Advisory committee
The identification of an advisory committee chairperson,
advisory committee, and the formulation of a plan of study in a
timely manner is essential for a student to make satisfactory
progress in his or her program of graduate studies and for
consideration or continuation of financial assistance. The
following guide delineates the required steps:
- A departmental academic advisor will be assigned to each
student at the time he or she is admitted. The assigned academic
advisor will serve until an advisory committee chairperson is
selected. Both course-based and thesis-based programs require an
advisory committee chairperson.
- The student should formally select an advisory committee
chairperson (normally, the thesis advisor for the Thesis based
programs) as early as possible but at least before the end of the
ninth week of the first quarter of graduate study. With the consent
of the proposed advisory committee chairperson, the student should
submit a completed form entitled "Request for the Appointment of an
Advisory Committee Chairperson" to the head of his or her
academic department.
- In consultation with his or her advisory committee chairperson,
the student should select an advisory committee (please note, an
advisory committee may not be required by all course based
programs) and prepare a plan of study before the end of the ninth
week of the second quarter of graduate study. The advisory
committee, if required, shall consist of the advisory committee
chairperson and at least two additional faculty members, with a
minimum of one from outside the major department. The student, in
consultation with the proposed advisory committee, should develop
an appropriate plan of study. Simultaneous appointment of the
advisory committee and approval of the plan of study are obtained
by written agreement of the advisor, the advisory committee (if
required as indicated above), the head of the appropriate
department, and the Associate Dean of the Faculty on the "Request for
the Appointment of Advisory Committee" and "Plan of Study"
forms. The plan of study may later be modified with the
approval of the advisory committee chairperson, the advisory
committee (if required as indicated above), the head of the
appropriate department, and the Associate Dean of the Faculty.
Generally, courses which are listed on the plan of study and have
been completed by the student cannot be removed from the plan of
study. The "Plan of Study" form is also used to record the
preliminary research topic. Modification of the Plan of Study
to change from thesis to non-thesis option is not permitted without
approval of the Graduate Studies Committee as well as those needed
for other Plan of Study changes.
Any questions concerning rules, procedures, etc., relating to
graduate work should be directed to the Associate Dean of the
Faculty.