Supervisory Committees

Note: The policies and procedures on this page are referenced from the School of Graduate Studies Catalog Sections 4 & 6. The catalog is the official text. While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of this page, the catalog is the authoritative source of information.

On This Page

Master’s Plan A & Plan B

Doctoral Degree

Concurrent Research Degrees and Supervisory Committees

Committee Members from Outside of the Department

Committee Members from Outside the University

Emeritus/Emerita Faculty

Faculty Who Leave USU for Another Academic Institution or Job

All full-time faculty and staff at USU eligible to serve on Supervisory Committees must be members in good standing of the USU graduate faculty.

Individuals who are affiliated with other institutions or have limited USU affiliations (e.g., adjunct instructors, emerita and emeritus faculty) can be appointed to serve as committee members on an ad hoc basis through a separate process, which requires approval from the appropriate Department Head and the Vice Provost for Graduate Studies.

Master’s Plan A & Plan B ONLY

A completed initial Supervisory Committee Approval form should be submitted to the School of Graduate Studies for final approval by the end of the student’s second semester.

As part of the initial Supervisory Committee Approval (SCAF) form, completion of Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) CITI Training is required for all MS/A (thesis), MA, and MFA students.
It is also required for all students funded by NIH, NSF, or USDA-NIFA.
If a Plan B paper/project requires research, the student’s Committee will require completion of the RCR CITI Training.
The School of Graduate Studies does not require proposal defenses for Plan B papers/projects that do not include empirical research.
Additionally, the training may be recommended for any master’s student if their committee determines it is appropriate for the student’s thesis or project.
RCR CITI Training must be completed before the initial SCAF form is submitted.
NOTE: If the SCAF form does not have all required committee roles filled and the completed RCR training (if required), it will be denied.

See SGS Catalog Section 5.1.1., for further information about the Responsible Conduct of Research requirement or contact Research Integrity and Compliance.

A master’s degree supervisory committee must include at least three members who hold a master’s degree or higher and are members of the USU Graduate Faculty. If the degree is a Plan A, all members must have completed a thesis or dissertation.

The major professor must be from within the student’s department. At least one member must represent the student’s area of specialization, and at least one member must be from outside the home department or specialization area and a member of the USU Graduate Faculty in good standing.
NOTE: For special accommodations, the department must receive approval from the Vice Provost of Graduate Studies.
It is permissible for one member of the committee to be affiliated with an outside institution, affiliated with USU on a part-time basis (e.g., adjunct faculty), or an emeritus or emerita; this individual can only be added to a committee with the permission of the appropriate Department Head and the Vice Provost for Graduate Studies.

While it is the expectation that all members of a thesis or Plan B paper/project committee uphold these values, the specific role of the outside member of a thesis or Plan B paper/project committee is to ensure the success of the thesis/Plan B paper or project process for the student with regard to three primary goals:

A fair, ethical, and humane process for the student.
Rigorous academic and intellectual experience that yields meaningful insights accessible to the disciplinary and broader communities.
And safeguarding against “group think” or tacit expectations that may not be intuitive or evident to the student.

Within School of Graduate Studies and departmental requirements, the supervisory committee for a master’s degree does the following:

Determines courses for the student’s Program of Study.
Conducts any required departmental qualifying examinations.
Supervises the student’s thesis research, Plan B paper/project, or other degree project.
Conducts the defense or final examination.

NOTE: The defense or final examination must be scheduled through the School of Graduate Studies. The major professor, who serves as the chairperson of the committee, usually directs the thesis, Plan B paper/project, or other degree project.

