Michigan Robotics offers Master’s and PhD degrees. Both programs are built on a common set of course requirements, with PhD students also completing research published in leading journals in the field of robotics.

The Michigan Robotics program consists of three main technical areas, which converge as students produce functioning robots:

Sensing of the environment, external agents, and internal body information to determine state information
Acting upon the body and environment to produce motion or other outputs that enable the robot to locomote or interact with the environment
Reasoning with that information to make decisions for guidance, control, and localization

Our students come to the field with a variety of backgrounds, particularly in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and computer science. They learn to work in teams to accomplish the many tasks necessary to build and operate an autonomous system, including mechanical design, electronics, programming and integrating all the parts. Students graduate the program as independent researchers and engineers, and many will go on to become leaders in robotics research, in academia, industry and government.

2. ADMISSION

Admission to the Robotics Graduate programs is through the Rackham Graduate School. Information regarding applying can be found on Rackham’s website.

It is the responsibility of the applicant to make sure the Robotics Graduate Program receives the completed application form and all additional required materials by the specified deadlines.

An engineering background is recommended but not required for the Robotics Program, although we have found that the lack of an engineering background puts students at a disadvantage as they begin their graduate studies. In general, our Admissions Committee is most interested in undergraduate and graduate academic performance, research experience, letters of recommendation (with particular attention to letters coming from faculty in relevant fields) and the academic statement of purpose.

PhD students admitted without a master’s degree may complete the master’s requirements as they progress through the PhD Program.

Current U-M graduate students in other programs may be eligible to earn a dual degree in Robotics. The Robotics Department Graduate Committee will not accept dual degree applications from students whose primary program offers a Robotics option (e.g. ECE, MECHENG).The Graduate Committee will review all application-centered credentials. Minimum requirements are ≥3.5 cumulative Rackham GPA and B+ or better grades in ROB 501 and ROB 550.

3. GENERAL ACADEMIC POLICIES

Dual Degree and Certificate Programs

Robotics students have the ability to obtain master’s degrees or graduate certificates in other programs at U-M. Adding a master’s degree or graduate certificate may require additional coursework and add semesters to a student’s time at U-M. In addition, there is a limit to how many courses can be counted towards the original master’s degree and the added master’s degree or graduate certificate. Adding a graduate certificate can only be done if the student is currently enrolled in a Master’s or PhD program.

Students interested in pursuing this option must contact the graduate program of interest to find out the requirements to add the degree. They must then complete the Pre-Approval Form for Dual Admission and obtain a signature of approval from the authorized signer in their current graduate program before applying. Without approval and an authorized signature on the form, the application will not be processed. The student will be required to upload the completed and signed Pre-Approval Form in the online application.

English Proficiency

Based on English language proficiency test scores (such as the TOEFL), some students will be encouraged by the Rackham Graduate School to take specific academic writing or speaking courses offered by the English Language Institute (ELI) to support their studies. The ELI courses are typically 1 to 3 credits, and will help students gain capability and confidence in English. Only some ELI courses may count as electives toward the Robotics MS and PhD degrees.

A student's English proficiency is also evaluated as the PhD student participates in the oral Comprehensive Qualifying Exam and Research Thesis Proposal presentation. If the faculty considers the student to otherwise be qualified for the Robotics PhD program, it may be recommended that the student take English courses. Students with major deficiencies in English will be found Not Qualified for the Robotics PhD Program.

Enrollment Status

Regarding courses:

Full time enrollment is 8 credit hours. Full time for tuition starts at 9 credits (see below).

For GSI/GSRA, full time enrollment is 6 credit hours.

ELI courses do count towards enrollment status.

Visit/Audit of a class does not count towards enrollment status.

PhD students are required to register every Fall and Winter term unless on an approved Leave of Absence. Learn more about Rackham’s Continuous Enrollment policy here.

Courses dropped after the 3rd week registration period will receive a “W” on transcript and cannot be removed from a student’s transcript. Term specific deadline dates are posted on the Registrar’s Office website.

Regarding tuition:

For 1-8 credits, a master’s and pre-candidate student’s account is charged an amount for each credit hour.

For 9+ credits, a master’s and pre-candidate student’s account is charged a single amount for all the credits.

To calculate tuition visit this Registrar's Office site. Make sure the College is “School of Engineering” and the Level of Study is “Graduate”. The cost for Robotics students is located in the Rackham table, the third table on the site.

Candidates are charged at the Candidacy tuition rate as they will register for 8 hours of 995 each Fall and Winter term (and Spring/Summer full term if defending and/or completing the doctoral degree requirements during Spring/Summer term).

Graduation

Graduation for the Master’s or PhD degree does not occur automatically. Students who have completed all degree requirements are required to apply for graduation in the term they finish their Robotics degree requirements. Failure to do so will result in prohibition from further enrollment.

The application deadline for graduation in the current semester is the last day of classes, not during the final exam period.

It is recommended that international students pay close attention to related deadlines such as for OPT and connect with the International Center for any additional questions or clarification.

Honor Code

All engineering programs at the University of Michigan follow the College of Engineering Honor Code outlining certain standards of ethical conduct. The Honor Council investigates reported violations of the Honor Code.

International Students

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) for F-1 Students

The intent of CPT is for students to engage in practical job experience that directly relates to their academic program of study. Students must choose their internships carefully with the understanding that any job that is NOT specifically related to the applicant’s major area of study, will likely result in the denial of the CPT request.

Students who would like to enroll in CPT should go to the Robotics website for instructions.

Credit for CPT (Rackham 998) may not be counted toward any ROB degree requirements.

Optional Practical Training (OPT) for F-1 Students

OPT is defined in the Federal Regulations as temporary employment directly related to a student's field of study. During OPT, a student remains in F-1 status. The end result of the OPT request process is an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) issued by United States Citizenship and Immigrations Services (USCIS).

Processing OPT applications typically requires 60 to 90 days but visit the International Center’s website for details and updated application timelines.

Some STEM students may be eligible for a 17 month extension of OPT.

Students who would like to enroll in OPT should go to the Robotics website for instructions.

Reduced Course Load (RCL) for F-1 Students

International students, who drop below full time status or who need fewer than 8 credits to complete their program requirements, may apply for RCL through the International Center.

Please note that students are eligible for RCL only if they have not yet completed their degree requirements. Due to Federal regulations, students must apply for their degree in the semester in which they complete their degree requirements. If a student wants to remain in the country after completing their requirements, they must apply for OPT.

