GRADUATE HANDBOOK

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Academic probation Admission policies Annual reviews Appeals policy Bypassing the M.S. program Continuation for Ph.D. Courses required Deadlines Defense    M.S. (thesis)    Ph.D. (dissertation) Departmental/University facilities Dual compensation English competency Financial support    Assistantships    Fee waivers    Fellowships    Taxes    Travel Graduate examinations (M.S./Ph.D.) Meeting with supervisory -committee, annual Miscellaneous Neuroscience Doctoral program

Philosophy Preliminary examination (Ph.D.) Program of studies (M.S./Ph.D.) Proposal (Ph.D.) Prospectus (M.S.)  Registration    9-12 hours per term    Exceptions Requirements for degree Residency Supervisory committee Teaching assistants (TA) manual Teaching requirement Teaching workshop  Time limits for degrees Travel Waivers (matriculation, -out-of-state) Appendix I: Residency Appendix II: Funding for Student Travel Appendix III: Dual Compensation Appendix IV: English Competency Appendix V: Graduate Appeals Policy Appendix VI: Teaching Assistants (TA) Manual Appendix VII: Neuroscience Program

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PHILOSOPHY

The program of graduate study in the Department of Biological Science is designed to transform an individual from student to professional scholar. Awarding of the degree signifies that the individual is qualified to join the community of scholars and is recognized as an authority in the discipline.

Graduate education is one of the most important missions of the department. Thus, effort is made to provide both financial and professional support for qualified graduate students. The goal of such support is to facilitate progress toward the graduate degree while contributing to the teaching and research effort of the university.

ADMISSION POLICIES

1. Applicants are strongly encouraged to meet minimal criteria ofa 3.0 undergraduate grade point average (upper division work), an 1100 (minimum score of 500 on both the verbal and quantitative sections) on the Graduate Record Exam, and three current letters of recommendation from individuals who are able to assess the applicant's academic and research potential. Foreign students, in addition to the above, also must score a minimum of 600 on the paper-based TOEFL exam; 250 on the computer-based TOEFL exam, or 100 on the internet-based TOEFL exam. The Department ordinarily does not accept a student without a faculty sponsor or sponsors willing to serve as the major professor.
   
   
2. Admission into the Ph.D. and M.S. Programs, and Switching between Programs

Students holding a bachelor's degree may apply for either the ph.D. or the M.S. program. Students enrolled in the M.S. program may switch to the Ph.D. program with the approval of their Supervisory Committee and the Associate Chairman. The Committee's recommendation must include a justification from the major professor and be co-signed by all the committee members.

3. Continuation for the Ph.D. Degree after completing the M.S.

Students receiving an M.S. degree from our department may request continuation in the Ph.D. program by the following mechanism. The student and major professor can greatly facilitate this process by laying the ground work well before the formal request.

The Master's Supervisory Committee should be informed of the student's intent to continue for the Ph.D. before the thesis defense by way of a coverletter accompanying the thesis. Within two weeks following the thesis defense, each of the Supervisory Committee members should send to the Graduate Office a statement expressing a position for or against continuation of the student in the Ph.D. program. Within one week of receiving the last Supervisory Committee member letter, the Graduate Office will provide the available documentation to the Area and request that the Area submit a recommendation to the Associate Chair for or against continuation of the student in the Ph.D. program. The Associate Chair will make the final decision.

A student may appeal a negative decision by the Associate Chair to the departmental Graduate Policy Committee (GPC). This appeal should be submitted, in writing, to the Graduate Office within two weeks following receipt of the negative decision. For the purpose of the appeal, the GPC will be convened by the department Chair instead of the Associate Chair. The six voting members of the committee will be the department Chair, faculty members on the GPC excluding the Associate Chair, and the student member of the GPC.  The Associate Chair may be present for consultation but will not vote.   A majority decision by the appeal committee will be final at the departmental level.

4. Neuroscience Doctoral Program (see Appendix VII).

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE

Summary

Master's Requirements Minimum of 30 credits to include a minimum of 18 letter-graded credits and a minimum of 6 thesis credits BSC 6921-Bio Sci Colloquium Committee-Major professor plus 2-3 other members (majority tenured/tenure-track Bio Sci faculty Seminar: One departmental seminar Teaching: One course Teaching Workshop Program of Studies form Prospectus Defense Thesis

Doctoral Requirements Minimum of 24 dissertation research hours taken after completion of the prelims BSC 6921-Bio Sci Colloquium or Neuroscience equivalent for students in Neuroscience Committee-major professor plus 4 other members (majority tenured/tenure-track Bio Sci faculty Seminars: Three seminars-at least one must be departmental Teaching Two different courses Teaching Workshop Program of Studies form Proposal Prelims Defense Dissertation

I.  Time Limits for Degrees

A master's program should be designed so that it can be completed in 2-3 years. The University requires that the degree be completed within 7 years from the time the student first registers for graduate credit.

A doctoral program should be more flexible than the M.S. The University requires that the degree be completed within 5 calendar years from the time the student gains admittance to candidacy by passing the preliminary exam.

II.  Supervisory Committee

The graduate supervisory committee is responsible for guiding the student's research program and adherence to graduate policies.  It must consist of a majority of tenured/tenure-track Biological Science faculty. 

1. M.S.--major professor plus 2-3 other members. All committee members must have Master's Directive Status (MDS) or be approved by the Associate Chair; those lacking MDS at the time of committee selection must have that status by the time of the defense. The committee is established by written memo to the Graduate Office from the major professor and initialed by each committee member. (See IX. Deadlines, Timetable.)

   Ph.D.--major professor plus 4 other members. All committee members must have Doctoral Directive Status (DDS) or be approved by the Associate Chair; those lacking DDS at the time of committee selection must have that status by the time of the defense. One member must be a representative from the University Graduate Faculty and from a department other than Biological Science. The committee is established by written memo to the Graduate Office from the major professor and initialed by each committee member.  (See IX. Deadlines, Timetable.)

