[Plsgs] Annual Committee meetings and more

[Mcmahon, Michelle M - (mcmahonm)]

Hi Grads,

I hope you are all well, or well enough under the circumstances! I know everyone is doing their best to carry on, and to try to maintain forward progress in your program, despite these major disruptions. With this in mind, we have a few announcements. These policies were underway before the shutdown, and are even more important now:

1. Annual committee meetings
As you all know, you are required to have an annual committee meeting each year, and it is more critical than ever during these weird times that you meet with your committee. You need to make sure you are as on track as you can be, and you may need to develop contingency plans. So, by May 15, everyone needs to hold a committee meeting (remotely, of course!). If you held one already this spring, you do not need to have another one. We have a new, single form that does not require signatures, to make that part a little easier. Instructions are on the form (attached).

2. Dissertation prospectus
Some of you know that we are beginning to enforce a Graduate College requirement of having a dissertation prospectus on file with the department. For those for whom this is news, take a look at the Dissertation Prospectus form and, if you are in your second, third, or fourth year, prepare a prospectus as best you can, prior to your committee meeting. For those finishing up in 2020 (May, August, or Dec) it's optional. It's also optional (but recommended!) for MS students. First year PhDs: our goal is to have you develop the first version of your prospectus by the start of next year.

Development of the prospectus is an opportunity for you and your advisor to discuss general questions, specific projects, and authorship (if collaborative projects and manuscripts are on the horizon). Submit the prospectus with the attached form to Georgina, after you have had a chance to share it at your committee meeting.

3. Keeping track of everything
Shortly, you will be given access to a Box folder that will include a handy, personalized checklist. It is also where your prospectus will go, after you submit it to Georgina. Your Major Advisor will also be given access to the Box folder, so everyone can keep an eye on all the steps, little and big, that are needed to communicate your progress to your Advisor, the School's grad program, and the Graduate College.

Let us know if you have any questions about committee meetings, prospecti, or anything else!
Shelley and Georgina

--
__________________________
Shelley (Michelle) McMahon
School of Plant Sciences
University of Arizona
mcmahonm at email.arizona.edu<mailto:mcmahonm at email.arizona.edu>
520-626-0479
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://list.cals.arizona.edu/pipermail/plsgs/attachments/20200401/5e9ecfb3/attachment.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: SPLS_Dissertation_Prospectus.pdf
Type: application/pdf
Size: 256329 bytes
Desc: SPLS_Dissertation_Prospectus.pdf
URL: <https://list.cals.arizona.edu/pipermail/plsgs/attachments/20200401/5e9ecfb3/attachment.pdf>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: SPLS_Grad_Annual_Progress.pdf
Type: application/pdf
Size: 344707 bytes
Desc: SPLS_Grad_Annual_Progress.pdf
URL: <https://list.cals.arizona.edu/pipermail/plsgs/attachments/20200401/5e9ecfb3/attachment-0001.pdf>