Capstone I: Natural Language Processing (5 units)
NLP 271B Capstone II: Natural Language Processing (10 units)

Capstone Project

The Capstone requirement for the NLP M.S. degree is fulfilled through an application team project. Students are expected to work on their Capstone requirement over the spring and second fall quarters. Teams will consist of three to five students, who will work collaboratively on the project.

The teamwork will be spread over a 5-unit class in the spring quarter (NLP 271A) and a 10-unit class in the second fall quarter (NLP 271B) to constitute the complete 15-unit Capstone experience.

In NLP 271A, student teams will explore the NLP research literature and present a proposal for their Capstone project. In NLP 271B, student teams will complete their Capstone project and present final results to the public.

In NLP 271A, student teams will review papers from the research literature and get matched to mentors from either industry or the UC Santa Cruz NLP program faculty, based on their interests. Mentors will meet with their teams at least once a week to evaluate progress and provide guidance. At the end of the quarter, each team will produce a 10-page written project proposal, and orally present it to the NLP Industry Advisory Board. The proposal will cover the topic for their capstone project, the background, the data sources, the high level design, and a milestone schedule. The proposal will need to be approved by the capstone coordinator.

In NLP 271B, teams will complete the implementation of their capstone project, under guidance from their mentors. At the end of the quarter, each team will submit a 10-page written report and present their work at the annual UC Santa Cruz NLP Capstone Workshop. Student evaluations will be based on the quality of the team project, individual class participation, and peer evaluations (in which students evaluate the contributions of their teammates).

All students will be required to either present a poster or oral presentation at the UCSC NLP Capstone Workshop, which will be an integral part of the Capstone evaluation. The Capstone Workshop will be an annual event taking place at the end of each Fall Quarter to which program faculty, students, and members of the Industry Advisory Board will be encouraged to attend. The workshop will also serve as a general outreach to NLP scientists in local industry and government.

Academic Planners

There are two primary paths through the NLP M.S. degree. All NLP M.S. students are required to complete at least 59 credits within four or five consecutive academic quarters. Sample course schedules are available on the NLP Program Overview page. Please note that course offerings may vary from year to year.

Summer Internships

NLP MS students are strongly encouraged to complete a professional internship during the summer quarter in the program. Students are advised to begin applying and interviewing for internships midway through their first Fall Quarter for the following summer. Questions about internships should be directed to the Program Director.

International students may be eligible for Curricular Practical Training (CPT). Please see the International Student & Scholar Services website for more information about eligibility and the process for applying for CPT.

Graduation

Applying to Graduate

Students close to completing their degree must file an Application for the M.S. Degree early in the quarter in which they wish to graduate (see the Academic and Administrative Calendar for deadlines). The application is the official notification to the Graduate Dean of the intent to graduate. This form is available on the Graduate Division’s website and should be submitted to the Graduate Student Advisor prior to the deadline.

After Graduation

Diplomas and Degree Verification: It typically takes three to four months for students to receive their paper diploma, which will be mailed to the permanent address listed in their MyUCSC accounts (please ensure your permanent address is up-to-date). Once you have applied to graduate, completed all coursework and degree requirements, and updated your permanent address in MyUCSC, there is no action you need to take to receive your diploma.

Please note that the degree application processing period will also affect updates to students’ official transcripts. It will likely take several weeks to a month after completing your degree requirements before your transcript includes the date you completed your degree, and so we recommend students review the unofficial transcript available online before ordering official copies. Information on requesting an official transcript can be found on the Registrar's website.

If you need to show official proof that you earned the degree before your diploma is mailed or your degree is listed on your transcript, a Certificate of Completion is available to any student who has completed all requirements for the degree. Please note that this option may be faster than waiting for your diploma, but the Graduate Division will still need time to process your degree application before the Registrar's Office can issue a Certificate of Completion. You can email the Office of the Registrar for an estimated processing timeline for a Certificate of Completion. To order a Certificate of Completion, use the Request for Certificate of Completion of Degree Requirements form and follow the directions.

International Students Applying for OPT

Some international students will want to apply to do Optional Practical Training (OPT) after they graduate. Please see the International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) website for information on how to apply for OPT, including the timeline. It takes several months to process OPT applications so it is very important that you review the information on the ISSS website early in your graduate experience and contact ISSS if you have any questions.

