School of Public & Community Health Sciences Policies

The policies listed on this page are only a selected group and not a complete list of policies used by the School of Public and Community Health Sciences.

Leave of Absence Policy

Re-Admittance Policy

The School of Public and Community Health Sciences allows re-admittance after an approved leave-of-absence without being required to re-apply to the program.  Re-Admittance Form

Withdrawal Policy

Dropping from a graduate program without completing the correct steps to withdraw can have serious academic implications that should be taken into consideration when making this decision.  Withdrawal Form

Academic Probation Policy

A MPH student will be placed on academic probation if at the end of any semester his/her cumulative grade average drops below 3.00, or if his/her cumulative grade average in MPH core courses drops below 3.00. The effect of the academic probation is to serve notice to the student that the quality of his/her work is below an acceptable level and that continuation of unsatisfactory work during their next semester of enrollment will result in academic suspension. Students placed on probation should contact their academic advisor immediately to seek assistance and direction.

Academic Suspension Policy

A student will be placed on academic suspension at the end of any semester if the student was on academic probation during his/her prior semester of attendance and either the student's cumulative grade average remains below 3.00, or the student’s cumulative grade average in MPH core courses remains below 3.00. Exceptions are made if the student earns at least a 3.00 grade average in MPH core courses for the current semester without raising both the cumulative grade average and the cumulative grade average for MPH core courses to the required minimum. In such cases, student remains on academic probation. A MPH student will automatically be suspended after he/she has been on academic probation for two consecutive semesters. A student placed on academic suspension may not re enroll at the University unless the student has been reinstated.

Repeating a Course Policy

With consent of instructor, a MPH student may repeat a core course one time only. Program tuition charges will apply. If enrollment in a course is closed, a student who is repeating or auditing the course may be required by the instructor to drop the course. This rule grants enrollment preference to those students attempting to register for the course for the first time for credit. It is the responsibility of the student who is not allowed to remain in the course to formally drop the course to avoid a failing grade for that course.

University of Montana Policies

E-Mail Policy

An employee must use only UM assigned student email accounts for all email exchanges with students, since such communication typically involves private student information. Prospective students who do not yet have University addresses and accounts will, of course, use external providers until assigned an official University of Montana Email.

Graduate School Policy

The School of Public & Community Health Sciences follow the Graduate School Policies in regards to Degree Standards.

B1.000 – Defining Degree Standards

The University of Montana bestows substantial freedom on departments and schools to define their own degree structures; current information about particular programs may best be obtained by contacting the chair or dean of the program directly.  University regulations, curricula, and fee schedules are subject to change without notice, and students in degree programs are responsible for meeting degree requirements and procedural deadlines.

B2.000 – Grades

Students must maintain a B average in courses taken for graduate credit at The University of Montana; no grade below C will be accepted toward any degree requirement.  The student is automatically on academic probation if the cumulative grade point average falls below 3.0, and the program or the Graduate School may place limits on the time for the student to remediate the academic problem.

B3.000 – Time Limits (Revised)

All degree requirements for the master’s degree, including the use of transfer and nondegree credits, must be completed within six years.  Courses that fall outside this time limit must be recertified for currency of knowledge.

B6.000 – Plagiarism Warning

Plagiarism is the appropriation or imitation of the language, ideas, and thoughts of another author and representing them as one's original work. It is a particularly intolerable offense in the academic community and is strictly forbidden. Students who plagiarize may fail the course and may be remanded to Academic Court for possible suspension or expulsion.

Student must always be very careful to acknowledge any kind of borrowing that is included in their work.  This means not only borrowed wording but also ideas.  Acknowledgement of whatever is not one's own original work is the proper and honest use of sources. Failure to acknowledge whatever is not one's own original work is plagiarism.

B7.000 - Student Conduct Code

To the extent a particular graduate program subjects its students to specific professional ethics, professional conduct or honor code, violation of any such code may subject to academic misconduct charges, general misconduct charges or both pursuant to The University of Montana Student Conduct Code. Refer to the general catalog or contact the Vice President for Student Affairs for information about the Student Conduct Code.

For questions regarding Grades, Continuous Registration, Plagiarism, and the Student Conduct Code, please see the UM Graduate School Policies.