The doctoral advisory committee, formed through the Program of Study, guides the student through the doctoral program, advises on required coursework, oversees research, reviews progress toward the degree, and conducts the preliminary and final exams.

If not already determined at the time of matriculation, during the first semester of enrollment, the chair/director of the major program should, in conjunction with the student, appoint an advisor from the Faculty of the Graduate School (with membership as a Graduate Faculty or Associate Graduate Faculty) to serve as chair of the student's doctoral advisory committee until a permanent chair is obtained. Ultimately, it is the student's responsibility to obtain and maintain a permanent chair and advisory committee members for the graduate program. For additional information on advisory committee requirements determined by a program's bylaws, see Chapter 1.D.

Doctoral advisory committee composition must meet the following minimum requirements:

  • The committee must include at least three current members of the Faculty of the Graduate School.
  • Out of these three members, at least two must be members of the Graduate Faculty.
  • The committee must also include at least two members from the student’s doctoral graduate program faculty.
  • All members must hold a degree at a level comparable to the degree sought by the student (WAC 250-61-100). On a case-by-case basis, the vice provost for graduate and professional education may approve research-active faculty with other doctoral or equivalent degrees to serve on a Ph.D. or Ed.D. advisory committee.

1. External Committee Advisory Committee Members

Advisory committees may have more than three members; however, the majority must be members of the Faculty of the Graduate School. Individuals who are not WSU faculty may be considered additional (beyond three) advisory committee members on an ad hoc basis.

    • External advisory committee members must hold a degree comparable to that sought by the student and have specific expertise that is particularly important to the student’s proposed program.
    • Examples of external advisory committee members would include faculty from another university or individuals from an appropriate government, business, or industry organization.
    • Such an individual must be nominated to serve on an advisory committee by the graduate program director to the vice provost for graduate and professional education, who makes the final decision. A current curriculum vita and nomination memo must be included with the request, which is submitted through the GRM along with the Program of Study or Change of Committee

2. Conflict of Interest

Potential conflicts of interest should be acknowledged when forming a graduate student’s advisory committee. Examples of potential perceived or real conflicts of interest include 1) a new faculty member who was a former graduate school peer, 2) a faculty member who is the employer or supervisor of a staff member pursuing a degree, and 3) faculty members whose impartiality may be impacted because of close professional or personal relationships that are separate from their WSU faculty roles.

3. Establishing and Maintaining an Advisory Committee

The student is responsible for establishing and maintaining an advisory committee. WSU faculty have the right to decline to serve on any specific student’s advisory committee. All advisory committee members and the graduate program director must sign the Program of Study. Once the Program of Study has been filed with the Graduate School, changes may be made to the advisory committee composition by completing the Committee Change form.

The vice provost for graduate and professional education has the final approval for all advisory committees. The vice provost also has the authority to remove a faculty member from a student’s advisory committee after consultation with the program/department chair, the dean of the college, and the provost when it is in the student's and the program's best interest.

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