Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering |
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Table of Contents
Preface
We feel our program is excellent. We admit only those students with outstanding GPAs, letters of recommendation, GRE scores, and TOEFL scores. Obviously, you are one of these students. Faculty members are known world wide as leaders in their respective research areas. They will provide you with the opportunity to work on projects at the cutting-edge of technology. The staff is outstanding. They will provide tremendous support in your pursuit of a graduate degree. This handbook serves as a general reference to all graduate students in our program. It contains important information relevant to your life as a graduate student. Please read it carefully. Note that none of the information supersedes that provided in the Graduate School Bulletin. Numerous forms are referred to in the handbook. You can readily identify the title of a form by its Courier Font: for example, Sample Form. These forms are available in the Chemical & Environmental Engineering Office. We update the handbook on a regular basis. However, since the program changes with time, some of the information may become incorrect or irrelevant. We will communicate any changes to you through the mail. Please make these changes in your handbook as you receive them. Best wishes on your path toward a graduate degree! Chemical & Environmental Engineering Department History
The College of Engineering began as the Manual Training School in 1872. This school evolved into the Polytechnic School, the College of Industrial Sciences, and finally the College of Engineering. The College of Industrial Sciences offered the first two years of engineering study in 1915 and a three year program in the 1920's. The College of Engineering emerged in 1931 offering a four year degree program, a Bachelor’s of Engineering, housed in the then newly completed University Hall. The Chemical Engineering Department originated in 1946 as one option in the Bachelor’s of Engineering program. Tremendous growth in the Engineering College led to the establishment of separate departmental curricula in 1950 including a Bachelor’s of Chemical Engineering. The Chemical Engineering program received accreditation from the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) and the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) in 1964. Graduate studies began in 1912 at The University of Toledo. One year later, the first graduate degree was conferred by the University. The Engineering College began offering graduate studies in 1949. A number of Master’s programs were developed in the 1950's with conferral of the first M.S. in 1954. A college-wide Doctoral program began in 1967 with specialization in one of four interdepartmental areas (Chemical and Biological Transport, Engineering Mechanics, Electronics and Energy, and Systems Theory and Engineering) administered by interdepartmental committees. Individual departments took over management of the Doctoral program in 1995 and now determine degree requirements. The Chemical Engineering Department conferred its first Master’s degree in 1964 and first Doctoral degree in 1972. Initially, the Department focused on part-time Master’s level education for local industry and the NASA-Lewis Research laboratories. This focus has shifted to full-time Master’s and Doctoral education which continues to this day. On January 1, 1997 the Department officially changed its name to Chemical & Environmental Engineering. This reflects a major initiative in the Department to develop educational and research activities in the environmental engineering area, especially environmental reaction engineering and pollution prevention. Graduate Courses
All classes are not offered each year; some are offered alternating years while others are offered only upon sufficient student demand. Note that Master’s students should register for research under CHEE-6960 while Doctoral students register under CHEE-8960. Required classes for Master’s students are highlighted in bold; required classes for Doctoral students are highlighted in bold and underlined. See the Master’s and Doctoral degree sections for other requirements. Courses for the Polymer Option are highlighted in italic. Note that courses beginning with 5 are for both Masters and Doctoral students while courses beginning with 6 are for Masters only and courses beginning with 8 are for Doctoral only. Admission, Status, and Advising Application for Admission Applications for Graduate School are available from the Chemical & Environmental Engineering office or the Graduate School. Applications for Fall admission must be received prior to January 15. A complete application consists of:
Students should send submit completed applications either through the Internet or by mail. Evaluation of Applications Applicants to the graduate program in the Chemical & Environmental Engineering Department must meet certain minimum educational requirements. These requirements were established to help ensure that students can successfully complete degree requirements. The specific requirements are:
Applicants for the Doctoral program must have: either a Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering or related area or a B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering; and a grade point average of 3.0 or higher. Students with Bachelor’s degrees seeking direct admission to the doctoral program must also have demonstrated a high level of academic performance as evidenced by graduation with honors, undergraduate research, or other awards or activities. All admission decisions are made by the Graduate School based on the recommendation of the Chemical & Environmental Engineering Department. The Graduate School may deny admission to any students that do not meet all of the above admission requirements. Additionally, the Department may deny admission if additional students cannot be supported by the Department. Students that fail to satisfy these requirements may apply for admission to the Engineering College as an undergraduate with a degree (UWD) to remediate deficiencies and prepare themselves for admission to the Graduate School. Students that do not meet the above requirements may also submit other evidence of their academic potential for consideration. Applicants must begin their studies in the Fall Semester. Only under special circumstances may students begin in the Spring Semester. Applications for Fall should be completed by February 1 to be considered for financial aid. Once accepted, students may