Washington State University, School of Biological Sciences

Graduate Student Handbook

[Updated, June 2026]

1 – Introduction

The School of Biological Sciences (SBS) at Washington State University (WSU) offers graduate programs leading to the MS and PhD degrees. Our graduate programs are an important part of the overall research program in biological sciences at WSU. The state-of-the-art school and campus facilities and the collegial atmosphere of SBS and the university provide an ideal setting for the dedicated student to obtain interdisciplinary training in modern science, as well as mastery of their own specialty. The school provides students with opportunities and support to work closely with leaders of their areas in both laboratory and field settings. This handbook is designed to acquaint students with the two sets of regulations and procedures that will guide them to their graduate degrees:

• the university-wide policies of the WSU Graduate School and
• the departmental policies of the School of Biological Sciences.

Failure to adhere to these regulations and to observe the degree requirements inevitably results in complications and could delay completion of the degree.

Faculty within SBS value graduate study as a period of academic growth and professional development. We facilitate and encourage students to obtain a broad working knowledge of their chosen areas. We wish you every success with your graduate program and in your future career.

2 – New Student Information

2.1 – Orientation

An orientation event for new students will be held on each campus during the week before their first semester begins. During this orientation, students will review school and university regulations, begin a course in teaching training, receive training in lab and course safety and become familiar with faculty research programs, the school’s facilities, staff and expectations of their graduate program. During this time, the Associate Director will also meet each new student as needed to discuss degree requirements including any prerequisites or undergraduate deficiencies, transfer credits from previous MS degrees, graduate seminars, and special topics course requirements, and to answer any questions new students may have.

2.2 – Office and Desks

The School of Biological Sciences will provide desk and office space for all graduate students in the school, if space is available. Contact the Associate Director for your assignment. Please note that moving among offices can only be done with the permission of the Associate Director.

2.3 – Keys

The Administrative Assistant in the main SBS office will issue keys. To receive keys, you will be required to sign an agreement that states that you will obey all WSU rules regarding keys. There is no charge for keys; however, you may be subject to the costs of key replacement and rekeying if you lose or fail to return the keys when you leave. Please assume responsibility for locking all office, classroom, and laboratory doors.

2.4 – Building Pass

Graduate students are required to have a valid student identification card in their possession during hours when the buildings are closed and to present your card to security personnel upon request. In Pullman, student ID cards may be obtained from the Cougar Card Center in the bottom floor of the CUB or by calling 509-335-CARD (2273).

2.5 – Mail (Pullman-based students)

Pullman students will be assigned a mailbox in Abelson 304. Mail sent from and received at the University should only be official correspondence. Personal mail should be delivered to private residences. Business correspondence can be left in the SBS main office for mailing. Letters should not be stamped, and they must have the return address of the school with the +4 zip code (4236).

2.6 – Telephones and Fax

Telephones are available for local calls. Graduate students should work with their advisors in case of a need for work-related long-distance calls. Personal long-distance telephone calls are prohibited. For long-distance faxes, you will need a long-distance access code. Please see the Finance Manager for additional information.

2.7 – Internet Access and Computer Use

A WSU network account, including an email address, is open for all graduate students upon admission. Roving IP addresses are also available through IT for connecting laptop computers to the internet. Official WSU correspondence should only be sent from, or to @wsu.edu email addresses.

Pullman-based students have access to laptop computers and projectors for presentations; scanners; digital topographical maps for Idaho, Oregon, and Washington; and limited amounts of software are available through the School of Biological Sciences. A sign-out sheet for computers and projectors is in the main office (Abelson 301). For other equipment and software, students should check with faculty or staff concerning their availability.

2.8 – Photocopying (Pullman-based students

Copiers are available to Pullman-based SBS graduate students in Eastlick 362. You will be assigned a copier code (usually the first 4 digits of your Social Security #) to be used for your educational endeavors. Copies will be charged against your annual graduate allocation, which varies from year to year (see below). There is a separate copier code for copying related to your TA responsibilities. Please see the Finance Office for the appropriate code.

2.9 – Graduate Coordinator

Your Graduate Coordinator is available for assistance with university forms, grant and scholarship applications, and general questions. All graduate paperwork must be routed through the Graduate Coordinator. Vancouver students should work with the Vancouver Graduate Coordinator.

2.10 – Research Supplies (Pullman-based students

Pullman students usually receive an annual allocation from the school for research-related costs (books are not allowed). Check with the finance office on availability of funds and to facilitate purchases.

3 – Guidelines

3.1 – Student Appointments

To ensure that all necessary paperwork has been completed, all graduate students should report to the SBS Main Office prior to August 16 (or December 15 for Spring semester appointments); responsibilities related to assistantships formally begin on this date. Students on teaching assistantships (TA) are assigned teaching responsibilities within the School of Biological Sciences in Pullman, the Natural Sciences in Vancouver, or at the College of Arts and Sciences at WSU Tri-Cities. Teaching assistantships are assigned based on a combination of the students’ expertise and the needs of the department. As much as possible, we try to match assignments to students and/ or faculty requests, but these are not guaranteed.

Students in a Master’s degree program will currently receive a salary at step 59, Doctoral students with or without a Master’s degree will receive a step 64 salary. Doctoral students that advance to PhD candidacy (i.e., after they successfully completed their preliminary examination) will be paid at step 69.

Paychecks are mailed on the 10^th and 25^th of the month and cannot be forwarded. It is recommended that students sign up for direct deposit, which can be done through the finance office. To report changes of address, go online to WorkDay.

The maximum time for financial support (TA based) for graduate appointments is within the first two years for a master’s student, within the first five years for a Doctoral student who possesses a Master’s degree, and within the first six years for a Doctoral student admitted without a Master’s degree. In extenuating circumstances, the graduate student may submit a request, using the procedures outlined in section 5.10.1 of this handbook, to the Associate Director for Graduate Studies and the Graduate Programs Committee (GPC) for a one-semester extension of appointment as a “Temporary Teaching Assistant”. Each case will be evaluated individually considering the student’s record and

special circumstances of the request. Extension requests are dealt with one semester at a time. In general, priority for TA positions is as follows: PhD and MS students enrolled in an SBS degree who are within their period of support (see above), PhD students enrolled in an SBS degree with an approved TA extension request, MS students enrolled in an SBS degree with an approved TA extension request, MPS students under the guidance of an SBS advisor. First extensions have priority over second extensions, and so on.

IMPORTANT: SBS extensions are separate from the Graduate School’s extensions and are handled differently. Note: as of fall 2023 a PhD student has 8 semesters (4 years) to graduate after passing their qualifying exam per Graduate School policy (graduate students who did their qualifying exam prior fall 2023 have only 6 semesters). Thus, for example, a PhD student who enters the program without a MS degree in 2021 and passes their qualifying exam in fall 2023 during their second year of study would not need an extension of TA support to continue into their (guaranteed) 6^th year of support from SBS and would also not need an extension from the Graduate School. More details on Graduate School extensions can be found in Chapter 6F of the Graduate School Policies and Procedures manual.

Graduate students on appointments enter into an agreement with the University that both parties are expected to honor. University policy requires graduate appointees to work 20 hours per week and to be at work each workday, including periods when the University is not in session with the exception of legal holidays (see WSU Holidays). To maintain an assistantship, a student must be enrolled in a minimum of 10 credits for the entire semester.

With satisfactory performance and the availability of funds, the school will continue to provide the student with financial support.

3.1.1 – Summer Teaching Assistantships

A small number of summer teaching assistantships are available each year. To apply for summer teaching assistantships, a student must provide the Graduate Coordinator with a letter from their advisor that states they have no other means of summer support. Applications will be ranked based on the following criteria (in decreasing order of importance):

1. TA experience in one or more summer courses offered
2. prior TA evaluation scores
3. a demonstrated lack of prior summer TA support
4. degree sought; PhD students will have priority over MS students.
5. whether a student is progressing on time to complete his or her degree (students on extensions are not eligible)
6. whether the student has submitted all relevant paperwork to the graduate school based on time in residence

3.2 – Residency

Students with at least half-time appointments as research or teaching assistants may qualify for a waiver of tuition by establishing residency in Washington State. Access the application form and information about establishing residency at the WSU Graduate School website. The deadline for submission of the questionnaire and documentation is the 30^th day of classes of the term for which you are seeking residency. If you are seeking residency for the fall term, for example, your deadline would be the 30^th calendar day of classes for the fall semester. However, it is to your advantage to submit your file prior to the beginning of the semester to be considered for a change of residence status by the tuition due date. Allow 3–4 weeks review time. After reading the requirements, students should discuss any questions regarding their residency with the Graduate School. Failure to promptly establish residency places the non-resident tuition waivers in jeopardy and may subject the student to full non-resident fees.

