Graduate Forms and Procedures

The forms listed below are required for graduate students in the Department of Biological Sciences; they are organized by degree program. All graduate students are responsible for ensuring that completed forms are submitted on schedule to the Graduate Program Manager. These documents will be placed on record in the student's file. Click on the name of a form below to download it.

First Year Only:
Acceptance into Research Laboratory: Due January 15 of student’s first year in program.
Course Certification Form: This form is filled out during the student's first annual Research Advisory Meeting (RAC) meeting. It certifies the student's list of courses. The RAC is responsible for working with the student toward designing his/her course of study.

Each and Every Academic Year:
Annual Progress Report: This form is filled out during the student's annual RAC meeting; students are required to have an RAC meeting at least once each academic year to discuss student progress and career objectives.
Graduate Student Annual Report: Students are required to complete this form and send it to RAC members prior to each annual RAC meeting. The Report will be discussed with the student at the meeting. RAC members are responsible for signing this form, attesting to having read and discussed the document with the student.

Candidacy Examination:
Written Exam Results: This form documents the outcome of the written portion of the candidacy (qualifying) exam. The student must receive a pass on this portion of the exam before the end of their second calendar year in the graduate program.
Oral Exam Results: This form documents the outcome of the oral portion of the candidacy (qualifying) exam. The oral exam must be taken within three (3) months of passing the written portion of the candidacy exam.
Application for Admission to Candidacy: This form is completed and submitted to Graduate Program Manager upon passing the oral exam.

First Year Only:
Acceptance into Research Laboratory: Due by January 15 of student’s first year in program.
Course Certification Form: This form certifies the student's list of courses, and is filled out during the student's Research Advisory Meeting (RAC) meeting. The RAC is responsible for working with the student to design his/her course of study.

Each and Every Academic Year:
Annual Progress Report: This form is filled out during the student's annual RAC meeting; students are required to have an RAC meeting at least once each academic year to discuss student progress.
Graduate Student Annual Report: Students are required to complete this form and send it to RAC members prior to each annual RAC meeting. The Report will be discussed with the student at the meeting. RAC members are responsible for signing this form, attesting to having read and discussed the document with the student.

Advisory Committee (AC) Composition: This form must be filled out and submitted to the Graduate Program Manager before the end of the first semester in the program.
Annual Progress Report: This form is filled out during the student's annual AC meeting. Each student is required to have such a meeting at least once each academic year she/he is in the program.