Graduate Division of Biochemistry: Policies and Procedures

 

Last revised 12/18/2000.

This document applies to all students matriculated in fall 1998 and beyond.  Exceptions can be made for students in this category by the Director of Educational Programs.

 

Table of Contents

 

1.         Introduction                                                                                                                

            A. Statement of purpose                                                                                             3

            B. The Graduate Program                                                                                          3

            C. Organization of the Graduate Program                                                                 4

 

II.          Application and admission                                                                                          5

 

III.         Financial                                                                                                                      6

 

IV.        The curriculum                                                                                                            7

            A. Introduction                                                                        

            B. Required courses

                        1. Quarter hours required                                                                               8

                        2. Required courses                                                                                       8

                        3. Suggested program                                                                                    10

            C. The Preliminary Examination                                                                                 10

            D. Dissertation Advisory Committee and Meetings Leading Up to Final Defense     12

            E. The Dissertation Examination Committee                                                             14

            F. Grade point average                                                                                   15

            G. Graduate student responsibility                                                                             15

            H. Statute of limitation and leaves of absence                                               16

            I.  Extramural experience                                                                                            16

            J. The concurrent M.D./D.P.M.-Ph.D. Program                                                         16

            K. The Master of Science (M.S.) degree                                                                    18

            L. Advisors                                                                                                                  18

            M. Dismissal of students                                                                                            19

 

V.         Grievance procedures                                                                                                19

            A. Informal resolution of disputes                                                                               19

            B. Graduate Program Committee as a grievance committee                                   19

                        1. Meetings                                                                                                      19

                        2. Appearance                                                                                                 19

                        3. Notices                                                                                                        19

            C. Academic probation, transfer to the M.S. Program and dismissal                        19

            D. Advisory Committee as an appellate entity                                                            19

            E. Time frame                                                                                                             19

            F. Rights of the aggrieved party                                                                                  19

            G. Documentation                                                                                                       20

VI. Amendments                                                                                                                     20

VII. Appendix: Courses available in the Department of Biochemistry

for graduate students (2000-2001 academic year)                                                    21

 

 

 

Tom, some of the issues we discussed.

 

When should the proposal be submitted?

Years for MS.

Too much detail for Prelims, for Proposal meeting?

 

Better explanation of 5 for us, 7 for Grad College

 

Soften format descript for meetings, so students don’t think they are always retested.

 

Responsibilities of chair at each meeting.  Protocol for letter to students

 

Grading sheet for performance of students at each meeting.  Perhaps we can state that at each meeting the student will be evaluated separately for 1. data, 1b. progress since last meeting, 1c. demonstration of remediation of past problems. 2. presentation, 3. knowledge of area, 4. ability to answer questions 5. general competence 6.  overall performance.

 

1. Introduction

 

A. Statement of purpose

 

The goals of the Graduate Program in the Department of Biochemistry are to provide high quality education, practical training, and research opportunities to students interested in practicing basic and applied medical biochemistry at molecular and cellular levels.  The term "medical biochemistry" has often been applied to describe the Department's scholarly direction. The Department thus endeavors to develop those professionals who, through their research activities, will substantially improve health care delivery to the public.  Our program trains students in the application of chemical, physical and molecular biological methods and principles to the solution of biological problems, especially those of biomedical importance.  A graduate of our program should have the knowledge, skills, perspectives and understanding to produce quality, self-directed scientific work.  Since we are in a time of enormous and rapid advances in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, the knowledge and skills taught in the program are soon replaced or augmented.  Thus, we endeavor to train the student to recognize and utilize the interaction between observation, experiment and theory.  Most importantly, the candidate should also demonstrate that oral, written and visual communication skills have been acquired. Members of the Department of Biochemistry's faculty conduct a broad range of extramurally funded research activities. A strong interaction exists between practicing clinicians and members of the Department of Biochemistry, sometimes leading to full consolidation of research programs. The diverse interests of the faculty provide investigative expertise in the areas of connective tissue biochemistry, etiology of arthritis, regulation of gene expression, mechanisms and regulation of tumor cell invasion, leukemia and cancer cell biology, cell membrane and lipid biochemistry, human reproduction and the application of clinical biochemistry to medical problems. Some of these research programs are joint efforts with other departments, giving the student an opportunity to interact with investigators in other disciplines as well as with clinicians and physician scientists. The departmental laboratories are fully equipped with instrumentation required for modern research in biochemistry, tissue culture, and molecular biology.

            Several faculty members are involved in the operation of hospital clinical biochemistry laboratories and perform basic as well as developmental research work related to human disease. These laboratories are available for student training. The clinical biochemistry laboratories are modern, automated, and computerized high- volume service facilities.

            The holdings of, and services provided by, the Library of Rush University, as well as the numerous journal subscriptions and books carried by the Department, provide ready access to current scientific literature. Rush University operates an updated computer facility available to graduate students for writing, poster and slide preparation, and data processing.

 

B. The Graduate Program

            The Department of Biochemistry offers the Ph.D. degree and, under certain circumstances, the M.S. degree.

            The Ph.D. degree is the principal objective of the Graduate Program. All recipients of this degree acquire a thorough knowledge of normal biochemical processes that take place in the human organism, leading to the development of knowledge and skills of potential benefit to health care delivery.

            The Ph.D. degree is awarded following the successful defense of a research dissertation, which demonstrates the ability of the student to perform and present original scientific work. Prior to this, the student must have completed all course requirements with a minimum average grade of B (3.0/4.0) and passed the Ph.D. Preliminary Examination.

            The Department also offers concurrent M.D.-Ph.D. as well as Doctor of Podiatry (D.P.M.)-Ph.D. Programs, where students of Rush Medical College or Scholl’s College of Podiatric Medicine may become enrolled in the Graduate College. Details of these programs are given in section IV J. 

 

C. Organization of the Graduate Program

 

            The Chairman of the Department has the ultimate responsibility for all decisions with regard to the Graduate Program, except for those reserved for the Graduate College. However, the Chairman delegates the day-to-day operation of the Graduate Program to the Director of Educational Programs, who works closely with the Graduate Program Committee. This Committee handles all matters pertaining to the Graduate Program as enumerated at the end of this section. Both the Chairman and Director of Educational Programs are ex-officio members with voting privileges on all committees pertaining to the Graduate Program. The Graduate Program Committee is advisory to the Director of Educational Programs and the Director is advisory to the Chairman.  Thus, the Committee discusses issues and makes and approves recommendations to the Director of Educational Programs, who for action, still requires final  executive approval of the Chairman of the Department of Biochemistry.

            The Director of Educational Programs is appointed annually by the Chairman of the Department and serves as the Director of the Graduate Program, chairman of the Graduate Program Committee and as a member of the Department Advisory Committee. He/she is a member of the Graduate College Council. In addition, he/she is responsible for instruction in the field of biochemistry within Rush Medical College. He/she evaluates graduate student programs and progress each quarter, maintains graduate student records, and chairs the Graduate Program Committee in its deliberations.

