Graduate Student Handbook

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Academic Leave for Graduate Students

Contact(s)

  • Recruitment and Retention Coordinator - SNR Graduate Programs - Brooke Mott, bmott2@unl.edu, 911 South HARH EC 0989, Phone: 402-472-5355
Refer to the Graduate Studies website for information: https://graduate.unl.edu/academics/academic-leave/

Admission to Candidacy

Masters Degree

A student is admitted to Candidacy for the masters degree when admission deficiencies have been removed and when the ability to perform satisfactorily in graduate studies has been demonstrated, by filing a Memorandum of Courses in the Office of Graduate Studies.

A masters degree student may change his/her declared Option at any time during the program of study with written approval from the adviser, the Chair of the Graduate Committee in the student's major and the Dean for Graduate Studies. The only exception to this policy is that students may not change from Option I to any other Option if certification of full time status has been utilized.

For additional information see the Graduate Studies website (https://graduate.unl.edu/academics/program-steps#masters).

Doctoral Degree

For additional information see the Graduate Studies website (https://graduate.unl.edu/academics/program-steps#doctoral).

Advisors for Students

Contact(s)

  • Recruitment and Retention Coordinator, SNR Graduate Programs - Brooke Mott, bmott2@unl.edu, 911 South HARH EC 0989, Phone: 402-472-5355

Choosing an advisor whose interests match your research goals is critical for the success of your work. SNR emphasizes the cooperative exchange between students and advisors in research programs while still giving advisors the overall responsibility for the direction and course of the student's research. Contact an SNR faculty member regarding your interest in our graduate program. Before you apply, you must receive the advising support of a faculty member who is a member of the Graduate Faculty (as recognized by the Office of Graduate Studies). This potential advisor is required to write a letter of approval for your application. Please note: this letter does not count toward your required letters of recommendation.

Changing Advisors

Advisor Leaves SNR

  • Prior to the departure of a student's advisor from the School, the student needs to secure an on-campus co-advisor or change to a different advisor.
  • Students are responsible for consulting with:
    • Members of their Graduate Advisory Committee,
    • The chair of the SNR Graduate Committee, and
    • The director of SNR to determine whether an on-campus co-adviser needs to be appointed.

Application for Graduation (Graduate Student)

Contact(s)

  • Recruitment and Retention Coordinator, SNR Graduate Programs - Brooke Mott, bmott2@unl.edu, 911 South HARH EC 0989, Phone: 402-472-5355

When a student begins their final semester, application for graduation will need to be completed. Refer to the Graduate Studies website for specific information and due dates.

Masters: https://graduate.unl.edu/academics/program-steps#masters

Doctoral: https://graduate.unl.edu/academics/program-steps#doctoral

Assistantships - Benefits

Contact(s)

  • Recruitment and Retention Coordinator - SNR Graduate Programs - Brooke Mott, bmott2@unl.edu, 911 South HARH EC 0989, Phone: 402-472-5355
Assistantships provide students with income, tuition remission (12 credit hours per semester, and up to 12 in the summer, depending on stipend amount paid), and health insurance at a reduced rate. More information can be found at: https://www.unl.edu/gradstudies/funding/assistantships.

Health coverage for the fall semester is from August 1 through December 31 and for the spring semester is January 1 through July 31. More information can be found at: https://health.unl.edu.

Commencement Ceremony

Students who have completed their program may participate in the commencement ceremony at the end of the semester in which they complete their program.

Masters Commencement Ceremony: https://graduate.unl.edu/academics/program-steps#masters

Doctoral Hooding Ceremony: https://graduate.unl.edu/academics/program-steps#doctoral

Coursework Requirement for Successful Completion of the Degree

Scholastic Grade Requirements are set by UNL Graduate Studies and are described here.

