Can academic staff serve on graduate student committees?
An Executive Committee can, without approval of the Graduate School, appoint an academic staff member to serve as a fifth member of a doctoral examination committee. Such an appointed committee member has the right to vote and sign the warrant like other members of the committee. The composition of graduate committees will be made at the depart ment or program level, as long as Graduate School minimum requirements are met. All members hold voting rights on the committee, thus programs may allow an individual who is not Graduate Faculty to serve as a full voting member of a committee. This could include an academic staff member, an outside expert, postdoctoral scholar or any other qualified individual, as determined by the program Executive Committee or its equivalent. This individual may serve in any capacity on the committee, including co-chair. For more information see: http://www.wisc.edu/grad/education/acadpolicy/guidelines.