            The Assistant Director of Educational Programs assists the Director of Educational Programs. He/she serves on the Graduate Program Committee, chairs a subcommittee that writes the Preliminary Examinations, develops information systems necessary in the Department's teaching programs, performs the duties of the Director when he/she is not on campus, and performs any such tasks as may be delegated to him/her by the Director. The Chairman of the Department on an annual basis also appoints him.

            The Graduate Program Committee consists of nine members appointed by the Chairman of the Department in consultation with current committee members. Members of the Committee are the Chairman of the Department, Director and Assistant Director of Educational Programs, and a graduate student selected from the student body by the Chairman of the Department in consultation with the Committee. At least two of the nine appointees hold their primary appointments in other departments (conjoint appointments in the Department of Biochemistry), and the remaining three are members of the full-time faculty of the Department with professorial rank. The Graduate Program Committee transmits all of its decisions to the Chairman of the Department for final executive approval. All the decisions of the Committee are made on the basis of a simple majority vote of those present, assuming that at least 5 of the 9 members are in attendance. In general, the Committee's responsibilities include, but are not restricted to, the following:

 

            1. It recommends applicant admission to the Graduate Program and specifies programs of study for admittees with advanced standing. To aid the Committee in the latter task, its chairman may appoint a two-member Credentials Subcommittee. Its recommendations are received by the full Committee for action.

            2. It follows the progress of each graduate student as it pertains to his/her grades, performance on the Preliminary Examination, and research work, as communicated by the Director of Educational Programs, and recommends probation, dismissal, leaves of absence, transfer to the M.S. Program, or any remedial action. It notifies the student's advisor of any action taken, or which needs to be taken, to alter the student's status, or which may be in the best interest of the student.

            3. It approves the composition of Dissertation Advisory and Dissertation Examination Committees upon the receipt of a student advisor's recommendation (see below). It receives the results of such defense examinations and proposes courses of action in case any examinations are done unsuccessfully.

            4. It acts as a grievance forum of first instance, as specified below.

            5.It serves as the Graduate Program Curriculum Committee, approving new courses, evaluating courses, appointing course directors, establishing grading policies and course requirements, approving the elimination of courses, setting standards for the Preliminary Examination, and adjudicating all such matters as may pertain to the Graduate Program curriculum.

            6. It recommends to the Chairman of Biochemistry the appointment of members of the Department's faculty to the Graduate College faculty.

            7. It considers any other such matters as may relate to the administration and implementation of the Graduate Program.

 

II. Application and admission to the Graduate Program

 

            Minimum requirements for admission to the Graduate Program include a bachelor's degree in any scientific discipline with a minimum grade point average (GPA) and Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores as defined by the Graduate College. More specific departmental course requirements are as follows: one year of general chemistry, one year of organic chemistry, one semester or quarter of analytical chemistry, one year of general biology, one year of intermediate or advanced biology, mathematics through calculus, and one year of physics. One semester of physical chemistry and one semester of biochemistry is recommended but not required. Students may be accepted with less than the minimum course requirements upon special action of the Graduate Program Committee, which may waive such requirements or require that the deficiency be made up during the student's first year of graduate study.

            Students are normally admitted in the Fall Quarter, but the Graduate Program Committee may, at its discretion, recommend admission in any of the other quarters. Applications for admission may be submitted at any time during the year, but preferably before March 1 for admission in the Fall Quarter. Students must meet all Graduate College requirements. Application forms and information may be obtained from:

 

Admissions Officer

The Graduate College of Rush University

Rush- Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center

Chicago, IL 60612-3864

            Or from

Dr. Gene A. Homandberg

Department of Biochemistry

Rush Medical College at 

Rush- Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center

Chicago, IL 60612-3864

 

            When the application is complete, the Graduate College will forward the applicant's package to the Department of Biochemistry, whose Graduate Program Committee will then make recommendations for acceptance of students into the Department's Graduate Program. Such recommendations are then forwarded to the Graduate College, which approves them automatically as long as the applicant meets Graduate College GPA and GRE requirements. If they are not met, the matter then comes up before the Graduate College Council for decision. An especially important consideration for admission is the result of the applicant's personal interview with members of the faculty. Thus, those applicants who are able to come to Chicago are strongly urged to visit Rush and the Department of Biochemistry.  If this is not possible, a phone interview will be attempted.

            The application process leading to the joint M.D.-Ph.D. and D.P.M.-Ph.D. Programs are described in section IV J.

The Graduate Program Committee may, upon recommendation by its Credentials Subcommittee, admit students with postgraduate degrees or training in science with advanced standing. The Graduate Program Committee as described above in section I C will determine the extent of advanced credit.

 

III. Financial

            The University determines tuition for full-time graduate students; however, tuition has historically been waived for all students in the Ph.D. programs. Most students accepted by the Department receive a research scholarship (stipend). The research scholarship awarded to graduate students is a privilege, which is contingent upon satisfactory academic progress on the part of the student.  No special application for this stipend need be made; the applicant must merely indicate in his/her cover letter that such a stipend is desired. Additional financial aid, including loans, is available through the Rush University Student Financial Aid Office.  It should be noted that the student is expected to be a full-time student.  Part-time jobs are highly discouraged.  The advisor who will then inform the Director of Education in writing must approve any special circumstances that necessitate a part-time job.

            It is intended that graduate students receive their stipends from the Department of Biochemistry until the student has passed his/her Preliminary Examination and, at the end of the first academic year, has selected a permanent advisor. From that time on, it will be the obligation of the student's advisor to provide the student with financial support, including a stipend, from his/her extramural research funds, as the student can now devote more time to research.

            A student who has passed the Preliminary Examination is also eligible, through his/her advisor's recommendation, to apply for the Professor Alvin Dubin Fellowship, which is awarded for one academic year only. Only U.S. and Canadian citizens/permanent residents are eligible for this award. Mrs. Beverley Dubin funds the Professor Alvin Dubin Fellowship in memory of her late husband, Professor Alvin Dubin, who for many years was an active and dedicated member of the Department of Biochemistry.

Faculty members are required to add graduate student salaries to their budget requests to extramural funding agencies or use technicians' salaries to support graduate students. This approach will assure that graduate students will select those faculty members as their advisors who are well funded on the basis of the quality of their work and competitive review. The students thus have an opportunity to complete a quality research project in a group that has met stringent peer-review standards.

