Student Guidance, Orientation and Review

Student guidance will be provided by the GS Program Advisor (currently Ray Gesteland; see Section ). First-year GS students, whether admitted or prospective, will obtain guidance in their program of study, and selection of dissertation topic and advisor, from the Program Advisor.

During the week immediately preceding each Autumn Quarter, a half-day orientation will be provided to incoming graduate students (open as well as to interested undergraduates and postdocs). The agenda of these orientations will include introduction of primary faculty, discussion of program requirements, funding opportunities, and overviews of current research opportunities.

The progress of each GS student will be reviewed each spring quarter by the GS Advisory Committee. There are four purposes for these reviews:

1. Determination of satisfactory progress, probation, or dismissal from the program as appropriate.
2. Award, renewal or termination of GS financial aid (principally, NIH Predoctoral Traineeships, see Section ) will be decided for each student.
3. Continued relevance of student dissertation research to GS will be determined.
4. Overall direction and interdepartmental student balance will be assessed, in the interest of maintaining a heterogeneous student body in keeping with the GS program's interdisciplinary goals.