The policies outlined in this document are intended to align with those of the Utah State University School of Graduate Studies as published in official catalogs, bulletins, and codes. However, as noted on the School of Graduate Studies Admissions Requirements web page, Department policies may set minimum requirements that exceed those of the School of Graduate Studies.
The Department of Biology offers two advanced degrees, the Master of Science (MS) Plan A and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). The Department of Biology does not award degrees under the non-thesis programs – Plans B and C.
2.1.1 - The Co-Directors of Graduate Programs are tenured faculty members of the Department of Biology appointed by and responsible to the Department Head. The term is indefinite. Responsibilities of the Co-Directors of Graduate Programs include, but are not limited to:
2.1.2 - Students with questions on graduate policies should consult the Biology Graduate Program Handbook & Policy (or Graduate Program Coordinator) the School of Graduate Studies website, the USU General Catalog or their Major Professors or Committees for guidance. Failing that, or in the case of conflicts, serious disagreements, or confusing circumstances, or the College of Science Associate Dean for Graduate Studies.
2.2.1 - The Graduate Programs Committee (GP Committee) consists of the Co-Directors of Graduate Programs, Faculty Members. Faculty Members of the GP Committee and the Graduate Student Representative are appointed to the committee by the Department Head. The Graduate student representative is elected by the Biology Graduate Student Association. The GP Committee has the following responsibilities:
2.3.1 - The GP Committee are assisted by a Staff Assistant (GP Coordinator) who is an administrative staff member of the Department of Biology. In addition to other departmental responsibilities, the GP Coordinator’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Students are admitted to the Department of Biology after the approval by the Graduate Programs Committee and with agreement of a Biology Faculty and with agreement by the Department Head.
3.1.1 - Application
3.1.2 - Matriculated Status
3.1.3 - Provisional Status
The Department does not admit students on provisional status.
3.1.4 - Non-matriculated Status
The Department does not admit students on non-matriculated status.
3.2.1 - Non-matriculated Status
All applicants will be notified of the acceptance decision by an email from both the Department of Biology and School of Graduate Studies.
3.2.2 - An offer of admission into the Department is valid for one year from the date of issuance if a faculty member maintains interest in serving as the student’s advisor. A student deferring admission must submit a written request to the School of Graduate Studies.
3.2.3 - An offer of financial support must be accepted within the time indicated in the letter of offer or it becomes invalid. After accepting the offer, the student must report in person to the Department at the date and time indicated, or the offer is void.
3.2.4 - All applicants for teaching assistantships or other Department-sponsored funds should have completed their application by 30 November.
3.2.5 - The initial disposition of all financial assistance applications, including notification of applicants, is usually completed by 15 April.
3.2.6 - Students with assistantships are required to sign an Annual Departmental Agreement.
A graduate student must meet the following requirements to maintain matriculated status in the Department.
A graduate student must meet the following requirements to maintain matriculated status in the Department.
4.1.1 - Registration Requirements
4.1.2 - Scholarship Requirements
4.1.3 - Progress towards the Degree
4.1.4 - Continuous Registration and Leave of Absence.
Students will be placed on probationary status by the School of Graduate Studies when their grade point average (GPA) is below 3.0 and SGS will consult the Department regarding possible dismissal.
Students will be placed on probationary status by the School of Graduate Studies when their grade point average (GPA) is below 3.0 and SGS will consult the Department regarding possible dismissal.
4.2.1 - A remedial study program, as outlined by the Supervisory Committee. The student is given specific requirements and deadlines. If these are not met, the student is recommended for dismissal.
4.2.2 - In the case of dismissal, reapplication is required to regain matriculation.
Students will be placed on probationary status by the Department when they fail to meet the deadlines of their program requirements. The student will be placed on probationary status for the period of one semester. If the student fails to meet the requirement at the end of that period, he/she will be recommended for dismissal.
Students may also be placed on probationary status by the Department, when their Major Professor recommends such action based on inadequate progress towards their degree. The Major Professor must petition the Graduate Programs Committee in writing. The Graduate Programs Committee will consider the request and make a recommendation to the Department Head. A student placed on probationary status for inadequate progress towards their degree will be given specific requirements and deadlines to meet, as specified by the Supervisory Committee. If they fail to meet these requirements and deadlines, they will be recommended for dismissal.
Students accepted into the MS program may petition the Department to transfer to the PhD program. The student and their Major Professor should consider the guidelines below and consult the GP Coordinator. Request Form to transfer is available on ServiceNow. This request will be approved by the GP Coordinator, Department Head, and Vice Provost of Graduate Studies.
