Information for Current Students

Most questions asked by current graduate students can be answered by reviewing the information provided at the following links:

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. How can I schedule an appointment with the Graduate Programs Advisor?

  2. Where can I find the current Graduate School Calendar?

  3. What is the procedure for reserving a conference room?

  4. How can I acquire the Graduate Programs Advisor and/or CEE Department Chair signatures on forms?

  5. What are the Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Guidelines?

  6. What are the requirements for getting a minor in Civil Engineering?

  7. What is the process for changing area of specialization within the CEE graduate program?

  8. What is the process for changing faculty advisors within the CEE graduate program?

  9. What are the requirements for being a graduate assistant?

  10. What are the requirements for an international grad student to serve as a graduate teaching assistant?

  11. Can a committee member participate in an exam via videoconferencing (such as Skype)?

  12. What are the department's rules for use of published articles in a dissertation?

  13. How can a student request a key to a lab/room?

  14. How can I drop/add a course after the deadline?

 

  1. How can I schedule an appointment with the Graduate Programs Advisor?

    Administrative questions (i.e. about paperwork, due dates, and general regulations) can be directed to the Graduate Program Coordinator ([email protected]). For academic questions, students who have already consulted their assigned faculty advisor but who need additional information or guidance can email the Graduate Program Coordinator to request an appointment with the Graduate Program Advisor. Please visit the graduate program contact page for contact information.

  2. Where can I find the current Graduate School Calendar?

    You can find the current Graduate School Calendar on the Graduate School website calendars page (https://www.lsu.edu/graduateschool/students/calendars.php). Graduate students are responsible for being aware and meeting all established deadlines.

  3. What is the procedure for reserving a conference room?

    There are several conference rooms available in the Patrick F. Taylor Hall building which can be reserved by graduate students for meetings and defenses. Please email the Graduate Program Coordinator ([email protected]) with your preferred date and time and a room can be reserved for you. Please note that students are encouraged to reserve a conference room as far in advance as possible.
    Available rooms include: PFT 3250H, PFT 3314B, PFT 3316E,  PFT 1278, PFT 3285, and PFT 1280. Any other rooms will need to be reserved through Ami McGucken ([email protected]). 

  4. How can I acquire the Graduate Programs Advisor and/or CEE Department Chair signatures on forms?
    Forms needing the CEE Graduate Program Advisor and/or CEE Department Chair signatures should be emailed to [email protected] or brought to the Graduate Program Coordinator in Suite 3255 Patrick F. Taylor Hall at least 2 business days prior to the due date. Prior to submitting the form, the student must first acquire all additional faculty/committee approvals.

  5. What are the Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Guidelines?

    Extensive information about the thesis/dissertation formatting and submission process can be found on the Graduate School's website. If a student still has questions after reviewing the provided information, they should email the Graduate School Editor at [email protected]. 

  6. What are the requirements for getting a minor in Civil Engineering?

    The requirements for getting a minor in civil engineering are:

    • A minimum 9 credit hours in the minor field with at least 3 of those hours at the 7000 level (it is possible that upon further review of the student's background, it may be required that a student take more credit hours than the minimum requirement).

    • At least one faculty member from the minor department must be on the committee.

    • The minor department will determine the actual courses that are required to fulfill the minor.

    Graduate students interested in getting a minor in Civil Engineering should choose a minor faculty advisor from the CEE department. This advisor will instruct them on what courses should be taken to satisfy the requirements.

  7. What is the process for changing area of specialization within the CEE graduate program?
    New graduate students (in their first semester at LSU) who are interested in changing their areas of specialization should send an email to the Graduate Program Coordinator requesting approval of this change and stating the reason. Once the proposed change is approved, your records will be updated.  If it is after a graduate student’s first semester and they wish to change their area of specialization, they must follow this process:

    • The student must meet with their faculty advisor to discuss the proposed change.

    • If approved, the advisor should email the faculty in the new area of specialization and Cc both the Graduate Program Coordinator and Advisor. 

    • Once all faculty reply with their approval, the student will be informed and their records will be updated accordingly.

    • Note: If you have already submitted (and had approved) a G101 form, this will need to be changed/updated accordingly (either by using the G102 form or by resubmitting the G101 entirely if there are many changes)

  8. What is the process for changing faculty advisors within the CEE graduate program? 
    New graduate students are assigned a tentative advisor when admitted. Within their first semester at LSU the student may change advisors. The student should send an email to the Graduate Program Coordinator with their current advisor and  proposed advisor copied on the email requesting approval of this change and stating the reason. Once the proposed change is approved, your records will be updated. If it is after a graduate student’s first semester and they wish to change their assigned advisor, they must follow this process:

    • The student must meet with their current assigned faculty advisor and new advisor to discuss the proposed change.

    • If approved, a G102 must be completed removing the old advisor and add the new one. Both faculty will sign the form.

    • Submit the form to the Graduate Program Coordinator to be approved at the next CEGPC meeting.

    • Once approved, the student will be informed and the records will be updated accordingly.

     If a graduate student is experiencing a problem with their assigned advisor and wish for the matter to be reviewed, the following steps should be taken:

    • The student should make every effort to resolve the problem between themselves and the currently assigned faculty advisor.

    • If a problem cannot be resolved or if special circumstances are involved, the student can email the CEE Graduate Program Advisor directly to request an appointment to meet and discuss the issue and to determine how to proceed.

