This information is meant to be a helpful tool; it does not replace official Graduate School requirements, guidelines from your committee, or your Exuviae handbook.

MS Year 1

1. Change your special committee chair from Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) to your major advisor in Student Center (first semester).
2. Complete the two required courses (ENTOM 2120, ENTOM 7670) unless you have taken an ENTOM 2120 equivalent and have received exemption from DGS.
3. Form your full committee with a minimum of 2 members for MS (Chair must be in Field, others can be from other areas). Enter changes in Student Center.
4. Have first annual committee meeting to discuss courses and plans for research and a possible thesis outline. Send written outline of progress and plans to your full committee a week before all meetings (this is expected).
5. Complete the annual Student Progress Review with Advisor and Committee (Students will discuss progress and goals with Advisor and Committee).

MS Year 2

1. Second annual committee meeting (written document to committee one week prior)
2. Meet with the full committee at least 3 months before the M-exam to discuss dates and timeline for thesis completion. The written component is your thesis in final form. The oral component is defending the thesis and answering questions relating to the thesis topic.

One month before MS Exam (must be completed 10 days before the exam)

1. Reserve room/s with Graduate Field Assistant (GFA) and schedule email announcement to field.
2. Submit written component to all members of the committee
3. Complete official online schedule form which requires signatures from GFA, Committee and DGS. Online Schedule Form.

MS Exam Day

1. Submit online results form within 3 days of exam (automatically forwarded to committee for signatures)
2. Submit final version of your thesis to the graduate school through ProQuest within 60 days of exam.

*In the case of a conditional pass or fail clear guidelines need to be provided on the format and content of any reassessment.

Last Steps

1. Annual Student Progress Review
2. Graduation!

This information is meant to be a helpful tool; it does not replace official Graduate School requirements, committee guidelines, or your Exuviae handbook.

Year 1

1. Complete the two required courses (ENTOM 2120, ENTOM 7670 including attending the Departmental Seminar) unless you have taken an ENTOM 2120 equivalent and have received exemption from DGS.
2. Form your full committee (3 members including PI). Enter in Student Center.
3. Have first annual committee meeting to discuss courses and plans for research. Send written outline of progress and plant to the full committee one week prior to meeting.
4. Complete the annual Student Progress Review with Advisor and Committee. (Students will discuss progress and goals with Advisor and Committee).

Year 2

1. Second annual committee meeting (written document one week prior).
2. Annual Internal Presentation.
3. Meet with the full committee at least 3 months before the A-exam to discuss dates and materials that will be covered and format for written exam. The exam contains both oral and written components.
4. The exam begins with a 20-minute oral presentation on what the student proposes to do, with motivations, questions, hypotheses, predictions, and proposed methods to be followed by a discussion on the biological premises of the project.
5. The written component, of no more than 20 pages relevant to the topic and including appropriate citations, should be decided by the committee at this meeting. This determines how effective students are at summarizing the literature, extracting the key components, finding the relevant references and identifying novel questions and avenues of research. The choices are:
   1. Novel proposal developed by the student
   2. Novel manuscript/literature review developed by the student
   3. Essay of a topic of the committee’s selection
   4. Multiple topics based on a question from each committee member
   5. Written exam: Open ended questions and the format should be decided during the pre-meeting

One month before A Exam

1. Reserve room/s with GFA set up poster to sent to the field.
2. Submit written component to all members of the committee.
3. Have scheduling form completed and turned into GFA via Online Schedule Form. This is automatically forwarded on to the committee for signatures. 

A-Exam Day

Submit online results form within 3 days of exam (automatically forwarded to committee for signatures)

*In the case of a conditional pass or a fail, clear guidelines need to be provided on the format and content of any reassessment.

7-10 days after A Exam

All committee members need to provide written comments to the students: Individually or as a group document organized by the Committee Chair.

• On the written component of the exam
• Strengths and weaknesses of the student in relation to attaining goals
• Areas of improvement
• Suggested or required courses or experiences

Post A-exam Committee meeting in the 2nd year
Many students have a second (optional) committee meeting to focus on research depending on A-exam discussion

Year 3

1. Some students will take A-exam in the Fall semester
2. Committee Meeting (written document to committee one week prior)
3. Internal Oral Presentation
4. Annual Student Progress Review

Year 4

1. Committee Meeting (written document to committee one week prior)
2. Internal Oral Presentation
3. Annual Student Progress Review
4. Schedule Oral Presentation for the Departmental seminar series next year (if graduating)

Year 5

1. Committee Meeting to plan timeline and content for completion of degree
2. Schedule B-exam with Committee, GFA and Graduate school (official form due 10 days before exam) Online Schedule Form
3. Departmental Presentation of Dissertation work
4. Submit results of B-exam within 3 days. online results form
5. Complete Committee corrections by Graduate school filing deadline (May 1 for Spring graduation)
6. Annual Student Progress Review
7. Graduation!
    

• Read! ... in your area of specialization, but also more broadly.
• Manage your time and resources.
  • Be proactive about developing your research projects and timelines for achieving your goals for your time at Cornell.
  • Schedule time each week to anticipate both supply and personnel needs, as well as keeping track of grad school milestones/deadlines.
  • Timelines can and should be revisited frequently.
• Maintain a strong work ethic and stay organized.
  • This involves keeping organized field and lab notes, working smart (not just hard!), and keeping a healthy work-life balance.
• Behave like a scholar.
  • You are an ambassador at many levels (University, Department, Lab) and are beginning a long-term academic relationship that will extend far beyond graduate school.
• Attend and be prepared to interact at lab meetings.
  • This involves reading all lab meeting materials ahead of time.
  • If you are leading a discussion, develop objectives and/or questions to promote group discussion.
• Communicate with your faculty mentor.
  • Schedule regular meetings (weekly is ideal) to keep your mentor updated on your progress and to discuss research (develop new ideas, troubleshoot old ones, etc…)
  • Run plans by your mentor before beginning new experiments or making changes to existing ones.
  • Many faculty are happy to have your drop in on them with questions, but some faculty may prefer meetings that are schedule ahead of time. Ask your mentor what their policy is regarding drop-in visits vs. more regularly scheduled meetings. This may also depend on the faculty mentor’s teaching or grant deadlines.
  • While most meetings will focus on discussing research progress, pitfalls, and ideas, we also recommend that students meet with their mentor(s) to discuss any personal or professional challenges. Graduate school is no walk in the park! We want you to leave the Department being proud of your accomplishments and certain about your future goals and plans.
• Keep your office and lab (and lab space) clean and organized.
• Attend on-campus seminars.
  • Jugatae at a minimum, plus others relevant to your field and areas of interest.
• Help train others in the lab, including other graduate students and undergraduates.
  • This will vary year to year based on discussions with your mentor, but will range from co-advisement of undergraduate projects to offering general assistance in training students on lab and field methods.
• Present your work at in-house meetings (annual January Symposium and Jugatae) as well as national (ESA) and international (ICE) meetings. Ask your advisor for advice on other meetings that you should attend given your background and interests.
• Apply for grants.
  • Demonstrating grantsmanship is excellent preparation for the future, looks great on your CV, and can help you to conduct projects that the lab may not have full funding for. Funding opportunities include in-house grants (Rawlins travel grants as well as Griswold research grants) as well as external grants (Sigma Xi, Explorer’s Club, NE SARE, NSF, USDA, etc.). You should discuss grant ideas with your faculty mentor. Letters of support may be needed for these grants, so make sure you give your faculty mentor time to prepare these letters.
• Publish your work.
  • We encourage you to think of thesis chapters also as manuscripts. Manuscripts carry more weight over your scientific career and can easily be reformatted as chapters.
• Back up your data and notes regularly.
  • There are endless options for how to do this, but students are encouraged to use at least two methods (e.g. CALS server, Cornell Box, an external hard drive).

