University of Michigan
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Ph.D. program requirements

Ecologists and evolutionary biologists seek to understand the origin and complex interactions of the earth's biodiversity and ecosystems. Faculty and graduate students within the EEB Department include ecologists, evolutionary biologists, organismal biologists and systematists who analyze such topics as behavior, biogeochemistry, population dynamics, community structure, environmental physiology, disease ecology, biogeography, life history evolution, selection, speciation, species interactions, and phylogenetics. Their techniques include comparative and experimental approaches in ecology, ethology, genetics, molecular biology, morphology, paleontology, physiology, biochemistry and cytology. Many members of this group are specialists on particular groups of organisms.

The field of ecology and evolutionary biology is currently undergoing a dynamic phase of intellectual growth, with the emergence of multiple new fields and novel opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration. The University of Michigan's Ph.D. Program is designed to capitalize upon this vibrant intellectual environment, providing a rigorous, integrative academic experience that encourages the development and exploration of individual research goals. Completion of a dissertation research project under the guidance of a major advisor is the primary goal of your EEB doctoral studies.

General program description

Several milestones mark progress through the anticipated five-year Ph.D. program.

During your first year, you will take several courses and seminars while exploring faculty research interests through reading courses or laboratory rotations. During your second year, in consultation with your research advisor, you will identify a research problem, and lay the groundwork for your dissertation project. You will also complete the qualifying examination, which consists of a faculty evaluation of a review article that you have written, a research seminar presentation, and an oral examination. After passing all portions of the qualifying examination, you will select your dissertation committee members, write your dissertation proposal, and meet with your committee for a candidacy exam during the end of winter term of your second year. If your proposal is accepted, you will be recommended for advancement to candidacy.

As a Ph.D. candidate, you will complete your dissertation research under the guidance of your advisor and committee. In your final year, as your research and writing are completed, you will apply to defend your dissertation. Successful passage of your defense, and submission and acceptance of your dissertation by the Rackham Graduate School are the final steps in completion of the EEB doctoral program.

Ph.D. program requirements

Initial advising

New students attend a one-day EEB orientation in late August/early September prior to the start of classes. During orientation, students meet with a counseling committee, which is comprised of the graduate chair and their initial faculty advisor. At this meeting, the counseling committee (1) advises the student on course selection, (2) reviews departmental requirements, (3) selects EEB 700-730 advisors, and (4) discusses with the student various approaches for achieving their goals within the framework of EEB's Ph.D. requirements. An initial report of this meeting is prepared by the counseling committee and submitted to the graduate coordinator for inclusion in the student's file.

In consultation with their initial advisor, students should also decide on a secondary advisor. Students are required to meet with both advisors (the "guidance committee") at least once during the fall term and regularly during the year to discuss their progress and to keep abreast of any changes in plans. It is essential that students seek advice from their advisor during all phases of the graduate program.

Course requirements

Rackham School of Graduate Studies course requirements for Ph.D. students are provided on the [insert link] Rackham website. Pre-candidate students must complete 18 hours of graded graduate coursework in-residence prior to advancing to candidacy. No undergraduate course (course number 300 level or below) may be used to meet any Graduate School requirement.

EEB 700 and 730

All incoming Ph.D. students are required to register for EEB 700 (fall) and EEB 730 (winter) during the first academic year of enrollment. The number of credits chosen for these classes is flexible, usually 1-3. Typically, EEB 700 is undertaken with a student's primary advisor, and EEB 730 is taken with either their primary or secondary advisor. Students are required to write one paper for either EEB 700 or 730, to submit this paper to their faculty advisor, and to submit a copy to the graduate program coordinator for placement in their file.

The course can be used either as a directed research or reading course and the options detailed below are provided as a guide in defining a specific course of study. At their first meeting, the student and advisor should decide on the specific format to be followed, possible topics, reading lists, etc., and should set up a general schedule for the term. Students can use this opportunity to explore ideas and research that will be valuable in helping them complete their dissertation research and requirements. The student should arrange regular meetings with one or both advisors during each term.

Use of EEB 700-730 as a research course:

Laboratory or field research in which the specific research project is initiated by the student or suggested by the faculty advisor. Research can be undertaken in several different laboratories as a lab rotation. The research can form the basis of future Ph.D. research, or be used to gain experience and knowledge in several areas or approaches that would be valuable in choosing a topic for dissertation research. The required paper could be written as a research report, or as a proposal for future research generated from preliminary results.

