POLICIES SET BY THE GRADUATE COLLEGE

AND THE UNIVERSITY

Geology Dept. Policies and Degree Requirments | Faculty | Courses | Dept. Home

• Introduction (Relevant Graduate College and UIUC Documents)
• Handbook for Students and Advisors
• Deviations From Policies; Petitions
• What happens when policy changes?
• Academic misconduct

Introduction

Academic policies for the Graduate program in the Department of Geology are defined partially by this departmental handbook but are largely set by the Graduate College and the University. The three guides that set out most of the basic policies and procedures are (click to see electronic versions):

• A Handbook for Graduate Students and Advisors
• Code of Policies and Regulations Applying to All Students (http://www.uiuc.edu/admin_manual/code/)
• Instructions for Preparation of a Thesis

You may also find information about many university-wide policies at http://www.vpaa.uillinois.edu/policies/

These guides are available on the WWW or at 202 Coble Hall. The Graduate College Home Page address is http://www.grad.uiuc.edu/. There are many useful items on this page, including:

• Grad Times Newsletter (Graduate Student Newsletter)
• Services for Graduate Students
• The Ideal Graduate Student
• How to Choose a Thesis Advisor
• Academic Services Opportunities
• Mentoring Graduate Students
• What Do We Teach When We Teach: Ethical Values in the Classroom

Please note that Graduate College or University policies take precedence over Geology Department policies, if there is a discrepancy. If you find a discrepancy between Department policy and policy set at higher levels in the University, please inform a member of the graduate study committee.

Handbook for Students and Advisors

The Handbook for Graduate Students and Advisors (click here to see the electronic version), published by the Graduate College, describes rules and regulations pertaining to graduate students, and all graduate students should have a copy of it. The following topics are covered in it and will not be repeated in the Geology Department grad handbook.

• Credit Loads
• Credit/No Credit
• Time Limit
• Travel for Conferences
• Travel for Dissertation Research
• Stipend Payments
• Payroll Forms
• Tax Status
• Health Insurance, Vacation, Sick Leave
• University Resources for TA's
• Mediation of Conflicts Between Faculty Supervisors and TA/RA
• Resources and Procedures Outside of Department (Grievance)
• Ethics: Academic Integrity
• Professional Codes of Conduct
• Academic Misconduct Policies (e.g., plagiarism, discrimination, sexual harassment)

Deviations from policies.

Deviations from standard policies are allowed under appropriate circumstances, upon approval of a petition by the Department Head or by the Dean of the Graduate College as appropriate. Petition forms can be found in the Geology Department office. If you file a petition, it is strongly advised that you do so before the deviation occurs.

Policy Changes.

If major changes in departmental requirements occur, students may choose to fulfill either the requirements in effect when they began graduate study or the new requirements. A meeting with the graduate advisors, the Department Head, and the continuing graduate students to discuss the changes, the timing of their implementation, and the choices continuing students have in fulfilling either the old or the new requirements.

Academic Misconduct.

Please be sure you understand university policy concerning plagiarism and cheating. If you have questions, talk to your advisor or the graduate studies committee chair. The most common mistake that students make involves using inadequately referenced source material in a report of thesis (e.g., direct quotes must be bounded by quotation marks and must be attributed to their source; concepts and paraphrases must also be attributed to their source), or using previously completed problem sets to help you finish your problem set.

Geology Dept. Policies and Degree Requirments | Faculty | Courses | Dept. Home