Information for Graduate Students

The faculty of the Department has overall responsibility for the graduate program, but day-to-day running of the program is deputed to the Graduate Work Committee. Within this framework each graduate student is welcome to discuss any relevant matter with any appropriate faculty member. The Graduate Work Committee will meet with the Graduate Student Committee to review policies and general procedures whenever such discussion is appropriate and useful.

Contents

1. Academic Program
2. Graduate Work Committee
3. Advisory Committee
4. The General Examination
5. Dissertation
6. Thesis Formalities
7. Final Oral Examination
8. Graduation
9. Readmission
10. Length of the Program
11. Formal Foreign Language Requirement
12. Undergraduate Courses
13. Grades
14. Financial Support of Graduate Research
15. Fellowships
16. Assistants-in-Instruction
17. Procedure for Terminating Enrollment
18. Housing
19. Rules, Regulations, and Procedures
20. Administrative and Technical Personnel and Services
21. Miscellaneous Department Information

Appendix 

1.   Academic Program

The aim of graduate education in this Department is to prepare scholars and professionals capable of conducting independent research at the forefront of the geosciences. A program of graduate education dedicated to this end has three major ingredients: (1) formal courses and seminars; (2) independent reading and study; and (3) Original and independent research on a topic of current interest.  While all three ingredients are important, the third represents the major component of graduate education in this department.

It is essential that a student's performance in all these activities be evaluated and recorded in the Departmental files. The student’s advisory committee has the responsibility for recordkeeping, as well as for maintaining student-faculty communication concerning the evaluation of the academic programs. Students can ask for written evaluations (or at least a grade) of their performance, if these have not been provided, and may at any time request a meeting with her or his advisory committee for the purpose of discussing recorded evaluations. Such evaluations for the previous semester's work must be available for consideration by the advisory committee at its regular meeting at the beginning of each semester.

Courses and Independent study

Pre-generals students are normally expected to enroll in and complete two to four courses or seminars, either within or outside the Department, per term. The actual load may vary depending on a student's background, interests, the availability of courses, the number and nature of other academic activities, etc. Students serving as undergraduate teaching assistants may wish to carry a lighter load in order to ensure sufficient time to perform research.

The required coursework must be completed prior to the general exam.  This generally includes 8 graduate level courses (400 level and above), including 2 courses outside the geosciences department, chosen with approval of the advisory committee.  Courses must be passed with a B average and must be taken for a grade, rather than PD/F, when the graded option is offered.

Post-generals students are encouraged to continue to take occasional courses as a useful means of filling gaps in knowledge appropriate to their research and other professional interests. Active participation in departmental seminars is considered especially important, as these provide exposure to a broad range of research at the forefront of Earth Sciences.

Course worksheets must be approved and signed by a student's advisory committee chair before submittal for final approval by the Director of Graduate Studies.

Independent reading and study is an important part of graduate education, and will continue to be important in later professional life. It is one of the responsibilities of the advisory committee to assist the student in formulating a suitable independent study program.

Research

Students are expected to begin work on a research project of their choosing early in their first year. Near the middle of Fall Term, they will be asked to turn in to the Graduate Work Committee a brief description of their proposed first-year research project together with the name of a faculty or research staff member who has agreed to supervise it.  This project will normally be part of, or related to, an ongoing departmental research activity.

As an alternative to a single project, students can instead choose to carry out two smaller research projects, with two different advisors.  This choice is best made early in the first year, and students are encouraged to discuss both options with faculty members.

A written research progress report will be due in the spring semester.  It will be read and evaluated by the research advisor and at least one other appropriate reader. In addition, each student will present a public oral report (about 15 minutes followed by a brief period of questioning) on his or her research. In September of the second year, a final report is due, preferably in the form of a short research paper (~10 pages), as well as another 15 minute presentation.  Students doing two projects will present written reports on both projects ath this time, but give the oral presentation on the second topic only.

Research activity in the second year may be a continuation of the first year's research, or it may be a new project, possibly with a new research advisor, if the first year's project is essentially complete or if a student's scientific direction has changed.  Although changing advisors may be difficult, the department is committed to ensuring each student is matched with the most suitable advisor before thesis research begins in earnest.  Post-generals research will be on a student's thesis topic or topics. Typically, the first year project leads directly to the thesis research, but the flexibility to change direction, if needed, is essential.

Back to top

2.   Graduate Work Committee

The Graduate Work Committee comprises a group of four to five faculty members, broadly representative of the main academic and research areas within the Department. The Chair and other members of this Committee are appointed on a yearly basis by the Department Chair. The Chair of the Graduate Work Committee is the Department Director of Graduate Studies (DGS). The major duties and responsibilities of the Graduate Work Committee are:

1. preliminary screening of departmental graduate applications
2. advising of entering first-year students including selection or approval, as appropriate, of graduate student advisory committees
3. approval of graduate student academic and research programs, general examination arrangements and final oral examination arrangements, as submitted by student advisory committees
4. other duties of a more general nature such as consideration of student housing, financial support, fellowships, and development of policies and procedures.

All recommendations and decisions of the Graduate Work Committee are subject to approval by the faculty of the Department. The Graduate Work Committee is assisted in the running of the Graduate Program by the Graduate Student Committee and by the graduate/undergraduate secretary.

