Student & Alumni Resources

Student and Alumni Resources

Program Information/Policies

Program Information

The Program in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics has been suspended and no further admission activity will take place, effective in the summer of 2008.

Program Office

Program staff are available to help you with questions related to the CBB program. The CBB Program Office is located in the Technological Institute (TECH) – Room L550 [5th floor, Southwest corner of building].

2145 Sheridan Road, TECH L550
Evanston, IL 60208
Program Office: 847.467.1972
FAX: 847.467.0985
http://cbb.northwestern.edu

Additional Help

Bruce A. Lindvall, Ph.D.
Assistant Dean for Graduate Studies
McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science
Phone 847-491-4547
To send email to Dr. Lindvall, click here

ID Card/WILDCARD

The Wildcard provides access to all University facilities (e.g. the libraries, the Sports and Aquatic Center, etc.) and identifies you as a member of the Northwestern University community. The Wildcard Office is located in the Norris University Center (across from the University Library) on the Underground Level. The Office is open from 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Wait at least one day after registration before signing up for your Wildcard. This will insure that you will be in the University′s computer system. Take some form of photo identification with you. Once you are there, complete the application, have your photograph taken and they will create your new Wildcard while you wait. The Wildcard office number is 847.467.6843.

E-MAIL/Computing Center Facilities

Your e-mail address should have been set up for you before your arrival at Northwestern. You should have received a letter from Information Technology giving you your email address, NetID and NetID password. If you did not receive a letter, please contact x 1-HELP line (847.491.4357), or visit the NUIT Information Center, Kresge 57, Evanston Campus. It is very important to make sure that the CBB Program Office has your current e-mail address as much essential information is disseminated by e-mail. Please be sure to change your NU e-mail mailbox since your email accounts will be delivered to your summer e-mail address. To receive e-mail at the NU e-mail mailbox, you must redirect the NU e-mail address to your NU e-mail mailbox at: https://snap.it.northwestern.edu/newstudent/.

Student Counseling Services

Free and confidential counseling services are available to all students through Student Health Services. To use the services, a student needs to call Student Health Services at 847.491.8100 and select the option for Counseling and Psychological Services. A student can make a formal appointment or use the walk-in hours between 12:00-2:00pm M-F if the problem is serious, volatile, or urgent and can′t wait for an appointment. After hours or weekends, a student can call 847.491.8100 and use the paging system to be connected to a counselor who will speak with them over the phone. Faculty members who are concerned about a student can contact Counseling Services to receive advice on how to work with the student.

Student Leave Policy

The following is a minimum leave policy available to all CBB students in good standing:
1. Extended medical leave of absence – Up to one year (Graduate School Policy)
2. Additional leave may be negotiated between a student and his/her advisor

Other Degree Programs or For-Credit Coursework

Enrollment in any formal degree program (J.D., M.B.A., etc.) or participation in for-credit coursework outside of the CBB curriculum requires prior approval from the Program Co-Directors. Requests will be considered on an individual basis and are not automatically granted.

Doctoral Degree Option

CBB is presently a Master of Science degree program. A CBB doctoral degree program may be established as early as 2009/2010.

Parking Permits

If you plan to park on-campus you will need a parking permit which can be obtained through the University Police Parking Office. It is located at 1819 Hinman Avenue and is open between 9am - 5pm Monday through Friday. You will need your Wildcard, your car′s make/model and license plate number, and your driver′s license. Fees for the 2007/2008 academic year are $462; reduced rates are available for part time students. Parking is also available at Ryan Field for $25 per year; a free shuttle is available to campus. Daily parking permits are available for $6.50.

Social Security Card

If you are an international student, you will need to get a social security card as soon as possible. The Evanston Illinois Social Security Office is located at 2116 Green Bay Road, Evanston. Office hours are 9:00am to 4:00pm, Monday through Friday. To apply for a card, you need to bring at least two pieces of identification to verify the following:
-Age
-Identity
-Citizenship
-Current address (lease/utility bill)

Important Program Policies

Quarterly Reviews

Quarterly reviews of the students academic performance are handled by the Curriculum and Student Advisory Committee. Students will be contacted after any unsatisfactory term (minimum average grade of ′B′ with no ′F′ grades and no more than 2 ′C′ grades) when there is a cause for concern. The meetings will include discussion of the student′s work, the student′s progress towards the master′s degree, and any action required to increase the student′s performance and success in the program.

Academic Honesty

Both the University and the CBB graduate program take academic honesty very seriously. Cases of suspected academic dishonesty, including suspected plagiarism, will be referred directly to The Graduate School for follow-up, and may result in expulsion from the CBB program. Among the most important goals of graduate education are maintaining an environment of academic integrity and instilling in students a lifelong commitment to the academic honesty that is fundamental to good scholarship. Standards of academic honesty are violated whenever a student engages in any action that jeopardizes the integrity of scholarly work. Such actions include, without limitation, cheating in the classroom or on examinations, including master′s final examinations and PhD qualifying examinations; the intentional and deliberate misuse of data in order to draw conclusions that may not be warranted by the evidence; fabrication of data; omission or concealment of conflicting data for the purpose of misleading other scholars; use of another′s words, ideas or creative productions without citation in either the text or in footnotes; paraphrasing or summarizing another′s material in such a way as to misrepresent the author′s intentions; and use of privileged material or unpublished work without permission. See The Graduate School Acadmic Honesty policy for more information.

Petitions and Appeals

The CBB faculty members recognize that deviations from the established requirements may be required. Students may submit petitions requesting a variation in the requirements whenever they believe that they can adequately justify their request. Minor variances from the requirements may be requested in writing from the Chairperson of the Curriculum and Student Advisory Committee. Substantial variances require a written petition to the Co-Director(s) of the CBB Program. Similarly, decisions made by the CBB faculty or administration may be appealed by the student. Such appeals should be justified in writing to the CBB Program Office. The associate director will establish an appropriate impartial committee to make a recommendation to the CBB Co-Directors, who will vote on the appeal.