• Help you to define your research questions and design and carry out research projects.
• Challenge you to know your area better than your mentor does.
• Help you make connections for your career in academia and other areas to the best of your mentor’s ability.
• Help identify training opportunities and resources, both in and outside of the lab, that will further your particular interests and professional goals.
• Support your participation in local, national and international scientific conferences.
• Provide timely feedback on your scientific writing.
  • Let your mentor know when you will be submitting grants or papers and give them a chance to read and comment on your writing. Advisors vary in how much feedback they give, but they should always be willing to read and comment on your work in a reasonable timeframe.
• Open door policy.
  • While faculty tend to provide the best feedback during scheduled meetings, most faculty try to maintain a reasonable open door policy (see expectations of the student regarding this). Keep in mind that faculty may be busy with their own administrative, research, teaching and extension deadlines. It is always a good idea to plan important meetings in advance.
• Promote you in the field both during and after your tenure at Cornell.
  • Faculty mentors under most circumstances should be willing to write letters of recommendation, provide feedback on grants and fellowships, and provide editorial feedback on manuscripts.
  • Faculty mentors may wish to present your work in scientific conferences or talks. They should discuss this with you, involve you in the talk preparation and acknowledge your contributions.
• Co-authorship in papers.
  • Who is an author on papers arising from your MS or PhD thesis work is something that is generally negotiated between faculty and student. If faculty have provided grant funding, expertise, resources, or significant editorial help it is generally appropriate to include them as senior (last) authors on papers. We urge students to discuss the issue of co-authorship with their faculty mentor in order to understand their policy on this issue.

Who to contact when you have a question and can’t find the answer? 

Advisor: Always start here if appropriate

Special Committee members: Useful on scientific questions and as mentors, these are people you may feel particularly comfortable with

GFA: You want to know how a Field/Cornell process works or you feel comfortable with them

DGS: You have a question about your advisor, the program, your scientific progress, or you feel comfortable with them

Chair: You need to talk to the leader of the Department, or you feel comfortable with them.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

The graduate school web page is the first place to turn if you have a question about Cornell policies. One of the most convenient aspects is access to all of the forms that need to be submitted for course registration, committee selection, travel grant applications, etc. They are available as pdf files from:  http://www.gradschool.cornell.edu/forms. There are also notices for vast numbers of professional development opportunities.

General Graduate School Information and Resources regarding M/A/B-Exams.
https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academic-progress/

Entomology Graduate Student Resources, including Field-specific information regarding M/A/B-Exams. https://cals.cornell.edu/education/degrees-programs/graduate-field-of-entomology/resources-for-entomology-graduate-students

The Entomology Graduate Student Club, Jugatae, now has a website with additional information:
http://blogs.cornell.edu/jugatae/

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Program Overview

Welcome to the graduate field of entomology at Cornell University. We house the oldest entomology program in the United States that has a world-wide impact on entomological research, teaching, and extension/outreach. Our program has particular strengths in the following areas: insect-plant interactions and chemical ecology; insect-microbe interactions; systematics and biodiversity; pest-management and biological control; and outreach, public education, and citizen science.

The entomology field program is made up of both MS and PhD degree students who are chaired by faculty, some of which are in other departments, who are all part of the Field of Entomology. The Department of Entomology is also divided between two campuses, the main Ithaca campus and the AgriTech campus in Geneva, NY. We are a direct-admit program, meaning students are admitted directly into a faculty’s lab, not into rotations leading to a position. Our MS program time to degree is generally 2 years and our PhD program time to degree is generally 5 years. Funding is guaranteed during this time with continued satisfactory progress towards the degree. 

2. Student Learning Outcomes

Students in entomology are expected to develop and demonstrate creativity in research, teaching, and/or extension. We consider indicators of success when students:

• Demonstrate intellectual engagement and become an established member of the research/teaching/extension community through participation in departmental seminars, journal clubs, scientific meetings, lab group meetings.
• Develop the ability to assimilate information and knowledge from multiple sources to form hypotheses and questions by becoming familiar with the relevant literature and be able to discuss their research with peers and faculty.
• Develop critical thinking skills, including the ability to identify and evaluate assumptions in an argument, analyze arguments, and formulate coherent opinions and place their own research into context.
• Demonstrate the ability to write scientifically including research proposals, peer-reviewed papers and/or extension or outreach articles.
• Conduct research by mastering appropriate research methodologies, analyzing and interpreting their own research findings.

Students in entomology are expected to communicate research findings orally and in writing. We expect students to:

• Develop oral communication skills, including the ability to present research and/or extension and/or outreach material in a way that is compelling and audience- appropriate. Beginning in the second year, students are expected to give a presentation in either JUGATAE or the January symposium at least every other year. In addition, we expect all students to give annual talks (after their first year) in various settings such as journal clubs, regional, national or international meetings.
• Develop written communication skills. We recommend students get involved in the writing of proposals, scientific publications in the primary literature and extension/outreach publication for the general public. Written communication may be both traditional and web-based.

Students in entomology are expected to be leaders in the academy and beyond. We expect students to:

• Work independently and in groups including mentoring junior colleagues and/or in research, teaching, and extension assistantships. Use resourcefulness and persistence to take advantage of opportunities and overcome challenges that occur in graduate school.
• Actively work to make our department and the discipline of entomology diverse, equitable and inclusive.

3. Required Courses and Minimum GPA

There is one required course for all students enrolled in the Field of Entomology: ENTOM 7670 (Professional Development in Entomology). This course should be taken your first year in the program. ENTOM 5120 (Insect Biology) should be taken by all students who have not taken a course containing basic entomology including an insect collection. If needed, ENTOM 5120 should be taken in the first or second year for spring admits. If you have previously taken a course that you feel is equivalent to ENTOM 5120, contact the Entomology Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) to discuss whether or not you can be exempted from taking ENTOM 5120. Finally, students should also attend the weekly Entomology Seminar series every semester.

Students must achieve a minimum grade of C+ for both required courses (ENTOM 7670 and ENTOM 5120). Students who do not meet this grade threshold may not advance to the next academic milestone and will no longer be in good academic standing. Exceptions or substitutions to course requirements require approval by the DGS and must be submitted before the semester begins. Failure to meet course requirements will trigger an academic review, the results of which can affect eligibility for exams or continued funding.