3.3 – Handling Classroom Disturbances

The College of Arts and Sciences recommends the following guidelines to teaching assistants on handling classroom disruptions:

Instructors must be prepared to handle the unexpected. One unpleasant task that confronts all instructors at some time is handling a disruptive student. Each instructor has his or her own personal approach to such problems, but a few guidelines are described here to provide some direction for teaching assistants.

1. Since classroom disruptions come in many sizes and forms, no general policies can be applied to every situation. The cardinal rule, however, is for the instructor to remain as calm as the situation warrants. The instructor should remember that he/she is serving as a university official, and thus has authority supported by the State of Washington Administrative Code.
2. Most disruptions can be handled within class. Most students will not repeat disruptive behavior if it is pointed out to them. The instructor’s personal style will determine the approach to be taken in informing the student of inappropriate behavior and of the admonition to cease and desist.
3. In cases of repeated disruptive behavior that is not serious enough to cause immediate risk to the class, the teaching assistant should inform the course faculty instructor, who should then undertake corrective action.
4. In case of a serious incident that causes physical or verbal intimidation of the instructor or students and that cannot be handled within the classroom, the teaching assistant should leave the room and contact the course faculty instructor for assistance. If the faculty instructor is not available, the director or another faculty member should be immediately notified (for nighttime labs, the campus police may be contacted).
5. In extreme cases of disruptive behavior where the teaching assistant perceives there to be an immediate threat to the safety of people or to the continuation of orderly instruction, the teaching assistant may leave the classroom and contact the campus police for assistance.
6. The university simply does not tolerate cheating. Cases of cheating should be immediately documented and taken to the faculty member responsible for the course.

3.4 – Graduate Student Annual Reviews

Graduate School Policies & Procedures requires an Annual Review of each graduate student (chapter 6B). Students will normally be provided with an evaluation form in late December/early January (see Appendix 3.4 for an example; the most current version of the form will be provided each year). Forms should have both the students’ and their Thesis Advisor’s comments complete and turned back into the Graduate Coordinator before the end of February of each year. It is expected that the advisory committee will meet with the students on at least an annual basis. This meeting should be listed as part of the students’ annual academic review. Any student who fails to submit an Annual Review form, complete with student and advisor comments, by the deadline may be ineligible for intra- departmental fellowship funding (e.g., Research & Training Fellowships).

The Graduate Programs Committee reviews each student’s performance, including performance as teaching assistants, for those on TA appointments. The Associate Director for Graduate Studies will provide comments on the evaluation and return it to the student. A digital copy will be placed in the students online file and additional copies will be made available to the student and their thesis advisor.

If a student’s progress is unsatisfactory, their Advisory Committee will be consulted to determine whether continuation of the student’s graduate program is warranted. The Associate Director for Graduate Studies will notify the students in writing of the committee’s recommendation and forward a copy of the report to the Graduate School. Note: Unsatisfactory annual reviews do not lead to a dismissal from the graduate program but can, per graduate school policies, impact continuation of an assistantship. In the case of two unsatisfactory 800 research credits, however, the student will be subject to dismissal from the graduate program

Teaching assistants are also evaluated by student questionnaires each semester. The Instructor in Charge will summarize the teaching evaluations and comments and will make a copy of the summary available to the TA and the Scientific Instructional Technician. If a TA’s performance is unsatisfactory, the Associate Director can, in consultation with GPC, make a recommendation to the Director of the School of Biological Sciences to terminate the appointment.

3.5 – Travel

Authorization for all off-campus travel must be obtained before leaving campus to be eligible for accident insurance or reimbursement of expenses. Graduate students must obtain approval from their supervisors and the Director of the School of Biological Sciences before all trips. Students on the Vancouver campus should contact van.cas.travel@wsu.edu to request a travel authorization form.

Graduate students are encouraged to attend professional meetings. Support is available for travel and includes Graduate Student Research and Training Fellowships (see Section 6.0), individual and block grant travel programs, and travel support from faculty grants. Assistance with locating funding is available.

3.6 – Leave

Students on appointments at WSU earn vacation, sick and parental leave. For details see the WSU ASE Contract (Academic Student Employees union – ASE 4591), articles 28 and 30. Any absence must be arranged and agreed on in advance with the RA supervisor or TA instructor of record.

3.7 – Consensual Relationships

Graduate students may rightfully develop consensual relationships. As a matter of sound judgment, graduate teaching and research assistants in the University community accept responsibility to avoid any apparent or actual conflict of interest between their professional responsibilities and personal relationships with students or those whom they supervise, evaluate, or exercise other relationships of power or authority. If any questions arise regarding consensual relationships, please see WSU policies regarding consensual relationships.

3.8 – Exit

Before departing from WSU, students should return all teaching and research materials and keys, leave a forwarding address, and consult with their advisor about management and archiving of their thesis data, cleaning up samples, chemicals, etc., from their research.

Students are also required to go through a confidential online exit interview. Alternatively, they can meet in person with the Director of Graduate Studies for an exit interview.

3.9 – Future Employment

The ability of graduate students to gain employment in their chosen field is of great interest to the faculty. During training, graduate students are strongly encouraged to attend scientific meetings, present and publish their research work, and meet scientists in their field of interest. Students will also become aware of positions in their fields through meetings, announcements in society newsletters, and scientific journals. Information on positions available to MS and PhD graduates is posted on the second floor of Abelson Hall or online on the Science-gradstudents@lists.wsu.edu (request to join the science graduate students’ email list) .

3.10 – Safety Program

3.10.1 – Safety Training

Safety training is required of every new graduate student regardless of prior training. A safety training session will be presented by permanent members of the Safety Committee during graduate student orientation in August, before the beginning of Fall semester. Students arriving at other times of the year will be individually instructed before they begin work, and which will be organized by their thesis supervisor. This training will include both general safety and laboratory safety. The safety orientation will be documented on appropriate forms to be signed by the employee. These forms are to be kept in the employee’s permanent file.

A graduate student’s thesis supervisor will be responsible for furnishing more site-specific information. This will include the following items:

1. location of the Laboratory Safety Manual
2. location of the nearest Material Safety Data Sheets
3. location and use of the chemical spill kit
4. location and update procedure for the chemical inventory
5. location and use of personal protective equipment and other safety equipment
6. lab-specific standard operating procedures
7. lab-specific chemical storage plan
8. lab-specific disposal procedures for sharps, glass, biohazards, chemical waste, and radioisotopes
9. other lab-specific practices

Employees are responsible for conforming to the Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act regulations, which include:

1. studying and observing all safety practices governing their work.
2. offering safety suggestions contributing to a safer work environment;
3. applying the principles of accident prevention in their daily work and using proper safety devices and protective equipment as required by their employers or employment; and
4. reporting to their immediate supervisor each industrial injury or occupational illness, regardless of the degree of severity.

3.10.2 – Safety Committee

The committee consists of five permanent members and two rotating faculty positions. The faculty will serve two-year terms and act as chair during their second year. The functions of the Safety Committee are:

1. to act as a two-way communication link for safety matters between university administration and the School of Biological Sciences
2. to formulate safety policies for the School of Biological Sciences

Students on other campuses should check with their Graduate Coordinator regarding safety training.

3.10.3 – Accident Reporting

Graduate students should promptly report all accidents, occupational illnesses, and near misses immediately to their supervisors. The supervisor will fill out a report within 24 hours and have the employee sign it. Teaching assistants are to promptly fill out an Incident Report form to report incidents involving students in teaching laboratories. Report forms are available next to the First Aid Kits in all laboratories. Incident Reports are available online.

For fire, police, and ambulance emergencies and hazardous material spills–call 911. In the event of radiation contamination or spill call the Radiation Safety Office at 509-335-4221.

