Graduate Admissions Policies

Graduate faculty play a critical role in upholding Lehman’s admissions standards and ensuring that applicants and current students receive accurate, consistent guidance. This section summarizes the key admissions-related policies faculty should know—covering applicant eligibility, departmental review expectations, non-degree enrollment, course approvals, and requirements for students returning after an interruption of studies. These guidelines help maintain fairness, support program quality, and ensure compliance with institutional and CUNY graduate admissions rules.

Applicants who do not enroll during the semester for which admissions is granted will forfeit their admission, unless they complete the Deferral Request form no later than the day before classes begin of the original semester of admissions. A deferral is limited to one calendar year.

After one year’s deferral period the student must reapply.

Graduate students are expected to maintain continuous progress toward their degree. When a student stops enrolling for three (3) semesters up to three (3) years, the following policies apply:

Readmission after a break in enrollment
- Any matriculated graduate student who does not register for three semesters up to three years must apply for readmission through Graduate Admissions before returning.
- A readmission application and fee are required.
- Students should not be advised to “just register next semester,” as registration is blocked until readmission is processed.

Academic Standing for Readmission
- To readmit, students must have a minimum 3.0 gpa.
- If the gpa is below 3.0, students must complete the Graduate Appeals process before the application for readmission can be reviewed.

Absence of Three Years or More

Students whose absence has exceeded three (3) years must reapply as a new degree-seeking applicant.

Time Limit Continues During Absence

The standard five-year limit for completion of the master’s degree continues to run during an absence.
Time away does not pause or reset the degree clock.
Students nearing or exceeding five years must submit a Time-Limit Extension Appeal to continue the program.
Students who have not enrolled for three or more years must also request a time-limit extension before readmission can be approved.
This appeal is reviewed by the Graduate Studies Academic Standards Committee and the academic department.
Students should be advised that readmission is not guaranteed at this stage without an approved extension.

If a newly admitted or continuing graduate student wishes to change their academic program, they must submit the application to change their graduate curriculum.

This request is reviewed by the Office of Graduate Studies and, once approved, is processed by the Registrar. Faculty should direct students to the required form, available at: Change in Graduate Curriculum