Back to top

3.   Advisory Committees

Each graduate student has an advisory committee consisting of at least three faculty members (at least 2 must be Geosciences faculty).  Normally the advisory committee Chair is the student's principal research advisor.  The principal advisor may be a member of the Geosciences faculty or a faculty member in another Princeton department. Members of the advisory committee are selected by the student, usually in consultation with the advisor, and approved by the Graduate Work Committee (or DGS). Initial selection takes place in September of the first year and may be changed when a student has settled on a research topic and advisor. Further changes in membership may be made as the student’s career progresses, and should be arranged with the advisory committee Chair or the Graduate Work Committee Chair (the DGS).  Some continuity of membership is generally desirable, however, and often, in practice, the same committee serves throughout the graduate student's career.  For the purposes of the general examination, each student should add at least one member to the advisory committee to form the general exam committee.  This faculty member should have research interests somewhat outside the area of particular interest to the student.  The advisory committee of post-generals students will normally include the prospective readers of the thesis. The advisory committee meeting must occur each semester even if the primary advisor is on sabbatical.  Another faculty member may be asked to serve temporarily on the committee in his/her absence.

The major duties and responsibilities of the Advisory Committee are:

1. To plan an academic and research program in consultation with the student; each student will meet with the Advisory Committee at least once during each semester. Research plans, coursework, and independent study related to that research will be discussed and reviewed in these meetings. The committee meeting worksheet is to be filled out at each meeting.  The worksheet should indicate whether the student is an assistant-in-instruction or undertaking independent study and/or research.  This worksheet must be signed by the Chair (or another responsible member) of the advisory committee, confirming that the Committee has met with the student.  Thereafter the worksheet is to be turned in for final approval by the Director of Graduate Studies.  A copy of the committee worksheet is given to the student, to the Advisor, and to the Department office (Sheryl Rickwell).
   
2. To specify as early as possible two or more fields of concentration around which the academic program is to be molded. Normally these will be fields fundamental to the student's research inclination. They will be the fields in which the student is expected to show depth of knowledge during the general examination.
   
3. To plan, read, and evaluate the first year student’s research plan (~1 page abstract due in November), research progress report (paper and presentation due in March or April), and final research report (paper and presentation due in September).
   
4. To determine, together with the student, the student’s readiness to take the General Examination, to agree upon the two areas of concentration for the exam, and to arrange an appropriate group of examiners. This generally occurs early in the Fall semester of the second year.
   
5. To approve the thesis topic.
   
6. To arrange the thesis evaluation and final public oral examination, although the student usually takes the responsibility to schedule a time agreeable to all participants.
   
7. To discuss other concerns of the student that are of a general nature, such as financial support, as well as any matter the student wishes to clarify. The faculty urges each student to make maximum use of the advisory committee in order to maintain student-faculty relations on a personal basis of individual interest and responsibility. The student should feel free to meet with the committee members individually at any time. The advisory committee is responsible for the student’s welfare in case of absence of the advisor, and is expected to mediate in case of conflict between student and advisor.

Back to top

4.   The General Examination

Basis of the Examination

In the General Examination a student is expected to demonstrate competence and professional expertise in the geological sciences and related fields as relevant to the student's major interests.  Accordingly, the examination is designed to explore: (1) the student's ability to organize and conduct an original research program and to present research results and material, (2) the student's depth of knowledge in the chosen fields of specialization, and (3) breadth in the geological and related sciences.

Short Guidelines for the General Examination

      - The advisory committee, in consultation with the student, selects the examiners. The student can be charged with the actual arrangements (date, time and place).

      -  Generally, there are 4-5 examiners (see Examination Committee below). All members of the Geosciences faculty may attend and may ask questions, but members other than the exam committee do not usually do so. The exam is not open to the general public.

      -  The student submits a written research report (10 - 20 pages) in the form of a scientific paper to the examiners at least one week before the exam.  He or she also submits a brief research proposal (at most two pages) at least two days before the exam.  This proposal should be mostly his/her own work and should outline a plan of research for the next two or three years.  Copies of the report and proposal also go to Graduate Administrator for your files.

      -  The two 'areas of concentration' on which you will be tested can be narrow or wide, but of course the scope of the area influences how deeply the questioning can go.  Some students prefer large areas, and can be based on the non-GEO courses (e.g., inorganic chemistry, statistics); others can be more narrow (e.g. stable isotope geochemistry). 

Timing: The general examination normally takes place in May of the second year. The examination may be taken earlier (October or January) by well-prepared students.  It can be delayed with the approval of the Graduate Work Committee only under very special circumstances such as serious illness.  Students taking the examination a second time must do so within one year.

In case of a conditional pass of the general exam, it is up to the examination committee to specify a minimum time period to pass before the second exam can be taken.  If not, students taking the exam a second time may do so the next time it is offered.

Examination Committee

The committee for the general examination consists of four or five faculty members including the student's advisor, a member of the Graduate Work Committee, and at least one faculty member, the nonexpert, whose expertise is outside the student's research area. The nonexpert and GWC member can be the same person but this is not required. The committee may include a faculty member from another department of the university. Each committee, including its chair, must be approved by the DGS prior to scheduling the examination. These rules ensure some conformity and ensure that standards do not diverge between different groups in the department. Members of the student's advisory committee during the first two years may be members of the Examination Committee, but it is not required. The chair of the examination committee, who organizes the question period and insures that the exam proceeds according to the guidelines below, must not be the student's primary advisor.

