The GPD serves as the academic advisor for all new mathematics PhD students and continues in this role until the student picks a dissertation advisor.  Once the student has chosen a dissertation advisor, that faculty member also serves as the academic advisor. The SCA serves the corresponding role for all new Statistics PhD students and MS students at the Amherst campus, while the SCN does so for all Statistics MS students at the Charles River campus. The AMD serves as the academic advisor for students in the Applied Mathematics MS program.

In addition to these formal relationships, all graduate students are encouraged to seek advice and mentorship from other faculty. The GPD or SPD may assign an informal mentor to incoming PhD students based on their declared research interests, but students can also ask for help and develop relationships with other faculty as their interests evolve. 

The role of the academic advisor is to guide the student through the degree requirements, to help the student organize a reasonable program of courses, to help the student select an oral examination committee (when appropriate) and to provide some career guidance. During each semester there is an advising week, when students must consult with their academic advisors in order to preregister for the following semester. But students should seek advice from their academic advisors and other faculty members whenever an issue arises (or even before it arises). Ultimately, of course, it is the student’s own responsibility to meet the requirements of the graduate program.

Doctoral students who have completed their exams are encouraged to choose a dissertation advisor and to form their dissertation committee as soon as practical. (See the section on Statute of Limitations for the required timeline.)  Choosing a dissertation advisor is one of the most important decisions a PhD student must make during their studies, and should be done thoughtfully and with adequate preparation.  It is a good idea to meet with multiple faculty in the research areas you are interested in, to find out if they are available and taking student, and to learn about their research and what being their student would be like.  Looking for a potential dissertation advisor should start early, even in the first year.  Office hours, seminars, and department teas can be opportunities to start informal discussions with faculty, and the process of assembling a committee and choosing topics for the oral exam is another chance to learn more about a potential advisor.  

Finally, once the student and advisor have agreed to work together, it is a very good idea to have clear and open discussions about expectations, such as how often to meet, how closely the student will be guided, will they report on their progress orally or will they also submit written reports, etc.  All of these can change and be re-negotiated later, but it's very helpful to begin with a clear understanding on both sides.

Doctoral Progress Report

Each Fall, all PhD students who have completed their oral exams and declared a thesis advisor will be asked to complete a Doctoral Progress Report (DPR).  In this report you will summarize your activities and progress over the previous year, and describe your goals and plans for the upcoming year, as well as your career plans and any professional development activities you plan to pursue.   The DPR is not graded and funding decisions will not be based on it.  Rather, its purpose is to help your thesis advisor and the GPD advise you better.  It is suggested that you use preparing the DPR as an opportunity to discuss your progress and goals with your advisor.

A few students create Independent Development Plans (IDP) with their advisors; if you have done an IDP in the same calendar year, it can be submitted in place of the DPR.

The DPR is due in late October.  Once it is submitted it is sent to the advisor who will approve and sign it, and then it is sent to the GAC for review.  The student can optionally request short written feedback from the GAC on the report; if feedback is requested it should be returned by the end of November.

Policy on Conflicts Between Students and Advisors

Although the Department strives to be a collegial environment, it is inevitable that occasionally some conflicts will develop. Very few of these rise to the level that any intervention is needed from the GAC, but one type of potential conflict is problematic enough to warrant a specific policy: a conflict between a graduate student and their advisor. (The primary case of interest here is between an advanced PhD student and their dissertation advisor; however, these policies also apply to conflicts between a beginning PhD student or a MS student and their academic advisor.) If such a conflict reaches a level where either party feels that intervention is needed, they should schedule a meeting with the GPD to discuss the issues. (If the conflict directly involves the GPD, or if the student is concerned that the GPD is too close to the involved faculty member, then the student has the option to request that the a more distant member of the GAC plays the role of the GPD.) The GPD will then meet individually with all parties to gather information on the situation. If possible, the GPD will then meet with the parties together to attempt a mediation of the situation.

If any party is not satisfied with the resolution at this point, they may choose to present their case to the full GAC. A meeting of the GAC will then be scheduled at which all parties will be given a reasonable amount of time to present their case. At the conclusion, the GAC will deliberate and reach a final resolution within the Department.

We emphasize that the graduate student is in no way bound to a dissertation advisor, and that if the student feels the relationship is not working out, they always have the right to seek a new dissertation advisor. Obviously such a significant change can potentially impact the student’s graduation time. The GAC will take into account any relevant information in its reappointment and support decisions, but makes no guarantee that extra funding will be available. Furthermore, none of these policies supersede the graduate student’s right to request intervention from the Graduate School.