Graduate Studies Guide
This document is meant to provide all of the basic information needed by graduate students in Mechanical Engineering. It consists of the rules and procedures of the Mechanical Engineering Department, along with those of the Graduate School as found in the Graduate Catalog. If the answer to a question cannot be obtained from the the Graduate Catalog or these notes, the answer should be sought by asking: your major professor, the Chair of the Mechanical Engineering Graduate Program, or the Graduate School, preferably in that order. Our intention is to provide you with information which will be helpful in your graduate studies. Note: The Graduate School has authority to change our policies and procedures.
Additional information on graduate study can be found on the websites of the University, the Graduate School, and the ME Department.
ME Graduate Program Resources Office
100 A Randolph Hall
E-mail: megrad@vt.edu
Melissa Williams, Fiscal Supervisor
Financial Resources - Stipends, Tuition, Fellowships
113 Randolph Hall
Ph. 540-231-4447
E-mail: mjwillia@vt.edu
Cathy Hill, Graduate Coordinator
Office of Graduate Program Resources
Applications, Recruiting, Student Records
100 A Randolph Hall
Ph. 540-231-7460
E-mail: hillcath@vt.edu
Dr. Ricardo Burdisso, Chair
Graduate Program
153 Durham Hall
Ph. 540-231-7355
E-mail: rburdiss@vt.edu
Contents
- Registration
- Funding
- Special Admission
- Change of Status to M.S.
- Ph.D. Internal Appliactions
- ME Master of Engineering Program
- ME Master of Science Program
- VT-TUD Dual ME Master of Science Program
- ME Ph.D. Program
- Seminar
- Grade Requirements
- Mathematic/Statistics Courses
- Graduate Honor Code Statement
- Theisis and Dissertation Preparation
- Graduate Program Review
- Operational Notes and Policies
- List of Forms for Graduate Students
Registration
Particular attention should be paid to the requirements for registration. Any student in residence, or pursuing any phase of his or her graduate program must be registered. Students are expected to make continuous progress toward their degrees and, therefore, to be enrolled for graduate credits each semester during the academic year until requirements are completed. No minimum registration is required during the summer, regardless of the students financial support. However, 3 credit hours each summer term is considered full-time. If the student does not register for the summer and is funded, the Payroll office deduct FICA taxes during the summer months. If a funded student registers for summer, the advisor must approve and the Fiscal Supervisor must be notified upon registration.
Individuals not enrolled, cease to be students and do not have access to university facilities. In those extraordinary cases where enrollment is not continued and the period of absence will exceed two consecutive academic year semesters, the student must request a Leave of Absence from the Graduate School and upon returning, will be required to apply to the Graduate School for re-admission. The Request a Leave of Absence form is available at the Graduate Life Center (GLC). Students not enrolling during two consecutive academic year semesters and not requesting a Leave of Absence will be dropped and must re-apply for admission as a new student. Applications will be evaluated by the departmental Graduate Admissions Committee in the same manner and with the same admission guidelines in use at that time for new applicants. Consequently, readmission applications must be submitted several weeks before the start of a semester to allow for this evaluation and to avoid the late registration penalty.
For students registering in absentia, and for whom a trip to campus would cause a major inconvenience, special arrangements for registration may be made with his or her advisor or with the ME Graduate Program Resources Office. These arrangements must be made well in advance of the check-in day, or the student may be registered late with financial penalty. Late registration increases both the cost to the student and procedural difficulties for the department, and therefore is to be avoided.
Full-time student status registration is at least 9 hours, although students funded by the ME Department are expected to enroll in 18 hours of courses &/or research during the academic year. (Graduate research assistants and graduate teaching assistants are required by the Graduate School to register for a minimum of 12 and a maximum of 18 credit hours during the academic year semester.) The minimum registration for unsupported students is 3 credit hours unless they will be under Defending Student Status. During the academic year, students can register through Hokie Spa via computer.
If registration is for the purpose of thesis/dissertation defense ONLY, unsupported students may request registration for only 1 credit hour if the defense is scheduled within the first twenty days of the term. The Graduate School will enroll the student for the 1 hour upon completing the Certification of Defending Student Status and the Request to Admit Candidate to Final Exam form at least 2 weeks prior to the defense. No defense may be scheduled in between semesters. Students registered for defending student status, are ineligible to receive assistantships during the academic semester.
Students registering for thesis or dissertation hours, must communicate with their major professor before registering to determine the number of ME 5994 or ME 7994 credits to be taken. The number of credits should be proportional to the level of activities being devoted to the work undertaken. For example, a Ph.D. student working full-time on thesis activities and taking no other course work should register for 12-18 hours of ME 7994 fall and spring semesters.
Funding
Supported students are required to submit tax forms (federal and state) and the federal I-9 form which MUST be filled out PRIOR to the student beginning work. Proper forms of identification are needed to fill out the I-9 form: ie.) a valid driver's license, a social security card, a passport and/or a birth certificate, etc. The tax forms and I-9 forms are usually distributed during orientation but frequently, funding may begin in the middle of a semester. If this is the case, you may fill out your tax forms and I-9 form from the Fiscal Supervisor, Room 113 Randolph Hall.
All students, including supported students, are responsible for paying their comprehensive fees and should do so before the deadline to avoid late fee penalty. Funded graduate students who are registered for any classes should not wait for a "corrected" tuition bill before paying the comprehensive fees.
Financial Opportunities
- Graduate Research Assistants (GRAs) are employed on a half-time basis (twenty hours of work per week) on a research project during a specified appointment period. They are required to fulfill their employment obligations without regard to academic terms. This means, that they are also expected to average twenty hours of work per week between academic terms.
Graduate Teaching Assistantships
- Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) are employed on a half-time basis (20 hrs/week) to assist with the teaching of undergraduate courses in mechanical engineering. They are expected to report to the ME Department starting one week before classes begin and continue through final exams.
Graduate Fellowship & Traineeship Holders
- Fellowship and traineeship holders are full-time graduate students and may have limited assigned university duties specified by the fellowship/traineeship. Fellowship and traineeship holders should associate themselves with ongoing research projects and should expect to be treated like others who hold GRA positions. See Fellowship list.
Instructors
- Doctoral candidates, in addition to being eligible for assistantships and fellowships, may on occasion be employed as full- or part-time instructors teaching undergraduate courses.
Stipends
Graduate teaching and research assistantship stipends range from approximately $1708 - $1801 per month for half-time appointments during the 07-08 academic year. Stipends might include supplemental scholarships, which depend upon the student's academic record. The salary of instructors depends on their qualifications. The ME Department assumes the responsibility of paying the in-state tuition of all supported (GTA and GRA) students but students MUST enroll in a minimum of 18 hours or courses and/or research. The Graduate School waives the out of state portion for students with assistantships.
