Supervisory Committee (SVC) Form

NUIP Graduate Student Form

SUPERVISORY COMMITTEE (SVC)

MS STUDENT REQUIREMENTS:

Master’s (MS) students are required to have 3 members in their supervisory committee (SVC). The majority of committee members need to be tenure-line within the student’s home department, and the last member can be another tenure-track, career-line, adjunct, or outside member. Outside members can either be employed in a different department at the University of Utah or employed entirely outside of the University. All committee members who are employed by the University of Utah should be entered using their UNID in the “Member” boxes. Committee members who are not employed by the University should be listed in the “Outside Member” boxes.

  • The Graduate School Dean requires that all committee members serving on MS committees need to have earned a MS/MA or higher. Any exceptions occur case-by-case through an individual committee petition.

  • The Dean of The Graduate School may approve requests to appoint a committee member from another University where appropriate justification and supporting documentation is provided. See the justification steps below. 

PHD STUDENT REQUIREMENTS: 

Doctorate (Ph.D.) students are required to have 5 members in their supervisory committee (SVC). The majority of committee members need to be tenure-line within the student’s home department, and at least one member needs to be outside of the department. Outside members can either be employed in a different department at the University of Utah or employed entirely outside of the University. All committee members who are employed by the University of Utah should be entered using their UNID in the “Member” boxes. Committee members who are not employed by the University should be listed in the “Outside Member” boxes. A CV and justification letter are required for all members who are not employed by the University of Utah. 

  • The Graduate School Dean requires all committee members serving on Ph.D. committees to have earned a Ph.D. Any exceptions occur case-by-case through an individual committee petition.

  • The Dean of The Graduate School may approve requests to appoint a committee member from another University when appropriate justification and supporting documentation are provided. See the justification steps below.

Justification steps for committee member from another University:

  1. Acquire a current curriculum vitae (CV).

  2. Download the justification letter template.

  3. Write a justification letter that includes a short explanation (brief paragraph) that explains the outside member (OM) experience and relevance toward your program/research. A few examples are included in the template.

  4. Collect the signature of the NUIP Director of Graduate Studies, Thunder Jalili.

  5. Save as .pdf and email both matto nutrition@health.utah.edu. 

Complete SVC Form

WHAT IS A SUPERVISORY COMMITTEE?

A supervisory committee guides and assists a student in working toward a graduate degree.

WHEN DO I NEED TO FORM A SUPERVISORY COMMITTEE? 

The supervisory committee is usually formed in the first year of graduate work. Submit form no later then the first semester of your second year in your program.

WHAT DOES A SUPERVISORY COMMITTEE DO?

The supervisory committee is responsible for:

  • approving the student’s academic program,
  • preparing and judging the qualifying examinations subject to departmental policy,
  • approving the subject and final thesis or dissertation,
  • and administering and judging the final oral examination (thesis or dissertation defense).

The chair of the supervisory committee directs the student’s research and writing of the thesis or dissertation.

Visit The Graduate School for more information on Supervisory Committees.

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES
  • The final oral examination may be chaired by any member of the supervisory committee consistent with departmental policy.
  • If a graduate student’s preliminary work is deficient, the supervisory committee may require supplementary undergraduate courses for which no graduate credit is granted.
  • Decisions concerning program requirements, examinations, and the thesis or dissertation are made by majority vote of the supervisory committee.

NUIP SVC Form

SUPERVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS
OUTSIDE COMMITEE MEMBER(s) - if applicable

A current curriculum vitae (CV) and justification letter must be submitted for each Outside Faculty Member. Save as .pdf and email both to nutrition@health.utah.edu.