PhD Student Handbook

Academic Advisor

Upon entering the Program, each student is assigned an Academic Advisor who assists the student in becoming oriented to the program. The advisor is selected on the basis of the student's area of interest as designated on his/her application. This faculty member remains the student's advisor for the first year of the Program at which time students select a permanent advisor. This generally occurs at the end of the first year of the Program and no later than September 15th of the second year.

The responsibilities of the first year Academic Advisor include: discussing with the student the nature and scope of the student's interests, beginning to develop an academic plan in order to help with the selection of electives in the second year of the Program. The advisor also monitors the student’s academic progress

The responsibilities of the permanent academic advisor involve: assisting the student in preparing an individualized academic plan, approving the student's individualized academic plan, counseling the student in case of failure of a preliminary examination and advising the student on plans for re-examination, assisting the student about her or his dissertation proposal, and advising the student on the selection of a dissertation committee.