GRADUATE HANDBOOK

Department of Biological Science

Florida State University

last revision approved by the faculty: 4 February 2021

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PREFACE

PHILOSOPHY

ADMISSION POLICIES

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE

Summary

I. Time Limits for Degrees

II. Supervisory Committee

III. Required Courses

IV. Teaching Requirement

V. Program of Studies (MS and PhD Students)

VI. Prospectus for the Thesis MS Degree

VII. Proposal for the PhD Degree

VIII. Graduate Examinations

IX. Timetable

ANNUAL REVIEWS and SCHOLARLY ENGAGEMENT

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

REGISTRATION

MISCELLANEOUS

APPENDICES

I: Residency

II: Funding for Student Travel

III: Dual Compensation

IV: English Competency

V: Graduate Appeals Policy

VI: Teaching Assistants (TA) Manual

VII: Neuroscience Doctoral Program

Detailed Table of Contents

PREFACE

This document contains information useful to both graduate students and fac-

ulty. It lists and denes requirements and responsibilities for our graduate

degree programs. It also provides details on such “fringe benets” as depart-

mental funding of graduate research expenses and travel to present a paper at

one professional meeting per year. Nevertheless, it might be incomplete, and

you are invited to suggest topics to be added and/or claried in future editions.

The degree program guidelines are designed to ensure that students progress

toward earning a degree in a timely fashion.

A. Students may complete the requirements in the departmental Graduate

Guide of the year in which they enter FSU or those of any subsequent year’s

Guide. Students may not combine requirements from dierent years except

at the discretion of the Associate Chair (see below) and then only for sound

academic reasons presented in advance. Please note that the Department may

have additional, or more stringent, requirements than are stated in the FSU

Graduate Bulletin. Continuing students who are unsure of their requirements

should consult with the Graduate Oce.

B. Students are expected to satisfy all requirements within the specied time

lines, except when it is impossible to do so for reasons beyond their control.

In such cases, which should be identied in advance, the Associate Chair can

exercise discretionary authority either to waive the requirement or to approve

an extension or substitution. The Associate Dean of Students in the College

of Arts and Sciences also has discretionary authority, but only with regard to

college requirements (e.g., extension of academic probation).

C. Finally, and certainly not least, we want you to know that we wish each of

you every success in what will be an exciting and rewarding graduate experience,

and that we are available at all times to serve in the facilitation of your career.

PHILOSOPHY

The program of graduate study in the Department of Biological Science is de-

signed to transform an individual from student to professional scholar. Awarding

of the degree signies that the individual is qualied 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, eort is made to provide both nancial and professional support for qual-

ied research-based graduate students. The goal of such support is to facilitate

progress toward the graduate degree while contributing to the teaching and

research eort of the university. Secondarily, an additional goal of the Depart-

ment is to provide course opportunities for continuing graduate scholars to assist

career enhancements.

ADMISSION POLICIES

Admissions Criteria

Applicants are strongly encouraged to meet minimal criteria of a 3.0 undergradu-

ate grade point average (upper division work), a Graduate Record Exam Verbal

score of 156 (72%, 550 on the old GRE) and a Quantitative score of 154 (67%,

530 on the old GRE), and 3 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 92 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.

Admission into the PhD and MS Thesis Programs, and Switching

between Programs

Students holding a bachelor’s degree may apply for either the PhD or the MS

Thesis program. Students enrolled in the MS program may switch to the PhD

program with the approval of their Supervisory Committee and the Associate

Chair. The Committee’s recommendation must include a justication from the

major professor and be co-signed by all the committee members.

Continuation for the PhD Degree after completing the M.S Thesis.

Students receiving a MS Thesis degree from our Department may request con-

tinuation in the PhD 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 in-

tent to continue for the PhD before the thesis defense by way of a cover letter

accompanying the thesis. Within 2 weeks following the thesis defense, each

of the Supervisory Committee members should send to the Graduate Oce a

statement expressing a position for or against continuation of the student in the

PhD program. Within one week of receiving the last Supervisory Committee

member letter, the Graduate Oce will provide the available documentation

to the Area and request that the Area submit a recommendation to the Asso-

ciate Chair for or against continuation of the student in the PhD program. The

Associate Chair will make the nal decision.

A student may appeal a negative decision by the Associate Chair to the depart-

mental Graduate Policy Committee (GPC). This appeal should be submitted,

in writing, to the Graduate Oce within 2 weeks following receipt of the nega-

tive decision. For the purpose of the appeal, the GPC will be convened by the

Department Chair instead of the Associate Chair. The 6 voting members of the

committee will be the Department Chair, faculty members on the GPC exclud-

ing 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 nal at the departmental level.

Neuroscience Doctoral Program (see Appendix VII).

