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Dissertation committee request: sample email and guide, published by steve tippins on june 26, 2019 june 26, 2019.

Last Updated on: 2nd February 2024, 02:34 am

Having found your Chairperson to work with, now it is time to fill you committee. Regardless of the number of additional committee members that you need, it is important to go about this process strategically. As with the beginning of any relationship, how you begin is important. 

In this article, I cover:

• How to find members for your dissertation committee
• A sample email for a dissertation committee request
• How to evaluate potential committee members
• How to ask them to be on your committee

Finding and Choosing Dissertation Committee Members

Ask your committee chair.

Talking to your chair is a good place to start in looking for additional dissertation committee members . Who do they recommend for your specific project? You can ask who they don’t work well with, but most people won’t answer this question for obvious reasons.

Talk to Other Students

You probably have a network of fellow students. Ask for their input on potential committee members . I suggest you do this through private emails or in conversation rather than on group message boards so that people can speak freely about their experiences.

Do Your Research

Once you get a list of names either from your Chair, a university list, or from fellow students do some research. Find the CV of each person (most schools have this type of information available). See what types of research they have done. 

Where have they published? How recently have they published? What types of methodology have they used? You may also find people with whom you share an interest which helps when making a connection.

Look at previous dissertations that they have worked on. What were the topics? What methodologies were used? Were they acknowledged by previous students?

Dissertation Committee Request: Sample Email

Once you have come up with a final list of potential candidates, email them to gauge their interest. Many students wonder how to ask someone to be on their dissertation committee. I have included a sample email for a dissertation committee request below.

Dear Dr. ____

Please let me introduce myself. My name is ___ ___ and I am a doctoral student at ___ University working on my dissertation. My topic is ___. I am searching for an additional committee member for my dissertation committee.

I know that you are busy but I have looked at the committees that you have worked on and your research [it is flattering to include a specific example] and think that your membership on my committee could be very beneficial for me.

If you have an interest in filling this position please let me know so that we can set up a time to talk and get to know each other.

Respectfully,

Ima Student

Interviewing Potential Dissertation Committee Members

After you get responses you should write to set up phone calls with interested potential committee members. I suggest that you prepare a list of questions to ask each person. Example questions include:

• Do you like to see work in pieces as it’s completed or in finished chapters?
• Do you prefer direct communication or for all communication to go through the Chair?
• How long do you usually take to do reviews?
• Are there faculty members that you work well with and don’t fit well with?
• What attributes do you see in students who succeed?
• Do you have any initial ideas based up what I have shared with you about my topic?
• Do you have any questions that you want to ask me?

Students often forget that they can interview potential committee members. Doing so tends to impress faculty, as it indicates your seriousness and commitment. I can say that very few people have interviewed me to be a member of their committee, and those that have have been especially successful in navigating the challenges of writing a dissertation .

How to Ask Someone to Be on Your Dissertation Committee

If you’ve followed all of the above steps, the rest should be pretty simple. The professor knows that you’ve taken the time to see if they’re a good fit, and that you are conscientious enough to do your research and respect their time. A simple email telling them that you would be honored if they would serve as your committee member is just fine. Remember, though, it’s still an ask –you’re not telling them they’re on your committee.

How to Request a Dissertation Committee Member: Summary

Choosing committee members is important. You want a committee where everyone is pulling for you to reach your goal. It doesn’t take a lot of time to explore potential committee members, and in the long run that small time investment can pay off.

For additional support, you can also consider a dissertation coach . They can help guide you through the process and even finish more quickly, as you will avoid unnecessary pitfalls and delays. Read more about how to choose a dissertation coach here.

Steve Tippins

Steve Tippins, PhD, has thrived in academia for over thirty years. He continues to love teaching in addition to coaching recent PhD graduates as well as students writing their dissertations. Learn more about his dissertation coaching and career coaching services. Book a Free Consultation with Steve Tippins

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6 Email Templates to Ask Someone to be on Your Thesis Committee

By: Author Hiuyan Lam

Posted on Last updated: October 20, 2023

Categories Professional Etiquette

Writing a thesis is one of the most challenging parts of being an undergraduate or graduate student. You need to know how to ask someone to be on your thesis committee, especially if you are looking for a mentor to guide you through the writing process.