Pre-Examination Requirements

The required coursework must be completed prior to the general exam. See course requirements for details (link to course requirement descriptions). The student should provide a list of courses and grades for approval by the DGS at the time the general exam committee is selected.

The student should declare two subjects as areas of specialization that are most relevant to the student’s research plans and expertise. These should be agreed upon with the student's advisory committee prior to the examination. It is a good idea to select your areas of concentration in discussion with your advisor and committee members.  It is useful to decide what literature (books, articles, course materials) are representative of the field and make sure the student as well as the examiners are thinking along the same lines.

At least one week before the examination, the student must distribute to all members of the committee a Research Report detailing the research the student has completed in the first two years. The report is typically 10-20 pages in length. In addition, two days before the exam, the student must distribute to the committee a research proposal that describes the research to be conducted over the next two years (i.e., the research to comprise the Ph.D. dissertation). This proposal must be no more than two pages in length. In addition to brief mention of methodology, goals, and research objectives, it should include an explanation of why the research is important and how the research will be performed in a timely fashion.

Outline for the General Examination

The overall length of the examination will generally be two-and-a-half to three hours.  The examination will consist of the following three sections:

1. At the beginning of the examination, the student will give a 15 - 20 minute talk on his/her research and proposal. The committee will refrain from asking questions (except for minor clarification) until the talk is completed.
   
2. Each committee member will first question the student on his/her thesis research area.
   
3. Each committee member will then ask questions testing the student's general knowledge of the basic science underlying the areas of specialization and fundamental concepts in earth sciences and related disciplines.

The student is urged to discuss with the advisory committee a program of general reading as preparation for this part of the examination.  The proportion of the exam that is devoted to the two question areas can be decided upon by the committee in discussion with the advisor and student, as this is likely to vary.

Results of the General Exam

There are two possible outcomes of the General Exam:

1. Outright Pass and Admission to Ph.D. Candidacy: The student is found sufficient in mastery of the required background and in preparation for graduate research, and is expected to complete the dissertation research within the normative time.

-- In some cases, the committee identifies specific areas of weakness that are not significant enough to warrant a failure, but which should be rectified in the course of the student's research and training. The student may be required to enroll in a particular course, or to demonstrate mastery of a particular technical area by writing a report. These stipulations are made in an informal agreement between the committee and the student.

2. Outright Failure: The student is found insufficient in mastery of the required background and in preparation for graduate research. The student will be encouraged to rethink his or her career plans and may elect to or be encouraged to withdraw from the program. (See below; the student may be allowed to retake the exam within one year.)

-- In some cases, the student is found insufficient in either mastery of the required background or in preparation for graduate research. The student is usually required to retake the exam in part or in total, as recommended by the examination committee and voted by the faculty. The requirements for meeting the conditions of the pass are decided by the examination committee.

The outcome of the general exam is decided by the examining committee at the completion of the exam. If the decision in favor of any of the options outlined above is unanimous, that decision is final and does not require a vote of the full faculty. If there is a dissenting vote among the committee, the decision must be presented to and voted upon by the faculty. It is usual for all general exams to be summarized for the full faculty, but only split decisions require a formal vote.

Under some circumstances, a student may decide prior to the general exam that he or she does not wish to continue in the Ph.D. program but does wish to qualify for a master's degree (M.A.) from the department. In this case, the student should discuss this option with the advisor and advisory committee well in advance.  The general exam for an M.A. degree is similar to that for Ph.D. candidacy but will not include defense of a research plan.  It should be noted that passing the general exam for a terminal M.A. degree does not quality the student for Ph.D. candidacy, and some or all of the exam would need to be retaken if the student later decides to pursue a Ph.D in the department. The requirements for the M.A. degree are as follows: Completion of all required coursework with no Incompletes, satisfactory completion of the required pre-general exam research project or paper, and the student must stand for the general exam.

Regulations of the Graduate School

Attention is drawn to the general regulations for the general examination as published in the Graduate Catalogue and particularly to the following paragraphs:

   1. A student is not admitted to the examination until he or she has devoted at least one year or the equivalent of one year entirely to graduate study at Princeton University.

   2. A graduate student who withdraws from the University in good standing before passing the general examination, and who is therefore not enrolled as a resident graduate student, may ask to stand for the examination with the approval of the Dean on the advice of the department, provided he/she has met the residence and language requirements.

 3. In case the general examination is not passed, the student will be allowed to stand for re-examination within one year. If unsuccessful the second time, the student may not stand for the examination again.

   4. Should a student's performance on the general examination, though judged as passing, raise serious doubt about that student's capacity for doing the scholarly work which is required for the Ph.D. degree, the Department may rule that qualifying for the Master's Degree terminates the student's degree candidacy. The termination of degree candidacy at the Master's level shall stand without further appeal unless new evidence of scholarly promise or capacity is provided by the student's subsequent professional achievement as shown by scholarly publication. In the latter event, the Dean may entertain a recommendation that the student be readmitted to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree.

Back to top

5. Dissertation

a) Aim and General Intent

"The dissertation shows that the candidate has technical mastery in the chosen field and is capable of independent research.  It is expected to be a positive contribution to knowledge, which may consist of a new scientific generalization, a new body of integrated facts that carries scientific implications that extended beyond itself, or a substantial improvement in technique or procedure.”

As this quote from the Graduate School Announcement indicates, the primary purpose of the dissertation is to enable the student to demonstrate capability to conduct independent, original research and to recognize a problem and handle it intelligently. Research provides first-hand contact with important phenomena in the broad field of Geosciences, and serves as an essential element of graduate education.