delay admission for up to three (3) semesters. After three semesters, students must resubmit an application for admission. Students receiving offers of financial support may delay of admission but will forfeit their financial support as stated in the offer letter. Transfer of Credits Students may transfer credit for graduate work completed at other accredited institutions in partial fulfillment of degree requirements subject to approval by the Graduate Director and the Graduate School. A letter grade of "B" or higher is required in each class. As a rule, Master’s students cannot transfer more than 10 semester hours and credit cannot be given for thesis work. Doctoral students with a Master’s degree can transfer no more than 30 semester hours and credit cannot be given for comprehensive exams, qualifying exams, or dissertation work. Students should consult with the Graduate Director about transfer of credit. Students enrolled at the University that wish to take courses elsewhere to transfer for credit must receive advance approval. Student Classification Upon admission, a student is placed in one of the following categories:
Students wishing to change their status may petition the Graduate Director in writing. If approved, the student must file a Status Change Request form with the Graduate School. Maintaining Status To maintain regular student status, students must comply with all academic regulations of the University and specific requirements of the Chemical & Environmental Engineering Department. The student is solely responsible for ensuring compliance and satisfying degree requirements. Students should consult their primary research advisor or the Graduate Director if questions arise regarding these requirements. Students must maintain: 1) a 3.0 GPA for all courses completed and 2) a 3.0 GPA for all courses completed in the Chemical & Environmental Engineering Department. Any student with an assistantship that fails to maintain a 3.0 GPA will have one semester to raise it to the minimum level. Failure to do so will result in termination of the assistantship. If a student's GPA falls below the minimum for two consecutive semesters, the student is subject to suspension or termination from the Chemical & Environmental Engineering Department. Academic dishonesty may result in loss of regular student status and dismissal from the program. The Graduate Student Handbook defines dishonesty and gives its most common forms of manifestation. Students that engage in unprofessional or other activities detrimental to the Chemical & Environmental Engineering Department may also be subject to dismissal. All dismissal decisions require a majority vote of the faculty and approval of the Graduate School. Advising The Graduate Director advises all graduate students until they select a permanent faculty advisor. Students that elect to pursue a course work Master’s do not select an advisor and remain under the guidance of the Graduate Director. During their first term of residence, Master’s and Doctoral students will select a permanent advisor through the following process:
Once students and faculty agree on the proposed selections, a student cannot switch advisors without written permission from all faculty members involved. The student must submit in writing a request for the proposed change, the reason for it, and a Status Change Request form to the Graduate Director. The Graduate Director will generally approve of such a request in the absence of unethical behavior by either student or faculty. The faculty advisor is responsible for guiding the student toward satisfactory completion of degree requirements. In particular, the advisor must:
Ultimate responsibility for completion of degree requirements, though, falls on the student. Types of Assistance Financial assistance is available for students through a variety of mechanisms. These include:
The most common form of assistance is a TS. The TS covers instructional fees only, up to 16 hours per semester, for a two semester period. All courses must be a part of the student's Plan of Study. The student must pay instructional fees for all other courses; exceptions require a written request by the student's advisor. In all cases, the student is responsible for the general fee, currently $390.60 per semester, health insurance premium, currently, $182.00 per semester, and computer usage fee, currently a maximum of $150.00 per semester. Students that receive a TS are not asked to perform any service. Some students will receive a TA in addition to a TS. A graduate teaching assistant will either participate directly in teaching a class or provide related support activities. The experiences that accompany such assignments are integral to a student's graduate education. Hopefully, the student will be better prepared to meet degree requirements and develop professional attitudes after serving as a teaching assistant. Students receiving a TA should expect to devote at least 20 hours per week in their teaching efforts. TA appointments are usually for a nine (9) month period at a fixed rate determined by the College of Engineering and usually are not continued beyond the initial appointment. The Chemical & Environmental Engineering Department receives a limited number of TAs from the college each year for assignment by the Graduate Director. We anticipate using these TAs to support first year graduate students but some appointments will be made by Graduate Director, in consultation with the Department Chair, to fulfill Department needs. Additional TAs may be available outside of the Department, for example through the College Computing Office and the University Library; see the Graduate Director for more information. Some students will receive a RA in addition to a TS. A graduate research assistant participates in externally funded research guided by a faculty member. The faculty member will determine specific responsibilities but the student should expect to participate in a multitude of research activities. Students receiving a RA should expect to devote at least 20 hours per week in their research efforts. RA appointments are usually for a nine (9) month period at a fixed rate with the possibility of additional compensation during the summer. Continuation of support is contingent on the availability of funds and the student's progress toward fulfilling degree requirements. Graduate students should inquire about the availability of RAs with individual faculty members, especially during the advisor selection process. The student's advisor will make all decisions regarding level and continuation of support. English Language Test for Teaching Assistants Ohio State law requires that all assistants who provide direct instruction (i.e., lecture) in a classroom or laboratory be tested for English proficiency before assuming their assistantship responsibilities. The test is administered during Graduate Student Orientation prior to the start of the Fall Semester or by special arrangement with the Graduate School. Appointments can be made by calling the Graduate School. The test consists of a ten minute presentation which includes:
