Guidelines for PhD Advisors and Students
Expectations and Best Practices for Advisors
Advisors are responsible for helping their students with critical aspects of development, including: selecting courses; offering career advice; developing professional skills; identifying research and funding opportunities; preparing manuscripts and grants; encouraging progress on the dissertation (including helping prepare for their proposal and dissertation defenses); networking with investigators (both locally and nationally); and searching for jobs. Specifics of these responsibilities include:
Establish clear research and/or professional goals with advisee(s).
Set up a regular meeting schedule with advisee(s). Frequency can vary based on need and availability, but a minimum of twice per semester is expected while students are undertaking coursework. Meeting frequency will increase after comprehensive exams, once students begin work on their dissertations. Advisees’ needs should dictate meeting frequency.
Administrative issues (e.g., visas) can be directed to the education program.
Communicate regularly and clearly with the DGS and Graduate Programs’ Director about student progress and performance.
Be prepared to either chair or sit on advisees’ comprehensive exams and dissertation committees. It may be most appropriate for the advisor to chair the committee, or, depending on the student’s paper topic, another DPHS faculty member may be a better fit.
Be a catalyst for advisees in developing their own networks.
Provide timely feedback (usually within 2-3 weeks) on draft manuscripts and dissertation chapters.
Review progress toward graduation annually; sign off on progress toward dissertation reports annually.
Students are strongly encouraged to use the Individual Development Plan (IDP), found in the Handbook Appendices.
Expectations and Best Practices for Students
Students are responsible for consulting with their advisor about their dissertation; regularly updating the advisor about their progress in the PhD program; keeping dissertation committee members updated about progress on their dissertation; and informing the advisor of any personal or professional situations that may affect their progress. Specifics of these responsibilities include:
Participate in regular meetings with their advisor (as described above).
Satisfy all IRB requirements and remain current on all required research training.
Ensure that all Departmental and Graduate School requirements (e.g., forms, documents) are met.
Provide the dissertation committee with sufficient time to read thoughtfully and comment on their dissertation draft (at least 2 weeks in advance of preliminary or final defense).