A faculty member should not serve on a supervisory committee if, for any reason, they will not be available for committee meetings.
All committee members must attend the defense at the date and time registered with the School of Graduate Studies.
Members of the committee are permitted to participate remotely with both audio and video interaction. Students should work with their committee members to arrange defense participation and details prior to submitting an Appointment for Thesis/Project/Dissertation Defense form.
Changes to a supervisory committee must be documented and approved by submitting a Supervisory Committee Revision form to the School of Graduate Studies and cannot be made during the six weeks prior to the defense without a written request from the Department Head and approval of the Vice Provost of Graduate Studies.
No committee member should agree to proceed with a defense until they have carefully read and approved the thesis or Plan B paper/project.
Co-Advisors can be from any department but cannot also serve as the committee member from outside the department or specialization area.
After the final defense of a Plan A thesis, the student should submit their finalization paperwork and finished manuscript to the School of Graduate Studies for review.
Plan B papers/projects are defended but are not formally reviewed by the School of Graduate Studies, nor signed by the Vice Provost of Graduate Studies. Instead, they must be submitted directly to USU Libraries and uploaded to the institutional repository. See Plan B Report/Creative Project Submission Form. Once accepted, USU Libraries personnel will notify both the student and the School of Graduate Studies.
Once approved, the manuscript will either be uploaded to USU’s institutional repository or, if the student wishes to embargo their work, submit their physical manuscript to USU Libraries. USU Libraries personnel will notify the student and the School of Graduate Studies once the manuscript is accepted.

Doctoral Degrees

A completed initial Supervisory Committee Approval form should be submitted to the School of Graduate Studies for approval by the end of the student’s third semester.

As part of the initial Supervisory Committee Approval (SCAF) form, completion of Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) CITI Training is required for all doctoral students and any master’s student whose committee deems it appropriate for their student to take.
It is also required for all students funded by NIH, NSF, or USDA-NIFA.
RCR CITI Training must be completed before the initial SCAF form is submitted.
NOTE: If the SCAF form does not have all required committee roles filled and the completed RCR training will be denied.

See SGS Catalog Section 5.1.1., for further information about Responsible Conduct of Research requirement or contact Research Integrity and Compliance.

A doctoral supervisory committee must include at least five members who hold a terminal degree (e.g., Ph.D., other doctorate, or terminal master’s degree such as an M.F.A.). The committee must consist of a major professor from inside the student’s department, and at least three members from within the student’s department and at least one member who is a member of the USU Graduate Faculty with an appointment outside either, the department or, interdepartmental degree-granting program, in which the student is enrolled; all of these individuals must be members in good standing of the USU graduate faculty.
NOTE: For special accommodations, the department must receive approval from the Vice Provost of Graduate Studies.
It is permissible for one member of the committee to be affiliated with an outside institution, affiliated with USU on a part-time basis (e.g., adjunct faculty), or an emeritus or emerita; this individual can only be added to a committee with the permission of the appropriate Department Head and the Vice Provost for Graduate Studies.
All committee members must have completed a dissertation or thesis requirement similar to that which the graduate student is completing.

While it is the expectation that all members of a dissertation committee uphold these values, the specific role of the outside member of a dissertation committee is to ensure the success of the dissertation/thesis process for the student with regard to three primary goals:

A fair, ethical, and humane process for the student.
Rigorous academic and intellectual experience that yields meaningful insights accessible to the disciplinary and broader communities.
And safeguarding against “group think” or tacit expectations that may not be intuitive or evident to the student.

Within the School of Graduate Studies and departmental requirements, the doctoral supervisory committee does the following:

Determines courses for the student’s Program of Study.
Oversees any qualifying examinations and comprehensive examination, unless another departmental or program procedure is in place. *
Approves the dissertation proposal.
Supervises the student’s research and preparation of the dissertation.
Participates in or conducts departmental annual reviews.
Conducts the final oral examination.

NOTE: The major professor is the chairperson of the committee and usually directs the student’s research. Continuation in a doctoral program is contingent upon the availability of a major professor.

*Some departments or interdepartmental programs administer qualifying examinations. Each program has the responsibility of administering comprehensive examinations. The School of Graduate Studies does not have a policy regarding the nature of student comprehensive exams. Departments may dictate their own policies on this matter, provided that they do not violate University and School of Graduate Studies policies.