TAs that provide only teaching support, such as grading and record keeping, and do not lecture are not required to take this test. Outside Employment Students Receiving a TA or RA: Because students are expected to be working full-time toward a degree, they may assume no additional employment other than that associated with a TA or RA appointment. This restriction does not apply to students receiving a TS only. Exceptions to this policy must be recommended by the student's advisor and approved by the Graduate School prior to employment. We will approve exceptions only if employment does not delay or disrupt the student's progress toward a degree. The Request for Employment Outside of Graduate Assistantship Duties form is available from either from the Graduate Director or the Graduate School. Students Receiving a TS only: Students may work up to 20 hours per week either on- or off-campus during terms that they receive a TS. Employment requires approval by International Services who issue the necessary work permits. The income provided by these jobs covers most of a student’s basic expenses. All on-campus job openings are posted in room 1532 of the Student Union, the Career Services Office ((419) 530-4341). Students generally have little difficulty finding a position. Employment opportunities include:
Payroll Prior to receiving a paycheck, students receiving either a TA or a RA must:
The Graduate Assistant Appointment Request Form is available from the Department Secretary. International students can obtain a SSN at either of the following locations:
International students should make an appointment with the International Student Programs Office to execute an I-9; U.S. citizens should see the Department Secretary. Payroll and tax forms are available in the Payroll Office, UH 3650. Paychecks are available from the Secretary in the Departmental Office every other Friday. If pay day is a holiday, paychecks are available the last work day prior to the holiday. Health Insurance Co-Payments Students with either a TA or a RA appointment receive a partial co-payment of their health insurance premiums. Graduate assistants that receive this co-payment may have their insurance premiums deducted from their paychecks by filing the Request for Graduate Assistant Payroll Deduction Plans Student Medical Insurance and/or Parking Permits form. Other Sources of Financial Aid A limited number of additional financial aid sources exist. The Graduate School can provide an exhaustive list of these opportunities. We encourage Chemical & Environmental Engineering students pursuing a Ph.D. to consider applying for a University Fellowship. Although preference is given to first year students with exceptional academic records, any student may apply for these highly competitive awards. Please consult with your advisor if you are uncertain whether you should apply. Graduate students that have completed most of their degree requirements may apply for a Board of Trustees Scholarship to cover instructional fee costs. Applications are available from the Graduate School. Graduate students are also eligible to apply for federal need-based financial aid. Details about such loans are available from the Student Financial Aid Office. Tax Status Tax authorities consider stipends compensation for services rendered. Therefore, TAs and RAs are subject to federal, state, and local taxes. To determine tax status, students should obtain the appropriate tax forms from the Internal Revenue Service, Ohio State Tax Board, and appropriate local taxation entities. These forms are generally available in post offices and public libraries. Students should file all tax forms no later than April 15 and preferably earlier in the year. Student Records and Registration Plan of Study Upon assignment of research advisors, students should prepare a Plan of Study. In the Plan of Study, students propose the technical electives they will use to fulfill degree requirements and a time frame for completion of all degree requirements. Master’s students file a Plan of Study for the Master's Degree form separately while Doctoral students file their plan of student as part of their Doctoral Program Proposal form. Students must have the plan approved by their advisor and the Graduate School prior to receiving a degree and preferably during their first summer of residence. Any changes to the plan require completion of a Plan of Study Course Substitution form and require approval by the faculty advisor, Graduate Director, and Graduate School. Notice of Thesis and Assurance of Compliance and Notice All graduate students must submit a Notice of Thesis form and an Assurances of Compliance with Applicable Federal and State Regulations Governing Research form to the Graduate School. Ideally, students complete these forms after assignment of research advisors and students determine their specific research project. However, students must complete these forms prior to engaging in any research activity. The compliance document indicates whether the research involves human subjects, animals, or radiation. If the research involves any of these items, the student must also receive approval of the University Compliance Committee prior to proceeding with the project. Full-Time Status Full-time graduate students supported by the Department through a TS, TA, RA or any other source from general funds must register for 16 credit hours in the Fall Semester and 12 credit hours in the Spring Semester. This total includes credit hours for seminar, research, or special topics that may not satisfy formal degree requirements but excludes audit hours. Self supporting graduate students must take a minimum of six (6) hours each term. Students receiving financial assistance that fail to maintain full-time status will be liable for tuition costs. Conversely, students that register for more than 16 hours must pay tuition costs for those hours in excess of 16, including any audit hours. First year students that receive financial assistance from the Department must register each semester for at least three (3) courses (excluding seminar, research, special topics, thesis and dissertation hours) of at least three (3) credit hours each. Students that fail to do so risk losing their financial assistance. Part-Time Status and Minimum Continuous Enrollment To maintain part-time status, graduate students must register for at least one (1) graduate credit hour each semester. All students either working on their thesis or dissertation or using University facilities and services must register and maintain part-time status. International Student Status and Visa Requirements International students must maintain full time status to hold a valid visa in accord with federal regulations. Such students must register for a minimum of six (6) semester credit hours until they complete their degree course work requirements. However, upon completion of required course work, a student may register for one (1) credit hour after filing with the Office of International Services a letter from their advisor stating that they have done so and are working on research exclusively. Students that fail to provide a letter of documentation risk having their registration denied. Vacation International students that have been full time students for two consecutive semesters may request a vacation for one term, typically the summer. A vacation is permissible after every period of full time enrollment for three consecutive terms except those that immediately precede graduation. Students need not register during the vacation term to maintain a valid student visa. Furthermore, they can work full time through optional practical training. Practical Training During the course of their study or at the completion of it, all international students may apply for practical training. Practical training status permits international students to work full time in the United States for up to a year without registering for classes at the University of Toledo. Two types of practical training exist: curricular and optional. Curricular practical training normally occurs before the student has completed all degree requirements. According to Immigration and Naturalization Service regulations, curricular practical training must fall in one of the following categories: a required training internship which earns credit (must be formally listed in course catalog), a required training internship which does not earn credit (must be formally listed in course catalog), an elective training internship which earns credit (must be formally listed in course catalog), or a recognized cooperative education experience which is elective or required and is sanctioned by the University (classroom study must be integrated with a structured and supervised off-campus work experience). Since we do not offer a formal graduate internship or cooperative education program, we cannot authorize curricular practical training. Optional practical training (OPT) may be either pre-completion or post-completion. Pre-completion OPT is available for students during a regularly scheduled vacation period, the summer term. The authorized pre-completion OPT time may not exceed that available during a single vacation period; students may participate in pre-completion OPT for more than one vacation period but only one is authorized at a time. Post-completion OPT is available for students who have maintained F-1 status and completed all graduation requirements (time begins at completion of requirements, not at graduation). If a year of post-completion OPT is requested, approval is generally for one year of work that can occur anytime within a fourteen month time frame. This gives the student some flexibility in searching for a job. The total amount of OPT, pre- and post-completion combined, may not exceed 12 months. If a students does not find employment or stops employment for any reason before the authorized OPT period expires, they may not receive credit for later use of the unused time. To apply for OPT, a student must provide to the Office of International Services:
After the designated school official recommends practical training authorization on Forms I-538 and I-20, all required documents are sent to the appropriate INS office for processing. The approval process requires from four to six weeks to complete. Requests for post-completion OPT must be made at the Office of International Services no sooner than one hundred twenty (120) days before nor sixty (60) day after the completion of degree requirements. Requests for pre-completion OPT must be made no sooner than one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the start of the vacation period. Excessive Credit Hours The Ohio Board of Regents denies state subsidy for graduate students who have earned more than 172 graduate credit hours. Students who have earned more than 172 graduate credit hours at the University of Toledo are not eligible for financial aid from general funds. Course Registration New students will receive registration materials during the Department Orientation session. Continuing students may pick up registration materials from the Secretary in the Department Office. The registration materials needed include: the schedule of classes, the Graduate School of the University of Toledo, a Course Request Form, and Seminar Course Request forms (as needed). Students should select classes, based on their Plan of Study, and fill out the Course Request Form with their proposed schedule. The required information regarding Call Number, Prefix, Course #, Section, Credit Hours, and Title are given in the schedule of classes If a course is not listed in the schedule of classes, the student must complete a Seminar Course Request form to obtain a call number. Only courses offered on an irregular basis can be requested in this fashion; the most commonly requested ones are the research classes. Note that students must obtain a call number for all Seminar Course Requests prior to registration. The two functions, processing Seminar Course Requests and registration, are handled in the Registrar's Office, GH 3008, but by different individuals. Students have three opportunities (Early, Open or Late) to formally register for classes. Specific dates for all three registration times are given in the schedule of classes. Early registration for the upcoming semester occurs approximately three weeks prior to the end of the current semester. Students should take completed registration materials to the Registrar's Office, GH 3008, or register by phone using In-Touch. Instructions for using In-Touch are available from the Department Office. Note that the first time a student uses In-Touch they