IMPORTANT NOTE: If you need an accessible version of any of the documents or forms below, please contact the Biology Graduate Academic Support Coordinator (biograd@syr.edu, 114 Life Sciences Complex).
All graduate students enrolled in the Ph.D. and M.S. programs in the Department of Biology should familiarize themselves with the documents and forms below.
If you have specific questions relating to graduate program requirements, or the completion of any the forms below, please contact the Biology Graduate Academic Support Coordinator (biograd@syr.edu, 114 Life Sciences Complex).
Documents:
Biology Graduate Program Handbook ("Blue Book")
The handbook explains all Biology Department procedures and requirements for Ph.D. and M.S. students.
Program Requirements Summary (Ph.D. and M.S. students)
Conference Room Scheduling Process
TA Office Hour and Grad Student/Postdoc Office Room Scheduling Process
Forms:
Form #1: First Research Committee Meeting: Preliminary Program Outline
Form #2: Research Committee Meeting: Advisor Version
This form is to be completed by the student's Advisor after each Committee Meeting. A student is required to meet with their Research Committee at least once a year.
Form #3: Research Committee Meeting: Committee Members Version
This form is to be completed by the members of a student's Research Committee (other than the student's Research Advisor) after each Committee Meeting. A student is required to meet with their Research Committee at least once a year.
Form #4: Certification of Candidacy for the PhD Degree in Biology
This form is to be completed after the Qualifying Exam by the student and by the Chairperson of the Examining Committee.
Form #5: Annual Progress Report
This form is to be completed annually (near the end of the Spring semester) by the student, and then reviewed and signed by the student's Advisor. The due date for completion of this form is April 15th.
Form #6: Biology Graduate Student Advising Summary
This form is to be completed near the end of the Fall and Spring semesters for 1st-year and 2nd-year graduate students, and near the end of the Spring semester only for graduate students who are in their 3rd year or above. The completed form is reviewed and signed by the student's Advisor. The due dates for completion of this form are November 15th (Fall semester) and April 15th (Spring semester).
Graduate Program Plan Transfer Form
This form (also referred to as an "internal transfer form") is completed whenever a student switches between the Biology Ph.D. and M.S. programs. It may also be used when switching into the Biology graduate program from a graduate program in another academic department at Syracuse University, or when switching out of the Biology graduate program into a graduate program in another academic department at Syracuse University. After obtaining the required signatures (from both the old and new departments, if changing departments), the completed form is submitted to the Registrar's Office (106 Steele Hall).
Graduate Enrollment Internal Admission Application
This form (also referred to as an "internal admit form") is completed whenever a student: 1) is currently pursuing one graduate degree program and wishes to pursue another graduate degree program (or a certificate program) at the same time (i.e., a "CONCURRENT" program); -or- 2) is about to complete one graduate degree program (or has completed a graduate degree program in the last 12 months) and wishes to subsequently begin pursuing another graduate degree program (i.e., a "CONSECUTIVE" program). After obtaining the required signatures (from both the current and the new departments, if concurrent; or from just the new department, if consecutive), the completed form is mailed to the Graduate Admissions Enrollment Management Processing Center (716 East Washington Street, Suite 200, Syracuse NY 13210).
Certification of Full-Time Status for Matriculated Graduate Students
This form is used by a student who is not a Teaching Assistant, Research Assistant, or Fellow, for each semester during which the student is registered for 0 or more credits, but fewer than 9 credits, and is actively working on a thesis or dissertation (referred to as "all but dissertation" or "ABD" status). The form is completed electronically, and then submitted to the Registrar's Office in 106 Steele Hall (and also to the Slutzker Center for International Services for international students) after obtaining the signature of the Biology Department Chair or Graduate Program Director. PLEASE NOTE: The deadline for this form is the same as the "Financial Drop Deadline" for the semester in which full-time status is being certified.
Petition to Faculty
This form is used whenever a student is requesting approval for something outside the normal program or course requirements. The form is completed electronically, and then submitted to the Graduate Academic Support Coordinator (biograd@syr.edu, 114 Life Sciences Complex) after obtaining the required signatures (student, advisor, and course instructor, if applicable). Completed petitions are reviewed by the Biology Graduate Education Committee, who will make a decision whether or not to approve the petition.
Proposal for Independent Study Course
This form is used by new Biology graduate students who are doing lab rotations to register for BIO 610 (Graduate Research Laboratory). The form is also used when registering for BIO 688 (Biological Literature) and BIO 690 (Independent Study). The form is completed electronically, and then printed and signed by the student's Research Advisor and/or Faculty Sponsor for the course. After obtaining the required signatures, please see the Biology Department Undergraduate Academic Support Coordinator, Billie Trapani (LSC 114, 315.443.9139, batrapan@syr.edu), who will assign a student-specific permission number which will enable you to complete the course registration in MySlice.
Audit Request Form
This form is used to request permission to audit a course, instead of receiving a letter grade. The form is completed electronically, and then submitted to the Graduate Academic Support Coordinator (biograd@syr.edu, 114 Life Sciences Complex) after obtaining the course instructor's signature. This form must be submitted prior to the "Grading option deadline to elect or rescind audit" deadline for the semester in which the course is being audited.
Class Withdrawal Petition
This form is used to request permission to withdraw from a course after the Academic/Financial deadline to drop class has passed, but prior to the Withdrawal deadline. The form is completed electronically, and then submitted to the Graduate Academic Support Coordinator (biograd@syr.edu, 114 Life Sciences Complex) after obtaining the course instructor's signature. A class from which a student withdraws will remain on the student's transcript with the grading symbol WD, however, the WD does not calculate toward the student's grade point average (GPA).
Internship Proposal/Agreement Form
This form is used to request permission to earn credit for an internship. If approved, the student will register for BIO 670 (Experience Credit). The form is completed electronically, and then submitted to the Graduate Academic Support Coordinator (biograd@syr.edu, 114 Life Sciences Complex) after obtaining the faculty sponsor's signature. This form must be submitted prior to the internship start date.
Interdisciplinary Graduate Neuroscience Concentration (I-GNC) Student Membership Form
This form is completed by Biology Ph.D. students (or Ph.D. students in other affiliated academic units) who wish to sign up for this option, which leads to a Ph.D. in Biology with a "concentration in Neuroscience" listed as an area of specialization on your degree. For more information about this option, visit the Graduate Neuroscience webpage. The completed form should be submitted to the program director, Dr. Sandra Hewett.
Inter-Institutional Graduate Course Registration Form
This form is used by Biology graduate students who wish to register for courses at SUNY Upstate Medical University. For assistance in completing this form, please see the Graduate Academic Support Coordinator (biograd@syr.edu, 114 Life Sciences Complex). After obtaining the required signatures from the Biology department and the Syracuse University Registrar's Office (106 Steele Hall), the completed form is taken to the SUNY Upstate Medical University College of Graduate Studies office (766 Irving Avenue, Weiskotten Hall, Room 3122).
Graduate Student Travel Award Request Form
This form is used to request travel funds from the Robert and Susan Hallenbeck Graduate Student Travel Award. This allows for partial support to cover travel expenses directly related to presenting your work as a first author at a professional meeting or conference. A maximum of ONE award up to $350 may be made per student per fiscal year (i.e., July 1st through June 30th). Please review the instructions carefully before completing the form. Once completed, the form and other materials can be returned to the Graduate Academic Support Coordinator (biograd@syr.edu, 114 Life Sciences Complex).