Full-time students in good standing in the PhD program of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences are eligible for assistantships and tuition scholarships.

Ordinarily, such support is continued until the end of the fourth year of study provided that funds are available, the student makes satisfactory progress in the program, including remaining in good academic standing and responsibly discharges duties as a graduate student.

Priority

Assistantships and tuition scholarships will be awarded in the following priority:

1. Full-time students in good standing already enrolled in the PhD Program.
2. Students newly admitted as full-time students in good standing in the PhD program. Priority of granting aid to students in this category will be based on their previous academic record and experience, and on projected availability of funds.
3. All other graduate students in the Department’s PhD program who are judged by the faculty to have a reasonable probability of completing their programs.

Level of Support

Except for students who may be honored by a special fellowship, approximately equal levels of support are provided to all eligible assistants.

A student who receives an outside fellowship (e.g., AFPE, or PhRMA fellowship), through their own merit and application, may receive a total stipend up to 150% of the departmental stipend.

Duties

Assistants normally will be asked to provide up to two full-time equivalents of service broadly related to academic teaching and service (as defined by the Department and assigned by the Department Chair or their designate).

All TAs must take the Annual TA Orientation, a one-day event, which is held in mid-August, and is designed to enhance the instructional skills of both new and continuing Teaching Assistants (TAs) across UB. TAs must also attend any special seminars and workshops that are organized on teaching and pedagogy by the Department from time to time.

Students are required to obtain a 'Satisfactory' grade in PHC599: Supervised Teaching. Students with an "Incomplete" or "Unsatisfactory" grade will be required to repeat PHC 599: Supervised Teaching. The Director Graduate Studies assigns specific courses for PHC599: Supervised Teaching after successful completion of the Preliminary Examination.

Removal from Assistantship

An assistantship is usually continued for the duration of a student’s program. It may be terminated sooner if:

• The student has lost eligibility by loss of good academic standing or by transferring out of the PhD program. See Academic Standing.
  
• The student has persisted in unsafe practices, willful insubordination or in refusing to carry out assigned duties without an acceptable reason.
• The student has made harmful threats to others in the Department or School.
• The student has persisted in using abusive language or behavior with others in the Department or School.
• The student has failed to make satisfactory progress in the program.
• The student has committed serious infractions of accepted practices related to research ethics, laboratory procedures, data-use, human subjects or vertebrate animals use that has compromised the integrity of research.
• The student has committed serious infractions of University regulations, including academic dishonesty.
• The student has extended unauthorized absences. See section on Attendance and Leave for allowable absences.

Renewal/Continuation

Assistantships are normally automatically renewed annually for a total of four years provided that funds are available the student remains in good standing and is making satisfactory progress in the program.