Use of EEB 700-730 as a reading course:

A directed reading course in which the topic is selected as a result of consultation between the student and the faculty advisor. The reading list and required paper could be used as the basis for the second year evaluation paper, a basis for the Ph.D. dissertation, as a research proposal for the first summer's research, or as a way to make-up deficiencies in areas of ecology and evolutionary biology that seem necessary or useful for future research.

The paper required for EEB 700-730 should help prepare the student for summer research and/or the preparation of their evaluation examination paper. It should be substantial (~10+ pages), include literature citations, and be written in a scientific format (see the CBE Editor Style Manual or a major journal such as Ecology or Evolution—NOT Science or Nature). The subject matter and focus are up to the advisor, who must guide the student as to what will be most valuable in promoting their progress within the graduate program. For example, the student could write up background and experimental design for research over the summer that could lead to further thesis research; they could write a potential grant proposal, or they could undertake a review of literature that would provide background for dissertation research. The advisor can also add additional requirements such as a minimum or maximum paper length, number of publications cited, specific format, etc.

Other specific course requirements of the EEB Ph.D. program include the following:

EEB 800: Biology Seminars – VARIOUS TOPICS

These one-credit graduate seminar courses provide an opportunity to discuss current work and new developments in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Ph.D. students are expected to enroll in these formal seminars throughout their program of study. Graduate standing and electronic permission of instructor is required for registration and the course may be repeated for credit.

EEB 801: Supervised Teaching

Graduate Student Instructors (GSIs) teaching in EEB for the first time, are required to take this class. EEB 801 is not a formal course, but a mechanism for obtaining one or two credit hours for teaching. Electronic permission to register for this class is required, and first time GSI's will be contacted directly via email by Anna Cihak in the Undergraduate Biology Office when they need to register for this class. The class may be repeated for credit. EEB 810 credit does not apply toward credit requirements of any of the Master's programs.

EEB 990: Dissertation/Pre-candidate

EEB 990 is the class election for dissertation work by a doctoral student who has not yet advanced to candidacy. The course is usually undertaken with a student's advisor, with the individual course of study established between the advisor and student, for a total of 1 – 8 credits. Electronic permission to register for this class is required and the class may be repeated for credit. Grading is based on 'S' (satisfactory) or 'U' (unsatisfactory) work.

EEB 995: Dissertation/Candidate

EEB 995 is the class election for dissertation work by doctoral students who have advanced to candidacy. The course is undertaken with a student's advisor for a total of 8 credit hours. This number is automatic and students cannot select a different number of credit hours. Special permission to register for this class is required and the class may be repeated for credit. Grading is based on 'S' (satisfactory) or 'U' (unsatisfactory) work. It should be noted that a student must be enrolled within EEB 995 during the full term during which the dissertation defense is held. If the dissertation defense is to take place during the summer, the student must be registered for the Spring/Summer term. Electronic permission to register for this class is required and the class may be repeated for credit.

Candidates wishing to register for a course in addition to EEB 995 should seek prior approval from their faculty advisors. Candidates may elect one course per term without paying additional tuition beyond candidacy tuition. This course may be taken for credit or as a visit (audit). A student who does not elect a course during a term of EEB 995 enrollment may elect two courses in the next term of EBB 995 enrollment; no more than one course may be deferred in this manner (an additional course may not be taken in anticipation of taking none in a future term of EEB 995 enrollment). Candidates who choose to take more courses than those for which they are eligible with candidacy tuition will be assessed additional tuition per credit hour.

Cognate courses

The Rackham School of Graduate Studies recognizes the value of intellectual breadth in graduate education, and the importance of formal coursework in fields of inquiry that lie outside the boundaries of the student's field of study. Therefore, EEB Ph.D. students are required to satisfactorily complete a minimum of 4 hours of graduate-level work in a field other than their field of specialization during their first two years of study in EEB (i.e., before advancing to candidacy). The elected course(s) should be approved by the student's advisor prior to registration. Students may not "visit" the cognate course and must receive either a letter grade or a "satisfactory" grade. Most cognate courses are taught in different departments, but they may be cross-listed in EEB. Courses taught in EEB but in a very different subfield than your own might be allowable, but this must be approved by the GAC and Rackham before you take the course if you want it to apply to the cognate requirement.

Graduate coursework taken elsewhere, after you have enrolled at Michigan, may be considered for cognate credit (e.g., a field course in a discipline cognate to your research taught by a different university at their field station) but cannot count towards the 18 in-residence credits needed to advance to candidacy. Such cognate credit may not be used to meet the minimum credit hour requirements toward the doctorate. Talk to the graduate coordinator regarding specific circumstances, and get permission from the GAC before you take the course at another university if you want it to apply to the cognate requirement.