   The Graduate Office must be notified, immediately, of any changes in the constitution of the committee (e.g., substitution of committee members or change of major professor).
   

2. Regular (= tenured or tenure-track) faculty holding Doctoral Directive Status who either fully retire or enter an early retirement plan may retain their Doctoral Directive Status under the following conditions (as approved by the Faculty Senate)
   
   
   1. Fully retired faculty may continue to serve as major professors for those students who have already begun their dissertation at the time of the major professor's retirement. Fully retired faculty, however, may not accept additional students in this capacity. Fully retired faculty may serve as an additional member beyond the minimum number required on doctoral committees of new students if they choose.
      
      

   2. Service professors (those faculty on early retirement plans) retain Doctoral Directive Status under the same guidelines as regular faculty. These faculty are cautioned, however, to schedule their semesters of employment to coincide with the projected needs of their doctoral candidates.

3. Tenured or tenure-track faculty in the College of Medicine, who have been granted Courtesy Faculty appointments in the Department of Biological Science, and who have also been granted the appropriate directive status in the Department of Biological Science, may serve as major professor or as a regular faculty member on M.S. and Ph.D. supervisory committees. They cannot serve as the graduate faculty representative (outside committee member) on doctoral committees.
   
   

4. Courtesy faculty who are not tenured or tenure-track personnel of FSU, but who have been given a Courtesy appointment because of their research experience and teaching contributions can serve on supervisory committees with the following restrictions:
   

   1. They must hold the appropriate directive status.
      
      
   2. May be co-major professor with a tenure-track Biological Science faculty member, subject to approval of Associate Chairman.
      
      

   3. M.S. committee

      (a) Can be co-major professor with a tenured/tenure-track faculty member of this department; remaining committee member(s) must be tenured or tenure-track faculty in Biological Science.

      (b) Must be 3rd or 4th member if he/she is not co-major professor.

   4. Ph.D. committee

      (a) Can be co-major professor with a tenured/tenure-track faculty member of this department; remaining committee members will include the outside member and 2 other tenured or tenure-track faculty in Biological Science.

      (b) Must be 5th member if he/she is not co-major professor.

5. Tenured/tenure-track faculty from other FSU departments (e.g., Chemistry, Oceanography, Psychology, etc.) can serve as (1) co-major professor with a tenure-track faculty member in Biological Science, or (2) regular committee member if other stipulations are met.

   FSU tenured/tenure-track non-Biological Science faculty must obtain doctoral directive status in Biological Science before being eligible to serve as co-major professor (per Faculty Senate action, 1988).

6. Non-tenure-track, non-courtesy FSU personnel, non-FSU faculty and others. Cannot serve on committees. See Graduate Office.

   Each fall students will meet with their committees to discuss their progress. Each committee will then submit to the student and to the Graduate Office a statement assessing the student's progress (see Annual Reviews).

III.    Required Courses

1. Colloquium (BSC 6921). This course is an important learning vehicle. Students should take advantage of the breadth of new information, strategies, and directions of research presented by experts in various fields. Attendance is required for students and encouraged for faculty. Neuroscience students should register for the neuroscience colloquium (PSB 6920) instead of BSC 6921.

2. Seminars. Graduate education involves learning how to present research ideas and results. The degree seminar requirements contribute to this education.

   Both the M.S. and Ph.D. degree programs require the presentation of "departmental seminar(s)." A "departmental seminar" should consist of an oral presentation of greater than 40 minutes in length during which the student makes a professional presentation of a body of scientific information to an audience. The student's Supervisory Committee will be responsible for determining which presentations fulfill this requirement by informing the Graduate Office of the title, date, and type of forum of the approved presentation. At the discretion of the Supervisory Committee, student presentations in graded courses, selected topics courses, and area seminars (including for example Seminar in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology) can satisfy this requirement. Ordinarily, journal club and research lab meeting presentations or thesis and dissertation defense presentations will not fulfill this requirement.

   M.S. -- One departmental seminar as defined above is required. Students also are encouraged to present their research at regional and/or national meetings.

   Ph.D. -- Three presentations are required, one of which must be a departmental seminar as defined above. The other two presentations may be either departmental seminars or presentations at regional and/or national meetings. Oral presentations at meetings may be shorter than 40 minutes. Poster presentations count only for the senior author, and only one poster presentation can be used toward satisfying this requirement.

3. Core Courses. As required by particular areas. (Consult with your major professor.)

4. BSC 5971 (Thesis Research). An M.S. student must register for thesis research as soon as the research project has been selected and begun.  A minimum of 6 thesis hours is needed for graduation.

5. BSC 6980 (Dissertation Research). Once the Preliminary Exam has been successfully completed, a student must register for BSC 6980. A minimum of 24 dissertation hours is needed for graduation.

6. Such other courses as may be specified by the supervisory committee.

7. Animal Care Course(s). The departmental faculty adopted a requirement that all of our graduate students, regardless of their area of research, take the basic course in animal care, use, and welfare offered by FSU Laboratory Animal resources every year.

IV.    Teaching Requirement

Graduate students who have not earned a minimum of 18 graduate hours should register for BSC 5945 (Supervised Teaching) for up to 3 hours total in their master's degree program or up to 5 hours total in their doctoral degree program.

1. M.S.--teaching experience in at least one course recommended by supervisory committee and approved by the Associate Chairman.
   
   
2. Ph.D.--teaching experience in at least two different courses recommended by supervisory committee and approved by the Associate Chairman.
   
