The role of the examination committee chair is to manage the thesis or project defense, ensure its integrity and represent the interests of the faculty and student. Any member of the faculty may be an observer. The student examinee may invite a silent student observer to attend the examination. The defense examination usually lasts two hours, although this time period may be extended as required. At the completion of the examination, the candidate and observers are excused from the room and the examination committee determines whether the candidate has successfully defended the thesis.
Unanimous agreement is required to pass the student.
If less than unanimous agreement is reached, the student is considered to have failed the first doctoral defense examination. A student who fails the first defense may request a second defense. At the second defense, the student has passed the defense if there is no more than one negative vote. A student who has failed the second defense is terminated from the graduate program. Under this program alternative, in addition to completion of necessary coursework, students participate in an academic or professional experience which enriches and complements the coursework of their study plan.