Selection
of a Major Advisor is one of the most important choices to be made during
the duration of the program. Major Advisors should be chosen with the
intent of not only matching students’ research interests but also
with an eye toward finding an individual to whom students feel comfortable
entrusting their educational future. As students also depend on the Major
Advisor for financial support of Thesis/Dissertation research and, in
many cases, financial support of Assistantships, students should clarify
this situation with the prospective Major Advisor. It is strongly encouraged
that students take advantage of the system of program rotations offered
by the Department to determine compatibility prior to making a firm commitment
to a Major Advisor. Once the Major Advisor is selected, the Selection
of Major Advisor Form should be completed and taken to Forbes 319
for submission to the GPOC for approval. Changing Major Advisors after
this point is certainly possible, and sometimes advisable, but usually
slows down a student's completion of degree requirements. Therefore, students
should approach this decision carefully. Major Advisors must be a tenure
or continuing-track member of the Department of Plant Sciences. A non-tenure
or non-continuing track member may serve as a member of an Advisory Committee
or as a co-advisor with approval of the Graduate College. This requires
the Special
Member Graduate Committee Request to Approve form.
With the advice of the Major Advisor, the next step is to select the members
of the Advisory Committee. The appropriate form (Selection
of Dissertation Committee Form or Selection
of Thesis Committee Form) for selection of Advisory Committee Members
should be completed. This form is also submitted to Forbes 319 for approval
by the GPOC. (If a Committee member leaves the University and an alternate
member replaces that Committee Member, the student should file the Change
of Advisor/Committee Member Form). It is recommended that Ph.D. students
meet with their Advisory Committee early in the second year; M.S. students
should meet early in the second semester of their first year. A Ph.D.
committee is composed of five members, three from the major and two from
the minor. A MS committee has at least three members. In the first meeting,
students should discuss course work and brief the Committee on their research
interests and plans. Obtaining Committee consent is essential toward ensuring
future success. An important outcome of these meetings is to evaluate
the student’s research and classroom performance since the last
committee meeting, as well as to discuss plans for the next year. Unsatisfactory
progress may affect funding decisions and other aspects of a graduate
student's status in the Department. All graduate students must meet with
their Advisory Committee frequently; Ph.D. candidates at least once per
year, MS candidates once per semester. Regular meetings will ensure progress
in accordance with Committee expectations.
There are several types of fees that must be paid each semester. Tuition
is defined as an out-of-state fee that is required of nonresident students.
Tuition is waived for all students with a Research Assistant (RA) or Teaching
Assistant (TA) appointment regardless of the source of funding. Insurance
fees are similarly covered for all students that have a RA or TA appointment
also regardless of the funding source. The Department pays the registration
fees for all students (RA or TA) who are receiving Departmental support.
Students supported by their Major Advisor or by other funding sources
are responsible for Registration fees and should consult their Major Advisor
or other funding sources regarding payment of these fees. International
students are responsible for paying a one time International Student Orientation
Fee ($50) when they arrive on campus. All students must pay a $1 KAMP
Radio fee, a $1 ASUA fee, a $25 Recreation Center fee, and a $5 AFTA fee.
The Graduate College offers each department a limited number of Graduate
Tuition Scholarships which waive out of state tuition, and Graduate Fee
Scholarships which waive the registration fee. These scholarships are
awarded based on academic performance and minimum criteria established
by the Graduate College. Recipients are nominated by the GPOC and approved
by the Graduate College. Additionally, students are encouraged to apply
for outside support from such agencies as the National Science Foundation
and Howard Hughes Institute within the first year of their studies. These
can provide higher levels of support than available through the Department,
more independence for the student in pursuing their studies, and are an
important addition to future resumes of graduates, as they are usually
quite competitive. Students are advised to consult with their Major Advisor
or the Graduate Program Coordinator prior to beginning the application
process.
Graduate students supported by assistantships, scholarships, fellowships,
traineeships, or by part time employment are expected to meet all requirements
as defined by the Graduate College and Department. To maintain funded
status, all students on Departmental funds are expected to maintain a
GPA of 3.2 or higher, to participate regularly in Departmental functions,
and to show evidence of continuing progress in their graduate education.
Students will be reviewed after each fall semester by the GPOC based on
their Annual Progress Reports; the GPOC will then make recommendations
as to continuation of financial support. Additional information on financial
support can be obtained from the Office of Student Financial Aid: https://financialaid.arizona.edu.
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