If you are currently starting the dissertation process, these unique email templates will help show you how to ask someone to be on your thesis committee.

How to ask someone to be on your thesis committee: When asking senior students

  These email templates will help you figure out how to ask a senior student to be on your thesis committee.   Senior students are perfect for helping you through the writing process. You can ask a student with whom you get along and share similar ideas.  

When asking professors to be on your thesis committee

  Your professor would be an invaluable addition to your thesis committee, especially since they could provide you with unique insight and constructive criticism.   Here is how to ask someone to be on your thesis committee if the person is your professor.  

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How to ask someone to be on your thesis committee: When asking professionals in your field

  Professionals can offer diverse and useful expertise if they choose to join your thesis committee. Here is how to ask someone to be on your thesis committee if you’re asking professionals in your field.  

  These are unique email templates that you can use when trying to figure out how to ask someone to be on your thesis committee.   Whether it is your professor, a senior student in your faculty, or a professional in your field, these templates will help you get that positive response that you are seeking.   If you are currently working on your thesis and wondering how to ask someone to be on your thesis committee, these templates will surely help you get some ideas.  

9 Proven Tips for a Successful Dissertation Committee Email Request

Get a “YES” on your Dissertation Committee Email Request : Securing faculty members to serve on your dissertation committee is a critical step in completing your doctoral degree. Committee members agree to closely guide your dissertation research and writing from proposal through final defense.

Choosing the right people and making a strong request is key to starting this important journey on the right foot. This article provides proven tips and strategies for crafting an effective dissertation committee email request.

Before proceeding, let’s understand what a dissertation committee is.

Table of Contents

What’s a Dissertation Committees

Before diving into crafting your email, understand the basics of what a dissertation committee is and its composition.

A dissertation committee is usually made up of three to five faculty members who direct and evaluate a doctoral candidate’s dissertation research and writing. At minimum, it includes your dissertation chair or advisor who leads the committee and two additional members.

Committee members should have relevant expertise in your dissertation topic area and research methods. The chair usually holds a terminal degree in your field of study and has deep subject matter knowledge and dissertation mentoring experience.

Other members typically have doctorates as well and bring complementary areas of specialization to give you well-rounded feedback and oversight.

It’s preferable to have at least one committee member from outside your home department to provide a fresh external perspective. Your graduate program will have specific policies around committee composition, so be sure to review these guidelines before making requests.

The goal is to assemble a team of scholars enthusiastically invested in helping you conduct and complete high-quality original research. Here are some dissertation research examples to start your projects.

Dissertation Committee Email Request: Proven Tips to get a “YES” from Your Professors

1. do thorough research on potential members.

The first step to crafting an effective request email is conducting in-depth research on potential committee members. Beyond just their bios and credentials listed online, dig deeper into their research interests, current projects, and publications.

Look for alignment and overlap with your proposed dissertation topic to demonstrate how a faculty member would be well-suited to serve.

Go beyond just browsing public profiles – talk to other students, program staff, and current advisees to get insider perspectives. Ask what professors’ research and advising styles are like.

Learn which ones are particularly dedicated mentors willing to provide prompt feedback and support. Gauge appropriateness of workload – avoid bombarding the busiest faculty. With quality qualitative research, you’ll write a much stronger targeted case for specific individuals.

2. Customize Each Email Request

Rather than blasting a form letter to multiple professors at once, take the time to individually customize each email request. Address professors by name and reference something unique and relevant you learned about their work.

Show you understand their specialty areas and how your topic fits rather than broadly stating “I’m interested in Quantum Physics”. Demonstrate thoughtful consideration for why they in particular would make valuable committee members.

3. Highlight Connections

It’s not enough to simply state your interest – draw explicit connections between your research and a professor’s. Mention how a paper or project of theirs inspired an aspect of your work or methodology. Note any past classes taken from them to establish credibility as a dedicated student.

Point to similarities in a particular theoretical framework or discipline used. Quantify connections wherever possible rather than leaving statements vague. The clearer the synergies, the stronger case you’ll make.

4. Show Preparedness and Organization

Part of appealing to busy professors is demonstrating you’ve done the necessary groundwork so they won’t have to spend excessive time bringing a new student up to speed.

Attach a draft dissertation prospectus, timeline, or chapter outline to illustrate your proposal is developed and you’ve put serious critical thought into the research process and design already.

