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

Main contacts:

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

• Horticulture: Kathryn Jones, kjones26@wisc.edu 

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

Pre Defense

• Settle on a day and time for your thesis seminar and oral exam with your committee
• Reserve a Room - you can either request a departmental room (128, 462, 473) by adding it to the room calendar or request a campus room (contact Caitlin, Jillene, or Kathryn); sometimes a larger room for the seminar and then a smaller room for the final exam is required.
• Optional: If you want to offer a Zoom option, set that up. Add information to flyer if you plan to send that out.
• Optional: Create a flier to send to Jillene, Caitlin, or Kathryn to distribute
• Optional: Precheck appointment with the Graduate School if needed to answer formatting questions (for example, use of tables, graphs, and charts), embargo/delayed release questions, or questions related to the degree granting process. To request a pre-check, you may email a PDF of your entire dissertation to degree coordinator alexandra.walter@wisc.edu. If you would prefer to meet in person, email alexandra.walter@wisc.edu to arrange a time.
• If funded as a RA or TA, check with your department administrator regarding payroll & benefits; If funded as student hourly, check with your department administrator regarding last date of payroll.
• Declare your intent to graduate in your Student Center
  • If you graduate in the summer, you can attend a ceremony in either May or December
  • You 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 your warrant at least three weeks in advance:

  • Agronomy Warrant
  • PBPG Warrant
  • Horticulture Warrant
    As a reminder, at least three committee members of all doctoral committees must be designated as readers. Policy here.
    
    
  • Your warrant request will be submitted to your Grad Coordinator. They will use this information to put in a request to the Graduate School. The Graduate School will issue you a degree warrant if you meet the following requirements: 
    • Registered for a minimum of two graduate-level credits (300-level or above for a grade, no audits, or pass/fail) in the semester (fall, spring or summer) you expect your degree.
    • Meet all credit requirements
    • Graduate GPA of at least 3.00.
    • All incomplete, unreported grades, or progress grades in anything other than research/thesis (usually 690, 790, 990) must have been cleared.
    • Students receiving a second (or third) master’s degree from UW-Madison, and students receiving two master’s degrees during the same semester, must submit official lists (on program letterhead and signed by advisors or program chairs) of courses used for each degree. We use these lists to check the 25% overlap rule.
    • You must complete all requirements by the appropriate degree deadline.
      
      
  • Your warrant will be available at https://my.grad.wisc.edu/ . Follow these steps to obtain signatures after completing your seminar/oral exam:
    • 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, the grad coordinator will submit to the grad school
    • Download the signed warrant.
    • It is your responsibility to ensure everyone signs. You can send follow up emails through the system if necessary.
      
    • Warrant Signature Instructions

Post Defense

• Discuss any corrections/revisions with mentor/committee.  Also discuss planned date for deposit of thesis/dissertation.
• Email your department administrator to finalize last date on payroll.  This should be done about a month before you plan to end your appointment so that payroll updates can be made in a timely manner
• 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
• Update your Diploma address in MyUW prior to leaving campus. The Registrar’s Office will send your diploma to this address approximately 12 weeks after degree conferral.
• Pay Dissertation Deposit Fee through the Graduate Portal -https://grad.wisc.edu/current-students/doctoral-guide/#defend-and-deposit-your-dissertation
• Complete Doctoral Exit Surveys - https://grad.wisc.edu/current-students/doctoral-guide/#defend-and-deposit-your-dissertation

• Student Assessment Forms 

  • Agronomy - 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 graduate coordinator confidentially by the committee.
  • Horticulture - Post defense assessment to be given to your committee. Self assessment to be filled out by you. Forms will be sent via email and returned to graduate coordinator confidentially by the committee.
  • PBPG  - student self-assessment and faculty assessment. Can be found here https://plantbreeding.wisc.edu/current-students/program-requirements/  or email Caitlin.collies@wisc.edu for it. 

• Depositing Your Dissertation

  • Submit your dissertation electronically to the ProQuest/UMI ETD Administrator website - https://grad.wisc.edu/current-students/doctoral-guide/#defend-and-deposit-your-dissertation 
    

Leaving UW? 

• 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/
• Send your non UW email to the graduate coordinator to get on the alumni email list
• Return your keys and any other department property
• 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
• Keep in Touch!