   
3. BSC 1005L may count for the teaching requirement at the discretion of the Associate Chairman.
   
   
4. Teaching Workshop--the Department offers a teaching workshop the week prior to fall classes. New students are required to attend. The coordinator of the workshop is Dr. Ann Lumsden, (850) 644-6826.
   

V.     Program of Studies (M.S. and Ph.D. Students)

This document, developed in consultation with the supervisory committee, should outline past and current course work and courses proposed for the future. Forms are available on-line at http://www.bio.fsu.edu/gradstudentinfo/forms.html. (See IX. Deadlines, Timetable.)

VI.    Prospectus for the M.S. Degree

This should follow the same outline as the doctoral proposal (see below), but should be about 5 to 10 pages long. A budget is not required. The student is required to meet with the supervisory committee to discuss and defend the prospectus. Upon committee approval, the prospectus is submitted to the Graduate Office. For approval form go to:   http://www.bio.fsu.edu/gradstudentinfo/forms.html.

The Prospectus must be submitted no later than the 3rd semester in residence.

VII.   Proposal for the Ph.D. Degree

Most of our Ph.D. students will be involved in writing grant proposals during their careers. The writing of a Ph.D. proposal is intended to provide experience in writing a research proposal. Therefore, the proposal should follow the NSF or NIH format. Writing the proposal also helps the student crystallize the plan for their dissertation research and map out the experiments that need to be done. The proposal must be defended within six (6) months of completing the preliminary exam and no later than the 10th semester in the program, and students must submit their proposal to their committees no less than 2 weeks prior to the proposal defense. Committees of students not meeting this schedule must submit a memo to the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies explaining why the proposal is delayed and setting a clear date for the proposal defense. A minimum of 12 months must elapse between approval of the proposal and defense of dissertation.

Generally the proposal will include the following:

  A. Abstract

  B. Significance

  C. Introduction with background review

  D. Proposed research and rationale

  E. Facilities and equipment required

  F. Budget (including indirect costs and "fringe benefits")

  G. Time required to complete study

  H. Vita

  I. Literature cited

The student is required to meet with the supervisory committee to discuss and defend the proposal. Upon committee approval, the proposal is submitted to the Graduate Office. For approval form go to:  http://www.bio.fsu.edu/gradstudentinfo/forms.html.

VIII.  Graduate Examinations

It is often difficult to arrange an exam or defense during the summer because of the unavailability of committee members who tend to be off-campus during this time. Analogous problems might result from one or more committee members being on sabbatical for one or both semesters of the academic year. Students should check with their committee members well in advance of any such examination to make sure that everybody will be available to participate.

1. The Thesis Defense (BSC 8976) will consist of an oral defense of the completed master's thesis as well as a test of general knowledge. The candidate must submit the final copy of the thesis to the supervisory committee at least one week before the scheduled examination.
   
   
2. The Preliminary Examination (BSC 8964) for Doctoral Students.

   The written portion of the preliminary exam should be taken no later than the 7th semester and the written and oral portion of the exam should be completed within a 3 month period. Committees of students not meeting this schedule must submit a memo to the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies explaining why the exam is delayed and setting a clear date for the exam. At the discretion of the Supervisory Committee, any portion of the exam may be retaken within 3 months if the performance was judged unsatisfactory.

   This examination is "designed to test scholarly competence and knowledge and to afford the examiners the basis for constructive recommendations concerning the student's subsequent formal or informal study" (2007-2009 FSU Graduate Bulletin, p. 54).

   The possible outcomes of the Preliminary Examination are:

1. passed

2. failed, without possibility of re-examination

3. conditional pass, additional work to be completed

4. re-examine

Results of the Prelims must be submitted to the Graduate Office immediately following the completion of the exam.

If a conditional pass is received, the committee must stipulate, in writing, the conditions and the deadline for meeting these conditions.

A majority vote of failed will result in dismissal of the student from the doctoral program.

3. The Dissertation Defense (BSC 8985) for doctoral students will consist of a public seminar presenting information from the dissertation prior to an oral examination which is administered by the candidate's supervisory committee. "Academic courtesy requires that a preliminary draft of the dissertation be submitted to each member of the supervisory committee at least four weeks before the date of the oral examination" (2007-2009 FSU Graduate Bulletin, p. 54).
   

IX.  Deadlines, Timetable

TIMETABLE

Requirement	Action		Latest Deadlines
Faculty Advisor Preliminary Supervisory Committee	Memo to Graduate Office.		1st semester1 in residence
Major Professor	Memo to Graduate Office		2nd semester in residence
Committee	M.S. Students--meet with committee; memo to Graduate Office		2nd semester in residence
	Ph.D. Students--meet with committee; memo to Graduate Office		3rd semester in residence
Program of Studies Form	M.S. Students-submitted to Graduate Office.		2nd semester in residence
	Ph.D. Students-submitted to Graduate Office.		3rd semester in residence
Preliminary Examination (for Ph.D. students)			written portion should be taken no later than the 7th semester and the written and oral portion of the exam should be completed within a 3 month period.
Master's Prospectus	Approved by the Graduate Office.		no later than 3rd semester in residence
Doctoral Proposal	Approved by the Graduate Office.		must be defended by the 9th or 10th semester at the latest.
Thesis/Dissertation	Submitted to Clearance Office. Be sure to check with the Clearance Advisor in 408 WES during your drafting in order to prevent disasters at the last second.		within 1 year following defense, but no later than 5 calendar years from the prelims

¹There are three semesters per calendar year, viz., Fall, Spring and Summer.

ANNUAL REVIEWS

All graduate students in the department have an opportunity to present their progress each year to the faculty in their areas. Through this process the student can be aided in fulfilling the degree requirements on a timely basis. The review also encourages interaction between graduate students and faculty who otherwise may have little direct contact.

All graduate students will be informed of their status and the results of their evaluations each year. It obviously is difficult to provide an in-depth evaluation; but the major professor should meet with the student following the review for discussion.  

