Each Department will have one faculty member designated as Graduate Advisor by the Department Chairman. (He may be the chairman himself). In general, a student’s program for the first year is in the hands of the Graduate Advisor. If a student has defined research interests, his program may be handled from the beginning by a research committee (see below). The Graduate Advisor or research committee plans together with the student his program for at least the first year, and forwards a copy to the Graduate Division Office at the beginning of the first term. At the end of the first academic year, the Department, through the Graduate Advisor or the Research Committee, evaluates the student’s performance and sends a report to the Graduate Committee in the forms provided for the purpose. At this time any recommendations for change in status are made. If the department decides that the student’s performance is not satisfactory it may recommend that he be dropped from the Program, or placed on probation for one semester. There must be specific areas in the student’s performance which he can improve in one semester for probationary status to be granted. These recommendations are reviewed by the Graduate Committee before they become effective. In the case of probationary status, a further report and decision must be made at the end of the probationary semester. The evaluation must take into consideration the student’s performance in course work, participation in departmental graduate seminars and other seminars, and other considerations reflecting upon his capacity for, and dedication to, graduate studies.
At the end of the first year the student will select his Research
Advisor, if he has not done so before. His committee is then chosen by himself and the Advisor, subject to approval by the Graduate Committee. It consists of the Research Advisor, two other Department faculty members (one in the case of a Master’s student), and at least one member from another Department. This committee is then responsible for the continuation and termination of the student’s work. It must submit a program of studies for the student to the Graduate Division, meet with the student at least every six months, and submit a yearly report on his activities. Specially qualified students may, subject to Departmental recommendation and approval by the Graduate Committee, continue directly towards a Ph.D degree without first completing the M.S. degree.