天堂鸟先生

Academic Advisor

The role of the academic advisor is one of advocacy and mentorship to guide progress toward the doctoral degree. By accepting a student, the advisor is committed to working closely with the student through all aspects of the PhD program. This mentorship involves preparing and developing a program of study, guiding the development, execution, and completion of pre-dissertation and dissertation projects as well as other ongoing research activities occurring in the laboratory.

At times, a change in academic advisor may be appropriate. If a student in good standing requests a change of academic advisor, and/or when there is mutual agreement between the academic advisor and the student to change advisors or when the academic advisor leaves the university (or retires), a new advisor may be assigned. The student must complete a StudentInitiated Change of Doctoral Advisor form and have discussed the reason(s) for the request in detail with the current and proposed advisor. The form requires an approval signature from each member of the student鈥檚 current Academic Guidance Committee, the newly proposed academic advisor, the Coordinator of PhD Studies, and the Director for consideration, final approval, and signature. A meeting of all parties involved to discuss the change and sign the form is strongly encouraged.

If the academic advisor requests that a student be assigned a new advisor, a new advisor may be assigned. The advisor must complete a Faculty-Initiated Change of Advisor form and have discussed the reason(s) for the request in detail with the student. The Change of Advisor form must be submitted to the Graduate Committee for consideration and final agreement. If there is no advisor willing to accept a student whose academic advisor has requested a change in advisor, the Director will determine the appropriate course of action.

Signed forms for any change of advisor must be placed in the student鈥檚 file in the HSLS office. Corresponding copies are to be sent to the Office of Graduate Student Services and the CHSP Office of Student Services.

Academic Guidance Committee

In addition to an academic advisor, each doctoral student will have an Academic Guidance Committee. The student鈥檚 Academic Guidance Committee plays a role in developing the program of study and evaluating scholarly development. The advisor and student are responsible for selection of the Academic Guidance Committee. This decision must be made no later than the second semester of doctoral study. The committee is restricted to three faculty members. The student鈥檚 academic advisor will serve as chairperson of the committee. At least one other HSLS faculty member must be on the committee. No more than one HSLS retired faculty member may serve on the committee and only with the approval of the majority of the HSLS tenure track faculty. The third committee member may be from within or outside HSLS. Substitution and replacement of members will be accomplished in consultation with the Coordinator of PhD Studies and the guidance committee. The Academic Guidance Committee is responsible for the following:

• Determining the total number of previously earned graduate credits to be accepted toward the total number of credits required;
• Suggesting graduate options for career growth (e.g., specific coursework, research experiences, and teaching);
• Approving the program of study; and
• Evaluating the student鈥檚 progress in annual meetings with the student

Pre-dissertation Project Committee

The Pre-dissertation Project Committee will consist of no fewer than three members, including the Pre-dissertation Research Project Mentor and two additional faculty members chosen jointly by the student and Academic Advisor. The advisor also typically serves as the Pre-dissertation Project Mentor. Committee membership should represent the special expertise needed for the project. No more than one retired faculty member may serve on the committee. A maximum of one committee member may be from outside of HSLS. In the event that a committee member resigns from the Committee, the Coordinator of PhD studies will name a replacement after consulting with the student鈥檚 advisor and any appropriate faculty members. The student is free to consult with any committee member or member of the HSLS faculty throughout the project. The role of the Pre-dissertation Project Committee is to approve and evaluate the student鈥檚 research project through two formal meetings: 1) pre-dissertation project proposal meeting, and 2) defense of the research project.

Comprehensive Examining Committee

The Comprehensive Examining Committee will be determined by the student鈥檚 Academic Advisor. This committee tends to be the student鈥檚 Academic Guidance Committee, but not always. The committee will include the student鈥檚 Academic Advisor and no more than two other faculty members who have expertise in the student鈥檚 areas of study. At least one of the other two members must come from HSLS. No more than one retired HSLS faculty member may serve on the committee. No more than one committee member may come from outside of HSLS and only with approval from the HSLS faculty committee members.

Dissertation Committee

The Dissertation Committee will consist of four or more members: the student鈥檚 academic advisor, two HSLS faculty members chosen by the student and approved by the advisor to represent the special expertise needed for the project, and a fourth member, approved by the HSLS Director and the Dean of the College of Health and Sciences and Professions (representing the Dean鈥檚 office, in adherence to official University policies for doctoral degrees). No more than one HSLS retired faculty member may serve on the committee. A document describing the responsibilities of the Dean鈥檚 representative and a form to be completed by the representative following the dissertation defense are available from the Dean鈥檚 office.

Additional non-voting members may be chosen depending on the consultative needs of the research and special interests of the student. These additional members will be selected by the four Dissertation Committee members in consultation with the student. In the event that a committee member resigns from the Dissertation Committee, and another is needed, the Coordinator of PhD Programs will name a replacement after consulting with the student, the student鈥檚 Advisor, and any appropriate faculty members.

Once the Dissertation Committee is formed, the College Dissertation Committee Information Form is to be completed and submitted to the Dean鈥檚 office. The role of the Dissertation Committee is to approve and evaluate the student鈥檚 dissertation research project. This is accomplished through two formal meetings: 1) the dissertation proposal meeting, at which time the proposed research is approved, and 2) the defense of the dissertation when the project has been completed.