Students who would like a RCL should go to the Robotics website for instructions.

4. MASTER’S DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

To receive a Robotics MS degree, a student must satisfy the Robotics Graduate Program requirements outlined below as well as the Rackham School of Graduate Studies General Master’s Degree Requirements as stated in the Rackham Graduate School Academic Policies and the College of Engineering Regulations as specified in the College of Engineering Bulletin.

Grades and GPA Requirement

All grades are on the Rackham Graduate School scale:

A+ 4.3 B+ 3.3 C+ 2.3 D+ 1.3

A 4.0 B 3.0 C 2.0 D 1.0

A- 3.7 B- 2.7 C- 1.7 D- 0.7

Course grade must be B- or better for the credit hours to be counted toward any MS degree requirement.

The grade point average (GPA) must be at least 3.0, based on Rackham’s 4.0 scale. A cumulative GPA below a 3.0 will cause the student to lose “satisfactory academic standing”.

A student must have a minimum cumulative Rackham GPA of 3.0 (B) to be granted a degree.

Beginning with Winter 2022 courses CoE is enforcing this policy on incompletes from the CoE Bulletin: " To secure credit, the required work must be completed by the end of the first full term (not including Spring or Summer terms) in which the student is enrolled after the term in which the “I” mark was recorded.

MS Core Class (ROB 501 and ROB 550) Retake Policy

MS Students must:

Earn a B- or better for the credit hours to be counted toward any MS degree requirement.
The grade point average (GPA) must be at least 3.0, based on Rackham’s 4.0 scale. A cumulative GPA below a 3.0 will cause the student to lose “satisfactory academic standing”.

In order to support student success, students who earn a grade requiring them to retake a core class (ROB 501 or 550) will be required to follow the below procedures.

Inform their advisor of the need to retake the course. For MS students, this is the Graduate Coordinator. Work with the advisor to identify areas that need improvement and create a plan for retaking the course.
The Graduate Office strongly recommends students form a study group to support their course experience and learning. Studying with peers is an incredibly valuable tool to enhance your learning, identify gaps in your knowledge, and strengthen your study skills.
Submit a formal plan to the Graduate Office before the add/drop deadline. The Graduate Coordinator will check in with the students halfway through the semester to discuss how the plan is working, any needed changes, and provide any additional support the student may need.

Master’s Degree Credit Distribution/Coursework

The Master’s degree requires a minimum of 30 graduate level credit hours with the following distribution:

8 credits for ROB 550 (4 credits) & ROB 501 (4 credits)
≥ 12 credits of technical graded courses

Breadth requirement: ≥ 9 credits (at least 1 course from each of the 3 core areas: sensing, acting, reasoning)
Depth requirement: ≥ 3 credits in “depth area” (at least 1 additional course taken from at least one of the 3 core areas: sensing, acting, reasoning)

3-6 credits of Directed Study (ROB 590)
3 credits of Advanced Research (ROB 690) - Optional
3 credits of ROB 502 “Programming for Robotics” - Optional

The academic topics in ROB 501 and ROB 550 build the foundation to the Robotics curriculum and students are expected to have this education in their first two semesters.

Sample Schedule for a student taking ROB 502 Term 1:

Term 1: 7-10 credits*

ROB 502
ROB 501
ROB 590, Sensing course, Acting course, Reasoning course, or Elective

Term 2: 7-10 credits*

ROB 550
ROB 590, Sensing course, Acting course, Reasoning course, or Elective
Sensing course, Acting course, Reasoning course, or Elective

Term 3: 7-10 credits*

Sensing course, Acting course, Reasoning course, or Elective
Sensing course, Acting course, Reasoning course, or Elective
Sensing course, Acting course, Reasoning course, or Elective

Term 4: If necessary: any remaining requirements

Sample Schedule for a student taking ROB 550 Term 1:

Term 1: 7-10 credits*

ROB 550
ROB 501
ROB 590, Sensing course, Acting course, Reasoning course, or Elective

Term 2: 7-10 credits*

ROB 590, Sensing course, Acting course, Reasoning course, or Elective
Sensing course, Acting course, Reasoning course, or Elective
Sensing course, Acting course, Reasoning course, or Elective

Term 3: 7-10 credits*

ROB 690, Sensing course, Acting course, Reasoning course, or Elective
Sensing course, Acting course, Reasoning course, or Elective
Sensing course, Acting course, Reasoning course, or Elective

Term 4: If necessary: any remaining requirements

*Per section 2.1 of the Rackham Academic Policies: “Some graduate programs, other University policies, or U.S. government agencies, such as the Veterans Administration and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, may require a student to be enrolled for a minimum number of credit hours to be considered a full-time student. International students must be enrolled full-time under requirements set by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and on F-1 or J-1 visas should consult the International Center with any questions concerning enrollment, course registration, and visa status. International students who wish to be registered less than full-time must obtain permission in advance from the International Center or risk compromising their visa status.

Courses that do not count towards master’s degree requirements:

Courses with number 990, 995 or other course(s) with “doctoral,” “dissertation,” or “preliminary” in the title may not be counted towards master’s degree requirements.
Rackham 998 (Curricular Practical Training) may not be counted for any degree requirements.
ELI courses can only be counted toward degree requirements on a case by case basis.
Courses with insufficiently advanced content and level, or which substantially duplicate in content and level courses already completed by the student cannot be counted toward degree requirements.

ROB 590 Directed Study

A minimum of 3 credits of ROB 590 is required to fulfill the Robotics MS degree requirements (only a maximum of 6 credits of 590 can count toward the MS degree). A student may register for anywhere from 1-6 credits of ROB 590 during any given term but only a total of 6 credits of ROB 590 may be taken to count toward the ROB MS degree. A ROB 590 directed study project is research supervised by a robotics faculty member (core or affiliate) and the directed study project requirements are up to each individual faculty advisor. You must have your research advisor’s permission (verbal or written) before registering for ROB 590.

At this time, the Robotics Grad Office does not have a list of faculty who are looking for students to work on a project. It is up to each student to seek out faculty with whom they are interested in working.

If seeking ROB 590 credit for MDP, approval is required from the grad committee: please email robotics-sso@umich.edu. Please note effective Winter 2023) if doing MDP, all 4 credits (this includes the 1 credit for ENGR 599) will count towards the maximum of 6 ROB 590 credits that can count toward the MS.

