MS Advisory Committee Formation

Each MS student must have an advisory committee of at least three faculty members, which assists the student in the development and execution of his/her Program of Study and monitors and evaluates the student's progress towards completion of the degree. The student is responsible for identifying, in consultation with the Department chairperson, a faculty member who is willing to chair his/her advisory committee. The chairperson of this committee is the student's faculty advisor and has the responsibility to guide the student's research toward completion of the MS thesis, using his/her expertise in that specific research area. The ECE Chair will act as the advisor for new students until the student chooses an advisor from the ECE Graduate Faculty during their first semester. The ECE Chair is also responsible for ensuring that a student's submitted Program of Study satisfies Department and university policies. In consultation with his/her advisor, the student is responsible for identifying at least two other faculty members who are willing to serve on his/her committee. Advisory committees may include more than three members. If desired or required, two members of the committee may serve as co-chairs of the committee rather than the committee having one chair. If a student is not able to identify a sufficient number of faculty who are suitable and willing to serve on his/her advisory committee, the student will be advised by the Department chairperson that he/she should either change his/her area of research interests to more closely match those of the available faculty or consider selecting another major. A graduate student's advisory committee is selected during his/her first semester of study and each member must approve and sign the student's Program of Study form by the beginning of the student's second semester. Failure to form a committee by the end of the second semester, as evidenced by a signed Program of Study form, is cause for dismissal. At least two members of the committee must be from the ECE Department. The members are selected such that they have either taught the student one or more courses or have some expertise relevant to the student's research. The advisor, committee, and Program of Study are approved by the ECE Chair, Dean of Engineering, and the VP of Graduate Studies.