Because Cornell’s Satisfactory Academic Progress policy stipulates that students in research degrees must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.25 to be in good academic standing or to be eligible for Title IV Aid, it is required that a MINIMUM GPA of 2.25 be set. A GPA below this threshold triggers a formal academic warning, requiring a remediation plan. If GPA is not raised within two semesters, the student faces loss of funding or dismissal, following Graduate School and CGSU‑UE due process procedures.

The DGS will refuse to sign any student’s petition to take an A-exam, M-Exam or B-exam unless these requirements have been met. The Special Committee designates all other required courses at the initial committee meeting. Your committee may require working knowledge of a foreign language relevant to your field. Most of your courses will be taken during your first two years (i.e., before your A-exam). It is wise to take courses from your committee members. This will help you to get to know each other and if they are providing expertise for your project, the conceptual material presented in their course(s) will probably be useful as well. You may want to teach a similar course at some time and having a good set of notes will help. 

After your A-exam you will focus primarily on research rather than classes. However, taking a graduate seminar or occasional course is not unusual. Discuss these courses with your committee at your annual meeting.

All Cornell classes can be found on the “Courses of Study” website (http://courses.cornell.edu/). Select “Course Descriptions” from the left-handed menu and then use the “prefix” pull-down menu to select entomology classes (ENTOM), or some other department.  

Every semester you must register for a total of 15 credits. This will include your classes plus the remainder of the 15 credits as ENTOM 8900 (Master’s-Level Research) or ENTOM 9900 (Doctoral-Level Research).  If you have no classes for a given semester, take 15 credits of ENTOM 8900 or 9900. Please register for the appropriate section (the one led by your major advisor). All classes should be taken for a letter grade, except ENTOM 8900 or 9900, which should be taken as (satisfactory/unsatisfactory) S/U. You must also register for GRAD 9016 during the summer if you are conducting research.

At the beginning of every semester, all Masters and PhD students will automatically be enrolled for 12 credits in a research course by the Graduate School. Please ignore this class as it has no purpose to your credits and classes. This procedure is a failsafe in case you forget to enroll. Simply ensure that you enroll for 15 credits through the ENTOM research courses as described above. The GRAD courses are listed below for your reference.

• GRAD 9010 Graduate-Level Research (pre candidacy PhD students)
• GRAD 9011 Doctoral Dissertation Research (post candidacy PhD students)
• GRAD 9012 Master's Thesis Research
• GRAD 9000 Non-Degree Study
• GRAD 8000 In Absentia students

4. Selecting an Advisor and Forming a Committee

Our field is a direct-admit program, which means students are admitted to a specific faculty advisor. This advisor must be recorded in Student Center no later than three weeks after the start of their first semester. Students should consult the DGS for assistance in confirming or changing advisors.

Doctoral students must form a complete special committee of at least three faculty members by the end of the third semester; research master’s students by the end of the second semester. Committee members must meet Graduate School requirements and reflect relevant areas of expertise. We encourage you to talk to other graduate students and faculty and to seek as much information as possible before selecting your committee members. Are your proposed committee members available for consultation on a regular basis? What expectations do they have for graduate students they advise? Will they read written materials critically and carefully? Are they willing and able to write letters of recommendation for you? Particularly if you are not working directly on your advisor's project, you should consider what special expertise or resources the other members of your committee can bring to your project.

If a chair or committee member steps down, students must find a replacement within expected timeframes outlined in the Code of Legislation of the Graduate Faculty to remain in good standing. Students may not remain registered in the Graduate School if they fail to reconstitute a committee. If a student is unable to find a new chair within the required timeframes, they will be withdrawn from the Graduate School.

Doctoral students may make changes to their special committee at any time prior to the A exam. Committee changes after an A exam require the dean’s approval. Updates must be submitted through Student Center.

Initial and Annual Committee Meetings     

Once you have selected your Special Committee and have decided upon a general direction for your research, you must schedule your initial committee meeting. This first meeting must be scheduled within the first year, even if you plan to add committee members at a future time. This meeting should be viewed as an opportunity to discuss research interests, organize your academic and research plans, establish your coursework requirements, and find out what will be required in your A-exam (see below).  You should also take advantage of the interview to solicit your committee's ideas and suggestions on how to approach your areas of interest and implement research. Discuss experimental design, anticipated equipment and space requirements, funding, etc. Giving the Committee a written report a week ahead of the meeting allows you to be prepared and take full advantage of their time. 

Annual committee meetings are required until your thesis or dissertation is submitted.

5. Satisfactory Academic Progress and Academic Standing

Each spring the graduate school will administer a Student Progress Review (SPR). This process is required and is meant to be constructive and supportive, providing a time for the student and advisor to reflect on the past year’s achievements and challenges and plan how to best achieve the student’s goals. Other topics to discuss can include: What would the student like to get in terms of mentorship in the coming year? For advanced students, what is the timeline for completion and is the student on track? This is also a good time to go over the Lab’s Expectations Document. The completion of this document is still needed even if you are graduating in May. The completed document will be shared with the student’s Committee, the DGS and the Graduate School. The GFA and DGS will also read these to ensure each student is achieving Field milestones and to identify students who may need help with something.

The Code of Legislation of the Graduate Faculty outlines the core policies governing graduate education at Cornell. This handbook complements the Code of Legislation and Graduate School policies by offering additional academic guidance specific to students in the field of Entomology. To remain in good standing and demonstrate satisfactory academic progress, students must meet the academic requirements as outlined in the Code of Legislation, field handbook, and by the chair/special committee. These layers of governance work together to provide oversight and support for academic progress, while the policies help clarify and establish mutual expectations for achieving degree progress.

To make satisfactory academic progress and remain in good academic standing in the Entomology graduate program, a student must:

• Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.25.
• Receive a rating of ‘Satisfactory’ or ‘Excellent’ on their Student Progress Review (SPR).
• Make timely progress toward degree requirements, including:
  • Completing required coursework by established deadlines.
  • Forming a special committee by the end of the third semester (for Ph.D. students).
  • Fully passing the:
    • M exam by the end of year 2.
    • A exam by end of your 5th semester.
    • B exam by the end of your 10th semester (the timing of the B exam is ultimately determined by the student’s special committee based on readiness and progress toward completion.)
  • Meeting all field-specific requirements as outlined in this handbook.

Students are encouraged to work closely with their special committee and the director of graduate studies (DGS) to stay on track and to communicate early about any delays or challenges. Failure to meet these expectations means that a student is not making satisfactory academic progress and is deemed not in good academic standing, which may impact continued enrollment their degree program (see section #14 below, Accountability and Due Process, for more information).

6. Exams (M, A, and B) 

Master’s (M) Exam. The M exam must be scheduled through the Graduate School and taken within 4 years of first registration in the Graduate School. In the field of Entomology, the exam must be taken by the end of year 2 and only 2 years of funding are guaranteed for Masters students. The M exam may be written or oral or both. The exam is official, and the online schedule form must be submitted. All faculty members in the Field are invited, although typically only your committee members will attend. The determination of pass or fail rests exclusively with the Special Committee, and Special Committee Members must unanimously approve. The option to give a final defense seminar is not required but is optional. Conditional outcomes must include a written remediation plan and timeline. If, at the time of reassessment, you still do not pass, a degree will not be given.