4 – Facilities

4.1 – Introduction

Opportunities at WSU for basic research in the School of Biological Sciences are especially strong in plant and animal physiology, modern structural plant science, animal behavior, genetics, ecology and evolutionary biology, systematics, and the health sciences. Each of these disciplines provides many opportunities for careers in academia, agriculture, government, and industry in the U.S. and abroad.

4.2 – Research Facilities

The School of Biological Sciences is well equipped for many modern research procedures in life sciences, including cloning, sequencing, and characterization of genes, gel electrophoresis, DNA restriction fragment analysis, in situ hybridization, microautoradiography, image analysis, cell culture, isotope ratio by mass spectrometry, and plant gas exchange and fluorescence measurements. The school has an excellent growth chamber, greenhouse, and darkroom facilities. In addition, it manages several major University facilities, such as the Marion Ownbey Herbarium, which contains more than 300,000 mounted specimens of vascular plants and cryptogams. The Conner Museum contains more than 60,000 specimens for zoological study. Other major facilities include the Franceschi Microscopy and Imaging Center, which is housed in Abelson Hall within the School of Biological Sciences. Students interested in

field-oriented projects have access to the Smoot Hill Biological Reserve and experimental garden space on Observatory Hill and on Airport Road. Vivarium and aquatic facilities are available for students whose research will involve the use of live animals.

However, it is crucial that protocols for research involving vertebrates be submitted to and approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) before any work is undertaken (this includes both field and laboratory research). Students must also take an animal handling course. Further information may be obtained from the IACUC’s website. The Owen Science and Engineering Library, adjacent to the Life Sciences Complex, contains one of the foremost collections of library materials in western North America.

4.3 – Plant Growth Space

In Pullman, the school has a 4,000 sq. ft., 9-compartment greenhouse on the 7^th floor of Abelson Hall and a 2,800 sq. ft., 4- compartment greenhouse at the Steffen Center. Both greenhouses are used for teaching and research. In addition, 23 plant growth chambers and 4 tissue culture chambers are in Eastlick Hall (B93, B95, and B97) and one large growth room in Heald Hall (302C).

These are used primarily for research. All requests for space must be approved by the student’s major advisor and submitted early in the fall semester to the Plant Growth Facilities Manager on the space request form (Appendix 4.3). Space assignments will be made jointly by the Plant Growth Facilities Manager and the Director of the School. Consult the Plant Growth Facilities Manager should your space needs change at any time during the year.

In Vancouver, students have access to two 4-compartmentgreenhouses as well as several plant growth chambers. Ultimately, the care of plants in the greenhouses and growth chambers will be the student’s responsibility. Pullman: Routine watering, fertilization and pest control in the greenhouse are performed by the greenhouse staff. Routine watering and fertilization of growth chamber plants are the responsibility of the student.

Temperature, photoperiod and ventilation adjustments, fumigation, spray of pesticides, and general care of the greenhouse and growth chambers are the responsibility of greenhouse personnel. Students should not perform any of these jobs, except under direct supervision. Students must be checked out of greenhouse or growth chamber space by the Plant Growth Facilities Manager when their studies are completed. Work areas must be cleaned, pots washed, and growing media disposed of as directed by greenhouse personnel. Report immediately any malfunctions or problems to greenhouse personnel. Should problems arise during off-hours, call Amanda Linskey at 509-596-2399 or email her at alinskey@wsu.edu. If she is unavailable, call the Physical Plant at 509-335-9000 for immediate assistance.

5 – Degree Requirements

5.1 – Introduction

With the assistance of your thesis advisor you are expected to establish a research advisory committee and submit a Program of Study (which outlines your planned coursework to complete your degree) to the graduate school by the end of your first fall semester if you are an MS student or end of your first spring semester if you are a PhD student. You should also begin to develop a research proposal modeled after federal grant proposal formats (such as NSF, USDA, and NIH). Typically, MS students present this proposal to their research advisory committee during the second semester and PhD students by the beginning of the fifth semester.

5.1.1 – Degree Forms

• Students are responsible for preparing all forms and paperwork required for completion of their degree, such as the Program of Study form, program change forms, and exam scheduling forms. The SBS Graduate Coordinator is available to assist with completion of these forms.
• All forms required for a degree program must be submitted to the SBS Graduate Coordinator, who will directly submit them to the Graduate School.
• Students should also direct questions about degree programs and forms to the SBS Graduate Coordinator rather than to the Graduate School. This is to help protect Graduate School staff from being overwhelmed (The Graduate School has a relatively small staff who must administer all of the graduate students and their degrees on all WSU campuses).

5.2 – Thesis Advisor

Normally the thesis (i.e., major) advisor for a degree program is identified before admittance into the program and the award of a TA or RA. The thesis advisor is the graduate student’s primary contact concerning all matters related to their program of study and thesis research. The advisor assists in selection of the thesis committee, development of a program of study, and thesis research proposal, and is responsible for guiding, facilitating, and monitoring the student’s academic and professional growth, reviewing program changes, and arranging for graduate student support. The student should consult with their advisor before registering for courses each semester.

5.2.1 – Change of Advisor

Under certain circumstances a student may wish to change graduate advisors during the course of study. If such a change is feasible, the student should discuss this matter with their current advisor, the new advisor, and/or the Associate Director for Graduate Studies, including how ownership of generated research data is handled. A request to change the committee need to be done by filling out the Committee Change Form. The Dean of the Graduate School ultimately approves the change.

5.3 – Advisory Committee

The Masters or Doctoral Advisory Committee is decided jointly by the student and thesis advisor. The committee consists of the faculty advisor, who serves as chair, and other faculty in the area of the student’s research interest.

5.3.1 – Size

• The advisory committee for an MS student must include at least three current WSU faculty members.
• The advisory committee for a PhD student must include at least three members of the current WSU Faculty of the Graduate School.

5.3.2 – Composition

For MS students:

• All members of the advisory committee must hold a degree of comparable level to the degree sought by the student.
• Two of the members of the advisory committee must be current members of the Faculty of the Graduate School^{footnote 1}.
• Two of the members must be graduate program faculty^{footnote 2} in the student’s master’s degree program.
  • At least one of these two members must be a member of the Graduate Faculty.

For PhD students:

• All doctoral advisory committee members are normally expected to hold a Ph.D.
• At least two of the members must be a member of the Faculty of the Graduate School^{footnote 1}.
• At least two of the members must be in the graduate program faculty^{footnote 2} in the student’s doctoral degree.

5.3.3 – External Committee Members

• External advisory committee members must hold a degree comparable to that sought by the student and have special knowledge that is particularly important to the student’s proposed program.
• A brief rationale must be provided on the Program of Study form for any committee member who is not a member of the SBS Graduate Faculty. A CV of such an external faculty member must be submitted with the POS form to the Graduate School.
• A student may add an advisory committee member who is not WSU faculty. The student will need to submit an External Committee Member Request Form along with a current CV of the external member to the Graduate School.

5.3.4 – Roles

The advisory committee guides the student’s research and approves a program of study. The program of study must include those courses needed to fulfill curriculum requirements. The program of study must also include courses to correct any deficiencies (e.g., organic chemistry, calculus) as identified by the advisory committee. The committee also administers the thesis proposal defense and final examination for MS students and the preliminary, dissertation proposal defense, and final examinations for PhD students.

5.3.5 – Meetings

Scheduling of PhD and MS advisory committee meetings to discuss a student’s progress in their degree program is left to the discretion of the student, their thesis advisor, and their advisory committee. Nonetheless, it is strongly recommended that the student meet with their committee at least once per year.

5.3.6 – Conflict-of-Interest Policy

When forming their advisory committee, students should avoid to the extent possible situations that may constitute or may be construed as a conflict of interest (COI). COIs can occur between the student and a faculty member on the advisory committee or between faculty members on the advisory committee. If a COI among faculty on the same advisory committee is unavoidable, then SBS policy requires that the number of committee members with conflicts not exceed the number of committee members without conflict. In addition, the committee members without conflict must all be members of the SBS Graduate Faculty.

Examples of student-faculty COIs:

• a new faculty member, who was recently a WSU graduate student, serving on the advisory committee of a former graduate student peer.
• a faculty member, who is the employer or supervisor of a staff member pursuing a graduate degree, also serving on that staff member’s advisory committee.

