Hi Pootle,

Yea, I'm still confused and somewhat angry, but I feel a sense of relief !! I have updated it on my latest post " A follow up from 'PhD probation'. I still am curious for answers though, that's if I'm ever going to get any!
:-)

Hi Pootle,

Yea, I'm still confused and somewhat angry, but I feel a sense of relief !! I have updated it on my latest post " A follow up from 'PhD probation'. I still am curious for answers though, that's if I'm ever going to get any!
:-)

Please read my "PhD probation" post to get the full gist of the whole situation, a brief background story is given at the end of this update just in case...

As of August 2012

Status Quo: Head down, chin up and all the amazing contributions from the forum have paid off!! All paper work changed when I pointed out the 3 month FT probation clause on the PhD handbook. Probation was reduced to 3 months. I also asked for clarifications as to the points listed on the probation and they altered them because I have already met some of the requirements. So the probation letter was altered three times with the last alteration a month to the end of the stated time of probation. 3 months after fulfilling what was required, no comments on submitted drafts, no replies to emails and no acknowledgement of reciept. I recently contacted my PG Dept to clarify my status...
Discovery:
1. Sups have not gone through my drafts
2. As of last week, only 14 pages of sumbitted 9 chapters (of at least 26 page per chapter) have been read by first sup only.
3. I am off probation status
The confusing part:
How can they decide to take me off probation when they have not gone through my work?

This discussion is open to you forumites please contribute

:-(

The background story...
In my university, PhD students are required to submit a yearly progress report (to monitor up to date PhD progress). In addition to the yearly report is a quarterly progress report where tasks are set by the sups for the student to achieve within a three to four month period. In my case, I had met all my targets which did not include the yearly report because it was not due in until 6 months after the last supervision I had.
However, nearing the due date of my yearly report, I sent a copy (via e-mail) to my sups in the summer so I could get their feedback and work on the report. they did not get back to me and I didn't have any supervision for three months. So after submitting my yearly report to my dept (which would have been assessed by a PG tutor and a head of Dept. My main sup called for a supervision meeting where we would have to agree on the tasks for the next few months. In this form, I would have to state whether or not I had received enough supervision in the last three months. I had ticked 'no' because I hadn't received any supervision in the last three month. My sup had ticked unsatisfactory, progress. He explained that I would have to resubmit my report to them (sups) instead of the dept. I did. Report was accepted without further amendment.
We had another supervision where he stated that I would have to submit two good chapters of my work by last week. I did. I went in today for supervision and feedback, but sups said they have to put me on probation starting Jan-Jun 2012. This is why I'm confused and want to hear from people who have been through this sort of situation. What does this mean? End of the road? I hope not!]

[quote]Quote From phdstruck:

======= Date Modified 21 Dec 2011 21:24:10 =======
======= Date Modified 21 Dec 2011 19:27:44 =======
======= Date Modified 21 Dec 2011 19:26:12 =======
[I am nearly 3 years into my PhD, all seemed OK with my supervisors until recently when it came to light that I have not had as much supervision as I ought to have had, in my recent progress report which they failed to comment on (because they were both not available to check their e-mails for some reason in the whole of the summer) before I submitted it to my dept. My sups have ticked me as ';unsatisfactory'; for the very first time, and asked that I resubmit my report. The second submission was accepted without amendment. Then I was asked to submit two chapters of my thesis (April will be the 3rd year of my registration). Instead of giving me feedback, my sups have asked that I be put on probation for 6 months starting from January 2012.

has anyone ever been in this sort of situation before? How does being on probation affect my progress?

Any suggestions/advice is most welcome!!
The background story...

In my university, PhD students are required to submit a yearly progress report (to monitor up to date PhD progress). In addition to the yearly report is a quarterly progress report where tasks are set by the sups for the student to achieve within a three to four month period. In my case, I had met all my targets which did not include the yearly report because it was not due in until 6 months after the last supervision I had.

