University at Albany
College of Arts and Sciences
DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY
Doctoral Committee Membership
DATE:
____________________
TO:
Sylvia Roch, Director of Graduate Studies in Psychology
FROM:
__________________________________
(Student Name)
___________________________
(Student ID#)
Based on the department’s Guidelines and Requirements Governing the Doctoral Dissertation
dated October 17, 2003 (please remove attached copy and retain for your files), I have chosen the
following people to serve on my dissertation committee:
Chair:
_____________________________________________
Member: _____________________________________________
Member: _____________________________________________
Member: _____________________________________________
I will notify the Director of Graduate Studies in writing if this arrangement changes.
____________________________________________
(Student's signature)
(date)
____________________________________________
(Committee Chair’s signature)
(date)
____________________________________________
(Graduate Director's signature)
(date)
NOTE: For any committee member who is not a member of the Department faculty, attach
a description of credentials and the justification for inclusion on the committee.
Guidelines and Requirements Governing the Doctoral Dissertation
(Revision Date: October 17, 2003)
1.
The choice of the Chair of the doctoral dissertation committee is the student’s, and each
student is free to make this decision as s/he wishes. Once the choice of a committee
Chair is made and agreed upon by both, the student and the Chair will decide upon other
potential members to be approached and invited to participate.
2.
Each committee shall have a minimum of three members. There may be additional
members and/or consultants. Once the committee is formed, the student is responsible
for notifying the Director of Graduate Studies in Psychology of the committee
membership.
3.
Two of the members, including the Chair, shall be voting faculty members of the
Psychology Department at UAlbany. The third member may be a member of the faculty
of the Psychology Department, another department at UAlbany or another academic unit,
or in an occupation pertinent to the student’s program of study.
4.
All committee members must hold the earned doctoral degree, or title of Professor.
5.
A faculty member may continue as a committee member or chair if s/he should leave the
department. The responsibilities of the committee pertaining to the supervision of the
dissertation are as follows:
a. The total committee must unanimously approve the dissertation topic.
b. All members must be available to consult with the student as the research proposal is
developed. Students are urged to circulate copies of their proposal among the entire
departmental faculty for suggestions.
c. Upon receiving a written proposal of the research rationale, design, and analysis, the
total committee shall meet with the student to ascertain the student’s grasp of relevant
information and to suggest and decide upon modifications to the proposal.
d. Every member of the committee must sign approval of the final version of the
proposal on the appropriate form. This signature constitutes agreement to approve
the final dissertation if it has been executed as proposed, and written in an acceptable
scholarly style.
e. The Chair of the committee will be the individual most actively guiding the student
during the data gathering and analysis stages. It is the student’s responsibility to keep
the other members apprised of progress. The total committee is responsible for
consulting with the student upon request. The Chair of the committee may call
meetings of the total committee periodically.
f. If the research is to be conducted away from the Albany campus, arrangements with
the appropriate authorities must be agreed upon prior to approval of the proposal.
Normally, the Chair will be the responsible liaison with the off-campus facility.
g. Two of the three members or a simple majority of the committee if larger than three
must provide approving signatures to the final completed copy of the dissertation
submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies.
6.
Each student must give an oral defense of the dissertation before the faculty of the
department prior to the preparation of the final typed form. The format of the oral
examination will be determined by the Chair of the dissertation committee. Copies of the
dissertation will be available for those who wish to read it prior to the defense. Questions
and discussion pertaining to the dissertation may be raised by anyone attending the
defense within the format determined by the dissertation committee Chair.
7.
Upon the completion of revisions, if necessary, the student must present the final typed
copy to the committee for their approval signatures. This copy is to be delivered to the
Department Chair for signature of approval. The dissertation and recommendation for
award of the Ph.D. degree will be transmitted to the Office of Graduate Studies by the
Chair of the Department.
Note: These guidelines are based in large part on University policy, and in remaining part on
Department practice and policy, which has been in place since 1985. As always,
petitions for waiver or revision may be presented to the Graduate Director.