The committee meetings should be completed between the fourth week in September and the second week of December each year and should be reasonably uniform across groups. The mechanism should be:

1. All students, except those who entered in August of the current academic year, are required to meet with their committees prior to the Reviews. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL IT IS TIME TO HAVE THE REVIEWS TO HAVE THESE MEETINGS. Faculty serve on many committees and their schedules will not permit them to accommodate last minute or spur of the moment scheduling. Those doctoral students who have passed the preliminary exam are required by the University to have an annual committee-signed statement (see Doctoral Student Academic Progress Report form, below) in their permanent University file. The Graduate Office will provide this form. It is the student's responsibility to see that the completed form is submitted to the Graduate Office.
     

2. Each student fills out a progress report plus a 250 word abstract and submits them to the Graduate Office. These will be distributed to the faculty.

3. Each student beyond the first year is required to present a 5-10 minute summary of his/her progress, outlining goals and presenting plans for the following year. The student's presentation should be informal, without slides, overheads or handouts. All first-year students must appear, but should merely be prepared to discuss their goals. There will be an additional 5 minutes for questions and another 5 minutes for discussion after the student leaves.

4. Students receiving a satisfactory review will be guaranteed support for the next academic year.

5. Any student who receives an unsatisfactory rating by the area faculty will be on probation and must meet specific conditions to continue support. When submitting an "unsatisfactory" rating for a student, the area faculty should enumerate specific criteria by which the student can achieve "satisfactory" status (e.g., get off academic probation, meet specified levels of performance in the research lab, etc.) along with a required timeline for meeting these criteria and consequences of not meeting them (loss of department support or dismissal from the program). These recommendations will be submitted to the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies who will monitor the student’s compliance.

6. Each area representative will notify the Graduate Office of the results of the Reviews. Shortly after the Reviews, each student should receive from the area representative written results of the evaluation, and if necessary, any specific recommendations.

   
   

   College of Arts and Sciences
   Biological Science Version
   Doctoral Student Academic Progress Report

    

   Procedure: In accordance with University and College policy, the doctoral supervisory committee must annually assess, in writing, the academic progress of each student who has passed the Ph.D. Preliminary Examination.

   A copy of this report must be submitted to Judy Bowers for later transmittal to the Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences; a copy of this review will also be filed in the student's departmental advising folder.

    

   Student's name:
   
   ____________________________________________

   Social security number:
   
   ____________________________________________

   Department: Biological Science

   Major professor's name:
   
   ____________________________________________

   Date on which Ph.D. Prelims were passed:
   
   ____________________________________________

   Projected date of graduation:

   Fall_____, Spring_____, Summer_____, of  20_____

   Please briefly summarize the dissertation research, writing, or creative work completed by this student during the past 12 months; also note any special problems that have occurred.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
    

   Signatures:
   Major Professor            _________________________

   Committee Members     _________________________

                                         _________________________

                                         _________________________

                                         _________________________

    

   Date:___________________ 

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

1. Teaching Assistantships

The primary source of financial support for graduate students is through Graduate Teaching Assistantships. For 2007-08 the stipend is $18,540 and is considered a one-half time appointment. As a one-half time appointment the University guidelines recommend that no more than 20 hours of duties be required of the student weekly, although this may vary depending on the needs of the department.

Graduate Teaching Assistantships for students already enrolled are awarded and are distributed to students based on (a) an assessment of the student's progress toward the degree as primarily indicated by the Annual Review, (b) the recommendation of the faculty associated with the various courses and the student's past performance as a teaching assistant, if available. Incoming students will usually be awarded teaching assistantships as recommended by the area faculty based on the available information.

2. Research Assistantships

A major source of financial support for graduate students is the research assistantship paid for by the grant funds of the major professor. These assistantships are awarded at the discretion of the major professor subject only to the University stipulation that reinstated students on academic probation are ineligible for financial support.

Financial support varies with the resources of the major professor but should not be lower than the teaching assistantship for equivalent half-time work.

3. Fellowships

Florida State University provides financial support in the form of fellowships to a number of graduate students. University Fellowships are available for new and continuing graduate students and have a January 15 application deadline. (Such fellowship holders must reapply each year.) College Fellowships are available, for one year only, to new students and usually have a March 1 application deadline. In general, both fellowships require a GPA of 3.5 and a GRE of 1250 to apply, although successful applicants generally have higher scores.

Dissertation Fellowships are available to doctoral students completing their final year. Deadline for these fellowships is late spring.

4. Tuition Waiver Policies

Effective with students entering Fall 1997, University policy limits the number of years a graduate assistant can receive tuition waiver support from the University central waiver pool. The standard is 3 years for a M.S. degree and three additional years for a Ph.D., or a combined total of 6 years for a student who enters graduate school at FSU without a M.S. degree. Students who enter our graduate program with a M.S. degree will have a limit of 4 years for waiver support as a doctoral student except when ‘required by a departmental committee to follow the same program as a student entering without a M.S. degree’ in which case they fall under the same 6 year standard as students entering without a M.S. degree. Students who have carried a heavy instructional load throughout their graduate study may be approved for an additional year of waiver support on a case by case basis.

1. Matriculation Waivers:
   Students receiving teaching or research assistantships for at least one-quarter time or who are on a fellowship are eligible for matriculation waivers. These provide for a waiver of the in-state tuition fees only. Students are still responsible for activity, athletic, health fees, etc. Consult the Graduate Office for the necessary paperwork.
   
   
2. Out-of-State Tuition Waivers:  
   Students receiving teaching or research assistantships for at least one-quarter time or who are on a fellowship are eligible for out-of-state tuition waivers. These provide for a waiver of the out-of-state tuition fees only. Students are still responsible for activity, athletic, health fees, etc. Consult the Graduate Office for the necessary paperwork. U.S. citizens who are non-Florida residents are eligible for an out-of-state waiver for one year. See Appendix I for further information on residency.

