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The following questions are currently addressed on this page:

  • How do I post a notice of my defense?

  • Do I have to file an annual report?

  • What number should I use in registering for Non-Topical Research?

  • How do I submit a petition?

For now, scroll down the page and look for green text to see the questions and answers.

How do I post a notice of my defense?

These exams are open to the department. (The oral portion of Ph.D. comprehensive exams are open to the faculty.) Students are required to post announcements of the exams, including research proposal, thesis defense, and dissertation defense, at least 7 days before the exam in accordance with the degree requirements circulated frequently and available on this web site. (Press HERE to read the requirements.)

Announcements should be made as follows:

A notice of title, date, time and place must be sent by email to each faculty member in the department. (This is quite easy, the address is: envisci-faculty@virginia.edu).

Additionally, a notice no smaller than 8 1/2" by 5 1/2" giving the same information should be posted on the bulletin board set up for that purpose in the mail room. (Please remember to remove the notice after the event.) You may feel free to post additional notices elsewhere, but the mailroom is a must.

Do I have to file an annual report?

Annual reports are used for several reasons. One is to gauge the progress of graduate students receiving financial aid, and to determine their eligibility for continued support. Another, however, is to collect useful information to show the administration or others interested in our program how productive our program is.

According to the "rules" set out by the faculty, all graduate students are required to submit an annual report if the answer to any of the following questions is "Yes".

Did you receive financial aid from the department in the current academic year? (Department financial aid includes any TA, or grader money, any departmental or university fellowship, including a tuition differential fellowship, no matter the number of dollars involved). For example, if 100% of your support, including tuition remission payments came from a research grant, you may answer this question "no". Are you applying for any department or university financial aid for the next academic year? Would you accept some form of departmental support if it came available during the next academic year? Do you still need to defend your research proposal (M.S. only)? Do you still need to take the comprehensive exam (Ph.D. only)?

We would like to all students file a report, because the information is helpful to us in promoting the graduate program both inside and outside the University. However, we expect to receive reports from all students who are required to file one. If you answered "yes" to any of the questions, you are required to file an annual report.

What number should I use in registering for Non-Topical Research?

Master's students should sign up for EVSC 897 or EVSC 898. Ph.D. Students use either EVSC 997 or EVSC 999. Officially, Master's students who have not named a thesis advisor use EVSC 897, and those with a thesis director use EVSC 898. In practice (especially in our department where everyone has an advisor from the beginning), it really doesn't matter. You must register with a faculty modifier number (4 digits) regardless of what course number you use. The modifier numbers can be found in the Department directory; they are also posted on the door of the main office (Clark 204). Ph.D. students use the same model. All Ph.D. students should use the EVSC 999 number with their advisor's modifier number.

Remember to sign up for enough Non-topical Research hours to bring your total to 12 hours every semester

How do I submit a petition?

There are a variety of reasons one might submit a petition to the GARC. Two common ones are 1) to request that hours in excess of 120 earned as an undergraduate at UVA that comprise graduate level work be counted toward a graduate degree. This is a simple straightforward request, but the format of the petition must follow GARC guidelines as described below.

The other type of commonly encountered petition is to request that a course other than one specified by its mnemonic identification be used to satisfy the graduate area requirements. This is only slightly more complicated, but the guidelines for petition submission must also be followed.

Petitions are letters to the GARC making the request. The letter must include the rationale (justification) for asking for a variance in the requirements. For example, if a course is sought to be used as a replacement for a standard course in fulfillment of the area requirement, the course requested should be named, the course(s) to be replaced should be named, and a justification given. If the requested course is not a regularly scheduled course (If it is, for example, a first-time or one-time offering), a syllabus or course description from the instructor should be included as part of the petition. If you have questions about the content of your petition, see any GARC member.

N.B. All petitions, regardless of the request, must be signed by your advisor. No action will be taken without an advisor's signature showing advisor approval of the requested change in plan. Furthermore, all petitions are to be submitted in advance. Petitions to make use of coursework already taken to fulfill academic degree requirements are rarely approved. For specific questions see the GARC chairperson or a GARC member.

wsb4q@virginia.edu