REQUIREMENTS FOR ADVANCING TO CANDIDACY

In order to advance to candidacy, all students must pass a preliminary examination and present a pre-candidacy seminar to the department. The examination and the pre-candidacy seminar are prerequisites to the dissertation proposal, which is also required to advance to candidacy. The seminar is not a part of the preliminary exam. The time-line and details of the preliminary examination and the pre-candidacy seminar are specified below.

Ph.D. Program Preliminary Examination Procedure

1. RATIONALE AND TIMELINE

The preliminary examination is intended to help the student develop some of the skills that are necessary for a scientific career. These skills include the ability to build a comprehensive base of background knowledge, to develop and elaborate scientific ideas and hypotheses, and to communicate research findings both orally and in writing. The preliminary examination has two components: a grant proposal and an oral exam. These components are to be completed during the Fall term of the student’s second year. At the end of the Winter term of the student’s first year, he or she will have a “spring pre-evaluation meeting” with his or her Evaluation Committee (as described below).

2. EVALUATION COMMITTEE

A student's Evaluation Committee shall consist of three members of the faculty, two of whom are members of the standing EEB Preliminary Examination Evaluation Committee. The third member is the student’s advisor. A student may petition the Graduate Affairs Committee to add a fourth member to the Committee, for example, in the case of dual advising.

3. ORAL EXAMINATION

The oral exam is intended to make sure that graduates from EEB are conversant and broadly knowledgeable in ecology and evolution. The oral exam will cover fundamental principles in ecology and evolution, as well as concepts, methods, and hypotheses pertaining to the written grant proposal.

4. GRANT PROPOSAL

The grant-proposal portion of the preliminary exam is intended to develop a student’s skills in analytical thinking, in the formulation of ideas and research questions, and in the identification of promising areas of research. The topic should be chosen by the student, should address an issue of broad ecological or evolutionary interest, and should be related to the student’s current and probable future research interests. It must be original. In particular, a grant based on revisions to a Masters thesis is not acceptable. The grant proposal should contain a comprehensive, synthetic review of the relevant literature and should clearly articulate the importance of the proposed work. The grant proposal is not meant to be a draft of the dissertation proposal. It should focus on a specific question, such as one that might form the basis of a dissertation chapter, but should not attempt to be as comprehensive as a dissertation proposal.

The Evaluation Committee will expect to see creativity and original insight in the grant proposal in terms both of questions asked and methods proposed. The Committee will also expect to see preliminary results that establish the feasibility of the proposed work; these could be results generated by the student (empirically or theoretically) and/or data obtained from the literature. Grant proposals without preliminary results will be unacceptable.

The grant proposal should be prepared in the form of a National Science Foundation Dissertation Improvement Grant, and in particular should include a one-page summary, a project description (limited to 8 single-spaced pages, including figures and tables), and references, with font and other format specifications as per NSF guidelines (www.nsf.gov).

Also as per NSF guidelines, the project summary must clearly and separately address the intellectual merit and the broader impacts of the proposed research.

The project description should provide a detailed description of the question(s) to be addressed by the proposed research (including a comprehensive, synthetic review of the literature), describe the feasibility of the work by reference to the preliminary results, discuss what new data would be collected, and provide details on experimental design, analysis and interpretation.

Before beginning the grant proposal, students should discuss the suitability of possible topics with their advisor and a member of the standing EEB Evaluation Committee. The advisor may not significantly “co-author” the grant proposal, but can provide editorial feedback to the student. Students who need help with writing can obtain guidance from the Sweetland Writing Center or from peers.

5. SPRING PRE-EVALUATION MEETING

The “spring meeting” near the end of the Winter term of the student's first year is designed to give the student a sense of the coming oral examination and to provide an opportunity for the student to ask questions about the preliminary examination process. At this time the student may also discuss grant proposal topics with the Evaluation Committee.

In April of the first-year Winter term, the student should arrange the time and place of his or her spring pre-evaluation meeting in consultation with the Evaluation Committee. The student should provide the Evaluation Committee with a 1-page CV and a 1-page written description of his or her background (i.e., training, experience) and research interests. This material must be received by the Evaluation Committee at least one day before the meeting.

6. RECOMMENDED READINGS

To aid the student in preparing for the oral exam, the Evaluation Committee will provide a list of readings and references and will otherwise advise the student of useful study resources.