However, nearing the due date of my yearly report, I sent a copy (via e-mail) to my sups in the summer so I could get their feedback and work on the report. they did not get back to me and I didn';t have any supervision for three months. So after submitting my yearly report to my dept (which would have been assessed by a PG tutor and a head of Dept. My main sup called for a supervision meeting where we would have to agree on the tasks for the next few months. In this form, I would have to state whether or not I had received ';enough supervision in the last three months';. I had ticked ';no'; because I hadn';t received any supervision in ';the last three months';. My sup had ticked ';unsatisfactory'; progress. He explained that I would have to resubmit my report to them (sups) instead of the dept. I did. Report was accepted without further amendment.

We had another supervision where he stated that I would have to submit two ';good'; chapters of my work by last week. I did. I went in today for supervision and feedback, but sups said they have to put me on probation starting Jan-Jun 2012. This is why I';m confused and want to hear from people who have been through this sort of situation. What does this mean? End of the road? I hope not!]

As of August 2012
Status Quo: Head down, chin up and all the amazing contributions from the forum have paid off!! All paper work changed when I pointed out the 3 month FT probation clause on the PhD handbook. Probation was reduced to 3 months. I also asked for clarifications as to the points listed on the probation and they altered them because they were already accomplished lists. There were lots of apologies from the PG dept regarding these unclear lists. Head still down and chin up I worked harder and submitted the required chapters in April, as fate will have it, sups did not make any comments (as usual) and did not respond to email asking for comments on drafts. After 3 months into probation and further 3 months of not hearing anything (not even A feedback from sups). I contacted PG Dept to confirm my status...

Discovery:
1. sups have not taken a look at submitted drafts.
2. second sup remains incommunicado (instigator of the probation)
3. Probation called off...
4. As of first week in August, only 7 pages of the first chapter (of 9 chapters) have been read...

Confusion: If th

sORRY all, but I seriously do not know how this 'quote' thing works!

Anyway, back to the status quo, I had a look at the student handbook and found that FT students can only get an initial three month probation (which may be extended following unsatisfactory progress) and PT student, an initial six month probation (which may be extended following unsatisfactory progress). I am FT and as I mentioned before, this is the first time that I'm finding myself in this sort of situation. Now I'm beginning to wonder why six months and not three months? Yes I am worried and I am beginning to think that perhaps I need a change of university!

I need more suggestions, for those of you who have already contributed please feel free to say as much as you can. I may think a change of university is a good idea, however, like CPPG have said, the probation period may just be the best way to getting a quality thesis out of me
:$

Hello D73

Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year to you too!! I really do need the good luck wishes, it's as though you had me in mind when you sent this message! Hopefully, by next year, I should be in the position to say say 'I'd been there' as well.

Have a blast everynoe that reads this post! And please do contribute to my 'PhD probation' thread (PLEASE!!!)

<----------------THIS!

You've said you received inadequate supervision over the summer (holidays essentially) and so have been put into a period of closer supervision.  Essentially, they are doing what you have asked of them (albeit naming it a probationary period won't sound that great to anyone given it).

Take the bull by the horns and get some control back into YOUR phd.  Find out where things are considered inadequate. This level of supervision is actually a great way of getting a thesis written WELL, and if you handle the constructive critiscm in the right way, you'll be full steam ahead to receiving your phd quicker than you thought.
:-)
[/You've said you received inadequate supervision over the summer (holidays essentially) and so have been put into a period of closer supervision.  Essentially, they are doing what you have asked of them (albeit naming it a probationary period won't sound that great to anyone given it]

Hiya CPPG,

I see what you mean, but telling them that I have not had enough supervision didn't mean I was asking for a probation or was I :) )? May I quickly add that I have had 3 supervision from January to June and nothing from June to October.

