Checklist for Graduating Students
Form: Application for Advanced Degree
All M.S. and Ph.D. candidates must submit a signed Application for Advanced Degree to the UD Office of Graduate & Professional Education (Grad Office). The application deadlines are in mid-September for Fall candidates, mid-December for Winter candidates, mid-February for Spring candidates, and mid-May for Summer candidates. Once you have completed the form and obtained your committee members’ signatures, present this form to the department Graduate Secretary to obtain the department chairman’s signature. A copy of the signed document will be kept for your student file and the original will be returned to you to submit to the Grad Office along with the appropriate fee (M.S. $35; Ph.D. $95). Note: if you anticipate completing your degree requirements one semester and it is delayed for any reason, you do NOT have to resubmit this form or fee.
Notify Biological Sciences' Main Office
Doreen Anderson (danders@udel.edu) or Brenda Radziewicz (brendar@udel.edu), in 118F Wolf Hall, must be advised of your anticipated graduation date and funding end date at least three weeks in advance. The decision to continue pay passed your defense date or to terminate pay cannot be a last minute decision.
Thesis/Dissertation Draft Submission to the Department
A copy of the thesis/dissertation draft (pre-defense copy) must be submitted to the Graduate Program Director at least two weeks prior to your defense. This copy is kept in the main office for the Graduate Program Director and faculty to preview. The University Thesis and Dissertation Manual must be followed.
Form: Defense Announcement Form
The Thesis/Dissertation Defense Form provides details so that the department announcements can be prepared and distributed, and catering needs can be ordered prior to your defense. This form must be submitted to the Graduate Secretary two weeks prior to the defense.
Ph.D. Form: Certification of Ph.D. Dissertation Defense
Committee members and advisors will need to sign the Certification of Doctoral Dissertation Defense before being presented to the chairman for his signature. A copy of the signed form must be kept by the Graduate Secretary for your student file, and the original will be submitted to the Grad Office when title pages and signature pages are submitted.
M.S. Form: Results of the M.S. Defense Form
The original Results of the M.S. Defense Form will stay in your student file.
Approval/Signature Pages - Preparation
Follow the guidelines provided in the Thesis/Dissertation Manual for preparation. Note: pages are different for M.S. vs. Ph.D. Three copies on 25% bond paper (preferably UD watermark) will be required by the Grad Office. One additional copy is required for the department’s bound copy. Other copies should be prepared at the same time if needed for advisor, committee members, or family member copies. The department Graduate Secretary is available to assist with printing services as long as adequate time is allowed. Note: The name and title of Deans and Vice Provosts change from time to time. Check the current names and titles first.
Approval/Signature Pages - Obtaining Signatures
You are responsible for obtaining your committee members’ signatures prior to bringing the signature pages to the main office (Graduate Secretary) for the chairman’s signature. After the Department Chair signs the forms, the signature pages and a draft copy of the thesis/dissertation will be delivered to the Dean’s Office for his review and signature.
Final Submission to the Grad Office
After receiving the Dean’s signature, three copies of the title page, three copies of the abstract, and all signature pages must be submitted to the Grad Office for their approval and the final signatures. An appointment should be made with their office in advance. During this meeting, you will be provided with instructions for uploading your document as a PDF (electronic submission). Please note the following deadlines:
| Graduation Term | Ph.D. Dissertation Submission Deadline | M.S. Thesis Submission Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Fall 2009 | November 9, 2009 | November 16, 2009 |
| Winter 2010 | January 12, 2010 | January 12, 2010 |
| Spring 2010 | April 12, 2010 | April 19, 2010 |
| Summer 2010 | July 12, 2010 | July 19, 2010 |
Additional dates may be available from the Graduate & Professional Education web site.
Binding
When the Grad Office accepts the final submission with no changes requested, copies of the thesis/dissertation can be printed on 25% bond paper (preferably UD watermark). Copies can be delivered to the Perkins Bookstore to go out for binding. Funding for this process needs to be decided in advance between the student and the advisor. One bound copy is required for the department library. The department will pay for this copy. Other copies may be prepared at the same time, i.e. for advisors, committee members, family members, student, etc. The department graduate secretary is available to assist with printing services as long as adequate time is allowed.
Commencement/Convocation Ceremonies
A Commencement Brochure is prepared and distributed by the Office of Graduate & Professional Education by the end of April with complete instructions.
Regalia
The department will cover the cost for regalia for grad students participating in either of the ceremonies. Please let the department graduate secretary know that you plan to attend before the first of May so that your name can be included on an approved list at the University Bookstore. You can pick up your regalia during the annual Graduation Fair at the bookstore, usually held the 2nd week of May. If you are unable to pick up your regalia at that time, please make arrangements with the department graduate secretary.
Hooding Ceremony
Doctoral candidates and their advisors will receive an invitation from the Office of Graduate & Professional Education to attend a hooding ceremony and reception. This event is usually held on Friday late afternoon/evening the day prior to commencement activities.
UD Commencement
M.S. and Ph.D. candidates are welcome to participate in the University ceremony at the Football Stadium Saturday morning.
Department Convocation
M.S. and Ph.D. candidates are welcome to participate in the Department Convocation ceremony, held in the afternoon following the commencement activities. Biological Sciences will hold their convocation ceremony in the Trabant University Center.
Keys
Please be sure to turn in all UD building keys (labs, offices, specials) to Jim Farmer, 115B Wolf Hall, in order to avoid a hold on your diploma and transcripts.
Please reference the Grad Office website for complete details on university graduation requirements.
