Graduate Student Academic Performance

Clemson University and the Department of Construction Science and Management (CSM) expect that all graduate students maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 out of a possible 4.0. Because of their previous academic qualifications, some students may be admitted to the Construction Science and Management Master Degree program on a probationary status. The terms of this conditional admittance will be included in the letter of acceptance to the respective student. In most cases the condition(s) will include attaining a minimum 3.0 average in all course work for the first semester in the department. In addition, if currently enrolled students fall below the minimum cumulative 3.0 grade point average for any one semester, they also will be placed on probation for one semester. In either case it is the student's responsibility to remove their conditional acceptance or probationary status in the time frame contained in communications from the university and/or department.

If a student does not fulfill the conditions of continuance in the program, he or she must present a formal request to the CSM Graduate Program Coordinator as to why he or she feels they should be allowed to continue to be enrolled. The request will be reviewed and based on the student's academic history while in the Department a decision will be made. The decision will be final with no further appeal possible. In addition, if the student's request is granted it will be for only one additional semester.

In fulfilling their academic requirements, graduate students are expected to adhere to all department and faculty course requirements including those contained in the CSM Department Expected Student Behaviors which is made available to all students at the beginning of each semester with their course syllabus. Failure to do so may result in being dropped from courses and the master degree program.

It is also critical in carrying out any research for any courses and/or projects, that acceptable standards be followed in developing and/or presenting any reports. These include properly citing references and include bibliographies, formatting documents correctly, and utilizing correct English grammar and spelling. Resources for properly citing references and formatting documents include American Psychological Association, Associated Schools of Construction Author Guidelines, and the American Institute of Constructors Author Guidelines.

Graduate Student Assistantship

The Construction Science and Management Department awards assistantships to graduate students which, in turn, also results in a substantial reduction in tuition. Currently the assistantship amount is $1600 per semester for which the student must work an average of 10 hours per week for the department on assigned projects with designated faculty and/or staff as noted below under Assistantship Responsibilities. In order to qualify to be awarded an assistantship, the student must meet and maintain the conditions noted below and be enrolled for no less than nine credit hours each academic semester and, when assistantships are available in the summer, for three credit hours each session.

The awarding of an assistantship by the Department of Construction Science and Management is considered an honor and is based on available funds, previous academic performance, performance on entrance examinations, and the decision of the Graduate Program Coordinator. Those students who are admitted on a conditional status with respect to having to attain a minimum academic performance will not be awarded an assistantship until such time as they have attained to stipulated condition(s) so they can devote the needed time to their studies. In addition, those students who have been awarded an assistantship are expected to maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 and receive satisfactory performance assessments from their immediate supervisor in order to retain their assistantship. If a student is placed on probation, his or her assistantship will be removed so they can devote the needed time to their studies until such time as the minimum cumulative grade point average is attained. There will be no exceptions since a student's first priority should be their academic work in the program. Finally, if a student does not receive a satisfactory assessment by his or her assigned supervisor each semester, his or her assistantship will be removed.

Graduate Assistant Responsibilities

Graduate students are expected to work for the department for an average of ten hours per week. The duties may include, but not be limited to the following:

1. Provide support to faculty on their instructional assignments. This includes such tasks as proctoring examinations, grading papers, and developing instructional materials.
2. Provide assistance to the Department Chair and/or faculty on research projects. Specific tasks will vary depending on the need.
3. Provide assistance to the administrative staff. Duties will vary with need.

Graduate students on assistantships work on the same calendar as do the faculty with a nine-month appointment. Unless prior permission has been obtained for a different schedule, graduate assistants are expected to be available as follows: fall semester - Monday of the first week of classes to end of final examination week; spring semester - Monday of the week of the first day of classes to end of final examination week. Not adhering to these dates is grounds for removal of the assistantship.

At the beginning of each semester, the graduate assistant meets with his or her assigned faculty or staff member (supervisor) and, together develops a work schedule. Also a copy of the graduate assistant's class schedule is to be provided to the assigned supervisor along with any other information he or she should be aware of that may impact work performance.

It is the graduate student's responsibility to report to their assigned supervisor at the times agreed upon whether or not they are given work. In addition, graduate assistants may be required to perform work other than those times scheduled due to extenuating circumstances. These times will not conflict with scheduled class times.

In the event one's supervisor does not have sufficient work for the graduate assistant to attain an average of ten hours per week; it is the student's responsibility to report to the department administrative assistant for tasks that need performing.In the event the administrative assistant does not have any work, it is then the responsibility of the graduate assistant to report to the Graduate Program Coordinator for further assignments. Graduate assistants who do not demonstrate the effort to maintain the required average of ten hours a week of work assignments are subject to loss of their assistantship.

Paychecks are automatically deposited into the graduate assistant's bank account. Unsatisfactory performance, as described below, may be subject for a stop payment on the bi-weekly deposits. If the graduate assistant has other paid work assignments other than their department assistantship, the CSM Department work takes precedence. If this is not possible than the assistantship will be removed.

It is expected that all graduate students perform satisfactory work to retain their assistantship. This includes not only performing an average of ten hours per week but also obtaining a satisfactory assessment from their assigned supervisor(s).

It will be the responsibility of the graduate assistant to complete the Graduate Assistant Time Sheet every week and submit it to the department administrative assistant. The sheet will require to student to indicate how many hours they worked, on what duties and have their immediate supervisor sign it. The Time Sheet is due in the department office by 4:30 pm on the Monday following the end of the previous week. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in the immediate loss of the assistantship.

Unsatisfactory job performance will be managed as follows:

1. Graduate assistants who are not performing satisfactorily will first be given a verbal warning by their assigned supervisor.
2. Upon the second incidence of unsatisfactory performance, the assigned supervisor will give the graduate assistant a second verbal warning and notify the graduate coordinator in writing or e-mail of the incident.
3. If the unsatisfactory performance continues, the assigned supervisor will notify the Graduate Program Coordinator who in turn will initiate action to immediately remove the assistantship.

If a graduate assistant disagrees with the unsatisfactory assessment, he or she can provide the Graduate Coordinator with a written appeal within five days of being notified of the unsatisfactory performance. The Graduate Program Coordinator will in turn investigate the appeal and take the appropriate action which will be final.