5. Taxes on Stipends

The IRS has ruled that student assistantships are not tax exempt. However, some foreign countries have treaties with the U.S., and individuals from those countries may be tax-exempt. Questions about taxes (especially prior returns) should be directed to the Internal Revenue Service.

REGISTRATION

All students, whether funded or not, are required to register for 12 hours each term, including summer.

Exceptions

1. Students who have completed all program requirements (including research) except for the thesis/dissertation writing and defense, and who have missed the final University graduation deadline at the end of the semester, must register for 2 hours (non-US residents 1 hour) of BSC 5971 (Thesis Research) or BSC 6980 (Dissertation Research) in the next semester in order to complete their degree. This will be allowed with the following stipulations: 

1. the student will not be eligible for departmental or university support. 
    
2. the student is not to be using University facilities (laboratory, office space, library, etc.) or personnel except those that are directly required for the student to complete the writing and defense of her/his thesis or dissertation. 
    
3. submit to the Graduate Office a timely, supervisory committee-signed memo of approval for such absence (your major professor and other committee members must be aware that your research has indeed been completed and give approval for such absence).

2. Students who have not completed their degree and who leave campus to take a position elsewhere must register for 2 hours (non-US residents 1 hour) of BSC 5971 (Thesis Research) or BSC 6980 (Dissertation Research) each semester until graduation in order to remain in the graduate program.
    
3. Students conducting off-campus research for one or more semesters, and not using University facilities (laboratory, office space, library) or personnel, must 

1. the student will not be eligible for departmental or university support.
    
2. submit to the Graduate Office a timely, supervisory committee-signed memo of approval for such absence(s).
    
3. register for at least 2 hours (non-US residents 1 hour) of either BSC 5971 (Thesis Research) or BSC 6980 (Dissertation Research), as appropriate, each semester thus absent. Those Ph.D. students who have not passed their prelims should register for BSC 5900 (DIS) instead of BSC 6980. However, such absence(s) should not delay the prelims.

4. In rare instances, students in their final year who are off campus conducting research and who need to use University facilities and personnel on only a limited basis, will be required to register for 4 thesis/dissertation research hours for each semester, except the final term which will be full-time hours.
   

MISCELLANEOUS

1. Graduate students are not permitted to have undergraduates or graduates conduct any part of their thesis/dissertation research for them; but
    
2. DIS students can work with a graduate student on a non-thesis/dissertation project as long as there is significant interaction with the major professor/faculty member.
    
3. Major professors and supervisory committees can recommend by memo to the Graduate Office that a student has satisfied a particular requirement (e.g., teaching), but are not authorized to determine that the requirement has been satisfied or waived, or to postpone a deadline. Be aware, however, that supervisory committees may impose additional requirements.
    
4. Thesis/Dissertation Format. These documents maybe written as a single work or as several individual chapters intended to be independent manuscripts. The Graduate School requires that in the latter case the thesis/dissertation must include an overall Introduction and an overall Conclusions section. Clearance guidelines can be found at the Graduate Studies website or can be downloaded at http://gradstudies.fsu.edu/thesis.html. The Clearance Advisor is located in 408 Westcott.
    
5. Academic Probation. Students on initial probation (1st semester of probation) have one (1) semester to bring their cumulative GPA up to 3.0, during which they are eligible for stipend support. If the student does not reach a cumulative 3.0 by the end of that term, he/she will be dismissed from the University. Reinstatement is possible in cases in which a cumulative GPA of 3.0 is very likely by the end of the next semester. The University does not allow reinstated students to draw a stipend.
    
6. Departmental/University Facilities. The Department/University maintains an Analytical Laboratory (Dano Fiore), Electron Microscope facility (Ken Taylor), Marine Lab (Felicia Coleman), Molecular and Hybridoma Laboratory (Ken Roux), Neuroscience facilities (Mike Meredith), Computer Lab (Alex Stuy), and photo darkroom. Some of the equipment is cost-free, but some is not. Students should consult first with the major professor and then with the contact person named above concerning the use of these facilities.
    
7. Students using the Marine Lab for any part of their thesis or dissertation research should supply the Marine Lab with a bound copy of the final document. The department will cover the costs of copying and binding this copy.   

APPENDIX I: Residency

Deadline for Applying for Florida Residency: The Declaration of Domicile form must be filed at the courthouse prior to the first day of classes of the term you are first registering as a graduate student. Failure to do so may jeopardize your petition for future residency.

All non-Florida, U.S. citizens are required to obtain residency by the beginning of their 2nd year. Students must be completely independent from their parents (i.e., not claimed on tax returns, etc) for one year prior to obtaining Florida residency status. Out-of-state tuition waivers will only be given for the first year. The Office of Graduate Studies has provided the following helpful tips: New Student Info.

APPENDIX II: Funding for Student Travel

When resources are available, the Department will assist you in attending national/regional meetings to present a paper or poster. The policies and procedures for this support are as follows:

Policies:

1. Every student is eligible to receive funds to present his/her work at one meeting each fiscal year (July-June).
   
   
2. You must be a registered full-time graduate student presenting (not just co-author) a paper, based on work done at Florida State University, at a national/regional meeting. International meetings will be handled separately.
   
   
3. The Department will provide a fixed amount of money based on the following mileage table. The figures are based on radius of travel from Tallahassee to the meeting site. No vicinity mileage is included. You will be reimbursed up to the amount which can legally be reimbursed under the State of Florida's travel procedures.