Examples of COIs between faculty members:

• a non-tenure track faculty or staff member serving on the same advisory committee as their employer or supervisor
• advisory committee members whose impartiality may be impacted because of close professional or personal relationships that are separate from their WSU faculty or staff roles, such as domestic partnership or shared financial interests, like co-owning a company

5.4 – Program of Study

All students should become familiar with the Graduate School course requirements as outlined in the Graduate School Policies and Procedures. Forms for submitting MS and PhD paperwork are available online. The student plans the course program with the help of their thesis advisor and advisory committee.

5.4.1 – Program of Study

The Program of Study (POS) must be completed using this Program of Study form. Students should submit their POS to the Graduate School via the SBS Graduate Coordinator by the end of their second semester.

The Graduate School requires that MS students submit their POS no later than the semester prior to the semester they plan to graduate. PhD students must submit their POS no later than their 3^rd semester of study. However, note that SBS expects MS students to submit a POS during their first semester, and PhD students to submit a POS before the end of their 2^nd semester.

To ensure within-semester processing, programs of study must be submitted to the Graduate School by October 1 for Fall semesters and by March 1 for Spring semesters.

5.4.2 – Research Credits

A flexible number of credits is allowed for research and thesis each semester. Students, with their advisor’s approval, should register for BIOLOGY 700 or BIOLOGY 800 to bring their credit load to 10 or more credits each semester. (Important: Failure to enroll in at least 10 credits will result in loss of the tuition waiver for teaching and research assistantships and the student will be billed by the university for the full amount of tuition.)

The thesis advisor is responsible for setting expectations each semester a student is enrolled in research credits and provides an S or U grade at the end of the semester based on the student’s performance in meeting those requirements. Note that two successive U grades may result in dismissal from the graduate program upon recommendation of the student’s thesis advisor. In extenuating circumstances, faculty may use the X grade to indicate continuing progress toward completion of those requirements. An X grade should be changed when the faculty member determines that the student has successfully met the requirements for that semester; X grades should be changed by faculty no later than the semester of the final exam.

5.4.3 – MS Degree Programs in the SBS

Thesis MS in Biology and Plant Biology

Core course requirements:

A minimum of 21 credits of 400-level (maximum 6 credits) and 500-level graded course work is required for the thesis MS degree program. Timelines and deadlines for the thesis MS degree program.

SBS course requirements:

A minimum of 9 graded credits from the School of Biological Sciences (courses with prefix BIOLOGY) is required for the thesis degree programs in Biology and Plant Biology. As a part of the graded credits from the school, MS students are expected to enroll in

• the 2 credit-hour grant writing course BIOLOGY 582 (Professional Communication in Biology — Grant Writing)
• the teaching in biology course BIOLOGY 585 (Professional Development & Training for College & University Teaching)

At the discretion of the Associate Director for Graduate Studies, students may use comparable courses already taken at other universities to satisfy these course requirements.

Seminar attendance course:

MS students are expected to enroll in the seminar attendance course BIOLOGY 500 section 2 every semester. In Pullman, the thesis advisor is responsible for setting expectations and grading for this course. Many students satisfy this requirement by attending the weekly SBS Seminar in Pullman (Mondays 3:10–4:00), but some attend other regular seminars approved by their thesis advisor. MS students may waive this requirement for no more than one semester during their degree program.

Thesis proposal defense & public presentation:

Thesis MS students must orally defend a written proposal of their thesis research to their Advisory Committee and give a public presentation of their thesis proposal. This requirement is internal to SBS and does not require a scheduling form.

Ideally, the proposal defense will occur by a student’s second semester of study. The format, extent, and expectations of the proposal must be discussed with the student advisory committee. For example, the proposal may follow the form of a grant proposal to an external funding agency. It is the committee’s responsibility to approve the proposal and schedule the oral defense. The defense exam and public presentation can occur in different semesters, but the student must enroll in 2 credits of BIOLOGY 501, section 2 the semester of their proposal defense meeting. The public presentation can be scheduled as part of a regular weekly seminar (such as Blunch) or another time, but it must be announced to all SBS faculty, graduate students, and postdocs.

Grading (pass/fail) of the oral proposal defense exam will be guided by a rubric. For a copy of this rubric email krista.haney@wsu.edu. This will be filled out by the students’ Advisory Committee. Upon passing the proposal defense, the student’s Thesis Advisor will (via email) provide a copy of the written proposal to the Graduate Coordinator and will verify that the student passed the exam.

Final exam:

During the semester they intend to graduate, MS students will also present a public seminar to the school based on the student’s thesis research while enrolled in one (ungraded) credit of BIOLOGY 500, section 1. The examination portion will be restricted to the students’ Advisory Committee members.

Normative timeline for Thesis MS degree:

• Year 1, Fall: coursework, assemble thesis committee, file program of study
• Year 1, Spring: continue coursework, begin research, research, proposal defense and presentation
• Year 1, Summer: continue research
• Year 2, Fall: complete coursework, complete data analysis
• Year 2, Spring: write and defend thesis, graduate

MS thesis general guidelines:

It is generally expected that a MS thesis consists of at least two chapters including (a) an introduction that puts the work in a broader context and summarizes the main results and (b) a second chapter that is considered a publishable piece of work based on the student’s original research conducted at WSU.

Non-Thesis MS in Biology

Core course requirements:

A minimum of 30 total credit hours are required; 26 of these credits must be graded, and a minimum of 17 hours must be at the 500-level.

See Graduate School timelines and deadlines.

The student must complete 4 credits of BIOLOGY 702 (Master’s Special Problems, Directed Study and/or Examination), 2 of which must be taken in the semester of the final exam.

SBS course requirements:

A minimum of 12 graded credits from the School of Biological Sciences (BIOLOGY prefix) is required for the non-thesis degree program in Biology.

The program must include at least some course work from all 3 areas of the SBS core curriculum (ecology, evolution, and physiology). The levels of coverage of each core area will be determined and approved by the student’s Advisory Committee.

As part of the graded credits from the school, non-thesis MS students are expected to take one credit (but not more than 6 credits) of advanced topics seminar (BIOLOGY 589) and the teaching training course (BIOLOGY 585).

Final exam/balloting meeting:

In the final semester, the students will arrange for their Advisory Committee to hold a final exam/balloting meeting, scheduled through the Graduate School, to determine whether the student has satisfactorily met all the requirements of the program. The student is not allowed to attend this meeting. Students must register for a minimum of 2 of the 4 required credits of BIOLOGY 702 for the term in which the balloting meeting is scheduled. Non- thesis MS students are exempt from the general requirement to present a seminar to the school.

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5.4.4 – PhD Programs in the SBS

The School of Biological Sciences offers PhD degrees in Biology and in Plant Biology. Requirements are the same for both degrees.

Core course requirements:

A minimum of 21 credits of 400-level (maximum 6 credits) and 500-level graded course work is required for the degree. A minimum of 60 total credits for both degrees is required effective Fall 2026. Up to 50% of these credits may be transferred credits from another university (e.g., for students with an MS) undergraduate School regulations and approval of the student’s academic advisor. Timelines and deadlines for the PhD program.