must specify a Personal Identification Number (PIN). The student must reenter this PIN every time they use In-Touch. If you forget your PIN, the Records Office will reveal it with presentation of a photo ID. Open registration occurs from the end of the early registration period to the last day prior to the start of classes. Students should take completed registration materials to the Registrar's Office, GH 3008, or register by phone using In-Touch. Late registration is possible for students that have lost their classes or failed to pay fees and begins on the first day of classes; students that register late are responsible for the $40 late registration fee. Students that register during late registration must return the completed form to the Graduate School, UH 2210. Instructors' signatures are needed for any class added after the second day of classes, including section changes. Students may register for classes no later than the first meeting of the second week of classes. Students may change their registration during Open Registration using the same Course Request Form they used to initially register. Student may also add classes up to the first class meeting of the second week of classes (the add period) or drop classes up to the Monday of the third week (the drop period). After the second day of the semester, an instructor's signature is necessary for a student to add a class. An instructor's signature is also necessary to enter a class which is listed as closed. Classes which a student drops during the drop period do not appear on the student's transcript. Classes in which the instructor drops the student will appear on the transcript with a grade of "DR"; dropping a student is done at the discretion of individual instructors. After the drop period is over, students may withdraw from a class through the eighth week of classes by filing a Petition for Withdrawal in the Registrar's Office. Withdrawal petitions are available in the Registrar's Office. Students having difficulties are strongly encouraged to seek the help and advice of their instructor well in advance of the withdrawal deadline. Students that withdraw receive a "W" grade for the class. Student ID All new students may obtain a Student ID card after they register and pay their fees. They may obtain their ID at Silicon Solutions in the Student Union. The ID is valid only for the semester in which they register. The IDs of continuing students are validated electronically (whenever the card is read the student number on the card is compared to the list of valid student numbers) for the semester in which they register and do not require any action by the student. Requirements Students may select one of two Master’s of Science in Chemical Engineering (M.S.Ch.E.) degree programs: thesis and course work. The thesis option requires completion of 30 hours of course credit, successful defense of a thesis and typically takes two years to complete. The course work option requires completion of 36 hours of course credit, does not require a thesis and typically takes one year to complete. Minimum requirements are:
for a total of 30 credit hours for the thesis Masters and 36 credit hours for the course work Masters plus seminar credit hours. Only credit hours obtained with a letter grade of "C" or higher, or an "S" grade for the limited number of classes offered on a satisfactory or unsatisfactory basis, will fulfill degree requirements. The graduate course work must satisfy the following restrictions:
Students should carefully select their courses to enhance their educational background and complement their research activities. All students must register for one hour of Seminars in Chemical & Environmental Engineering, CHE-5930, each semester during the academic year. This course is graded on a satisfactory, unsatisfactory basis. To receive a grade of "S," students must attend all seminars or provide a written explanation for their absence. Master’s Thesis To obtain credit for their thesis work, students must prepare, submit, and defend a Master's thesis to the satisfaction of their Thesis Committee. Thesis Committee In consultation with the student's advisor, the Graduate Director will appoint a thesis committee. The thesis committee will consist of at least three (3) individuals. The committee must include the advisor and at least two (2) full-time members of the Chemical & Environmental Engineering Department (one of which may be the advisor). The chair of the thesis committee must be a full-time faculty member of the College of Engineering holding full membership on the graduate faculty. Usually, the chair is the student’s advisor but if the advisor does not meet the chair requirements another individual may serve as chair. Changes in the committee chair or membership must be approved by the Graduate Director. The primary responsibility of the thesis committee is to ensure the thesis research is of sufficiently high quality to warrant the award of a Master’s degree. The committee formally enforces quality standards by either passing or failing a student in the final thesis defense. The committee also provides general counseling to the student. Thesis Proposal The student must prepare a thesis proposal immediately after formation of their thesis committee. Committee members must approve of the proposal and indicate their approval by signing the Notice of Thesis form. The student must submit this form along with the Assurances of Compliance with Applicable Federal and State Regulations Governing Research form to the Graduate School before engaging in any research activities. Thesis Defense Students must submit a written summary of their research activities to committee members in the form of a thesis. The thesis serves to document research findings and provide an archival source for future researchers to consult. The Graduate School provides guidelines for thesis preparation. The advisor must approve a final draft of thesis before distribution to committee members. Upon advisor approval, the student may submit the draft to committee members for their evaluation. After committee members have sufficient time to review the draft, the student may schedule a time for the thesis defense. Students should give committee members at least one week for the review process. All committee members must be present for the defense. The defense is open to all interested parties and scheduled in a public place. Generally, the student will summarize the thesis work in a 30 minute oral presentation to open the defense. Then, the thesis committee and other defense attendees may ask questions