Degree Program Options for the Doctoral Degree

Contact(s)

  • Recruitment and Retention Coordinator, SNR Graduate Programs - Brooke Mott, bmott2@unl.edu, 911 South HARH EC 0989, Phone: 402-472-5355

PhD in Natural Resource Sciences

Degree Program Options for the Masters Degree

Contact(s)

  • Recruitment and Retention Coordinator, SNR Graduate Programs - Brooke Mott, bmott2@unl.edu, 911 South HARH EC 0989, Phone: 402-472-5355

MS in Natural Resources Sciences

Doctoral Dissertation Nature and Scope

Regular discussions with your adviser will help you identify the specific objectives of your research. Narrowing your topic should be done with help from your advisor and committee members.

Doctoral Program Candidacy

Doctoral candidacy is not the same as admission to or enrollment in a doctoral program; it is a specific stage of doctoral program progress. https://catalog.unl.edu/graduate-professional/policies/academic-program-requirements/

Apply for Candidacy: http://www.unl.edu/gradstudies/current/Doctoral-Candidacy.pdf

Once a student becomes a doctoral candidate, the student is required to enroll continuously until the program is completed.

Request for Certification of Full Time Status: https://go.unl.edu/gradfulltime.

Doctoral Program Committee Formation

Natural Resource Sciences students must have primary adviser (chair of the committee) chosen prior to completing their application.

Eligible Advisers

Natural Resource Sciences: https://snr.unl.edu/aboutus/who/people/directory.aspx

Doctoral Program Final Oral Exams

Final Oral Exam is often called the "Defense."

  • The Application for Final Oral Examination https://graduate.unl.edu/academics/program-steps must be filed at least 3 weeks before final oral exam.
    Before the form is submitted: (1) The two designated readers must read the dissertation and sign the form. (2) The chair or co-chairs must also sign.
  • Scheduling: The final oral should be scheduled at a time when a majority of the committee, including the chair/co-chairs, can attend. The time and date of the oral examination must be recorded on the form.
  • For more information: Refer to the Graduate Studies Bulletin.

Contact the Office Associate for Student Services to reserve a room in Hardin Hall for the defense.

Research responsibility requirements:

Doctoral Program Forms

The UNL Office of Graduate Studies provides the necessary forms for completing a doctoral program. They can be viewed at https://www.unl.edu/gradstudies/academics/program-steps/doctoral-degree-steps-to-completion.

Doctoral Program Requirements

The UNL Office of Graduate Studies provides a timeline for completing a doctoral program. This timeline can be viewed at https://www.unl.edu/gradstudies/academics/program-steps/doctoral-degree-steps-to-completionl.

Enrollment - Final Semester

The School of Natural Resources follows UNL Graduate Studies requirements for graduate student enrollment. The UNL Office of Graduate Studies does not require a graduate student to be enrolled for credit hour(s) in the semester they plan to graduate if all course work requirements have been met. International students and those with student loans may need to be enrolled and should contact the Office of Graduate Studies at 402-472-2875.

Exam Requirement for Successful Completion of the Degree

Contact(s)

  • Recruitment and Retention Coordinator, SNR Graduate Programs - Brooke Mott, bmott2@unl.edu, 911 South HARH EC 0989, Phone: 402-472-5355
  • Sales and Events Manager - Jacqueline Loomis, jloomis3@unl.edu, 121a South HARH EC 0961, Phone: 402-472-7550

Examination Requirement

All master's students are required to complete a comprehensive examination -- written and/or oral as required by the student's committee.

  • The written exam, if required, must be completed within 24 months prior to the date of graduation.
  • When an oral examination is required, the examining committee will consist of at least three members representing the major department and the minor department (if applicable), recommended by the major department and approved by Graduate Studies. NOTE: No outside member required.
    • All professors on the examining committee must have Graduate Faculty status -- full or associate.
    • If a committee member leaves the employ of the University or retires, a replacement may be appointed. When continuing expertise is needed and the faculty member is willing to continue serving, the departing faculty member may remain as a member or co-chair of the committee, with approval of the department's Graduate Committee and Graduate Studies.