ROB 690 Master’s Advanced Research

ROB 690 is faculty-supervised research that culminates in a submitted and graded document. The expectation is that the student will write and submit an original conference style paper based on their advanced research that builds on earlier research completed in three to six credits of ROB 590. Specific expectations are determined by the research advisor. ROB 690 will be letter graded (not S/U).

Registration will require an email from the advisor to the Graduate Coordinator approving the registration, as well as an electronic permission from the grad office.

Students must enroll in 6 credits of ROB 590 in order to take ROB 690. At least 3 credits of ROB 590 must be completed before enrolling in ROB 690. However, students have the option to enroll in the remaining 3 credits concurrently with ROB 690. These 2 different registration options for ROB 690 are outlined below:

Option 1:

Term X: register for 3 credits of ROB 590

Term Y: register for 3 credits of ROB 590 AND 3 credits of ROB 690

Option 2:

Term X: 3 credits of ROB 590

Term Y: 3 credits of ROB 590

Term Z: 3 credits of ROB 690

Independent Research (ROB 590/690) Proposal Form

To ensure that the expectations of the 590/690 project are clearly defined and understood by both the student and the advisor the Independent Research (ROB 590/690) Proposal Form was developed.

The Proposal Form should be submitted by the drop/add deadline of the term in which the student will be registered for ROB 590/690. This form must be completed by MS students and by PhD students at their advisor’s request.

Once the student submits the form it will be sent to the advisor and to the graduate chair for their records. The advisor will then communicate with the student directly to approve or modify the form.

We encourage both the student and the advisor to periodically revisit this agreement. It should be used by both the student and the research advisor to evaluate progress during the semester.

MS Degree Worksheet

The MS Degree Worksheet is a form that maps out which courses satisfy the specific degree requirements. By the end of January or September in the term in which they apply for graduation the student must submit the MS Degree Worksheet to robotics-sso@umich.edu. Only the student’s signature is required. Failure to submit this Worksheet timely in the term of graduation will risk that student’s ability to graduate.

Master’s Degree Timeline

The timeline below displays a "typical" Master’s student progress in our program in 3 or 4 semesters. Students must complete all work for the Master’s degree within five years from the date of first enrollment in the program. Those exceeding this limit must petition Rackham for a time extension or be withdrawn from the program.

Academic Term	Coursework	Research Activities (optional)	Milestones
Year 1: Fall	8-9 credits	Search for a research advisor	≥3.0 GPA
Year 1: Winter	8-10 credits	Choose a research advisor for independent study	≥3.0 GPA
Year 1: Sp/Su	0-3 credits	Independent study or Internship	≥3.0 GPA
Year 2: Fall	8-11 credits	Independent study	≥3.0 GPA; (Apply for graduation)
Year 2: Winter	3-6 credits	Independent study	≥3.0 GPA; (Apply for graduation)

Sequential Undergraduate/Graduate Studies (SUGS)

The Robotics SUGS program makes it possible for admitted students to complete a combined Robotics Bachelor’s of Science in Engineering (BSE) and Master’s of Science (MS) in five years. Students admitted to the Robotics SUGS program have the opportunity to use 9-12 credits taken during their undergraduate degree towards their 30 credit graduate degree.

This leaves 18-21 credits required to complete their Masters, which can be accomplished in one year with two semesters of graduate coursework. SUGS students must complete a minimum of two full semesters (minimum of nine credits hours each term) at the graduate level and must begin their Master’s program immediately after completing their Bachelor’s degree.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Robotics SUGS program, a student must satisfy the following minimum requirements:

Current U of M-Ann Arbor Robotics undergraduate student
Have a 3.5 cumulative grade point average
Not pursuing a dual-degree in either their undergraduate or graduate program. Dual degree students may still apply to the traditional Master’s program.

Application Timeline

During their junior year, students must meet with a Robotics Undergraduate Academic Advisor to file an Intent to Apply Form for the Robotics SUGS program. Students can work with the advisor to outline a preliminary study plan to make the appropriate course selections.
During their senior year, students apply for the SUGS program using the Rackham graduate application. See application deadlines below.

Additional Details

Rackham will accept a maximum of 9 credits to be double counted between the undergraduate and graduate degrees, even if the credit for specific courses to be double counted adds to more than 9 credit hours. Any excess credit cannot be counted toward any other Rackham degree requirement. For example, a student wants to double count 3 courses and the total credits for the 3 courses equals 10. Rackham will double count the maximum of 9. The 1 remaining credit cannot count toward another Rackham degree requirement but it can continue to count toward an undergraduate degree requirement. SUGS students do not dual register as both an undergraduate and graduate student.

The double counted courses will appear on the undergraduate transcript. Double counted credits can only come from graduate level technical electives, math, and/or general electives.
Robotics Undergraduate Students who have completed ROB 320 and the combination of ROB 330 -OR-EECS 467 may be exempt from the ROB 550 MS degree requirement. Additional credits may be needed to reach the 30 credit minimum.

The Robotics department will allow a maximum of 3 credits to be transferred into the Rackham graduate degree, in addition to the 9 double counted credits. This differs from double counting because these transfer credits cannot be used for any portion of the undergraduate degree. The transfer credit will appear on the graduate transcript.

All double counted, transfer courses, or courses being used as alternatives to MS degree requirements (i.e. ROB 550) must have minimum grades of a “B” and be applicable to the MS (Robotics) degree requirements.

SUGS students must enroll in Rackham for a minimum of two full terms (at least 9 credits per term), paying full Rackham tuition.

Admission deferment is not allowed. Robotics SUGS students must enroll in Rackham immediately upon completion of their undergraduate degree. In certain situations, admitted SUGS students may have up to 6 credits of the undergraduate program outstanding upon beginning their first term as a graduate student. They are expected to complete these outstanding credits immediately in their first term of their graduate career and then work with their advisor to transfer* the credits from their graduate career to their undergraduate career. The undergraduate degree can be awarded as soon as the degree requirements are met. If there are medical/personal/etc. reasons for deferment, a student may submit a petition to the Robotics department.

*Please note that the use of “transfer” here has a different meaning than used elsewhere on this page.

Should a SUGS student seek admission to a Ph.D. program, the standard criteria and application materials would be required.

