The Graduate Program Director is the temporary faculty adviser for a new student initially enrolling for graduate study.  The new student will be required to select a permanent faculty adviser during the semester in which he/she is enrolled in the ninth graduate credit hour.  In subsequent discussions, this semester will be referred to as the first semester of enrollment, the second semester of enrollment will refer to the semester in which the student is enrolled in the eighteenth graduate credit hour, etc.

During the first semester of enrollment, the student should develop a one-page summary of potential research interests and possible research topics and an initial plan of study that indicates subject interests.  The student should arrange appointments with a maximum of two faculty members to discuss their willingness to serve as the faculty adviser.  When a faculty member has agreed to serve as the faculty adviser, the student should submit the Selection of Graduate Adviser form to the Graduate Program Director (this form is the penultimate page of this document).  The selection of the faculty adviser must be completed before the first day of pre-enrollment during the first semester of enrollment.

 The student should reconsider and possibly change the faculty adviser before the first day of pre-enrollment during the third semester of enrollment.  This reconsideration is to ensure that the current faculty adviser is still the appropriate individual to direct the research interests of the student.

 Click here to download the Faculty Adviser Selection Form (PDF Format)