MS Exam Checklist

The information below is meant to be a helpful tool; it does not replace official Graduate School requirements.

MS Year 1

1. Change your special committee chair from Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) to your major advisor in Student Center (first semester).
2. Complete the two required courses (ENTOM 5120, ENTOM 7670) unless you have taken an ENTOM 5120 equivalent and have received exemption from the DGS.
3. Form your full committee with a minimum of 2 members for MS (Chair must be in Field, others can be from other areas). Enter changes in Student Center.
4. Have your first annual committee meeting to discuss plan of action for research and a possible thesis outline. This is the first milestone toward the MS. Plan on submitting a written document to your full committee a week before all meetings (this is generally expected).
5. Complete the annual Student Progress Review.
    

MS Year 2

1. Meet with the full committee well before the MS exam to discuss your thesis completion, dates for exam, and materials that will be covered and format for your M exam.
2. Complete the annual Student Progress Review.

One month before MS Exam

1. Reserve room/s with Graduate Field Assistant (GFA)

7-10 days before MS Exam

1. Submit your written thesis to all members of the committee (ideally two weeks before).
2. Complete the Online Schedule Form for your exam and turn in to the GFA.
3. The GFA will complete the exam schedule poster and publicly announce the exam.

MS Exam Day

1. Submit online results form within 3 days of exam (automatically forwarded to committee for signatures)
2. Submit final version of your thesis to the graduate school through ProQuest within 60 days of exam.

Admission to Candidacy (A) Exam. The admission to candidacy exam must be scheduled through the Graduate School and completed before the start of the 7th semester. In the field of Entomology, we highly recommend taking the exam by the end of the 5th semester. Before scheduling a date and time for the A-exam, you should:

1. Meet with your major advisor to ensure that the Field and Special 

   Committee requirements are fulfilled.

2. Meet with your committee to discuss expectations and format of the exam.
    
3. Notify the GFA of your intent to take the exam at least 14 days before scheduling the date using the “Schedule of Examination” form (http://www.gradschool.cornell.edu/forms). This form requires signatures of all of your Special Committee members, so plan accordingly. The GFA must post a public announcement 7 days before the exam.               

The A exam has several purposes. Principally, it is a test of your general knowledge and identifies any subject areas where you are deficient. The other purpose is to determine if you are ready to undertake your independent research. Some students will already have been conducting research by the time they take the A exam and the exam may begin with a brief presentation of results gathered to that point. Others may have recently determined a research project and the exam may begin with a research proposal. Well in advance of your anticipated exam date (e.g., the previous semester), discuss with your advisor and each of your committee members individually what they expects of you during the exam. The exam will contain oral and written components. 

Results of the A exam must be submitted to the graduate school within 3 days of the exam (http://www.gradschool.cornell.edu/forms). All committee members must sign off on the results.  There are three potential outcomes: a pass, a conditional pass, or a fail. A pass means the student has demonstrated adequate knowledge and progress and they move on with research towards their PhD. Conditional outcomes must include a written remediation plan and timeline, and the conditions must be provided to the student and the Graduate School in writing. If the committee agrees, one retake is allowed by the end of the following semester or at an earlier date decided upon by the committee. Failure to pass the exam by the committee deadline will result in withdrawal from the program. Students who fail the A exam are no longer be in good academic standing and committee members will resign and funding will be withdrawn. A failure to pass the re-examination from a conditional pass also means that a student will leave the Entomology degree program with the committee resigning and funding withdrawn.

A-Exam Checklist

Year 1

1. Complete any remedial courses if not taken previously (ENTOM 5120 - Insect Biology).
2. Complete the one required course (ENTOM 7670 - Professional Development).
3. Form your full committee (minimum of 2 members for MS, 3 members for PhD). Enter in Student Center.
4. Have first annual committee meeting to present plans for research (thesis pitch in written and oral form). This is the first milestone toward the MS/PhD.
5. Complete the annual Student Progress Review.

Year 2

1. Meet with the full committee ~3 months before the A exam to discuss dates and materials that will be covered and format for written exam. The exam contains both oral and written components.
2. The written component, of no more than 20 pages relevant to the topic and including appropriate citations, should be decided by the committee at this meeting. This determines how effective students are at summarizing the literature, extracting the key components, finding the relevant references and identifying novel questions and avenues of research. The choices are:
   1. Novel proposal developed by the student
   2. Novel manuscript/literature review developed by the student
   3. Essay on a topic of the committee’s selection
   4. Multiple topics based on a questions from each committee member
   5. Written exam: Open-ended questions and the format should be decided during the pre-meeting

One month before A Exam

1. Reserve room/s with GFA.

7-14 days before A Exam

1. Complete the Online Schedule Form and notify the GFA.
2. Submit written component to all members of the committee.

A Exam Day and Immediately Following Exam

1. Good luck on exam day! Submit online results form within 3 days of exam (automatically forwarded to committee for signatures). In the case of a conditional pass, clear guidelines need to be provided on the format and content of any reassessment (see above).

7-10 days after A Exam

1. All committee members must provide written comments: the Committee Chair will summarize all committee member comments and give them to the student in writing. Written comments should address strengths and weaknesses, areas for improvement, the written component, and, if appropriate, suggested courses or additional readings. 

Doctoral (B) Exam. The B exam must be scheduled through the Graduate School and attempted before the end of the 14th semester (7 years). In the field of Entomology, funding is only guaranteed for 5 years. The Graduate School insists that you schedule your B exam only when your dissertations is close to final form. This should ensure that you will be able to submit your final dissertation within the 60-day time period; the Late Filing Penalty is ~$100. The B exam is scheduled via the Graduate School website (http://www.gradschool.cornell.edu/forms). This form must be signed by the entire committee, DGS, and GFA and must be filed with the Graduate School at least 7 days in advance of the date of the exam. This means informing the GFA before the 7-day posting period in order to announce the exam to the Field of Entomology and get the appropriate signatures.

Conditional outcomes of the B exam must include a written remediation plan and timeline. If the committee agrees, one retake is allowed by the end of the next semester or at and earlier date decided upon by the committee. Failure to pass the exam by the committee-determined date will result in withdrawal from the program

Required Seminar for B-Exam             

The Field of Entomology requires Ph.D. students and strongly encourages M.S. students to present a seminar detailing research findings forming the basis for their written dissertation or thesis.  This seminar is to be presented on the Ithaca or Geneva campuses (depending on location of the student) in the semester or summer session preceding filing of the dissertation or thesis.  Ph.D. students should present a standard academic lecture (i.e., 45-minute talk plus time for questions).  Formats available to satisfy this requirement include the Entomology Department seminar series or a seminar scheduled exclusively for satisfying the requirement. The seminar must be announced at least seven days before the presentation. The DGS will refuse to sign any Ph.D. student’s petition to take the B-exam unless their seminar is scheduled.