The NLP M.S. program is considered a STEM program and is eligible for the STEM Extension.

Overview of the OPT Process

Optional Practical Training (OPT) enables students in valid F-1 status to work in an off-campus environment typically for one year or more if eligible for the STEM extension (the NLP Program is a STEM program). Students should follow guidance provided by International Student and Scholar Services regarding OPT eligibility, mandatory OPT workshop schedules, restrictions related to OPT, and application requirements (including how to apply for the OPT STEM Extension).

In addition to the following guidance provided by ISSS, the NLP Program recommends the following:

Prepare to complete an OPT Workshop within 9 months of your final term of enrollment. We encourage you to attend the workshop as many times as you need.
After attending the workshop, contact your ISSS Advisor via email at istudent@ucsc.edu or by scheduling an appointment if you have any questions about your OPT eligibility and application.
If you plan to apply for OPT in your last quarter, ensure that you are enrolled in all remaining degree requirements before submitting your application.

Resources for Graduates

Support for Students

The transition to graduate school can be a challenging adjustment for students, and we want to assure you that you have support. It’s very common for graduate students to experience increased anxiety and other mental health challenges during graduate school, and this can have a negative impact on your studies. If you find yourself experiencing this, you are not alone! The NLP Program Team and your Graduate Student Advisor are here to support your holistic success in the program - please reach out to us. As this program moves so quickly, the earlier we know about challenges you are facing, the more quickly we can act to provide you with the support you need.

There are also many other resources on campus to support students:

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS): Provides free one-on-one counseling (in person and virtual), group counseling, mental health workshops, and psychiatric support for students.
Disability Resource Center (DRC): Provides equal educational access for students with various permanent disabilities, including learning disabilities, Attention Deficit Disorder, visual, mobility and hearing impairments, psychological disabilities, and chronic systemic disorders (e.g., lupus, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, etc.). They also serve students with temporary medical conditions such as broken bones, recovery from a medical procedure, and pregnancy related complications.

Addressing Bullying and Harassment

The NLP M.S. program does not tolerate any forms of bullying or harassment. As a learning community, UCSC is committed to promoting and protecting an environment that values and supports every person in an atmosphere of civility, honesty, cooperation, professionalism and fairness. For more information, please see the UCSC Principles of Community.

We take all allegations of bullying and harassment very seriously. If you experience any forms of bullying or harassment, we encourage you to come forward, and would like to offer several avenues for you.

Sexual Assault/Harassment and Sex/Gender-based Discrimination

Campus Advocacy Resources and Education (CARE) provides confidential support for students. CARE advocates will not share any information with Title IX, the police, parents, or anyone else without explicit permission.
Report sexual harassment, assault, stalking, and other forms of sex/gender discrimination to the Title IX office.
Bring concerns directly to NLP faculty or the Graduate Student Advisor. We will do our best to maintain confidentiality. However, please note that faculty and the Graduate Student Advisor are mandated reporters, and must report any instances of sex-based harassment/assault to the Title IX office. We will always inform you if we need to report what you have disclosed.
Contact the Dean of Students Office, which provides a wide range of support related to student success and addresses concerns related to bullying, harassment, and discrimination.

Bullying and Other Forms of Harassment

Contact the Dean of Students Office, which provides a wide range of support related to student success and addresses concerns related to bullying, harassment, and discrimination.
Bring concerns directly to NLP faculty or the Graduate Student Advisor. We will do our best to maintain confidentiality. However, please note that faculty and the Graduate Student Advisor are mandated reporters, and must report any instances of sex-based harassment/assault to the Title IX office. We will always inform you if we need to report what you have disclosed.
Report hate/bias form: https://ucsc-advocate.symplicity.com/care_report/index.php/pid503996

Tips for being Successful in the NLP M.S. Program

To support your success in this unique program, the NLP Program Team recommends the following:

Be sure to attend all of your classes and complete all assignments on time.
Balance your personal and academic commitments: Each 5-unit class is expected to take 15 hours a week of work including attending each lecture and section.
Communicate early and often with the NLP Program Team if you encounter any challenges that may impact your success in the program. We are here to support.
Form study groups and get to know your classmates. Feel welcome to use the NLP Slack Channel or the NLP-students group email to share announcements and pose questions.
The most important skill for success is being able to work productively with others. Use your time in the program to develop and advance your communication, leadership, collaboration, and listening skills.
Be respectful of everyone. UCSC strongly believes in a diverse and supportive environment.
Practice UCSC’s Principles of Community.