A faculty member should not serve on a supervisory committee if, for any reason, they will not be available for committee meetings. All committee members must attend the defense at the date and time registered with the School of Graduate Studies.
Members of the committee are permitted to participate remotely with both audio and video interaction. Students should work with their committee members to arrange defense participation and details prior to submitting an Appointment for Thesis/Project/Dissertation Defense form.
Changes to a supervisory committee must be documented and approved by submitting a Supervisory Committee Revision form to the School of Graduate Studies and cannot be made during the six weeks prior to the defense without a written request from the Department Head and approval of the Vice Provost of Graduate Studies.
No committee member should agree to proceed with a defense until they have carefully read and approved the dissertation.
After the final defense of a dissertation, the student should submit their finalization paperwork and finished manuscript to the School of Graduate Studies for review.
Once approved, the manuscript will either be uploaded to USU’s institutional repository or, if the student wishes to embargo their work, submit their physical manuscript to USU Libraries. USU Libraries personnel will notify the student and the School of Graduate Studies once the manuscript is accepted.

Concurrent Research Degrees and Supervisory Committees

Students doing concurrent graduate degrees will have two supervisory committees, one for each program (please see SGS Catalog Section 4.5.4. for concurrent master’s-master's degree programs, Section 4.5.5. for concurrent doctoral-master's programs, and Section 4.5.6. for concurrent doctoral-doctoral degree programs, for further information about concurrent degree programs and supervisory committees).
The major professor for one degree program must be a member on the committee for the other degree program. The other committee members for the two supervisory committees need only follow SGS and program guidelines and faculty may serve on both supervisory committees.
The Supervisory Committee form and Program of Study must be in accordance with the School of Graduate Studies and program requirements.

Committee Members from Outside of the Department

It is the expectation that all members of a thesis/Plan B paper or project/dissertation committee uphold these values, the specific role of the committee member from outside of the department is to ensure the success of the thesis/Plan B paper or project/dissertation process for the student with regard to three primary goals:

A fair, ethical, and humane process for the student.
A rigorous academic, and intellectual experience that yields meaningful insights accessible to the disciplinary and broader communities.
And safeguarding against “group think” or tacit expectations that may not be intuitive or evident to the student.

NOTE: The role of committee members from outside the department can only be filled by a member of the USU graduate faculty in good standing. While an individual from outside USU may be added to the committee, they are not eligible to fulfill the formal “outside committee member” role. All committee members, including members from outside of the department, must be approved by the Dean of the College, Department Head, and the Vice Provost of the School of Graduate Studies.

Committee Members from Outside the University

Committee members from outside the university may serve as a member at large of the committee. They are not eligible to serve as a committee chair or outside member. All committee members, including members outside the university, must be approved by the Dean of the College, Department Head, and the Vice Provost of the School of Graduate Studies.

Adjunct Faculty

An adjunct faculty member may serve as a member at large of the committee with approval from the Dean of the College, Department Head, and the Vice Provost of the School of Graduate Studies. Adjunct faculty may not fill the role of “Outside Committee Member.”

Emerita/Emeritus Faculty

Emerita/emeritus faculty may continue to serve as committee members or major professors on any committee on which they serve at the time they become emeritus. Emerita/emeritus faculty may shift from chair to member after they leave their normal faculty role, but they may not shift from member at large to chair or shift from member at large to outside member. They may serve as committee members on committees formed after they become emeritus, but not as major professor or outside member.

NOTE: The Department is responsible for ensuring that Emeritus/Emerita faculty retain an A# and IT access.

Faculty Who Leave Utah State University for Another Academic Institution or Job

Faculty who leave USU for another institution may continue to serve as committee members on graduate student committees upon the request of the department and with approval from the Vice Provost of Graduate Studies. The faculty member is responsible for updating their email in Banner, in order to receive notifications.

On graduate student committees where the departing member is the major professor, there must be a new major professor or a co-major professor who is a member of the graduate faculty in good standing at USU.