Transfer of Credit

Students who want to transfer credits must follow the Rackham Transfer of Credit guidelines:

A student is eligible to transfer up to 6 credits from external institutions or 15 credits can be transferred from within the University of Michigan.
Credits can only be transferred to the MS program.
These credits must be used in whole and cannot be split (e.g. only use 2 of the 4 credits).

To transfer credits:

Student must complete 8 credits of graded graduate courses at the University of Michigan before credit can be transferred.
Student must have a minimum cumulative Rackham GPA of 3.0.

Transfer credits must meet the following criteria:

Be a graduate level course
Receive a “B” grade or higher
Cannot have been used to satisfy degree requirements for undergraduate or graduate degree. (In other words, they must be extra credits taken)

Procedure:

The student must complete Rackham’s Transfer of Credit Request Application Form.
For Grad Chair contact information put: Denise Edmund, robotics-sso@umich.edu

Applying to PhD Program

Current MS students interested in the Robotics PhD program must apply by following the Rackham application process. Applications for the PhD program must be accompanied by a (confidential) letter of support from the student’s anticipated research advisor that endorses the application, describes the time frame of the student’s directed research activities, and expresses an intent to mentor and financially support the student if they are admitted to the PhD Program.

5. PhD DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

Advisor/Co-Advisor

All PhD students are admitted with at least one primary advisor who must be Core Robotics Faculty. Students may, but are not required to, add a co-advisor. The co-advisor can be Core or Affiliate Robotics Faculty.

Relevant Master’s Degree

If a student entering the PhD Program already has a master’s degree, it may be determined at the time of admission that the master’s degree coursework is sufficiently similar to the Robotics Master's degree requirements/coursework. If so, the coursework is deemed to be relevant. If a student believes their master’s degree to be relevant please email the Graduate Coordinator (robotics-sso@umich.edu) a copy of the transcript along with an explanation of why the degree should be considered relevant.

Embedded Master’s Degree

Students who enter the PhD Program without a master's degree in Robotics may decide to have a MS degree in Robotics conferred once they have completed the degree requirements. Students should inform the Robotics SSO that they would like the master's degree conferred. The Graduate Coordinator will request that the Registrar’s Office add the MS program to the student’s record. The student is then required to apply for graduation via the Wolverine Access system. The MS Degree Worksheet should be submitted to robotics-sso@umich.edu.

Cognate Course Requirement

The Rackham Graduate School requires PhD students complete 3 credits of coursework outside of their major research/interest area. A course cannot count toward the cognate requirement if it was also used to fulfill a student’s depth or breadth requirement. The cognate course must also be outside the student’s depth area. For example: If a student’s depth area is Sensing, a Sensing course cannot count toward the cognate requirement. ROB 502 can fulfill the cognate requirement.

*The cognate requirement was 4 credits for students who advanced to candidacy before Fall 2020.

PhD Degree Credit Distribution/Coursework

1) Without a relevant Master’s degree, a student must complete a minimum of 36 graduate level credit hours with the following distribution:

8 credits for ROB 550 (4 credits) & ROB 501 (4 credits)
≥ 12 credits of technical graded courses

Breadth requirement: ≥ 9 credits (at least 1 course from each of the 3 core areas: sensing, acting, reasoning)
Depth requirement: ≥ 3 credits in “depth area” (at least 1 additional course taken from at least one of the 3 core areas: sensing, acting, reasoning)

≥3 credits of graded cognate coursework. Cognate course(s) cannot be in “depth area”. ROB 502 can fulfill the cognate requirement.
3-6 credits of Directed Study (ROB 590)

The academic topics in ROB 501 and ROB 550 build the foundation to the Robotics curriculum and students are expected to have this education in their first two semesters.

2) With a relevant Master’s degree, a student must complete a minimum of 26 graduate level credit hours with the following distribution:

8 credits for ROB 550 (4 credits) & ROB 501 (4 credits)
≥ 12 credits of technical graded courses unless course equivalency has been granted

Breadth requirement: ≥ 9 credits (at least 1 course from each of the 3 core areas: sensing, acting, reasoning)
Depth requirement: ≥ 3 credits in “depth area” (at least 1 additional course taken from at least one of the 3 core areas: sensing, acting, reasoning)

≥ 3 credits of graded cognate coursework. Cognate course(s) cannot be in “depth area”. ROB 502 can fulfill the cognate requirement.
3-6 credits of Directed Study (ROB 590)

Note:

There is no additional “core area” requirement here for the remaining credits -- just advisor approval.
Technical courses are generally courses from Engineering, Math, Statistics, Physics, and other science disciplines.

Courses that do not count towards PhD degree requirements:

Courses with number 990, 995 or other courses with “doctoral,” “dissertation,” or “preliminary” in the title may not be counted towards the degree requirements.
ENGR 998 (Curricular Practical Training) may not be counted for any degree requirements.
ELI courses can be counted toward degree requirements on a case by case basis.
Courses with insufficiently advanced content and level, or which substantially duplicate in content and level courses already completed by the student.

Grades and GPA Requirement

All grades are on the Rackham Graduate School scale:

A+ 4.3 B+ 3.3 C+ 2.3 D+ 1.3

A 4.0 B 3.0 C 2.0 D 1.0

A- 3.7 B- 2.7 C- 1.7 D- 0.7

A student must maintain a cumulative 3.5 GPA (on a 4.0 scale, A=4.0) and must make a grade of B+ or

higher in all courses counted toward the Robotics PhD degree.

A cumulative GPA lower than 3.5 could potentially result in the student being placed on academic probation.

PhD Core Class (ROB 501 and ROB 550) Retake Policy

PhD Students must:

maintain a cumulative 3.5 GPA (on a 4.0 scale, A=4.0) and
must make a grade of B+ or higher in all courses counted toward the Robotics PhD degree.
The CQE rules state:

If the student receives a grade below B+ in ROB 501 or ROB 550 they need to retake the course(s). Only one retake per class is allowed.

In order to support student success, students who earn a grade requiring them to retake a core class (ROB 501 or 550) will be required to follow the below procedures.

Inform their advisor of the need to retake the course. PhD students are welcome to meet with the Graduate Coordinator before talking to their advisor, if desired.
The Graduate Office strongly recommends students form a study group to support their course experience and learning. Studying with peers is an incredibly valuable tool to enhance your learning, identify gaps in your knowledge, and strengthen your study skills.
Submit a formal plan to the Graduate Office before the add/drop deadline. The Graduate Coordinator will check in with the students halfway through the semester to discuss how the plan is working, any needed changes, and provide any additional support the student may need.