regarding the thesis work. After the questioning period, all attendees, except for the thesis committee, leave the defense room. The committee then discusses the merit of the thesis and decides by majority vote whether the defense was successful or not. If the defense is not successful, the thesis committee, in consultation with the Graduate Director, will determine what corrective actions are necessary. If the defense is successful, the committee may still require the student to make changes in the thesis and approve of the changes made. Polymer Option Students may choose to pursue the Polymer Option for their M.S.Ch.E.. To complete the Polymer Option, students must obtain a "B" grade or higher in four (4) of the polymer option classes listed in the Graduate Courses section. Note that some classes are offered alternating years only. Students should contact the Director of the Polymer for more details regarding class content and schedule. A student's transcript will indicate successful completion of the Polymer Option. Time Limit Students must complete all requirements for the M.S.Ch.E. degree within the six years that immediately precede the date the degree is awarded. If such a requirement poses undue hardship, students may petition the Graduate School in writing to extend the time period. Students may be admitted to the Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering Science (Ph.D.) program with either a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree. Degree requirements are the same for both but students possessing a Master’s may transfer credit for classes used to fulfill Master’s degree requirements. Requirements Minimum requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Engineering Science are:
for a total of 90 credit hours. Only credit hours obtained with obtained with a letter grade of "C" or higher, or an "S" grade for the limited number of classes offered on a satisfactory or unsatisfactory basis, will fulfill degree requirements. For students admitted with a Bachelor’s degree, the graduate course work must satisfy the following restrictions:
The faculty may award students admitted with a Master’s in Chemical Engineering up to 30 hours of credit. This may include credit for core classes if the faculty deem classes taken as a Master’s student are comparable to the core classes. The student must satisfy all other requirements as listed above. Additional course work must satisfy the following restrictions:
Students should carefully select their courses to enhance their educational background and complement their research activities. All students must register for one hour of Seminars in Chemical & Environmental Engineering, CHE-5930, each semester during the academic year. This course is graded on a satisfactory, unsatisfactory basis. To receive a grade of "S," students must attend all seminars or provide a written explanation for their absence. Initial Admission Students are initially admitted to the Doctoral program on a provisional basis. They may begin work toward their degree but are not considered formal candidates for the Doctor of Philosophy. Students must pass the preliminary exam and the qualifying exam prior to being formally accepted as a candidate. Preliminary Exam The purpose of the preliminary exam is to provide evaluate whether a student possesses the background necessary to complete doctoral degree requirements. The exam consists of two parts, written and oral, given at the completion of the fall term for all new doctoral students. The two hour written exam is a closed book exam covering the following core chemical engineering areas: transport phenomena, thermodynamics, and reaction engineering. However, the questions may be tailored to more closely match a student’s background (for example, a student with a polymer background may be asked questions in the above areas with a polymer emphasis). The exam tests material normally covered at the undergraduate level as well as material from the fall term graduate classes. A set of three problems is given in each core area and students must select one problem to work from each set. The faculty will evaluate students’ written communication skills and their attention to the details of problem solving in addition to whether an appropriate answer is given. The one hour oral exam covers the same material as the written exam. However, the questions are more open-ended and student responses are discussed in-depth. The faculty will evaluate students’ oral communication skills and their ability to analyze problems qualitatively in addition to whether an appropriate answer is given. Students either pass or fail the exam. The faculty as a whole will evaluate the results from both the written and oral parts as well as input from the student’s advisor and classroom instructors to determine the final grade. Students that fail the exam may retake it at the end of the second term. If a student fails the exam twice, they may petition the Department to consider offering a third exam. Students that enter with a B.S. and ultimately fail the exam are required to complete a Master’s degree or leave the program. Students that enter with a M.S. are required to leave the program or pursue another M.S. degree. Dissertation Committee In consultation with the student's advisor, the Graduate Director will appoint a dissertation committee upon passage of the preliminary exam. The dissertation committee will consist of at least five (5) individuals. The committee must include the advisor, at least two (2) full-time members of the Chemical & Environmental Engineering Department (one of which may be the advisor) and at least one representative from outside the Department. The chair of the dissertation committee must be a full-time faculty member of the College of Engineering holding full membership on the graduate faculty. Usually, the chair is the student’s advisor but if the advisor does not meet the requirements of the chair another individual may serve as chair. Changes in the committee chair or membership must be approved by the Graduate Director. The primary responsibility of the dissertation committee is to ensure the dissertation research is of sufficiently high quality to warrant the award of a Doctoral degree. The committee formally enforces quality standards by either passing or failing a student in the qualifying exam and final dissertation defense. The committee also provides general counseling to the student. Doctoral Program Proposal Immediately after formation of the dissertation committee, a student must submit the Doctoral Program Proposal form, that has been approved by the committee, to the Graduate School. This proposal lists all courses and other requirements of the student’s planned doctoral program, excluding the dissertation. Qualifying Exam The qualifying exam consists of an oral defense of the proposed doctoral research project. The exam must be taken within one calendar year of passage of the preliminary exam. However, a student may petition the Department for extension of this time limit. The student must submit a written proposal to their dissertation committee at least two weeks prior to the proposed exam date. The proposal should contain the following sections:
