Academic Advising

Graduate Affairs Committee

The GAC oversees the graduate program, dealing with general policies as well as individual student issues. It is chaired by the GPD, and consists of at least three more faculty members together with a graduate student representative. The graduate student representative is to be selected by the graduate students at their own discretion and approved by the GPD.

Academic Advisors

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. During these years the student is encouraged to consult with other faculty potentially closer to their eventual research area as well. 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 Newton campus. The AMD serves as the academic advisor for students in the Applied Mathematics MS program.

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.) They will guide the student and recommend additional courses or areas of study.

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.