4.3.1 - All students admitted into the PhD program in the Department must have a significant broadening experience in biology, or a closely related field, at some point in their college career. This broadening experience must consist of significant exposure to scientific perspectives, research or mentoring approaches, and academic systems other than that in the Department of Biology at Utah State University. This requirement can be satisfied by completion of an undergraduate or graduate degree in Biology or a related field, in a department other than the Department of Biology at Utah State University, or some other academic experience of equivalent extent and rigor.
4.3.2 - Students are strongly discouraged from getting all of their academic degrees from any one department. The Department will make exceptions to this policy only under unusual circumstances. A student with a BS degree from the Biology Department who wishes to obtain a PhD from the same Department without obtaining a MS degree elsewhere must first be admitted into a MS degree program in the Department. After being enrolled in this program for at least one year and having made substantial progress, the student may petition the Graduate Programs Committee for admittance to a PhD program. The petition must consist of:
5.1.1 - Every student must have a Major Professor; new students are assigned a Major Professor based on the student’s interests and faculty availability upon mutual agreement between student and faculty.
5.1.2 - Although the Department expects most student / Major Professor relationships to last for the entire degree program, either the student or the Major Professor may terminate the arrangement at any time.
5.1.3 - A student may change their Major Professor if the change is agreed upon by all parties and is approved by the Graduate Programs Committee. Request Form available through ServiceNow (SCAF Revision).
5.1.4 - Changes in the student / Major Professor association that are not agreed upon by all parties should be mediated by the Departmental Co-Directors of Graduate Programs.
5.1.5 - If a Major Professor is not found within three months, the student will be dismissed from the program.
5.2.1 - The Supervisory Committee superintends the entire graduate program of the matriculated student. Prospective members are chosen by the Major Professor and graduate student for their potential contribution to the student’s academic and research program. Supervisory Committee membership is approved by the Graduate Programs Committee, the Biology Department Head, and the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies (SGS). The SGS maintains a list of faculty approved to serve on Supervisory Committees.
5.2.2 - Master of Science Degree Supervisory Committees shall consist of not fewer than three (3)voting members.
5.2.3 - Doctor of Philosophy Degree Supervisory Committees shall consist of not fewer than five (5) voting members.
5.2.4 - Changes in the Supervisory Committee
5.3.1 - Graduate Credit Requirements
5.3.2 - Graduate Credit Restrictions
5.3.3 - Graduate Credit Grading
5.4.1 - The Department of Biology has no foreign language requirement; however, individual Supervisory Committees may require expertise in a language based on the research or personal objectives of the student.
5.5.1 - First Supervisory Committee Meeting: After the appointment of the Supervisory Committee, a meeting should be held to establish the required course work and consider the student’s research program.
5.5.2 - Comprehensive Examination—MS
5.5.3 - The MS ThesisThe following procedures are required by both the School of Graduate Studies and the Department of Biology:
5.5.4 -Oral Thesis Defense—MS
The oral defense of the thesis will usually concern thesis-centered topics. At the examination, the student answers questions about the area of specialization. Advanced notice must be given if topics outside the thesis are to be included. The results of the defense and any additional requirements are recorded on the Record of Examination form, which is submitted to the GP Coordinator for submission to the School of Graduate Studies.
5.6.1 -First Supervisory Committee Meeting
After the appointment of the Supervisory Committee, a meeting should be held to establish the required course work and consider the student’s research program.
5.6.2 - Comprehensive Examination—PhD
5.6.3 - The PhD dissertation
The following procedures are required by School of Graduate Studies and the Department of Biology:
5.6.4 - Oral Dissertation Defense—PhD
The oral defense of the dissertation will usually concern dissertation-centered topics. At the examination, the student answers questions about the area of specialization. Advanced notice must be given if topics outside the dissertation are to be included.
5.7.1 - Teaching is considered to be an important part of the education of a graduate student. For this reason, each candidate in the Department of Biology is advised to gain some teaching experience.
5.8.1 - The Annual Professional Development Plan (APDP) documents a review of the student’s progress, identifies strengths and weaknesses, and sets goals for the coming year. This review must be completed yearly by the end of Spring Semester. The APDP form accompanies the Annual Professional Development Meeting (APDM). Students who are in their first year and have not yet formed a committee will complete the form with their major advisor only.
To complete the process:
5.8.2 - Why We Have Committees. Your committee is there to provide support for your dissertation (feedback, brainstorming, and guidance) and your future career goals (perspectives, guidance, and letters of recommendation). Although your committee will evaluate your work to help guide progress to your larger career goals, they are ultimately just a group of people that have experience in your current field and want to help you succeed. It is a rare opportunity in the professional world to have a full team of people established in your field and invested in your early success. It can be an incredibly empowering resource.