Offer to meet in person to provide further details and discuss next steps if interested in joining your committee. Convince them you’re organized and won’t require excessive hand-holding.

5. Highlight Mutually Beneficial Partnership

While faculty serve to mentor students primarily, frame committee membership as a mutually beneficial professional partnership. Note how a professor’s guidance could strengthen your work to a level warranting publication or conference presentation, thereby advancing both your careers.

Express enthusiasm for the opportunity to collaborate on related research with them going forward as a result of being advised through the dissertation. Highlight potential synergies and long term scholarly cooperation rather than it solely being a favor to you.

6. Emphasize Timeline and Commitment Needed

Be transparent about anticipated timeline, milestones, and level of involvement expected from committee members. Provide a draft completion schedule spanning IRB approval through final defense, noting when key checkpoints like proposal and full draft reviews are anticipated.

Outline roughly how many hours of meetings or feedback iterations they should expect per semester. Reassure professors you understand their other obligations and appreciate any commitment, even if a rigorous timeline can’t be promised. Honesty prevents future scope creep concerns.

7. Follow Best Practices for Email Format

While content of your message is most important, small formatting details also influence readability and response rates. Keep the email concise at 2-3 well-spaced paragraphs. Use a clear descriptive subject line stating the purpose succinctly.

Compose in a reader-friendly text format rather than an attached document. Include required contact information prominently like your name, program, and student ID. Proofread thoroughly for typos or awkward phrasing before sending to maintain professionalism. Attractive formatting leaves a positive first impression.

8. Add Appropriate Closing

Close by thanking the professor for considering your request and restating your enthusiasm and qualifications for the opportunity. Indicate next steps such as following up by phone within a week if no response is received or a deadline for response if needed to meet program deadlines.

Express willingness to provide any additional needed context in person. Close courteously whether a meeting is scheduled or not to maintain good rapport for future occasions. Leaving the door open maintains networking relationships even if an initial ask is declined.

9. Keep Trying Until Successful

Securing ideal committee members typically requires persistence, so keep networking and refining requests until confirmation is received. Respectfully follow up emails after a week or two if no initial response.

Reach out during posted faculty office hours if possible to have productive in-person discussions. Consult program advisors for alternative suggestions if all targeted professors decline.

Maintaining a positive attitude during the process reflects well and often secures backup options still committed to student success. With patience and continued effort, strong committees can usually be assembled.

Templates for Dissertation Committee Email Requests

Here are examples highlighting qualifications while requesting guidance:

Template #1 Subject: Dissertation Committee Inquiry – A Cross-country Analysis of Renewable Subsidies

Dear Dr. [Last Name],

I am a PhD candidate at University of Michigan studying the impacts of climate policy on agricultural innovation. My dissertation examines cross-country analysis of renewable subsidies and yields over the past decade.

Your publications on European Union renewable targets and rural development directly inform my project. I appreciate your thought leadership in this area and believe your insight would greatly enrich my research. I have reviewed my prospectus and timeline with my advisor, Dr. Johnson, and we believe finalizing my committee allows sufficient time for meaningful feedback.

I would be honored if you would consider joining my dissertation committee. Please let me know if you require any additional information. I have attached my prospectus for your review and look forward to discussing further if you accept this request.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely, [Your Name]

Template #2 Subject: Dissertation Committee Formation for Spring 2025

Dear Professor Jones,

I am a PhD student at Stanford studying US-China relations in the 21st century. My dissertation project analyzes patterns in trade and foreign direct investment since 2000 using novel datasets.

Your expertise in East Asian economics and quantitative political analysis would be incredibly valuable as I develop my models and analyze results. After reviewing my research plan with my advisor Prof. Smith, we believe your insight would strengthen my contribution to the field.

I have attached my prospectus outlining my key research questions and intend to defend by next Fall if possible. Please advise if you would be willing to serve on my dissertation committee. I am available to discuss further at your convenience.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to your response.

Best regards, [Your Name]

Properly formatted requests effectively persuade respected scholars that accepting enhances their meaningful impact. Maintain a tone reflecting each scholar’s stature.