The entire proposal should be prepared using a 12 point font and one inch margins around the page. The project summary should be double spaced and extend not more than one page. Sections 2-5 should also be double spaced and not exceed 20 pages in length. The budget should indicate both monetary and time requirements. There are no restrictions on the student concerning preparation of the proposal. Students may consult with both faculty and other students, if agreeable. The oral defense consists of a brief presentation of the proposal, typically 30-45 minutes, followed by a question and answer session. During the exam, the committee will assess the appropriateness of the proposed project for a doctoral dissertation and the student’s ability to successfully complete it; passage indicates that the committee believes the project is suitable and the student can complete it. If a student fails the exam, they may petition the Department to retake the exam the following term. However, a second chance at passing the exam is not guaranteed. Dissertation Defense After completing all other degree requirements and preparing a final draft of the dissertation, the student may schedule a final defense date with the dissertation committee. The Graduate School provides guidelines for dissertation preparation. The defense is open to all faculty members of the University. Consequently, the student must submit the defense date to the Graduate School two weeks in advance to permit University-wide notification. At the same time, each committee member should receive a copy of the dissertation draft. The defense consists of a short oral presentation, 30-45 minutes in length, followed by a question and answer session. During the defense, the committee will evaluate if the student has satisfactorily completed the proposed dissertation research and possesses a Doctoral level understanding of general Chemical Engineering and the particular research area. If more than one member of the Advisory Committee votes against accepting the dissertation, the student fails the defense. The student may revise the thesis to address the concerns of the committee and request reconsideration. If the committee still fails the student, the student may petition the Graduate Committee of the College of Engineering to review the Advisory Committee decision. After passing the defense, the student may file for graduation. Students must present the dissertation to the Dean of the Graduate School at least one month prior to the commencement at which they receive their degree. When planning for graduation, students are strongly encouraged to allow time for dissertation revision since passage of the final defense inevitably requires some revision. Polymer Option Students may choose to pursue the Polymer Option for their Ph.D.. To complete the Polymer Option, students must obtain a "B" grade or higher in all six (6) of the polymer option classes listed in the Graduate Courses section. Note that some classes are offered alternating years only. Students should contact the Director of the Polymer for more details regarding class content and schedule. A student's transcript will indicate successful completion of the Polymer Option. Graduation Requirements, Participation in Commencement Exercises and Awarding of Diplomas
For complete information, please visit the College of Graduate Studies Web-site: For copies of College of Graduate Studies forms, please visit: For questions, please contact Karen Mockensturm in the College of Graduate Studies, University Hall 3240 (karen.mockensturm@utoledo.edu or 419.530.4269). Students must file an Application for Graduation form with the Graduate School. The filing deadline is the 4th week of the semester in which the student wishes to graduate. The form may be obtained either in the College of Graduate Studies office or on the College of Graduate Studies web-site. If the student does not graduate, the student must resubmit the Application for Graduation. The University conducts graduation and commencement ceremonies in December after the Fall Semester and in May after the Spring Semester. Those students anticipating an August graduation have the option of participating in the May commencement ceremony. Students planning to graduate in August should check with Student Records regarding their commencement options and deadlines for filing their Application for Graduation. Please note that attendance at the ceremony does not mean that you have graduated; award of the degree is contingent on completion of all degree requirements. Candidates must wear appropriate academic dress at commencement exercises. Arrangements for academic dress must be made with the Bookstore well in advance of commencement. Information regarding rings and announcements is also available from the Bookstore. Degrees are posted on a student's transcript within two (2) weeks after the commencement exercises, provided all requirements are met by the appropriate deadline and the Graduate School has academically cleared the student. The University will mail diplomas and diploma cases to students who do not attend commencement ceremonies using the home address given on the Application for Graduation. If you wish your diploma mailed to another address please contact the Graduation Processing Department. If a student's records have been coded as "No Release" for directory information, the student's name will not be published in any area newspapers for graduation. If a student wishes to verify or change their directory release information, they must contact Graduation Processing in Student Records at 419 530-4829 no later than one month before graduation. Printing in area newspapers cannot be guaranteed after that date. Grade Point Average Calculation All grade point averages used in this handbook use the same 12 point grading system as the University of Toledo. The following table lists all of the grades included in the GPA calculation the point value assigned to them.
