The committee shall consist of a minimum of three graduate faculty members, including a minimum of two members of the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management faculty in the student's graduate major. At least one member shall be chosen to represent the minor field, if appropriate; this may be a faculty member within the Department if the minor field is in the Department. Membership from other departments is encouraged. In addition to these minimum requirements, special committee members from outside the Graduate Faculty can be added to the committee with permission of the Graduate Program Coordinator if their expertise has special relevance to the topic. If such a special member is added, this person does not substitute as one of the three required graduate faculty members.
The thesis adviser (if a member of the Department faculty) shall serve as the chair of the committee. If the thesis adviser is a co-adviser from another unit of the University, then the co-adviser in the Department serves as the chair. The composition of the committee shall be proposed by the thesis adviser in consultation with the student, and submitted to the Graduate Program Coordinator as part of the Graduate Academic Plan. Notification of changes in the committee's composition should be filed with the Graduate Program Coordinator. Since the constitution of master's committees is a unit-level purview, questions in this regard should be directed to the Graduate Program Coordinator rather than to the Graduate School.
The committee shall be established during the student's first four (4) months (first semester) of residence.
Responsibilities of the student's committee follow:
To determine course deficiencies to be remedied, courses to be taken, and to approve the student's research and "Graduate Academic Plan" (Appendix E). A copy of the student's Graduate Academic Plan should be provided to the student, each committee member, and the Department's Office of Graduate Studies immediately following the initial meeting; i.e., before the end of the student's first semester in residence.
To be available for consultation with the student on an individual basis.
Before the end of the student's first semester in residence and at 12-month intervals or less thereafter, the committee shall be assembled to hear progress of the student's course work and research. Committee members from other departments shall be informed of the M.S. requirements of the Department.
To read and evaluate the thesis. During thesis preparation, frequent contact with the committee is valuable. Finished copies of the thesis must be delivered to the members at least two (2) weeks prior to the scheduled final defense.
On completion of the academic program and thesis, a final examination shall be given by the assembled committee (see Section III.F). It is the responsibility of the committee chair to arrange the examination and announce it by email to faculty and graduate students in the department at least two weeks in advance. The examination opens with a public oral presentation by the student. The student must file their Intent to Graduate on LionPATH early in their final semester.