7. THE EVALUATION PROCESS

Each member of the student's Evaluation Committee will independently and without consultation write an appraisal of the grant proposal and the oral exam, ranking each component as "acceptable," “marginally acceptable,” or "unacceptable." Based upon these appraisals, the Evaluation Committee will formulate a recommendation for each student. The Committee can recommend that a student

1. proceed toward candidacy (i.e., give the required departmental seminar, as detailed below, and establish a Dissertation Committee),
2. undertake further study to remediate deficiencies and retake some or all of the preliminary examination at a later date, or
3. be separated from the Ph.D. Program. This recommendation will be presented to the entire EEB Faculty at a meeting in early December. At this meeting, the Evaluation Committee recommendation will be discussed along with other aspects of the student’s performance.

The EEB Faculty may accept, reject, or amend the recommendation of the EEB Evaluation Committee. Following this meeting, the recommendation of the Faculty will be communicated to the student and to the Departmental Graduate Affairs Committee for consideration and action. The final decision will be taken by the Graduate Affairs Committee upon the recommendation of the faculty. The student may appeal the final decision by submitting a petition letter to the Departmental Graduate Affairs Committee. Appeals should only be granted under exceptional circumstances.

For retaken portions of the preliminary examination, the procedures will be as above. A second failure of any portion of the examination will result in the recommendation that the student be separated from the program.

When a student, retaking part of the preliminary examination, receives a unanimous pass from the Evaluation Committee, the Graduate Affairs Committee will make the final decision and report afterward to the EEB Faculty. If the decision by the Evaluation Committee is not unanimous or if there are outstanding concerns, the recommendation will be presented to the EEB Faculty for discussion and the Faculty's recommendation will be communicated to the Graduate Affairs Committee for final disposition as above.

Continuity in the student's Evaluation Committee is important. When one or both portions of the preliminary examination must be re-taken, the Evaluation Committee will have the same composition as it had for the first evaluation, to the extent possible. In particular, for students who must re-take both portions of the preliminary examination in the Fall term, the Evaluation Committee should include at least one standing member from the earlier Evaluation Committee, if possible.

In the event that the Graduate Affairs Committee recommends separation from the program, a student will become ineligible for departmental fellowships for the remainder of his or her time in the program.

DEPARTMENTAL PRE-CANDIDACY SEMINAR

1. RATIONALE
The pre-candidacy seminar requirement is intended to develop a student's skills in organizing concepts and results, in preparing visual aids for use in an oral presentation, and in speaking in front of an audience of interested and knowledgeable peers. Each student will have a personalized Pre-candidacy Seminar Committee (see below) comprised of faculty with expertise in the student's chosen area of research. The Pre-candidacy Seminar Committee is charged with identifying the strengths and weaknesses of the presentation and providing constructive comments to aid the student in the preparation of his or her dissertation proposal.

Students who pass the preliminary examination, or who are repeating just one of the two components (i.e., either the oral exam or the grant proposal), must give their seminars during the Winter term of their second year. Students who fail both components will not give their seminar until they have successfully completed the preliminary examination. In these cases, the seminar must be presented no later than the Winter term of their third year.

Seminars must place the specific project or topic into a broader scientific context in the introduction, and at the end should place the results within the framework of future research. The seminar must present scientific questions or hypotheses, explain the approach used to test those ideas, present the data and analysis clearly, and finally interpret the data with respect to the original questions or hypotheses within the broader scientific context originally described.

Seminars will be open to the public and will consist of a 40-minute presentation followed by a 10-minute question period. It is imperative that the seminar stay within this time limit. The student is responsible for arranging the seminar time and place and publicizing it in the Department Newsletter the week before the presentation.

2. PRE-CANDIDACY SEMINAR COMMITTEE
The Pre-candidacy Seminar Committee will consist of the student's advisor (or co-advisors, if applicable) and two other members of the faculty. A student may petition the Graduate Affairs Committee to add another member to the committee. The expectation is that the members of the Pre-candidacy Seminar Committee will be likely members of the Dissertation Committee. The Pre-candidacy Seminar Committee will give feedback to the student on the content and presentation of the seminar.