            The research scholarship (stipend) is awarded to students for a period of 5 years with the understanding that they will devote their full time to graduate study activities and that they will make satisfactory progress toward the Ph.D. degree. "Satisfactory progress" includes, but is not limited to, pursuit of the prescribed didactic course program for the first two years of graduate study, identification of a research advisor by the end of the third quarter, sitting for the Preliminary Examination in the fall preceding the second academic year, presenting a research proposal by the end of the second academic year as specified by Departmental Rules and Regulations, and pursuing research activities toward the student's dissertation with due diligence and effort. At the end of an academic year, each student's progress will be reviewed by the Director of Educational Programs in consultation with the Chairman of the Department and the student's research advisor (if selected), and, if gross deviations from the provisions of the Policies and Procedures document are identified, the student will be informed of this by the Director of Educational Programs. If appropriate progress toward the completion of the Ph.D. degree is not resumed within a reasonable period of time, the matter will be brought before the Graduate Program Committee, which may recommend a temporary or permanent suspension of the student's stipend. Should a student fail to complete his/her requirements for the Ph.D. degree within 5 years of matriculation (excluding leave of absence time), the stipend may be continued on a yearly basis for a maximum of two additional years after an extensive review by the Dissertation Advisory Committee and recommendation by the Graduate Program Committee. It is recognized that circumstances beyond a student's control may affect adversely the rate of the student's progress. In such cases, it is in the student's interest to contact the Director of Educational Programs either directly or through the student's advisor with an explanation, so that problems with the student's scholarship may be avoided. The five-year limit applies to students entering the graduate program in September 1996 and thereafter.

The Graduate College has mandated that the Ph.D. must be awarded within 7 years following matriculation (see section IV H).  However, the Department of Biochemistry will enforce a 5-year deadline, but will allow extensions that are justified and approved by the Graduate Program Committee. 

 

IV. The curriculum

 

A. Introduction

            The Ph.D. degree is a research degree conferred in recognition of proficiency in research, breadth and soundness of scholarship and a thorough acquaintance with a specific field of knowledge as determined by the faculty. To attain these goals, the curriculum includes the following:

            1. A core of required biochemistry courses, which provides the basis for the students to pursue their own, specialized research programs;

            2. A variety of elective courses, which provide the students with the flexibility to tailor their course work to their research interests or needs; and

            3. Initiation of research as soon as possible following completion of the Preliminary Examination at the end of the student's first academic year.

           

            During the first year, the student will complete all required biochemistry courses. Because of a heavy course load and because the student should endeavor to obtain a maximum benefit from such graduate-level course work, laboratory research during the student's first fall and winter quarters will be allowed only under special circumstances and with permission of the Director of Educational Programs. An exception will be M.D./Ph.D. students who have already finished some of the course work.  The Director will verify compliance with this regulation each year.  By the end of the second year, the elective course requirement should be completed. By the end of the spring quarter of their first academic year, before they become doctoral candidates, the students are encouraged to submit 3 names of potential advisors in order of preference in writing to the Director of Educational Programs, who will present the names to the Chairman of the Department for final approval. Following consultation with the student and the Chairman of the Department and the potential advisor(s), the Director of Educational Programs will either consent or provide suggestions for alternative advisors. This choice will depend on several factors, including availability of stipends and space.  While the Department pays for stipends for the first year, once a student becomes a doctoral candidate the advisor must assume this financial responsibility. An advisor normally should have no more than two students, nor two students who are separated by less than 2 years academically. By the end of June of their first year, students should have become thoroughly familiar with the faculty's interests through laboratory rotations as part of BCH 581 and 582, BCH 698 and the reading of papers in Journal Club (BCH 595) and through personal contact and be in a position to select an advisor with the consent of the Chairman and Director of Educational Programs. Thus, by the end of June of the student's first year at Rush, he/she should be able to begin laboratory work.

            At the end of the summer quarter of the student's first academic year (usually at the beginning of September; the academic year begins with the fall quarter), the student sits for the Preliminary Examination, which is a combination of a written examination, take-home examination and oral examination. The written examination is given a point score which for passing will typically be 70% or better, but which may vary from year to year depending on the nature and difficulty level of the questions.  Passing for the other examinations is based on whether or not the student demonstrates the knowledge and abilities required for progression into the writing of his or her dissertation proposal.  In the latter case passing will be based on a simple majority vote of the examiners.  If the examinations are passed, the student is admitted to the "Ph.D. candidacy" and is reported to the Registrar.  At this time his/her stipend becomes the responsibility of the advisor and the stipend is increased with this progression through the program. By the end of his/her second academic year (i.e., before the fall quarter of the student's third academic year begins) the student is required to submit and defend a written dissertation proposal before the student's Dissertation Advisory Committee. Following this, the successful student continues his/her research work, as approved by the Dissertation Advisory Committee.  Stipends are incrementally increased after completion of the Proposal Presentation.

            When the student's advisor and his/her Dissertation Advisory Committee agree that the student has completed his/her task, which is done at an announced “Permission to Write Meeting”, he/she writes a dissertation, which is defended in a public seminar and in a separate executive session with the student's Dissertation Examination Committee. Another requirement is that one or more manuscripts, based on the student's dissertation work, be published, accepted, or submitted for publication in a full-length peer-reviewed journal, with the student listed as first author.  The completion of this requirement must be approved by the student’s Dissertation Examination Committee, which also, under special circumstances, may consider alternatives to this requirement.  The Ph.D. degree is awarded in the quarter in which all of the above requirements have been met. To participate in the June graduation ceremony, all requirements for the Ph.D. degree must be met by mid-May.

 

 

B. Required formal courses for the Ph.D. degree

            Any portion of this may be waived for advanced students on a case-by-case basis as recommended by the Credentials Subcommittee

1. Quarter hours required. Total credit hours required for full-time student status and for graduation are determined by the Graduate College. The student must check with the Registrar before anticipated graduation as to whether or not all formal Graduate College requirements have been met.

2. Required courses. A total of 53-quarter hours of formal course work are required, as shown in Table I:

 

Table I

Required courses for the Biochemistry Department graduate students

 

Medical Biochemistry for Graduate Students

(2 quarters), BCH 571 and 572                                                          10 credit hours

Biochemical Methodologies (2 quarters), BCH 581, 582                               8          “

Scientific Writing, BCH 583                                                                            2          “

Journal Club (3 quarters), BCH 595                                                               6          “

Connective Tissue Biochemistry, BCH 624                                                   3          “

Cell Biology, BCH 531                                                                                    3          “

Introduction to Research (2 quarters), BCH 698                                            1          “

Seminar (9 quarters for Ph.D. degree, 6 for Masters of Science)

BCH 597                                                                                                         9(6)      “

Ethics in Research IMM 510                                                                           1          “

Electives                                                                                                         10        “

Total formal coursework                                                                     53

 

            A full-time student registers for a minimum of 12 credit hours each quarter. Credit hours not allocated to formal courses are made up by BCH 699 (Research). However, a student should register for at least one BCH 699 credit each quarter even though the student may not have begun dissertation laboratory research. A student not taking any formal courses must register for 12 hours in BCH 699. The 10 elective hours may be selected from other courses offered by the Department of Biochemistry or from coursework offered by other departments, including those of other universities.  Electives can be taken only after consultation with the student's advisor and Director of the Educational Programs and final approval by the Director.