5.4.4.1 – New SBS curricular requirements for letter graded classes (effective for all new incoming graduate students starting in Fall 2026)

SBS Curriculum for Graded Classes

Required Classes for Biology and Plant Biology Degrees (non-selective)

• Biology 582- Professional Communication in Biology-Grant Writing
• Biology 585- *Professional Development and Training for College and University Teaching

Selective Requirements Quantitative Skills for Biology and Plant Biology

(pick one)

• Biology 571- Quantitative Toolkits for Biologists
• Biology 579- Mathematical Modeling in the Biological and Health Sciences
• Biology 589- (will receive a new BIOL number) Computational Toolkit for Biologists

Selective Requirements for Biology Degree

(MS: Pick two or more courses in any of the five categories) (PhD: Pick one or more courses in at least two of the five categories)

Ecology

• Biology 562- Community Ecology
• Biology 568- Conservation Ecology
• Biology 549- Behavioral Ecology
• Biology 569- Ecosystem Ecology and Global Change

 Evolution

• Biology 519- Introduction to Population and Quantitative Genetics
• Biology 531- Principles of Systematic Biology
• Biology 546- Biology of Mutualism and Symbiosis

Organismal Biology

• Biology 509- Plant Anatomy
• Biology 513- Plant Metabolism
• Biology 517- Stress Physiology of Plants
• Biology 549- Behavioral Ecology
• Biology 561- Environmental Physiology
• Biology 575- Systems Biology of Reproduction
• Biology 559- Hormones, Brain, and Behavior

Cell and Molecular Biology

• Biology 504-Experimental Methods in Molecular Biology
• Biology 537- Plant Cell Biology
• Biology 576-Epigenetics and Systems Biology

Plant Biology and Physiology

• Biology 509- Plant Anatomy
• Biology 537- Plant Cell Biology
• Biology 517- Stress Physiology of Plants
• Biology 537- Plant Cell Biology
• Biology 546- Biology of Mutualism and Symbiosis

At the discretion of the Associate Director for Graduate Studies, students may use comparable courses already taken at other universities to satisfy these course requirements.

Seminar attendance course:

PhD students are expected to enroll in the seminar attendance course BIOLOGY 500 section 2 every semester. The thesis advisor is responsible for setting expectations and grading for this course. Many students satisfy this requirement by attending the weekly SBS Seminar in Pullman (Mondays 3:10–4:00), but some attend other regular seminars approved by their thesis advisor. PhD students may waive this requirement for no more than two semesters during their degree program.

Dissertation proposal defense & public presentation:

PhD students must orally defend a written proposal of their dissertation research to their Advisory Committee and present a public seminar of their dissertation proposal. The proposal defense can occur before a student’s preliminary exam but not later than one semester after advancing to candidacy. This requirement is internal to SBS and does not require a scheduling form. The defense exam and public presentation can occur in different semesters, but the student must enroll in 2 credits of BIOLOGY 501 section 1 the semester of their proposal defense meeting. The public presentation can be scheduled as part of a regular weekly seminar (normally the SBS Monday seminar) or another time, but it must be announced to all SBS faculty, graduate students, and postdocs.

The format of the written proposal is at the discretion of the students’ Advisory Committee. For example, the proposal may follow the form of a grant proposal to an external funding agency. It is the committee’s responsibility to approve the proposal and schedule the oral defense.

Grading (pass/fail) of the oral proposal defense exam will be guided by a Proposal Defense rubric (Word Doc) that can be found on the SBS website in the Graduate Studies/Helpful Resources section. This will be filled out by the student’s Advisory Committee. Upon passing the proposal defense, the student’s Thesis Advisor will (via email) provide a copy of the written proposal to the Graduate Coordinator and verify that the student passed the exam.

Normative timeline for PhD degree (5 years with MS, 6 years without):

Suggested timeline for PhD students towards graduation

Year 1 (semesters 1 & 2)

• Preparation for Year 1, Summer: Choose courses for fall; Get into contact with advisors
• Fall: Coursework and Research
• Spring: Coursework, Dissertation Research, Establish Advisory Committee, Program of Study, Dissertation; Topic, and 1st committee meeting, Submit Program of Study
• Summer: Dissertation Research, Discuss Topic for Research Proposal and Start Writing

Year 2 (semesters 3 & 4)

• Fall: Coursework, Dissertation, Research
• Spring: Wrap-up Coursework, Dissertation Research, Preliminary Exam, Discuss Dissertation Proposal
• Summer: Dissertation Research and Write Dissertation Proposal

Year 3 (semesters 5 & 6)

• Fall: Dissertation Research, Complete Dissertation Proposal defense
• Spring: Dissertation Research, Committee Meeting
• Summer: Dissertation and Research

Year 4 (semesters 7+)

• Fall: Dissertation Research, Committee Meeting, Discuss with Advisory Committee Timeline for Graduation;
  • Dependent on how research progressed: write thesis, prepare for final exam, and defend.
  • NOTE: after a preliminary exam you currently have up to 4 years till you need to defend
• Graduation

Exit seminar:

Normally during the semester they intend to graduate, PhD students will present a public seminar to the school based on the student’s dissertation research while enrolled in one (ungraded) credit of BIOLOGY 500, section 1. A student’s doctoral final examination can be scheduled separately from their public exit seminar.

PhD Thesis general guidelines:

It is generally expected that a PhD thesis will consist of at least four chapters including:

• an introduction that puts the work in a broader context and summarizes the main results and
• three additional chapters that are considered publishable pieces of work based on the student’s original research conducted at WSU.

5.4.5 – Recommended Courses

SBS courses

• Recommended courses (assembled by the School of Biological Sciences)
• List of links to WSU schedules of classes by campus

5.5 – Doctoral Preliminary Examination

An oral preliminary doctoral examination is required for advancement to PhD candidacy. While concentrating on the area of interest as defined by the student’s research topic, no topic is excluded from the oral preliminary exam.

This examination will be formally administered through the Graduate School. Only the students’ Advisory Committee may participate in the exam.

Preliminary examinations will be scheduled only for graduate students whose programs of study have been approved by the Graduate School, the Associate Director for Graduate Studies and the Student Advisory Committee, and only after most of the course work is completed (6 or fewer graded credits remaining to complete).

The preliminary exam should normally be scheduled no later than the end of the fourth semester for PhD students with an MS degree, and no later than the end of the sixth semester for PhD students without an MS degree.

Forms for scheduling the preliminary examination are available at the Graduate School forms page online and must be submitted at least 10 working days before the examination date.

The outcome (pass/fail) of this examination will be guided by a rubric that can be found on the SBS website in the Graduate Studies/Helpful Resources section. This will be filled out by the graduate student’s Advisory Committee.

Failure of the preliminary examination makes it uncertain whether a candidate is qualified to complete the PhD degree program. If a preliminary examination is failed, the examining committee may conclude:

1. that the candidate is unqualified and should not continue in their PhD degree program in SBS or
2. that the candidate may be qualified and should be allowed to retake the preliminary exam. The second exam must be taken no earlier than three months after the first preliminary exam and no later than one year after the first exam. Failure of the second exam will result in dismissal from the SBS graduate program.

Although not required by SBS, a written preliminary examination may be given prior to the oral examination if requested by the student or the Advisory Committee. Unlike the dissertation proposal defense, this is a general knowledge examination based on questions provided by the student’s Advisory Committee. To help ensure consistency, the following requirements for written exams apply:

1. The student must schedule a meeting with their Advisory Committee at least two months prior to the date of the written examination to discuss the exam format and committee expectations.
2. The format of the written exam will be decided upon by the Advisory Committee. The exam may be open- or closed book. The committee may choose to assign a review paper, if its content does not overlap extensively with that of the dissertation proposal. A description of the agreed format of the exam will be placed in the student’s file. The student’s thesis advisor is responsible for administering the written exam.
   1. In the case of a closed- or open-book exam, the committee will inform the student of the general topic areas that should be studied prior to the exam. Questions from each committee should be given to the student’s thesis advisor (who is also chair of the Advisory Committee) in advance. The advisor can request revisions of questions. The exam should take place over no longer than 5 consecutive business days and take no longer than 4 hours per committee member to answer questions.
   2. In the case of a review paper, the student will have at least two months to complete the review paper, which shall be formatted as a journal article manuscript.
3. After the written exam, the students will consult the Advisory Committee about their performance. If the student passes the written portion of the exam, they will be required to take the oral preliminary exam within 30 calendar days. If the student fails the written exam, the student must retake the exam within 90 days.

5.6 – Thesis-MS and PhD Final Oral Examination

Final examinations for the thesis-MS and PhD degrees will follow existing Graduate School regulations (see Graduate School Policies and Procedures). All graduate students must satisfactorily pass a final oral examination in defense of their thesis research.

After preliminary approval of the thesis by the Advisory Committee, the final examination will be scheduled through the Graduate School via the Graduate Coordinator. Copies of the thesis must be provided to each member of the Advisory Committee, Thesis Advisor, and the school at least 20 business days before the oral examination. An abstract should be placed in Owen Science and Engineering Library.