Procedures:

1. At least two (2) weeks prior to your departure, submit to the Biology Graduate Office a notice of acceptance of your paper and evidence that you will be the presenter (i.e., abstract) along with the Funded Travel Authorization form (http://www.bio.fsu.edu/Travel_Authorization_Form_G.php). The Congress of Graduate Students (COGS) may also have available funds. For information on funds from COGS, please visit http://ww w.fsu.edu/~sga/cogs/grants.html.
   
   
2. Upon your return you must immediately fill out a Reimbursement Voucher. Failure to do so within the 1st week of your return will result in NO reimbursement.
   
   
3. The maximum amount that any one person can receive is $800.00.

We are aware that this policy is less than perfect as it is implemented, please feel free to provide rational input, in writing, concerning any problems which arise.

TRAVEL DISTANCE (ROUND TRIP)		AMOUNT ALLOWED

200-500		$260
501-800		$310
801-1100		$415
1101-1400		$470
1401-1700		$525
1700-2000		$580
2001-2300		$635
2301-2600		$690
2601-2900		$745
2900-		$800
	modified Fall 2004

APPENDIX III: Dual Compensation

The stipend provided to graduate students is intended to facilitate study, educational progress and research. Additional, unrelated, outside employment reduces a student's role in contributing to the departmental graduate program, and also might be construed as indicative of a lack of commitment to a student's training.

However, it is recognized that special, extenuating circumstances occur, and provisions for them are given in the following categorization:

1. Half-time (or less) graduate teaching assistants (TAs) and graduate research assistants (departmental or grant RAs). Such a student finding it necessary to obtain supplementary, outside employment must provide justification and obtain signature-approval of his/her major professor, other supervisory committee members and the Associate Chairman (see below).
   
   
2. Graduate fellowship recipients (domestic and foreign). Some fellowships include funds for payment of all fees, others pay some but not all fees, and some pay no fees. It is the department's policy to provide students a supplemental equivalent to the fee waivers available to TAs and RAs. A copy of the award letter indicating the distribution of monies will be needed to determine eligibility for supplemental funds. Nevertheless, any fellowship recipient finding it necessary to obtain supplementary, outside employment should provide justification and obtain signature-approval of his/her major professor, other supervisory committee members and the Associate Chairman (see below).
   
   
3. Greater than half-time TAs and RAs. On rare occasions it is necessary to appoint a few graduate assistants, usually on a term-by-term basis, at a level and corresponding stipend greater than half-time. Such appointments require the written approval of the initial advisor or major professor, and Associate Chairman.

Without the necessary approvals, it is inappropriate to be a full-time student on a TA/RAship or fellowship and also receive outside employment. Unapproved dual employment could jeopardize eligibility for continued (a) departmental support and/or (b) grant support, and/or work with the major professor of choice. Obtain Dual Employment Form.

Approval of supplemental work and compensation does not excuse a student from meeting the time lines specified in section IX. Deadlines, Timetable of the Graduate Guide.

APPENDIX IV: English Competency

Certification of competency in spoken English of international graduate teaching assistants, Department of Biological Science. Revised February, 2008

The department accepts responsibility for ensuring that international students achieve competency in spoken English sufficient to communicate as a scientist and to participate in a quality instructional program at the undergraduate level. As the minimum, the department requires the following training/certification of all international students on entry into the graduate program.

1. All new students, including international students, are required to attend one complete departmental teaching workshop offered prior to the fall semester each year. It is expected that the students will take the workshop at the start of their first year in the program. Students who have not completed the workshop will not be permitted to teach.
   
   
2. The department recognizes a score of 50 on the SPEAK test (or a score of 26 on the spoken part of the IBTOEFL) as certifying spoken English competency for international teaching assistants. The SPEAK test (administered by the Center for Intensive English Studies) is to be taken by all international students from countries where English is not the native language when they first arrive on campus (normally in the week before classes in the Fall semester). International students will have one calendar year from the time they enter the program to pass the Speak Test with a score of 50 or better. Any international students who fail to meet this requirement will be ineligible for support as a TA until they pass the Speak Test. Petitions for exceptions to this policy will be decided by the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies in consultation with the Graduate Policy Committee.
   
   
3. International students who have not passed the Speak test or who have not been certified by the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies will be required to take 1 credit hour of spoken English courses from C.I.E.S. every semester until they pass or are certified. (Either EAP 4830 -- "Spoken English for International TAs", EAP 4831 - Advanced Spoken English for ITAs, or EAP 4832 – "Pronunciation for ITAs")

Satisfactory completion of these requirements qualifies the student to serve as a graduate teaching assistant. Assignment of teaching duties prior to completion of these requirements is at the discretion of the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies.

APPENDIX V: Graduate Appeals Policy

Grade appeals:

see 2007-2009 FSU Graduate Bulletin, p63.

Other:

1. Any graduate student who feels that an action or decision affecting him/her adversely in his/her graduate program has been made in an arbitrary and capricious manner.

1. should, within 5 calendar days of the action/decision, consult with the person(s) deemed responsible for that action/decision in order to resolve the problem.
   
   

2. should then, in the absence of a satisfactory resolution (a), consult with the Associate Chairman for Graduate Studies about the matter within 5 calendar days of that meeting, and, if the issue is still not resolved.
   
   

3. can file a dated 1-page appeal document with the Graduate Office within the next 5 calendar days.

2. The written appeal document must contain.

1. a description of the action or decision, with citation of the date(s) when made and by whom, and
   
   

2. a statement of the resolution sought, with a justification of that remedy.

3. The appeal document will be duplicated and distributed to the departmental Graduate Policy Committee (= 4 faculty Representatives + 1 student Representative + Associate Chairman), which may arrange a meeting with the student to explore the problem. The meeting will be held within 5 calendar days of receipt of the appeal document.
   
   

4. The Graduate Policy Committee will reach a decision within 5 calendar days of the meeting, with the Associate Chairman voting only to resolve a tie. No committee member with possible conflict of interest will participate in the proceedings except for a possible interview by the rest of the Committee. The student will be sent a written decision immediately.
   