Other Campus Resources

Please see below for campus resources available to all graduate students (listed in alphabetical order):

Baskin Engineering Events & Information: https://engineering.ucsc.edu/
Campus Conflict Resolution: https://conflictresolution.ucsc.edu/
Career Center: https://careers.ucsc.edu/
Center for Innovations in Teaching and Learning: https://citl.ucsc.edu/
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS): https://caps.ucsc.edu/index.html
COVID-19 Related Updates & Information: https://recovery.ucsc.edu/
Dean of Students Office: https://deanofstudents.ucsc.edu/
Disability Resource Center (DRC): https://drc.ucsc.edu
Division of Graduate Studies Graduate Student Handbook: https://graddiv.ucsc.edu/current-students/academic-regulations/graduate-student-handbook/
Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action (EEO/AA): https://diversity.ucsc.edu/eeo-aa/index.html
Financial Aid Emergency Advance Program: https://financialaid.ucsc.edu/types-of-aid/loans/ucsc-financial-aid-emergency-advance-program.html
Food Access & Basic Needs Resources: https://basicneeds.ucsc.edu/
Grad Division Professional Development: https://graddiv.ucsc.edu/professional-development/index.html
Graduate Student Association: https://gsa.ucsc.edu/
International Student & Scholar Services: https://isss.ucsc.edu/
MyUCSC: https://its.ucsc.edu/myucsc/
Office for Diversity Equity and Inclusion (ODEI): https://diversity.ucsc.edu/index.html
Office of Graduate Student Affairs: https://grad.soe.ucsc.edu/current-students
Office of the Registrar: https://registrar.ucsc.edu/
Problem and Complaint Resolution: https://ombuds.ucsc.edu/index.html
Remote Learning Resources for Students: https://keeplearning.ucsc.edu/
Report Hate: https://reporthate.ucsc.edu/
Report hate/bias form: https://ucsc-advocate.symplicity.com/care_report/index.php/pid503996?
Resource Centers: https://resourcecenters.ucsc.edu/
Slug Support System: https://deanofstudents.ucsc.edu/slug-support/program/index.html
Student Business Services: https://sbs.ucsc.edu/
Student Health Center: https://healthcenter.ucsc.edu/
Student Health Outreach and Promotion (SHOP): https://shop.ucsc.edu/
Title IX Office: https://titleix.ucsc.edu
Title IX Anonymous reporting form: https://uctitleix.i-sight.com/portal
Campus Advocacy Resources and Education (CARE): https://care.ucsc.edu/index.html

This is a confidential resource to discuss sexual harassment and assault

Transportation & Parking Services (TAPS): https://taps.ucsc.edu/
UCPath: https://ucpath.ucsc.edu/
UCSC Athletics & Recreation: https://recreation.ucsc.edu/
Zoom Support: https://its.ucsc.edu/zoom/zoom-pro.html

Appendix: Appealing Academic Judgments

Revisions approved by the Graduate Council on May 21, 2009, and effective July 1, 2009. This policy is also available in the Graduate Division’s Student Handbook

Students have the right to appeal various institutional judgments concerning their academic standing at UC Santa Cruz including dismissal from graduate standing, placement on probationary status, narrative evaluation or grade notation, and their academic progress. This appeal procedure applies only to enrolled graduate students at UC Santa Cruz and is not available to appeal denial of admission or readmission to any program.

The scope of this procedure is limited to the matters listed above, and excludes complaints regarding student employment as a Teaching Assistant, student discipline, auxiliary student services (such as housing, child care, etc.), and sexual harassment, which are covered by other policies and procedures.

This document outlines the four levels of complaint resolution available to graduate students at UC Santa Cruz: Instructor appeal, Departmental appeal, Graduate Dean appeal, and Graduate Council appeal. Throughout all stages of the appeal process, both parties are strongly encouraged to seek informal resolution. The Graduate Dean may be consulted for informal resolution at any stage of the process. In addition graduate students may contact the Office of the Ombudsman for assistance with informal complaint resolution. Working toward informal resolution does not preclude continuation of a formal appeal. However, unless a request for extension of a deadline is granted as provided below, informal resolution efforts shall not serve in any way to stay or extend an applicable filing deadline.

