III. NEUROSCIENCE PROGRAM POLICIES
The following policies concerning the stages
of progress toward a Ph.D. degree are listed to serve as information for
applicants and as a guide for graduate students in the Neuroscience Program.
If the Neuroscience Program academic policies should change during the
course of a student's doctoral studies, the student will have the option
of retaining the policies as stated at the time of the student entrance
into the program or adopting the new policies.
Graduate students usually begin their graduate studies in late August, although the Neuroscience Program may be able to accommodate new graduate students at other times during the year. Applications for admission may be reviewed during the entire year. In the past few years, the majority of applications to the Neuroscience Program have been received and considered by the Graduate Affairs Committee between December and March. It is advantageous for applicants to be reviewed during this period because decisions regarding assistantships and fellowships are made in early March. Applications received in our office by January 5 will be assured consideration for all mechanisms of support. Applications received after January 5 may be too late for consideration for college- and university-level mechanisms of support. The Graduate Affairs Committee, and sometimes other faculty members knowledgeable in the applicant's field of interest, review the applicant's folder. After transcripts, application forms, a personal statement indicating the student's research interests, GRE scores and substantive letters of recommendation are received, the Graduate Affairs Committee will make a decision. Prospective students must take the Graduate Record Examinations (GREs) General Test (Verbal, Quantitative and Writing Assessment). A subject test is not required, but if taken, the scores will be considered. Students should have the results sent directly to the Neuroscience Program Office, Michigan State University, 108 Giltner Hall, East Lansing, MI 48824. These records and any other supplementary information will be made available to all the Neuroscience Program Admissions Committee members.
Regular Admission for the Ph.D. degree is generally dependent on completion of a Bachelor’s degree, Master's degree, M.D., D.O. or equivalent, and at least a minimum grade point average of 3.3 as well as a 3.0 or better score in science courses. It is expected that applicants to the Neuroscience Program will have completed undergraduate courses in such academic areas as biology, chemistry, neuroscience, psychology, physics and mathematics.
Provisional Admission may be granted to those students with less than a 3.3 grade point average, and/or deficiencies in specific requirements for admission. A student will not be considered for an advanced degree until he/she has completed the requirement of his/her provisional admission prior to or within the first year after beginning graduate studies in the Neuroscience Program. If the student is admitted provisionally because of an English language deficiency, that deficiency must be corrected within two consecutive semesters.
Applicants Whose Native Language Is Not English
Applicants whose native language is not English must take
an English language proficiency test, preferably the Test of English as
Foreign Language (T.O.E.F.L.).
Students should have the T.O.E.F.L.
results sent directly to the Neuroscience Program Office, Michigan State
University, 108 Giltner Hall, East Lansing, MI 48824-1312.
Readmission
If a student’s program of study is interrupted for
reasons other than academic progress for one or more semesters, exclusive
of summer, he/she must apply for readmission to Michigan State University.
With respect to the Neuroscience Program, readmission is automatic if
an application is made within one year. The readmission process must be
initiated in the Office of the Registrar, 150 Administration Building,
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, (517) 432-3954. Applications
for readmission should be filed at least six weeks prior to the first
day of class of the semester in which the student expects to resume studies.
All financial holds must be paid in full before an application will be
processed. The Neuroscience Program office will be happy to assist the
student with this process.
Students can enroll for classes by computer. This is
part of an integrated computer system known as the Student Information
System (SIS). Students can enroll via any computer with Internet access.
Students will receive a letter that will include a Personal ID number
(PID), a permanent Personal Access Number (PAN), and the date and time
to access the enrollment systems. Detailed instructions and dates for
computer enrollment can be found on the World Wide Web at
http://www.reg.msu.edu/ROInfo/EnrReg/CEInstructions.asp.
Students should be aware that late enrollment will result in a substantial
additional fee. Students will be notified of the results of their enrollment
requests by mail. If the student is not satisfied with the schedule, it
can be adjusted via computer. After obtaining a schedule of courses, a
student will complete the registration process by paying fees indicated
on the registration billing statement. All students can defer up to half
of their tuition and associated fees, and two-thirds of their University
housing charges, on their initial billing statement. A service fee for
deferment is assessed. Interest will be charged on the remaining portion
of deferred tuition and course fees, but not on deferred housing charges.