SCHEDULE, DATES, DEADLINES, AND STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES

1. March-April of the student's first year
   Submit the name of the faculty advisor who will serve on the Evaluation Committee. Arrange a time for the “spring meeting” with your Evaluation Committee, and distribute a one- page C.V. and a one-page description of your background and research interests to your committee members at least one day before the meeting. This meeting should be completed by 1 May.
2. September 1-5, second year • Update the Graduate Student Coordinator with any changes in the composition of your Evaluation Committee and provide him or her with the topic of the grant proposal. • Start the process of scheduling your oral exam.
3. September 30, second year • Finalize the scheduling of your oral exam with the Evaluation Committee. • Your oral exam must be completed by the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. • The oral exam must be scheduled at least 5 days after the grant proposal deadline (see below). The Graduate Student Coordinator has information on how to reserve a room for the oral exam.
4. Mid-October, second year • Email your grant proposal to the Graduate Student Coordinator in the Department Office. The exact deadline for submission of the proposal will be set by the Evaluation Committee and will be the same for all students. Generally, the grant proposals will be due at 5:00 pm on the Friday immediately before Fall Break begins.
5. Mid-November, second year
   All oral exams must be completed by 5:00 pm on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving.
6. Mid-December of the second year • Students will be notified of the faculty recommendation and the Graduate Affairs Committee decisions on their preliminary examinations. • Students who have passed the preliminary examination or who must retake just one portion should identify a Pre-candidacy Seminar Committee and submit their names to the Graduate Student Coordinator by Dec. 15. • You should schedule the date for your seminars.
7. Winter Term, second year • Publish your seminar notice in the Department Newsletter at least one week prior to the seminar date and provide the seminar title and relevant information to the Graduate Office so that promotional flyers can be made. • All seminars must be given during the Tuesday noon seminar time; requests for alternative times must be made (and granted) by the GAC. • Seminars must be given during the Winter Term and may not be given during holidays or during finals week.

Dissertation committee formation

Once a student has passed the qualifying examinations, they should, in consultation with their major advisor, select the members of their dissertation committee. The committee should be established as soon as possible, but not later than the second term of the student's second year. The dissertation committee is responsible for (1) certifying that the student has met all requirements of candidacy, (2) providing advice concerning the conduct of the thesis research, (3) monitoring progress in research, (4) providing advice on other aspects of professional development, (5) administering the final oral dissertation defense, and (6) certifying that the completed thesis meets the requirements for the Ph.D. degree.

The committee must be established prior to advancement to candidacy and have a minimum of four members. Any changes in the constitution of the dissertation committee must be reported to the graduate coordinator so that a form for revising a committee may be submitted to Rackham. Rackham guidelines governing committee membership and the required Rackham Dissertation Form can be found on the Rackham website. In addition, the EEB First Dissertation Committee Meeting Form, signed by the committee members, along with an abstract of the proposed thesis, must be submitted to the graduate office.

Rackham requires that a Ph.D. dissertation committee have four members, three of whom must be currently active UM members (i.e. not emeritus). Committees must include: 1) a chair or two co-chairs 2) a cognate member who is an active, regular member of the graduate faculty in a Rackham doctoral program. 3) include a minimum of three regular members of the Rackham graduate faculty. See more on committee membership, below.

In addition, at least two of the committee members must be regular members of the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Committee member types are defined as follows:

Chair: The chair (or each co-chair) is responsible for guiding and encouraging the candidate's design and execution of an original, high quality, doctoral level research project. The chair is also expected to play a leading role in the direction of the research and of the writing of the dissertation. The chair is responsible for assuring that all investigations using human beings as subjects of research are reviewed and approved by an appropriately constituted faculty committee charged with this responsibility. If the dissertation committee needs revision, the student is responsible for submitting a revised Rackham dissertation committee form to EEB graduate office which must be approved by the EEB graduate chair before it is forwarded to Rackham for final approval. At the time of the dissertation defense, the composition of the dissertation committee should still include three currently active UM members (i.e. not emeritus), although Rackham may accept having only two active members if they have previously approved the committee composition.

Cognate member: The cognate member of a dissertation committee represents all other Rackham programs and as such must be a regular member of the graduate faculty. If possible, the cognate member should hold an appointment in a cognate or collateral discipline related to that of the student's program or dissertation topic. In this capacity the outside member provides the intellectual stimulus of a faculty member in a related field. A cognate member cannot have a budgeted appointment of 0.5 FTE or more within the EEB department. If a faculty member does not meet the requirements of a cognate member as outlined, they are to be nominated on a special assignment form detailing the qualifications for such an appointment.

Outside committee members: To nominate committee members from outside the University, you must attach to the dissertation committee form (a) a Rackham Nomination for special membership form, (b) memorandum from the committee chair addressed to the GAC describing the individual's qualifications for committee service, and (c) a copy of the nominee's C.V. If you have a member who does not have an appointment with the University of Michigan, please see Rackham guidelines governing committee membership.

