Graduate Student Desk Assignments (adopted on September 5, 2001; revised on May 22, 2006)
Desk space for graduate students will be made available by the Department of Political Science in accordance with the following guidelines and in consultation with the Space Allocation Committee:
• First priority will be given to Teaching Assistants and Apprentices. Desk space will be made available to the student for the duration of the assistantship/apprenticeship.
• Second priority will be given to Lecturers and those participating in the Teaching Initiative program. Desk space for Lecturers and Teaching Initiative participants will be provided based on availability. Space will also be allocated on a limited basis to freshman seminar leaders. Usage, in all of these instances, will be limited to the duration of the teaching position.
• Third Priority will be given to Ph.D. students who have reached ABD status. Desk space will be granted for a maximum of six semesters. (Semesters of teaching will not be applied toward the six semester limit).
• Fourth priority will be given, for a maximum of four semesters, to Ph.D. students who are pre-ABD. (Semesters of teaching will not be applied toward this limit).
• Fifth priority will be given to MA candidates.
• If any space is still available, ABD students beyond their 6th semester and pre-ABD students beyond their 4th semester will be considered.
All of the above will be executed in a manner that provides the least amount of movement and inconvenience for students. Students wishing to remain in their assigned desks (outside of the space reserved for Teaching Assistants) following a change in teaching/student status will be accommodated whenever possible.
Field Work/ Leave of Absence:
Graduate students who will be absent for the duration of time equal to or greater than one semester must vacate their assigned office space and return the office key to the department prior to their departure.
Summer Session:
Lecturers for the summer sessions will use the office space assigned to Lecturers and Teaching Initiative participants.
General Guidelines:
Desk space is given to graduate students for their active dissertation (thesis) research and writing and/or course teaching. It is not for the storage of books or other materials. Those who do not regularly use their space should voluntarily vacate it, so that it can be allocated to active students without desks.
Prior to vacating the office space, a student must clean up the desk and work area and dispose of his/her unwanted materials such as books and papers by him/herself. Leaving unwanted personal materials in a community trashcan or in the hallway is unacceptable.