Graduate Handbook - School of Forest Resources & Conservation ...

10Each graduate student has an advisor who is the chair of the Supervisory Committee.During your first semester, you must select, together with your advisor, aSupervisory Committee which has the responsibility to aid you in planningand facilitating your program goals. This process involves 1) evaluatingyour past education, 2) determining any academic deficiencies, 3) selectingcoursework designed to meet your program goals, 4) conducting examinationsrelevant to your degree program, 5) overseeing the development and conductof your research, if applicable, and 6) evaluating your final thesis/dissertation,if applicable. The Supervisory Committee must be approved by the GraduateCoordinator and the Graduate School.It is imperative that your Supervisory Committee be formed as early aspossible in your program. The signatures on the Program of Study serve asthe agreement of the faculty members to join your committee, and thus thisdocument is the basis for which your official Supervisory Committee is inputinto the GIMS system for approval by the Graduate School. As your programevolves, it is critical that all members of your Supervisory Committee be keptabreast of and have input into any changes from the original plan.If you fail to maintain frequent contact with your advisor and/or committee,they (individually or as a whole) have the right to resign and it will be yourresponsibility to secure a new advisor before continuing graduate study.supervisorycommitteementors, colleagues, friends, and bosses