Advisory Committee
A graduate student is required to have an advisory committee and is responsible for its formation and maintenance. Several programs have a designated "standing advisory committee." TTU Policy 271 provides details on the composition of the student's advisory committee. All requirements related to advisory committee responsibility as defined in Tennessee Tech Policy 282 (Graduate Faculty Appointment and Responsibilities Policy) must be met, except as provided in this section;
Unless a specific graduate program has direct oversight by a standing advisory committee, all graduate degree programs must follow the committee formation requirements.
In consultation with their advisor, a graduate student is required to establish their advisory committee and should submit the Advisory Committee Form to the College of Graduate Studies by the completion of 15 semester hours.
The graduate student, in consultation with the departmental chairperson or graduate student's academic advisor, will determine the formation of the graduate student's advisory committee as part of the Program of Study.
A minimum of three (3) advisory committee members is required for a master's or specialist degree program.
A minimum of four (4) advisory committee members is required for a doctoral program in Education.
A minimum of five (5) advisory committee member is required for a doctoral program in Engineering and Environmental Sciences.
A graduate student's advisory committee members shall represent each of the areas in which the graduate student expects to study, with two (2) members having background in the major area. The graduate student must have at least one (1) committee member with adequate background and research interests in the area in which the student has proposed a research objective.
A faculty member has the prerogative of accepting or relinquishing an appointment on a graduate student's advisory committee.
Professionals who are not employed by Tennessee Tech may serve as a consultant on a graduate student's committee if appointed pursuant to Policy 282 (Graduate Faculty Appointment and Responsibilities).
Approval requirements are as follows:
Three (3) positive votes, or seventy-five percent positive votes, whichever is greater, is required from the advisory committee members of a graduate student pursuing a master's or specialist degree.
A minimum of eighty percent positive votes is required from the advisory committee members of a graduate student pursuing a doctoral degree in Engineering or Environmental Sciences.
The advisory committee must vote unanimously positive for a graduate student pursuing a doctoral degree in Education.
In the event a student does not meet the required number of votes for approval, the student may appeal to the dean of the college in which they are enrolled. The college dean may assign a subcommittee to review the appeal. However, the decision from the dean of the college is final.
The graduate student is responsible for submitting to the College of Graduate Studies any change in advisory committee.