Course Equivalency

If a student has taken a course elsewhere that is “substantially equivalent” to a Robotics course/ requirement, it may not be necessary to retake the course/requirement. The student should consult with their academic and/or research advisor at the earliest opportunity to determine whether or not equivalency is appropriate. An equivalent course cannot count toward the required 18 credits to advance to candidacy.

Students entering with a Master’s degree must submit a review request by email to the Graduate Coordinator and Graduate Chair as part of the planning and advising process at the beginning of their first term in the graduate program. For course equivalency approval, additional supporting documentation is required such as a syllabus, course description, homework, etc. Please email supporting documentation, including PhD advisor’s approval, to robotics-sso@umich.edu.

Annual Progress Report/Financial Support

Continued enrollment and guaranteed financial support is contingent upon satisfactory academic and research progress by the student.

Student evaluations are conducted annually at the end of the Winter semester. The student and their research advisor(s) will complete and electronically sign the Annual Progress Report.

This report will identify one of three possible outcomes:

Satisfactory
Marginal
Unsatisfactory

Submission of the annual report is mandatory. Failure to submit the Annual Progress Report may lead to a rating of ‘Unsatisfactory’. Research progress deemed of concern or unsatisfactory could potentially result in the student being placed on academic probation and could lead to the termination of the guarantee of financial support and to the student’s discontinuation from the graduate program.

A student with guaranteed financial support will be told in writing at least two months before their tuition, stipend and health insurance actually ends. If the stipend is terminated during a term in which the student is enrolled, financial obligations (tuition & fees, stipend, and health insurance) will be covered until the end of the term.

Leave of Absence

Per section 2.2.2 of the Rackham Academic Policies “A leave of absence enables a doctoral student to not register during a fall or winter term and remain in compliance with the continuous enrollment requirement. A leave will be granted to students recovering from illness or injury, who are providing care or assistance for family and dependents, who are meeting military service obligations, or for other personal reasons. Learn more about Rackham’s Leave of Absence policy here.

Change of Advisor

Students may change advisors for various reasons: as they refine their research interests, identify their advising needs, or recognize an incompatibility with their current advisor. In all situations, ROB faculty are committed to assisting students through the transition. This document first outlines the Robotics Department’s guiding principles concerning the advisor change process and then offers best practices to follow.

Academic Probation

If a student demonstrates poor research performance, insufficient progress in the Comprehensive Qualifying Exam, and/or a cumulative GPA lower than 3.5 Robotics will potentially place the student on probation, following section 3.5.2 of the Rackham Academic Policies to do so. Learn more about this policy here or in this manual’s Appendix.

A possible outcome of academic probation is to be dismissed from one advisor’s research group yet not dismissed from the PhD program. A change of advisor would need to be supported by the probation committee and the student would then enter into the change of advisor process; the onus being on the student to identify and secure a new advisor.

PhD Degree Timelines

Number of full semesters (Fall & Winter) after entry by which milestone should be completed

Milestone	Enter without relevant Master’s	Enter with relevant Master’s
Master's degree coursework	4	N/A
PhD degree coursework	6	3
Qualification Exam	4	3
Candidacy	5	4
Thesis Proposal	6	5
Thesis Defense	9 - 12	7 - 10

Per the Rackham Academic Policies “ A student who does not achieve candidacy within three years and is not making satisfactory progress may be placed on academic probation unless the graduate program petitions Rackham OARD to request additional time because of extenuating circumstances”.

Students must complete any remaining credits after achieving Candidacy and prior to giving their Thesis Proposal.

The Rackham Graduate School allows up to 7 years from the first term of enrollment. Students who do not complete the PhD degree in 7 years must submit a petition to Rackham requesting an extension. Though Rackham policy allows for 7 years, the Robotics Institute expects the majority of students to complete the PhD degree in no more than five years. Financial support is guaranteed for 5 years (or 4 years for students entering with a relevant master’s). Students who take longer than four (if entering with a relevant master’s) or five years to complete the PhD degree may lose departmental financial support. Funding beyond this point must be worked out between the student and advisor. The PhD is unique to each student due to the nature of research and is subject to greater flexibility in timing.

Below is the typical timeline for the PhD student entering without a relevant master’s degree:

Academic Term	Coursework	Research Activities	Milestones
Year 1: Fall (Term 1)	2-3 courses	Departmental and area research seminars, Faculty/student research meetings	>3.5 GPA
Year 1: Winter (Term 2)	2-3 courses Prepare for Comprehensive Qualifying Exam	Departmental and area research seminars, Faculty/student research meetings	>3.5 GPA Identify a topic for CQE research project. Begin preliminary readings and a preliminary problem statement
Year 1: Sp/Su	Research	Research	Obtain some research results
Year 2: Fall (Term 3)	2-3 courses Directed research Take Comprehensive Qualifying Exam	Faculty/student research meetings in area of interest, directed research with research advisor	>3.5 GPA Write research paper Complete Comprehensive Qualifying Exam
Year 2: Winter (Term 4)	1 course* if advancing If not advancing to candidacy, take remaining required courses and prepare for CQE	Continue research	>3.5 GPA Advance to candidacy if requirements (including coursework and CQE) have been completed Complete Comprehensive Qualifying Exam (if haven’t already)
Year 2: Sp/Su	Research	Research	Continue/begin research for Thesis Proposal
Year 3: Fall (Term 5)	1 course*	Research with research advisor, faculty/student research meetings in other areas of interest	>3.5 GPA Advance to candidacy (if haven’t already)
Year 3: Winter (Term 6)	ROB 995 + optional addtl course*	Research with research advisor, faculty/student research meetings in other areas of interest	>3.5 GPA
Year 3: Sp/Su	Research	Research	Research
Year 4: Fall (Term 7)	ROB 995 + optional addtl course*	Research	>3.5 GPA Problem formulation, preliminary readings and derivations for PhD Thesis Proposal
Year 4: Winter (Term 8)	ROB 995 + optional addtl course)*	Research	>3.5 GPA Problem statement, refinement, form dissertation committee and present a Thesis Proposal
Year 4: Sp/Su	Research	Research	Research
Year 5: Fall (Term 9)	ROB 995 + optional addtl course*	Research	>3.5 GPA Update dissertation committee on research progress
Year 5: Winter (Term 10)	ROB 995	Research	>3.5 GPA Final oral defense Complete any dissertation revisions & graduate with PhD