Offer letter
Your responsibilities, in connection with your assistantship and the details of the financial support which you will receive, are outlined in your offer letter from the department. GTAs will receive subsequent acknowledgement and assignment letters from the Chair of the Graduate Program and Assist. Dept. Head for Undergraduate Studies. To maintain the assistantship, students must complete their assigned duties in a satisfactory manner and make satisfactory progress toward their degrees.
Continued Support
If continued support beyond your current offer is desired, you should contact your Advisor at least two months before the end of the support period indicated in your offer letter. Details of your financial support should be discussed before this selection is finalized. Approximately one month before the end of the support period indicated in your offer letter, you should contact the Fiscal Supervisor to see if support will be continued by your advisor.
GTA Assignments
Top priority is given for continuing Ph.D. students who have been promised support. The next priority is M.S. students that have indicated their interest and ability in the Ph.D. program by passing the Ph.D. qualifier. In addition:
- No departmental GTA support will normally be given to M.S. students beyond their 3rd semester of study (excluding summers) unless they have passed the Ph.D. qualifier and they have been accepted for study in the Ph.D. program.
- No departmental GTA support will normally be given to any M.S. students beyond their 4th semester of study (excluding summers), regardless of Ph.D. intentions.
Mechanical Engineering Fellowships for Ph.D. Study
To provide added funding stability for outstanding new Ph.D. students, the department has available one-year fellowship supplements plus GRA/GTA support for three years of study. Because of limited funding, this is a competitive program. Students must have at least a 3.5 GPA in graduate courses to be considered.
Before the fellowship can begin:
- Students must pass the Ph.D. qualifier and be registered as a Ph.D. student
- The student's M.S. advisor must document that the requirements for the M.S. degree have been satisfied.
A small sampling of fellowships available for graduate study in Mechanical Engineering:
ASME Graduate Fellowship Program (various) |
Edison Electric Institute |
Minority Programs |
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American Association of University Women |
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NASA Fellowship (Langley) |
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Virginia Tech Fellowships: See Graduate School’s Fellowship links. |
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Davenport Fellowship (College of Engineering) |
Pratt Fellowship (College of Engineering) Please note: Application deadlines and funding levels may change from year to year. |
SPECIAL ADMISSION IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
Combined B.S.-M.S. Degree -- 30 hour plan
Virginia Tech undergraduate students within the College of Engineering who have completed 90 hours with an overall 3.5 or above GPA, qualify for this program. Applications are normally submitted with two semesters remaining.
The student must apply for the Combined (formally 5 year) B.S. - M.S. Program in Mechanical Engineering. Students can get the required forms by downloading them from the Graduate School's web site.
The student, in conjunction with a faculty member within the student's area of interest, selects up to 12 hours of 4000 and 5000 level courses to be taken prior to the B.S. graduation.The Graduate Catalog lists the advanced courses available for graduate credit. There is a maximum of 6 hours of 4000 level courses that can be used for the M.S. degree should the student complete the minimum required coursework. These courses must be taken A-F and count towards both the Bachelor's and Master's degrees at Virginia Tech. The student MUST maintain a 'B' average to continue to qualify for the program.
The student submits a completed application consisting of the on-line application form, a tentative Five Year BS/MS Form, an official transcript, or current grade history, and 3 letters of recommendation to the Graduate Program Resources office in 100 A for approval. (The faculty can submit the Application Reference Form directly to this office or to the student in signed/sealed envelopes.)
Upon approval, the department forwards the application on to the University Honors Program and to the Graduate School for final approval. The student is then admitted by the Graduate School. However, the student is still considered an undergraduate for tuition purposes until the Bacelor's degree is conferred and the student is admitted as a Regular Master's student.
Until completing the B.S. degree, the student is not eligible for an assistantship. Upon completing the B.S. degree, the student must submit a FINAL Five Year BS/MS Form before the transcript will be marked by the Registrar's Office. Students should re-submit this form regardless of their intention to complete the M.S. degree or not. The Graduate School requires a final official transcript from the Registrar's Office before the student can begin graduate studies under the "Regular MS" designation.
Dual Registration for M.S.
Virginia Tech seniors who intend to receive a bachelor's degree, are within the last semester of graduation, and have a GPA of 3.0 or better, may take graduate level course work to satisfy an advanced degree program as dual registrants. Such work may only be used to satisfy graduate degree requirements with the consent of the ME Graduate Program. Students should submit a Dual Registrant Form with the application.
Change of Status to Regular M.S.
Upon completion of the B.S. degree, the student must submit the Change from 5-year BS/MS to Regular Masters form. Failure to do this, results in registration and funding difficulties.
Ph.D. Internal Applications
Students in the M.S. program may apply for the Ph.D. program after completing two semesters of study. M.S. students may take the Ph.D. Qualifier Exam at any time. Information is available in the ME Graduate Program Resources Office. See Internal Application Procedure for more detail
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING MASTER OF ENGINEERING PROGRAM
The Master of Engineering Degree is mainly intended for people working in the industry and pursuing this degree on a part-time basis. Because it requires more coursework and less research, departmental funding is not available. The Mechanical Engineering degree does not lead to the Ph.D. degree program. Mechanical Engineering. students must follow the same procedures as M.S. student with the exception of degree requirements. The 30 hour degree requirements are:
- A minimum of 6 hours of ME approved mathematics or statistic courses.
- A minimum of 15 hours of courses numbered 5000 or higher.
- A minimum of 6 hours or courses outside the student's discipline area
- A minimum of 6 hours of ME 5904; engineering project and report
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING MASTER OF SCIENCE PROGRAM
Selecting an Advisor and Committee
A student's advisor provides guidance in defining a plan of study and in monitoring the student's progress. Before registration for the second semester of study, each graduate student must confer with the members of the faculty and obtain the agreement of one to serve as the student's advisor. Students are expected to take the initiative in selecting their advisor. Advisors are not assigned to students; rather, they are determined by mutual agreement between individual students and professors. When a student works as a GRA, the faculty providing the research funding normally serves as the advisor.
The M.S. student and his or her advisor jointly select the other members of the Advisory Committee. The student is responsible for obtaining from those chosen, their agreement to serve. The Advisory Committee for an M.S. candidate normally consists of a minimum of three faculty members, at least two of whom must be in the Mechanical Engineering Department. The advisor or at least one co-advisor must be a faculty member in Mechanical Engineering. Exception to these norms may be considered in cases where outside people of comparable credentials are involved in the research.