            All formal biochemistry courses taken by the student must carry a letter grade (A, B, C, or F), except BCH 597, 698 and 699, which are taken for a Pass/Fail grade. Students must obtain a grade of B or better in BCH 571 and 572, the Biochemistry “Core” Courses. Courses taken outside the Department of Biochemistry may be taken on a Pass/Fail basis, unless otherwise determined by the Director of Educational Programs.

            The Department's seminar program and the weekly Workshops are to be considered as part of a student's research experience. Attendance at seminars is mandatory throughout the entire graduate study at Rush regardless of whether or not the student is registered for BCH 597. The BCH 597 course director will monitor attendance and, since seminars are part of the student's research experience, questions derived there from may appear on the Preliminary Examination. After the student has passed the Preliminary Examination, he/she may be excused on a quarterly basis from attending seminars upon a written request by his/her advisor, made to the Director of Educational Programs. Requirements for BCH 597 must, however, be met for graduation.  Attendance at the Workshops is highly recommended since these sessions can greatly help a student prepare for and conduct their dissertation work.  Since many of the themes presented at the workshops relate to Dissertation projects, students may be queried as to their knowledge of Workshop presentations at their “Dissertation in Progress Meetings”

            3. Suggested program. A suggested program for the Ph.D. student is displayed in Table 2. Please note that all required courses are to be taken in the first and second years of the student's tenure at Rush University. Electives are normally taken during the second year. A research advisor should be selected by the end of June of the student's first year, or earlier. Students are expected to remain on campus during the summer quarter, registering for 12-quarter hours of BCH 699 (unless taking a formal course). The summer quarter provides a welcome opportunity to do uninterrupted research work. Reasonable vacation time is permitted after consultation with the student's advisor and two weeks are allowed annually, according to NIH fellowship guidelines

 

Table 2

Suggested program of studies for Ph.D. students

 

Year                                Quarter and quarter hours

 

Fall                  Winter                         Spring              Summer

 

1          BCH 571 (5)                BCH 572 (5)                BCH 624 (3)                BCH 699 (12)

BCH 581 (4)                BCH 582 (4)                BCH 583 (2)                 

BCH 595 (2)                BCH 595 (2)                BCH 595 (2)                 

BCH 597 (1)                BCH 597 (1)                BCH 597 (1)                Preliminary Exam

BCH 531 (3)                                                    Electives (3)

BCH 698 (1)                BCH 699 (1)                BCH 699 (1)

BCH 699 (1)                                                    Select Advisor

 

2          Electives (3)                Electives (3)                Electives (3)                BCH 699 (12)

BCH 597 (1)                BCH 597 (1)                BCH 597 (1)               

BCH 699 (8)                BCH 699 (8)                BCH 699 (8)

                                                An Ethics Course *Dissertation proposal

 

3          BCH 597 (1)                BCH 597 (1)                BCH 597 (1)           BCH 699 (12)

BCH 699 (11)              BCH 699 (11)              BCH 699 (11)

 

Subsequent years: BCH 699 (12) each quarter (unless further electives are also taken) until successful dissertation defense.

 

*Or whenever the course is offered during the academic year.

 

C. The Preliminary Examination

            Students will take the Preliminary Examination at the end of quarter 4 of their residence at Rush. The student shall not be eligible to take this examination if his/her GPA is below 3.0, if an incomplete grade is on record, or if there are unresolved failures in Pass/Fail classes. All students intending to take the Examination must so inform the Director of Educational Programs in writing, so that their records may be checked for such irregularities. The Director will inform the student if there are any problems.  The Preliminary Examination will be given by the Assistant Director of Educational Programs with the help of a sub-committee chosen from the Graduate Program Committee.  However, any faculty member may be asked to assist in any part of the examination process.

            The Preliminary Examination consists of 2 parts: Part I: an 8-hour in-class written segment, and Part II: a take-home segment, for which exactly 7 calendar days are allowed.   Part II also includes an oral examination (<3h).  Since Parts I and II test different aspects, Part I does not need to be passed before Part II, however the students will be expected to take both parts in the same testing period.  The purpose of the Preliminary Examination is to determine the student's knowledge of basic biochemistry, cell biology, and connective tissue biochemistry, and whether or not the student can successfully utilize such factual knowledge to solve biochemical problems in the written and oral formats. The format of the Preliminary Examination may be modified from year to year, but must be approved by the Graduate Program Committee.  The typical format used since fall of 1998 is presented below: 

Part I, requires answering, over an 8-hour period, 10 questions chosen from up to 20 questions. These questions are derived from the areas of instruction, including but not limited to medical biochemistry, cell and molecular biology, connective tissue, methodology and topics emphasized in the seminar series, in special seminars and in the Connective Tissue Workshops. The questions are essay questions that test the student’s knowledge and ability to apply this knowledge in a practical fashion.  Thus, the questions require more than didactic knowledge.  Passing of Part I will normally require a grade of 70% or better but this may vary from year to year depending on the nature and difficulty level of the exam.  If a student fails an exam, additional graders will be used to obtain an overall average before the grade is officially given.  The Director of Educational Programs has the authority to grant a passing grade to students who technically fail, but are very close to passing.  For example, if the overall average for the examination is lower than the year before or if individual students present valid reasons that justify compassion, the Director may, after consultation with other members of the Preliminary Examination Committee, and on a case by case basis, change the 70% passing rule.  If Part I is failed, the student will be allowed to progress to Part II but must retake Part I within 8 weeks. The 8-week period will begin after the student finishes Part II.  If Part I is failed a second time, the case will be referred to the Graduate Program Committee (even if Part II has been passed) which may recommend dismissal, transfer of the student to the M.S. Program, or to give the student a third and final opportunity to take the Preliminary Examination at a time specified by the Graduate Program Committee.  The student will have one week to appeal any decision.