Comprehensive

SNR requires a comprehensive examination of all master's students which covers the student's approved program of study. It generally will be administered within 10 months of graduation and typically in the semester prior to the one in which the student plans to graduate. The exam will consist of written and oral examinations administered by the adviser, as directed by the student's committee.

It is the student's responsibility to follow the steps required for graduation which are outlined on the Graduate Studies website.

Preparing for the Exam

  • Contact Graduate Studies to make sure all necessary paperwork in on file. Final Oral Examination and Thesis Defense Forms may be found on https://graduate.unl.edu/academics/program-steps
  • Contact the Sales and Events Manager to reserve a room.

Getting Help

From time to time, all beings face challenges. Whether it’s hunger, shelter, finances, identity, discrimination, emotions, sensory, social, psychological or just uncertainty in our life course—we all face challenges. At times, we manage these challenges beautifully, at other times we may struggle, and at times, we suffer at the weight of these challenges. If you are feeling unsure, weighed down, or just want to be sure you are on track, we encourage you to reach out. Look at Big Red Resilience for events and resources to help you bounce back. https://resilience.unl.edu/. Other possibilities include:

  • Professors in SNR (a number of SNR faculty have or had challenges such as anxiety, depression, autism, poverty, failed relationships)—you name it
  • CAPS is the UNL student counseling center https://health.unl.edu/caps. They can connect you with resources 24 hours a day, and there are no fees for counseling services.
  • If you cannot reach anyone else, contact Bryan Hospital–West https://www.bryanhealth.com/services/counseling-mental-health/

Food and Shelter Needs

  • Any student who has difficulty affording groceries or accessing sufficient food to eat every day, or who lacks a safe and stable place to live, and believes this may affect their performance in the course, is urged to visit the Huskers Helping Huskers Pantry The pantry is a free resource with food and hygiene items. Any current student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln who is in need can stop by the Huskers Helping Huskers Pantry to pick up free food and hygiene items and/or to get help connecting to university and community resources related to food and shelter insecurity. pantry@unl.edu
  • If you live close to East Campus, ConnectioN Point near 33rd and Holdrege has the Open Shelf food pantry https://www.connectionpointlnk.org/food-pantry
  • Please notify any SNR professor if you are comfortable in doing so.

Graduate Chair Role

Contact(s)

  • Graduate Committee Chair - Christopher Chizinski, cchizinski2@unl.edu, 910 South HARH EC 0989, Phone: 402-472-8718

The Graduate Committee Chair is responsible for:

  • Assuring fair and consistent compliance with all Graduate College policies and for overseeing student appeals.
  • Overseeing all graduate degrees, majors, specializations, minors and certificate programs in SNR.
  • Facilitating the agenda and deliberations of the graduate committee and assisting them to create graduate programs in which exemplary students are held to high expectations.
  • Helping colleagues design cutting edge curriculum, examinations and research requirements, and assist them in providing attentive mentoring for all graduate students.
  • Assuring that every graduate student is held to the highest standards of academic integrity.

Additional information can be found at https://graduate.unl.edu/academics/resources/graduate-chair

Graduate Committee Role

The SNR Graduate Committee is comprised of seven faculty members, six of which must have their graduate faculty home in SNR. The seventh member may have a courtesy, adjunct, or partial appointment in SNR. Committee members shall be elected for staggered three-year terms and may serve two consecutive terms. The SNR Graduate Student Association (SNR GSA) elects a representative who serves on the Graduate Committee in matters of policy and procedures but is not involved in screening prospective students or in deliberations involving an individual student.

