Annual Graduate Student Progress Report and Annual Update of Course Plan / Thesis Timeline

The Biological Sciences Department requires that all graduate students file an Annual Graduate Student Progress Report and updated Course Plan / Thesis Timeline with their major professor and the Graduate Coordinator each academic year. They should be completed by the student in consultation with their major professor. Completion of the forms, signatures, and submission of the forms are all done electronically.

Annual Graduate Student Progress Report: The student completes their annual progress report, except for the last two sections. The major professor will enter comments in the area provided and evaluate the student using the student learning outcomes matrix in the report. The major professor then will electronically sign the form and return it to the student. The major professor then will send it back to the student so that they can review it, electronically sign it, and email it to the Graduate Coordinator to be placed into the student's file. The major professor’s signature indicates that they have reviewed the student’s report and completed their sections. The student’s signature indicates that they have reviewed their major professor’s evaluation of their performance during the past year in the graduate program.

Course Plan / Thesis Timeline: Students complete their original course plan and thesis timeline when they take BIO 5800L (Research and Teaching Professional Development) during their first fall semester in the graduate program. As part of the annual report, the student updates their most recent versions together with their major professor. For the course plan, the student should update courses and terms as needed and add grades received. Students should confirm that with any changes made, they will still satisfy all course requirements for the degree. For the thesis timeline, the student should review their progress and adjust any dates as needed. Both the student and their major professor must sign the updated course plan / thesis timeline.

The student must provide their annual progress report and updated course plan / thesis timeline to their major professor by 14 May of every year the student is in the program. The final combined document, including the annual progress report and updated course plan / thesis timeline, is due to the Graduate Coordinator by 21 May of every year the student is in the program.

Deadlines to remember:

14 May of every year – Annual Graduate Student Progress Report and updated Course Plan / Thesis Timeline due to major professor

21 May of every year – Annual Graduate Student Progress Report and updated Course Plan / Thesis Timeline due to Graduate Coordinator