Only the student’s Advisory Committee can participate in the oral examination. Questions asked during the final examination usually relate to the thesis research but are not limited to the thesis. Passing or failing of this examination will be guided by a rubric. You can request this rubric by email to krista.haney@wsu.edu. This will be filled out by the graduate student’s advisory committee. Upon completion of the oral examination, a signed copy of the thesis must be presented to the Graduate School within five working days. Copies of the thesis will also be presented to the school and the thesis advisor.

5.7 – Dissertation/MS Thesis

5.7.1 – Outline of Final Dissertation/Thesis

Students are expected to meet with their Advisory Committee one semester prior to anticipated graduation to outline the thesis or dissertation outline for their committee. This outline will serve as an agreement between the students and their Advisory Committee as to the content expected in the final thesis or dissertation. However, it is recognized that some content may change during the final writing stages of the thesis or dissertation, and in such cases, the student should work with their committee to approve a revised outline prior to scheduling their defense.

5.7.2 – Dissertation/Thesis Formatting

For information on formatting the theses please refer to the graduate school’s Dissertation/Thesis Submission Guidelines. All theses and dissertations should also generally adhere to the following guidelines for the reference section as approved by the individual candidate’s Advisory Committee:

1. A complete draft of the MS thesis or PhD dissertation must be provided to the student’s Advisory Committee at least 10 business days (Business days exclude weekends and university holidays) prior to when the student plans to have their committee sign their thesis or dissertation defense scheduling form. This means that if the student plans on meeting the Graduate School deadline of 10 business days prior to their defense, they must give a complete draft at least 2 weeks prior to that deadline for the faculty to read and review the draft.
2. The format for each chapter may follow the format for the journal to which the manuscript has been or will be presented (i.e., no consistent format is required between chapters).
3. Full citation for each reference (i.e., including all the authors and the title of the article) must be given throughout the thesis, but otherwise each chapter may follow the format of a particular journal.
4. Use a consistent form of citations throughout the thesis or dissertation with the student selecting the format of a particular journal that gives the complete citation.

5.8 – Timing of MS Theses and PhD Dissertation Defenses

Thesis and dissertation defenses will take place during Fall and Spring semesters of each academic year. Only under unusual circumstances can a defense be held during Summer, and only with prior approval of the student’s Advisory Committee early in the preceding Spring. Many faculty in the school have nine-month appointments and research programs that keep them away from campus during summer, and many professional meetings and symposia take place at that time. Consequently, it may be impossible to find sufficient time during summer for the committee to read the draft thoroughly, provide comments, allow sufficient time to incorporate comments into a version suitable for defense, and identify a date for the final exam. As such, students should not assume that committee members will be able to convene for a defense during summer and should plan accordingly. Students need to find a day when everyone is available and allow a minimum of two weeks for all members of the committee to read and comment on the penultimate draft.

Note: advisory committee members shall only sign the Scheduling Examination form after they have had time to read the thesis and agree that the work is defendable.

Before scheduling the final exam date:

• The student is responsible for completing the Scheduling Examination form and obtaining the advisory committee signatures. The form should then be forwarded to the academic coordinator for review by the chair or director (in the academic program, department, or school) and final submission to the Graduate School.
• The Scheduling Examination form must be submitted to the Graduate School no later than 10 business days prior to the proposed date of the examination for a first attempt. If a student is attempting the final exam for a second time, the Scheduling Examination form must be submitted no later than 15 business days prior to the proposed date for the exam.

5.9 – Graduation

After the candidate has passed the final exam, the student will have 10 business days to make any requested changes to the dissertation. For details on this process please also look at the current Graduate School Policies (Chapter 7 for MS Degree Requirements and Chapter 8 for Ph.D. requirements).

Students are encouraged to apply for graduation and their degree the semester before they plan to graduate and obtain the appropriate packet of information regarding procedures and deadlines for thesis defense and graduation. Failure to meet deadlines could require enrollment for an additional semester.

See the Graduate School deadlines page for more information.

5.10 – Extension Requests

Occasionally, a student may not complete their degree within the time frame of their guaranteed assistantship funding from the School of Biological Sciences or within the time frame required by the Graduate School due to a variety of circumstances. In the former case, the student must request a funding extension from the SBS Graduate Programs Committee (GPC); in the latter case, the student would need to request a degree extension from the Graduate School. Funding and degree extensions are separate, including the processes required to request an extension. The following sections describe the processes for requesting extensions in each case.

5.10.1 – Extension Requests for SBS Funding

As outlined in section 3.1 SBS in Pullman aims at providing Teaching Assistant support for set periods of time for MS or PhD students. If a student needs TA support beyond these periods, they must submit a funding extension request to the GPC via the Graduate Coordinator.

Funding extension requests are only considered for one semester at a time. Extension requests for Spring semester assistantship funding are due at the latest by September 15 and extension requests for Fall semester assistantship funding are latest due by March 15 annually.

The request for an extension of funding must include the following:

1. Justification for the funding extension request, outlining the extenuating circumstances that led to the delay in graduation beyond the normative timeframe.
2. A timeline for completion of the degree program
3. A letter of support from the student’s Thesis Advisor agreeing that the plan and timeline for completion is reasonable.

5.10.2 – Graduate School Degree Extension Requests

The Graduate School (see Graduate School Policies and Procedures) allows a maximum of 6 years to complete an MS degree. The maximum time allowed to complete a PhD is 10 years, but the Graduate School also requires that the doctoral degree be completed within 4 years of passing the preliminary examination (as of fall 2024, otherwise 3 years if preliminary exams were taken earlier; Most degree extension requests are due to the requirement of finishing the PhD degree within 3 to 4 years, respectively, of passing the preliminary.) If a student requires more time to complete their MS or PhD degree, they must submit a degree extension request to the Graduate School.

The Graduate School allows for up to three-degree extensions. The process of requesting the first-degree extension is relatively routine. Requests for the second– and third-degree extensions are considerably more involved, including requiring a vote of approval by the SBS Graduate Faculty. Detailed procedures for requesting first, second-, and third-degree extensions are described in Chapter 6F of the current Graduate School Policies and Procedures manual and must be followed closely.

Graduate degree extensions are approved for one year (two semesters).

Footnotes

1. ^{footnote 1:} The Faculty of the Graduate School or Graduate Faculty consists of faculties of graduate programs of academic colleges that have placed the administration of their graduate program under the Graduate School. An appointment to the Faculty of the Graduate School applies only to the membership of graduate advisory committees. The membership of the Faculty of the Graduate School includes Graduate Faculty, Associate Graduate Faculty, and Auxiliary Graduate Faculty.
2. ^{footnote 2:} Each WSU department or school has its own Graduate Faculty or Graduate Program Faculty. All tenured and tenure-track SBS faculty are also SBS Graduate Faculty. SBS career-track faculty and faculty external to SBS may become members of the SBS Graduate Faculty. Requirements for SBS Graduate Faculty status are described in the SBS graduate program bylaws.

6 – Research & Training Fellowships

Through generous contributions from former WSU faculty, colleagues, students, and their families and friends, over a dozen endowments have been established to support graduate training and research of students in the School of Biological Sciences. These funds provide excellent opportunities for SBS graduate students to complete their degrees and develop professionally. Descriptions of the supporting endowment award sources are provided in Appendix 6: SBS Grad Student Endowment Award Sources.

6.1 – Applications

The most current version of the application will be emailed to students prior to each deadline.

There are two application due dates each year: October 1 for funds starting in January and March 1 for funds starting in May. However, the October 1 deadline is exclusively reserved for unexpected situations or in cases where requesting funding in March is not feasible (e.g., conference application deadlines).

Applications in fall require very strong justification. Applications exceeding $2000 are likely not granted. It is at GPC’s discretion and the amount of available funds in fall whether requests will be supported.

Applications must include a letter from the student’s thesis advisor that states they have seen and approved the student’s justification and the allocation of funds requested.

The application, including the thesis advisor’s support letter, must be submitted in a single pdf to the SBS Graduate Coordinator by 5:00pm on the due date. The name of the combined file must be in the following format:

Lastname.Firstname.Term[F20xx or S20xx].R&TFellowship.pdf

6.2 – Eligibility

SBS thesis-MS or PhD student in good standing.

Although a student may apply for a fellowship before their Program of Study (POS) has been submitted, they cannot receive or expend an award until their POS has been filed formally with the Graduate School.

