[La-cgs] Question about graduate advisors and committees

[B. Ramu Ramachandran]

Hello everyone:

I would like to learn more about the mechanisms by which graduate 
students (mainly doctoral but thesis students in masters programs too) 
select their research advisors and advisory committees at your 
institutions. I understand that various departments/programs have their 
own policies or mechanisms but does the Graduate School have anything to 
say on the matter?

Our current policy states that the Graduate School will appoint the 
advisor and committee. As you know, in practice, the selection takes 
place by mutual consent and conversations and the Graduate School is 
involved only in rubber-stamping the selection (as long as no alarms go 
off). Do any of you have policies in place that acknowledge this 
reality, and perhaps even put some burden of choosing a major advisor on 
the student? If you have a Grad School or departmental policy that 
suggests that the burden is on the student, at least to some extent, I 
am very interested in learning more.

Looking forward to the great feedback, as always.

Best regards,
Ramu

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B. Ramu Ramachandran
Associate Vice President for Research & Dean of Graduate School
Director, Institute for Micromanufacturing
T. L. James Eminent Scholar Chair Professor
P. O. Box 7923
Louisiana Tech University
Ruston, LA 71272, USA

318-257-4304