The major duties of the Graduate Committee include:

  • Evaluating the academic qualifications of applicants for admission into the Natural Resource Sciences degree programs.
  • Establishing that applicants meet any departmental requirements that are over and above those set forth by the Graduate College.
  • Approving the program of study for Masters students and the supervisory committee for PhD students.
  • Monitoring the progress and academic performance of students at the request of the faculty adviser; recommending to faculty advisers necessary changes in graduate student status.
  • Taking corrective action when unsatisfactory progress is evident.
  • Awarding graduate teaching assistantships.
  • Making recommendations pertaining to curricular changes in graduate courses.
  • Suggesting and modifying graduate degree programs and areas of specialization.
  • Establishing a minimum passing grade for the comprehensive exam and a procedure in the event of a failing grade on a question or the exam; and maintaining quality and uniformity of the examining procedure.
  • Approving the oral exam procedure.
  • Be available for graduate students who have concerns or issues they cannot resolve with their adviser(s) or committee.
  • Assist in finding an adviser for a graduate student when the adviser leaves UNL and is unable to supervise the student through his program.
  • Modifying, as needed, the SNR website regarding SNR graduate student policies and procedures.

For additional information on the SNR Graduate Committee, including committee members, visit https://snr.unl.edu/employeeinfo/people/committee/graduate.aspx.

Graduate Student - Mentoring Agreement

Contact(s)

  • Recruitment and Retention Coordinator, Graduate Programs - Brooke Mott, bmott2@unl.edu, 911 South HARH EC 0989, Phone: 402-472-5355

This document represents an agreement reached between the graduate student and the faculty mentor/advisor regarding the structure of the working relationship during the student's working relationship with the professor. It should be developed collaboratively between the two parties.

Steps

  1. Students should print off a copy of the agreement form and set a meeting time for student and mentor.
  2. Student finalizes the form based on discussion.
  3. Student signs form.
  4. Student has mentor sign form.
  5. Student submits a copy of the form to Brooke Mott, Recruitment and Retention Coordinator, SNR Graduate Programs, 911 South Hardin Hall, EC 0989.

Download Mentoring Agreement

Graduate Student - Progress Toward Degree

Contact(s)

  • Recruitment and Retention Coordinator, Graduate Programs - Brooke Mott, bmott2@unl.edu, 911 South HARH EC 0989, Phone: 402-472-5355
  • Co-Chair Graduate Committee - Christopher Chizinski, cchizinski2@unl.edu, 910 South HARH EC 0989, Phone: 402-472-8718

Form for Graduate Student and Advisor to fill out on periodic meetings to chart the graduate students progress toward completing their degree.

  • Student completes first part of form
  • Student sends to Advisor
  • Advisor completes middle part of form
  • Advisor returns form to student
  • Student schedules meeting with advisor
  • Student and Advisor complete last part of the form
  • Student and Advisor sign and date form
  • Completed form is sent to Recruitment and Retention Coordinator, SNR Graduate Programs

Download Graduate Student Progress Form

Masters Program Deadlines

Contact(s)

  • Recruitment and Retention Coordinator, SNR Graduate Programs - Brooke Mott, bmott2@unl.edu, 911 South HARH EC 0989, Phone: 402-472-5355

The UNL Office of Graduate Studies provides a timeline for completing a masters program. This timeline can be viewed at https://www.unl.edu/gradstudies/academics/program-steps.

Masters Program Final Oral Exams

Contact(s)

  • Recruitment and Retention Coordinator, SNR Graduate Programs - Brooke Mott, bmott2@unl.edu, 911 South HARH EC 0989, Phone: 402-472-5355

Final Oral Exam is often called the "Defense."

  • The Application for Final Oral Examination https://graduate.unl.edu/academics/program-steps must be filed at least 3 weeks before final oral exam.
    Before the form is submitted: (1) The two designated readers must read the dissertation and sign the form. (2) The chair or co-chairs must also sign.
  • Scheduling: The final oral should be scheduled at a time when a majority of the committee, including the chair/co-chairs, can attend. The time and date of the oral examination must be recorded on the form.
  • For more information: Refer to the Graduate Studies Bulletin.

Contact the Graduate Admissions Coordinator to reserve a room in Hardin Hall for the defense.

