Mentoring

Three Member Committee (TMC)

This advising committee of three members of the Chemistry graduate faculty will have been assigned to each student before the student’s arrival on campus and will meet with the student near the end of the Orientation period (prior to registration) to plan a course program and discuss short- and long-range plans. Some of the responsibilities that can be assumed by a three-member advising committee (TMC) on its own initiative, or by request from the Graduate Committee or DGS, are:

1. 1. Advising students on their course program and discussion of expectations.

   2. Ensuring that each student gets a broad range of learning experiences that is an appropriate match for their foundational knowledge, scientific interests, and research directions.

   3. Reviewing performance in courses (prior to beginning our graduate program) and research experience.

   4. Providing career advice, navigating challenging situations and conversations, listening to student mental health needs and directing to mental health resources, serving as a resource for reporting harassment to the appropriate channels.

   5. Establishing the written and oral prelim examination deadlines for students entering the program at times other than the beginning of Fall Term.

   6. Recommending (when applicable) to the Director of Graduate Studies the inclusion or exclusion of previous graduate-level coursework as part of the Degree Program.

   7. Documenting the recommendations and any relevant discussion topics for future reference.

The TMC persists throughout the graduate student's time in the program, even after a research advisor is selected, and can always reconvene in whole or in part to advise the student.

Faculty Research Advisor

Students should find a research advisor (or co-advisors) before the end of the first term in residence. The research advisor(s) assume(s) the primary responsibility for advising the student on coursework and other academic matters throughout their time in the program.

Oral and Written Preliminary Exam Committee

This committee is assembled in part from faculty requested by the student and in part by the DGS (in consultation with the Graduate Curriculum Committee) to control for equitable service commitments across the faculty. The committee will read and evaluate the written preliminary exam and provide feedback to improve the student's writing skills and formulation of their dissertation directions.  The committee will also attend and evaluate the oral preliminary exam and provide guidance to focus the student's research efforts.  

Thesis Defense Committee

This committee is typically assembled by the student from a group of graduate faculty (although outside committee members need not be UMN affiliated or even faculty members) and will advise the student from their 4th years and beyond. Advising can take many forms, but there are required annual meetings in the 4th year and later to discuss progress towards degree and anything else of interest.  Ultimately, this committee also serves to read the student's research dissertation and evaluate their oral thesis defense. The Thesis Defense Committee need not be the same as the Preliminary Exam Committee, but it is typically a good starting point as those people have some basis with which to assess the student's progress from the beginning to the end of the program.