Part II or the take-home part requires answering two of four broadly based questions in 7 calendar days. For the take-home part, the student may consult any printed materials, but is not allowed to seek the help of any faculty or students. The questions test the ability of the student to apply their knowledge in a fashion very close to what will be expected for their written and oral delivery of their research proposal. Thus, Part II is a practical test of their ability to progress into a research proposal months later, but in the case of this exam, the students do not receive faculty assistance as they might for their research proposal. In the past, one of the four questions has required writing a detailed 20-page grant application. The other three questions have required a grant application but may, for example, require design of a lecture with well chosen handouts or delivery of a seminar or simply require an in depth answer to a single question or a series of questions.  This format may change from year to year.   Each written answer will have been previously read by a subcommittee of 4-5 faculty members (including the Director or Assistant Director of Educational Programs), which will then meet with each student for up to 3 hours to continue the examination in the oral format. The student should prepare a presentation of approximately 30 minutes for each question.  Each presentation will be interrupted with questions from the committee and will take a total of 1-1.5h.  It should be emphasized that students must be capable of both writing the examination answer(s) and orally presenting and defending their answers in order to pass Part II.  Passing is based on a majority vote of the committee members. The basic criteria to be used for passing are that the student should be at a level of knowledge and training that he or she has sufficient knowledge of biochemistry and the ability to begin research and present their dissertation proposal 6-12 months later. Thus, the criteria for passing are that the student has progressed adequately to be able to complete a Ph.D. within a total of 5 years.  If Part II is failed, the student must retake Part II within 8 weeks.  If Part II is failed a second time, the case will be referred to the Graduate Program Committee (even if Part I has been passed) which may recommend dismissal, transfer of the student to the M.S. Program, or to give the student a third and final opportunity to take the Preliminary Examination at a time specified by the Graduate Program Committee.  The student will have one week to appeal any decision.

             

D. The Dissertation Advisory Committee

 

D.1.  Composition

            After a successful completion of the Preliminary Examination, the student must present and defend a research proposal, i.e., a research plan for his/her dissertation, before the student's Dissertation Advisory Committee as outlined in section IVA.  This committee shall consist of at least 6 faculty members: either the Chairman of the Department of Biochemistry or the Director of Educational Programs as ex officio members with vote, the student’s advisor, and four other faculty.  Members will be from the Department of Biochemistry, however at least one but not more than two must have their primary appointments in another department (faculty members of other academic institutions are also welcome).  When the advisor is the Director of Educational Programs, the Director will serve as an official member of the committee and the Assistant Director will represent the ex offico office of the Director.  The composition of a student's Dissertation Advisory Committee should be proposed in writing by the student's advisor (in consultation with the student) to the Director of Educational Programs no later than the seventh quarter of the student's residence at Rush (assuming the Preliminary Examination had been passed).  The composition will then be discussed with the Chairman of the Department for tentative approval at that level. Sometimes, faculty members other than those requested may have to be appointed to equalize such committee loads among the Department's faculty. The Graduate Program Committee then approves the Dissertation Advisory Committee composition. Graduate College rules require that the Director of Educational Programs appoint a committee chair from among the committee's membership, excluding the student's advisor. It is Departmental policy to appoint a chair from among faculty with primary appointments in the Department; however, the Chairman of the Department and Director of Educational Programs do not serve as chairs of Dissertation Advisory Committees.

 

D.2.  Meetings

            The first meeting of the Dissertation Advisory Committee is the "Proposal Presentation Meeting."  At this meeting a committee chair is appointed.  Following the approval of the student's proposal, the committee shall meet at least once a year for "Progress Meetings."  The "Permission to Write Meeting" will be held when the student is close to finishing her/his laboratory work.

            Each meeting requires the presence of either the Chairman of the Department or Director of Educational Programs. This is required in order to maintain uniformity in the actions of the committees.  Quality control is the job of the entire committee.  Under special circumstances and with permission of the Chairman of the Department, the Assistant Director of Educational Programs may replace either the Chairman or Director of Education.  Each meeting requires the attendance of at last 5 committee members, which must include the advisor, Committee Chairperson and the Director of Educational Programs (or the Chairman of the Department).

            Though the advisor is a member of the Dissertation Advisory Committee, it should be kept in mind that the advisor's role at that time is equivalent to that of any other Committee member, and that the purpose of the examination is to test the student's and not the advisor's state of knowledge and ability to think scientifically. Thus, at each committee meeting, the advisor cannot answer questions on the student’s behalf unless requested by the committee chairperson.

            Following the initial meeting of the Dissertation Advisory Committee, the chairman of the Committee will prepare a letter for the student summarizing the Committee's recommendations and decisions with copies to the Director of Educational Programs, the student's advisor, members of the Committee and the Chairman of the Department. Similar letters must be sent following all subsequent meetings of the. Committee. The student at subsequent meetings must address these recommendations.

 

D.3.  Proposal Presentation Meeting

The student must defend his/her dissertation proposal no later than the end of his/her eighth quarter in the program (unless determined otherwise by the Graduate Program Committee). This meeting will be defined as the Proposal Presentation Meeting. This meeting should be thought of as a continuation of the examination process begun with the Preliminary Examination since it has three purposes outlined in the following paragraph, two of which concern the student’s proficiency. The proposal should be written in the form of a Research grant application with a literature review, description of previous work done (preliminary data), hypothesis, specific aims, experimental design, significance section and how this work might serve as a foundation for other future theses.  It should include a rationale for experiments, and discuss potential outcomes and pitfalls.   The Assistant Director of Educational Programs will make an example application available. The proposal should include as much preliminary data as possible to show that the proposed work is feasible and important, just as one would for any grant proposal. If only minimal experimental work has been generated, then the proposed studies should be based on previous studies of the advisor or those in the literature.  The advisor and the student will initiate this first meeting.

            In addition to being able to defend his/her research proposal, the student should also be prepared to answer questions dealing with broader aspects of the field in which the proposed work is to be done. For instance, if the student proposes to study the expression of a metalloprotease by chondrocytes, he/she should be familiar with the fields of enzymology in general and proteases in particular, with the protein biosynthesis process and with the biochemistry of extracellular matrix. The purpose of the Proposal Presentation Meeting is three-fold: (1), to approve the student's dissertation research proposal (plan) as presented or in a modified form;(2) to examine the student's mastery of the overall field in which he/she proposes to work and; (3) to examine the student’s innate ability to progress to the level of proficiency required to carry out the objectives and aims of the proposal within the three year laboratory experience time frame.

            The Dissertation Advisory Committee will determine if the student has successfully defended his/her dissertation proposal.  All decisions of the Dissertation Advisory Committee shall be based on a majority vote of those present. If the Committee deems that the student’s Proposal Presentation was inadequate, remedial measures and a re-examination after a period of 6 months may be recommended. If the performance is still inadequate upon re-examination, the Dissertation Advisory Committee will make recommendations to the Graduate Program Committee concerning the student’s progress.  The Graduate Program Committee may place the student on probation before an additional test, or recommend transfer to the M.S. degree, or dismissal.

            At this Proposal Presentation meeting, a Committee Chair is selected and appointed by the Director of Education. Besides the normal expected functions, the Committee Chair will ensure that the objectives of the meeting are obtained.  Students should be requested to make a 30-minute presentation at each meeting (except their final), which with questioning, will typically extend into a 2-hour meeting. The chair will maintain the productive spirit of the meeting, by ensuring that students have an opportunity to present their work and that the faculty has an opportunity to assist as well as establish “quality control”.  Each meeting must begin with an executive session in which the advisor or Director of Educational Programs provides an academic background on the student.  Research results to be given by the students or the advisor’s critique of the students performance should not be given at this time.  Immediately after the student presentation, a second executive session will be held, in which the advisor’s input will become crucial in arriving at a final decision as to whether or not the proposal has been approved. After the meeting, the chair of the Student Dissertation Committee will write a summary of recommendations, in consultation with and with approval of the other committee members, and provide copies for the student and all committee members.