   

5. A student who is dissatisfied with the decision of the Graduate Policy Committee may appeal that decision to the departmental chairman within 5 calendar days of receipt of the committee decision. The Chairman will consult the original appeal document and may meet with the student (and perhaps committee members) within 5 calendar days and shall notify the student of his decision in writing within 5 calendar days. This decision will be binding.
   
   

6. A student's non-adherence to the time lines stated herein will lead to dismissal of the appeal unless extenuating circumstances apply. Committee member absences might cause some time limitation(s) to be extended.
   
   

7. Discretion and confidentiality will be exercised during the entire appeals process. A student will not suffer a punitive action or decision for having pursued an appeal.

APPENDIX VI:  Teaching Assistants (TA) Manual

The opportunity to teach is one of the great joys of academic life. Nothing is more rewarding than being able to share your knowledge with others and help them grow in knowledge and skills. As a teaching assistant you are part of the university’s instructional staff, all of whom must work together to provide a coherent and high quality educational program for our undergraduates. The purpose of this manual is to outline the department’s policies and guidelines for teaching assistants, and to provide logistical information that TAs need, so that the delivery of our undergraduate courses is orderly and effective. This is not intended to be a manual on how to teach. Some teaching training is provided is the department’s annual Teaching Workshop, which is required to be taken by all new graduate students and undergraduate TAs. Additional training for teachers is available through the Teaching Enhancement Workshops and the Program in Instructional Excellence of the Center for Teaching and Learning (http://learningforlife.fsu.edu/ctl/collaborate/PIE/index.cfm).

Admission, Support, and Category Changes

Only in exceptional cases is an unfunded student admitted to a graduate program in the department. Most students receive an initial appointment as a TA; later many students are supported with research grants as a RA. A few students switch back and forth, depending on the availability of grant funds. TAs planning to be supported by an available RAship must provide the departmental Graduate Office with a "timely notification of intent" in order to avoid depleting the teaching personnel needed by the department.

Selection of Graduate Assistants

The awarding of teaching and research assistantships is decided at the time graduate students are considered for admission. Assistantships are awarded at the request of individual faculty members with the approval from the area faculty (Cell & Molecular Biology, Neuroscience, and Ecology & Evolutionary Biology) and the Associate Chairman.

Continuing students may be reappointed on a departmental TA/RAship for the ensuing academic year if (1) so recommended by the area faculty following the Annual Review (see departmental Graduate Guide: Annual Reviews) and approved by the Associate Chairman and (2) funds are available.

Initial and continued appointment on a grant RAship is at the discretion of the principal investigator.

TA Course Assignment(s)

Teaching assignments are made by the Office of the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies. New TAs are customarily assigned to BSC 1005L, BSC 2010L, or BSC 2011L unless a particular student has the background to fill a special need in another course. Subsequent assignments are made to other courses when possible, with veteran students having priority. The primary considerations in making TA assignments are the teaching needs of the department and the expertise and dependability of the individual graduate students. However, the wishes of the faculty and graduate students are also taken into account. Prior to the beginning of each semester the Graduate Office asks the graduate students which courses they would prefer to be assigned; the faculty are also asked which students they want as their TAs. Recommendations from supervisory committees are also taken into account. Every effort is made to accommodate all parties, but fluctuations in course enrollments and course offerings do not always provide that everyone can be accommodated. Assignments are made on a one-semester-at-a-time basis.

Teaching Workshop

All new graduate students, and all undergraduate students who are teaching for the first time, are required to attend the department’s Teaching Workshop. This week-long workshop is held during the week before classes each Fall semester and is coordinated by Dr. Ann Lumsden (850-644-6826). The workshop provides instruction in teaching and gives critical information on University and Departmental teaching policies. Under exceptional circumstances the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies may approve a student’s petition to delay taking the teaching workshop, however no exceptions are made to the requirement that all new graduate students and undergraduate TA take this workshop. Both Graduate and Undergraduate TAs are compensated for the time they spend at the workshop.

Duties and Responsibilities

There are varying workloads for different levels of appointment (viz., 1/4-, 1/3-, 1/2-time, etc,). These apply to both TAs and RAs. The standard TA assignment is ½-time (which nominally means 20 hr/week). Most TAs are assigned responsibility for teaching in laboratory courses, but some TAs serve to help organize and prepare materials for large laboratory courses such as BSC 2010L (course “Honchos”), and some TAs are assigned to assist a faculty member who is teaching a large lecture course (usually the TA helps with grading and by running review/help sessions). Some opportunity for lecturing experience (under faculty supervision) is available during the summer, particularly in BSC 1005.

The standard TA assignment is responsibility for teaching two sections of a laboratory course that meets once a week for three hours. However, some courses differ in format (some lab classes meet once a week for two hours and some have two 3-hour class meetings each week), so TA assignments are balanced to keep the work load approximately the same for all TAs.

Specific TA duties, both in and out of class, are defined by the faculty member in charge of the course (course instructor), or by the staff member responsible for a large laboratory course (the course coordinator). Unsatisfactory performance by a TA/RA may result in forfeiture of the assistantship. In general, a TA is expected to work on course-related activities for an average of 20 hours per week, although some weeks may require more time and some less. Each TA is expected to be on campus and available to work starting one week before classes and to remain until course grades are submitted on the Tuesday after Final Exam Week or until the course instructor/coordinator indicates the TA may leave. If a TA needs to be out of town, or for other reasons cannot fulfill their teaching duties for a period of time (for example to attend a conference or because of a family emergency), then it is the TAs responsibility to inform the course instructor/coordinator as early as possible and to work with the instructor/coordinator to find a suitable replacement. The TA must also fill out the Attendance Policy for Teaching Assistants Form and submit it to the Graduate Office in advance of their trip. This requirement includes times when two TAs in the same course swap sections. The department is committed to being flexible and making it possible for TAs to attend meetings and other educational programs, but the TA must realize that not all accommodations are possible. In general TAs should not expect to be able to be away from their teaching duties more than once a semester and not for more than one week at a time.