Requests for Extension of Filing Deadlines

Except as otherwise provided in this policy, any party may for good cause seek an extension of a deadline by filing a request with the Dean of the Division of Graduate Studies. Such a request must be submitted in writing prior to the deadline for which an extension is sought, and must explain the reason(s) why an extension is necessary. The decision to grant or deny a request is within the discretion of the Dean and shall be final and binding.

Basis for Appeals

An appeal may be filed based upon one or more of the following grounds, provided that the action complained of has had a material impact on the student’s academic standing:

1. Procedural error or violation of official policy by academic or administrative personnel;

2. Judgments improperly based upon non-academic criteria including, but not limited to, discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, medical condition, ancestry, marital status, citizenship, sexual orientation, or status as a veteran or special disabled veteran, or any personal or arbitrary reasons;

3. Special mitigating circumstances beyond the student’s control not properly taken into account in a decision affecting the student’s academic progress;

4. Capricious or arbitrary application of appropriate criteria in a manner not reflective of the student’s performance in relation to a course or program requirement.

Procedure for Appeals

Throughout the appeals process all time periods are expressed in working days within the academic term or during the normal working days of summer. Students should be aware that appeals begun late in spring or in summer may be delayed by the unavailability of specific faculty and/or the Graduate Council. A written appeal must be initiated by the student within the time limits specified below. The student must seek resolution of the action sequentially as described below, unless the action complained of is not an evaluation or grade notation. In that instance, the student would begin the appeal with Step II below.

Step I. If the student is appealing an evaluation or grade notation, the appeal must be submitted to the instructor who provided the evaluation or grade notation;

Step II. For all other appeals, or if the student is continuing the appeal of an evaluation or grade notation, the appeal must be submitted to the student’s major department;

Step III. The Graduate Dean;

Step IV. The Graduate Council.

In all cases (Step I through IV), the appeal should indicate the action(s) being appealed, the date(s) the action(s) occurred, the grounds upon which the appeal is based, and the outcome desired.

Step I. Appeal to Instructor

If a student is appealing a narrative evaluation or grade notation, the student must submit a written appeal to the instructor of the course within twenty (20) working days of the deadline contained in the campus Academic and Administrative Calendar for submittal of narrative evaluations or grade notation or, if that deadline has passed, of the actual date when the faculty member filed the narrative evaluation or grade notation. The chair of the faculty member’s department should be copied on the appeal, in order to inform the student if the faculty member is unavailable. The faculty member may elect to meet with the student to discuss the appeal and determine if a reasonable compromise can be reached that is acceptable to both parties. The faculty member must submit a written response to the student with a copy to the chair of the student’s department within ten (10) working days of the date of the student’s Step I appeal. This deadline may be extended by the chair of the faculty member’s department or his/her designate should the faculty member be away from campus for research, administrative duties, sabbatical time, or personal leave. If the course in question was sponsored by a unit other than the student’s home department, the appeal should be addressed to the instructor of the course and copied to the chairs of the two departments jointly.

Step II. Appeal to the Department

The student may continue the appeal of an evaluation or grade notation with the department. In addition, a student may begin the appeal of any other action at this level. Students continuing the appeal of an evaluation or grade notation must submit a written appeal to the chair of the department of the faculty instructor of the course, and this appeal must be submitted within twenty (20) working days of the date of the written response from the faculty instructor in Step I. If the course in question was sponsored by a unit other than the student's home department, the chair of the student's home department should be copied. In addition, the student may begin the appeal of any other department action at this level by submitting a written appeal to the chair of the department. This appeal must be submitted within twenty (20) working days of the date of the notice of the appealed action.

Review of the appeal at the departmental level should be conducted by the departmental graduate affairs committee or analogous group. This group should minimally include two or more faculty members. If a faculty member’s action(s) is the subject of the appeal, s/he must recuse him or herself from the committee. Departments may also elect to establish an ad hoc committee to handle appeals filed in a given academic year. The committee will initiate a review process within ten (10) working days of receipt of the appeal. The committee will receive the written appeal from the student, all pertinent material from the faculty member and student, and any additional material considered germane to the appeal either by the student or the faculty member. The committee may request additional information, as it deems necessary.