*Refer to ‘Course Enrollment’ in ‘Candidacy’ below

Below is the typical timeline for the PhD student entering with a relevant master’s degree:

Academic Term	Coursework	Research Activities	Milestones
Year 1: Fall (Term 1)	2-3 courses	Departmental and area research seminars, Faculty/student research meetings	>3.5 GPA Identify a topic for CQE research project. Begin preliminary readings and a preliminary problem statement
Year 1: Winter (Term 2)	2-3 courses Prepare for Comprehensive Qualifying Exam	Departmental and area research seminars, Faculty/student research meetings	>3.5 GPA Obtain some research results Write research paper Complete Comprehensive Qualifying Exam if ready to advance to candidacy
Year 1: Sp/Su	Research	Research	Research
Year 2: Fall (Term 3)	If not advancing to candidacy, take remaining required courses and prepare for CQE 2-3 courses or 1 course* if advancing Directed research	Faculty/student research meetings in area of interest, directed research with research advisor	>3.5 GPA Take CQE (if haven’t already) Advance to candidacy at end of term if requirements (including coursework and CQE) have been completed.
Year 2: Winter (Term 4)	If not advancing to candidacy, take remaining required courses and prepare for CQE If advancing take 1 course*.	Continue research	>3.5 GPA Begin research for Thesis Proposal Advance to candidacy (if haven’t already)
Year 2: Sp/Su	Research	Research	Continue research for Thesis Proposal
Year 3: Fall (Term 5)	ROB 995 + optional addtl course*	Research with research advisor, faculty/student research meetings in other areas of interest	>3.5 GPA Continue research for Thesis Proposal
Year 3: Winter (Term 6)	ROB 995 + optional addtl course*	Research with research advisor, faculty/student research meetings in other areas of interest	>3.5 GPA Problem formulation, preliminary readings and derivations for PhD Thesis Proposal. Possibly form dissertation committee and present Thesis Proposal
Year 3: Sp/Su	Research	Research	Research
Year 4: Fall (Term 7)	ROB 995 + optional addtl course*	Research	>3.5 GPA Problem statement, refinement, form dissertation committee and present Thesis Proposal
Year 4: Winter (Term 8)	ROB 995 + optional addtl course)*	Research	>3.5 GPA Update dissertation committee on research progress
Year 4: Sp/Su	ROB 995	Research	>3.5 GPA Final oral defense Complete any dissertation revisions & graduate with PhD

*Refer to ‘Course Enrollment’ in ‘Candidacy’ below

Comprehensive Qualification Examination

A major milestone for PhD students is to pass the Comprehensive Qualifying Exam (CQE). Passing the CQE, along with required coursework completion and all 4 RCRS Workshops, advances the student to PhD candidate status. A PhD student is considered to have adequate performance in coursework if their cumulative grade-point average is 3.5 or above.

The CQE will typically be taken by students approaching the end of their third semester in the Robotics PhD program, but it is expected that all Robotics students will complete the CQE no later than the end of their fourth semester in the Robotics PhD program. If entering with a relevant master’s degree the CQE should be completed by the end of a student’s third semester. Taking the exam in the second semester is contingent on having taken 2 courses from the sensing/acting/reasoning lists or prior MS courses counting toward these requirements. See the Course Equivalency section of the Grad Program Manual for details. Each student is eligible for a maximum of one exam retake if needed. The qualifying exam is offered twice per year, once in December and once in May.

A student automatically qualifies to take the CQE if they received a grade of A- or better in both ROB 501 and ROB 550. A grade of B+ in either ROB 501 or ROB 550 is considered a borderline case and the student must request permission to take the CQE by identifying their core weaknesses and a plan (approved by advisor) to address them (e.g. by taking an independent study or related class, or retaking core class). This proposal will be considered by the Graduate Committee. If the student receives a grade below B+ in ROB 501 or ROB 550 they need to retake the course(s). Only one retake per class is allowed.

The CQE is an oral exam in which the student is examined by at least two faculty/lecturers from the robotics program. Neither examiner will be the student’s advisor or co-advisor. The examiners will be assigned approximately 1 week before the exam period begins. The exam will be scheduled for a 1.5 hour window, structured as a 30 minute presentation with up to 60 minutes of question and answer. Examiners will take turns asking questions and are at liberty to ask questions before, during, and after the presentation.

There are five primary objectives of the CQE: 1) Assess depth of knowledge in the area of research specialization and the ability to relate this to research, (2) Assess ability to propose an interesting and relevant problem for PhD research, (3) Test ingenuity, creativity, and problem-solving skills, (4) Assess written and oral communication skills and the ability to respond to questions, and (5) Assess technical understanding of core course concepts, especially those related to the research area.

The paper you submit for the Comprehensive Qualifying Exam must reflect your role as the first or co-first author. Ensure that both the submitted paper and your presentation topic are based on work where you have significantly contributed as a lead researcher. If this is not the case, consider refining your scope. The paper does not need to have been submitted to a conference, it should clearly demonstrate your leadership in the research it presents. This is a qualifying exam, so each student must demonstrate individual research contributions to pass.

Grading:

Students are evaluated on a scale ranging from Disagree to Agree (0-4 point scale) in each of the following areas as described here:

Synthesis of Course Material in Research Problem Context: The student is able to connect his/her research problem to robotics core class concepts and undergrad material from engineering, math, physics, chemistry, biology, etc.

Input to Research Project: Student has read and understands the state of the art, has identified a need for original knowledge development, and understands what technical subjects need to be learned.

Research Conduct and Methodology: The student has presented a valid research objective, can apply a rigorous research process, and can draw appropriate inferences from analysis or data collection. The student shows indications of appropriate problem solving and technical skills applicable to the research problem presented. The work must clearly be that of the student and not the work of others from the research group.

Research Outcomes: The student is able to draw conclusions from the work where appropriate; the student understands the limitations of what s/he has done so far; and the student provides evidence of being able to think about the next steps that should be taken (independent of where the student is in the research process).

Written and oral communication: Content, clarity, ability to answer questions: Student is an effective oral and written communicator of research concepts.