The M.S. student and his or her advisor, are responsible for arranging meetings of the Advisory Committee at appropriate times. It is strongly recommended that Advisory Committee meets when the student is starting his or her research to discuss the undertaking. As a minimum, each student should arrange a meeting with his or her Advisory Committee at least once per semester. The Advisory Committee should meet at least one other time when the student and the advisor feel that a significant portion of the research has been completed. Each student should meet with his or her advisor regularly to discuss the status of the graduate program and research. If a student is enrolled in ME 5994 or 7994, failure to meet with his or her advisor in the semester, may result in receiving no credit for those research hours.
The Mechanical Engineering Graduate Program Chair will serve as a temporary advisor at the beginning of the first semester of study for those students not having made prior arrangements.
Plan of Study
Departmental policy requires that M.S. students must submit a Plan of Study during their first semester of residence on campus. Specifically, for M.S. students entering in the fall semester, the plan of study must be submitted during the second semester registration in mid-October. Corresponding dates pertain to M.S. students entering in the spring. Note that this submission date is earlier than that required by the Graduate School. This early submission helps the students proceed with their degree in a timely manner and facilitates planning of course offerings within the department. Students failing to do this, may find that their registration has been blocked. The Plan of Study must meet departmental requirements in effect, for the designated degree, at the time the plan is submitted.
The Plan of Study represents a contract between the student and the University. The Graduate School will use the Plan of Study in determining whether or not the student has met the graduation requirements when the application for a degree is made. It should be noted that study plans can be changed as degree programs proceed. Copies of forms are available on the Graduate School's web site. Approval of changes to the Plan of Study are required by all committee members, and the procedure followed is the same as for the original study plan with the exception of using the Graduate School's form. With the possible exception of thesis hour changes, it is important that study plans be kept current. Requests for changes in the plan of study must be processed before the requested change actually takes place. Retroactive change requests are not acceptable. Requested change in study plans must be submitted by the course-add deadline during the semester for which the change is requested.
A Plan of Study is worked out between a student and his or her advisor and approved by the Advisory Committee. Blank departmental forms for working out the Plan of Study are available on the ME web site. The student should make a personal copy. The student should then give the proposed Plan of Study to the Graduate Coordinator in 100 A Randolph. It will be logged in for approval. Approved study plans are then entered electronically on the BANNER system. Ultimately, the plan will be acknowledged by the Graduate School and approved on Hokie Spa. The student should check on Hokie Spa within four weeks to see if the plan has been approved.
You must have a minimum 30 hour plan and must include the following minimum requirements:
- 6 hours ME 5994 Research and Thesis. (If you complete 10 hours, take ME 7994. 7994 hours should not be listed on the MS plan of study)
- 20 total hours of approved coursework.; of those 20 you must meet the following:
- 15 hours at the 5000 level or higher
- 9 hours of ME Course Work
- 3 hours ME approved Math or Statistics
- No courses below the 4000 level will be accepted for graduate credit.
- Maximum of 6 hours for Special Study and a maximum of six hours for Independent Study with the total of both not to exceed 9 hours. A course description must be provided for approval towards the degree.
Transfer Courses
A maximum of 50% of graded course work may be transferred from another university. All courses must have a 'B' or better and cannot have been used to complete the B.S. degree. See the Graduate Catalog for more details. Transfer courses are approved on the Plan of Study by the Advisory Committee.
Examination Procedures
Each M.S. candidate will take an oral final examination, which will cover not only his or her thesis but also his or her general preparation in mechanical engineering.
The Final Examination must be scheduled through the Graduate School. The Graduate School requires a minimum of two weeks advance notice to schedule these examinations. Forms for scheduling these examinations are available on the Graduate School's web site. If registration is for GRAD 6864, Master's Defending Student Status), the minimum registration is for 1 hour and the defense must occur in the first twenty class days of the term. The Graduate School will enroll the student in GRAD 6864 if they approve "defending student" (DSS). Students may wish to take into consideration their student loans when applying for DSS status since they will be classified as less than half-time.Students on assistantships and fellowships must be registered as full-time. If the defense is at the end of the term, minimum registration is 3 hours of research
The Defending Student Status form should be completed and returned to the ME Graduate Program Resources Office for processing. After approval by the Graduate School, the student, Graduate Coordinator and the Advisory Committee members will be notified via e-mail.
The thesis must be handed out to the Advisory Committee seven days prior to the final examination. However, the Advisory Committee may require more time to review the thesis.
The Graduate School will forward an examination packet to the advisor containing a card to be signed by those participating in the final examination. This card must be returned to the Graduate School immediately after completion of the examination. Once the card is signed, the student should make a copy and bring it to the ME Graduate Program Resources Office for the academic file.
Generally speaking, the candidate will be asked to make a brief (about 1/2 hour) presentation to the Examining Committee, (normally the student's Advisory Committee), highlighting some aspect of the work done. Approximately the first half of the examination, will be devoted to examining the thesis. The second half of the examination can, at the discretion of the Examining Committee, be more general in nature, and may draw from the student's background, including course work. To aid the faculty in preparing for this part of the examination, it is recommended that the candidate furnish each member of the Examining Committee with a list of the courses taken or a copy of the Plan of Study.
Attendance is open to other faculty members of professorial rank. However, with the agreement of both the candidate and the advisor, other students may be invited to sit in on the presentation segment of the examination. The Examining Committee is approved by the Dean of the Graduate School and normally consists of the members of the student's Advisory Committee, although it is not necessarily so restricted. Candidates will be questioned by members of the Examining Committee, and by those faculty members, who are invited by the Examining Committee, to participate. T he Examining Committee decides whether the applicant passes or fails. If a student fails, the Committee will indicate if the candidate may retake the examination. A repeat examination may not be scheduled earlier than the beginning of the following semester. Examinations can only be scheduled during regular academic sessions.
Submission of Thesis to Graduate School
Note: Electronic submission of theses is required. For instructions, see the Graduate School's web site. The thesis must be submitted within two weeks of the final exam unless an extension is granted by the Graduate School Dean. The student's advisor must make the request for the extension.
Application for Degree Card
This card can be obtained from the web, Graduate School's web site. It must be submitted by the dates listed on the Graduate School's web site or on the back of the Application for Degree Card. Late submissions will result in the student's name not appearing in the Commencement Bulletin and there may be a delay in receiving the diploma.
A Final Check
Students must turn in the ME Departmental Check-out sheet to the ME Graduate Program Resources Office prior to leaving campus. It is strongly suggested that all students stop by the Graduate School's Programs and Clearances Office, in the Graduate Life Center, to verify that all records are complete, before leaving campus. For more information on graduation procedures, please contact gradappl@vt.edu, (540) 231-8636. Fax: (540) 231-3714.
