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NUIP Graduate Student Form

SUPERVISORY COMMITTEE (SVC)

MS STUDENT REQUIREMENTS:

Supervisory committee consists of a minimum of 3 committee members.

The committee chair and the majority of the committee must be tenure-line faculty in the student's department, unless otherwise approved by the dean of The Graduate School. 

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

PHD STUDENT REQUIREMENTS: 

Supervisory committee consists of a total of 5 committee members.

  1. The committee chair and the majority of the committee must be tenure-line faculty in the NUIP department.
  2. One member of the committee must be appointed from outside the student's major department.
    • The outside member is normally from another University of Utah department.
    • The Dean of The Graduate School may approve requests to appoint a committee member form another University where appropriate justification and supporting documentation is provided. See justification steps below.
Justification steps for committee member from another University:
  1. Acquire a current curriculum vitae (CV)
  2. Download 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 on the template.
  4. Collect signature form Director of Graduate Studies, Thunder Jalili.
  5. Save as .pdf and email to nutrition@health.utah.edu

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.