INTERIM ADVISOR If the student has not identified an advisor upon entering the program, Dr. M. Maggie Folan will serve as the interim advisor for the first two semesters at which time a major advisor will have been selected.
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SELECTION OF THE MAJOR ADVISOR Upon entering the graduate program, it is highly recommended that each student identifies a major advisor who agrees to supervise his/her work and is responsible for overseeing the development of the student's program of study. Each student must report their selection of a major advisor in writing to the graduate program liaison and to the Chair of the Graduate Academic Affairs Committee before the end of their first year of study in the graduate program by completing the Selection of Major Advisor form available here:http://www.pharmacy.pitt.edu/programs/gradprog/PDFs/Selection_of_Major_Advisor.pdf.
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FORMAL COURSEWORK Each student will follow a program of study developed in conjunction with the major advisor with input from the student's doctoral committee. The program of study must contain all of the program core courses as well as required and elective courses specific to the student's study track. All required courses should be completed during the first two years of full time doctoral study. Although it may be necessary to extend formal coursework into the third year in certain instances, every effort should be made to meet the two-year target. Each student must submit their program of study to the Graduate Academic Affairs Committee of the Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Program for approval on an annual basis. Each student's progress will be monitored by the Graduate Academic Affairs Committee. When a student fails to make satisfactory progress in the program, the Committee will request the student's advisor to develop, and submit for Committee approval, a plan of remedial action. When approved, the student will be bound by the conditions set forth in the plan. Failure to meet these conditions will result in dismissal of the student from the Graduate Program.
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PRELIMINARY EVALUATION -At the end of the first year of doctoral study, all students must have a preliminary evaluation. This evaluation serves to identify those students who may be expected to complete the doctoral program successfully and also to reveal potential areas of weakness in the student's preparation. The evaluation is conducted by the student's major or interim advisor in conjunction with the other faculty members. While there is no set format for the evaluation, it should focus on the student's performance in didactic coursework and in research activities. Results of the evaluation must be reported promptly to the Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Academic Affairs Committee but not later than the last day of the term in which the evaluation occurs. The date and results of the preliminary evaluation will be entered into the student's permanent graduate academic record as one of the "Milestones" recognized by the University. If the results of the evaluation indicate that the student is not expected to complete the program satisfactorily, dismissal from the program will be recommended.
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MONITORING THE STUDENT’S PROGRESS Each student's progress will be monitored and reviewed annually with the student by the Graduate Academic Affairs Committee. In those instances where deficiencies are observed but are considered remediable, the advisor will submit a plan for remedial action to the Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Academic Affairs Committee for approval. When approved, the student will be bound by the conditions set forth in the plan. Failure to meet these conditions will result in a recommendation for dismissal from the Graduate Program.
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