VT-TUD DUAL ME MASTER OF SCIENCE PROGRAM
Upon successful completion of approximately one year of prescribed studies at each university, upon successful completion of the requirements of each program, students will receive the degree of Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from both universities. Interested students should refer to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and Implementation Agreement (IA) document for specific details and course requirements.
In this particular dual-degree program, the student will spend approximately one year in residence at each university. The first year will primarily be concerned with course work; the second year will have some course work, but will primarily be concerned with the thesis research. The student can choose the order of these two residencies; hence, two equivalent versions of the dual-degree program are described in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and Implementation Agreement (IA) document.
The students should be prepared to complete the courses at Virginia Tech in English and the courses at the Technische Universität Darmstadt in German, though some courses and/or exams at the Technische Universität Darmstadt are occasionally offered in English at the discretion of the course professor.
Selecting an Advisor and Committee
Each thesis examination committee will have a co-chair and a member from each university's Department of Mechanical Engineering. The student's dual-degree MSME thesis advising and examination committee should consist of four members. Two of these members should be faculty members in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Virginia Tech, and two should be faculty members Fachbereich Maschinenbau (Department of Mechanical Engineering) at the Technische Universität Darmstadt. One committee member from each university should serve as co-chairs and co-research advisors (major professors) to the student.
Students are expected to take the initiative to form their thesis advising and examination committee, starting with the major professors. Working with his or her major professors, the student will be responsible for recruiting the two remaining committee members. The committee membership is by mutual agreement between the respective members and the student. When a student is employed as a graduate research assistant (GRA) or as a researcher, then the faculty member(s) providing the research funding will normally serve as the major professor(s).
The thesis advising and examination committee is furthermore responsible for working with the program coordinators, the chair of the Virginia Tech Mechanical Engineering Graduate Affairs Committee, and the Studiendekan des Fachbereichs Maschinenbau (Mechanical Engineering Dean of Student Affairs) at the Technische Universität Darmstadt, to ensure that the requirements and standards of the dual-degree MSME program meet or exceed those of the regular MSME programs at both Virginia Tech and at the Technische Universität Darmstadt, respectively.
Plan of Study
This program consists of 116-118 credit points (TUD CP) or 58-59 semester credit hours (VT) that are divided into 82-83 CP (41-42 semester credit hours) of course work and 34 CP (17 semester credit hours) of thesis research. At the Technische Universität Darmstadt requires that the student complete his or her research within six months of the official start date of the full-time thesis research activity.
Virginia Tech does not differentiate between courses that emphasize theory and methodology and those that emphasize applied engineering. Hence, the appropriate distribution of these courses taken at Virginia Tech is left at the discretion by the student's thesis examination committee, with the approval by the chair of the Virginia Tech Mechanical Engineering Graduate Affairs Committee and the Technische Universität Darmstadt Studiendekan des Fachbereichs Maschinenbau (Mechanical Engineering Dean of Student Affairs) or their designees.
The student is expected to submit a draft plan of study by July 1 prior to commencing the dual-degree MSME program. This plan of study should identify the specific courses and the semesters in which they are to be taken, the major professors, and the general area of proposed research. For preliminary planning purposes, the draft plan of study should also indicate any requests for courses and/or exams to be offered in English at the Technische Universität Darmstadt. However, it should be noted that the faculty at the Technische Universität Darmstadt are under no obligation to honor such requests. The plan of study should be signed by the major professors to signify their approval of the plan of study and agreement to serve on the committee.
The student is expected to submit an initial plan of study within one month of commencing the dual-degree MSME program. The plan of study should identify the specific courses and the semesters in which they are to be taken, the two major professors and the two supporting thesis committee members, and the general area of proposed research. The plan of study should be signed by the thesis committee to signify their approval of the plan of study and their agreement to serve on the committee. If the plan of study includes any requests for courses and/or exams to be offered in English at the Technische Universität Darmstadt, then the plan of study will also need the signatures of these respective course professors to signify their voluntary agreement to honor such requests.
The two major professors are responsible for providing guidance in defining a program of study and in monitoring the student's progress. The student is responsible for arranging and meeting with his or her thesis examination committee and/or their designees at appropriate times. It is strongly recommended that the two major professors meet with the student (with the two other supporting committee members being invited but not required to attend) when the student is starting his or her research, to discuss the undertaking. The committee members and/or their designees should also meet similarly at least one other time when the student and the major professors feel that a significant portion of the research has been completed. A brief progress report, presentation slides, and a presentation by the student is expected. Subsequently, the two major professors are expected to provide a brief, joint statement assessing the progress of the student.
The student should meet with his or her major professors and/or their designees on a regular basis to discuss the status of his or her graduate program. For a student is enrolled in ME 5994 Research & Thesis or ME 7994 Research & Dissertation, the failure to meet with his or her major professors and/or their designees during the semester may result in receiving no credit for those thesis or dissertation hours.
To ensure a timely progress, an official start date for the full-time research effort will be established: For Program Alternative 1 (see Section 4.1 of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and Implementation Agreement (IA) document.), where the research is predominantly completed at the Technische Universität Darmstadt, the start date will be set by the major professor at the Technische Universität Darmstadt in consultation with the major professor at Virginia Tech. For Program Alternative 2 (see Section 4.2 of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and Implementation Agreement (IA) document), where the research is predominantly completed at Virginia Tech, the start date will be January 1. The student will be required to complete and defend their thesis within six months of that date.
The dual MSME students will be required to have at least six weeks (approximately 240 hours) of pre-approved industry internship experience, performing engineering research and/or development, during their MSME studies. Alternatively, this requirement may be satisfied with at least six weeks (approximately 240 hours) of pre-approved university and/or national laboratory research in the field of engineering. Employment as a graduate research assistant (GRA) at either university may, if approved, count towards this requirement. It is suggested, but not required, that this experience be related to the area of the student’s intended MSME thesis research topic. The student is ultimately responsible for obtaining this opportunity.
Transfer Courses
Where appropriate, work done for one degree program will be credited to the other program as well. Students must adhere to policies and procedures at each university related to transfer courses.
Examination Procedures
The student is ultimately responsible for observing and ensuring that the examination process and the quality and standard of the thesis document conform and meet the requirements of both universities. Where there is a conflict, as determined by the examination committee, the requirements and standards of the university of the second year of residence will prevail (the Technische Universität Darmstadt in the case of Program Alternative 1; Virginia Tech in the case of Program Alternative 2). The examination committee members should be presented with a final draft of the thesis at least seven (7) days prior to the examination. The final examination will be in English.
The thesis examination and the thesis will, with respect to Virginia Tech, be graded on a pass/fail basis, subject to the rules of examination at Virginia Tech. This includes the appointment of substitute examiners. This examination may be in person, by telephone, and/or by videoconference.