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE

Summary

A. Course-type Master’s Requirements

• Minimum of 32 semester hours of graduate credit- a minimum of 21

letter-graded hours

• Program of Studies form

• Comprehensive Examination

• Directed Individual Study requirement: literature- or research- based

B. 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

• Orientation and Teaching Workshop

• Program of Studies form

• Prospectus

• Thesis

• Defense

C. Doctoral Requirements

• Minimum of 24 dissertation research hours taken after completion of the

Preliminary Examination

• 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: 3 seminars (at least one must be departmental)

• Teaching: 2 dierent courses

• Orientation and Teaching Workshop

• Program of Studies form

• Preliminary Examination

• Proposal

• Dissertation

• Defense

I. Time Limits for Degrees

The course-type master’s program is designed to be completed in 18 months to

2 years.

A thesis master’s program should be designed so that it can be completed in

2-3 years. The University requires that master’s degree be completed within 7

years from the time the student rst registers for graduate credit.

A doctoral program should be more exible than the master’s degrees. 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

Examination.

II. Supervisory Committee

A. Committee Composition

The graduate supervisory committee is responsible for guiding the student’s re-

search program and adherence to graduate policies. At least half the committee

members must be tenured or tenure-earning Department of Biological Science

faculty who hold Graduate Faculty Status (GFS). Masters committees cannot

have more than one non-tenure track faculty member, doctoral committees can-

not have more than 2 non-tenure track faculty members.

Course-type MS – the Director of the Course-type Master’s program and the

DIS research supervisor. All committee members must have GFS or co-Doctoral

Directive Status (co-DDS) or co-Master’s Directive Status (co-MDS). If the

committee has a single major professor, this person must be a tenured or tenure-

earning member of the Department of Biological Science who holds GFS, or a

faculty member of FSU’s Coastal and Marine Laboratory who holds GFS. If

the committee has 2 co-major professors, one of them must be a tenured or

tenure-earning member of the Department of Biological Science with GFS. The

committee is established by written memo to the Graduate Oce from the

Director of the Course-type Master’s program.

Thesis MS–major professor plus 2-3 other members. All committee members

must have GFS or co-Doctoral Directive Status (co-DDS) or co -Master’s Di-

rective Status (co-MDS). MemoIf the committee has a single major professor,

this person must be a tenured or tenure-earning member of the Department of

Biological Science who holds GFS, or a faculty member of FSU’s Coastal and

Marine Laboratory who holds GFS. If the committee has 2 co-major professors,

one of them must be a tenured or tenure-earning member of the Department

of Biological Science with GFS. MemoThe committee is established by written

memo to the Graduate Oce from the major professor and initialed by each

committee member, and the committee must be approved by the Associate

Chair for Graduate Studies. (See Graduate Handbook section IX. Timetable.)

PhD– major professor plus at least 4 other members. All committee members

must have GFS or co-Doctoral Directive Status (co-DDS). MemoIf the commit-

tee has a single major professor that person must be a tenured or tenure-earning

member of the Department of Biological Science, or a member of FSU’s Coastal

and Marine Laboratory, with GFS. If the committee has 2 co-major professors

one of them must be a tenured or tenure-earning member of the Department

of Biological Science with GFS. One member of the committee, the University

Representative, must be a tenured FSU faculty member with GFS who is from a

department other than Biological Science and who does not have a courtesy fac-

ulty appointment in Biological Science.Memo The committee is established by

written memo to the Graduate Oce from the major professor and initialed by

each committee member, and the committee must be approved by the Associate

Chair for Graduate Studies. (See Graduate Handbook section

IX. Timetable.)

The Graduate Oce must be notied, immediately, of any changes in the con-

stitution of the committee (e.g., substitution of committee members or change

of major professor).

B. Co-Major Professor

Tenured or tenure-earning faculty who hold GFS in other departments at Florida

State University can serve as co-major professor with a tenured or tenure-earning

faculty member of the Department of Biological Science who holds GFS. The

remaining committee composition must be consistent with both departmental

and university standards.

C. Retired Faculty

Tenured or tenure-earning faculty with GFS who retire or leave the university

may continue to serve on committees under the following conditions (as ap-

proved by the Faculty Senate).

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

Faculty holding GFS who leave the university may continue to serve on existing

committees provided they are granted a courtesy faculty appointment in Biolog-

ical Science. If the departing faculty member is the student’s major professor

then a co-major professor must be appointed who is a tenured or tenure-earning

Biological Science faculty member with GFS.

D. Courtesy Faculty

Courtesy faculty who are not tenured or tenure-track personnel of FSU can serve

on supervisory committees with the following restrictions:

They must be members of the Department of Biological Science or have a cour-

tesy faculty appointment in Biological Science.

They must have the appropriate directive status – GFS, or co-DDS for doctoral

committees. GFS, co-DDS or co-MDS for masters committees. If they are on the

faculty at another university in the SUS, then they must hold the appropriate

directive status at their home university.