Things to consider when selecting dissertation committee members

A good temperamental and intellectual fit between the candidate, dissertation advisor and committee can be critically important to a productive relationship. Before selecting a dissertation advisor and committee, candidates should speak with other experienced students in the program. One graduate school advises candidates to consider the following questions before deciding upon an advisor:

• What is the reputation of the advisor within the field of study?
• How compatible are the advisor's work habits with the student's?
• How long will it take to return written materials with comments? Is the faculty member willing to serve as an editor?
• How accessible is the advisor for discussion? How much time does the advisor spend away from campus?
• How much freedom will be granted in the choice of a dissertation topic?
• How much help will the advisor give in obtaining funding for the students?
• Does the advisor have a reputation for ethical behavior and for being intellectually and psychologically supportive to students?
• How long do students take to complete their degrees with this advisor, and, at least in the case of domestic students, what is the placement record of the advisor's students?

(From Enhancing the Academic Environment for Doctoral Students, University of Michigan Rackham School of Graduate Studies, 1992).

Categories of committee membership

Regular member of the graduate faculty: A regular member of the Rackham graduate faculty is any person holding an unmodified appointment at the UM such as Professor, Associate Professor, or Assistant Professor with an earned doctorate from an accredited institution (i.e., Visiting Professors, Adjunct Professors, etc., cannot serve as regular members of a dissertation committee). Regular members of the graduate faculty who are not affiliated with a Rackham doctoral program may serve on the dissertation committee but may not serve as sole chair or as cognate member. They may serve as co-chair with a regular member of the graduate faculty who is affiliated with a Rackham doctoral program.

Faculty with dry appointments: Faculty with 0 fraction appointments (dry appointments) in EEB can be co-chairs on Ph.D. and Master's committees, but cannot be sole chairs.

Adjunct faculty: Adjunct faculty can be co-chairs on Ph.D. and Master's committees, but cannot be sole chairs.

Instructors, lecturers, and primary research scientists who do not hold an appointment as a member of the regular faculty may serve on the dissertation committee provided that they possess an earned doctorate from an accredited institution. They may serve as co-chair if the other co-chair is a regular member of the graduate faculty who is affiliated with a Rackham doctoral program. However, they may not serve as a sole chair or as the cognate member of the committee, with the exception of some primary research staff. For more information, see please see the Rackham guidelines governing committee membership.

Emeritus professors: At the formation of a dissertation committee, EEB requires that emeritus professors cannot be sole chairs. On an established dissertation committee, if the sole chair retires, EEB requires that they must change to co-chair status during their first year of retirement. Note that this EEB rule is more stringent than that of Rackham, which accepts an emeritus professor as sole chair of the committee if supplementary documentation is supplied. The student is responsible for submitting a revised Rackham dissertation committee form to the EEB graduate office which must be approved by the graduate chair before it is forwarded to Rackham for final approval.

Special membership: University faculty and staff who do not fall into any of the classes cited above and qualified people from outside UM whose service on the dissertation committee would contribute significantly may be nominated for special membership. They may also serve as co-chair with a regular member of the graduate faculty affiliated with a Rackham doctoral program, but not as sole chair or cognate member. No person working toward a doctoral degree may serve on a dissertation committee until all requirements for the degree have been met. A special member need not be employed by UM and need not hold an academic appointment. The special member's expertise in the dissertation topic must be detailed and a C.V. supplied. A special membership form must accompany the dissertation committee form when it is submitted to Rackham.

Advancement to candidacy

* All students who pass the qualifying examinations are expected to achieve candidacy by the end of the following term (typically, the end of the fourth term). Candidacy is achieved when the student has met all Rackham and EEB requirements for the Ph.D. degree, except for the dissertation, including the following:

• Taking the minimum number of credits (18, including four credits of cognate course work) and approval for subsequent dissertation work by the dissertation committee. • Satisfactory completion of qualifying examinations. • Submission of an official undergraduate transcript, with the degree posted. • Satisfactory completion of any course deficiencies (prerequisites to program). • Completion of all required graduate coursework (other than EEB 995). • Teaching at least one of the required two terms. • Demonstrated proficiency in research. • Completion of at least 4 hours of cognate coursework. • A minimum GPA of 5.0 ("B" average) or above. • At least 18 credits of in-residence, graduate-level coursework.

In addition, the candidate must complete a dissertation proposal and be recommended by their dissertation committee for advancement to candidacy.