The thesis examination and the thesis will, with respect to the Technische Universität Darmstadt, be graded on a numeric scale. The major professor at the Technische Universität Darmstadt will determine this grade in consultation with the rest of the thesis examination committee.
Submission of Thesis to Graduate School
The thesis will be in English. Note: Electronic submission of theses is required. For instructions, see the Graduate School’s web site. The thesis must be submitted within two weeks of the final exam unless an extension is granted by the Graduate School Dean. The student's advisor must make the request for the extension.
VT Application for Degree Card
This card can be obtained from the VT Graduate School's web site. It must be submitted by the dates listed on the Graduate School's web site or on the back of the Application for Degree Card. Late submissions will result in the student's name not appearing in the Commencement Bulletin and there may be a delay in receiving the diploma.
VT Final Check
Students must turn in the ME Departmental Check-out sheet to the ME Graduate Program Resources Office prior to leaving campus. It is strongly suggested that all students stop by the Graduate School's Programs and Clearances Office, in the Graduate Life Center, to verify that all records are complete, before leaving campus. For more information on graduation procedures, please contact gradappl@vt.edu, (540) 231-8636. Fax: (540) 231-3714.
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING PHD PROGRAM
Internal Application Procedure
Internal applicants (i.e., those students who have completed, or are in the proess of completeing the Master's program in the Mechanical Engineering Department at VPI & SU) should submit their readmission application to the ME Graduate Program Resources Office, 100 A Randolph. This application should include the following:
- Up-to-date list of grades
- Application Reference Form from M.S. advisor
- Application Reference Form from proposed Ph.D. advisor. If same as above, someone else familiar with the research.
- Ph.D. statement of purpose from the student
- Ph.D. qualifier status
- Change of Admission Status form
The Mechanical Engineering Graduate Committee will evaluate the application and forward a recommendation to the Graduate School. Students receive official notification by the Graduate School of the department's decision.
Ph.D Qualifying Exam for M.S. students
Students entering the graduate program with a B.S. must pass the exam in their first five semesters. These students are granted a "free try," if they choose to take the exam in their first three semesters in the graduate program. The free try is in addition to the two times that the graduate students are normally allowed to take the exam. This policy is mainly aimed at encouraging those students who may be undecided about the Ph.D. program, to more seriously consider continuing beyond their M.S. degree. Students who take the exam during their free try period and pass, are expected to be further encouraged to consider the Ph.D. program as a career path. On the other hand, students who take the exam and fail are not penalized if they choose to continue for a Ph.D. beyond their M.S. program.
Selecting an Advisor andCommittee
Before registration for the second semester of study, each graduate student must confer with the members of the faculty and obtain the agreement of one to serve as the student's advisor. Students are expected to take the initiative in selecting their advisor. Advisors are not assigned to students; rather, they are determined by mutual agreement between individual students and professors. A student's advisor provides guidance in many areas including defining a plan of study and monitoring the student's progress toward his or her degree.
The Ph.D. student and his or her advisor, jointly select the other members of the Advisory Committee. The student is responsible for obtaining, from those selected, their agreement to serve on the Advisory Committee. The Advisory Committee for a Ph.D. candidate normally consists of a minimum of five faculty members, not more than four nor less than three of whom are in the Mechanical Engineering Department. The advisor or at least one co-advisor must be a faculty member in Mechanical Engineering. Exception to these norms may be considered, in cases where outside people of comparable credentials, are involved in the research.
The Ph.D. student and his or her advisor are responsible for arranging meetings of the Advisory Committee at appropriate times. It is strongly recommended that the Advisory Committee meets when the student is starting his or her research to discuss the undertaking. As a minimum, each student should arrange a meeting with his or her Advisory Committee at least once per semester. Each student should meet with the advisor regularly to discuss the status of the graduate progress towards degree. If a student is enrolled in ME 7994, failure to meet with his or her major professor in the semester, may result in receiving no credit for those dissertation hours.
Plan of Study
Departmental policy requires that Ph.D. students must submit a Plan of Study during their second semester of residence on campus. Specifically, for Ph.D. students entering in the fall semester, the study plan must be submitted before the fall semester registration in mid-March. Corresponding dates pertain to Ph.D. students entering in the spring. Early submission helps the students proceed with their degrees in a timely manner and facilitates planning of course offerings within the department. Students failing to do this may find that their registration has been blocked. The Plan of Study must meet Departmental requirements in effect for the designated degree at the time the plan is submitted.
The Plan of Study represents a contract between the student and the University. The Graduate School will use the Plan of Study in determining whether or not the student has met the graduation requirements when the application for a degree is made. It should be noted, that study plans can be changed as degree programs proceed. Copies of forms for changing study plans are available on the Graduate School's web site. Approval of changes in the Plan of Study are required, and the procedure followed is the same as for the original study plan with the exception of using the Graduate School's form. With the possible exception of dissertation hour changes, it is important that study plans be kept current. Requests for changes in the Plan of Study must be processed before the requested change actually takes place. Retroactive change requests are not acceptable. Requested changes in study plans must be submitted by the course-add deadline during the semester for which the change is requested.
A Plan of Study is worked out between a student and his or her advisor and approved by the Advisory Committee. Blank forms for working out the Plan of Study are available on the ME website. The student should make a personal copy. The student should then take the proposed Plan of Study to the ME Graduate Program Resources Office, 100 A Randolph Hall. It will be logged in for approval. Approved study plans are then entered electronically on the BANNER system. Ultimately, the plan will be acknowledged by the Graduate School and approved on Hokie Spa. The student should check on Hokie Spa within four weeks to see if the plan has been approved.
Doctoral students must complete a minimum of 90 semester hours of graduate study beyond the baccalaureate, including a dissertation. Ph.D. students must submit a Plan of Study before completing the second semester registered as a Ph.D. student. Most of the course work for the M.S. degree can be used. The Plan of Study must meet the following requirements:
|
Semester Credit Hours |
|
|---|---|---|
|
Minimum |
Maximum |
Research and Disseration (7994) |
30 |
|
Courses numbered 5000 or higher |
27 |
|
ME approved Math/Statistics |
9 |
|
Independent/Special Study Courses (5974 and 5984) |
|
12 |
Graduate Courses (4000-level or higher) |
30 |
|
Clarification of Table
- Nine credit hours must be ME approved math/stat courses. See approved Mathematics and Statistics course listings.
- Courses numbered 5000 or higher (27): 15 credit hours must be completed while in residence at the Virginia Tech Blacksburg campus. There are exceptions that will need prior approval from the Graduate School. (ie. designated programs at the Northern Virginia Graduate Center.)