Committees are as useful as the relationships you form with your committee members. Putting more time into those relationships will build a more useful committee. All students must form a committee, have yearly committee meetings, set up and pass a qualifying exam that is administered by their committee, and present their dissertation to their committee for approval. But beyond these necessary committee interactions, the degree to which you will interact with and rely on your committee is up to you. There is no “right” amount of interaction and you get to decide when and how to build those relationships over time.
5.8.3 - How to Run an Effective Committee Meeting
Created: 15 April 2024
By: Biology Graduate Programs Committee
Updated: 15 April 2024
5.9.1 - Graduate study must be completed in a reasonable time. Students may use this section to guide their progress in the Department of Biology.
5.9.2 - The results must be verified in writing to the Graduate Dean, the Department Head and the Co-Directors of Graduate Programs by the student's Major Professor or other person(s) responsible for the testing. Work experience cannot be substituted for out-ofdate coursework or used for revalidation.
Students accepted into the Biology graduate program and who remain in good standing will be guaranteed stipend support up to 6 years for PhD students and 3 years for MS students.
Support may take the form of Fellowships, Scholarships, Teaching Assistantships (TA), or Research Assistantships (RA). All award and employment procedures will conform to affirmative action policies. Additional support may take the form of non-resident Tuition Waivers and/or in-state Tuition Awards for both MS and PhD Students.
6.1.1 - All applications to the graduate program in the Department of Biology are considered for financial awards (fellowships and assistantships). For priority consideration for financial support and an invitation to the Graduate Student Recruitment Weekend (typically held in mid to late February), applications should be submitted by 30 November, however, applications will be considered year-round when funds are available (e.g., research grant funding for assistantships).
6.1.2 - Only matriculated students may be employed as full-time or part-time TAs or receive fellowships. Teaching Assistantships are assigned to students according to the needs of the Department. Research Assistantships may be available from individual faculty members. A full-time assistantship implies 20 hours per week of assigned duties, but on occasion may require more or fewer hours per week.
6.1.3 - International students whose native language is not English may not be awarded a TA unless they have been in residence at USU for at least one year and/or have demonstrated acceptable English skills.
6.1.4 - Students employed as TAs and RAs are governed by regulations in the University Code of Policies and Procedures.
6.1.1 - Graduate students on a fellowship or employed as a TA or RA must be registered as fulltime matriculated graduate students.
6.2.1 - TA positions are limited in number and are awarded competitively. All students admitted under matriculated status will be considered for a TA.
6.2.2 - See Section VII regarding selection and assignments of TAs.
6.3.1 - The Department does not award RAs directly. Students who request an RA will normally already be in contact with a faculty member. Conditions of employment of an RA will be negotiated with the faculty member within the limits established by University Policy.
6.4.1 - All applications to the graduate program in the Department of Biology are considered for a fellowship. Application to the program should be complete by 30 November for consideration; however, applications will be considered year-round when fellowships are available.
6.4.2 - The Graduate Programs Committee meets to recommend awards and forward recommendations to the Department Head. Criteria for selection and authority for decisions vary by award.
Students accepted into the Biology graduate program and who remain in good standing will be guaranteed to have their out-of-state tuition waived for the first academic year either by the Department, their Major Professor or their Research Advisor. To qualify for a non-resident tuition waiver, the student must:
6.5.1 - Be a full-time matriculated MS or PhD student in good standing
6.5.2 - Receive a 0.5 FTE graduate assistantship or fellowship from the University
6.5.3 - Have an approved Program of Study on file by the end of the second semester
6.5.4 - Be registered for the approved number of credits and courses each semester. Students must register and pay fees and tuition prior to the deadline or the waiver may be canceled.
Funds for tuition awards are limited. Tuition awards beyond 30 credits (MS/PhD-M) or 60 credits (PhD-B) are subject to available funds; therefore, students should choose courses wisely. To qualify for the in-state tuition award, the student must:
6.6.1 - Be a full-time matriculated student in good standing
6.6.2 - Receive a 0.5 FTE graduate assistantship or fellowship from the University
6.6.3 - Have an approved Program of Study on file by the end of the second semester
6.6.4 - Have submitted the APDP form by the end of each spring semester
6.6.5 - Be registered for the approved number of credits and courses each semester. Students must register and pay fees and tuition prior to the deadline or the award maybe canceled.