Before winter break in Winter Term of the second year, the student should hold an initial meeting with the dissertation committee to discuss research plans and the requirements for the proposal. Before the end of the second year, the dissertation committee meets with the student to evaluate the dissertation proposal and to determine the student's readiness to proceed. The dissertation proposal, often written in the format of a grant proposal, must be submitted to committee members at least one week before the meeting. A copy of the approved proposal must be placed in the student's file in the graduate office. On the basis of the dissertation proposal and the meeting, the dissertation committee may recommend (1) advancement to candidacy, (2) revision of the proposal, to be evaluated by the committee in a second meeting, or (3) separation from the program. The recommendation of the dissertation committee is reported to the GAC.

If all of these requirements have been met, the graduate program coordinator will complete the necessary paperwork, get the graduate chair's approval, and forward the advancement to candidacy form to Rackham.

Annual meetings

Between candidacy and degree completion, candidates must meet with their dissertation committee at least once per year before April 2nd to assure satisfactory progress in the program. After each meeting, an Annual Committee Meeting Form, signed by committee members and the student must be submitted to the graduate office. This form will be placed in the student's file and reviewed by the GAC. "Satisfactory progress," based on this report, is one criterion for continued financial support.

Students wishing to obtain an "embedded M.S. degree" during their Ph.D. course of study should notify the graduate coordinator of their intent. After contacting the graduate coordinator, students must "apply for graduation" through the Student Business section of Wolverine Access. Notation of the M.S. degree will then be added to the student's transcript by the Registrar's Office, usually by the end of the following term.

Due to the recent reduction in candidate tuition associated with the Rackham's continuous enrollment policy, a number of tuition-only fellowships are available to the department for students who are not in residence, but are working on dissertation writing and do not need to be enrolled in classes. Students should contact the graduate coordinator for more information and current availability of fellowships. Tuition-Only fellowships cannot be used in the term in which the student plans to defend their dissertation.

Dissertation defense

Upon completion of research, students write a dissertation in accordance with the requirements of the Rackham School of Graduate Studies. Once the dissertation is read and approved by the dissertation committee members, the student must present an oral defense of the dissertation. It is a policy of the graduate school that dissertations be published through Rackham. Rackham's Abstract and Dissertation Format Guidelines provides information for preparing and submitting the dissertation for publication.

The last step in the process is the oral thesis defense. You must schedule a pre-defense meeting with Rackham at least 10 business days prior to your oral defense. The student must arrange an oral defense date acceptable to all dissertation committee members and must advertise it in public postings. Copies of the dissertation and a Rackham evaluation form must be presented to the members of the dissertation committee at least two weeks before the oral defense.

The defense consists of a public seminar as well as an oral exam. The doctoral thesis is defended in a public seminar open to all faculty and students in the University. Following the public portion of the defense, the defense meeting becomes closed (only committee members), at the chair's discretion. After the oral defense, the dissertation committee decides upon the acceptability of the dissertation. The committee may accept or reject the dissertation or recommend further work and re-examination.

Students are guaranteed 10 terms of funding and are expected to defend their dissertation at the end of this time. At the end of their sixth year, students must petition to continue their dissertation committees, and are given notice that their committees will be dissolved if they have not defended by the end of their seventh year. At this time each of the student's committee members should confirm with the graduate chair the student's intended term to defend. There are exceptions, but after seven years, a student's committee will be dissolved.

Students whose committees are dissolved can later defend their dissertation if their committee agrees to reconvene and support their defense. If a student leaves the program, they must complete a withdrawal form, available from the graduate office, with the advisor's signature. This is to ensure that there is documentation in the student's file, should it be necessary.

Additional information about the dissertation and the oral defense can be found on the Rackham website.

Ph.D. student funding

EEB provides an outstanding support package to doctoral students, with five years (10 terms + five summers) of departmental funding guaranteed. Funding includes academic year and summer support amounting to an annual stipend of a minimum of $23,000, full tuition waiver, and year-round health insurance. Health insurance is provided for all dependents (spouse, children). Components of the funding package generally include the following, but this formula may be customized based on individual circumstances: • 2 terms of department fellowship for pursuing graduate research (only one term is available as a pre-candidate) • 6 terms: GSI (Graduate Student Instructor) • 2 terms: GSRA (Graduate Student Research Assistantship) support expected from advisor, including two academic terms (i.e. fall and winter) and one summer of support. • 5 summers of support: department guarantee (includes one term of advisor GSRA support)

Elements of the funding package:

GSI appointments provide the primary means of support for EEB Ph.D. students. GSIs facilitate discussions in small sections connected to large lecture courses, run laboratory sections or teach small introductory classes. The typical GSI has a 50% appointment, working between 16.5 and 20 hours per week during the eight-month academic year. During the 2011 – 2012 academic year, the GSI salary for a .50 appointment is $17,702, approximately $8,851 per term. A full tuition waver is included, and as University employees, health and dental benefits are provided for GSIs and their dependents. EEB Ph.D. students are expected to teach in the fall and winter terms of their first year, and for four additional terms during their five years of supported study. A 10-term limit is imposed by the university on GSI and GSRA positions. Resources for university GSIs can be found at the Center for Research and Teaching's website.