They may be co-major professor with a tenured or tenure-earning Biological

Science faculty member who holds GFS, subject to approval of Associate Chair

for Graduate Studies.

The remaining committee composition must be consistent with both departmen-

tal and university standards

Each fall students will meet with their committees to discuss their progress.

Each committee will then submit to the student and to the Graduate Oce a

statement assessing the student’s progress (see Annual Reviews).

III. Required Courses

A. Colloquium (BSC 6921)

This course is an important learning vehicle. Students should take advantage

of the breadth of new information, strategies, and research-track directions of

research presented by experts in various elds. Attendance is required for stu-

dents and encouraged for faculty and Course-type MS students. Neuroscience

students should register for the neuroscience colloquium (PSB 6920) instead of

BSC 6921.

B. Seminars

Graduate education involves learning how to present research ideas and results.

The degree seminar requirements contribute to this education.

Both the Thesis MS and PhD degree programs require the presentation of “de-

partmental 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 scientic information to an audi-

ence.The student’s Supervisory Committee will be responsible for determining

which presentations fulll this requirement by informing the Graduate Oce

of the title, date, and type of forum of the approved presentation. At the dis-

cretion 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 fulll this requirement.

Course- type MS – No departmental seminar is required.

MemoThesis MS – One departmental seminar as dened above is required. Stu-

dents also are encouraged to present their research at regional and/or national

meetings.

MemoPhD – Three presentations are required, one of which must be a depart-

mental seminar as dened above. The other 2 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 presen-

tations count only for the senior author, and only one poster presentation can

be used toward satisfying this requirement.

C. Core Courses

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

BSC 5900 (Directed Individual Study). A Course-type MS student must

and begun. A minimum of 2 semesters satisfactory DIS research is required for

the Course-type MS degree.

BSC 5971 (Thesis Research). A Thesis MS student must register for the-

sis research as soon as the research project has been selected and begun. A

minimum of 6 thesis hours is needed for graduation.

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.

Such other courses as may be specied by the supervisory committee.

D. Responsible Conduct of Research

Federal funding agencies have requirements for training on the responsible con-

duct of research for individuals supported by or participating in projects funded

by those agencies. The University Oce of Research has established policy and

procedures for ensuring compliance with these requirements. RegisterIn order

to comply with University policy, all Biology graduate students must complete

the online training course oered by CITI (Collaborative Institutional Training

Initiative) within two months of rst registering as a graduate student.

Students are also encouraged to register for the course “PSB 5077: Responsible

Conduct of Research” as an introduction to survival skills and ethics in scientic

research.

IV. Teaching Requirement

Graduate students who have not earned a minimum of 18 graduate hours should

master’s degree program or up to 5 hours total in their doctoral degree program.

A. Course-type MS – no teaching experience is required.

B. Thesis MS – Memoteaching experience in at least one course recommended

by supervisory committee and approved by the Associate Chair.

C. PhD – Memoteaching experience in at least 2 dierent courses recommended

by supervisory committee and approved by the Associate Chair.

D. BSC 1005L – may count for the teaching requirement at the discretion of

the Associate Chair.

E. Teaching Workshop – the Department oers a Teaching Workshop the

week prior to fall classes. New students are required to attend. The coordinator

of the workshop is Dr. Carolyn Schultz, (850) 644-6826.

V. Program of Studies (MS and PhD Students)

This document, developed in consultation with the supervisory committee,

should outline past and current course work and courses proposed for the

future. Form (See IX. Timetable.)

VI. Prospectus for the Thesis MS 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. MemoUpon committee approval, the prospectus is submitted to the

Graduate Oce.

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

VII. Proposal for the PhD Degree

Most of our PhD students will be involved in writing grant proposals during

their careers. The writing of a PhD 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 6 months of completing the

Preliminary Examination and no later than the tenth 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. Signicance

C. Introduction with background review

D. Proposed research and rationale

E. Facilities and equipment required

F. Budget (including indirect costs and “fringe benets”)

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. MemoUpon committee approval, the proposal is submitted

to the Graduate Oce.

VIII. Graduate Examinations

It is often dicult to arrange an exam or defense during the summer because

of the unavailability of committee members who tend to be o-campus dur-

ing 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.

Theses, written exams, and dissertations are expected to reect original work.

The review of academic integrity should be completed prior to the oral de-

fense by the major professor. Faculty may choose to use appropriate plagiarism

checkers and peer review tools (such as iThenticate) with early drafts of these

manuscripts as an instructional aid in advising students on matters relating to

plagiarism.

A. Comprehensive Written Examination for Course-type MS

Students will have to pass a written examination to be composed and adminis-

tered by the Supervisory Committee. The written examination may be tailored

to the area of study and the research area. A memo will be sent to the Graduate

Advising Oce conrming when the student has successfully passed this exam.

