Advisor/Thesis Committee Selection

ADVISOR SELECTION PROCESS

All incoming thesis-based students who received a TA offer are considered uncommitted to an advisor and are required to participate in the advisor selection process. Students who are being supported on a faculty member’s Research Assistantship are considered that faculty member’s advisee. Students who are being supported by external funding (self-supported, fellowship) can participate in the process if they would like or may commit to an advisor beforehand. 

To complete the advisor selection process, students will need to attend all faculty research presentations given in the Fall semester. Additionally, students are required to meet with a minimum of three research-active faculty. The meetings should discuss research projects, current funding availability and future potential, expectations, timeline, qualifications, etc. Students may begin work in a research lab before their thesis advisor has been assigned, but each student with a temporary advisor still needs to go the process. After selecting your top (3) research groups, you will need to complete the Graduate Advisor Request Form which must be submitted to Megan Paulson (mpaulson@mines.edu or in person) typically by November 1st.

Under the direction of our Department Head, professors will meet to determine the best fit based on student desire and space in groups. Advisor selections will be announced in mid-November.

Most students are matched to their advisors during their first semester.  Every effort is made to give each new student his or her first choice, depending on availability of space, research projects, and funding.  In the interim, all students will have the Department Head as their temporary advisor. When you have been assigned your permanent advisor, the Graduate Program Coordinator will submit the information to have your advisor updated.

Some students are matched to their advisor during the admissions process, and will not need to go through the advisor selection process.

CHANGING ADVISOR

A research advisor generally has the expectation that the student will complete a thesis under his or her supervision.  This expectation affects many decisions made by the advisor (for example, the research directions of other students, grant proposal submissions, and admission of new students).  Therefore, while students have the right to change advisors any time, it is important that they keep their current advisor informed of plans to make such a change.  They must also find a new advisor who has space in their group.  Students considering a change in advisors are strongly advised to seek the advice of the Department Head, Assistant Department Head, or Chair of the Graduate Affairs Committee.     

The formal process for changing thesis advisor is as follows:

1. Fill out the graduate school's Advisor/Thesis Committee Form with the new advisor's name.  The new thesis advisor must initial this form to indicate approval of the change. 

2. Attach a short (one-sentence) memo to the form, signed by the current thesis advisor, indicating that the current advisor is aware of the student's request for an advisor change. 

3. After obtaining all other required signatures, drop off the form to the Chemistry main office in Coolbaugh 204 to request the Department Head's approval and signature. Once signed, submit the form to OGS to make the change official. 

An advisor/committee member(s) can be changed after the Degree Audit Form has been submitted.

NON-THESIS MS COMMITTEES

Even though CSM does not require a committee in the case of non-thesis MS degrees, the Department of Chemistry requires that students in the non-thesis program choose a committee during the student’s first semester in the program. This committee must comprise of an advisor from the Department of Chemistry and two other members, at least one of whom must be a CSM faculty member. The student’s committee makes decisions on courses to be taken and on transfer credit, and examines the student’s written report.

COMMITTEE CHAIR

Your committee chair is not required at your 560 seminar but should be at all committee meetings, which includes lit review, thesis proposal etc. The idea of the committee chair is that they are a more “neutral” observer (hence the requirement that they come from outside the department). If any conflicts arise (between faculty members or between the student and another committee member) during committee meetings and especially during the defense, it is the chair’s job to step in.  

Thesis Committee Chairperson (from Catalog)

In addition to the responsibilities of a Regular Committee Member, the Chairperson of Committee has the following added responsibilities:

• • chair all meetings of the Thesis Committee including the thesis defense;

  • represent the broad interests of the Institution with respect to high standards of scholarly performance;

  • represent the Office of Graduate Studies by ensuring that all procedures are carried out fairly and in accordance with institutional guidelines and policies; and

  • ensure that any potential conflicts of interest between student, advisor or any other committee member are effectively identified and managed.

COMMITTEE MEETINGS

Once your committee is established, you need to be meeting at a minimum once a year to be sure you are on track with your courses and research goals. 

https://www.mines.edu/graduate-studies/advisor-committee/