PhD Checklist

Based on conversations with faculty and students, the department developed the following timeline to provide mutually agreeable milestones for satisfactory completion of the degree program:

Years 1-2

1. Follow A-Exam checklist

Years 3-5

1. Give annual seminar to department (at least 15 minutes) on a yearly basis starting in year 2. The Entomology seminar, NB&B lunch bunch, Evol group, PIG, annual department symposium, etc., are all acceptable venues.
2. Annual committee meetings.
3. Annual progress reviews (SPRs), completed and distributed to committee.
4. B-exam within 5 years
5. At least three thesis chapters/papers. Each chapter should be published, in press, or in manuscript form.
6. Participate in department activities such as Entomology department seminars, Jugatae grad student organization, department picnics, recruitment weekend, Insectapalooza, annual department symposium.

One month before B Exam

1. Reserve room/s with Graduate Field Assistant (GFA)

7-10 days before B Exam

1. Submit your written thesis to all members of the committee (ideally two weeks before).
2. Have scheduling form completed and turned into GFA via the Online Schedule Form.
3. Have exam schedule poster completed and turned into GFA.

B Exam Day

1. Submit online results form within 3 days of taking the exam (automatically forwarded to committee for signatures)
2. Submit final version of your thesis to the graduate school through ProQuest within 60 days of exam.

7. Thesis and Dissertation

Doctoral candidates in our field are required to complete a dissertation that demonstrates original research contributing new knowledge to the discipline. The dissertation should address significant theoretical questions and may take the form of a traditional monograph or a set of three (or more) publishable articles. Projects may develop new theoretical frameworks, introduce innovative methods, and/or examine new data. The dissertation must include an abstract and adhere to a recognized academic style guide, such as the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, as approved by the special committee chair. It must also meet the Graduate School’s formatting requirements for doctoral dissertations. A complete draft of the dissertation must be given to each committee member at least two weeks before the B exam and submitted to the Graduate School within 60 days of passing the final exam. Enrollment in future semesters is not permitted after passing the final exam, even if the 60-day submission window extends into a subsequent semester.

Masters candidates in our field are also required to complete a thesis that demonstrates original research contributing new knowledge to the discipline. The thesis may take the form of a traditional monograph or a set of publishable articles. The thesis must include an abstract and adhere to a recognized academic style guide, as approved by the special committee chair, and it must also meet the Graduate School’s formatting requirements. A complete draft of the thesis must be given to each committee member at least two weeks before the M exam and submitted to the Graduate School within 60 days of passing the final exam. Enrollment in future semesters is not permitted after passing the final exam, even if the 60-day submission window extends into a subsequent semester.

The Graduate School Thesis and Dissertation website (https://gradschool.cornell.edu/policies/thesis-and-dissertation/) contains essential information concerning degree deadlines, scheduling exams, registration in absentia, etc. All of the necessary forms (e.g., “Schedule of Final Examination” and “Approval of Thesis Form”) can also be accessed from the Graduate School Forms webpage (https://gradschool.cornell.edu/forms/). The Graduate School also presents seminars several times a year to advise students who are writing theses and dissertations. These meetings are well advertised and offer the opportunity to get authoritative answers to questions about your thesis, dissertation, registration, fees, commencement, etc. 

Points To Consider In Developing The Dissertation Proposal 

The dissertation proposal is intended to help you and your committee evaluate your selection of a research problem and the adequacy of the procedures you intend to use.  The major headings below can serve as an outline for your proposal if the nature of your problem permits. It is possible that another outline will be more appropriate. The important thing is that the following points are considered and applicable questions answered somewhere in the proposal.

I.            Title of Dissertation

II.           The Problem

              A. Nature of Problem

                             1.  Statement of Problem

                             2.  Objective(s) of Study (What is the objective of your study?  What is the product to be?)

                             3. Scope of the Problem (What aspects of the problem do you propose to investigate?  What aspects will you not investigate?)

              B.           Background

                            1.  Significance of Problem and Your Dissertation (Why is this problem worthy of your time and attention? How will your investigation contribute                                 to its solution?)

                            2.  Situation (What is the situation from which your problem stems?)

                            3.  Literature Review (How extensive is the literature in this area? Where is it to be found? What are the most significant writings on the 
                                  problem area?  What do they show? What are the shortcomings of existing literature in terms of your problem?

III.          Method of Approach

               A.   Assumptions and Limitations (What assumptions underlie your study? What evidence do you have that they are justified?)

               B. Hypotheses (Will you test hypotheses? What are they?  If tested, how will they contribute to solution of the problem?  As stated, do they contain                          both independent and dependent variables?  Can both variables be measured within your resources?)

               C. Definitions (What meaning do you attach to various terms you intend to use?  If variables are to be measured, how will you determine presence or                        absence of the quality involved? 

               D. Collection of Data (What will be the source of your data?  If a sample, what will be its composition?  What sampling design will be used, how many                      cases and what types?  What instruments will be needed, how validated?  How will data answer questions in your hypotheses?)

IV.         Major Kinds of Analysis

             What methods will you use? How will you present the results of the analysis?  What interpretations will you be able to draw?  How much data are                          needed to answer the question?

V.          Time Schedule

             When will each step be completed?

VI.         Outline of Dissertation

Thesis Options

Ph.D. dissertations and M.S. theses may be organized either as a single work or as a series of relatively independent chapters, called the “papers option” format. The papers option format may contain a unified introduction and bibliography or separate introductions and bibliographies, but a single title. There may be a unified summary, or the two-page abstract (required of all theses) can serve as a summary statement for all chapters. The papers option enables you to prepare your thesis as a series of papers in a format ready for publication, and indeed publication of chapters before the thesis defense is a good strategy. Co-authorship is permitted, but you must be the first author on all published works included in your thesis. You should acknowledge in the publication that the research is part of a thesis, and the Graduate School requires you to get written permission from the publisher to include it verbatim in your thesis. If you choose to publish research results in advance of writing your thesis, which is highly recommended, it is recommended to have all of your committee members read the manuscript and provide comments before submitting. 

Most committees will encourage you to take the thesis option and publish your results as you complete significant units of your projects. Nevertheless, in some circumstances it may be appropriate to prepare a classical thesis as one large work. If you are considering this, be sure to discuss it with your committee at your annual meeting. 

The following thesis formats are suggested:

Traditional Thesis                                     Papers Option

              Literature Review                       General Literature Review
              Material and Methods                           Manuscript 1:  
              Results                                                                        Introduction
              Discussion                                                                  Materials and Methods
              Conclusions                                                                Results
              Literature Cited                                                          Discussion
              Appendices                                                                Literature Cited

                                                                        Manuscript 2:   (etc.)
                                                                       General Discussion and Speculations
                                                                       General Conclusions
                                                                       General Literature Cited
                                                                       Appendices

8. Setting Mutual Expectations for Mentoring

Cornell supports the Faculty Advancing Inclusive Mentoring (FAIM) framework for faculty/student mentoring that draws upon a strengths-based and identity-informed approach to support mutual growth, development, and success. The FAIM philosophy, key principles, and core mutual expectation areas for inclusive mentorship provide a foundation for fulfilling mentoring relationships by:

• Supporting mentors and mentees as they seek to develop an understanding of one another’s expectations, cultures, values, and sources of motivation;
• Helping mentors and mentees develop a mentorship plan better aligned to a mentor’s and mentee’s strengths, needs, and goals; and
• Providing resources and tools that can be adapted and adopted by mentors and mentees to be contextually relevant.