The most updated information about the dissertation can be found at the Graduate School website: (http://gradschool.princeton.edu/academics/policies/dissertation/),

or under the general information on Dissertation section.

b) Format of Dissertation

Although a dissertation may be a single previously unpublished monograph, many dissertations consist primarily of material that has been or will be submitted to professional journals as one or (usually) more research papers. Such theses should be preceded by a preface or introductory chapter that defines the overall problem, and serves to draw the various papers into a coherent whole. In addition, the coherence may be reinforced, where appropriate, by text linking the chapters or papers. If any part of a thesis has been or will be submitted to a journal as a multiple-author paper, this should be clearly indicated, and the student's role in the collaboration should be described. Multiple authored papers that have been written substantially by another author should not be included in the thesis, although they may be appended to it.

Back to top

6. Thesis Formalities

A candidate for the Ph.D. degree in the Department of Geosciences is required to submit three copies of the thesis - the original and one copy for the University Library (Archives and Guyot Hall) and one copy for the Departmental Library in Guyot Hall. All three copies must be submitted permanently bound, and must include the title page. An abstract not exceeding 350 words is required, one copy to be bound at the front of each of the three copies of the thesis, and 3 additional loose copies to be submitted at the same time. For further details, see the attached "Publication of the Doctoral Dissertation"  in Appendix A. These requirements are consistent with the full graduate school requirements which can be found at  the Graduate School website:

http://gradschool.princeton.edu/academics/processes/

Two Dissertation Readers are chosen by the student in consultation with the advisory committee.  The dissertation in its final form ready for binding must be presented to the Readers at least two weeks before the date of the Final Public Oral. At the same time, the dissertation must be made available to the entire faculty by depositing a copy in the Graduate Administrator’s office. The Readers’ reports are presented at a faculty meeting no less than one week later. The faculty votes on the Readers’ reports and may impose requirements for changes that must be made before the dissertation is approved.  If such changes are required, new Readers’ reports, or amendments, will also be required. If the Readers’ reports and the dissertation are accepted by a vote of the faculty, the final oral examination will then be scheduled at least one week later.

A minimum of three weeks before the final oral examination is usually required for these arrangements.  Normally the final oral examination will be given only during the academic year. At least five full business days before the examination, the candidate takes the reader's report to the Graduate School office. In computing business days, the only day that does not count is Sunday. All other days, Saturdays and holidays included, count.

Every graduate student is charged a graduation fee when he or she applies for the degrees of M.A. and Ph.D. At the time the candidate takes the reader's report to the Graduate School Office, he/she needs to pay the graduation fee and publication fee. The latter is used to make the results of the student's research immediately available to the scholarly world through publication of his dissertation by microfilm and printing the abstract. If copyright is desired, an additional charge is required. For specific information, please go to “Fees and Charges” in the Graduate announcement.

Where appropriate a collection of representative type specimens (normally only a few trays) with accurate labels as to locality, name, and significance, should accompany the thesis. All thin sections or polished specimens showing features of significance of the thesis problem, geologic processes, or of possible value for

teaching purposes, are to be accompanied by appropriate labels. These collections are to be completed at the time of submission of the thesis. After the final oral examination the candidate shall dispose of material that is of no further use. Any material left in the Department must have been approved by the faculty advisor. A computer account may be retained for a limited time (usually one year) if approved by faculty advisor and systems manager.

The acknowledgments section of the thesis, in addition to thanking individuals for their assistance, should acknowledge all sources of financial support received while at Princeton or otherwise engaged in the thesis research. It is the student's responsibility to be sure this listing is complete. Acknowledgments to the Department or to specific funds in the Department or University should be checked carefully with the thesis advisors. Appropriate acknowledgments should also be made to other sources of support and help; specific grant numbers should be listed if appropriate. These acknowledgments are are included in manuscripts submitted for publication, which may also include a statement that this work was done "in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Princeton University".

Important Links:

Attention is directed to the current Graduate School Announcement for other details relating to the dissertation.

Ph.D. defense Timetable - A Ph.D. defense timetable for the university can be found at http://gradschool.princeton.edu/about/docs/academics/checklist_phd_defense.pdf

for the degree application completion process, please go to

http://gradschool.princeton.edu/academics/processes/

Back to top

7. Final Oral Examination

from the graduate school webpage (http://gradschool.princeton.edu/academics/policies/fpo/)

The final public oral examination is a final examination in the student's field of study as well as a defense of the dissertation. The department holds the final public oral examination after the Graduate School reviews and accepts the readers' reports and is satisfied that all other requirements have been met. The department is required to post prominently the date, time, and place of the examination for a minimum of three days (including Saturday) between the dean's authorization and the date of the examination, in order to assure the open, public character of the oral. There are at least three principal examiners, all of them normally members of the Princeton faculty at the rank of assistant professor or higher, at least two of whom have not been principal readers of the dissertation. The department determines whether or not the candidate has passed the examination.

In case the examination is not sustained, the candidate may stand for it a second time after at least one year has passed. If unsuccessful a second time, the candidate is not permitted another opportunity to retake the examination, and Ph.D. candidacy is terminated. In cases where an appearance for the final public oral examination would constitute a substantial financial hardship for the candidate, the director of graduate studies may recommend to the dean of the Graduate School that the examination be waived.