 

D.4.  Progress Meetings

            Following approval of the proposal on an as-is basis or in modified form, the student is expected to complete his/her work substantially as described in the proposal and as approved by the Committee. Any major deviations there from must be approved by the Committee, which shall meet at least once a year to follow the student's progress. These meetings will be called “Progress Meetings”.  Such meetings may be called by the student, the advisor, or the chairman of the student's Dissertation Advisory Committee.  The student traditionally organizes these meetings after consultation with the advisor and Committee Chair.  While the chair is responsible for the meeting per se, the students and or advisor are responsible for communications with committee members prior to the meeting.  Committee members are primarily resource persons for the student, and he/she is strongly urged to consult with them periodically.  In the event that committee members need to be replaced, a letter explaining the circumstance and suggesting replacement faculty should be sent by the Committee Chair to the Director of Educational Programs, who will then consult with the Department Chairman.

 

D.5.  Permission to Write Meeting

            When the student and the advisor, in consultation with the chairperson of the committee, feel the student is very close to finishing his or her laboratory work and should begin writing, a meeting will be convened, termed the “Permission to Write Meeting” where the intent to ask permission to write is clearly explained not only at the meeting but also in writing to all Committee members prior to the meeting. This must be done so all involved understand that they will be asked for their vote at the meeting and asked to clearly define any criticisms or suggestions before the student diverts his or her attention from laboratory work to writing.

                       

E. The Dissertation Examination Committee

 

The Dissertation Examination Committee will normally be the same as the Dissertation Advisory Committee; however, new members may be added or substitutions may be made. The Dissertation Examination Committee members receive the completed dissertation at least 4 weeks before the scheduled defense. However, the student is strongly urged to prepare a draft of his/her dissertation well before that and distribute it to members of his/her Committee for corrections, suggestions for improvement, or resolution of questions that may arise. It is only prudent to make sure that the condition of the dissertation at the time of its defense be such that only minor, if any, corrections should be necessary. The Graduate College and/or the Rush University Library specify the format of the dissertation. Several months before the dissertation is given to committee members, the student and advisor should communicate to the Chairman of the Department, the Director of Educational Programs and the rest of the Committee members the status of the student in obtaining a post-graduate position.  At this time the Committee can be enlisted to make suggestions and to assist in whatever way possible. The advisor is foremost responsible for helping the graduate obtain his/her first position.  At the Dissertation Examination Committee meeting, the advisor and student will be expected to give a final report on the job status of the student.  Since the success of our graduates reflects on the Department, it is the policy of the Department as a whole to help the graduating student obtain the best possible position, one, which will maximally help subsequent career development. To that end, the faculty members of the Department of Biochemistry are highly discouraged from hiring our own graduates. The only exceptions allowed will be for temporary positions of a few months in hardship conditions, as approved by the Chairman of the Department, but never in the same laboratory or group in which the Ph.D. research was conducted.

The dissertation defense consists of a formal seminar, announced to the Rush community at least 2 weeks prior to its scheduled time, and an executive session with the student's Dissertation Examination Committee following that. At that session, the student is expected to produce a reprint(s) of a paper(s) published on the basis of his/her dissertation work, or a manuscript that has been accepted or submitted for publication (with the journal's acknowledgement thereof) with the student as first author (if the student is not the first author, the Dissertation Examination Committee must recommend to the Director of Educational Programs and Chairman of the Department, in order to have this deviation accepted). Upon the recommendation of the Dissertation Examination Committee, the student is presented to the Graduate College for the award of the Ph.D. degree.

 

F. Grade point average

            Students must maintain a GPA of 3.0 (B) and have no outstanding failing or incomplete grades to remain in the Program, to be admitted to the Preliminary Examination and to be graduated. Students must also obtain a grade of B or better in the core courses of their chosen discipline, BCH 571 and 572. Failure to do so will prompt the Graduate Program Committee to reconsider their academic status and take appropriate measures, which will be decided on a case-by-case basis. At the end of each quarter, the Director of Educational Programs reviews the student’s academic record. If the student's average is below B, the student's advisor will be so informed in writing, also stating the consequences of not maintaining a B-average and suggestions for remedying the situation. At the end of the academic year, the Director of the Graduate Program will bring to the attention of the Graduate Program Committee any students whose GPAs are below 3.0 or who have outstanding failures. The Graduate Program Committee may then recommend such student's dismissal, or it may recommend placing the student on academic probation for one or two quarters. When a student receives a grade of Fail in a non- required elective, the student's record is reviewed by the Graduate Program Committee with the goal of suggesting a course for remediation of the failure. Probation may include requiring certain courses to be retaken, limiting enrollment in electives, restricting the student’s laboratory work, etc.  Probation may even include removing the student’s stipend. The Committee shall define precisely the terms of the probation in a letter to the student. If the terms thereof are not carried out satisfactorily, the student's dismissal shall be mandatory.

 

G. Responsibilities of the Graduate Student and Advisor 

            It is the student's and his/her advisor's responsibility to read and observe regulations set forth by the Department and the Graduate College and Rush University. It is also the responsibility of each student to read and observe the requirements for the Ph.D. (or M.S.) degrees set forth by the Graduate Program Committee, and to meet the deadlines established by the Graduate College and the Registrar's office. Failure to receive notices of examinations, filing dates, etc. does not exempt the student from any requirements. It is the student's responsibility to seek out this information by reading instructions or contacting the Director or Assistant Director of Educational Programs.  When a student graduates, his/her responsibility to the Department does not end.  Graduates are strongly encouraged to notify the Department of any changes in address for at least a five-year period.  This is done in order to allow the Department to complete progress reports so financial assistance for future students can continue.

While the advisor has many responsibilities to the student, one of the most important ones is to help the graduating student obtain his/her first position and to facilitate career development (e.g. postdoctoral fellowship) for as long as possible.

 

H. Statute of limitations and leaves of absence

            A student must complete his/her Ph.D. degree requirements within five  (5) years of matriculating at Rush in the Department of Biochemistry, excluding any leaves of absence. Extensions of this limitation may be granted under unusual circumstances on a quarter-by-quarter basis upon petition to the Director of Educational Programs, who will act, based on the advice of the Graduate Program Committee

            A student may take a leave of absence from his/her studies for any reason. The maximum continuous leave of absence shall be one year, though this may be extended for a maximum of an additional year upon petition to the Graduate Program Committee. The leave of absence is requested in writing to the Director of Educational Programs, who shall then inform the petitioner of the Department's decision. If the student fails to return from his/her leave of absence as specified by the Graduate Program Committee, the student shall be automatically dismissed from the Program.

