Forms: 12/20/13
THESIS COMMITTEES
Thesis committees have an established place in the academic world and play a vital role in the guidance and direction of
graduate student research. One member of the committee, the chairperson, has a more formal administrative
relationship with the student because of the way the university recognizes the chairperson's responsibilities. On
occasion, the roles of the chairperson and the committee members require clarification.
1.0 Thesis Committee Structure
1.1 Number of Members
1.11 Each graduate thesis and doctoral dissertation committee shall be composed of a minimum of three
members.
1.12. Under extenuating circumstances (e.g., member’s death or sudden leave), to be noted by the graduate
program coordinator∗ in a letter to the graduate dean, an individual student in the final stages of the thesis
may request to have fewer than three members on the committee.
1.13 A fourth and/or fifth member may be added to the committee when deemed appropriate/necessary to
provide required expertise.
1.2 Committee Membership
1.21 Two of the three required committee members, including the chair, shall be members of the Graduate
Faculty Group of the student’s degree program. Only members of this group are allowed to chair a thesis. In
order for a member to chair a thesis, he/she must have previously served as a second or third member of a
thesis committee (per APM 226-2, III. Criteria for Membership in a Master's Graduate Faculty Group, par. 3).
The Graduate Group in the program, with the approval of the department, may invite their Faculty Early
Retirement Program (FERP) faculty members to participate on thesis committees as second or third readers,
with the stipulation that they demonstrate a personal commitment to function in this capacity and that they
have been appointed as members of the consultative body. Graduate faculty members whose status has
been terminated due to retirement or who are in FERP status may complete outstanding examining
committee, thesis committee, and advising assignments as chair if they wish to do so, but they may not
accept new assignments to chair such committees (see APM 226-3, III. Criteria for Membership in a Master's
Graduate Faculty Group, par. 8). Note: In order for the thesis committee to function as required, the
program must appoint FERP faculty serving on these committees as adjunct faculty during each of the
academic terms in which they have inactive status.
1.22 An individual who possesses requisite expertise, but who is not a member of the Graduate Faculty Group in
the student’s program, may serve as a third reader on a thesis or dissertation committee with the approval
of the department chair. This may include part-time and adjunct faculty, retired program faculty, faculty
from other programs or universities, and community professionals. In such cases, a curriculum vita of the
individual oncerned must accompany the submitted Thesis (299) Committee Assignment form.
1.23 Each graduate program committee may establish additional procedures for the appointment of thesis
committee members. It is recommended that these procedures be published and be made available to
incoming graduate students and new faculty members.
1.24 The committee chair shall be a faculty member of the graduate faculty from the student’s program. A faculty
member from another department may assume the role of committee chair only if eligible for and
appropriately appointed as program graduate faculty (see APM 226) in the student’s degree program.