A pass is >14. The final outcome of the CQE for each student will be determined by a process as follows: For CQE scoresheets in which either examiner rated the examination with 14 or fewer points, the graduate program chair will convene a CQE Outcome Committee of both examiners, the advisor(s), and the Graduate Chair. A vote will be taken by the CQE Outcome Committee. For CQE scoresheets in which both examiners rated the examination with a 15 or above, an automatic pass will be granted. At a meeting of the full faculty, the results of all examinations will be reviewed and approval sought for the process administered by the graduate program chair.

Communication of Results:
The result of the CQE is communicated by the Graduate Chair to the student through an individual email the day the final decision is made, typically the day after the exam period ends. Students will receive copies of the score sheets submitted by each examiner, though private feedback to the advisor(s) and Grad Program will be redacted.

Retaking the CQE:
A student who fails the CQE on the first try must obtain approval from their advisor(s) to retake the exam and must then email the Graduate Chair and SSO with this confirmation. Only one exam retake is permitted. This exam retake must be completed no later than the next offering of the exam, typically the term after the first exam attempt.

Advancing to Candidacy

Rackham expects students to achieve candidacy no later than three calendar years after the first enrollment in their doctoral program. Candidacy is not automatic; once all Robotics and Rackham requirements are met, a student must apply for candidacy by emailing the Graduate Program Coordinator. The student’s advisor(s) must also approve the advancement via an email to the Graduate Coordinator.

Requirements:

1) Complete the 18 credit letter-graded graduate level course requirement which includes ROB 501, ROB 550, 3-6 credits of ROB 590 and 2 courses from the sensing/acting/reasoning lists (e.g. taking one course from acting and one course from reasoning would fulfill the 2 course requirement). The breadth, depth, and cognate requirements are no longer required to advance to candidacy but must be completed before the Thesis Proposal.

2) Pass the Comprehensive Qualifying Exam.

3) Satisfy all Rackham candidacy requirements. Click here for further details:

http://www.rackham.umich.edu/current-students/policies/academic-policies/section5#51 Please see page 3 of this document for the Robotics cognate policy.

4) Complete the College of Engineering’s Responsible Conduct of Research and Scholarship (RCRS) program. This program consists of 4 distinct workshops, all 4 of which must be completed. For further information and to register for workshops see the CoE RCRS website. In addition to the Rackham required RCRS workshops, the UM Office of Research (UMOR) requires that the online PEERRS RCRS module be taken every 3 years. More information can be found here.

Course Enrollment during Candidacy

Once a student has attained Candidacy status, they will enroll in 8 credits of ROB 995 each term. Tuition reduces to the Candidacy rate. See the Registrar’s Office website for the current Candidacy tuition rate.

In addition to ROB 995, Candidates may elect either one course per term or more than one course for a total of no more than four credits without paying additional tuition beyond candidacy tuition. Courses may be taken for credit or as a visit (audit). A candidate who does not elect a course during a term of 995 enrollment may, in the next term, either register for courses for no more than 8 credits or register for no more than two courses that total more than 8 credits. An additional course may not be taken in anticipation of taking none in a future term of 995 enrollment. Candidates who choose to take more courses than those for which they are eligible will be assessed additional tuition per credit hour. Candidates must receive approval from their advisor(s) to take any additional course(s) that might result in additional tuition charges. For more information please see the Rackham Academic Policies.

It is the student's responsibility to cover the tuition costs for any unapproved courses taken in addition to the free course described above, even if the student is being funded through a fellowship, GSI or GSRA position.

Dissertation Committee Formation

At least one month before the thesis proposal, the student must have their Dissertation Committee approved by both the Robotics Grad Chair and Rackham.

The completed Dissertation Committee Form should be sent by email to the Robotics Grad Coordinator. If requesting a committee member that does not follow Rackham's Guidelines for Dissertation Committee Service (“Special Member”), please also submit the proposed member's CV as well as a short memo detailing the nominee’s expertise in the dissertation topic.

In collaboration with the Dissertation Chair(s), the student forms a Dissertation Committee following specific guidelines regarding the composition of the Committee. A Robotics PhD student’s dissertation committee first must satisfy Rackham’s Guidelines for Dissertation Committees.

Robotics Department Dissertation Committee formation rules:

The committee must consist of four or more members; at least two of the members must be affiliated with the Robotics program.
The Research Advisor will serve as Chair of the dissertation committee. The research advisor must be a Core Member of the Robotics Faculty. It is customary for the co-advisor (if applicable) to serve on the dissertation committee.
One of the Committee members must be designated as "cognate member." Cognate members must be a tenured-track faculty in a Rackham graduate program and be primarily engaged in a research area outside of the candidate’s. The cognate member may or may not be a member of the Robotics faculty, however; per Rackham's guidelines, the cognate member must hold at least a .50 appointment in a Rackham doctoral program, other than the student’s home department/program.
The Robotics Graduate Program Chair must approve the thesis committee.

PhD Thesis Proposal

After passing the Comprehensive Qualifying Exam , a student continues to work with their Research Advisor who becomes the Dissertation Committee Chair(s). The student will write a concise Research Thesis Proposal and give a formal oral presentation of the work to the Dissertation Committee approximately 1 year before the Final Oral Defense. The Dissertation Chair(s) primary role is to guide the student toward completion of the PhD and assists the student with forming their Dissertation Committee. The thesis proposal for students without a relevant MS would typically happen at the end of the 4th year (when they would have 1 year left). The thesis proposal for students with a relevant MS would typically happen at the end of the 3rd year (when they would have 1 year left).

When the student is ready to complete the Research Thesis Proposal, the student must complete the following:

Schedule an oral presentation with the Dissertation Committee.
Submit the written thesis proposal to the Dissertation Committee at least two weeks in advance of the oral presentation. The format (length and content) of the written document is up to the discretion of the candidate’s Chair/Committee.

During the Thesis Proposal presentation, the student should:

Precisely identify and describe the area of research.
Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the area including mastery of the literature on the subject area.
Give a general description of the research problem to be addressed.
Provide an outline of the methodology to be utilized.

During and after the Thesis Proposal presentation, the Dissertation Committee will explore the proposed research with the student in order to provide guidance and make an evaluation of its suitability. The committee will determine if the student has or does not have an acceptable proposal.

The PhD Thesis Proposal Form must be completed and returned to the Graduate Coordinator after the Thesis Proposal.

Failure to have an acceptable proposal requires revising the proposal and within 12 months presenting another formal oral presentation that is deemed satisfactory by the committee.

Students entering the PhD Program without a relevant Master’s degree must write and orally present the Research Thesis Proposal within 48 months of entry. Students entering with a relevant Master’s degree must present within 36 months.