B. The Thesis Defense (BSC 8976)

The Thesis Defense (BSC8976) will consist of an oral defense of the completed

master’s thesis as well as a test of general knowledge. FormsThe candidate must

submit the nal copy of the thesis to the supervisory committee at least one

week before the scheduled examination.

C. The Preliminary Examination (BSC 8964) for Doctoral Students

The written portion of the Preliminary Examination should be taken no later

than the seventh 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 aord 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

MemoResults of the Preliminary Examination must be submitted to the Grad-

uate Oce 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.

Upon passing the Preliminary Examination, and if the student has met the

graded credit-hour requirement, the student may apply for a course-based Mas-

ters with the approval of the Director of the Course-type Master’s program.

Preliminary Examination Failure Policy

Approved by the GPC on 1/11/21 and Faculty Senate on 1/20/21.

If a student fails the preliminary examination before being admitted to candi-

dacy, a re-examination may be oered by the student’s supervisory committee

or other relevant decision making body within each department or unit, per that

department or unit’s doctoral student handbook. The Academic Dean’s oce

should be notied of the outcome of any preliminary exam attempt.

Students can take the preliminary examination for admission to candidacy only

two times. A second failure on the preliminary exam makes the student ineligible

to continue in the degree program. The second attempt at the preliminary exam

shall occur no sooner than six full class weeks after the results of the rst attempt

are shared with the student. For the purpose of this policy, a “full class week” is

dened as a week with ve days during which classes are held at FSU. Students

must be registered separately for their rst and second attempt, if necessary

within the same semester, and must receive either a “pass” or a “fail” grade for

each attempt.

An exception request regarding the timing of the re-examination can be submit-

ted for consideration to the Academic Dean’s Oce by either the student or the

supervisory committee. Students who allege that academic regulations and/or

procedures were improperly applied for the re-examination of their preliminary

exam may have their grievances addressed through the general academic appeals

process.

D. The Dissertation Defense (BSC 8985)

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 sub-

mitted 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).

University policy requires that all members of the supervisory committee be

present – either physically, or by a real time virtual connection – for the dis-

sertation defense. In the Department of Biological Science if one committee

member cannot be physically present for the dissertation defense then that

committee member must be present by a video conference connection. More

than one committee member may attend by a video conference connection with

the agreement of the entire supervisory committee. If the full committee cannot

be present —- either physically or by a real time virtual connection -— then

the defense must be rescheduled or new committee members appointed.

Passage of the dissertation defense will be based on a vote of the supervisory

committee. FormsThe vote is to be recorded and communicated to the Asso-

ciate Chair. The Department has a long tradition of supervisory committees

making decisions by consensus. Committees are encouraged to continue to work

for consensus as this produces the best possible dissertation and is in the best in-

terest of the student and the department. However if consensus (a unanimously

positive vote) cannot be reached, only one negative vote is permitted regardless

of committee size, and the University Representative on the committee must

vote for passage. If the University representative votes no, or if there are 2

or more negative votes by the committee, then the student has not passed the

dissertation defense.

IX. Timetable

Note: There are 3 semesters per calendar year, viz., fall, spring and summer.

Course-Type MS Timetable

Requirement Action Latest Deadlines

Committee Meet with committee;Memo to Graduate Oce 1st semester

Program of Studies Form Form submitted to Graduate Oce. 2nd semester

Directed Individual Study requirement literature- or research- based

Comprehensive Examination

Thesis MS Timetable Teaching and Seminar requirements, as well as Ro-

tations and any Courses required by Area, do not have specic deadlines, and

are not shown on the timetables below.

Requirement Action Latest Deadlines

Teaching Workshop Required for PIE

certication

1st week, or before 1st

TA assignment

Faculty

AdvisororPreliminary

Supervisory Committee

[Memo] submitted to

Graduate Oce.

1st semester in

residence

Major Professor Memo submitted to

Graduate Oce

2nd semester

Committee Meet with

committee;Memo

submitted to Graduate

Oce

2nd semester

Program of Studies

Form

Form submitted to

Graduate Oce.

2nd semester

Annual Review [Student Info update]

completed

online.[Annual Review

Form] completed by

Major Professor, and

submitted to the

committee, area

representative, student,

and Graduate Oce.

every fall semester

Requirement Action Latest Deadlines

Master’s Prospectus Approved by the

Graduate Oce.Memo

submitted to Graduate

Oce

no later than 3rd

semester

Thesis Hours (6) Register for BSC 5971

Thesis Research

All semesters after

Prospectus approved

Defense Register for BSC 8976

Thesis Submitted to Clearance

Oce. Be sure to check

with the Clearance

Advisor in 408 WES

during your drafting in

order to prevent

disasters at the last

second.Thesis MS

Defense Forms

within 60 days following

defense

PhD Timetable Teaching and Seminar requirements, as well as Rotations

and any Courses required by Area, do not have specic deadlines, and are not

shown on the timetables below.