Students who have not paid the minimum amount of their bill by the due
date will be dropped from the courses in which they have enrolled. Students
must return their registration bill to the registrar’s office even
if there is a zero balance.
Neuroscience Program graduate students should discuss their proposed schedule with their major professor. Graduate students who have not yet selected a major professor and have questions about their required courses should discuss their schedule with the Neuroscience Program Director.
Neuroscience Program students have the right to access their educational records. They need to contact the Neuroscience Program Graduate Office and schedule a time to review their files. When the review is conducted, the Neuroscience Program secretary will be present.
The typical content of a Neuroscience Program student's file includes:If a student wishes to challenge any of the contents of their file, the student should write a letter indicating the issues. This letter will be reviewed by the Director and Graduate Affairs Committee and placed in the student’s file. Appropriate action will be taken if indicated by the review.
D. Work Hours and Vacation Time
All students should be actively engaged in research, literature reviews, or some other phase of the doctoral program even during semester breaks. Keep in mind that Neuroscience Program graduate study is a "full-time" program. Specific times in the lab and vacation schedules are to be arranged between the Neuroscience Program graduate student and his/her major professor or rotation advisor.
Each new Neuroscience Program graduate student will be assigned a mailbox in the Neuroscience Program Office. As soon as a Neuroscience Program graduate student has selected a major professor, the student should arrange for regular mail to be sent to the home department of their major professor. Campus mail is designed to expedite the delivery of items pertaining to university business. It is not to be used for personal items.
F. Electronic Mail (http://mail.msu.edu)
Each MSU student will be issued an account on MSU's email system. Users can exchange email with others at MSU and elsewhere on the Internet. Much of the correspondence from the Neuroscience Program office will be communicated via email, including frequent updates regarding seminars and events. See http://www.msu.edu/au/ for Acceptable Use Policies for MSU email accounts.
For on-campus calls there is no charge. Long distance calls related to research should be charged as agreed upon with the major professor.
H. Neuroscience Program Committees
Comprehensive Exam Committee
Exam writing/grading committees will have 3 members, one of whom will
serve as chair, each appointed for a 2-year term with one position rotating
on/off each year. Faculty cannot serve consecutive terms. Faculty can
volunteer or can be asked to serve by the Comprehensive Exam Coordinator.
The Comprehensive Exam Coordinator will serve a 2-year term and will be
chosen by the Neuroscience Program Faculty Advisory Committee. Students
will be informed about who is on each of the exam writing/grading committees
and receive guidance from committee members about performance expectations
on the exam.
Neuroscience Program Advisory Committee
The Advisory Committee represents the faculty in providing advice to the
Director on appointment and reviews of faculty and other policy and curriculum
matters relating to the Neuroscience Program.
Graduate Affairs Committee
The Graduate Affairs Committee reviews applications for graduate study
and recommends admission of the applicant. The Committee consists of six
Neuroscience Program faculty, and seeks to recruit the best qualified
applicants for graduate study. In its recommendation, the Admissions Committee
considers the following: academic performance, course preparation in the
basic sciences, direct knowledge of and experience in Neuroscience research,
letters of recommendation, statement of research interest, competence
in the English language, GRE scores and recommendations by individuals
in the applicant's field of interest. The Graduate Affairs Committee also
makes recommendations on requests for course waivers and other issues
related to an individual student's graduate training. Students with grievances
may take them to a member of the Graduate Affairs Committee or to the Program
Director or the faculty liaison of the NeuroBuddy Program.
Graduate Student Council
The NSP GSC assumes several duties within the NSP including (but not limited
to) organization of the annual retreat, administration of faculty awards,
and organization of NSP social activities. Additionally, several members
of the NSP GSC serve as graduate student representatives on NSP committees
including the Graduate Affairs Committee (GAC), the NSP hiring committee,
the Dean's student advisory committee (DSAC), and the NSP faculty advisory
committee.