Definitions and Descriptions

The nine month academic year has two terms: fall and spring semesters (September to May). The University also has a summer session. The Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo- Engineering normally does not offer graduate lectures or formal laboratory courses during summer. However, graduate students may find courses in other departments and colleges to take in the summer. If you plan to take any summer courses, you will have to pay for this on your own. Please speak with your advisor on summer courses.

Students who have finished all coursework listed on their Graduate Degree Plan, have passed the prelim oral and written exams, and have met all thesis credit requirements are eligible for Advanced Status by filling out the “Application for 8444 Advanced Doctoral Status.” The completed form, including adviser’s signature, should be turned in to the graduate program coordinator.

Students who have finished all coursework listed on their Graduate Degree Plan and have met all thesis credit requirements are eligible for Advanced Status by filling out the “Application for 8333 Advanced Master’s Status.” The completed application, including the adviser’s signature, should be turned in to the graduate program coordinator to forward to the GSSP office after DGS approval.

The faculty member that guides the student in selection of coursework, completion of research, or both, that leads to a graduate degree. The adviser must be a member of the graduate faculty in the program the student is majoring in.

The DGS is the faculty member responsible for operation of the departmental graduate programs in civil engineering and geological engineering and chairs the departmental Graduate Studies Committee. The DGS is appointed by the Civil, Environmental, and Geo- Engineering Department Head and approved by the CSE Dean. The DGS is not an officer of the Graduate School.

This refers to a student who has passed the preliminary written and oral exams for the Ph.D. degree.

To minimize confusion, students admitted to a Ph.D. program are referred to in this document as “students in the Ph.D. program,” whether or not they have become Doctoral Candidates.

Students registered for six or more course and/or thesis credits are full-time students.

Students registered for fewer than six course and/or thesis credits are part- time students.

Tuition for full-time students is assessed for 6-14 credits.

Tuition is on a per credit basis for 1-5 credits or greater than 14 credits.

For exceptions to these guidelines, see Advanced Student Status definitions above.

The Graduate Planning and Audit System is a tool accessed through MyU that consists of two parts that work together: the planner and the audit.

The GPAS Audit displays completed student progress toward degree requirements.

The GPAS planner helps students and advisors map out future coursework needed to complete a degree.

Students who hold appointments (i.e. receive monetary stipends) that require service in return for financial support. Titles and compensation vary.

Examples are Research Assistant (RA) and Teaching Assistant (TA).

Only used by students who entered the program prior to fall 2020.

This form is used to declare your degree plan by listing out your planned coursework.

Signatures of your advisor(s), DGS, and Graduate Program Coordinator are needed before it can be turned in. If you are declaring a minor, the minor DGS signature also needs to be on here.

Students who hold appointments that do not require any services.

Titles and stipends of graduate fellows vary.

Primary examples are CSE Fellows, Sommerfeld Fellows, and CEGE Fellows.

It is expected that graduate fellows will carry out research towards the completion of a Ph.D. dissertation.

The GSC is a committee consisting of five graduate faculty members in Civil, Environmental, and Geo- Engineering representing the five core areas of the department (Environmental, Geomechanics, Structural, Transportation, and Water Resources Engineering) that is responsible for administration and oversight of the graduate programs in the department.

The GSC makes decisions regarding graduate admissions, fellowship awards, and travel grants. In addition, the GSC is responsible for developing/reviewing and implementing all programmatic changes including: (1) addition, removal, or alteration of graduate degree programs and program requirements and (2) review of new or significantly altered graduate courses.

The members of the GSC are appointed by the Civil, Environmental, and Geo-Engineering Department Head. The DGS serves as the (non- voting) chairperson of the committee.

Any student who is not a citizen or permanent resident of the United States.

International students usually hold a passport bearing a student entry visa to the United States.

Residents of Minnesota pay tuition at the in-state tuition rate. Any Graduate Assistant who has at least a 25%-time appointment as a graduate assistant or graduate fellow, regardless of residency status, also qualifies for the in-state rate.

If you have questions about your residency status, you should consult the Resident Classification and Reciprocity Office, 240 Williamson Hall, 612-625-6330.

For residents of North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, or Manitoba who qualify for reciprocity privileges, tuition rates are lower than for nonresidents and are, in some cases, comparable to resident rates.

This includes research with an advisor to satisfy requirements for a M.S. Plan A degree or the Ph.D. degree.