6.3 – Award Limitations and Adjustments

Awards for a given deadline are limited by endowment funds

available at the time of application.

Adjustments to funding requests will consider cumulative caps (currently up to $12,000 for PhD candidates and $3000 for MS students (but total amounts may be subject to change), requests by different students for the same activity (e.g., costs to attend a specific conference), and possibly other factors (e.g., the necessity of foreign travel for training also available domestically).

Relatively large requests will require more extensive justification and may be subject to greater reductions than smaller requests if reductions are necessary.

6.4 – Stipulations

Awards cannot be used for purposes other than those described in the application. Stipends, once awarded, cannot be re- budgeted as direct research funds.

Unused funds will be reclaimed automatically after the period passed the award was granted for (May 15 (end of the academic year) for October applications; February 28 of the following year for March 1 applications). Extensions may be granted but need to be supported by strong justifications.

Extension requests need to be submitted to GPC at least 2 months before the respective deadline is reached otherwise cannot be considered. Only expended amounts will count against a student’s cumulative cap.

7 – Graduate Student Representation

7.1 – School of Biological Sciences Representation

Graduate students hold several important representative positions within the school. One graduate representative serves as a liaison with the faculty and attends all faculty meetings, except those involving personnel matters. Each fall graduate students may elect this representative and notify the Director of their selection. The representative conveys graduate students’ concerns or suggestions about the school to the faculty. In turn, the representative is responsible for conveying actions by the faculty to the students. The Director of the School of Biological Sciences will solicit graduate student representatives for these committees. The Vancouver campus also welcomes a graduate student liaison to Biology and Science faculty meetings. In addition, all SBS students are eligible to join the Biology Graduate Student Association (BGSA), which is affiliated with the WSU Graduate and Professional Student Association (GPSA). The BGSA holds regular meetings and occasional events, including the annual graduate student research symposium, held each spring.

7.2 – University Representation

All graduate students in the university who are currently enrolled in 10 or more hours are members of the GPSA. GPSA represents the concerns of graduate and professional students both within the university and nationally. The School of Biological Sciences has two representatives to the GPSA Senate (the governing body for GPSA) who are elected each fall. In addition, many of the important advisory committees within the university have voting positions for graduate students. Students are encouraged to become involved in positions of interest. For additional information please consult the GPSA website. Graduate students are also members of WSU CASE (Coalition of Academic Student Employees (see WSU CASE website FAQ page).

7.3 – Grievances

If grievances arise, the student may discuss the problem with their thesis advisor, the Associate Director for Graduate Studies in the school, the Director of the School of Biological Sciences, or the WSU Ombudsman (Wilson-Short Hall, Room 2, telephone: 509-335-1195). If such grievances are not resolved, they may be also brought to the Graduate School following these guidelines: Graduate School Policies and Procedures (PDF file). SBS has no specific grievance policies, and follows in principle steps advised by the Graduate School Policies under Chapter 12 E, section 3. (Graduate and Professional Student Informal Complaint and Formal Academic Grievance Procedures):

7.3.1 – Conflict resolution related to academic work

• Students are encouraged to first consult with their faculty advisor.
• If this does not resolve the problem, the student is encouraged to discuss the issue with the SBS graduate program director, and if needed subsequently with the SBS director.
• If the complaint is still not resolved at the department or program level, the student should contact a Graduate School leadership team member.
• The Dean of the Graduate School or a Dean’s designee will review the complaint and recommend possible actions for resolution to the student, the director (in the graduate program, department, or school), the college dean, or faculty liaison.

7.3.2 – Conflict resolution related to Academic Student Employee (ASE) work

Procedures here follow as listed in Article 37 of the WSU/UAW contract 2024-2026 for ASEs. Grievance here is defined as ‘a claim by an employee or group of employees covered by this Agreement, or by the Union, that the University has committed a specific violation, misapplication or misinterpretation of the terms of this Agreement.”

• If an ASE is experiencing any workplace issue, or feels that any aspect of their contract is being violated, they are encouraged to reach out to their SBS union steward, and to contact the Union at contractenforcement@uaw4591.org for support. Up-to-date information on stewards and jurisdictions can be found within the WSU and UAW Contract Ratified for Academic Student Employees under Stewards/Representatives.
• As a first step, the ASE is encouraged to resolve any problems as soon as possible, first in a meeting with the direct supervisor of the ASE. The ASE may request that their union steward be present at any meetings.
• If the conflict was not resolved, the ASE is encouraged to file grievance with the assistance of a union steward. Following filing, the hiring unit director (or designee) shall meet with the grievant and the Union within fourteen (14) calendar days of receiving the grievance. The hiring unit director (or designee) shall issue a written response to the grievance within fourteen (14) calendar days of the meeting.
• If these initial steps are not satisfactory, grievance can be escalated through further steps outlined in the contract (collective bargaining agreement) under Article 37.6.3-5.

8 – Notice of Non-Discrimination

Notice of Non-Discrimination

For Notice of Non-Discrimination, please follow the link below to the latest Washington State University policies:

Appendix 1 – AI Statement

USE OF AI/LLMs, ETC. The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, including Large Language Models (LLMs), can be valuable for certain aspects of the ETD writing process. For instance, these tools can assist with copy editing, improving grammar, spelling, and clarity. They can also be useful for brainstorming ideas or exploring different ways to articulate complex concepts. However, it is essential that the core content, ideas, and phrasing in your ETD remain your own. Although LLMs can enhance the presentation of your work, they should not replace your intellectual contributions. When using AI tools, ensure that they are employed in a way that maintains the originality and integrity of your writing. Proper attribution is recommended if these tools significantly influence the final text. Recommended Guidelines: 1. Copy Editing and Grammar: AI tools can be used to correct grammatical errors and refine language. However, ensure that the edits do not alter the intended meaning or the originality of your ideas. 2. Brainstorming and Concept Development: LLMs can help generate ideas or explore different approaches to your arguments. Use these suggestions as a starting point but ensure that the final articulation of ideas is your own. 3. Attribution: If AI tools significantly shape the final version of your text, consider acknowledging their use in your work, like how you would cite other forms of assistance like proofreading. 4. All use of AI should be disclosed with full transparency and approved of with consultation with your committee. The University provides additional Guidelines for Using AI-LLM.

This site is provided by the university for additional clarification.
Guidelines for Generative AI | Office of Research | Washington State University

Appendix 4.3 – Request for Plant Growth Space

Request for Plant Growth Space Form

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Information Needed for Form

• Name
• Additional Comments

Growth Chambers

• Type of Chamber Needed
• Number of Chambers Needed
• Plant Material to be Grown
• Time Needed
• Conditions – Light Intensity
  • Photoperiod
  • Temperature
  • Relative Humidity

Greenhouse

• Amount of Space Needed (can be room number of number of square feet of bench space)
• Plant Material to be Grown
• Time Needed
• Conditions
  • Photoperiod
  • Temperature
  • Supplemental Lighting?
• Type of Potting Supplies – Standard Greenhouse Potting Soil
  • Sand
  • Other
  • Size of Pots

Appendix 6 – SBS Grad Student Endowment Award Sources

The following descriptions provide some background behind the endowment sources used to fund SBS Graduate Student Research & Training fellowships.

Aase Fellowship in Honor of Andrew and Bertine Aase

Dr. Hannah Aase, PhD University of Chicago, 1914, was a member of the Plant Biology faculty at WSU for 35 years from 1914-1949 and was the first Emeritus Professor in the school. She began her career at WSU as she describes it as “instructor in anything whatsoever” which included teaching histology-anatomy and micro technique. Being widely admired, she was described as a remarkable lady. In a seminar on May 17, 1949, she presented a colorful history of Plant Biology at WSU from the very beginning of the university in midwinter of 1892. She continued to read technical journals into her 90’s. On the occasion of her 90th birthday one professor wrote, “You were always the eager ‘student,’ always sharp as a briar, but you had a way of living with your plants, in your garden and your laboratory, that gave you a peace of mind we all envied but were unable to emulate.”

The Aase Fellowship, in honor of Professor Hannah Aase, is used primarily for recruitment of new graduate students. This fellowship provides at least $2000 ($1,000 a year for two academic years) in stipend support above and beyond that of a student’s assistantship. The fellowship may be used as a stipend or for any purpose the recipient wishes.

