Submission Guidelines

Graduate program directors may submit program pause requests to Vice Dean Angelina C. Sylvain at asylvain@mailbox.sc.edu. Admissions pauses can only be requested for program terms with no currently active admitted students and submitted no later than the midpoint of the prior term. The Commission on Higher Education (CHE) monitors program productivity standards; programs paused for an extended period may be flagged. Thus, we limit program pauses to no more than one year. 

How to Request a Pause

• In your email request:
• Identify the program name, concentration (if applicable) and code of the program you wish to pause.
• Provide a clear reason for the pause request.
• Specify the duration of the requested pause and the specific admissions terms to pause (e.g. Fall 2025, Spring 2026, Summer 2026 ; may be requested for up to one year)
• Outline the action plan during the pause (e.g., program reorganization).
• Draft any specific language needed for the application and/or website.

Post-Approval:

Upon approval, the Graduate School will update the program page on the Graduate School website to reflect the pause, as well as provide any additional language requested. Departments are expected to update the information on their websites as well, and to communicate with any in-progress or submitted applicants that may be in their applicant pool. The Department is expected to reach out to the Graduate School prior to the end of the program pause to indicate next steps for the program of interest. The Bulletin will be updated once a decision is finalized regarding the program (be it a re-design or termination).