The faculty advisor is appointed by the dean of the college in which the student is enrolled or by the dean's representative. Advisors should also be available for consultation on problems students may experience. Faculty advisors are expected to provide continuous educational counseling for their students throughout the undergraduate years. All academic units that offer graduate programs provide advising services to students interested in admission to a particular degree program. In addition to these services, the Graduate College Advising Office serves current, prospective, and nondegree graduate students.
Advisors provide general information about policies, procedures, requirements, and support services.
Generally, newly admitted students meet with an advisor in their academic unit to discuss program procedures and requirements, registration for courses, planning an initial program of study, and selecting a supervisory committee. Students also work with the advisor, program faculty, and the head of the academic unit to establish a supervisory committee. Upon the recommendation of the head of the academic unit, and at the time the student files a program of study, the dean of the Graduate College appoints the student's supervisory committee. The supervisory committee is responsible for the guidance and direction of the student's graduate program, and the chair of the supervisory committee is usually regarded as the student's faculty advisor. The program committee advises the student in planning the program of study and administers the comprehensive examinations.