Appendix A. Roles of Personnel

Associate Chair for Graduate Studies

Appointed by the Departmental Chair

1. As an administrative advisor, signs registration materials of ALL graduate students that have not yet chosen a faculty Advisor.
2. Advises students concerning requirements of the graduate degree programs and channels student communications to the Graduate Committee and the Director of Graduate Studies in the College of Arts and Sciences.
3. Receives and disseminates information from the Assistant Dean for Graduate Studies in the College of Arts and Sciences.
4. Maintains graduate student records and files in a shared departmental drive. 

Graduate Committee 

Appointed by the Departmental Chair

1. Establishes, with departmental approval, criteria for selection and screening of graduate applications.
2. Admits applicants to the graduate program.
3. Maintains, reviews, and recommends to the Biology graduate faculty revisions of the graduate program.
4. Is empowered to waive the departmental rules upon written petition if circumstances warrant in specific instances.
5. Aids the incoming students in the choice of a faculty advisor.
6. May advise on first and second-semester registration.
7. Considers petitions and appeals from graduate students.

Advisor (Major Professor) 

The member of the Biology graduate faculty, must hold a Ph.D. In most instances, they will hold a primary affiliation in the Dept. of Biology at WVU.

1. Prepares with the student the tentative POS for review and acceptance by the Advisory Committee during the second semester of residence as a regular student
2. Checks, along with the student, that graduate requirements are fulfilled
3. Directs research and the writing of the thesis or dissertation
4. Serves as chairperson of the Advisory Committee. With the approval of the Advisory Committee, the faculty Advisor:
   1. Submits copies of the POS approved by the student's advisory committee to the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies.
   2. Makes early judgment based on performance and initiative to determine if the student may continue in the program.
   3. Conducts the preliminary examinations for their Ph.D. students.
   4. Informs the Director of Graduate Studies in the College of Arts and Sciences, the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies, and the student of passing examination results and promotion to candidacy in the Ph.D. program.
   5. Sends the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies the performance recommendations of the Advisory Committee in the M.S. and Ph.D. degree programs.
   6. Sends the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies a copy of the signed Thesis and Dissertation Oral Defense Form.

Advisory Committee 

Selected by mutual agreement of student and Advisor

1. Works with the student to determine if the tentative POS is adequate; when acceptable, the Committee approves the program. 
2. Critically reviews the progress of the student periodically.
3. Participates in the written and the oral examinations in the Ph.D. program.
4. Promotes the student in the Ph.D. program to candidacy after all conditions are met.
5. Participates in the proposal examinations in the Ph.D. program. 
6. Reviews critically the thesis or dissertation after it has been approved by the faculty Advisor. The thesis or dissertation must be explicitly approved by the advisory committee before the final examination can be scheduled.
7. Participates in the Dissertation Defense and signs the Thesis and Dissertation Oral Defense Form and copies of the signature page for the thesis or dissertation.

Graduate Students

Both M.S. and Ph.D. students are pursuing research-based degrees. Students are expected to make steady progress toward their degree goals in accordance with the timelines in this handbook. Early completion of any of the steps en route to this goal is encouraged, as is communicating to the advisor and committee any obstacles impeding their progress. Graduate students are expected to maintain the highest ethical standards in the conduct of their research. Furthermore, as employees, you represent West Virginia University and the Department of Biology, it is therefore expected that all graduate students act in a professional manner at all times. Please see the WVU Campus Student Code for more information.

It is the responsibility of the student to be aware of and meet all required college and departmental deadlines. Students are responsible for making arrangements for the dissertation defense after the advisory committee has explicitly approved the thesis or dissertation. Students must also arrange for, and announce, the date, place, and time of the dissertation defense to the advisory committee and members of the department.

Assisting in the Department's teaching program is both a service to the department and training for a future career. The reputation of the department depends to a large extent on the activities of its teaching assistants. Thus, the teaching must be performed in a professional manner and the evaluation of students conducted fairly. The teaching assistant is considered a part of the teaching staff of the department. He/she is, therefore, subject to the same rules and ethics as the faculty. 

The voice of the graduate students in departmental matters depends on the degree to which graduate students wish to be involved. The faculty welcome suggestions and recommendations from graduate students, especially when presented through a graduate student organization. These will receive serious consideration and attempts will be made to address problems. A graduate student representative is welcome at open faculty meetings and may be requested to serve on committees concerning graduate student affairs.