We encourage all students and faculty to use the FAIM website for resources and tools to support their mentoring relationships. 

In addition, our department has developed some general ‘best practices’ guidelines for both faculty and students (see below). Please check with your advisor, as individual faculty may have their own guidelines. Students can work with the graduate field administrator (GFA), who can serve as a liaison between faculty and students, and the director of graduate studies (DGS) in their department who can both provide advice and help navigate mentoring challenges.

What Faculty Mentors Expect from Their Graduate Students 

1. Read! …in your area of specialization, but also more broadly.
2. Manage your time and resources.
   1. Be proactive about developing your research projects and timelines for achieving your goals for your time at Cornell.
   2. Schedule time each week to anticipate both supply and personnel needs, as well as keeping track of grad school milestones/deadlines.
   3. Timelines can and should be revisited frequently.
3. Maintain a strong work ethic and stay organized.
   1. This involves keeping organized field and lab notes, working smart (not just hard!), and keeping a healthy work-life balance.
4. Behave like a scholar.
   1. You are an ambassador at many levels (University, Department, Lab) and are beginning a long-term academic relationship that will extend far beyond graduate school.
5. Attend and be prepared to interact at lab meetings.
   1. This involves reading all lab meeting materials ahead of time.
   2. If you are leading a discussion, develop objectives and/or questions to promote group discussion.
6. Communicate with your faculty mentor.
   1. Schedule regular meetings (weekly is ideal) to keep your mentor updated on your progress and to discuss research (develop new ideas, troubleshoot old ones, etc…)
   2. Run plans by your mentor before beginning new experiments or making changes to existing ones.
   3. Many faculty are happy to have your drop in on them with questions, but some faculty may prefer meetings that are schedule ahead of time. Ask your mentor what their policy is regarding drop-in visits vs. more regularly scheduled meetings. This may also depend on the faculty mentor’s teaching or grant deadlines.
   4. While most meetings will focus on discussing research progress, pitfalls, and ideas, we also recommend that students meet with their mentor(s) to discuss any personal or professional challenges. Graduate school is no walk in the park! We want you to leave the Department being proud of your accomplishments and certain about your future goals and plans.
7. Keep your office and lab (and lab space) clean and organized.
8. Attend on-campus seminars.
   1. Entomology seminar at a minimum, plus others relevant to your field and areas of interest.
9. Help train others in the lab, including other graduate students and undergraduates.
   1. This will vary year to year based on discussions with your mentor, but will range from co-advisement of undergraduate projects to offering general assistance in training students on lab and field methods.
10. Present your work at in-house meetings (annual January Symposium and Entomology seminar) as well as national (e.g., ESA) and international (e.g., ICE) meetings. Ask your advisor for advice on other meetings that you should attend given your background and interests.
11. Apply for grants.
    1. Demonstrating grantsmanship is excellent preparation for the future, looks great on your CV, and can help you to conduct projects that the lab may not have full funding for. Funding opportunities include in-house grants (Rawlins travel grants as well as Griswold research grants) as well as external grants (Sigma Xi, Explorer’s Club, NE SARE, NSF, USDA, etc.). You should discuss grant ideas with your faculty mentor. Letters of support may be needed for these grants, so make sure you give your faculty mentor time to prepare these letters.
12. Publish your work.
    1. We encourage you to think of thesis chapters also as manuscripts. Manuscripts carry more weight over your scientific career and can easily be reformatted as chapters.
13. Back up your data and notes regularly.
    1. There are endless options for how to do this, but students are encouraged to use at least two methods (e.g. CALS server, Cornell Box, an external hard drive). 

What You Can Expect from Your Faculty Mentor

1. Help you to define your research questions and design and carry out research projects.
2. Challenge you to know your area better than your mentor does.
3. Help you make connections for your career in academia and other areas to the best of your mentor’s ability.
4. Help identify training opportunities and resources, both in and outside of the lab, that will further your particular interests and professional goals.
5. Support your participation in local, national and international scientific conferences.
6. Provide timely feedback on your scientific writing.
   1. Let your mentor know when you will be submitting grants or papers and give them a chance to read and comment on your writing. Advisors vary in how much feedback they give, but they should always be willing to read and comment on your work in a reasonable timeframe.
7. Open door policy.
   1. While faculty tend to provide the best feedback during scheduled meetings, most faculty try to maintain a reasonable open door policy (see expectations above regarding this). Keep in mind that faculty may be busy with their own administrative, research, teaching and extension deadlines. It is always a good idea to plan important meetings in advance.
8. Promote you in the field both during and after your tenure at Cornell.
   1. Faculty mentors under most circumstances should be willing to write letters of recommendation, provide feedback on grants and fellowships, and provide editorial feedback on manuscripts.
   2. Faculty mentors may wish to present your work in scientific conferences or talks. They should discuss this with you, involve you in the talk preparation and acknowledge your contributions.
9. Co-authorship in papers.
   1. Who is an author on papers arising from your MS or PhD thesis work is something that is generally negotiated between faculty and student. If faculty have provided grant funding, expertise, resources, or significant editorial help it is generally appropriate to include them as senior (last) authors on papers. We urge students to discuss the issue of co-authorship with their faculty mentor in order to understand their policy on this issue.

Other Student Expectations

You will have a much richer graduate school experience if you become an active member of the department. One important aspect of this is attending the Entomology Seminar series. Even if the seminar is not directly related to your research interests you will benefit by getting to know people and learning about other ideas and approaches. Another way to get involved is to become an active member of Jugatae, the Entomology Graduate Student Organization. All students and postdocs affiliated or interested in entomological endeavors may participate in Jugatae, but it tends to be primarily a group of graduate students from the Field of Entomology. The main functions of Jugatae are to host, organize, and run the Annual Entomology Symposium, coordinate events and activities for graduate students and the department (e.g., end-of-year departmental picnic, Insectapalooza participation), and to facilitate interactions and community building among graduate students in and associated with the Department of Entomology. The Jugatae Constitution and by-laws provide more information about the organization and may be accessed online (http://blogs.cornell.edu/jugatae/). It is very worthwhile to get to know your fellow graduate students since they are likely the people you will learn the most from at Cornell (and beyond when you’re professional colleagues)! Furthermore, running an academic institution requires participation by the academics themselves (that means you!), so please do your part to engage.  Jugatae meetings will be announced via e-mail and the Jugatae website (http://blogs.cornell.edu/jugatae/). A great opportunity to socialize with the people in your department and beyond is “SNEEB” (a now outdated but widely used acronym).  Every Friday at 5PM (while classes are in session) beer and pizza are provided in the Corson-Mudd Atrium by various faculty members from the Departments of Entomology, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, and Neurobiology & Behavior. SNEEB is a great way to end the week.

Student Vacation Policy

The Graduate School outlines a vacation policy for all students funded by assistantships (https://gradschool.cornell.edu/policies/vacation-time-for-assistantships/).

9. Required Training 

Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Training

Per the Code of Legislation, the Graduate Faculty requires all research degree students, both master’s and doctoral, to complete responsible conduct of research (RCR) training. This includes training on authorship, peer review, and avoidance and consequences of research misconduct. This training is through the Cornell Office of Research Integrity and Assurance (ORIA) and must be completed before the end of the second semester (Code E.2.a.).