- Transfer of credits: Not more than 50% of graded course work from another institution may be transferred. All transferred course credits must have the grade of "B" or higher and have been earned while enrolled as a graduate student. All transfer credits must be accompanied by transcripts which verify grades. Course descriptions may also be required. Transfer courses are approved on the Plan of Study by the Advisory Committee.
- Special Study at the Graduate Level: Requires a syllabus and method of evaluation. Credits may be used in meeting degree requirements. Special Study courses are not to be offered on a recurring basis, but they may be courses which are being tested before being proposed as regular courses. A maximum of 12 hours of Independent Study and 12 hours of Special Study with the total of both not to exceed 18 hours, may be used on the Plan of Study. Forms are available on the Graduate School’s web site.
Syllabi for 5984 courses should be submitted to the Graduate School at least 10 days before the end of the semester preceding the semester the course is to be offered. All 5984 syllabi must be approved by the Department Head and the College of Engineering before being sumitted to the Graduate School. The course syllabi should contain a distinctive title, not simply "Special Study." Forms are available on the Graduate School’s web site.
Syllabi for 5974 courses should be submitted to the ME Department Head at least 10 days before the end of the semester preceding the semester the course is to be offered. All 5974 syllabi must be approved by the Department Head and the College of Engineering. The course syllabi should contain a distinctive title, not simply "Independent Study."
- An example of a plan of study
45 hours Research & Dissertation (meets minimum requirement of 30)
*9 hours 5000 level Math (*meets minimum of 27 hours plus
*18 hours 5000 level Course Work (15 hours residency requirement)
18 hours Transfer Courses (meets 50% maximum requirement)
90 hours (complete Ph.D. plan)Credit hours can be changed to fit an individual's program, but keep in mind you
must have a minimum of 30 hours of course work (to include 9 credit hours of math and
15 credit hours to meet the residency requirement).For Ph.D. students, an expected date for completing the Preliminary Examination
(semester/year) must appear on the Plan of Study.
Transfer Courses
A maximum of 50% graded course work may be transferred from another university. See
the Graduate Catalog for further information and restrictions. Transfer courses are approved on the Plan of Study by the Advisory Committee.
Additional Seminar Requirement
For PhD students enrolling Fall 2008 or afterward, the student must present one 25 minute graduate seminar for the ME Department Seminar Series before graduating.
Examination Procedures
Ph.D. Qualifying Examination
In the words of the Graduate Catalog, this examination is "used to evaluate the student's mastery of the subject, to determine deficiencies, and to formulate judgments on whether the student should be encouraged to pursue graduate studies." In the ME Department, it is an examination in mathematics and in three of six areas of mechanical engineering (Thermodynamics, Heat Transfer, Fluid Mechanics, Machine Design, Controls, Vibrations and Dynamics) to determine the mastery of topics at the advanced senior level. Students may also request a special problem under limited circumstances. All those requesting special problems need to fill out a request form, stating their specific reasons for their request. The requests will be reviewed by a committee and the candidates will be notified on whether their request has been approved.
The examination must be passed by all Ph.D. candidates, but may be taken by M.S. candidates who have the intention of applying to the Ph.D. program. The examination dates are set for the following days every year, unless the above dates conflict with other important events:
Fall Semester: Last Friday in October
Spring Semester: Last Friday in March
This examination is described in detail in the Mechanical Engineering Department document, Announcement and Study Guide: Ph.D. Qualifying Examination, which is published each semester approximately two months in advance.
Ph.D. students must pass the Qualifying Examination within their first three semesters of study. See the Announcement and Study Guide: Ph.D. Qualifying Examination for further information. Continuing M.S. students who are going to pursue a Ph.D. degree must pass the Qualifying Exam within five academic semesters of starting Graduate School full time. Students are usually given two chances to pass.
Ph.D. Preliminary Examination
The Preliminary Examination is an oral presentation given before the student's Advisory Committee. It is suggested that the student prepare a written description of his or her proposed research in the form of a dissertation prospectus and distribute it to the members of the Advisory Committee one week in advance of the examination. The purpose of the Preliminary Examination is to determine if the student is prepared to undertake the proposed research. Therefore it is expected that the majority of the questioning would focus on the material contained in the dissertation prospectus, although the format of the examination can be modified at the discretion of the advisor. The Preliminary Examination should be held after the student has passed the Ph.D. Qualifying Examination and before the student has made significant progress on the dissertation research. In any case, it must be passed at least six months before graduation and at least one-third of the required work (course work and research) must remain after the Preliminary Examination is passed.
The Preliminary Examination must be scheduled through the Graduate School. The Graduate School requires a minimum of two weeks advance notice to schedule these examinations. Forms are available for scheduling these examinations on the Graduate School’s web site. This form should be completed and returned to the ME Office of Graduate Program Resources. The examination card from the Graduate School, will be mailed to the advisor and must be signed by those participating in the Preliminary Examination. This card must be returned to the Graduate School immediately after completion of the examination. Students should make a copy of the card and bring it to 100 A Randolph, to go in the academic file.
Ph.D. Final Examination
The Final Examination for Ph.D. candidates is centered around the defense of the dissertation. This exam is advertised in advance, and all professorial rank faculty members are invited to attend. In addition, it is at the option of the advisor, Examining Committee and candidate to invite graduate students or others to attend a portion or all of the Final Examination. Examinations are normally scheduled only during regular academic sessions.
The examination is oral in nature. The candidate should discuss the format of the examination with the advisor. Usually, the candidate will be asked to give a brief review of his or her work, and questions on the work will follow from this. Candidates should strive to keep the presentations short; all members of the Examining Committee will have read the much more detailed account given in the dissertation.
Final Examination requests must be made to the Graduate School at least two weeks before the examination date requested. A form for requesting this examination is available on the Graduate School’s web site. It should be returned to the ME Office of Graduate Program Resources for processing. If registration is for GRAD 7864, (Doctoral Defending Student Status), the minimum registration is for 1 hour and the defense must occur in the first twenty class days of the term. Students may wish to take into consideration their student loans when applying for defending student status since they will be classified as less than half-time. The Graduate School will enroll the student upon approval of defending student status. Students on assistantships and fellowships must be registered full-time. If the defense is at the end of the term, minimum registration is 3 hours of research.
A Ph.D. candidate must submit a final copy of the dissertation to the committee at least 10 days prior to the date of the Final Examination.
The Final Examination must be scheduled during an academic term. Examinations will not be scheduled between terms. The academic term starts on the first day of classes and ends on the last day of final exams, except for spring term which ends on Commencement Day.
The examination card is mailed to the advisor from the Graduate School and must be signed by those participating in the Final Examination. This card must be returned to the Graduate School immediately after completion of the examination. Students should make a copy of the card and bring it to 100 A Randolph, to go in the academic file. Graduation fees should also be paid at this time at the Bursar’s Office.