The formula used to calculate GPA is: GPA = credit hour points/credit hours. Credit hour points are given by the sum of [(course credit hours)(value of letter grade received)] while credit hours are given by the sum of [course credit hours]; the sum extends over all courses taken by the student. Although graduate courses completed with a letter grade lower than a "C" do not satisfy academic requirements, the GPA calculation includes those courses. A student may receive one of a number of other grades in addition to those in the table above. Of these special grades, students are must likely to encounter one of the following:
See your advisor for further clarification of grading and GPA calculation issues. Grievance Procedures There are two types of grievances: academic and employment grievances. Academic grievances arise from disagreements over grading practices or grade assignment while employment grievances arise from disagreements over the work environment or work load. Students should address academic grievances initially to the instructor in charge of the course in which the grievance is lodged. Students should address employment grievances to their research advisor or immediate supervisor. In both cases, the student and faculty member should discuss the problem and attempt to resolve it. If the student and faculty member cannot resolve the problem, the student should direct the grievance to the Department Chair. If the Department Chair cannot resolve the grievance, the problem is referred to the College Dean. Finally, if the College Dean cannot resolve the grievance, students may seek the recommendation of the Academic Standing Committee of the Graduate Council for academic grievances or seek a resolution of employment grievances from the Graduate School. Keys Graduate students may obtain keys only to laboratories in which they work or designated common areas for graduate students, such as the graduate student office in North Engineering. All key requests must come from the student’s advisor. The Department Secretary processes the paperwork and informs the student when the keys are ready. Students may pick them up at Building Services in the Physical Plant and Security Building. If a student leaves the University without returning their keys, the Department is charged $25 for each key not returned. To cover this potential cost, we will collect a $25 security deposit from each student for each key they receive. This money will be held by the Department until the student returns their keys at which the deposit will be refunded. Mail sent to graduate students should be addressed to the Chemical & Environmental Engineering Department (MS 305), University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43606-3390 USA. The Department Secretary distributes incoming mail daily to student mailboxes located in NI 3050. Students should check their mailboxes at least once a day. Mail that a student sends as part of their professional activities (for example, requesting reprints of papers or submittal of an abstract to present a conference paper) does not require postage but must be mailed using either a Chemical & Environmental Engineering Department envelope or mailing label. Students should not mail personal correspondence or bills using Department envelopes or labels. However, students may leave personal mail with appropriate postage in the mailroom in the bin labeled "Outgoing Mail." To send mail to individuals in the College or University, use inter-office mailers or write the destination clearly on another envelope. Place the mail in the bin labeled "College Mail" or "University Mail" depending on its destination. Photocopier and Fax Usage The photocopier and fax machine (phone number: (419) 530-8086) are located in NI 3048. The Department Secretary oversees the usage and repair of both. Students may use either machine as part of their professional activities. For example, a student may use the photocopier to photocopy journal articles that are relevant to a student's research or the fax machine to submit an abstract for a presentation at a professional meeting. All other usage is prohibited. To use the fax machine, the student should place all fax items in the Department Secretary's in-box with: a written request to fax the material, the name and fax number of the person receiving the fax, and the professional need for the fax. The secretary will fax the material and return it to the student's mailbox. Students may use the photocopier at any time during office hours, 8-5 Monday through Friday. However, students may have their work interrupted if the photocopier is urgently needed by the staff or faculty. If the student encounters any difficulties with photocopier, the student should report the problem to the Department Secretary either verbally or through a written note. Do not leave the machine without paper, with jammed paper, or flashing any other error message without notifying the secretary. Purchasing Purchase order forms are available from the Department Secretary. All purchases require advisor approval. Additionally, the advisor must specify the source of funds for the purchase. When completed, return the form to the Department Secretary who will process the order. All purchased items are delivered to the Department Office unless size, weight or other shipment conditions require special delivery. The Secretary will inform the student by mail of delivery to the Office and students can pick up items there. Computers All graduate students must pay a computer usage fee. This fee is $12.50 per credit hour per semester up to 12 credit hours or a maximum of $150.00. Students pay this fee along with any additional fees at the Cashier's office when they register. Students must pay all fees to complete registration and retain any financial assistance. If a student fails to register, they risk losing all financial assistance. Payment of the computer fee gives graduate students access to all computer labs in the College. These labs are available for student use around the clock. Please see the College Computing Office to obtain your login name and password as well as information on specific locations, hardware and software for each laboratory. Graduate students should use College computing facilities primarily for class related work. Research activities involving significant computational time should utilize workstations in the student's laboratory. However, students may use college computers for word processing, spreadsheeting, and graphic work related to their thesis or dissertation. Students may apply for a computer account on one of the campus computers at no cost. The primary computer used by students and faculty is the VAX. Application for Computer Account forms are available from the Department Secretary. Parking Graduate students are eligible for the same parking privileges as faculty and staff and receive a reduced rate on the parking permit. The cost of a parking permit is currently $56.50 per semester; TAs or RAs pay slightly less. Students may purchase parking permits from the Vehicle Registration desk maintained by the Finance Office during Continuous Registration periods or the Vehicle Registration Office; TAs or RAs may pay by payroll deduction. Safety Most students will work with chemicals in the laboratory to partially fulfill their degree requirements. The Chemical & Environmental Engineering Department wants all students to work safely and thereby avoid personal injury or property damage. To achieve this goal, we require that students adhere to certain work guidelines. The Chemical & Environmental Engineering Safety Handbook summarizes the most important of these along with student rights and responsibilities related to establishing a safe work environment. We require all students to read the handbook and sign an affidavit testifying that they have read it and understand the information presented. |