Reviewer's Report Form

The Reviewers’ Report form is for doctoral students seeking approval from their reviewers that their thesis/dissertation is ready for their final defense. 

Students should initiate the form at least one week before their defense. 

All reviewers should respond to the form at least 3-4 days before the defense. 

Reviewers all receive the form via email at the same time and can respond concurrently (they do not need to respond in order).

Students initiate the form by going here. When the student submits the Reviewers’ Report, each of their reviewers receives an email with a link to the form. Reviewers will launch the form, record their decision, and submit the form. They will indicate whether the student’s dissertation/thesis is acceptable for defense, acceptable with revisions, or not acceptable for defense.

The form is complete when every reviewer has responded. Once complete, the Office of the Registrar (OTR) processes the form and updates the student’s record. Students in doctoral programs will receive an email with a link to complete the Final Exam form workflow after they have scheduled their final exam and been cleared by OTR to take their final exam. 

A guide to the Final Exam form is available.

If any reviewer indicates “not acceptable for defense,” the whole process is canceled and the student will need to submit the form again when they are ready. 

The student, reviewers, and GPCs will all be notified.

Committee members with a person of interest (POI) status must activate their University email. 

This is how they will be notified an action is required. More information on POIs is available.

If there are committee changes, instructions on addressing last minute committee changes are available.

Graduate program coordinators will receive copies of each email generated by the system including those sent to students and reviewers. 

Emails include:

·         Student receives a confirmation when they submit the form

·         Each reviewer receives an initial request to fill out the form

·         Reviewer and student will receive a reminder if the reviewer has not filled out the form after 5 days

·         Student receives a copy of each reviewer's response

·         Student and reviewers each receive a confirmation when all reviewers have responded and/or if the process is canceled

·         Student receives a confirmation when OTR has updated their student record