Transitional Extension (T-Extension) for Doctoral Students

Dear Graduate Coordinators and Directors,

Effective Fall 2023, the Faculty Senate approved the Graduate School’s request to extend the timeline for completing a degree after preliminary exams from three to four years. The rationale was to reduce the need for extension requests and more effectively support students’ progress.

To ensure equity and consistency, a student’s committee chair may request their graduate student’s deadline be recalculated using this new four-year policy. Here is the streamlined process for these requests:

  1. Request Details: The email should come from the committee chair to gradschool@wsu.edu and include the student’s name, WSU ID, and degree program. This avoids needing a formal memo while still providing documentation for the student’s record.
    1. Eligibility: Prelim exams held in Fall 2023 and later already use the new four-year calculation. However, doctoral students who passed their preliminary exam prior to Fall 2023 are eligible.
    2. Timing: For students who passed their preliminary exam prior to Fall 2023, please send the request during the student’s deadline semester. For example, if a student’s degree completion deadline is Fall 2025, please wait to send the request email until the beginning of the Fall 2025 semester. Doing so will help better manage numerous requests.
    3. Processing: Graduate Student Services will process these requests and update student records as quickly as possible. Student information queries such as GRM_STDNT_ACTIVE_BY_ORG and data in OBIEE will record this recalculation with a status of “T_EXTENSION” (Transitionary Extension).
    1. What if a student is currently on a first or second extension? If the student’s preliminary exam was prior to Fall 2023, they are eligible for this recalculation. Please send the email request as described above. The Graduate School will process the Transitional Extension. If the student needs additional time after this T-extension, the department may request a second or third extension as described in the Graduate School Policies and Procedures.
    1. What if a student is currently on a third extension? The same process will apply, except the student must complete their degree by the end of their T–Extension. Failure to complete their degree at that time will result in dismissal as usual following a third extension.

This approach aligns our commitment to equity and aims to support students as we transition to this new policy. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need further clarification.

Best regards,

Tammy and Greg

By Greg Crouch