Requirement Action Latest Deadlines

Teaching Workshop Required for PIE

certication

1st week, or before 1st

TA assignment

Faculty

AdvisororPreliminary

Supervisory Committee

[Memo] submitted to

Graduate Oce.

1st semester in

residence

Major Professor Memo submitted to

Graduate Oce

2nd semester

Committee Meet with

committee;Memo

submitted to Graduate

Oce

3rd semester

Program of Studies

Form

Form submitted to

Graduate Oce.

3rd semester

Requirement Action Latest Deadlines

Annual Review [Student Info update]

completed

online.[Annual Review

Form] completed by

Major Professor, and

submitted to the

committee, area

representative, student,

and Graduate Oce.

every fall semester

Preliminary

Examination

8964Memo submitted

to Graduate Oce

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.

Doctoral Proposal Approved by the

Graduate Oce.Memo

submitted to Graduate

Oce

Must be defended by

the 9th or 10th

semester at the latest.

Should be completed

within 6 months of the

Prelim Exam

Dissertation Hours (24) Register for BSC 6980

Dissertation Research

All semesters after

Prelim Exam passed

Defense Register for BSC 8985

Dissertation Submitted to Clearance

Oce. Be sure to check

with the Clearance

Advisor in 408 WES

during your drafting in

order to prevent

disasters at the last

second.PhD Defense

Forms

within 60 days following

defense, but no later

than 5 calendar years

from the Prelim Exam

ANNUAL REVIEWS and SCHOLARLY ENGAGEMENT

REQUIREMENT

The purpose of the Scholarly Engagement requirement is to ensure that stu-

dents are active participants in the scholarly community. To meet the Scholarly

Engagement requirement, doctoral students should interact with faculty and

peers in ways that may include enrolling in courses; attending seminars, sym-

posia, and conferences; engaging in collaborative study and research beyond the

university campus; and utilizing the library, laboratories, and other facilities

provided by the University. The goal is to prepare students to be scholars who

can independently acquire, evaluate, and extend knowledge, as well as develop

themselves as eective communicators and disseminators of knowledge.

All students will be evaluated annually. The intent of the annual review is

to assure that each student has the opportunity for scholarly engagement and

continues to make timely and satisfactory progression toward completion of the

degree program.

Course-type MS students

Graduate students will be evaluated annually by the program director.

Thesis MS and PhD students

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 stu-

dent can be aided in fullling 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 dicult 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:

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 Examination are re-

quired by the University to have an annual committee-signed statement (the

Graduate Advising Oce maintains the Annual Evaluation Forms) in their per-

manent University le. The Graduate Oce will provide this form. It is the

student’s responsibility to see that the completed form is submitted to the Grad-

uate Oce.

Each student lls out a progress report plus a 250 word abstract and submits

them to the Graduate Oce. These will be distributed to the faculty.

Each student beyond the rst year is required to present a 5-10 minute sum-

mary 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 rst-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.

Review Outcomes

Thesis MS and PhD Students receiving a satisfactory review will be guaranteed

support for the next academic year.

Any student who receives an unsatisfactory rating by the area faculty will be

on probation and must meet specic conditions to continue support. When

submitting an “unsatisfactory” rating for a student, the area faculty should

enumerate specic criteria by which the student can achieve “satisfactory” status

(e.g., get o academic probation, meet specied 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.

Each area representative will notify the Graduate Oce 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 specic

recommendations.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

Thesis MS and PhD Students Only

Teaching Assistantships

One source of nancial support for Thesis MS and PhD students is through

Graduate Teaching Assistantships. For 2015-2016 the stipend is $21,239 for

thesis master’s students and $22,143 for doctoral students. This is considered a

one-half time appointment. As a one-half time appointee, the University guide-

lines 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. No

departmental nancial support is available for students enrolled in the Course-

type MS program.

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 recom-

mendation 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.

Research Assistantships

One source of nancial support for Thesis MS and PhD students is the research

assistantship paid for by the grant funds of the major professor. These assis-

tantships are awarded at the discretion of the major professor subject only to

the University stipulation that reinstated students on academic probation are

ineligible for nancial 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.

Fellowships

Florida State University provides nancial support in the form of fellowships to

a number of graduate students. For more information on these awards, please

visit the Graduate School’s page on fellowships.

The Department of Biological Science also oers several undergraduate and

graduate scholarships. For more information on these scholarships, please visit

the Department’s scholarships page

Tuition Waiver Policies For Research-Based Programs

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 MS degree and 3 additional years for a PhD, or a combined

total of 6 years for a student who enters graduate school at FSU without a

MS degree. Students who enter our graduate program with a MS 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 MS degree’ in which case they fall under the same 6 year

standard as students entering without a MS 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. Students enrolled

in the Course-type MS program are not available to receive a tuition waiver.

A. 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 respon-

sible for activity, athletic, health fees, etc. Consult the Graduate Oce for the

necessary paperwork.