Insufficient research progress could potentially result in the student being placed on academic probation.

Dissertation Defense

Final Oral Defense

Each PhD Candidate must prepare a dissertation, giving evidence of their ability to conduct original, advanced research and to present the results of that research in well-written form. The student must also defend the work orally in an open examination called the Final Oral Defense. A final and complete copy of the written dissertation must be given to each member of the Dissertation Committee at least 10 business days before the scheduled date of the Final Oral Defense to allow sufficient time for a written evaluation. The Final Oral Defense will only be held if the committee deems the dissertation acceptable. Once all members of the Dissertation Committee find the dissertation acceptable, the Final Oral Defense is held.

It is very important to follow all of Rackham’s Doctoral Degree Requirements which include a pre and post defense meeting.

Course Enrollment

The student must be enrolled in 8 hours of ROB 995 the term of the Final Oral Defense (even if the Final Oral Defense occurs during Spring/Summer term), unless the student is completing all requirements during Rackham’s Grace Period (see next section). The student must defend and complete all Rackham degree requirements before the final doctoral degree deadline for the term.

Timing/Grace Period

Rackham allows 3 additional weeks beyond the end of each semester for PhD students to complete all of the doctoral degree requirements. This additional time is known as the Grace Period. The Grace Period enables the student to complete their work without needing to register for the new semester. However, the degree is still awarded at the end of the new semester. Rackham’s Doctoral Degree Deadlines can be found here.

6. STUDENT HANDBOOKS and INTERNET RESOURCES

The Rackham Graduate School Student Handbook and the Engineering College Bulletin are among the numerous U-M publications available online. The Rackham Handbook gives details about the graduate degree requirements imposed by the Graduate School, and should be consulted by all graduate students. Some important topics include the continuous enrollment policy and fees.

Rackham Graduate School: http://www.rackham.umich.edu

College of Engineering: http://www.engin.umich.edu/college/

U-M Wolverine Access: https://wolverineaccess.umich.edu/

U-M Registrar: http://ro.umich.edu

Student Financial Services: http://www.finance.umich.edu/finops/student

U-M International Center: internationalcenter.umich.edu

Mental Health Resources: https://caps.umich.edu/article/um-mental-health-resources

CoE Honor Code: http://ossa.engin.umich.edu/honor-council/

Student Rights and Responsibilities: https://oscr.umich.edu/article/statement-student-rights-and-responsibilities-1

Appendix

Section 3.5.2 from Rackham Graduate School Academic Policies

3.5.2 Academic Probation and Dismissal: Ph.D. and D.M.A. Programs

Ph.D. and D.M.A. programs have program-level policy for academic probation and dismissal that is consistent with the following Graduate School guidelines. In accordance with its published policy, a program may place on academic probation a student who has academic or professional difficulties, as defined by the program, that prevent progress toward the degree. Academic probation is normally required before a program may recommend to the graduate school that a doctoral student be dismissed for academic reasons. As an exception, and only with advance notice to students, program policy may allow dismissal without probation for a student who fails to pass candidacy or preliminary exams. Academic probation will be noted on the student unofficial transcript.

3.5.2.1 Placing a Student On Academic Probation

The advisor or graduate chair or director may recommend that a student be placed on academic probation. The decision to place a student on probation must be made by a faculty group of at least three persons to include, for example, the department chair (or the chair’s designee), the graduate chair, and the advisor; the graduate committee of the program; or another committee constituted of faculty. A D.M.A. student who has been placed on academic probation will not be eligible for detached study (section 2.3.1).

3.5.2.2 Length of the Probationary Period

The probationary period may be no shorter than two months of the fall or winter term and ordinarily conclude at the end of that term. For a student placed on academic probation within two months of the end of the fall term, the probationary period will extend into the winter term for a total of at least two months. For a student placed on academic probation within two months of the end of the winter term, the probationary period may include the spring or summer half-terms or the following fall term, for a total of at least two months. A student may be placed on academic probation starting in the spring or summer half term for a minimum of two months, and does not need to be enrolled during these half terms.

3.5.2.3 Notifications

The graduate chair must notify the student and Rackham OARD in writing before the probationary period begins, explaining the reasons and conditions of probation; the start and end dates of the probationary period; funding support (see below); conditions, if any, for removal from probation; and options for appeal (see below). A student who has been placed on probation may request a leave of absence from Rackham or withdraw (sections 2.2.2, 2.2.3). The leave or withdrawal will stop the clock on the probationary period, which resumes when the student returns to active status or is reinstated. Probation will remain in effect until the conditions are remedied or the student is dismissed.

3.5.2.4 Funding a Student on Probation

The level of funding prior to academic probation should be continued through the probationary period.

At the end of the probationary period, the program may continue the student in the program or, alternatively, dismiss the student (section 3.5.3).

3.5.2.5 Option to Appeal Academic Probation or Dismissal

The program must inform a student of options to appeal academic probation. The program should constitute a separate committee of review to consider appeals. Students may use the Graduate School’s Academic Dispute Resolution process only for procedural issues of fair and equal treatment under the policy of the program, and not to appeal the academic reasons for the decision.

3.5.3 Academic Dismissal: Ph.D. and D.M.A. Programs

Starting with the 2019 Fall Term, Ph.D. and D.M.A. programs will implement program-level policy for academic dismissal that is consistent with the following Graduate School guidelines. At the end of a probationary period, and upon the recommendation of the graduate chair and with the consent of the Graduate School, a student may be dismissed from the program. The decision to dismiss a student must be made by a faculty group of at least three persons to include, for example, the department chair (or the chair’s designee), the graduate chair, and the advisor; the graduate committee of the program; or another committee constituted of faculty. The graduate chair must notify Rackham OARD of a recommendation for dismissal.

3.5.3.1 Option to Appeal Academic Dismissal: Ph.D. and D.M.A. Programs

The program must inform a student of options to appeal a decision of academic dismissal. The program should constitute a separate committee of review to consider appeals. Students may use the Graduate School’s Academic Dispute Resolution process only for procedural issues of fair and equal treatment under the policy of the program, and not to appeal the academic reasons for the decision. Students who fail to meet standards of academic or professional integrity or who have been found responsible for violations of other University standards of conduct may be dismissed in accordance with separate procedures described in Rackham Academic and Professional Integrity Policy (section 8).