Students in the Doctoral Program at the Ingram School of Engineering benefit from structured, ongoing faculty advising, which is central to the program’s mentorship model.
Advising Roles:
- Graduate Advisor:
All doctoral students have access to the Graduate Advisor (who may also serve as the Program Director) for matters involving communication with The Graduate College and general program administration. - Initial Advisor:
Upon admission, each student is assigned an Initial Advisor who assists with onboarding, course selection, and academic planning during the first year. - Program Advisor:
By the end of the first year, students select a Program Advisor who provides academic and professional guidance through the completion of coursework and the comprehensive exam. - Research Mentor:
During the early research phase (typically from the end of the first semester through the third semester), students may work with a Research Mentor to develop research skills and identify potential dissertation topics. - Comprehensive Exam Committee Chair:
As students approach the comprehensive exam, they select a Committee Chair to guide them through the exam process, including preparation, proposal development, and defense. - Dissertation Chair:
After successful completion of the comprehensive exam, students select a Dissertation Chair who leads the dissertation committee and provides mentorship from proposal development through the dissertation defense.
While these roles have distinct titles and responsibilities, they all function as “advisors” and may sometimes be filled by the same faculty member or by different individuals, depending on the student’s needs and research interests. Students are encouraged to engage with multiple faculty members throughout the program to benefit from diverse perspectives and expertise.
The Advising Relationship:
Doctoral advising at the Ingram School of Engineering is an active, collaborative process. Students are expected to meet regularly with their advisor/chair for guidance on course selection, registration, research planning, and professional development. Advisors assist with monitoring academic progress, signing required forms, guiding committee selection, writing letters of recommendation, and serving as advocates within the program.
Beyond administrative support, advisors and chairs provide critical mentorship as students transition into professional engineering and scholarly roles.
Changing Advisors:
Students may request a change of advisor or chair at any time, whether due to a shift in research interests, availability, or other considerations. To do so, students should submit the Advisor/Committee Member Change Request Form and consult with the Graduate Advisor or Program Director as needed.