B. 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

Oce 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.

Taxes on Stipends

The Internal Revenue Service (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 IRS.

REGISTRATION

All Thesis MS and PhD students, whether funded or not, are required to register

for 12 hours each term, including summer. Students in the Course-type MS

program may be enrolled part-time with the approval of the Program Director.

Exceptions

1. Completion of Program Requirements

Students who have completed all program requirements (including research)

except for the thesis/dissertation writing and defense, and who have missed the

nal University graduation deadline at the end of the semester, must register

for 2 hours (non-US residents one 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:

A. the student will not be eligible for departmental or university support.

B. the student is not to be using University facilities (laboratory, oce 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.

C. submit to the Graduate Oce a timely, supervisory committee-signed memo

of approval for such absence (your major professor and other committee mem-

bers must be aware that your research has indeed been completed and give

approval for such absence).

Students who have not completed their degree and who leave campus to take

a position elsewhere must register for 2 hours (non-US residents one hour) of

BSC 5971 (Thesis Research) or BSC 6980 (Dissertation Research) each semester

until graduation in order to remain in the graduate program.

2. O-Campus Scholarly Endeavors

Students may request permission to participate in research or collaborative study

beyond the university campus for a maximum of one term per academic year.

The request must be approved by the student’s major professor, the Associate

Chair for Graduate Studies, and the Department Chair. The student is not

required to enroll at the University or register for university courses during this

o-campus term. The student will not be given a departmental appointment,

and the student should not utilize faculty time, laboratories, and other facilities

provided by the University during this o-campus term. There will be no change

in the total number of hours required for the degree. Students must still comply

with the Graduate School’s continuous enrollment policy (see the FSU Graduate

Bulletin, Academic Regulations and Procedures, Continuous Enrollment).

Students conducting o-campus research beyond one semester, and not using

University facilities (laboratory, oce space, library) or personnel:

A. will not be eligible for departmental or university support.

B. must submit to the Graduate Oce a timely, supervisory committee-signed

memo of approval for such absence(s).

C. must register for at least 2 hours (non-US residents one hour) of either BSC

5971 (Thesis Research) or BSC 6980 (Dissertation Research), as appropriate,

each semester thus absent. Those PhD students who have not passed their

Preliminary Examination should register for BSC 5900 (DIS) instead of BSC

6980. However, such absence(s) should not delay the Preliminary Examination.

In rare instances, students in their nal year who are o 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 nal term which will be full-time hours.

3. Leave of Absence for Medical or Family Issues

Under extraordinary circumstances, students may request permission to take

a one-term leave of absence for medical or family reasons. The request must

be approved by the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies and the Department

Chair. The student is not required to enroll at the University or register for

university courses during this o-campus term. The student will not be given a

departmental appointment, and the student should not utilize faculty time, lab-

oratories, and other facilities provided by the University during this o-campus

term. There will be no change in the total number of hours required for the

degree. Students must still comply with the Graduate School’s continuous en-

rollment policy (see the FSU Graduate Bulletin, Academic Regulations and

Procedures, Continuous Enrollment).

MISCELLANEOUS

Research Product. Graduate students are not permitted to have undergradu-

ates or graduates conduct any part of their thesis/dissertation research for them;

but DIS students can work with a graduate student on a non-thesis/dissertation

project as long as there is signicant interaction with the major professor/faculty

member.

Satisfying Requirements. Major professors and supervisory committees can

recommend by memo to the Graduate Oce that a student has satised a partic-

ular requirement (e.g., teaching), but are not authorized to determine that the

requirement has been satised or waived, or to postpone a deadline. Be aware,

however, that supervisory committees may impose additional requirements.

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. Clear-

ance guidelines can be found at the Graduate School’s website on manuscript

clearance. The Clearance Advisor is located in 408 Westcott.

Academic Probation MS Thesis and PhD Students on initial probation (rst

semester of probation) have one semester to bring their cumulative GPA up to

3.0, during which they are eligible for stipend support. Students enrolled in the

Course-type MS program are required to maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0. 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.

Departmental/University Facilities. The Department/University main-

tains 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 rst with the major professor and then with the

contact person named above concerning the use of these facilities.

Marine Lab. 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

nal 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 Domi-

cile form must be led at the courthouse prior to the rst day of classes of

the term you are rst 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 begin-

ning of their second 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

rst year. The Oce 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 na-

tional/regional meetings to present a paper or poster. The policies and proce-

dures for this support are as follows:

Policies:

Every Thesis MS and PhD student is eligible to receive funds to present his/her

work at one meeting each scal year (July-June).

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 na-

tional/regional meeting. International meetings will be handled separately.

The Department will provide a xed amount of money based on the following

mileage table. The gures 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:

At least 2 weeks prior to your departure, submit to the Biology Graduate Oce

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 ). The Congress

of Graduate Students (COGS) may also have available funds. For information

on funds from COGS, please visit the COGS website.

