Choosing a Committee

The Graduate School dictates that your committee must consist of at least 5 members of the Graduate Faculty, 3 of whom must be full members (on-campus, tenure-track). One of these full members must be identified as the Dean's Representative. The Dean's Rep must be a tenured faculty member with an on-campus tenure home unit that differs from your advisor's and/or co-advisor's.

Learn more about the Graduate School requirements and the graduate faculty. A list of current Graduate Faculty members in BISI can be found in the Academic Catalog. Committees are usually chosen during the student's second or third year in the program. 

Committee Chair

Your on-campus advisor acts as the committee chair. If you have two advisors, the committee can be co-chaired by both of your advisors with permission from the Graduate School. Either your advisor or co-advisor must be a full member of the Graduate Faculty (i.e., has an on-campus tenure home).

Additional Committee Members

A total of 3 members of the committee (including the Chair) must be full members of the Graduate Faculty.

Off-campus scientists can serve on dissertation committees, but must be appointed as Special Members of the Graduate Faculty. Consult with the BISI Office for more information.

On-campus, non-tenure-track faculty can serve on dissertation committees but must be appointed as an Adjunct Member of the Graduate Faculty. Consult with the BISI Office for more information. 

BISI Requirements: At least 2 of your committee members must be full members of the BISI faculty.