The student, with support from the advisor, shall identify faculty to serve on his or her committee and shall elicit their agreement to serve. The committee shall be appointed no later than the end of the fall semester of their second year of study by the chair of the MCV Campus Graduate Committee, upon recommendation of the student’s advisor, review by the graduate program director and recommendation of the chair of the department. The composition of the advisory committee shall be such that significant areas of the student’s scholarly program are represented.

Currently, because of the small number of Department faculty, the student advisory committee will be made up of a minimum of four faculty to include the advisor, one additional member of the Epidemiology and Community Health faculty and two faculty from departments other than EPID.  Each committee will be chaired by the student’s advisor who is active in the field of research the student chooses to pursue and shall include a methodologist who will advise in the area of epidemiologic methods and analysis.  The goal is to form a well-balanced committee of faculty interested in the area of the dissertation research.

The advisory committee plays an important role in preparing the student for graduation and shall work with the student’s advisor to guide the student’s graduate program.  The student shall meet with his or her full committee at least annually.  The committee shall approve the degree program for the student by the end of the second full year of study.  This program shall be filed with the chair of the MCV Campus Graduate Committee. 

The committee functions to ensure timely progress toward the degree while ensuring appropriate and valid research conduct. In addition, this committee plays a vital roll in conducting the oral qualifying examination and final examination, and as a consulting body to provide scholarly counsel.