Understanding Dissertation Committees
Working with Your Committee
Policies
Guide for Faculty
Dissertation Committee Basics
What is a dissertation committee.
A dissertation committee is a group of faculty members who guide and evaluate a doctoral student's dissertation research. This committee should play a crucial role throughout the research and writing stage of the PhD dissertation, ensuring the quality and originality of the student's work.
When do you form a Dissertation Committee?
After passing the qualifying exam, you advance to candidacy. At this point, you will formally nominate your dissertation committee. You should advance to candidacy within one quarter after passing the qualifying exam.
Composition of a Dissertation Committee
A typical MCIP dissertation committee will consist of at least three faculty members, most of whom should be MCIP members. The student should identify the dissertation committee in consultation with the Major Professor and the Graduate Advisor.
The dissertation committee chairperson is usually the student’s Major Professor. At the time the dissertation committee is constituted, the chairperson/Major Professor will help the student set expectations for the research and the engagement and involvement of the individual members regarding assistance with the research and dissertation review.
Roles and Responsibilities of a Dissertation Committee
- Guidance and Mentorship
Provide expertise in your research area
Offer advice on research design and methodology
Suggest relevant literature and resources
- Quality Control
Ensure your research meets academic standards
Challenge your ideas to strengthen your arguments
Identify potential weaknesses in your work
Review and approve your dissertation proposal
Assess your progress throughout the research process
Decide whether to award your doctoral degree
Working with Your Dissertation Committee
How dissertation committees assist students.
- Expertise : Access to diverse perspectives and specialized knowledge
- Networking : Connections to the broader academic community
- Skill Development : Improve your research, writing, and presentation skills
- Accountability : Regular check-ins to keep you on track
- Career Support : Potential references for future academic or professional positions
Tips for Working with Your Dissertation Committee
- Communicate Regularly : Keep your committee informed of your progress
- Be Prepared : Come to meetings with specific questions or issues to discuss
- Manage Expectations : Understand each member's role and availability
- Be Open to Feedback : View critiques as opportunities for improvement
- Respect Their Time : Submit work in advance of meetings and deadlines
Choosing Your Committee Members
Consider the following when selecting committee members:
- Expertise in your research area
- Availability and commitment to your project
- Working style and personality compatibility
- Potential to provide diverse perspectives
- Criteria to create a short-list
Relation to your field of study - you want mentors who are knowledgeable about the area of research and/or techniques used
Involvement in other programs/committees - ensure the faculty is not overcommitted. This can make scheduling hard or limit the interactions
Collaborators or competitors - look for attributes complimentary to your other mentors, and avoid conflicts that can prolong or inhibit completion of your degree
Networking - faculty with a strong network and/or reputation who might help you with future career opportunities
Who values you - Is it obvious that the professor wants you to do well? Think about your experiences with the professor, whether they taught during your courses or you run into them in the hallway. This can hint at the types of interactions you can expect, the ability to have conversations or how they will offer constructive criticism
- Narrowing down the list
Consult with your major professor – This may help to narrow down your list and provide additional names to consider
Ask more senior students - Are there students who are close to graduating that have your prospective member on their dissertation committee? Ask other students how the prospective faculty member was during a qualifying exam.
Meet with the professor before committing to have them in your dissertation committee - This is a great way to see if you get along with them outside of the classroom and a way to build a relationship.
What to discuss in a Dissertation Committee Meeting?
Meetings with your dissertation committee should evolve as your PhD research progresses, shifting focus from initial planning and proposal development to research execution and finalizing your dissertation.
In the early stage, the focus will be on introducing your research topic, outlining your proposed direction, and refining your hypotheses and methodologies. Discussions should aim to finalize your research plan, clarify expectations, and establish a timeline for key milestones. As your research progresses, meetings will center on providing updates, addressing any challenges or changes in your project, and discussing preliminary findings. This is the stage for refining your research, making necessary adjustments, and planning next steps, including publications, presentations, and potential collaborations. In the final stages, the goal will be to ensure the dissertation is on track for completion and meet expectations for the degree. You will discuss a timeline for sharing draft chapters, receiving feedback, and finalizing any revisions.
- Initial meeting
- The purpose of the Initial Meeting is to acquaint your committee with your project, your data and progress so far, your plans for the rest of the project/dissertation, and any problems you anticipate or alternatives you have in mind. This is also an opportunity for your committee to have input on your project and/or methods to help shape your proposed body of work. Shaping and refining the scope of your dissertation should hopefully be a collaborative effort between you, your Major Professor, and your committee.
- Annual Meeting
- The purpose of the Annual Meetings is to update your committee on your progress since your last meeting, inform them of any delays or problems you have encountered or changes to the project that have been made, and to seek advice and input on any outstanding issues. Your annual meetings should also end with an outline of what work remains and what your proposed timeline for completion is. These annual meetings will help to avoid any ‘unexpected surprises’ for your committee if you have significantly changed the overall direction or scope of your work (which may happen). Your committee should be well aware of any and all changes before reading your dissertation! In some cases, your committee can also advocate on your behalf, especially in situations where certain experiments are not working, or part of the project ended up being significantly more work than initially anticipated. In these instances, your committee can often help to reach consensus on what remaining work is ( or is not ) required to complete your dissertation.
MCIP Specific Policies
Note that MCIP requires the following steps to be taken:
- The chair of the dissertation committee (e.g. Major Professor) should meet with the student at least quarterly, although more frequent meetings (e.g. weekly/biweekly) are strongly encouraged
- The full dissertation committee should meet with the student annually, ideally before the due date for the Student Progress Assessment, which occurs annually from May 1 to June 30 (additional meetings are encouraged)
- Dissertation committee members are expected to read and comment on the dissertation within four weeks of its submission
Remember, your dissertation committee is a valuable resource. Engage your dissertation committee early and frequently in your graduate school journey. Also, remember that cultivating positive relationships with your committee members can greatly enhance your doctoral experience and future career prospects.
More information about this can be found in the MCIP degree requirements .
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