Supervisory committee
Once it has been formally appointed, your supervisory committee takes over the role of your faculty adviser and guides your program of study through conferral of the masters or doctoral degree.
Master of Science
Students are encouraged to select their supervisory chairperson and supervisory committee by the fourth quarter, typically summer during NMETH 530. The student’s initial faculty adviser may or may not be the Chair of the Supervisory Committee – this is an open decision for students.
Role of the Supervisory committee
The Master of Science student’s Supervisory Committee:
- signs the completed Faculty Agreement to Serve on Supervisory Committee form;
- works together with the student to develop, conduct and present the thesis or scholarly project, including planning course work;
- keeps a written log of student progress in the student file;
- approves and signs, at onset and again at completion, either 1) the Master’s Project Initial Plan and Final Product Report form or 2) the Thesis Permission and Progress Report form;
- guides research for the thesis or activities for completion of the scholarly project;
- administers the master’s final examination according to UW Graduate School procedures;
- at the final examination, signs Application for Degree (warrant), Verification of Degree form, and either the signature page (2) for the Master’s Project Initial Plan and Final Product Report; and
- at the final examination, completes and seals in the envelope provided, the MS Program Evaluation: Scholarly Inquiry Scale.
Composition of the supervisory committee
You must adhere to University of Washington Graduate School policy in selecting faculty members to be recommended for the supervisory committee. The supervisory committee consists of a minimum of two and no more than four members.
The Committee Chair
The Chair must be a member of the graduate faculty. Typically, the chair is also the adviser for the student’s thesis or project work. Occasionally it is appropriate for the adviser to be selected from faculty other than graduate faculty. In such instances, the supervisory committee would consist of three members, with one of the members of graduate faculty serving as chair. The chair then has the added responsibility to act as a consultant for the adviser on matters pertaining to functions of the committee.
Committee members
At least half of the total supervisory committee must be graduate faculty. Members should be chosen based on compatibility of interests between the topics on which the student wishes to work and the areas of inquiry on which faculty are focusing their efforts.
Dynamics
Consider the ability of selected members to work together, as well as required expertise. The student and committee will develop approaches for working together that blend the individual student’s needs, as well as academic scholarship guidance and evaluation expected of the committee by the University. Ongoing discussions, negotiations and clarifications of strategies and expectations are important processes between the student and committee to assure the meeting overall goals.
Selecting your Supervisory Committee members
Process
- Students read the UW Graduate School policy on forming their supervisory committee, as well as Considerations for Selecting Supervisory Committee Members and Chair.
- During the third and fourth quarters of the master’s program, students discuss with their faculty adviser any potential members of the faculty who may be an appropriate guide (supervisory committee chair) for the student’s thesis or scholarly project.
- Students then interview members of the graduate faculty with compatible interests to consider who might be an appropriate chair of the supervisory committee. The prospective chairperson is selected first.
- Once a faculty member and student have agreed to the chair/advisee relationship, the student and prospective chairperson identify the additional competencies desirable for representation on the committee and a likely candidate(s) to serve on the committee.
- The student interviews the potential supervisory committee member(s) and confirms their willingness to serve as a member of the supervisory committee. The full supervisory committee should be appointed as early as possible and not later than the third quarter of the program. At this point, all of the required paperwork should be submitted to the Office of Student and Academic Affairs (see below.)
- The student makes an agreement with the member(s) of the supervisory committee to work together to develop, conduct and present the thesis or scholarly project. The student establishes a schedule of regular appointments with the supervisory chair in order to enhance progression according to the student’s identified time frame for completion.
Required paperwork
Complete supervisory committee establishment paperwork MUST be received by the Office of Student and Academic Affairs AT LEAST one quarter prior to graduation.
- Faculty Agreement to Serve on Supervisory Committee
Copies of the completed Faculty Agreement to Serve on Supervisory Committee form will be forwarded by the Office of Student and Academic Affairs to all members of the supervisory committee and one copy placed in the student’s file. Any change of committee must be reported to the Office of Student and Academic Affairs. - Human Subjects and Animal Care Approval Information
This form is required whether or not the student’s research will require an IRB review. Students who are unsure about whether or not their research will require IRB approval should review these guidelines. If this form is not submitted, final approval of the committee is delayed until the form is received. - Students pursuing a scholarly project (non-thesis) option must also submit a Master’s Project Initial Plan and Final Product Report along with the two forms listed above.
Doctor of Nursing Practice
Your initial faculty adviser may or may not be a member of the supervisory committee.
Role of your supervisory committee
Your supervisory committee:
- Advises and mentors you through your completion of the doctoral program using various mentoring resources.
- Submits, through the chair, the signed DNP Final Project rubrics forms to your student file.
- Evaluates the proposed program of study using a set of established guidelines.
- Formally approves your program of study.
- Guides final project; recommends the final project for approval and for the doctoral degree.
- Conducts the final examination.
The supervisory committee MUST meet as a group to:
- conduct the final examination
Composition of your supervisory committee
All DNP supervisory committees must meet the UW Graduate School requirements on forming their supervisory committee. If you are seeking track preparation, one member must be knowledgeable in the track area certification requirements.
The student and committee will develop approaches for working together that blend the individual student’s needs, as well as academic scholarship guidance and evaluation expected of the committee by the University. Ongoing discussions, negotiations, and clarifications of strategies and expectations are important processes between the student and committee to assure meeting overall goals.
Impartial review committee
If you or your committee feels that bias or unfair treatment is occurring, you or a member of your supervisory committee may call upon the GSR committee in the College of Education for a review by contacting Tom Stritikus at tstrit@uw.edu.