Return the signed examination card to the Graduate School office by noon of the day following the examination should the examination end after 5pm on the day of the exam.
Submission of Dissertation to the Graduate School
Note: Electronic submission of dissertations is required. For instructions, see the Graduate School’s web site. The dissertation must be submitted within two weeks of the final exam unless an extension is granted by the Graduate School Dean. The student’s advisor must make the request for the extension.
Application for Degree Card
This card can be obtained from the Programs and Clearances Office in the Graduate School or their web site. It must be submitted by the dates listed on the Graduate School’s web site or on the back of the Application For Degree card. If you do not apply for your degree on time, your name will not appear in the Commencement Bulletin and there may be a delay in receiving your diploma
A Final Check
Students must turn in the ME Departmental Check-out sheet to the ME Graduate Program Resources Office prior to leaving campus. It is strongly suggested that all students stop by the Graduate School’s Programs and Clearances office, in the Graduate Life Center, to verify that all records are complete before leaving campus. For more information on graduation procedures, please review their web site on Degree Completion and Commencement or contact them at (540) 231-8636. Fax: (540) 231-3714.
SEMINAR
A seminar program for mechanical engineering graduate students and faculty is held for presentations and discussions of recent and current developments in mechanical engineering and related areas. This seminar is generally of such a nature that one does not need to be a specialist in the area of the speaker in order to benefit from the material being presented. All graduate students, both part-time and full-time, are expected to attend the seminar during each semester in residence on the campus. The seminar cannot be used to meet degree requirement. Students should enroll in the one hour course as Pass-Fail. Participation expectations will be communicated to students at the beginning of the semester.
GRADE REQUIREMENTS
The student must pass all courses on the plan of study with an average grade of "B" or better. A student must repeat any subject with a grade below "C-" if the course is on the program of study. If a student's work is substandard, the ME Departmental Graduate Affairs Committee may recommend to the Dean of the Graduate School that the student be dropped from the Graduate School rolls.
Particular attention is directed to the Graduate School rules concerning Pass-Fail courses. All courses on the plan of study, including supporting courses, must be taken on a letter grade basis except for those courses offered on a P/F basis ONLY (such as all 5974 courses). Graduate students may take an unlimited number of hours of graduate work (5000 or 6000 level) on a P/F basis outside of the department and not on the plan of study with the approval of his or her major professor.
MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS COURSES
Departmental mathematics and statistics requirements can be met by taking approved courses from the following list:
All 4000 (that carry graduate credit), 5000 or 6000 courses from the Mathematics Department can be taken to fulfill the departmental mathematics requirements except for MATH 4024, 4044, 4334, and courses numbered 46XX and 56XX.
Selected 5000 and 6000 level courses from the Statistics Department can be taken to fulfill the departmental mathematics requirements. Those courses are STAT:
5104, -14, -24, 5204, 5304, -14, -24, -34, -44
5404, -14, -24, -34, -44, -54, -64, -74, -84
5504, -14, -24, -34, -44, -54, -64, -74, -94
5615, -16
6105, -06, -14
6404, -14, -24, -64, -74, -94
6504, -14, -74
Engineering Courses
All courses cross-listed with the Mathematics D
Department and meeting the above requirements for that department can be taken for graduate mathematics credit. The only course offered from the ME Department which can be used to fill the math/stat requirement is ME 5744.
Graduate Honor Code
The Graduate Honor Code establishes a standard of academic integrity. As such, this code demands a firm adherence to a set of values. In particular, the code is founded on the concept of honesty with respect to the intellectual efforts of oneself and others. Compliance with the Graduate Honor Code requires that all graduate students exercise honesty and ethical behavior in all their academic pursuits here at Virginia Tech, whether these undertakings pertain to study, coursework, research, extension, or teaching.
It is recognized that the graduate students have very diverse cultural backgrounds. In light of this, the term ethical behavior is defined as conforming to accepted professional standards of conduct, such as codes of ethics used by professional societies in the United States to regulate the manner in which their professions are practiced. The knowledge and practice of ethical behavior shall be the full responsibility of the student. Graduate students may, however, consult with their major professors, department heads, the International Students Office, or the Graduate School for further information of what is expected of them.
More specifically, all graduate students, while being affiliated with Virginia Tech, shall abide by the standards established by Virginia Tech, as these are described in this Constitution. Graduate students, in accepting admission, indicate their willingness to subscribe to and be governed by the Graduate Honor Code and acknowledge the right of the University to establish policies and procedures and to take disciplinary action (including suspension or expulsion) when such action is warranted. Ignorance shall be no excuse for actions which violate the integrity of the academic community.
The fundamental beliefs underlying and reflected in the Graduate Honor Code are that (1) to trust in a person is a positive force in making a person worthy of trust, (2) to study, perform research, and teach in an environment that is free from the inconveniences and injustices caused by any form of intellectual dishonesty is a right of every graduate student, and (3) to live by an Honor System, which places a positive emphasis on honesty as a means of protecting this right, is consistent with, and a contribution to, the University's quest for truth.
Thesis and Dissertation Preparation
Notes on Thesis & Dissertation Preparation
These notes are intended to be an aid to thesis and dissertation preparation, not to replace other instructions. The Graduate Catalog produced by the Graduate School should be read carefully; it is the final word. It is hoped that these notes will help in timing and writing, as well as clarify the role of the advisor and committee. Also, note that all M.S. theses and doctoral dissertations must be submitted electronically. Separate instructions are available on the Graduate School's web site.
Completion of Research
ome parts of the thesis and dissertation, such as the introduction and literature review, can be written before the research is complete. The advisor and student should reach an agreement early in the research, on what work is to be done. They should then agree when it is done and ready to be written.
Timing
Probably more poor theses and dissertations result from improper timing than from any other single cause.; All too often students do not start intensive work on their theses and dissertations until it is too late to do a good job. The result, at best, is a poor thesis or dissertation and a change in graduation plans.
The major events in preparation and submission of the thesis or dissertation (see Graduate Catalog) are:
- Outline to Advisor -- this is the point where one begins writing, well ahead of the date he or she expects to graduate.
- First draft to Advisor -- a considerable amount of alteration should be anticipated.
- Final draft to Advisor -- this draft must be complete with title page, figures, etc. Misspelled words, typographical errors, poor construction, unnumbered pages, etc., make a draft unacceptable. Allow one week for the advisor and one week for corrections before the document is submitted to the Advisory Committee.
- Thesis or dissertation to committee -- 10 days for Ph.D. and 7 days for M.S. before the exam. The document must be complete and printed in final format at this point.