Workday Learning Courses

• Required for all: CLASSE 2555- Laboratory Safety
• Required for all: CLASSE 2716 - Chemical Waste Disposal
• Might be Useful: CLASSE 1071 - Security of Hazardous Materials Used in Research
• Course required for those working with Pesticides: EHS 1333 - DOT Hazardous Materials Transportation - Materials of Trade

10. Field- or Program-Specific Requirements and Resources 

Degree Requirements

• Special Committee
• Annual Committee meetings
• Annual completion of Student Progress Report (SPR)
• Classes and Curriculum
• Yearly within-Cornell seminar (see below)
• MS Thesis Defense (or) PhD Admission to Candidacy, A exam and Thesis Defense, B exam

Required Registration

Each semester (Fall, Spring and Summer) you are required to register as a graduate student in order to receive funding. In the Fall and Spring semesters you are required to enroll into either ENTOM 8900-MS with your PI or ENTOM 9900-PhD with your PI. In the summer term you should register in GRAD 9016. Each fall and spring you are required to enroll into 15 credits of courses and in the summer you are required to enroll into 6 credits.

Required Seminars

PhD students are required to give a 15 to 30-minute presentation annually to the department, beginning in their second year. This can be done at one of the following events: NB&B lunch bunch, Evol group, PIG, EEID, annual department Jugatae symposium, Department of Entomology weekly seminar, or other similar venues. The event should be discussed with your advisor and then reported in your yearly Student Progress Review.

11. Field-based Professional Development

First-year students are required to take ENTOM 7670: Professional Development in Entomology. This course is only taught in the fall semester and is meant to set you up with the basic skills and knowledge to successfully complete your degree and lead you to your career after your receive your degree. During your time in the department, you are also required to go to the weekly Entomology Department seminar series and give an annual seminar-style talk to learn and develop your skills (see Required Seminars above).

12. Funding

You can find more information by visiting the graduate school website at https://gradschool.cornell.edu/financial-support/

The Admissions Process

The selection of graduate students begins with an application review by the Field of Entomology Admissions Committee, which determines acceptable candidates and potential fellowship nominees and provides a list of candidates deemed acceptable for admission to the Field of Entomology faculty. The next step involves selection of the student by a faculty member, who will act as the student's advisor, and identification of financial support for the student’s first year (Note: It is possible to change advisors at a later date, but this is fairly rare). Final acceptance is dependent on approval by the Graduate School, which is, in most cases, automatic. Since advisors are responsible for providing their students with lab space and financial support, acceptance is ultimately dependent upon the availability of these resources. Applicants should therefore communicate with faculty of interest and check to see if such resources are available.

Funding Guarantee

Masters and Doctoral students enrolled in our program normally complete their degrees within two and five years, respectively, and receive full financial support for the duration of their graduate studies if they remain in good academic standing, make satisfactory academic progress towards the degree, and (if applicable) perform satisfactorily in their assistantship responsibilities. Financial support is provided through a variety of sources, including fellowships, research assistantships, teaching assistantships, and extension and outreach assistantships. Students in our program regularly apply for and receive external fellowships and grants. Cornell will supplement qualified external awards. 

Failure to make timely, satisfactory academic progress may result in the loss of good academic standing, funding, and/or eligibility for future opportunities. Students appointed to assistantships are subject to the terms of the CGSU‑UE Collective Bargaining Agreement. Students appointed to fellowships are not included in the bargaining unit and therefore not represented by the union.

As two or five years may be too short a time period for completing an MS or PhD degree,  graduate students making good progress can still be eligible for funding beyond this time period. While priority will be given to those still within the two year (MS) and five year (PhD) time period, strong efforts will be made to maintain funding for students who take longer to complete degrees as long as adequate progress toward completion is demonstrated. 

The funding support responsibilities of the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS), Department Extension Leader (DEL), Entomology Department Chair, graduate students, and faculty advisors are outlined below.

How Student Funding is Determined:

Responsibilities of the DGS/DEL/Department Chair

1. The DGS will submit applications for as many qualified incoming candidates as possible for sources of support from the university or college (e.g., incoming fellowships or special fellowships)
2. The DGS will email faculty in the spring about how their students will be supported the following year and if they want to be supported by a TA what is their preferred class. The DGS will make TA assignments each spring. Final approval is the responsibility of the Chair of the Department of Entomology (Ithaca).
3. Summer support funding is a mix of funds from the major advisor and usually a supplement from Departmental endowments.
4. The DEL will make a call for EOA applications in the winter. The DGS will work with the DEL to distribute EOA assignments.

Responsibilities of Graduate Students

1. Students are expected to apply for all possible sources of funding in support of their programs. This includes National Science Foundation (NSF) fellowships, US Department of Agriculture (USDA), fellowships, Ford Fellowships, and other fellowships as available.  It is the individual student's responsibility to apply for as many sources of funding as are appropriate. The location of resource libraries is discussed later in this chapter under Research Grants. Any funding generated by students from sources inside or outside Cornell counts as part of the funding guarantee.
2. Students are expected to apply for TA-ships for Entomology courses for which they may be qualified. Students should speak with teaching faculty to determine their qualifications.
3. Students needing full-year support must apply for TA-ships in the Introductory Biology program. Students refusing to exercise all of these options will not be guaranteed alternative (i.e., less time-consuming) sources of funding and may have their guarantees withdrawn.
4. Students should work with their major advisor to apply for appropriate sources of outside grant support for their dissertation projects, either within proposals submitted by their advisors, or on their own.
5. To be eligible for funding, students must continue to make good progress and complete their SPR requirement each spring. The DGS will be notified of insufficient progress made by any students, whose guarantees may then be withdrawn at the discretion of the DGS, faculty advisor, and Special Committee. Students will have the opportunity to appeal on a case-by-case basis.
6. The Graduate School maintains a listing of fellowships, scholarships and other types of aid that are available. Students are encouraged to check this listing for available sources of funding.

Responsibilities of Faculty Advisors

1. Faculty advisors should submit proposals that provide graduate student stipends either to fund specific research programs, or to hire graduate students as research assistants (15 hr/wk GRAs) with work-loads similar to students who are teaching (TAs) to earn stipends.
2. Faculty advisors should work with their students to identify available outside funding sources to support the student’s specific field of research.
3. Faculty advisors who have no personal sources of support for incoming graduate students should submit to the DGS the names of incoming students whom they are interested in sponsoring so that the DGS can submit their folders to the Introductory Biology program for consideration as TA. All faculty must have enough funds to work as a partner in summer support deliberations.
4. Faculty advisors should respond to the email from the DGS in winter outlining support for the coming year and requesting TA support.
5. Faculty advisors are expected to honestly review the progress of their continuing students on an annual basis and to inform the DGS if any students are making insufficient progress.

Assistantships and Fellowships

In general, it is the responsibility of the faculty to secure adequate support before accepting a student. However, new students owe it to themselves to be well informed about their current support and about their advisor's previous history and future plans. In most cases, continuing students will have to take an active role in making their funding arrangements each year.