When to contact the GSR committee:
- If a student is being held to a higher standard than other students
- If a faculty member appears to be displaying bias
- If a student’s concerns are not being addressed by the supervisory committee
If other concerns arise, contact the Office of Student and Academic Affairs, who will help determine the appropriate person to help address concerns.
Steps in the formation of your supervisory committee
- Read the UW Graduate School policy on forming their supervisory committee.
- In the fall of year 3 of your program, you will be notified in NMETH 801 with regards to the composition of your supervisory committee. NMETH 801 faculty will serve as members of your DNP supervisory committee, along with at least one member knowledgeable in the track area for students seeking preparation in a new area of practice.
- You may wish to add a member of the agency where the practice doctorate project will be conducted as an optional fourth member of the committee.
- You will submit as an assignment in NMETH 801: Planning a written memorandum for the appointment of your supervisory committee. Your faculty will forward the Request to Establish a Supervisory Committee Form to Dr. Jennifer Sonney, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs (sonadaa@uw.edu), and to Director of Student Services Patrick Tufford (ptufford@uw.edu). If you select committee members from outside the University of Washington, please provide their contact information.
- The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs is the School of Nursing Graduate Program Coordinator. The Associate Dean reviews the letter of request and forwards it via a staff member in the Office of Student and Academic Affairs to the Graduate School for appointment and approval of the individual committee members.
- The supervisory committee is appointed by the Dean of the Graduate School.
- The student establishes a schedule of regular appointments with the supervisory committee during the planning and implementation quarters in order to enhance progression.
Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing Science
In your second quarter of the program, you are encouraged to begin interviewing faculty members who might serve as your Supervisory Chairperson or on your supervisory committee and to finalize your committee early in your second year of study. Your initial faculty adviser may or may not be part of your supervisory committee.
Role of your supervisory committee
The supervisory committee:
- picks up where the faculty adviser left off, advises and mentors the student through the remainder of the doctoral program, working together with the student to discuss and plan choices in course work and dissertation work and to explore specific areas of study that will support individual educational goals;
- submits, through the chair, quarterly progress notes to the student’s file;
- evaluates the proposed program of study using a set of established guidelines;
- formally approves the student’s program of study for the student file;
- conducts oral and written General Examinations;
- guides research for the dissertation; and
- recommends the dissertation for approval and the student for the doctoral degree.
The supervisory committee must meet at least three times: to approve the program of study, to conduct the general examination (GSR must be present), and to conduct the final examination (GSR must be present). Although not required, committees may also meet to approve the dissertation proposal by using the Dissertation Approval Form.
Composition of your supervisory committee
All PhD supervisory committees must meet the UW Graduate School policy when forming their supervisory committee. You can search for Graduate Faculty online.
Consider the ability of selected members to work together as well as required expertise. You and your Committee will develop approaches of working together that blend your individual needs as well as academic scholarship guidance and evaluation expected of the Committee by the University. Ongoing discussions, negotiations, and clarifications of strategies and expectations are important processes between you and your Committee to assure the best functioning for meeting overall goals.
Steps in the selection of your supervisory committee
- Read UW Graduate School Policy 4.2: Supervisory Committee for Graduate Students, and review the above section on the composition of your supervisory committee.
- During the first year of your doctoral program, talk with your faculty adviser about members of the faculty who share your research interests and might potentially be appropriate to guide your dissertation research.
- Interview graduate faculty who share your research and methodological interests to consider who might be an appropriate chair for your supervisory committee. Remember, your prospective chairperson is selected first.
- You and your prospective chairperson will identify likely candidates for the rest of the committee. Consider the ability of potential members to work together as well as their required expertise.
- Interview potential supervisory committee members and confirm their willingness to serve as a member of your supervisory committee.
- Submit a written letter of request for the appointment of your supervisory committee to Dr. Jennifer Sonney, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, at sonaada@uw.edu, and copy phdadv@uw.edu (no hard copies will be reviewed). If you select committee members from outside the University of Washington, you must include a justification for that member’s selection in your letter of request. His or her contact information and curriculum vitae should be included.
- Submit a completed Use of Human and Animal Subjects for UW Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations form to the Office of Student and Academic Affairs. This form is required whether or not your research will require an IRB review. If you are unsure about whether or not your research will require IRB approval, speak to your committee chair and consult these guidelines. If this form is not submitted, final approval of your committee is delayed until the form is received.
- The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs is the School of Nursing Graduate Program Coordinator. The Associate Dean will review your letter of request and forward it, via the Office of Student and Academic Affairs, to the Graduate School for appointment and approval of the individual committee members.
- Your supervisory committee is appointed by the Dean of the Graduate School.
- Establish a schedule of regular appointments with your supervisory chair in order to enhance progression in your program of study within your time frame for completion.
Reading committee
After you finish writing your dissertation, your reading committee must be appointed. The purpose of the reading committee is to determine your readiness for your final examination. The Chairperson of your supervisory committee submits a memo to the Doctoral Student Academic Counselor in the Office of Student and Academic Affairs (phdadv@uw.edu), requesting the appointment of individuals from the supervisory committee to serve as members of the reading committee. Typically, a reading committee consists of all members of the supervisory committee except the GSR.
The reading committee must approve your dissertation and agree that you are ready for your final exam. Once your committee approves you to go forward with the exam, you must schedule your exam. All of the members of your committee must agree to the date and time of the exam. Go to the MyGrad Student View website and to schedule your final exam with the Graduate School. You must submit your request at least 10 days before the exam date. This allows time for the Graduate School to evaluate your student record.
The Reading Committee’s evaluation of your readiness for the final examination does not automatically assure passing your final examination. All members of your Supervisory Committee read your dissertation and provide feedback. All Committee members must be given at least two weeks prior to the final examination to do so. If the two-week requirement cannot be met, your defense must be rescheduled.
For more information about reading committees, please visit the UW Graduate School’s website.