Academic Advisor

An Academic Advisor may be appointed by the program’s Executive Committee to provide collaborative student support alongside the Research Mentor. If the Research Mentor is an IHP faculty member, the Research Mentor may also serve a dual role as the student’s Academic Advisor. The Academic Advisor helps the Research Mentor to oversee all student program milestones and has the following responsibilities:

Supporting the student in developing the Supplemental Coursework Plan (see 3.1.2 Supplemental Coursework), which is carried out in consultation with the Research Mentor.

In collaboration with the Research Mentor, monitoring student performance in coursework and progress toward developing a viable research direction that will lead to a dissertation (see 3.1.6 Dissertation).

Collaborating with the Research Mentor in assessing the student’s progress at the annual Research Seminar presentation and Dissertation Progress Meeting. Report to the Executive Committee on the status/progress of the advisee each semester and communicate directly with the Research Mentor and Executive Committee about any concerns.

The Academic Advisor may serve as Chairperson of the Qualifying Examination Committee (see 3.1.4 Qualifying Examination for Candidacy for the Doctoral Degree). If the Research Mentor is serving a dual role as Academic Advisor, an alternate Chairperson will be chosen by the Executive Committee (the Research Mentor does not serve as examiner in the Qualifying Exam). The Chair of the Qualifying Examination Committee is responsible for submitting the Qualifying Exam Preparation Form, organizing members and scheduling the exam, taking notes during the exam, collecting Committee feedback, summarizing Committee feedback, submitting Exam Results via Formstack Result Report Form and ensuring feedback and results are received by the student and their research mentor.

The Academic Advisor may serve as Chairperson for the Dissertation Committee if they have appropriate expertise.