 

I. Extramural experience

            Selected students will have an opportunity to spend one quarter in a basic science research laboratory in an industrial organization or another recognized research institution of higher learning in the U.S. or Europe. It is expected that work in the extramural laboratory will aid the student in his/her dissertation research work. The students will be selected for this experience upon written application to the Director of Educational Programs through guidelines established by the Department.

            During his/her tenure in the outside laboratory or institution, the student will be registered in BCH 585 (Extramural Research) for 5 credit hours, plus the usual 7 credit hours in BCH 699. The student will spend 8-10 weeks (normally during the spring or summer quarter) under the guidance of a scientist in industry or at another research institution. The student will select a major and a minor area from the research areas provided and will study in both these areas during his/her stay at the extramural institution. The student will be required to read assigned articles, take a final examination given by the selected scientist, and submit a report on his/her experience and accomplishments to the Director of Educational Programs within one quarter of his/her return to Rush. The extramural mentor in BCH 585 will award letter grades based on the student’s performance.

 

J. Concurrent M.D. / D.P.M. and Ph.D. programs

            A student who has been admitted to, or is currently attending Rush Medical College, may apply for admission to the concurrent M.D.-Ph.D. program in the Department of Biochemistry. The program is tailored to each individual student's needs. Normally, the student first completes the required preclinical courses at Rush Medical College and passes Step 1 of the USIVILE. The student may then begin work in the Graduate Program, which should require no more than 3 additional years. Following the completion of graduate work, the student resumes his/her studies in the clinical clerkships. Resumption of the M.D. program is permitted only upon assurances by the Department of Biochemistry that the Ph.D. work has been completed. Alternately, the medical student may complete the medical college requirements for graduation before starting work toward the Ph.D. degree.

            The participant in the concurrent M.D.-Ph.D. program will be expected to fulfill the requirements set by the Credentials Subcommittee of the Graduate Program Committee. This would include formal course requirements at the appropriate level, passing of the Preliminary Examination, and submission of a high quality dissertation based on original research work. Many formal course requirements for the Ph.D. degree will be met by the Rush Medical College preclinical courses. It is expected that most if not all formal course requirements will be completed by the end of the first academic year in the Program. The remainder of the student's time is expected to be spent in research activities. The M.D.-Ph.D. program must be completed within 7 years.

            Alternately, a student may enter the M.D.-Ph.D. program through the Medical College, which identifies a maximum of 2 M.D.-Ph.D. students per year at the time of their admission to Rush Medical College. Such students receive medical school tuition waivers for the fourth year of their medical education, providing they complete requirements for their Ph.D. degrees before resuming their third-year medical studies. The details on this program may be obtained from the Office of the Dean of Rush Medical College.

            The Department of Biochemistry has entered into an agreement with the Dr. William Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine for a concurrent D.P.M. - Ph.D. program. Admissions procedures and requirements for the Ph.D. degree are substantially the same as those for the M.D.-Ph.D. degree. Details of this program are spelled out in a separate document entitled "The Concurrent D.P.M. - Ph.D. Degree Program."

 

K. The Master of Science (M.S.) degree

            The objective of the M.S. Program is to recognize a graduate student's achievements in the Department of Biochemistry, insufficient to obtain the Ph.D. degree but which meet certain prescribed requirements as described below. Typically, the M.S. degree candidate will have entered the Ph.D. Program; however, due to the student's inability to achieve the Ph.D. degree candidate status, or for personal reasons, or because of circumstances beyond the student's control, the student is obliged to abandon his/her initial intention to earn a Ph.D. degree. Thus, no student will be admitted to the Graduate Program of the Department of Biochemistry with the specific aim of obtaining an M.S. degree in the Department of Biochemistry. The Graduate Program Committee who will make a recommendation to the Chairman of the Department of Biochemistry must approve the transfer of a student from the Ph.D. to the M.S. Program

            To achieve a transfer from the Ph.D. to the M.S. Program, the advisor and student must submit a petition to the Graduate Program Committee through the Director of Educational Programs. The Committee will consider all the circumstances and reasons leading to the abandonment of the Ph.D. Program by the student and may approve or reject the student's petition at its discretion. Alternately, the Graduate Program Committee may recommend a transfer to the M.S. Program because a student has been unable to pass the Preliminary Examination, the research proposal examination, or, because in its opinion, the student may not be able to achieve the intellectual level required to become an independent investigator.

            Formal course requirements for the M.S. degree shall be the same as those for the Ph.D. degree, as outlined above, or as determined by the Graduate Program Committee for individual students. In cases where the student has already begun his/her laboratory experience and has sufficient data, the student would be expected to finish his M.S. within 1 quarter after the transfer.  In cases where the student does not have sufficient data, an additional quarter may be granted. Either way, the time limit for the completion of the M.S. degree shall be a maximum of 3 years following matriculation for the Ph.D. degree. Extension of this time limit is possible upon petition to the Director of Educational Programs who will seek the advice of the Graduate Program Committee and make a recommendation to the Chairman of the Department. A student with less than a B average or on academic probation shall not be eligible to receive the M.S. degree, unless these deficiencies are rectified.

            A student anticipating receiving the M.S. degree must submit a thesis based on original laboratory investigation to the Department of Biochemistry. Normally, such a thesis will describe work initiated for the Ph.D. dissertation, but which cannot be completed because the student is obliged to leave the Ph.D. Program. Hence, the extent and quality of such a thesis may be well below that required for a Ph.D. dissertation. Nevertheless, the work described must be novel and at least appropriate for a poster presentation at a regional or national scientific meeting.

            The thesis work is carried out under the mentorship (advisorship) of a faculty member of the Department of Biochemistry. When both the student and his/her advisor are in agreement that the quality and quantity of work is sufficient for an M.S. degree thesis, the advisor and student select a thesis defense committee as specified by Graduate College rules for the Ph.D. dissertation committees. Members of the thesis defense committee will receive the thesis for commentary and will conduct an oral thesis defense examination with the student. Public presentation of the thesis work is encouraged but not required.

            As soon as a student transfers from the Ph.D. to the M.S. Program, he/she will be required to make arrangements for tuition payments, as required by Graduate College rules. There are no tuition scholarships for M.S. students.

 

L. Advisors

            The Director of Educational Programs serves as a student's advisor until a permanent research advisor (mentor) is chosen. A permanent research advisor is selected as described in section IV A above. It is the responsibility of the advisor to act as the student's advocate, follow the student's progress, and do his/her utmost to develop the student professionally.

