Always read through this site for information: https://grad.wisc.edu/current-students/doctoral-guide/ 

Main contacts:

• Agronomy, Agroecology, Horticulture, Plant Breeding & Plant Genetics (PBPG) and Plant Science Technology (PST): Caitlin Collies, caitlin.collies@wisc.edu 

• PAS Department Administrator: Tricia Check, tlcheck@wisc.edu 

Ready to graduate?

Always read through this page for information: https://grad.wisc.edu/current-students/doctoral-guide/

PhD preliminary

• Once you’ve met your degree requirements (minus 990s):
• Complete your programs certification form (found on website or email your graduate program manager) with signatures and turn in to Graduate Program Manager (GPM).
• You MUST declare your minor in the grad portal. This includes distributed minors. Please contact your GPM if you have any questions about this. Please do this as soon as you know/ at least before your prelim warrant is requested.
• Settle on a day and time for your preliminary exam with your committee
• See office staff to reserve a room
• Request warrant at least three weeks in advance:

• Agronomy Warrant
• PBPG Warrant
• PST Warrant
• GPM receives your info, submits your request to grad school.
• You will receive a survey directly from the graduate school when the warrant is requested that must be completed before the warrant is issued.

• Your warrant will be available at https://my.grad.wisc.edu/ . Follow these steps to obtain signatures. Once fully signed the GPM will submit to the grad school:

• Select 'My Student Information'
• Find the warrant in the Warrants section
• Click the ellipsis in the Actions column
• Click 'View Committee'
• Send emails to committee members
• Once completed, submit the warrant
• Download the signed warrant. Send a copy to the Grad Coordinator.
• It is your responsibility to ensure everyone signs. You can send follow up emails through the system if necessary.

• If you have:
  • Passed the preliminary examination;
  • Satisfied the doctoral minimum graduate residence credit requirement;
  • Completed all minor requirements
  • Completed all program requirements except the dissertation;
  • Cleared all Incomplete grades or Progress grades in non-research courses (progress grades in 990 research may remain);
  • Earned at least a 3.0 cumulative graduate GPA;
  • Received all signatures on your prelim warrant;
  • Then congratulations! You are now a dissertator!
    Dissertator status is effective at the start of the semester following completion of all dissertator requirements for the doctoral degree except for the dissertation. Enroll in exactly three credits every semester. (usually all 990, but sometimes other options are available – consult your GPM)

PhD final

• Settle on a day and time for your final seminar and exam with your committee
• See office staff to reserve a room; sometimes a larger room for the seminar and then a smaller room for the final exam is required.
• Create a flier to send to GPM to distribute
• Review dissertation formatting requirements here https://grad.wisc.edu/current-students/doctoral-guide/
• Declare your intent to graduate:
  • Go to Student Center to Apply to Graduate
  • If you graduate in the summer, you can attend in either May or December
  • You will need to specify if your advisor will be walking with you
  • There is a deadline to declare so your name can be printed in the commencement program. https://registrar.wisc.edu/applyforgraduation/
• Request warrant at least three weeks in advance:

• • Agronomy Warrant
  • PBPG Warrant
  • PST Warrant
• GPM receives your info, submits your request to grad school.

• Your warrant will be available at https://my.grad.wisc.edu/ . Follow these steps to obtain signatures. Once fully signed the GPM will submit to the grad school:

• Select 'My Student Information'
• Find the warrant in the Warrants section
• Click the ellipsis in the Actions column
• Click 'View Committee'
• Send emails to committee members
• Download the signed warrant.
• Deposit the warrant along with your dissertation.
• It is your responsibility to ensure everyone signs. You can send follow up emails through the system if necessary.

• Remind your advisor to submit a final grade for your 990s. If you are completing your degree before the end of the semester your advisor will have to complete this grade change form https://kb.wisc.edu/registrar/116414
• Request degree completion letter from the graduate school if starting a new job before degrees are conferred (optional) https://grad.wisc.edu/documents/certification-of-graduation/

Dissertation Deposit:

• Complete the Survey of Earned Doctorates: https://sed-ncses.org/login.aspx
• Complete the Grad School Doctoral Exit Survey: https://uwmadison.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6tcKhVB6vtjEIPX
• Submit your dissertation for publication. Pay your Dissertation Deposit fee at this time.
  • Details here: https://grad.wisc.edu/current-students/doctoral-guide/
  • You will receive an email when your submission is confirmed.

Post Defense Assessment:

• PBPG only – student self-assessment and faculty assessment. Can be found here: https://plantbreeding.wisc.edu/current-students/program-requirements/  and returned to GPM confidentially by the committee.
• PST only - Post defense assessment to be given to your committee. Self assessment to be filled out by you. Found here: https://pasdept.wisc.edu/plant-science-technology-graduate-programs/links-for-current-plant-science-technology-graduate-students/ and returned to GPM confidentially by the committee.
• Agronomy only - Post defense assessment to be given to your committee, Self-assessment to be filled out by you. Found here:  https://pasdept.wisc.edu/academics/graduate/agronomy/for-current-students/ and returned to GPM confidentially by the committee.

Final tasks:

• Return your keys and any other department property
• Send your non UW email to the GPM to get on the alumni email list
• Update your Diploma address in MyUW prior to leaving campus. The Registrar’s Office will send your diploma to this address approximately 8-12 weeks after degree conferral.
• You will not have access to certain UW accounts like your wisc mail so make sure to save all files that you need. Information from DoIT here
• You can sign up for PAS newsletters here https://explore.wisc.edu/plantagroscilanding
• Get your degree and don’t forget us!