Three-year pre-doctoral fellowships are awarded by the NSF to students in the early stages of graduate study. Other fellowships are listed on the following webpage: http://www.gradschool.cornell.edu/costs-and-funding/fellowships. Emails that announce new fellowships and call attention to upcoming fellowship deadlines should be read promptly.  The Graduate School maintains a fellowship database that can be accessed at http://www.gradschool.cornell.edu/fellowships.

There are five main sources of financial support for graduate students: teaching assistantships (TAs), graduate research assistantships (GRAs), graduate assistantships (GAs), which includes our extension/outreach assistantships (EOAs), and fellowships. Note that most of these provide support only during the academic year and not during the summer. TAs, GRAs, GAs, and EOAs require a time commitment of 15 hours/week average (20 hours/week for Introductory Biology) and provide a stipend, tuition waiver and health insurance.  (The Student Activity Fee is the responsibility of the student.)  Stay aware of available sources and deadlines by regularly checking the “Field Board”, the bulletin board in the hall on the 2nd floor of Comstock. Also, the Student Service Representative (Stephanie Westmiller, st342) will help notify graduate students of impending deadlines.

TAs:

Teaching Assistantships (TAs) cover tuition, insurance, and stipend in exchange for service in an undergraduate course. Specific duties are assigned by the course instructor. TAs are limited to 15-20 hours per week, and should average no more than 15 hours per week, with the exception of Investigative Biology Laboratory [BioG 1500], which may average 20 hours per week. TA appointments are assigned by the DGS in the Spring of the preceding year, taking into account student/advisor support needs, desires and instructor preferences. Students apply directly to the Introductory Biology office to be considered for Intro Bio TAs. There are currently 9-10 semesters of TA support assigned to the Entomology Department each academic year. There are no formal applications for Entomology TAs. However, students must indicate which courses they are qualified to teach on the annual progress reports. TA applicants are reviewed by the DGS and teaching faculty of the department, with additional recommendations made by the individual course instructors. If you are interested in being a TA for a course offered in the department you should talk with the professor in charge of the class that semester to express your interest.  Applications for Introductory Biology (BioG 1500, BioG 1400) are usually due in early-to-mid March. Apply online. If you are really interested in one of these TAs, let the DGS know so they can lobby for you. 

GRAs and GAs:

There are two forms of graduate assistantship. Graduate Research Assistantships (GRAs) are appointments focused on thesis-related research. Graduate Assistantships (GAs) are either focused on research that may not be related to the student thesis, or any other non-teaching academic appointment. GRAs and GAs will typically be funded by a research grant held by the major advisor, are limited to 15-20 hours per week, and should average no more than 15 hours per week. 

EOAs:

EOAs are assistantships that focus on outreach and extension and are selected by a faculty committee (currently chaired by Dr. Kyle Wickings). The EOA committee normally solicits proposals for EOA projects in the late Fall semester. Proposals must be submitted using a form distributed annually by the EOA committee. Proposals may come from faculty, staff, or graduate students. The assumption is that all projects will be led by a graduate student under the supervision of a faculty member. The EOA committee has regularly scheduled (weekly) meetings for the EOA students to get feedback on their projects throughout the Fall or Spring semesters. EOAs are open to students in Ithaca as well as Geneva. Once the EOA committee identifies suitable projects for the coming year, these are sent to the DGS, who incorporates them into the final matrix of graduate student support for the coming academic year. EOAs require 15-20 hours per week on duties related to extension and outreach for the department. 

Department of Entomology Graduate Fellowships

Palmer Fellowship:

The James B. and Martha K. Palmer award is given to a finishing PhD student for one semester of support. This is intended to be a “finishing” award, so heavy preference is given to students in the final year of their PhD. Nominations for the Palmer are made by faculty advisors who must submit (1) a letter of support for the students and (2) the student’s CV. Nominations are reviewed by the DGS, the Chair of the department, and the Department Business Manager. Heavy preference is given to students who have been outstanding in research and who have been excellent Department citizens. Students who receive a Palmer Fellowship are required to write a letter of thanks to the Palmer family. 

Simeone Fellowship:

The Simeone Fellowship Fund will be established and provide 9 months of graduate student support (tuition, stipend, insurance). This Fellowship can be used to support outstanding incoming students (as a recruitment fellowship) or outstanding current students.  Should there be no current students in need of support, the DGS may elect to use these funds for incoming student recruitment. The award will be based on academic standing, Departmental citizenship, and financial need.

Sarkaria Fellowship:

This is an endowed fellowship that can only be given to students who are advised by a member of the Sarkaria Institute (SIPTI) and have a strong concentration in Insect Physiology and Toxicology. The Sarkaria Fellowship can provide two semesters of support. The Board determines how the funds are allocated on an annual basis. Only members of SIPTI are eligible to have students funded as Sarkaria Fellows, and this funding is expected to be for only one year for any given student. 

Chapman Fellowship:

The Chapman Fellowship is awarded annually to a graduate student in the Field of Entomology, with preference given to students sponsored by a faculty member located at the Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva. Selection is based on: 1) scientific quality of research work; 2) publications and presentations; and 3) involvement in professional activities. Candidates are judged on the merits of their achievements while conducting graduate studies. The student is provided a full year of tuition, stipend and fees. The Fellowship was established by Paul Chapman in 1992. Chapman was hired as a full professor of entomology in 1929 and served as Head of the department at Geneva from 1948-1965. He established the fellowship to ensure that the department would continue to inspire young entomologists to follow the principles and insights he believed important in his colleagues.

Summer Support:

The Field of Entomology requires that faculty provide summer support that is equivalent to the 12-month stipend of their students. Typically, summer support comes from faculty grants, but the department may also have funds to help faculty meet this financial requirement. Should students elect to take all or part of the summer off for personal reasons, the summer support levels can be adjusted accordingly based on mutual agreement between faculty advisor and the student. These mutual agreements should be stated in writing and submitted to the DGS for final approval. 

All field policies will be enforced consistently across students and timeframes. A doctoral student is expected to design, execute, and manage an independent research agenda and meet their academic milestones in a timely manner. If a student is not meeting expectations, their special committee chair or advisor and the director of graduate studies (DGS) will provide timely written notice (as soon as concerns become evident) outlining the issues, outcomes, or potential consequences, including:

• Written notice of a lack of academic progress or loss of academic standing (separate, and in addition to, the SPR).
• A clear explanation of the concerns and specific expectations for improvement.
• A reasonable timeline and opportunity to meet expectations before any adverse action (e.g., changes in funding status or withdrawal recommendations).
• Further, all students should be provided with an opportunity to meet with the DGS to discuss the concern and plan for improvement.

If a student fails to meet the conditions of that plan, the special committee in collaboration with the field DGS will consult with the Graduate School to review the case and determine next steps. This can include academic withdrawal from their degree program and the Graduate School accompanied by documentation showing that the process above was followed, and in accordance with Graduate School policy and the terms of the CGSU-UE Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Graduate students will be given an opportunity to respond or appeal as outlined by the Graduate School and CGSU‑UE policies. Final decisions will be documented and archived by the DGS and GFA and the Graduate School.