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This page contains new policies that have been approved by the Undergraduate Studies Committee, the Graduate Studies Committee, University Faculty Council, and the Office of Academic Affairs during the current academic year. These policies will be published in the next academic year’s undergraduate or graduate bulletin.

Ph.D. Thesis Committee Membership  Requirements  

1. The thesis committee shall consist of a minimum of four voting members. At least two  members must be current tenured or tenure track ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ Tech faculty whose primary or  joint appointments are in the student’s academic unit. At least one member must be a current ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ Tech faculty member from outside the student’s academic unit. The  remaining member may be any individual permitted under this policy. A majority of the  voting members of the committee must be current ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ Tech tenured or tenure track faculty, teaching faculty, or research faculty. 
2. The primary thesis adviser shall normally serve as a committee chair and is responsible  for the student’s research and thesis advising, research credits, required forms, and other  institutional responsibilities associated with the Ph.D. degree. The primary thesis adviser  must be a current tenured or tenure track ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ Tech faculty member, except that an  active emeritus faculty member may serve as the primary thesis adviser when a current  tenured or tenure track ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ Tech faculty member serves as an additional thesis adviser  and committee chair. The primary thesis adviser must be approved by the head of the  student’s academic unit and may hold a primary or joint appointment in any ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ Tech  academic unit and need not be a member of the student’s academic unit.   
3. ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ Tech research faculty, teaching faculty, and active emeritus faculty may serve as  committee members. Such members may count toward the minimum committee size and  may satisfy the requirement for a member from outside the student’s academic unit, but  may not replace the two required current tenured or tenure track members from the student’s academic unit.   
4. Former ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ Tech faculty, ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ Tech adjunct faculty, and other qualified individuals  from outside ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ Tech may serve as voting committee members or additional thesis  advisers when their participation provides appropriate academic continuity or expertise  and is approved by the primary thesis adviser and Academic Affairs. For purposes of  committee composition, adjunct faculty are treated as outside members. When serving as  committee members, such individuals may count toward the minimum committee size but may not satisfy requirements for current  ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ Tech faculty.   
5. A student may have one or more additional thesis advisers or committee chairs. Any  additional thesis adviser or committee chair is not considered part of the minimum four  required committee members. The committee must therefore include the primary thesis  adviser, any additional thesis advisers or committee chairs, and at least three additional  examining members who satisfy the composition requirements above. Additional thesis  advisers or committee chairs need not be tenured or tenure track faculty but must be  current ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ Tech faculty or otherwise eligible to serve under Sections 3 or 4 of this  policy. When an active emeritus faculty member serves as the primary thesis adviser, a  current tenured or tenure track ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ Tech faculty member must serve as an additional  thesis adviser and committee chair.   
6. In the event of a split or disputed committee decision concerning the outcome of a Ph.D.  examination, the matter may be referred to the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs for  review and adjudication.   
7. The Vice Provost for Academic Affairs may approve exceptions to this policy when  warranted by unusual academic circumstances.