The Final Oral Examination by a faculty committee is a public oral examination in the field of study and shall not be merely a defense of the dissertation.  The examination committee may be the same membership that has served as the advisory committee after the General Exam, or may be reconstituted as desired at the discretion of the student in consultation with the advisor and advisory committee, with approval by the DGS. For the final oral examination the candidate gives a 30 – 45 minute presentation reviewing the thesis research work with emphasis on major contributions and conclusions. However, in addition to a defense of the dissertation a candidate is expected to demonstrate a mastery of material broadly related to the thesis topic.

In order to encourage graduate students to hear and discuss the results of completed theses it is strongly recommended that students who are near to completion present the results at a departmental seminar prior to the final oral examination. This will assure the Ph.D. candidates ample time to describe the contribution they have made and everyone else the opportunity to ask questions. In addition this will encourage finishing students to prepare a professional seminar on their work, such as might be requested by prospective employers.

Back to top

8.  Graduation

Appropriate information on commencement and the hooding ceremony can be found at Graduate School Office webpage, under Student Life.

http://gradschool.princeton.edu/studentlife/hooding/ (2007 information)

Back to top

9. Readmission

from the Graduate School: (http://gradschool.princeton.edu/academics/processes/#comp000044bf59cc000000137a3c1d)

Reenrollment is the annual process in which every department and the Graduate School evaluate the academic progress of graduate degree candidates. The reenrollment process, which is conducted during the latter half of the spring term, is often supplemented by other departmentally specific evaluations conducted at different times during the academic year (for example, doctoral students' thesis committee meetings, which may occur once or several times during an academic year). Students are encouraged to participate actively in the annual readmission process by preparing their own written statement of academic progress during the current year and goals and objectives for the coming year. All students eligible for reenrollment, including those writing dissertations, must make formal application each year through their departments. Students who have satisfied all academic requirements within their departments and have demonstrated their readiness for continuing graduate work will be offered reenrollment no later than June; others will be notified about reenrollment when a basis for judgment is available.

Satisfactory academic progress is measured by the department. For students who have not yet taken the general examination, this includes completing high-quality work in courses and seminars, satisfying the residence and language requirements, and performing effectively in any assistantship or research position the student may hold. For students who have sustained the general examination, significant progress toward the completion of the dissertation is the central criterion. The Graduate School holds that academic programs should be completed quickly, compatible with good training, and therefore does not usually approve requests for reenrollment to a year of study beyond a department's normal program length.

Individual departments may set specific requirements of their own in addition to those of the Graduate School, including completing specific courses or completing a specified number of courses, sitting for special examinations prior to the general examination, or submitting a certain number of dissertation chapters. Each department sets its own policy regarding incomplete grades in graduate courses, auditing, or taking courses on a pass/fail basis. Students are urged to read carefully the specific department's program descriptions and to confer with the director of graduate studies if there are any questions.

Recommendation for readmission for the following year of those students who have demonstrated their capacity for graduate work is made in March or April. Those who do not attain the standard expected will be so informed at this time.   If the student does not wish to reenroll, he or she should discuss the decision with the advisory committee.  If the advisor wishes to recommend that the student be denied readmission, the advisor should make a recommendation to the advisory committee.  The advisor and committee then confer with the DGS and a vote must be taken by the full faculty if the recommendation is to deny readmission.

Readmission decisions regarding students taking generals in spring will be deferred until after the examination. Others, whose performance is in doubt, may also be deferred, for example first-year students whose progress on their research project is inadequate.

When notified to reenroll, usually in late March, students should log on to the Princeton University SCORE website (http://www.princeton.edu/score), click through to the Graduate Reenrollment section, fill in the online form, and submit.  This information will then be transmitted to the Advisor who will review the application, make any comments, and submit to the DGS.  The DGS will review the application, enter department support recommendation and submit to the student for review.   The student reviews the application, makes comments, and submits the application to the DGS who then submits the final copy to the Graduate School.

Back to top

10. Length of Program

The expected time needed to complete a Ph.D. Program in the Department of Geosciences is five years. We recognize, however, that the time required to complete dissertation projects varies. More advanced students who take their general examinations in January of their second year or before may progress faster. Others may be in residence for 5-6 years or occasionally longer, as dictated by the requirements of their research projects.  The department considers more than five years to be generally undesirable, and will offer no summer support to students after their tenth semester or beyond. Sponsored grant or contract funds may be used for such support, however, if they are available for the particular project.

The University has a new designation for those students that are beyond the normal time window of the degree.  The new Dissertation completion enrollment status, DCE, allows for a special enrollment for an additional two years.  More information at:

http://gradschool.princeton.edu/about/docs/academics/dce_handbook.pdf

(Note: Students enrolled as DCE are eligible for Assistant in Instruction positions)

Back to top

11. Formal Language Requirement

The department has no formal foreign language requirement.

Back to top

12. Undergraduate Courses

Back to top

13. Grades

Letter grades (A, B, C, D, F) are given in some graduate courses at the discretion of the instructor.  Others are graded Pass, Fail, Audit.  The instructor is encouraged to leave written comments evaluating performance in the student's file.

