Admission Guidelines

This page is for faculty who are evaluating, recruiting, or admitting graduate students. Please navigate to the section below for help with different stages of this process from the perspective of the faculty member. The admission process for students can be found under the “Apply to the Ecology Program” page for future students.

Evaluating Graduate Applicants
Recruiting Prospective Students
Making an Offer to Prospective Students
How to Use SLATE

Evaluating Graduate Applicants

  1. The Applicant completes an application in Slate
    • Here they can indicate potential faculty advisors.
  2. Applications will be moved into faculty SLATE queues based on who is listed in the application.
    • Faculty members can also request specific applicants be moved to their queue or search for applicants themselves on SLATE.
    • Please see below for tips on gaining access to and using SLATE.
  3. Faculty members are notified via Slate-generated emails of applications in their queues
    • If you aren’t receiving Slate-generated emails, check Trash and Spam and add Slate to your address book
  4. Navigate to your SLATE queue to evaluate the applicant.
  5. SLATE Evaluation:
    • If you are NOT interested in recruiting the applicant:
      1. Select “No” under “Recommend for Admission” and then “Send”.
      2. Complete the “GDPE Applicant Rubric” (access on GDPE Faculty Teams).
    • If you ARE interested in recruiting the applicant:
      1. Select “Yes” under “Recommend for Admission” and then “Send”.
      2. The GDPE Assistant Director will then review the applicant.
        • If approved, we can continue the process.
        • If concerns arise, they will contact you to coordinate possible remediations.
      3. At this point, you have not committed to accepting the student.
        • You will need to complete other steps before an offer is made.
        • You may choose to wait to complete the SLATE evaluation until after you decide whether you would like to make an offer or not.
        • Please communicate with GDPE about your intentions.
      4. Please move to the next appropriate step (e.g., interviews, making an offer)

Recruiting Prospective Students

While faculty are welcome to take any approach to this process, GDPE does host an annual recruitment event. Here is a guide if you are interested in having your prospective student attend the GDPE Recruitment Event:

  1. GDPE’s Annual Recruitment Event is typically held in conjunction with the Annual FRSES. Please check the calendar to determine when this is taking place during recruitment season.
  2. Notify GDPE that you have a student who will be attending.
  3. [Optional] Apply for funding on the “Recruitment Fund Request” page to help support prospective student travel (as available).
  4. Recruitment events typically include:
    • Welcome Lunch
    • Meeting with GDPE Admin
    • FRSES plenary
    • (Recommended) Dinner/Social with Host Lab
    • Interleaved FRSES Sessions and Host Lab meetings
  5. Notify GDPE about your intentions
    • If you are NOT interested in making an offer to the prospective student:
      • Please notify the student ASAP
      • After notifying GDPE, a link will be sent to you to complete the “GDPE Applicant Rubric”.
    • If you ARE interested in making an offer to the prospective student:
      • Please move to the next step (e.g., making an offer)

Making an Offer to Prospective Students

  1. Using a template from the “Offer Letter Template & Submission” page, draft the appropriate offer letter.
    • If applicable, remediations or other conditions discussed with the Assistant Director should be added here.
  2. Upload the draft letter to the same webpage.
    • The GDPE Director will review the draft and either approve or suggest edits.
  3. If applicable, the SLATE application will be moved to the Advising Department contact’s queue for approval.
  4. If you have not done so yet, complete the “GDPE Applicant Rubric” (accessible through the GDPE Faculty Teams site).
  5. Once all parties have approved and all requirements are met, the Program Coordinator will:
    • send the offer letter to the applicant, faculty member, advising department head, and GDPE staff.
    • submit the recommendation for admission in SLATE.
  6. Once the Recommendation for Admission has been approved, the student will receive an official emailed acceptance letter with a link allowing them to accept the offer.
    • The student must formally accept the offer through this link in order to be admitted.
  7. Please notify GDPE of the student’s decision when known.

How to Use SLATE

CSU uses a system called Slate for graduate student applications. GDPE adds applications to faculty queues in SLATE for you to review as part of our Comprehensive Review of Graduate Applications. Below are some tips for gaining access to and using SLATE.

If You Do Not Yet Have Access to Slate 

  • Non-CSU Faculty Affiliates:
    • If you do not already have access to AriesWeb, og into ARIESweb and follow the instructions to select your supervisor to be granted full access.
    • Once you have access to AriesWeb, complete the Slate User Access Request Form on the graduate admissions website.

Please coordinate with GDPE Admin if you need help with this proces.

Step-by-Step Guide for SLATE Evaluations

Screenshots of indicated steps can be found below. A tutorial is also available on the GDPE Faculty Teams site.

  1. Log into Slate using your CSU eName and password.
    • Use Firefox or Chrome (Do NOT use Explorer).
    • Please refer to instructions for gaining access if you are unable to log in.
  2. Go to “Slate Reader” at the top of the screen.
  3.  Select “Queue” on the navigation bar (screenshot below).
  4. Click the name of applicant to review (screenshot below).
    • If you are interested in viewing the application of a student who is not currently in your queue, you can search for them using the search bar at the top right of the main SLATE page (screenshot below).
  5. Review the application by using the navigation bar on the left.
  6. Click on “Review Form / Send to Bin” on the bottom right to record your decision (screenshot below).
  7. Check the “Faculty Evaluation Form” box and select your decision (screenshot below).
  8. Click “Send”.
  9. Return to your queue by clicking “Slate” at the top left corner of screen.

Search for Applicants yourself by using the Search bar at the top right

Screen shot of Slate search text box circled in red

Access your Slate Queue

Screen shot of Slate Queue link circled in red

Click the name of the applicant to review

Screen shot of Slate with applicant name circled in queue screen
Screen shot of Slate Faculty Evaluation form checked with recommend for admission? Yes, No, or Maybe
Screen shot of Slate Review/Send to Bin button

Access the Slate Review Form