Additional Policies and Procedures

Dismissal Procedures

The Termination of Status and Academic Dismissal procedures are outlined in the Graduate Catalog (https://catalog.uconn.edu/graduate/academic-regulations/#text).

Changing Labs/Major Advisors

  1. Prior to changing major advisors, students must receive approval from the Director of Graduate Studies and the Graduate Advisory Committee.
  2. Once the student has changed labs, the Change of Graduate Major Advisor form (https://registrar.uconn.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/1604/2017/08/Change-of-Major-Advisor.pdf) should be completed and submitted to the Registrar.
  3. The student must alert the PNB office of the change in labs.
  4. Students enrolled in the PNB program can join laboratories outside of PNB only in exceptional cases when approved by the Graduate Affairs Committee and the Director of Graduate Studies. The laboratory outside of PNB should assume responsibility for the financial support for the student, as students that join laboratories outside PNB will not be guaranteed a Graduate Assistantship from PNB.
  5. If a professor resigns as a student’s major advisor, the student, in consultation with the Director of Graduate Studies or Department Chair, has 30 business days to identify a new major advisor.

Switching from PhD to MS

  1. Students that wish to convert from the PhD track to the MS track should consult with the Director of Graduate Studies. The Director of Graduate Studies will contact the Registrar to initiate the change of track. The student must specify whether they are switching to a Plan A or Plan B MS.
  2. The student should also inform the department office of the change in track.

Switching from MS to PhD

  1. Students that wish to convert from the MS track to the PhD track must seek approval from the Graduate Affairs Committee.
  2. Students wishing to change track must have completed at least two semesters in the program.
  3. The Graduate Affairs Committee will review the recommendation of the advisory committee that the student be converted to the PhD track. If the recommendation is accepted, the Graduate Affairs Committee will conduct an interview of the student similar to that for a student that has applied directly to the PhD program.
  4. The Graduate Affairs Committee will then either accept or deny the request for a change of track. Upon approval of the Graduate Affairs Committee, the student must reapply to the PhD program via the online application system.

TA/RA Distribution Policy

  1. A student’s financial support, as available, is decided on a semester-by-semester basis and is decided by your major advisor in conjunction with the department.
  2. The amount of financial support is the same regardless of whether the student is an RA or a TA.

Dual Degree Policy

Students enrolled in the PNB graduate program are not permitted to be enrolled in any other degree programs. They may not enroll in courses that do not specifically contribute to their PNB degree without permission from their advisor and advisory committee.