Back to top

14. Financial Support of Graduate Research

i.  University support:  First year fellowships are currently awarded to all students to support their stipends during the first year.  Other fellowships may be available on a competitive basis from the graduate school and students are encouraged to apply for them.  In addition, the graduate school may have special funds for travel and meetings, and the student is encouraged to take advantage of those opportunities (http://gradschool.princeton.edu/financial/).

ii.  Departmental Support:  After the first year, graduate students may be supported as Assistants in Research (AR) or Assistants in Instruction (AI).  AR support generally derives from individual faculty member external grant funds.  AI support is allocated by the department according to the guidelines outlined below (Section 16). Graduate student expenditures for laboratory work and thesis preparation are generally supported on research grants and plans should be discussed and agreed between the student and advisor.  Such expenditures must have the written approval of the student's thesis research advisor before the money is spent, as this should be paid by research accounts.  Bills from the U-Store, Princeton Photo Service, etc. will not be paid by the Department if the item has not been approved by a faculty advisor and registered with the Department Manager. Graduate students are not permitted to charge items on the Departmental U-Store Account.

Iii.  Summer Studies and Field Work:  Project grants normally cover the summer stipend.  If summer salary is provided, the student is expected to take no more than 4 weeks vacation per year.  Project grants normally also defray minimum living expenses and transportation associated with field work. Each student whose summer research is not supported by a project grant should attempt to secure funds from an outside agency (e.g., the Geological Society of America or Sigma Xi). Each faculty member advising thesis work that has no project support will assume responsibility for helping the graduate student to secure outside funds. A graduate student will, in general, NOT be denied worthwhile thesis work for lack of a sponsored project. However, funding for such projects will be very limited and is at the discretion of the DGS and Department Chair.

iv.  Attendance at Scientific Meetings:  The department encourages attendance of graduate students at scientific meetings. Department vehicles will be made available whenever possible for transportation of student groups (normally at least four students) to meetings reasonably close to Princeton (within 1,000 miles). The Department will pay vehicle running costs, but students are expected to pay for their food and lodging. Expenses may also be defrayed from research grants.

Students seeking departmental financial support to enable them to attend scientific meetings at which they are scheduled to present papers should make formal application (including a budget) through their faculty advisor or advisory committee. The Department, in general, places a limit, currently $1000 per student, for the amount of money available to cover travel expenses to meetings during the course of his/her graduate career. We place responsibility on the student (and advisor) to decide priorities for which meetings are worth attending.

Back to top

15.  Fellowships

Students who are U.S. citizens are urged to apply for NSF, DOD, and NASA or Hertz Fellowships for subsequent years (appropriate deadlines apply).

for more info see: http://gradschool.princeton.edu/financial/fellowships/

Back to top

16. Assistants-in-Instruction

Every graduate student is required to participate in the instruction of undergraduates for at least one term (one term as a full AI, or two terms has half time AI) as a significant part of his/her education. If desired for additional training or in case of financial need, additional terms as AI may be possible.  Students may be asked to be AIs beyond the minimal requirement if necessitated by enrollment levels in departmental classes.

The department has a set of guidelines to assist in making reasonable AI assignments, on the basis of expertise, timing and previous AI experience.

The department will assign AI’s as soon as possible after the course schedule is known.  The order of selection for AI assignments from first to last is:

 i. students supported by department funds

 ii. volunteers

 iii. students with unfulfilled AI commitment

-- excluding 1st years and 2nd semester - 2nd years

 iv. People who have met the minimum AI requirement

A student may be allowed to opt out of an assignment in any one semester with the stipulation that he or she will be obligated to teach the following semester, depending on the needs of the department.

AIs typically lead precept meetings, grade homework assignments and papers, assist in laboratory instruction in various combinations depending on the course.  Information on AI preparation and training is available at the McGraw Center for Learning and Teaching (link) and more detail on Geosciences AI policies can be found at ().

[[[To be added, link to AI info sheet that Laurel prepared]]]]

In connection with the work of instruction, your attention is directed to a rule of the University that is strictly enforced:

No professor, associate professor, assistant professor, instructor,

assistant-in-instruction, or fellow shall tutor students of the University privately for remuneration during the academic year.

No one engaged in giving instruction in the University shall be permitted at any time to tutor students privately for those examinations in which he himself takes part, either in the way of preparing questions or reading papers.

Back to top

17.  Procedure for Taking a Leave of Absence or Terminating Enrollment

The procedure for terminating enrollment is outlined on the form from the Office of the Graduate School, http://gradschool.princeton.edu/academics/status/termination/. This procedure must be followed by every graduate student who leaves the University whether he/she has completed his/her degree, is taking a leave of absence, or is simply withdrawing.  Information on Graduate School policies involving leaves of absence or DCE (Dissertation Completion Enrollment) Status  can be found at the Graduate School’s web page:

http://gradschool.princeton.edu/academics/status/

Back to top

18. Housing

Housing for graduate students is provided in the Graduate College and its Annexes, Lawrence Apartments and the Butler Tract Housing Project.  For further details, see the Graduate School website (http://gradschool.princeton.edu/studentlife/residential/) or the Housing Department's web page (http://facilities.princeton.edu/Housing/b_graduate/) .

Back to top

19. Rules, Regulations, and Procedures

It is your responsibility to be familiar with and conform to the University rules and regulations concerning the Graduate School and graduate student work contained in the Graduate School Announcement and the main University catalog.  Similarly, you should become familiar with the rules, regulations, and procedures of the Department -- they are not designed to restrict your activities but rather to enable your work to proceed more rapidly and efficiently.