Attendance Policy for Teaching Assistants Form:   (obtain here)

Emergency Situations

Any TA that finds they are unable to attend a class or get to class on time must immediately contact the faculty member in charge of the course (course instructor), or the course coordinator, so that arrangements can be made to cover the class. If the instructor/coordinator cannot be reached, then the TA should contact the departmental office (850-644-3700) and inform the office staff of their absence.

If during class a student becomes ill and needs medical assistance the TA should contact the University Police (850-644-1234) and should also inform the course instructor/coordinator of the situation. If a student becomes unmanageable and disruptive in class the TA should calmly direct the student to leave the classroom, and if the student refuses to leave then the TA should contact the University Police and have the student removed from the classroom. Such incidents should also be reported to the course instructor/coordinator.

Violations of the University’s Academic Honor Code (Cheating)

The Florida State University Academic Honor Policy defines the University’s expectations of students in terms of academic honesty and lays out the procedures that are to be followed in cases of academic dishonesty. The Academic Honor Policy is found in the FSU General Bulletin (http://registrar.fsu.edu/bulletin/undergrad/info/acad_regs.htm#AcademicHonor), this policy was substantially revised effective Fall semester 2005. All students and faculty are expected to be familiar with and abide by this Academic Honor Policy.

As described in the Academic Honor Code, academic dishonesty includes (but is not necessarily limited to) plagiarism (intentional copying another’s work without proper citation), cheating on exams or quizzes, unauthorized group work, fabrication or falsification of data, multiple submission of papers or reports, damaging or stealing academic materials, and complicity in academic dishonesty (one student knowingly letting another student copy from their exam).

As a TA, if you observe academic dishonesty by a student in a class under your supervision you are required to follow up on it. The first thing to do is to collect and preserve the evidence. The next step is to confer with the course instructor/coordinator, explain what happened and what evidence you have. The course instructor/coordinator will help you determine if academic dishonesty has occurred and will help you work through resolving it following the procedures laid out in the Academic Honor Policy. It is important to know that the TAs role in resolving a potential case of academic dishonesty is not done when he/she has reported the incident to the course instructor/coordinator. Since you as the TA were the primary witness of the incident you will be needed throughout the process of resolving the issues.

Departmental Policies on Interpersonal Relationships between TAs and Students and the University Policy on Sexual Harassment.

It is the policy of the department that there should be no close interpersonal relationship between a TA and a student in the section(s) of the course they are teaching. You not only must not date your students, but you should not have as a student a relative or in-law or someone with whom you formerly had a close interpersonal relationship. If you find you are assigned to a class in which there is a student with whom you have a relationship, you should inform the course instructor/coordinator and discuss what changes could be made to resolve the problem. The purpose of this policy is to make sure that all students in a class have, and feel they have, fair and equal treatment by their TA.

The University has a very explicit policy regarding sexual harassment and how sexual harassment should be handled. In part the University defines sexual harassment as: “unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature directed at an employee or student by another …” It is the responsibility of each TA to read and be familiar with the University’s sexual harassment policy (see http://www.auditservices.fsu.edu/sh/policy.html). One particularly important aspect of this policy that pertains to TAs is its reporting requirement. Under the University’s policy any supervisor who has witnessed or becomes aware of an alleged occurrence of sexual harassment by, or who receives a complaint of sexual harassment involving a person within their purview is required to report the matter to the University’s Office of Audit Services. As a TA, all the students in the sections you are teaching are under your "purview", you are their supervisor in this context. If you think sexual harassment is occurring in your class, or if sexual harassment is reported to you by one of your students, you should immediately discuss the matter with the students involved and with the course instructor/coordinator; if it appears that sexual harassment has occurred then the course instructor/coordinator will be obliged to report it to the University Auditor.

APPENDIX VII:  Neuroscience Doctoral Program

The interdisciplinary program in Neuroscience includes faculty in several departments, primarily Biological Science and Psychology. Graduate students in the Department of Biological Science who are working with members of the Program in Neuroscience may elect to work toward the Ph.D. in Neuroscience rather than the Ph.D. in Biological Science. This program has additional requirements, offers opportunities for specialized training and a degree reflecting the specialization. Biological Science based Neuroscience Ph.D. students remain graduate students in the Biological Science department and must meet all departmental requirements. In return, they remain eligible for all departmental benefits including TA appointments and travel funds. Courses required for all Neuroscience Ph.D. students are PCB 5845: Cell and Molecular Neuroscience, PSB 5341: Systems and Behavioral Neuroscience, PSB 5057: Molecules to Behavior, and PSB 5077: Responsible Conduct of Research. The supervisory committee must include a minimum of three members of the graduate faculty who have doctoral directive status, one of whom is a representative-at-large of the graduate faculty drawn from outside the student's department and degree program. Neuroscience students should include a Neuroscience Program member from a department other than their home department and a non-Neuroscience Program member from their home department.

Prospective Neuroscience graduate students may enter the Neuroscience Ph.D. degree track directly. Because there is no M.S. in Neuroscience, students wishing to achieve a M.S. degree before proceeding to the Ph.D. may be admitted as regular Biological Science student but are recognized within the Neuroscience Program and the Department as Neuroscience students.

A description of the Neuroscience Program is found at the website http://www.neuro.fsu.edu. The Program maintains several general-use facilities with associated professional staff in the department, including: BRF Computer Facility (Jason Thigpen); Photo lab (Charles Badland); Histology facility (XiXi Jia).