All funded graduate students are assigned an advisor upon their decision to enroll into our graduate program. This advisor will supervise the student's research as well as the student’s progress to degree completion.
All unfunded graduate students will need to identify an academic advisor based on his/her indicated area of interest within their first semester of study. Students are required to notify the Graduate Office of their advisor as soon as the advisor has been determined by completing the Declaration of Academic Advisor Form. Students who need assistance with initial advising or need assistance finding a permanent advisor are to contact the Faculty Coordinator for their research area.
On occasion a student or advisor may determine that it is not in his/her best interest to continue working together. Students who are not funded by a faculty member are free to change academic advisors within their research area at any point in time; the student just needs to notify the former advisor and also the Graduate Office. Students who are funded and need to discontinue his/her relationship with their advisor, should first discuss the issue with the Associate Chair for Graduate Programs.
If the issue cannot be resolved the student will be assigned a new advisor. All efforts will be made to keep the student funded; however, there is no guarantee that the student will continue to be funded after their current contract expires. If a student decides to change focus areas, the student will have to be re-evaluated by all the faculty in the new research areaa before acceptance is granted. Faculty in the new area program are encouraged to talk and consult with the Faculty Coordinator of the prior area.