If you have questions about procedures, your main resources beyond this handbook should be consulted in order:  Your advisor, your advisory committee, the DGS and department chair.  If you have questions that cannot be resolved at the level of your advisory committee, do not hesitate to consult with the DGS.  Simple procedural questions can often be resolved by consulting with the Graduate Administrator (Sheryl Rickwell), but questions of a professional and scientific nature can be taken up with the DGS.   You are also referred to the grievance procedures of the Graduate School.

Graduate School Home:

http://gradschool.princeton.edu/

University wide Rights, Rules, and Regulations:

http://www.princeton.edu/pr/pub/rrr/

Back to top

20. Administrative and Technical Personnel and Services

Contact information is provided in the annually updated Department Directory.

Deborah A. Fahey, Department Manager

Laurie Wanat, Publications/Web Coordinator

Sheryl Rickwell, Undergraduate/Graduate Administrator

Theresa Autino, Grants Manager

Mary Rose Russo, Administrative Assistant

Eva Groves, Faculty Assistant

Susan Taxson, Faculty Assistant

Roseann Wurst, Faculty Assistant

Technical Personnel

George Rose, Machinist

Bob Koenigsmark, Facilities Manager

Brian Mohr, IT Manager

Custodial Staff

Mike Morris, Special Facilities Supervisor (8-3723)

Gary Immordino, Building Services (8-2975)

Library Staff  (located in Fine Hall Basement)

Patty Gaspari-Bridges, Librarian

Tsering Wangyal Shawa, GIS Librarian

Berthalicia Harvey, Map Assistant

Scott Sibio, Serials Assistant

Graduate Students will arrange the following through staff member listed:

Funding for special projects -  Graduate Work Committee

Graduate Support  - Advisor

Visa – Office of Visa Services 8-1450

Petty Cash – Mary Rose Russo

Travel vouchers, purchasing, etc – Sheryl Rickwell

AV equipment – Sheryl Rickwell

Health Service – McCosh Health Center

Keys – Bob Koenigsmark

Smilodon – Bill Bonini and Laurie Wanat

Weekly Intrusion – Mary Rose Russo

Graduate and Undergraduate Work Committee Administrator:  Sheryl Rickwell (Room 110, Guyot Hall) maintains undergraduate and graduate student records, transmits examination results, changes in programs of study, and other data required by the Graduate School and the Dean of the College.

Department Machinist:  George Rose is responsible for all machine work and the maintenance of all mechanical devices.  Please schedule requests for machining with George Rose as far in advance as possible (all work must be charged to a valid account number – please make sure that you have discussed this with the individual responsible for the account).

Department Safety Manager:  Bob Koenigsmark is responsible for all safety within the department.  All accidents involving physical injury, no matter how minor, are to be reported to either Bob or Debbie Fahey, Department Manager.  Unsafe working conditions, when observed, should be reported to either Bob or Debbie.

Back to top

21. Miscellaneous Department Information

a) Library - The Geological and Geophysical Sciences Library (http://www.princeton.edu/~geolib/map/) is supervised by Patty-Gaspari Bridges.  Regulations are issued by her office.

The contact information of the Geosciences & Map Library is:

Fine Hall, B-Level

Telephone (609) 258-3267; Map Collection 258-3247

email: geolib@princeton.edu

Patricia Gaspari-Bridges, Librarian

b) Shops – Facilities

All the carpenter, plumbing, electrical, steam fitting, glazing and stockroom services require work orders and an account number.  Work requirements should be directed through Bob Koenigsmark’s office. Repairs to existing buildings (all trades) do not require account numbers as this comes under ordinary maintenance.  If the work is in emergency, and you cannot reach the facility manager, please contact the customers services at 258-8000 during the normal office hours, and at Public Safety at 258-3134 during the out of working hours.

Keys are issued through Bob Koeningsmark, but you will need to contact your professor’s personal assistant first to get keys to Guyot building, your office and/or lab areas.

C) Statement of Computer Policy

All members of the Department are required to adhere to University policy on computer ethics, including maintenance of security of computer accounts, vigilance against computer viruses, and keeping illegal copies of software off of our computers.

Regarding costs of connecting personally-owned computers to the network, the following applies:

(1) Hardware and cables for privately-owned computers - borne by the student.

(2) Cost of IP connections and monthly charges to OIT Ethernet - borne by the research account.

Upon graduation, students must arrange with the computer systems manager to retain access to their account for a limited period (up to 12 months).  Failure to do so may result in the loss of your computer files!

Important links:

Princeton University OIT: http://oitweb.princeton.edu/ 

department aliases: https://geoweb/it/internal/mailaliases/ - requires password, which can be gotten from Brian Mohr.

E) Departmental Vehicles

Department vehicles are available for course field trips, field research, and authorized departmental business. As the new University regulation is now activated, we cannot drive 15 passengers or more vans; only 12 passengers or less are permitted for this kind of purpose. Mini-vans can take 7 people per car.

If you need to take a big group out to field, please consider hiring a Limo service with a certified driver.

To be able to drive the departmental vans, you must complete a driving record form and attend a University driver training session before you may be authorized to drive a University vehicle. This means, you must be certified by the University Public Safety Department. Please check it with the Public Safety department at http://web.princeton.edu/sites/publicsafety/FleetSafety.htm

All Departmental vehicle users are responsible for taking all measures possible for the efficient availability of all vehicles for everyone in the Department (such as mileages, odometers, gas gauge).  A copy of driver license issued in USA needs to be left to our department manager (Debbie Fahey) once you become a certified van driver.  You can reserve the vans and pick up the keys at Room 109. There is a sign book for the departmental vans.

