Graduate Student Handbook

I. Introduction

A. Mission Statement

1. Ph.D.
The goal of the Ph.D. Program in Biomedical Science at the University of Connecticut Health Center is to educate individuals dedicated to pursuing careers as scientists and scholars in biological and biomedical sciences. To achieve this goal, an academic environment is maintained which fosters creative thinking and supports programs leading to excellence in scholarship, research, and teaching. A primary responsibility to students is to help them optimize the expression of their native intelligence and technical abilities. This environment encourages students to develop a conceptual base, synthesize and correlate new ideas and concepts, and develop strategies for rigorously testing novel hypotheses. (Adopted 5.7.90 by the Graduate Programs Committee)

2. Master of Public Health
The mission of the Master of Public Health Program is to offer graduate education in the science and practice of public health. In particular, the MPH program seeks to: (1) provide health professionals with the broad public health perspectives and skills necessary to assume effective leadership in the public health field; (2) offer opportunities for selective public health study to students in other academic or professional programs in health, the social sciences, human services, and administration; (3) promote research related to existing public health problems; and (4) facilitate the provision of community health service in support of the program's educational goals. (From Graduate Program in Public Health Student Handbook, 1992/93)

3. Master of Dental Science
The Dental Science program is an interdepartmental program leading to the degree of Master of Dental Science. The program offers an opportunity for study and research in dental science, the basic life sciences, and the allied health fields. It is designed to fill the gap between the Ph.D. programs and the various residency and specialty training programs provided by the School of Dental Medicine. The principal objective is to provide instruction in dental science that will enhance the student's ability to instruct and undertake research in dental schools. Courses of study are flexible with major emphasis on the accomplishment of research.

B. Governance

1. Graduate Programs Committee
The Graduate Programs Committee (GPC) is the policy making body for graduate education at the Health Center. The primary charge to the GPC is to establish rules, regulations and specific policies with respect to academic matters for all graduate school programs at the Health Center, acting always within the general policies of the Graduate School and the Board of Trustees. Included in this charge, the GPC approves proposals for new areas of concentration (AoC), assists the Associate Dean in the periodic review of existing AoC, sets policy for awarding graduate assistantships, and other related duties. An Associate Dean, appointed by the Graduate Dean in Storrs, resides at the Health Center. The GPC is composed of duly appointed representatives of the several AoC comprising the Biomedical Science Graduate Program. Currently these AoC are: Cell Biology, Genetics and Developmental Biology, Immunology, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Neuroscience, and Skeletal, Craniofacial and Oral Biology and Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology. In addition, the Masters of Public Health and Masters of Dental Science degrees are represented by appointed individuals who are voting members of the Committee.

Ex Officio Members: Chair of the M.D./Ph.D. Program (voting), Chair of the D.M.D./Ph.D. Program (voting), a representative from the Graduate Student Organization (voting except for student assistantships), Associate Dean of the Graduate School (Health Center campus), Director of Student Services, a representative from Health Career Opportunities Program, and a representative from the School of Dental Medicine complete the membership of the GPC.

2. Interaction with Storrs
The Graduate School at the Health Center is a division of the University of Connecticut whose headquarters are located on the Storrs campus. Representatives from the Health Center sit as elected members of the Executive Committee of the Graduate Faculty Council. An Associate Dean appointed by the Dean of the Graduate School also resides at the Health Center. Faculty members of an Area of Concentration in the Biomedical Science program, Master of Public Health and Master of Dental Science program can be elected to membership on the Storrs' Graduate Faculty Council.

3. Student Services Center
The Office of Records/Registration (ORR) at the University of Connecticut Health Center is a part of the Student Services Center and a branch office of the Graduate School at Storrs. Some of the responsibilities of the Student Services Center for all Health Center schools (Graduate School, School of Medicine, and School of Dental Medicine) are admissions, records and registration, financial services, student affairs and student activities. Responsibilities specific to the Office of Records/Registration are to compile the schedule of classes and produce course offering booklets for degree and non-degree students, distribute appropriate material for timely completion of academic parameters, provide guidance to students for completing their course work and thesis, provide bursar services to students for their tuition and fee bills, and other related duties. All forms required during a student’s period of enrollment can be collected from the ORR. The Office provides administrative support to the Graduate Programs Committee and various subcommittees of the GPC as well as the Graduate Student Organization.

4. Area of Concentration (Program Offices)
Each Area of Concentration (AoC) at the Health Center has a program office. The offices for the Ph.D. programs are located within the laboratory section of the Health Center and are associated with one of the several basic science departments.

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