Upon your return you must immediately ll out a Reimbursement Voucher. Fail-

ure to do so within the rst week of your return will result in NO reimbursement.

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

modied Fall 2004

APPENDIX III: Dual Compensation

The stipend provided to graduate students is intended to facilitate study, ed-

ucational 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:

FormHalf-time (or less) graduate teaching assistants (TAs) and graduate re-

search assistants (departmental or grant RAs). Such a student nding it neces-

sary to obtain supplementary, outside employment must report their intention

to seek outside employment to his/her major professor, other supervisory com-

mittee members and the Associate Chair (see below).

FormGraduate 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 eligi-

bility for supplemental funds. Nevertheless, any fellowship recipient nding it

necessary to obtain supplementary, outside employment must report their inten-

tion to seek outside employment to his/her major professor, other supervisory

committee members and the Associate Chair (see below).

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

Chair.

Graduate studies should be engaged as a full-time endeavor. Students who are

supported on a qualifying assistantship are expected to be fully engaged with

their studies. Additional employment or activity, especially outside the Depart-

ment, is discouraged to ensure timely completion of one’s degree. Requests for

additional or outside employment or activity will be evaluated for conicts of

interest in accordance with the GAU Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

Approval of supplemental work and compensation does not excuse a student

from meeting the time lines specied in section IX. Timetable of the Graduate

Guide.

APPENDIX IV: English Competency

Certication 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

receiving departmental nancial support achieve competency in spoken English

sucient to communicate as a scientist and to participate in a quality instruc-

tional program at the undergraduate level. As the minimum, the Department

requires the following training/certication of all international students on entry

into the graduate program.

All new Thesis MS and PhD students, including international students, are re-

quired to attend one complete orientation and departmental Teaching Workshop

oered prior to the fall semester each year. It is expected that the students will

take the workshop at the start of their rst year in the program. Students who

have not completed the workshop will not be permitted to teach.

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 rst 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.

International students who have not passed the Speak test or who have not

been certied by the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies will be required to

take one credit hour of spoken English courses from C.I.E.S. every semester

until they pass or are certied. (Either EAP 4830 – “Spoken English for Inter-

national TAs”, EAP 4831- Advanced Spoken English for ITAs, or EAP 4832 –

“Pronunciation for ITAs”)

Satisfactory completion of these requirements qualies 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: Any graduate student who feels that an action or decision aecting

him/her adversely in his/her graduate program has been made in an arbitrary

and capricious manner.

A. should, within 5 calendar days of the action/decision, consult with the per-

son(s) deemed responsible for that action/decision in order to resolve the prob-

lem.

B. should then, in the absence of a satisfactory resolution (a), consult with the

Associate Chair for Graduate Studies about the matter within 5 calendar days

of that meeting, and, if the issue is still not resolved.

C. can le a dated 1-page appeal document with the Graduate Oce within the

next 5 calendar days.

The written appeal document must contain.

A. a description of the action or decision, with citation of the date(s) when made

and by whom, and

B. a statement of the resolution sought, with a justication of that remedy.

The appeal document will be duplicated and distributed to the departmental

Graduate Policy Committee (= 4 faculty representatives + one student repre-

sentative + Associate Chair), 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.

The Graduate Policy Committee will reach a decision within 5 calendar days of

the meeting, with the Associate Chair voting only to resolve a tie. No committee

member with possible conict 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.

A student who is dissatised with the decision of the Graduate Policy Committee

may appeal that decision to the departmental chairperson within 5 calendar

days of receipt of the committee decision. The Department Chair 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.

A student’s non-adherence to the time lines stated herein will lead to dismissal

of the appeal unless extenuating circumstances apply. Committee member ab-

sences might cause some time limitation(s) to be extended.

Discretion and condentiality will be exercised during the entire appeals process.

A student will not suer 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 sta, 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 eective. 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

of the Program in Instructional Excellence.

Admission, Support, and Category Changes

Only in exceptional cases is an unfunded student admitted to a Thesis MS or

PhD graduate program in the department. Most Thesis MS and PhD 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 Oce with a “timely noti-

cation 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 Chair.

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 Chair 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 Oce of the Associate Chair for Gradu-

ate Studies. New TAs are customarily assigned to BSC 1005L, BSC 2010L, or

BSC 2011L unless a particular student has the background to ll 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 Oce asks the graduate stu-

dents 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 eort is made to accommodate

all parties, but uctuations in course enrollments and course oerings do not

always provide that everyone can be accommodated. Assignments are made on

a one-semester-at-a-time basis.

Teaching Workshop

All new Thesis MS and PhD students, and all undergraduate students who are

teaching for the rst 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. Carolyn Schultz, (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 dierent levels of appointment (viz., 1/4-, 1/3-,

1/2-time, etc.,). These apply to both TAs and RAs. The standard TA assign-

ment 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 run-

ning 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 2 sections of a labo-

ratory course that meets once a week for 3 hours. However, some courses dier

in format (some lab classes meet once a week for 2 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.