The committee or its designated members may elect to interview the faculty member and/or student involved in the appeal. The appeal must be concluded within fifteen (15) working days of receiving the written appeal from the student.

The committee will render its decision in written form within five (5) working days of the conclusion of the review process. For the decision to be binding, it must be consensual and accepted by all parties.

If the action being appealed, such as probation or dismissal, was initiated by the department, the review process remains the same.

After ten (10) working days, the suggested resolution, if not accepted by all parties, becomes null and void.

III. Appeal to the Graduate Dean

The student may elect to submit a written appeal of the department’s decision to the Graduate Dean. The decision must be appealed within ten (10) working days of the expiration of the department’s suggested resolution (see Step II).

At the discretion of the Graduate Dean, the appeal may be assigned to the Associate Graduate Dean. Additionally, if the Dean determines that the appeal should be submitted directly to the Graduate Council (for example, if the Dean determines that a fair and impartial hearing may be jeopardized by conflicts within the Graduate Division or other extenuating circumstances), the Dean may refer the appeal directly to the Graduate Council.

The Graduate Dean will review all documents and records submitted in the departmental review. In addition the Graduate Dean may meet with the student, faculty member(s), and/or graduate affairs committee, where appropriate, and may consider additional materials as s/he deems appropriate. The nominal time limit for completing the Graduate Dean’s review in within twenty (20) working days of receipt of the student’s appeal. The Graduate Dean may suggest a resolution of the appeal in written form within five (5) working days of completion of his/her review. For the decision to be binding, it must be consensual and accepted by all parties.

After ten (10) working days, the suggested resolution, if not accepted by all parties, becomes null and void.

IV. Appeal to the Graduate Council

The student may submit a final appeal to the Graduate Council within ten (10) working days of the expiration of the Dean’s suggested resolution (see Step III). The Graduate Council is a committee of the Academic Senate. There are ten Santa Cruz faculty members, plus the Graduate Dean serving ex officio. In addition, there are one Library representative nominated by the UCSC Librarians Association, no more than three Graduate Student Association representatives, and one Postdoctoral Scholars Association Representative.

The student will submit a written appeal to the Graduate Council through the Academic Senate Office. The Graduate Dean will forward all pertinent documents to the Graduate Council for evaluation. The Chair may request additional information, as she/he deems necessary. The Graduate Council Chair in consultation with the Graduate Council will review the file and determine whether sufficient cause exists to justify a formal hearing. This determination must be made within ten (10) working days of receipt of the student’s appeal, a written decision must be submitted within five (5) working days thereafter. If the Council declines to hear the case, this would be the final conclusion of the appeals process. If the Council determines that a hearing is to be held, the student and instructor or chair of the department will be notified of the initial hearing date in writing at least twenty (20) working days in advance. The hearing may continue to later session if necessary but in any case must be completed within ten (10) working days.

The Graduate Council Chair may at his/her discretion constitute a subcommittee of at least four members, including at least one student representative, to hear the appeal, or she/he may convene the Graduate Council as a whole, as appropriate to the case and circumstances. If a subcommittee is established, it acts for the Graduate Council for the remainder of the appeal at this level. At least five (5) calendar days prior to the hearing date, each party shall provide the other with all relevant materials, including: names of all witnesses and any and all written materials to be introduced at the hearing. Copies of this material must also be submitted to the Graduate Council at least ten (10) working days prior to the hearing.

During the appeal, the Graduate Council shall review the charges. At the hearing, the Graduate Council may interview such witnesses as are brought to the hearing by either party or such other witnesses as the Graduate Council considers relevant.

During the procedure, the graduate student members of the Graduate Council participate fully and equally with faculty members of the Graduate Council to review the issues of the case and ensure due process for the student. The graduate students are not to be viewed as a special resource or advocate for the student to any greater degree than any individual faculty member of the Graduate Council.