Any operational problems including keys, sing-up books, breaks and/or other physical problems, should be reported to our facility manage (Bob Koenigsmark) for proper maintenance. Please insure that vehicles are cleaned out after use and the gas tank is no lower than 1/4 before you return it. If the gas is lower than ¼, you can fill up the gas at the garage at McMillan Building by using the “gray thing” in your key holder.

Van rentals: If you need extra vans, you can rent them.  Department of Geosciences has a contract with Enterprise, and can take 10 passengers (max) van. If the purpose is for your class, please contact Sheryl Rickwell to arrange the rental.  If the purpose is for your own research, then please talk to your group assistant who helps your Advisor. 

F) Xerox Use

A Xerox machine is available for research-related use. Graduate students are eligible for up to 2,000 copies per year

G) Private Use of Departmental Facilities

Use of Department facilities such as telephone, Xeroxing, postage, Federal Express, UPS, etc. for private use is charged to the individual user, and reimbursement to the Department for such services is to be made to Stephanie Resko or Robin Pispecky. In the case of Federal Express, UPS, and postage from the meter, it is the responsibility of the individual to notify Stephanie or Robin of these upcoming charges.

H) Policy of Dogs in Building

University policy dictates that dogs are not allowed in the building during regular office hours.  At other times, they may be brought in with the permission of the Department Chair if the dog is kept on a leash, is well-behaved, and does not interrupt the work of the Department.  Seeing-eye dogs or other trained assistance dogs are an exception.

Back to top

Appendix

A. Publication of the Doctoral Dissertation

The University maintains webpages with general info about the dissertation:

http://gradschool.princeton.edu/academics/policies/dissertation/

and the degree application and completion process: including links to checklist for Ph.D. defense and all necessary forms

http://gradschool.princeton.edu/academics/processes/

 The general requirements for the doctoral dissertation at Princeton University are set forth in its Graduate School Announcement.  The Princeton University Archives assumes responsibility for liaison with the agency that does the microfilming.  In order that certain minimum standards of uniformity may be observed in the publishing process, the following guidelines should be followed.

 1. The permanently hard-bound copies of the dissertation ready for publication should be submitted to the department in final form before the Final Public Oral examination.  If typed, one of the two copies should be the original ribbon copy.  One copy becomes a part of the permanent collections of the Library, the other copy becomes a part of the permanent collections of the University Archives.  The Archival copy is sent temporarily to University Microfilms International in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  A Microfilm master is made and kept there in order that   inexpensive copies may be purchased by anyone interested.

 2. The margin on the left should be at least 1-3/4 inches with one inch on the other three sides.  The paper should be at least 20 pound paper

 3. The two copies submitted to the department must each contain:

A single title page following the format of the attached sample.

A copyright page, if copyright projection is desired, following the format of the attached sample.  An abstract which must be bound with the dissertation, its pages numbered as part of the dissertation.  It must also be listed in the Table of Contents.  Although there is no word limit for this abstract, there is for the loose abstract -- see item #5.

 4. A copy of the title page must be attached to a Microfilming Agreement Form.

 5. Two additional copies of the abstract, bearing the legal name of the author and the title of the dissertation, must be deposited with the department.  One copy goes to the Archives for publication in Dissertation Abstracts International, and therefore must be a good dark copy.  THIS LOOSE ABSTRACT  MUST NOT EXCEED 350 WORDS IN LENGTH.  (Maximum 2,450  typewritten characters -- including spaces and punctuation -- about 70 characters per line with a maximum of 35 lines).  Please remember that all  lengthy abstracts will be returned to the author for further editing before the dissertation will be processed for microfilming.

6.  The Microfilming Agreement Form is a legally binding agreement between the  author and University Microfilms International and must be completed in its entirety.  This form must then be deposited with the department. The  publication fee must be paid to the Graduate School before the Final Public Oral Examination will be authorized by the Dean of the Graduate School.

 7. If copyright protection is desired, the appropriate sections should be completed on the Microfilming Agreement Form.  A CERTIFIED CHECK OR MONEY ORDER, NOT A PERSONAL CHECK, payable to University Microfilms International must accompany the Agreement Form when turned in to the department. The Copyright fee includes the submission costs of the two positive copies to the Copyright Office and all other filing charges.

 8. The leaflet, Preparing Your Manuscript for Microfilming, outlines standard practice on format and all technical requirements of the microfilming process and should be read carefully and followed.

 9. Footnotes may be placed at the bottom of the page, at the end of the chapters or at the end of the dissertation, depending on the preference of the author and his/her advisor.

 10. The author's full legal name must be used on the title page, copyright page,    abstract, Microfilming Agreement Form, and wherever else the name appears.

 11. Any other questions you may have can be directed to your departmental    secretary or the University Archives Office in the Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript   Library on Olden Street (8-3213).

 12. Once your dissertation is returned from University Microfilms International it will be open for inspection by readers in the University Archives.

 According to University policy, no photocopying will be permitted from the Archival copy unless you choose to grant it.   To circumvent this limitation on the dissemination of scientific information, students should include the following statement with your signature on a page following your title page or, if applicable, copyright page, "I authorize Princeton University to reproduce this publication by photocopying or by other means, in total of in part, at the request of other institutions or individuals for the purpose of scholarly research."

Back to top