Anyway, back to the status quo, I had a look at the student handbook and found that FT students can only get an initial three month probation (which may be extended following unsatisfactory progress) and PT student, an initial six month probation (which may be extended following unsatisfactory progress). I am FT and as I mentioned before, this is the first time that I'm finding myself in this sort of situation. Now I'm beginning to wonder why six months and not three months? Yes I am worried and I am beginning to think that perhaps I need a change of university!

I need more suggestions, for those of you who have already contributed please feel free to say as much as you can. I may think a change of university is a good idea, however, like CPPG have said, the probation period may just be the best way to getting a quality thesis out of me :$

Hi Delta,

Thanks for your input...

In my university, PhD students are required to submit a yearly progress report (to monitor up to date PhD progress). In addition to the yearly report is a quaterly progress report where tasks are set by the sups for the student to acheive within a three to four month period. In my case, I had met all my targets which did not inlude the yearly report because it was not due in until 6 months after the last supervision I had.

However, nearing the due date of my yearly report, I sent a copy (via e-mail) to my sups in the summer so I could get their feedback and work on the report. they did not get back to me and I didn't have any supervision for three months. So after submiting my yearly report to my dept (which would have been assessed by a PG tutor and a head of Dept. My main sup called for a supervision meeting where we would have to agree on the tasks for the next few months. In this form, I would have to state whether or not I had recieved 'enough supervision in the last three months'. I had ticked 'no' because I hadn't recieved any supervision in 'the last three months'. My sup had ticked 'unsatisfactory' progress. He explained that I would have to resubmit my report to them (sups) instead of the dept. I did. Report was accepted without further amendment.

We had another supervision where he stated that I would have to submit two 'good' chapters of my work by last week. I did. I went in today for supervision and feedback, but sups said they have to put me on probation starting Jan-Jun 2012. This is why I'm confused and want to hear from people who have been through this sort of situation. What does this mean? End of the road? I hope not!

======= Date Modified 21 Dec 2011 21:24:10 =======
======= Date Modified 21 Dec 2011 19:27:44 =======
======= Date Modified 21 Dec 2011 19:26:12 =======
I am nearly 3 years into my PhD, all seemed OK with my supervisors until recently when it came to light that I have not had as much supervision as I ought to have had, in my recent progress report which they failed to comment on (because they were both not available to check their e-mails for some reason in the whole of the summer) before I submitted it to my dept. My sups have ticked me as 'unsatisfactory' for the very first time, and asked that I resubmit my report. The second submission was accepted without amendment. Then I was asked to submit two chapters of my thesis (April will be the 3rd year of my registration). Instead of giving me feedback, my sups have asked that I be put on probation for 6 months starting from January 2012.

has anyone ever been in this sort of situation before? How does being on probation affect my progress?

Any suggestions/advice is most welcome!!
The background story...

In my university, PhD students are required to submit a yearly progress report (to monitor up to date PhD progress). In addition to the yearly report is a quarterly progress report where tasks are set by the sups for the student to achieve within a three to four month period. In my case, I had met all my targets which did not include the yearly report because it was not due in until 6 months after the last supervision I had.

However, nearing the due date of my yearly report, I sent a copy (via e-mail) to my sups in the summer so I could get their feedback and work on the report. they did not get back to me and I didn't have any supervision for three months. So after submitting my yearly report to my dept (which would have been assessed by a PG tutor and a head of Dept. My main sup called for a supervision meeting where we would have to agree on the tasks for the next few months. In this form, I would have to state whether or not I had received 'enough supervision in the last three months'. I had ticked 'no' because I hadn't received any supervision in 'the last three months'. My sup had ticked 'unsatisfactory' progress. He explained that I would have to resubmit my report to them (sups) instead of the dept. I did. Report was accepted without further amendment.

We had another supervision where he stated that I would have to submit two 'good' chapters of my work by last week. I did. I went in today for supervision and feedback, but sups said they have to put me on probation starting Jan-Jun 2012. This is why I'm confused and want to hear from people who have been through this sort of situation. What does this mean? End of the road? I hope not!