Exam Committees

Note: All centrally-managed forms for graduate student exams transitioned to a new platform effective October 28, 2025. These forms look different but have very similar functionality. 

Ask the student about the status of a form if you think one is missing. Uncompleted forms can delay student progress, create inaccurate records, and prevent degree clearance for graduation.

• Committee composition approvals (PhD prelim and final, Plan A MA & Plan B MA): Initiated by the student, completed by the Primary Advisor, DGS, and CLA College Coordinator.
  • This form has a seven-day time limit for advisor approval before it forwards to the DGS automatically so timely response is important.
  • Check to confirm that the listed advisors match the assigned advisors on the student's record. Students may sometimes list different faculty in error if they skipped the formal advisor change step. If advisor information is incorrect, reject the form and refer the student to the Graduate Student Handbook for instructions on updating their assigned advisor(s).
• Preliminary Written Exam Results form: Completed, signed, and submitted by the advisor(s) to the ADGS as a PDF.
  • The ADGS or GPSES must submit the result before a student can proceed with preliminary oral exam steps.
• Examination Results form (PhD prelim and final, Plan A & Plan B MA final): Completed by the committee chair. A student’s record will not have a passing result on record until this form is completed.
  • The exam date can be changed by the chair if needed, due to a delay or a late completion of the form.
• Reviewers’ Report forms (PhD final exam & Plan A MA): Initiated by the student when they distribute their dissertation or MA thesis to members of the committee. All committee members designated as reviewers must complete their form before the student's exam can be held. If all reviewers do not certify the manuscript is acceptable for defense, policy requires that the oral exam be postponed.
• Thesis/Dissertation Approval and Deposit (PhD final exam and Plan A MA): Completed by the advisor(s) no later than the last business day of the anticipated month of graduation (delays past this deadline will move a student’s graduation date back by a full month).
  • Note: These forms should never be signed before a student has passed the final oral examination. 

• Your current graduate education roles for advising and committee service can be checked by reviewing your entry in the Faculty Role List Database.
• The Department of Psychology Graduate Faculty Policy documents qualifications and procedures for graduate faculty membership, categories of membership, requirements for continued membership, and exception procedures.
• Faculty who hold appointments in multiple programs may only represent one major on examination committees. Requirements for the composition of MA and PhD committees maintained by GSSP.

• Remote exam procedures for
  • Preliminary Oral Examinations (Psychology procedure)
  • Defenses & Final Oral Exams (Psychology procedure)
  • Required Conditions and Best Practices for Remote Participation in Graduate Examinations (University policy)
• Chair instructions for final oral exams and how to address day-of changes to committee membership and extenuating circumstances that may warrant recessing an exam are maintained by the Graduate School in the Faculty and Staff Toolkit.