Specic TA duties, both in and out of class, are dened by the faculty member in

charge of the course (course instructor), or by the sta 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 fulll

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 nd a suitable replacement. The TA must also ll

out the Attendance Policy for Teaching Assistants Form and submit it to the

Graduate Oce in advance of their trip. This requirement includes times when

2 TAs in the same course swap sections. The Department is committed to being

exible 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 nds 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 oce (850-644-3700) and inform the oce sta

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 inci-

dents 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 denes the University’s

expectations of students in terms of academic honesty and lays out the proce-

dures that are to be followed in cases of academic dishonesty. The Academic

Honor Policy is found in the FSU General Bulletin, this policy was substantially

revised eective 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 with-

out proper citation), cheating on exams or quizzes, unauthorized group work,

fabrication or falsication of data, multiple submission of papers or reports,

damaging or stealing academic materials, and complicity in academic dishon-

esty (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 rst 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 nd 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 denes sexual ha-

rassment 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 the Oce of Human Resources

website ). 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 Oce 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 depart-

ments, 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 PhD in Neuroscience rather than

the PhD in Biological Science. This program has additional requirements, oers

opportunities for specialized training and a degree reecting the specialization.

Biological Science based Neuroscience PhD students remain graduate students

in the Department of Biological Science and must meet all departmental require-

ments. In return, they remain eligible for all departmental benets including

TA appointments and travel funds. Courses required for all Neuroscience PhD

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 3 members of the graduate faculty who have doctoral directive sta-

tus, 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 PhD

degree track directly. Because there is no MS in Neuroscience, students wishing

to achieve a Thesis MS degree before proceeding to the PhD may be admitted as

a regular Biological Science student but are recognized within the Neuroscience

Program and the Department as Neuroscience students.

A description of the Program in Neuroscience is found at the http://www.neur

o.fsu.edu. The Program maintains several general-use facilities with associated

professional sta in the department, including: BRF Computer Facility (Jason

Orman); Photo lab (Charles Badland); Histology facility (XiXi Jia).

DETAILED TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PREFACE

PHILOSOPHY

ADMISSION POLICIES

Admissions Criteria

Admission into the PhD and MS Thesis Programs

Continuation for the PhD Degree after completing the M.S Thesis.

Neuroscience Doctoral Program

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE

Summary

A. Course-type Master’s Requirements

B. Master’s Requirements

C. Doctoral Requirements

I. Time Limits for Degrees

II. Supervisory Committee

A. Committee Composition

B. Co-Major Professor

C. Retired Faculty

D. Courtesy Faculty

III. Required Courses

A. Colloquium (BSC 6921)

B. Seminars

C. Core Courses

D. Responsible Conduct of Research

IV. Teaching Requirement

A. Course-type MS

B. Thesis MS

C. PhD

D. BSC 1005L

E. Teaching Workshop

V. Program of Studies (MS and PhD Students)

VI. Prospectus for the Thesis MS Degree

VII. Proposal for the PhD Degree

VIII. Graduate Examinations

A. Comprehensive Written Examination for Course-type MS

B. The Thesis Defense (BSC 8976)

C. The Preliminary Examination (BSC 8964) for Doctoral Students

D. The Dissertation Defense (BSC 8985) for doctoral students

IX. Timetable

Course-type MS Timetable

Thesis MS Timetable

Phd Timetable

ANNUAL REVIEWS and SCHOLARLY ENGAGEMENT

Course-type MS students

Thesis MS and PhD students

Review Outcomes

FINANCIAL SUPPORT (Thesis MS and PhD Students Only)

Teaching Assistantships

Research Assistantships

Fellowships

Tuition Waiver Policies For Research-Based Programs

A. Matriculation Waivers

B. Out-of-State Tuition Waivers

Taxes on Stipends

REGISTRATION

Exceptions

Completion of Requirements

O-Campus Research

Medical/Family Leave

MISCELLANEOUS

Research Product

Satisfying Requirements

Thesis/Dissertation Format

Academic Probation

Departmental/University Facilities

Marine Lab

APPENDIX I: Residency

APPENDIX II: Funding for Student Travel

Policies

Procedures

APPENDIX III: Dual Compensation

APPENDIX IV: English Competency

APPENDIX V: Graduate Appeals Policy

APPENDIX VI: Teaching Assistants (TA) Manual

Admission, Support, and Category Changes

Selection of Graduate Assistants

TA Course Assignment(s)

Teaching Workshop

Duties and Responsibilities

Attendance Policy for Teaching Assistants Form:

Emergency Situations

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

Departmental Policies on Interpersonal Relationships between TAs and Stu-

dents and the University Policy on Sexual Harassment

APPENDIX VII: Neuroscience Doctoral Program