Students take courses, conduct research, are active members of their labs, and serve as ambassadors for IC. Specific responsibilities include:
Know the IC graduate milestones: https://www.ic.gatech.edu/current/phdreview
Complete self-evaluations on a timely manner:
Seek out relevant information from their advisor, Associate Chair of Graduate Studies, and APC
Access relevant forms via DOCUSIGN
Know the students' field of study and advise them on course selection
Know the students' skill sets
Advise students on relevant courses to GTA
Guide and advise students about how best to meet the graduate milestones
Lab mates are a critical source of practical information about the field, courses, research, and the graduate program experience.
Serve as advisors
Attend meetings called by the Area Leads
Participate in graduate-related activities
Participate in qualifying exam, proposal, and defense committees
Leads research area faculty through the milestones associated with graduate studies, including:
Hosts recurring meetings (weekly or bi-monthly) to ensure that the research area faculty are involved in critical decisions about graduate activities
Associate Chair for Graduate Studies: advises students about program milestones and common graduate-school pitfalls. Guides students and faculty through graduate programs and admissions. Adheres to stated policies and asks the Chair to consider exceptions.
Senior Associate Chair: provides consultations on edge cases.
Chair: has the final word and can grant exceptions to policies.
Academic Program Manager: advises on program logistics, including petitions, waivers, registration, and Institute procedures for the qualifying exam, proposal, and defense.
See Current Contacts for the current officeholders.
Students may seek independent, impartial, and confidential advice from either the faculty or student neutral third party.
See Current Contacts for names and Chapter 16: Advanced Options for more about the ombudsperson role.
See Current Contacts for the dated list of academic area leads.
The College of Computing Graduate Curriculum Committee (GCC) has ultimate responsibility for the CS PhD program. The GCC oversees overall administration and policy directions, including Institute Policy waivers and curriculum revisions.
The Associate Chairs for Graduate Programs within each school are the school representatives for the CS PhD program. Their responsibilities:
Admissions: Coordinate review of applications within the school with relevant faculty.
Committee approval: Have ultimate approval over CS PhD student thesis proposal and thesis defense committees.
Course waivers: Have ultimate approval over course waivers from other universities.
Any CoC tenure-track faculty member may serve as a thesis advisor, regardless of their CoC home school.
See Current Contacts for the dated College graduate program contact list.
Course selection (which courses to take, when): consult your thesis advisor.
Informal and lab-specific questions: consult your lab mates.
Track requirements: consult your program lead. CS students should also consult their area lead. See Chapter 4: Tracks and Programs.
Program logistics (petitions, waivers, and registration): consult the Academic Program Manager.
Milestones and general graduate advice: consult the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies.
Independent, impartial, and confidential advice: consult a faculty or student neutral third party.
Names and contact details are maintained in Current Contacts.
Table of Content