Admissions Suspension, Moratorium, and Program Closure

Per Rackham, programs may ask the Rackham Dean to suspend admissions for one year. An admissions suspension allows a program to address short-term issues such as over-enrollment in a given year, the need for curricular redesign, or temporary financial pressures.

LSA Departments should make the Dean’s Office aware if they intend to suspend admissions. 

Toward the end of the suspension year, the program should notify the LSA Dean’s Office and ask the Rackham Dean to re-open admissions if it is ready to resume receiving applications. If the program is not ready to accept applications, the Dean will ask the Rackham Executive Board to place a moratorium on admissions.

For details about what must be included in the proposal, please refer to the Rackham website, or reach out to LSA Graduate Education with any questions.

Program faculty, the dean of the school or college where the program is located, or the Rackham dean may recommend that the Rackham Executive Board place a moratorium on admissions to a graduate program. A moratorium allows faculty to re-assess the purpose and goals of the program and to address longer-term structural issues. A moratorium may last up to five years to allow time for planning and recalibration of resources that can ensure the success of the program.

Per Rackham, to lift an admissions moratorium, program faculty should provide a written request that explains the reasons for the moratorium and discusses the outcome of the steps taken to address these issues. The request should explain any revisions to the curriculum and requirements, and a timetable for reopening admissions. The dean of the school or college where the program is located must provide written approval that includes any commitments for funding, staffing, and space. In LSA, this approval comes after a review by the Dean's Cabinet and/or Executive Committee.

For details about what must be included in the proposal, please refer to the Rackham website, or reach out to LSA Graduate Education with any questions.

Per Rackham, program faculty, the dean of the school or college where the program is located, or the Rackham dean may recommend that the Rackham Executive Board close a graduate program.

A request to reopen a program requires a complete program proposal and approval by the LSA Dean’s Office and Rackham Executive Board. 

For additional details about program closures, please refer to the Rackham website, or reach out to LSA Graduate Education with any questions.