            No student will be forced to work with any specific advisor, and no faculty member shall be required to accept a specific student into his/her laboratory. It is the student's responsibility to seek out an advisor, with the advice of the Department Chair and the Director of Educational Programs. If an entering student cannot be matched with an advisor by the end of the first academic year (quarter 4), it may be in the student's best interests to leave the Program. The Graduate Program Committee may also recommend dismissing a student if an advisor cannot be found. This may occur with an entering student, or with a more senior student, who for one reason or another has left his/her advisor's laboratory and cannot find another advisor.

            A student may wish to change advisors. Changes in advisor may be requested in writing to the Director of Educational Programs under extraordinary circumstances and must be approved by the Graduate Program Committee. If the change in advisor and the direction of the research takes place after the student has successfully defended his/her dissertation proposal, then the student must have a new Proposal Presentation meeting within 3 months of making the change. If a Dissertation Advisory Committee had already been appointed for the student, the student, in his/her letter to the Director of Educational Programs requesting a change in advisors, should also indicate if he/she wishes to retain the old committee, or if a new committee should be appointed. In the latter case, the procedure outlined in section IV D should be followed. If the change in advisors takes place before the Proposal Presentation meeting, the student shall follow the normal procedure with respect to research proposal preparation and presentation.

 

M. Dismissal of students

 

Causes for student dismissal include, but are not limited to, the following:

            1. Academic deficiencies as outlined in section IV F.

            2. Failure to pass the Preliminary Examination, as outlined in section IV C.

3. Inability to find an advisor, as outlined in section IV L.

            4. Inadequate presentation of research proposal.

5. Insufficient research progress.

6.  Exceeding the 5-year limitation for the Ph.D. degree, or the 3-year limitation

for the M.S. degree (see sections IV H and IV K) without permission granted

by the Chairman of the Department.

            7. Unprofessional conduct or, if in the view of the Graduate Program Committee,

the student is unsuitable for a scientific career.

            8. Failure to live up to conditions specified in the letter of acceptance into the

Graduate Program.

            7. Any causes specified by the Graduate College.

 

V. Grievance procedures

 

A. Informal resolution of disputes

            Disputes between graduate students and faculty, staff or departmental administration, or among students themselves, should be resolved on an informal basis whenever possible.

 

B. Graduate Program Committee as the Grievance Committee

            Should it be impossible to resolve a conflict informally, the Graduate Program Committee shall act as the arbiter of the controversy. A graduate student or a faculty member wishing to bring a matter concerning graduate education before the Graduate Program Committee for adjudication shall do so in writing, addressing his/her petition to the Director of Educational Programs who chairs the Graduate Program Committee. The grievant must submit his/her petition within twenty calendar days of the event precipitating the dispute.  It is the policy of the Graduate College of Rush University that attempts at resolution of all matters of grievance must be made first at the Divisional (Departmental) level.

            1. Meetings. A meeting of the Graduate Program Committee shall be called within two weeks, or as soon thereafter as is practicable, of receipt of the complainant's petition.

            2. Appearance. All parties to a complaint shall have the right to appear before the Committee. Alternately, the Committee may request the student's or faculty member's appearance. No attorneys will be allowed to appear before the Graduate Program Committee on behalf of anyone. All deliberations shall be conducted in executive session.

            3. Notices. All parties to a complaint shall receive timely written notice of the complaint and all Graduate Program Committee meetings that may be called to resolve the conflict. All parties to the complaint shall receive written notice of the Committee's decision within one week, or as soon thereafter as is practicable. Placing written notices in the student's or faculty member's mailbox in the Department of Biochemistry office, or mailing notices to the student's or faculty member's last known address, shall constitute valid notice.

 

C. Academic probation, transfer to the M.S. Program, and dismissal

            The Graduate Program Committee's functions include placing graduate students on probation, transfer to the M.S. track, and/or dismissal for academic or other reasons as specified in section IV M above, at the initiative of the Director of Educational Programs or another faculty member. Students have the right to appeal such decisions. All the above rules for notice, meetings, and appearances shall apply.

 

D. Advisory Committee as an appellate entity

            Within one week of receiving notice of the Graduate Program Committee's decision, the losing party may appeal such a decision, in writing, to the Department Advisory Committee through the Chairman of the Department.

 

E. Time frame

            The entire grievance procedure within the Department of Biochemistry shall take no more than 10 weeks.

 

F. Rights of the aggrieved party

            There shall be no change in the status of the student or faculty member while the grievance procedure is in progress. The aggrieved student or faculty member may withdraw his/her complaint or grievance at any time during the grievance process by giving written notice to the Director of Educational Programs.

 

G. Documentation

            Minutes of the meetings of the Graduate Program Committee and the Advisory Committee shall be taken by the duly appointed secretary of each committee and, following approval, shall be maintained with other departmental minutes in the department office. Copies of such minutes are to be distributed to all parties to the complaint and/or to those affected by the decisions of the Graduate Program and Advisory Committees.

 

VI. Amendments

            The process of revision or amendment of these Policies and Procedures may be initiated at any time by individual faculty.  Suggestions should be made in writing to the Director of Educational Programs, who will present these suggestions to the Graduate Program Committee. The Graduate Program Committee will decide whether to recommend the amendment for approval by the Departmental Advisory Committee. The Graduate Program Committee shall review the Policies and Procedures document every other year. The faculty shall be informed of any changes. The information and proposed revisions in this document were discussed at a faculty meeting in Sept 2000. The suggested changes were discussed by the Graduate Program Committee Oct 15, 2000. After a further revision, this final revision was approved by the Department Advisory Committee Dec 18, 2000.  This document applies to all students who matriculated in fall, 1998 and beyond.

 

VII. Appendix: Courses for graduate students available in the Department of Biochemistry (1999/2000): (Note that the Required Ethics Courses are taught outside of the Department)

 

BCH 505 Special Topics in Biochemistry      Any time                                  4 credit hours

BCH 571 Medical Biochemistry

for Graduate Students I*                     Fall                                          5          “

BCH 572 Medical Biochemistry

            for Graduate Students II*                    Winter                                     5          “

BCH 581 Biochemical methodology I*           Fall                                          4

BCH 582 Biochemical methodology II*           Winter                                     4

BCH 583 Scientific Writing*                            Spring                                      2          “

BCH 585 Extramural research                       Any time                                  5          “

BCH 531 Cell biology I*                                   Fall                                          3          “

BCH 532 Cell biology II                                   Spring                                      3          “

BCH 595 Journal club*                                   Fall, Winter, Spring                 2 credit hours each

BCH 597 Seminar*                                         Every quarter                          I credit hour each

BCH 599 Independent study                           Any time                                  Variable credit

BCH 624 Connective tissue biochemistry*   Spring                                      3 credit hours

BCH 651 Science and the law                        Summer or Fall                       2          “

BCH 690 Minicourses                                     Any time                                  1          “

BCH 698 Introduction to research*                 Fall                                          2          “

BCH 699 Research*                                       Every quarter                          1          “

 

*Required courses