Research responsibility requirements:

Final Defense of the Thesis (Option I)

The final defense of the thesis takes place during the semester in which the student intends to graduate. The final examination consists of two parts: a seminar on the thesis topic (described above) and a formal oral examination. These two parts are generally held on the same day. Thesis examinations are open to all Graduate Faculty. Active participation in the examination process (other than at the seminar) is at the discretion of the adviser and the student's advisory committee. Additional information can be found at https://snr.unl.edu/gradstudent/nresprogram.aspx.

Masters Program Forms

The UNL Office of Graduate Studies provides the necessary forms for completing a masters program. They can be viewed at https://www.unl.edu/gradstudies/current/degrees#masters.

Masters Thesis Nature and Scope

Regular discussions with your adviser will help you identify the specific objectives of your research. Narrowing your topic should be done with help from your adviser and committee members.

Memorandum of Courses - Changes

Contact(s)

  • Recruitment and Retention Coordinator, SNR Graduate Programs - Brooke Mott, bmott2@unl.edu, 911 South HARH EC 0989, Phone: 402-472-5355
  • After the Memorandum has been filed with Graduate Studies, any changes to the Memorandum must be submitted in writing.
  • Changes may be submitted by the student's adviser in a memo/email to the Masters Specialist outlining the additions, deletions, or substitutions.
  • It may or may not be possible to change the Option.
  • Refer to the Graduate Bulletin – https://catalog.unl.edu/graduate-professional/policies/academic-program-requirements/

Memorandum of Courses - Filing Procedure

Contact(s)

  • Recruitment and Retention Coordinator, SNR Graduate Programs - Brooke Mott, bmott2@unl.edu, 911 South HARH EC 0989, Phone: 402-472-5355
  • The Memorandum of Courses must be submitted by the student to the Masters Specialist in the Office of Graduate Studies prior to the completion of half of the program. It is required for candidacy.
  • "Incompletes" and "no reports" count as completed courses.
  • A student may not file a Memorandum of Courses and graduate in the same semester or summer session.
  • It is the student's responsibility to obtain signatures and submit the form to Graduate Studies.
  • For more information see https://catalog.unl.edu/graduate-professional/policies/academic-program-requirements/

Policy on Incomplete Course Grades and Research/Thesis/Dissertation Hours

Course Grades

Students taking graduate courses should check with their instructor on what their responsibilities are to remove an incomplete. Normally there is no time limit for graduate students to remove an incomplete. However, the instructor does have the option of determining the requirements for completing the course and requisite date for removal of incompletes. It is helpful to have these requirements in writing to ensure there is no miscommunication between the instructor and student.

Additional information about incompletes may be found at https://catalog.unl.edu/undergraduate/academic-policies-other-units/procedures/.

Research/Thesis/Dissertation Hours Grades

Incomplete grades for research, thesis or dissertation hours are no longer assigned. A letter grade may be assigned OR, in lieu of an 'I' (Incomplete), one of the following may be assigned:

  1. IP: (In progress) indicates satisfactory work in progress (i.e., student is making progress or effort as determined by the faculty supervisor). The "IP" would stand until the final examination, at which time a grade of "P" or a letter grade for all dissertation hours is submitted to the Registrar.
  2. XP: (No progress) indicates students are not making adequate progress on their thesis or dissertation work. Consecute "XP" (as determined by the graduate program committee) may result in the graduate committee taking action to inform the student and Graduate Studies regarding continuation of the student's graduate study.

Note that on the final transcript, the "IP" and "XP" grades will count towards attempted hours but for Financial Aid purposes, they will count differently. Both grades will convert to an "I" on the official record if not graded as P (Pass) or with a letter grade. Because the "XP" grade will not be used in calculating the GPA, no direct academic sanction, such as academic dismissal from the University, will be imposed for earning one or more "XP" grades.

Note: if an XP for graduate research, thesis or dissertation hours is earned, please visit with your advisor about completing a course syllabus listing expectation and goals for the upcoming semester (see Rights and Responsibilities/Probation and Termination).