  9. What are the requirements for being a graduate assistant?
    The recipient of an assistantship must maintain a grade point average of at least 3.0 (B average) in order to continue working as a graduate assistant. A graduate student placed on academic probation by the Graduate School for failing to make satisfactory progress may not be appointed or reappointed to a graduate assistantship unless the student’s cumulative grade-point average is at least 3.30.

    Full-time assistants are expected to devote a minimum of twenty (20) hours/ week to the assigned function. Part-time assistants are expected to devote a minimum of ten (10) hours/week to the assigned function. Graduate assistants are expected to assume responsibility for the conduct of their activities, and maintain satisfactory progress toward their degrees.


    Assistants are required to register as full time students. Full time status during the Fall and Spring semesters is at least 9 hours (in graduate-level course work). Full time status during the summer semester is at least 6 hours (in graduate-level course work).

    The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering issues a contract to all assistants employed through the department. Assistants should maintain their copy of this signed contract for future reference.

    Information about assistantships can be found on the Graduate School website. The Graduate School assistantship page includes links to university policy statements PS-21 and PS-85 and assistants are required to review and become familiar with those statements.

  10. What are the requirements for an international grad student to serve as a graduate teaching assistant?

    All graduate non-native speakers of English who are new to LSU are required to take the Michigan English Placement Test upon arrival (this is in addition to the TOEFL/IELTS exam). The graduate students’ English test includes a written essay section but does not require an oral test unless the student and/or assigned faculty advisor anticipate the student serving as a teaching assistant.

    • If a teaching assistantship of any type is anticipated, the student is strongly encouraged to take the oral testing upon arrival so that they may be approved to serve as a teaching assistant.

    • A TA1 position (grading) does NOT require that a student take the oral interview or the English 1051 class.

    • A TA2 or a TA3 position (teaching and direct contact with the students) does require that a student take the oral testing.

    • To complete the oral interview, students should contact Dr. Albert Camp ([email protected]) to set up an appointment.
    • Unless exempted, the student will not be eligible for a teaching assistantship position until they have completed English 1051. A student must be enrolled in English 1051.
    • All questions regarding English proficiency at LSU should be direct to Dr. Camp ([email protected]). 

  11. Can a committee member participate in an exam remotely via videoconferencing (such as Skype or Zoom)?

    The use of videoconferencing during general and final exams is strongly discouraged per the LSU Graduate School. If absolutely necessary, a single committee member is allowed to participate remotely and does not require special permission from the Graduate School. 

    Under extraordinary circumstances, the following people may participate remotely following the submission of a Request for Remote Participation: the student, the committee chair or co-chair, a second committee member. The Dean's Representative can never participate remotely.

    To request remote participation for yourself, chair or co-chair, or a second committee member:

    • Complete the "Request for Remote Graduate Committee Participation" form, found on the graduate school's forms page

    • Make sure you have all the required signatures. In lieu of physical signatures, emails attached to the request will suffice.

    • Submit along with your exam request and application for degree (if applicable) to the Graduate Programs Coordinator for processing. If you have any questions about remote participation, please email the Graduate Programs Coordinator. 

  12. What are the department's rules for use of published articles in a dissertation?
    If you plan to use material that you have published, remember that you have to follow the LSU Thesis and Dissertation Guidelines, where it is stated: The use of published articles in a dissertation carries certain responsibilities. In all cases, you must: 

    • Obtain departmental approval by having your faculty advisor submit a request via email to the Graduate Programs Advisor.

    • Adhere to the requirements for unity set forth in the section above, using special care to integrate your published material into your document logically.

    • Be the principal author (the first listed) of the published article.

    • Obtain written permission from the journal to use the published material in your dissertation. Without this written permission and proof of authorship, no thesis or dissertation containing the student’s previously published work will be accepted by The Graduate School. When requesting this permission, be certain to mention that your dissertation will be viewable on the web.

    • The letters requesting and granting permission(s) to use the article(s) must appear as an appendix in your dissertation. 

    • The following acknowledgment must appear at the bottom of the first page of each published chapter or section: 
      “This chapter [section] previously appeared as [authors’ names, article title, and publication data]. It is reprinted by permission of [copyright holder’s name—see the permission letter for proper acknowledgment phrase.]”

  13. How can a student request a key to a lab/room?
    The procedure for ordering keys (for offices, etc.) has changed significantly and will now require students to pay a $54 key deposit (refundable when the key is returned).

    Each student requiring keys must first have the faculty member in charge of the room/lab or the Department Chair’s written permission to have a key. Next, a “Key Request Form” needs to be submitted to David Robertson (Room 3121 PFT). Once the form is approved, the student’s fee bill will be charged for the $54 deposit (per key). Once the key is ready, facility services will contact you letting you know that the key is ready for pickup at the Key control office.

    Students must return their keys to Dave Robertson upon termination of employment or before graduation (whichever comes first). He will then complete a key return form for you to sign, return the key to facility services, and then a refund to your billing statement will be issued. Any questions regarding this process should be directed to Dave ([email protected]). 

  14. How Can I Drop/Add A Course After the Deadline?

    The academic calendar lists course add/drop deadlines for each semester. Though it is possible to add and/or drop a course after these established deadlines, it is only approved for extenuating circumstances such as: a major illness, a death in the family, or similar major life crisis. If you need to complete a Late Add/Drop request, please email or visit the Graduate Program Coordinator and they will help you complete the form, acquire required signatures, and submit to the Graduate School on your behalf. 

 

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