Graduate Committees

To insure fair, unbiased, and professional conduct of graduate students' work that could be endangered by conflicts of interest or the appearance of conflicts of interest, certain precautions must be observed.

Upon appointment to graduate student's advisory, thesis, or dissertation committees, faculty members must disclose to the departmental chair and the dean of the Graduate School any personal relationship with other committee members which might be expected to create a conflict of interest or give that appearance in relation to professional decisions and recommendations faculty members are required to render. These relationships may include legal, family, and business relationships, living arrangements, and personal partnerships of other kinds. The dean of the Graduate School shall determine whether the potential conflict of interest or appearance thereof precludes the faculty member's service on the committee, and if necessary will arrange for an alternate after consultation with the departmental chair. The dean of the Graduate School shall also adjudicate any complaint made by another party about a conflict of interest in committee membership.
Graduate students' advisory, thesis, and dissertation committees must be composed so that no member of the committee has any personal relationship to the student which might be expected to create a conflict of interest or give that appearance. These relationships may include legal, family, and business relationships, living arrangements, and personal partnerships of other kinds. If there is uncertainty that any conditions constitute a conflict of interest between a student and members of the committee, the dean of the Graduate School will determine the issue. The dean of the Graduate School shall also adjudicate any complaint made by another party about a conflict of interest in committee membership.

Master's Program Advisory Committee

The Master's Advisory Committee form, consisting of a major adviser and at least two other members of the graduate faculty, should be submitted (in duplicate) to the Graduate School immediately or at the time of admission to the program of study. A form is required and may be obtained from the Graduate School or our home page. Please submit in duplicate and include full names of professors. Committees may not be approved for the following reasons: If all members of the committee do not have the appropriate graduate faculty status; if faculty spouses are serving on the same committee and one is in a supervisory capacity over the other; if a member of the student's immediate family is proposed on the committee; or if there is an approved committee already on file. For information on how to change or revise existing committees, see Changing or Revising a Committee.

In the situation when there is a split decision among committee members of a master's program advisory and thesis committee, majority rules.

Master's Thesis Option: Master's Thesis Committee

The Master's Thesis Committee form, consisting of a thesis director and at least two other members of the graduate faculty, should be submitted (in duplicate) to the Graduate School as soon as the committee has been selected but no later than three months prior to the date of the comprehensive examination. Committees may not be approved for the following reasons: If all members of the committee do not have the appropriate graduate faculty status; if faculty spouses are serving on the same committee and one is in a supervisory capacity over the other; if a member of the student's immediate family is proposed on the committee; or if there is an approved committee already on file. For information on how to change or revise existing committees, see Changing or Revising a Committee.

Doctoral Program Advisory Committee

The Doctoral Program Advisory Committee form, consisting of a major adviser and at least two other members of the graduate faculty, should be submitted (in duplicate) to the Graduate School immediately after or at the time of acceptance to the program. Committees may not be approved for the following reasons: If all members of the committee do not have the appropriate graduate faculty status; if faculty spouses are serving on the same committee and one is in a supervisory capacity over the other; if a member of the student's immediate family is proposed on the committee; or if there is an approved committee already on file. For information on how to change or revise existing committees, see Changing or Revising a Committee.

In the situation when there is a split decision among committee members of a doctoral program advisory or dissertation committee, the situation must be resolved to the satisfaction of each committee member. In the event that each committee member is not satisfied, the committee member may insist on the necessary steps to reach a resolution or elect to step down from the committee. In unusual circumstances, the Dean of the Graduate School may remove a faculty member from a student's thesis/dissertation committee or advisory committee, or make an alternative arrangement (e.g. assign a representative from the Graduate faculty to serve on the committee).

Doctoral Dissertation Committee

The Doctoral Dissertation Committee form, consisting of a dissertation director and at least two other members of the graduate faculty, should be submitted (in duplicate) to the Graduate School at least ONE YEAR before the defense of the dissertation. Committees may not be approved if all members of the committee do not have the appropriate graduate faculty status; if faculty spouses are serving on the same committee and one is in a supervisory capacity over the other; if a member of the student's immediate family is proposed on the committee, or if there is an approved committee already on file. For information on how to change or revise existing committees, see Changing or Revising a Committee.

In the situation when there is a split decision among committee members of a doctoral program advisory and dissertation committee, the situation must be resolved to the satisfaction of each committee member. In the event that each committee member is not satisfied, the committee member may insist on the necessary steps to reach a resolution or elect to step down from the committee. In unusual circumstances, the Dean of the Graduate School may remove a faculty member from a student's thesis/dissertation committee or advisory committee, or make an alternative arrangement (e.g. assign a representative from the Graduate faculty to serve on the committee).

Changing or Revising a Committee

If a committee has been approved and is on file with the Graduate School, any proposed changes or revisions to the committee must be submitted to the Graduate School for approval. Each member leaving or being removed from a committee must submit authorization agreeing to the change. See the graduate student grievance policy for those cases where a faculty member wishes not to resign from a committee. NOTE: Leaving the employment of the University does not constitute automatic removal from approved committee assignments. Most faculty members complete their graduate committee responsibilities; therefore, removal from an approved committee must be initiated by the departing faculty member.

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