GSRA appointments provide Ph.D. students with funding support while conducting their own research or assisting others with research relevant to their own academic goals. GSRA appointments are generally provided through an advisor's externally funded grant or contract. Tuition waivers generally accompany GSRA appointments, as do health and dental insurance coverage. Faculty advisors are encouraged to provide each of their Ph.D. students with GSRA appointments for a total of three terms, including two academic terms (fall and winter) and one spring/summer term. For additional information on GSRA appointments, see the Academic Human Resources website. GSRA funding is provided in an amount commensurate with GSI rates.

Department fellowship support includes a one-term fellowship available during the pre-candidacy period, and a one-term fellowship available after candidacy status has been attained. In addition, four summers of department fellowship funding are guaranteed, with the expectation that one additional spring/summer term will be covered by a GSRA. However, five terms of summer support are guaranteed, even if a GSRA term cannot be provided by the advisor. Fellowships include a full tuition waver and benefits eligibility. Academic year department fellowship funding is provided in an amount commensurate with GSI rates. Beginning in 2011, spring/summer term department fellowship support will be $6,000.

GradCare is the medical insurance plan available exclusively to GSIs, GSRAs, and benefit-eligible fellowship holders. GradCare is administered by Blue Care Network and the provider network in Ann Arbor includes University Health Service, the University of Michigan Health System, and participating community pediatricians. There are no deductibles to meet before the plan begins and outpatient services are covered with a co-pay. In-patient hospital services are covered in full for medically-necessary conditions. Prescription drug coverage is also provided. For more information, visit the UM Benefits Office website.

In addition to these components of the EEB funding package, research and supplemental funding are available to EEB Ph.D. students through a variety of departmental sources including Block Grant programs and awards, and department-administered scholarships.

Remaining "in good standing" within the Ph.D. program

During their tenure in EEB, students must comply with the following definition of "in good standing," adopted 20 April 2009:

EEB considers five separate situations where a student may lose the academic or language proficiency status of "in good standing," in addition to the current rules and regulations of the Rackham Graduate School. The loss of good standing automatically results in the department removing the student from its program, and requesting that Rackham remove the student from all active listings. Note that in all situations described below, the student may petition the Graduate Affairs Committee (GAC) for a reconsideration of their change in standing.

1) A student fails to register for classes or notify the department of their progress or status in the program for two consecutive academic semesters. After the first semester of no contact the student will be notified (at their official University address and contact information) that they are in non-compliance. If the student fails to register for a second semester, or does not respond adequately to correct their status within two semesters, their dissertation committee will be dissolved and the department will consider the student removed from the program.

2) A student fails to pass their English Language Institute (ELI) exam within their first year of study. Successful completion of this exam is required to hold a GSI position. The student will typically have three chances to pass the ELI exam—in August just before their matriculation in the fall term, at the end of their first semester (December), and during their second semester (winter term). The student may petition the GAC to continue in the program without passing their ELI exam, but Rackham requires two terms as a GSI to complete a Ph.D.; such a petition would require the full support of an advisor.

3) A student is recommended by the faculty to be separated from the program after failing the Department's preliminary examinations. The student may petition the GAC to retake these examinations, but approval of this request requires the full support of an advisor. If approved, the student is again in good standing. The details of what constitutes failure of the preliminary exams are found in the current EEB policies.

4) A student surpasses the departmental six year limit of enrollment in the Ph.D. program, and their dissertation committee is dissolved. The student may petition the GAC to continue or re-form the dissertation committee, but approval of this request requires the full support of an advisor and the constitution of an appropriate committee. If approved, the committee is re-formed and the student is again in good standing.

5) A student is unable to find a suitable major advisor or suitable co-advisors in either the pre-candidate or candidate phase of graduate work. An EEB faculty advisor must consent to mentor a student and guide them through the preliminary examination process prior to candidacy, and after candidacy a dissertation committee must be formed according to Rackham rules to guide the student through completion of the program of study. The current advisor is responsible for notifying the student and the GAC if there is a change in mentoring status. If an appropriate new advisor cannot be found or a new committee formed in a timely manner, the student loses the status of "in good standing."