Policy Details
- Policy Number:
- FD3191
- Last Revision Date:
- September 20, 2018
Contact
Questions regarding the interpretation of this policy should be directed to:
Secretary of the University
Policy
- Selection of Major Professor. A doctoral student must select a major professor no later than the proposal hearing or attainment of dissertator status, whichever comes first. The academic unit must have a mechanism for approval of the student’s selection of major professor.
Each doctoral student must have at least a temporary or initial advisor upon first enrollment in the doctoral program. - Request for by student for replacement of Major Professor or Dissertation Committee Member. At any time, the doctoral student has the right to request replacement of the major professor or any member of the dissertation committee. The mechanism in the academic unit used for approval of the major professor also should be the mechanism used for processing requests for replacement of the major professor and dissertation committee members. The criteria for approving such requests are established by each academic unit.
- Request for Release by Major Professor or Dissertation Committee Member with Consent of the Student. The student’s major professor at any time may request release from the status of major professor. Any member of the student’s dissertation committee at any time may request release from membership on the committee. The mechanism in the academic unit used for approval of the major professor should also be the mechanism used for processing these requests.
- Request for Replacement by Major Professor or Dissertation Committee Member without Consent of the Student. In unusual situations, without consent of the student, the student’s major professor at any time may request release from the status of major professor. Similarly, in unusual situations, without consent of the student, any member of the student’s dissertation committee at any time may request release from membership on the committee. The mechanism in the academic unit used for approval of the major professor should also be the mechanism used for processing these requests.
The “unusual situations” may include situations in which: (a) the major professor or committee member is involved in a conflict of interest; (b) the major professor or committee member leaves the University; (c) the student changes the dissertation topic or makes substantial changes in the dissertation proposal.
Once the dissertation proposal has been approved by the major professor and dissertation committee, the unsatisfactory progress of the doctoral student is not normally cause for replacement of the major professor or other committee member from the dissertation committee. Unsatisfactory progress may be cause for release of the major professor or other committee member if: (a) the student has received written critiques of previous work and not responded; (b) the unsatisfactory progress is documented with one or more semesters of unsatisfactory grades, and (c) the major professor or committee member and student have met with graduate representative or appropriate committee. Unsatisfactory progress is cause for dismissal if documented.
Policy History
- May 11, 1998
- Graduate Faculty Council Doc. No. 763 Approved