Grant proposals that allow tuition costs must include requests for those costs; if tuition costs are not allowed, GRA stipend rates should be increased to enable students to pay tuition from the extra salary. Faculty are encouraged to use grant funds to cover tuition costs beyond the normal credit limits. Faculty who have existing resources to cover tuition costs are strongly encouraged to do so, as this releases Department funds to assist other students in need.
Teaching Assistantships (TAs) are limited and are awarded competitively
7.1.1 - All Biology Graduate Programs applicants will be considered for a TA, if needed. Biology graduate students already matriculated at USU will also be considered and must be making satisfactory progress toward their degree.
7.1.2 - TA award recommendations are made by the Co-Directors of Graduate Programs. Recommendations will represent the Graduate Programs Committee’s view of the best balance of teaching needs, student quality, and fair distribution of Departmentsupported students among the faculty. Final appointment is made by the Department Head.
7.1.3 - TA agreements are applicable for one year only and require reappointment each year. Students who are making satisfactory progress towards their degree will be guaranteed support for up to 3 years for a MS and up to 6 years for a PhD student.
7.1.4 - TAs will be required to sign and return an agreement upon acceptance of the position.
7.1.5 - TA agreements are normally for fall and/or spring semester. Students are expected to commit to the entire semester(s) of the appointment.
7.1.6 - A limited number of summer term TA positions may be available. Students should contact the Co-Directors of Graduate Programs if they are interested in a summer TA.
7.1.7 - Graduate Students are required to complete a one-time SGS TA Workshop- USU7920 (there is no credit or cost, but the workshop is recorded on the student's transcript). International students are also required to complete IELI 7920. Students who do not successfully complete the workshop will not be allowed to serve as raduate Teaching Assistants.
7.2.1 - The Co-Directors of Graduate Programs will make course assignments according to the needs of the Department and with approval from the Department Head.
7.2.2 - The primary function of TAs is to provide instructional support in laboratory and large lecture courses in the Department of Biology.
7.2.3 - When accepting a teaching appointment, it is understood that the student is making a commitment to teach the assigned course for the semester(s). Other obligations should be scheduled outside of class time. Individual course instructors may impose their own restrictions on absences, but in general, no more than two planned absences per semester are allowed. It is the TA's responsibility to make accommodations to cover absences, such as make arrangements with the course instructor or another TA to cover their lab as needed.
7.2.4 - A Qualtrics survey will be sent to students to communicate their interests and preferences regarding the teaching assignment. Assignments will be made to accommodate both the student’s interest and the needs of the Department when possible.
7.2.5 - Students who are supported by an RA or fellowship, and who are nterested in teaching experience, may submit a request to the Co-Directors of Graduate Programs. The student should submit a request indicating course preferences at least one semester prior to the beginning of the semester they wish to teach.
TA performance will be monitored by the supervising professor/instructor and evaluated through IDEA results. This will help assess total teaching experience as well as provide the opportunity to make positive adjustments as needed. TAs are also encouraged to evaluate courses and give input for improvement.
In the event that evaluations or information from the instructor during the course indicate a problem, the Co-Directors of Graduate Programs will discuss the situation with the TA. A plan to correct the situation will be coordinated with the TA, instructor, and the Co-Directors of Graduate Programs.
Graduate students who are not completing their program requirements in a timely manner or without the research and scholarship standards required, will be recommended for dismissal. The student has the right of appeal as described in Section IX and expanded here. The following procedures will be adhered to.
8.1.1 - The student’s Major Professor or Supervisory Committee may initiate dismissal by presenting specific reasons, in writing, to the Graduate Programs Committee with a copy to the student. The Graduate Programs Committee may also initiate dismissal. Dismissal may be recommended for any of the following reasons:
8.1.2 - The Graduate Programs Committee will examine the documents and reasons for the proposed dismissal and will recommend action to the Department Head.
8.2.1 - The Department Head makes a decision based on the Graduate Programs Committee’s recommendation, and a letter is sent to the graduate student, the Major Professor, and the School of Graduate Studies. The letter will include the following:
8.2.1 - Appeal to the proposed dismissal must be initiated within the time specified in the letter to the student.
8.2.1 - The appeals procedure in the Department should follow the guidelines in Section IX.
8.2.1 - If the appeal fails or if no appeal is made, the Department Head will submit a letter to the School of Graduate Studies recommending dismissal. Copies of all correspondences to the student must be attached.
8.2.1 - If the Vice Provost of the School of Graduate Studies concurs, the student will receive a letter of termination with information of a further appeals process.
9.1.1 - Graduate students or faculty with a grievance relating to an academic matter may appeal to the Co-Directors of Graduate Programs, Graduate Programs Committee, Department Head, and ultimately to the Vice Provost of the School of Graduate Studies by the appeals procedures described here.