- Final Exam -- usually scheduled during the academic term. The Request to Admit Candidate to Final Exam form must be submitted to the Graduate School office at least two weeks before the exam. Some time between the exam and submission of the thesis should be included in the schedule for alterations.
- Submission of thesis or dissertation to Graduate School Office -- no later than two weeks after the final oral examination.
Responsibility
The thesis or dissertation is the student's work and his or her responsibility.The student must plan and write the thesis or dissertation, with some organizational help from the major professor. Care must be taken with the word processing, proofreading, and checking of the analysis. If the candidate cannot handle this responsibility, he or she does not deserve a graduate degree. It is not the responsibility of the advisor and the Advisory Committee to help write and proofread the thesis or dissertation.
The major advisor's role is one of advising. He or she should go over the outline and successive drafts with the student and give advice, not write, proofread, or check analyses. The advisor should expect neat, readable copies from the student, with plenty of room for comments.
The other Advisory Committee members will review the final copy only after it has been approved by the advisor. They will read it for general technical content and level of endeavor, and approve, approve with revision, or disapprove of it. They serve in an advisory capacity throughout the research, especially for a Ph.D. candidate.
Thesis and Dissertation Format and Style
A limited number of specific rules on format that must be followed are covered in the Graduate Catalog -- the student should be aware of these. Other rules are dictated by grammar and good taste in presentations of technical materials. There are many good books on style -- The Elements of Style by Strunk & White and Plain Words by Sir Ernest Gowers are strongly recommended. Technical journals give some ideas of accepted practice, but these are papers, not theses or dissertations. The format should be discussed with the advisor when the outline is complete. A technical thesis or dissertation will normally include the following:
- Title page (see standard form on the Graduate School web site).
- Abstract -- should describe briefly, the problem, the research program, and the main results.
- Acknowledgments -- should acknowledge help in the research and thesis or dissertation preparation.
- Table of Contents -- list section headings and page numbers.
- *List of Figures -- should list all figures with page numbers.
- Nomenclature -- should define all symbols unless they are defined where they are used. Use standard symbols where possible. Units of physical quantities should be given.
- Text.
- Introduction -- should define and give the history of the problem, state the motivation and purpose of the research, and give a review of the literature. (If the literature review is long, it can be a separate section.)
- Body -- should include separate sections for experiment (equipment and procedure), analysis, discussion of results, etc.
- Conclusions and Recommendations -- should summarize the main conclusions and make recommendations.
- References
- Appendix (if used).
- Vita
*Special attention should be paid to reproduced imagines, figures, etc. to meet copy right requirements. This oftern delays approval of ETD's, resulting in delayed graduation dates.
GRADUATE PROGRAM REVIEW
Once a year, students and faculty will review the students’ progress towards the degree and provide a written evaluation for the students' academic files. This is in accordance with Policy Memo 229.
OPERATIONAL NOTES AND POLICIES
E-mail and Computing Resources
Many events of importance are announced via e-mail. To access e-mail (using the popular Eudora, Outlook and NuPop packages, for example) you will need a Personal ID (PID). Computing Services web site contains many useful links and instructions.
On the College level, there is Crunch for Research computing that can be used for research by members of the College of Engineering. It currently is an Origin 2000 (8 processors - 8 Gigs of RAM) and an Origin 3000 (8 processors - 8 Gigs of RAM) (Silicon Graphics). The Virginia Tech Computing Center operates an SGI Altix 3700 system called Inferno for high-performance research computing. For more information on equipment and laboratories, visit their web site.
The Virginia Tech Computing Center operates high-performance workstations with the latest software systems for research and teaching in the VT CAD Laboratory, 114 E Randolph Hall. Contact: Prof. Jan Helge Bohn for further information.
Keys
Building keys are issued to students at the discretion of their advisor. The advisor should e-mail Randy Smith with the request. The student may pick up the key(s) in Room 117B Randolph. All keys issued to students must be returned during their final check out. There will be a $5.00 charge for each key not returned.
Building Security
Building security is everyone's responsibility. You should make sure to lock your office and laboratory doors when you leave (even for a few minutes).In the evenings and on weekends, building doors should not be propped open at any time. Do not bring personal items of value into the building. Students who compromise building security will be required to turn in their building keys immediately. Thefts occur with alarming regularity. Do not be careless about building security; you may be the next theft victim.
Mechanical Work
Shop orders should be made out clearly defining what is needed. Shop orders are available from the shop office. The order should be approved by the advisor or project leader and taken to the Shop Supervisor in the Mechanical Engineering Shop, Room 5 Randolph Hall.
SHOP HOURS: M-F 8:00am - 4:45pm
STAFF TECHNICIANS Johnny Cox, Tim Kessinger, Bill Songer, James Dowdy
Purchasing, Word Processing, and Computer Accounts
All of these must be arranged through the advisor. Departmental staff are not available to do word processing for graduate students. If a graduate student needs some word processing done, which arises from a sponsored research project on which he or she is working, the word processing should be given to the advisor. The advisor can then submit it according to regular departmental procedures. Only faculty and staff are authorized to use departmental letterhead in correspondence.
Equipment and Instrument Check-Out
Equipment needed for research and teaching activities can be signed out at the Instrument Shop window, Room 5 Randolph Hall. Graduate students are personally responsible for equipment signed out to them. Lending or borrowing of equipment between graduate students is prohibited. Instructional activities of the department have precedence over research activities for short term instrument use, except when the instrument has been specifically purchased for research use.
Final Check Out Procedures
The check out form must be signed by those indicated and returned to the ME Graduate Program Resources Office, Room 100 A Randolph, before the graduate student can consider his or her degree requirements fulfilled. This check out form is available on the ME web site. Students should write an itemized list of all equipment, books, computer programs, keys, etc., returned on the back of the form.
Graduate Forms
The following ME departmental forms can be obtained downloaded from the web.
ME Final Check-out Sheet
Program of Study
The Graduate School forms listed below can be downloaded from the Graduate School web site:
5-year BS/MS Application
5-year BS/MS or Dual to Regular MS
Application for Degree Card
Application for Graduate Readmission
Application for In-State Tuition Rates
Application for Post Doctoral Study
Change of Admission Status
Change of Committee/Advisor
Change of Program of Study
Defending Student Status
Dual Registrant Status
Request for Admission to Final Examination
Request for Admission to the Preliminary Exam
Request for Change of Admission
Request for Independent Study
Request for Leave of Absence
Request for Special Study
Request to Change Exam Dates and Times
ALL paper work must be processed through the ME Graduate Program Resources Office, 100 A Randolph Hall. Students should make a copy of all forms for themselves and for their academic file in the ME Graduate Program Resources Office.