Graduate Group and Doctoral Advisors Guide

Highlighted below (for quick reference), are important forms that you will use as a Ph.D. advisor and/or committee chair:

• The Penn Bioengineering Mentorship Compact  (Advisor and Student both sign)
• Qualifying Evaluation of Exam and Overall Recommendations (Committee Chair)
• Acceptance of Proposal Form (Committee Chair must complete after proposal)
• Bioengineering Grad Group Individual Development Form (Student and Advisor)
• Annual Ph.D. Committee Meeting Report (Completed by the Committee Chair after meetings)
• Exempt From Tuition in Final Term (student and advisor complete)
  • To be eligible for exemption, the Ph.D. candidate must have successfully defended and deposited their dissertation within the Provost’s “defend by and deposit by” deadlines of the final term. The student must be registered for 9950 dissertation credit in their final term to be eligible for exemption from tuition and fees in the final semester.

All of the forms are also accessible to BE Ph.D. students and advisors here: Academic Forms, Advising Resources and Feedback Forms 

Annual Committee Meeting Forms

Committee meetings are required annually. The committee chair should complete and submit the annual committee meeting report after the meeting.

At least one meeting within six (6) months of the defense must be held. The committee must grant permission to defend at this meeting.

• Annual Ph.D. Committee Meeting Report

• Bioengineering Grad Group Individual Development Form

Individual Development Plan form must be completed by the student for their thesis proposal and all annual thesis meetings.

For your reference, the Penn Provost website includes guidelines and important information and deadlines for Ph.D. Students who are preparing to graduate.

Exempt From Tuition in Final Term

To be eligible for exemption from tuition in the final semester before graduation, the Ph.D. candidate must defend and deposit their dissertation within the Provost’s “defend by and deposit by” deadlines. The student must be registered for 9950 dissertation status in their final term to eligible for the waiver.

Payroll Notification of Stipend Ending

The Ph.D. stipend ends at graduation, either on the deposit date or the official graduation date if the student is continuing to work in a lab. Please discuss and plan for an end date for both their work as a Ph.D. student and stipend. Please notify the payroll office of the date so that they are aware that the stipend should end.