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Ugrad Advising Appts
College of Education
MSU

Copyright ©
Michigan State University

 

Choosing Members of the Guidance Committee:
Advice from Graduate Students

Candace "Cooker" Perkins (Ph.D. 2004)
& Paul Nagelkirk (Ph.D. 2005)

The following suggestions were written for Ph.D. students, but most of the ideas are equally applicable to M.S. students.

  1. Choosing guidance committee members should begin with a discussion with your major professor (committee chair). This discussion should include:

bullet

Establish the student's internal and external cognate areas of study
and brainstorm about faculty members who might represent these
areas on your committee.

bulletDetermine the roles to be fulfilled by committee members, i.e.,
represent all areas of study, including someone strong in research
design, statistics, etc.
bullet

Discuss the expected/desired personality and professional caliber
of each potential committee member.

Sample Guidance/Dissertation Committee

Major Area:  Exercise Physiology (exercise and pregnancy)
Internal Cognate: Exercise Behavior
External Cognate: Epidemiology

Guidance Committee:
Dr. SoandSo (KIN faculty, exercise physiology)
Dr. ThatGuy (KIN faculty, pediatrics and pregnancy)
Dr. HocusPocus (KIN faculty, sport psychology)
Dr. PublicHealth (epidemiology, research, and statistics)

  1. Both the major professor and graduate student should independently determine a list of possible committee members to fulfill desired roles.

  2. Suggestions for the graduate student:
bulletRemember that the selection of a guidance committee (and also
selection of the internship, project, thesis, and dissertation
committees) is ultimately the student's responsibility. Consult others
for advice, but make the decision yourself.
bulletConsult senior graduate students for their experiences and
recommendations. The peer network can help you avoid future
hassles.
bulletUse the "Expertise Database" on the Committee of Science (COS)
web site (http://www.cos.com) to search for faculty members
from other departments whose research interests
may match yours. They may serve as good committee members
even if you have not taken any of their courses.
bulletDo not simply ask the first four faculty members you meet to be on
your committee. You need smart people from diverse backgrounds
to ensure you have the best experience that is most beneficial to
your future career.
bulletPersonality and professional caliber are both important. You need
sound scientific advice, but want to avoid personal issues that may
interfere with your progress.

  1. Discuss the list of possible mentors with your major professor. Work to agree on each potential member's role on the guidance committee.

  2. Contact potential committee members. Provide each person with a current vita and a proposed plan of study. Ph.D. students should also provide a description of current and proposed research activities.

  3. Be upfront about expectations. The committee chair, graduate student, and committee members should discuss expected service on the committee and projected time commitment from each. Recognize the commitment that program committee members make when they agree to become members of your guidance committee. Make sure they understand this commitment and are willing to provide you with the necessary time and guidance. Be appreciative of their time and effort. When selecting committee members it is important that you convey your projected timeline to degree completion.

  4. Establish a checklist or form of these expectations for committee members to sign.