Student Handbook

Special Committee

One of the most important decisions you will make as a graduate student at Cornell involves the selection of your Special Committee. The progress of each graduate student is guided and supervised by the Special Committee, which consists of the thesis research supervisor (the Chairperson of your committee and your major professor), a faculty member representing a minor subject (chosen by the student; see below), and another faculty member from the Field of BMCB. Students assemble a Special Committee at the end of the first year, but are encouraged to begin seeking the advice of possible members earlier, since much of the student’s coursework is taken during the first year. The DGS serves as your Chairperson and adviser until you choose a Special Committee.

The Special Committee system offers great flexibility to the Ph.D. program since it permits tailoring of the program to your specific interests. We encourage you to talk to other graduate students and faculty and to seek as much information as possible before selecting your committee members. Make an appointment to meet with each of your potential committee members and bring relevant materials to the meeting (e.g., curriculum vitae, course records, and summary of research plans if possible). Be prepared to discuss why he or she would be an appropriate committee member. It is important that you both understand each other’s expectations: what courses will they require, can they help you with certain experiments, etc.

Once your committee has been selected, don’t panic if you realize as your research program develops that someone else might be more appropriate. Changing your Committee requires agreement from old and new members and a form called a “Special Committee Selection and Change” form, available on-line at the Graduate School web site: www.gradschool.cornell.edu/p=11 or from the Grad Field Assistant. Although it is easier to make committee changes before the Admission to Candidacy exam, it is possible to do so afterward as long as the new member accepts (in writing) the results of your exam.

You are required to meet with your entire committee at least once a year to discuss progress and plans (see PROGRESS REPORTS). It is the student’s responsibility to arrange the meeting. This meeting should take place as soon as possible after your Monday seminar, and certainly within two weeks of the seminar. To notify your committee of your seminar, invitation cards are available from the Graduate Field Assistant in the main office (107 Biotech). Regular meetings with the full committee (a minimum of once a year) will help keep your program on track and can help avoid those awful moments at your defense when a committee member asks why you did not do this control or that experiment. You can also meet with them individually along the way. Use your committee for guidance and feedback. That’s why they are there.