Orlin and Susann Biddulph Endowment in Botany

Dr. Orlin Biddulph, PhD, University of Chicago, 1934, was a member of the Plant Biology faculty at WSU for 36 years from 1937-1973. He was an internationally known plant physiologist who investigated absorption and translocation of mineral elements, and metabolite and mineral translocation in the phloem. He also established a Molecular Biophysics Laboratory with a unique biological spectrograph for the irradiation of whole plants with monochromatic radiation, and electron spin resonance and nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometers, and chaired a Biophysics Program. Dr. Susann Biddulph completed her PhD in Botany at WSU in 1944. It was here that they met and were married, working together as research associates in the Department of Botany until retirement. The Biddulph Endowment was established by family, friends, and colleagues to honor both of their many achievements and contributions to the University community.

Howard E. Brewer Memorial Endowment in Botany

Howard Brewer was an Emeritus Professor in Plant Biology at Washington State University. The Howard E. Brewer Memorial Endowment was established by his nephew, Don Brewer, and several other family members to encourage and enhance the education experience of graduate students in the School of Biological Sciences who study plant biology. In addition to graduate fellowships, funds from this endowment are used to support the Howard Brewer Seminar Series in the School of Biological Sciences.

Brislawn Graduate Fellowship in Biological Sciences

The Brislawn Graduate Fellowship was established by the descendants of Guy and Mildred Brislawn to honor them and the many other members of the Brislawn family who have been associated with WSU for over 100 years.

Rexford Daubenmire Fund for Graduate Education

Dr. Rexford Daubenmire, PhD University Minnesota, 1935, was a member of the Plant Biology faculty from 1946-1975. A fund was established beginning in the fall, 1994, in honor of Professor Daubenmire. Support from this fund will be used for graduate student training in Plant Biology when an endowment level is achieved. “Dauby”, as he was universally known to generations of Plant Biology alumni, was an internationally renowned plant ecologist. During his highly productive career at WSU he supervised more than 35 PhD students and authored three widely used textbooks. His research interests spanned the field of plant ecology from drought and heat tolerance, symbiosis, fire ecology, ecotypic specialization, succession and soil deterioration in consequence of heavy grazing, and vegetation classification to ecologic plant geography. He was also a past president of the Ecological Society of America. Dauby has had a lasting influence on the world-wide stature and reputation of the Department of Plant Biology at WSU and set a high standard for scholarship and research that is continued in the School of BiologicalSciences.

Carl H. Elling Endowment in the School of Biological Sciences

The Carl H. Elling Endowment was established to support training and research opportunities for Plant Biology and Biology graduate students in the School of Biological Sciences.

Carl was born August 28, 1917, in Tacoma, WA and died August 5, 2007. Carl graduated from Washington State College in 1941 with a BS in Zoology. In WWII he flew the Pacific theater with the 494th Bomber Group. Carl worked as a Fishery Biologist for the National Marine Fisheries Service, with assignments in Alaska and at Bonneville Dam. He retired in 1974. Carl was an avid fisherman and bird hunter. He belonged to the American Institute of Fisheries Research Biologists, the Washington Fly Fishing Club, and the Alberta International Ale and Quail Club.

Hardman Native Plant Award in Plant Biology

The Hardman Foundation promotes conservation biology. Research that promotes conservation biology includes projects in systematic Plant Biology that contribute to understanding of evolutionary development or regional native plant variation within species or species complexes.

Also important are studies of flowering plants considered rare, or that are depleted in range and need study, or require propagation for enrichment of their native range for use in botanical gardens or other suitable preserves. In addition, botanical investigations of geographical, climatological, and edaphic and biotic factors that have led to adaptation are important subjects of conservation research.

Hardman Native Plant Awards were established through a gift from the Hardman Foundation to support Plant Biology graduate student research in the School of Biological Sciences. In developing the award, the Hardman Foundation recognizes the importance of all botanists who identify with and support conservation biology. Therefore, the award is not restricted to any botanical discipline.

Betty Higinbotham Fellowship

Betty Higinbotham was the wife of Botany Department faculty member Noe Higinbotham. She was an accomplished botanist and shared her husband’s interest in nature. She was a writer and editor for several national publications and a freelance writer for scientific journals and nature magazines. She graduated from Butler University, receiving a bachelor’s degree in plant biology in 1932 and a Master’s degree in 1935.

The Betty W. Higinbotham Trust was established to fund training and research opportunities for Plant Biology graduate students in the School of Biological Sciences. Although priority for awards is given to students wishing to study marine algae at the Friday Harbor Oceanographic Laboratory, applications can also be made to support off-campus or other research in plant biology.

Noe Higinbotham Endowment in Botany

Dr. Higinbotham was an internationally recognized plant physiologist as well as devoted teacher and mentor. He was a member of the Plant Biology faculty from 1948-1978, and during that time he pioneered investigations into the electrical properties of plant cells, receiving national and international honors for his research and writing. He earned an A.B. degree from Butler University in 1937 and a PhD from Columbia University in 1941.

The Noe Higinbotham endowment was established through generous contributions from Betty Higinbotham and friends, colleagues, and students of Professor Higinbotham to support graduate student research and training in Plant Biology.

Howard Hosick Student Research Fund

The Howard Hosick Research Fund honors Howard Hosick, a member of Washington State University’s faculty for 34 years. Howard had a busy and productive career studying cancer, cell biology, and development.

James R. King Memorial Fund

The James R. King Memorial Fund honors James King, a long-term member of Washington State University’s faculty who studied the physiological ecology of birds.

Charles W. & William C. McNeil Memorial Graduate Fellowship

Charles Windslow McNeil was a longtime professor of Biology and a parasitologist at Washington State University. In 1946, Charles accepted a faculty position at WSU and began a long teaching and research career in Biology. Charles spent six months as a visiting scientist in the Department of Parasitology at the Alexandria University in Egypt in 1965-66. In 1964-65 and again in 1968-69, he served as acting chair of the biology department.

Charles married Edna Wiesner in 1940. Their children are a son, Earle W. McNeil; a daughter Ellen E McNeil; eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. A son William C. McNeil, preceded Charles in death. His wife, Edna, established this fund in loving memory of her husband and late son, William.

William C. McNeil earned his Ph. D in history in 1968. He was a professor of history at Barnard College of Columbia University in New York until his death in 1993. He and his wife Victoria had two children, Emily and Nathan.

J. Herman and Jean Kaye Swartz Graduate Fellowship

J. Herman Swartz was born in Spokane, WA on March 20, 1915, and passed away on January 10, 1996. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Jean Kaye Swartz. Mr. Swartz earned his BS in Bacteriology in 1938 and an MS in Bacteriology in 1939 from Washington State College.

Mr. Swartz served in the medical corps for the Air Force from 1942 to 1945, during which he was the Chief of Laboratory at the station hospital on the island of Corsica. After the war, he graduated from Central Washington University with a BA in education. He was an instructor at Ohio Institute of Medical Technology in Cleveland, OH and later an assistant professor of Biology at Pacific University. The Swartz’s moved to Spokane in 1953 and soon purchased Triangle Nut House, nut roasting and distributing company. Mr. Swartz also helped found the Polar Cold Storage Company.

Mr. Swartz served on the boards of Eastern Washington University Foundation, Deaconess Hospital Foundation, and the Spokane Central Lions Foundation. From 1993–1995, Mr. Swartz was a volunteer researcher at EWU working with dental hygienists studying dental bacteria.

Smoot Hill Graduate Student Research Fund

The Smoot Hill Graduate Student Research Fund was established by Dr. George Hudson, a member of the faculty, curator of the Connor Museum, and Supervisor of the Smoot Hill Preserve for Biological study. Awards are made for floristic and faunistic studies conducted at Smoot Hill. Grant recipients can receive up to two summer months of support at the rate of a half-time researchassistant.

Student Research Endowment in Zoology

This award was established by a donation from the estate of Charles J. and June C. Campbell to fund student research in Zoology. Charles received his BS in Zoology from WSU in 1938. Although preference is given to undergraduates, SBS graduate students are also eligible for this award to support their research.