This agreement affirms a shared understanding between the student and faculty advisor[s] identified below.
Student:
I understand that writing a thesis requires sustained work across multiple semesters. I will make consistent progress and meet intermediate deadlines (e.g., relating to conduct of research or to writing and/or presentation of the work), as requested by my committee. I understand that my committee may set deadlines that are before the university or departmental deadlines.
I understand that it is my responsibility to keep all members of my committee apprised of my work and progress. I will have a full three-member committee in place by no later than the end of the semester prior to my defense.
I understand that responsibility for producing a thesis that meets the standards of my committee, the department, and the university is my own.
I understand that my advisor or my committee may determine that my thesis is not “defensible” in time to meet defense deadlines for a given semester. In that case, I understand that I will be required to register for 1 “MA candidate” credit each subsequent term up to and including the term in which I defend my thesis. The financial burden of this requirement will be my own.
Alternatively, my advisor or my committee may at any time advise me to change my degree path to the non-thesis plan. In this case, I would need to petition to convert my thesis credits to independent study credits and complete any work necessary to receive a grade for IS credits. In this scenario, I understand that I would also be obligated to pass the Comps Exam in order to graduate.
Advisor:
I will provide guidance to the student to help them develop a thesis plan and thesis that I believe has the potential to meet the standards of the committee, the department, and the university. Responsibility for achieving that potential is, however, the student’s.
Target dates for feedback will be agreed upon with the student before the time of any submission (taking into account the length of the submission, the kind of feedback required, and other obligations, as well as student deadlines).
I will offer constructive and timely feedback in in-person meetings and on written materials. This feedback will sometimes be positive and encouraging, and other times, it may require difficult news about insufficient progress or unmet standards. I will provide sufficient meeting times according to the schedule indicated.