A formal hearing will follow these procedures and conditions:

1. The student:

a. shall be present throughout the hearing. If the student fails to attend the hearing, she/he shall be considered to have abandoned her/his appeal unless deferral was granted by the Graduate Council;

b. may be accompanied by a Senate member of her/his choice, if desired and available;

c. may be accompanied by a graduate student of her/his choice to serve in an advisory role, if desired and available;

Please note: although the Graduate Council will attempt to accommodate requests, the non-availability of a requested accompanying Senate member or graduate student is not sufficient cause for delay of an appeals hearing, nor does it affect the legitimacy of the Council’s findings.

d. shall have the right to present evidence, including witnesses, first; and

e. may cross-examine all witnesses presented by the instructor, department, or dean. If the student desires a Senate member as an advisor and is unable to secure a Senate member to serve in this role, the Graduate Council, at the student’s request, will appoint a faculty member to act in this role. This advisor may or may not be a member of the Graduate Council. A Graduate Council member serving in this capacity shall be recused from the Graduate Council deliberations of the appeal.

2. The hearings will be confidential and limited to the principals (student, Senate member selected by the student, graduate student selected by the student, and instructor or department representative or relevant administrator), and members of the Graduate Council (but see 3 and 5 below).

3. By prior arrangement, witnesses may be interviewed as part of the hearing process.

4. All witnesses other than the student and the instructor (or department representative or other relevant administrator) shall be excluded from the hearing except when testifying.

5. Evidence may be oral or written, but must be limited to issues raised in the original written complaint. Formal rules of evidence shall not apply, and evidence shall be admitted if of the type upon which reasonable people are accustomed to rely in the conduct of serious affairs. The Graduate Council may, in its discretion, exclude irrelevant or unduly repetitive evidence. At its discretion the Graduate Council may agree to hear closing arguments (either oral or written at the Council’s discretion) as to the correct resolution of the matter. If the Council determines to allow written closing arguments, the hearing process shall be deemed complete upon the parties’ submission of their written arguments to the Council.

6. The meeting shall be tape recorded, or, at the option of the student, a stenographer may be provided at the student's expense. The student shall have access to a copy of the tape recording and may copy the tape at her/his expense. All records pertaining to the hearing shall be kept by the Graduate Council for a period of three years. Student records shall be retained beyond that time if there is an outstanding request by a principal party to the review to inspect them.

7. The Graduate Council will reach its finding subsequent to completion of the hearing. The deliberations of the Graduate Council shall be in private. The Graduate Council shall submit a written finding including an explanation for the basis of it to the Graduate Dean within ten (10) working days of the date of completion of the hearing process.

8. Consistent with Senate authority and informed by the finding of the Graduate Council, the Graduate Dean will make the final decision on all cases involving probation and dismissal. The Graduate Council will have final decision-making authority in all other cases. In either case, the decision must be made within ten (10) working days of the receipt of the Graduate Council finding. Grade changes mandated by the Graduate Council are limited to Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory/Withdraw.

9. The Graduate Dean will have the administrative responsibility to implement the elements of the final decisions from Step 8 and to ensure that the instructor involved and/or department abide by the terms of the final resolution of the appeal. In addition the Graduate Dean will take reasonable steps to ensure that the student is not subject to any form of retaliation and is further restored to good standing with the department if so determined by the decision of the review. This may include the provision of lost wages or fellowship funds if so determined by the decision of the review.

V. Financial Support

Financial support will continue for the student for the term in which the appeal is submitted. Support beyond this term will be contingent upon approval of the department and the Graduate Dean, and determined on a case-by-case basis.

VI. Ramifications of Appeal Process

At all stages of the appeal process, a faculty member may request that his or her name be removed from the course in the final academic transcript.

No punitive actions may be taken against the instructor on the basis of these procedures. Neither the filing of an appeal by a student nor the final disposition of the appeal shall, under any circumstances, become a part of the personnel file of the instructor. The use of non-academic criteria in assigning a grade is a violation of the Faculty Code of Conduct. Sanctions against an instructor for violation of the Faculty Code may be sought by filing a complaint in accordance with CAPPM 002.015 or the relevant collective bargaining agreement. A complaint may be filed by the student or by others consistent with CAPPM 002.015.

No punitive action may be taken against the complainant on the basis of these procedures. Neither the filing of an appeal by a student nor the final disposition of the appeal shall, under any circumstances, become a part of the complainant’s file. The instructor may, if he or she feels that his or her record has been impugned by false and malicious allegations, file charges against the complainant through the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs.

This information can also be found in Appendix D of the Academic Senate Manual

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Updated August 2023

Table of Contents

Introduction