Follow-Up Best Practices

After initially contacting candidates:

• Send prompt thank you emails reiterating your appreciation for their consideration
• Follow up with any who request additional information within a week
• If still pending, send a respectful follow up email after 2-3 weeks
• Clearly communicate next steps including deadlines upon receiving positive or negative replies
• Express understanding and appreciation for feedback helping your research progress

Timely, courteous follow ups demonstrate enthusiasm while respecting scholars’ obligations. Maintain regular contact with your advisor regarding progress. Persistence, gratitude and professionalism maximize response rates.

Conclusion on Dissertation Committee Email Request

Securing top scholars for your dissertation committee takes strategic planning and relationship building through effective outreach. By thoroughly researching potential members, customizing compelling requests highlighting synergies, and following up courteously, your chances of enlisting dedicated mentors increase greatly.

With the right committee in place, you’ll receive invaluable guidance transitioning your ideas into a quality final product advancing both your career and field of study. Perseverance and sincere scholarly partnership are keys to dissertation success.

Get More Dissertation Committee Email Request Now!

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Dissertation Committee Request: Sample Email and Guide

Published by steviekins tippins on june 26, 2019 june 26, 2019.

Last Updated on: 3rd June 2022, 04:35 am

Having found your Chairperson to work with, now it is time to full you creation. Regardless of the number of additional committee members that you need, it is important to go about this process strategically. As including the beginning of any relationship, how you begin is important.  Membership and Request in External Committee Members · At least thrice members on to dissertation committee must subsist Laney Graduate School faculty. · Emory ...

In this feature, I cover:

• How to find members for your final community
• A sample email on a dissertation committee request
• As to valuation potential committees members
• How to ask them up be on your committee

Finding and Choosing Dissertation Committee Members

Ask own committee chair.

Talking for your chair is a goods place to start in looking for additional doctorate select members . Who accomplish they recommend for your specialist projects? Thou can ask who few don’t my well with, not most people won’t answer this question for obvious justification.

Conversation to Other Students

You probably have a your of scholars students. Ask since their input on potential committee members . EGO suggest she do this tested private emails or in conversation rather about on group message sheets so is people can speak openly about their experiences.

Do Your Research

Once you get a drop of names either from your Chair, adenine university list, or from fellow students do some research. Find the CV of jede person (most schools do this type of information available). See what types of investigate you can done. 

Where have i published? How lately have they published? What types the methodology have they spent? You may also find people with whose you share an interest which helps when making a connection.

Look for previous research that them have worked on. What were the topics? What methodologies were used? Were them anerkennung by previous students?

Dissertation Create Order: Print Email

Once you have come up with a final list of potential running, email them to gauge the interest. Lot students wondrous how to ask someone to be on their dissertation committee. I have built a sample send for a dissertation committee request below. Master's. Forms for Thesis Students. Thesis Proposal Form**; Thesis Submission Registration Form**; My Chair/Committee Member Changes Request Form** ...

Dear Dr. ____

Please let me implement myself. My name is ___ ___ and I on a doctoral student in ___ Your worked on my dissertation. Mystery topic is ___. I am searching for an supplementary committee members required i dissertation committee.

I perceive that you are busy but I have search at and committees that you had worked on and owner research [it is flattering to inclusion a specific example] and think that your participation on mine committee can be high beneficial for own.

If you have an attract into filling this position please permit me know therefore that we bucket set up a wetter to talk and gets to know each other.

Respectfully,

Ima Student

Interviewing Potential Dissertation Committee Members

After you get responses you should write to set up phone calls with interested potential committee members. I suggest that you prepare a list of questions to ask anyone person. Example questions included: FORM C. THE GRADUATE SCHOOL. MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY. Revolution. 8/11/20. PLEASE FOR APPROVAL THE OUTSIDE DISSERTATION COMMITTEE MEMBER.

• Do you fancy to see work in pieces like it’s completed or in finished chapters?
• Perform to prefer direct communication oder for all communication to go taken the Chair?
• How length do you usually take to do reviews?
• Are there faculty members that you work fountain with and don’t fitted well with?
• What attributes do you see in students with succeed?
• Do you have unlimited initial ideas based up what EGO have shared with you about my topic?
• Do you have any question that yours will the ask me?

Student often forget that they can radio potential committee members. Doing so prone to impress teaching, as it indicates owner seriousness and commitment. I can telling that strongly few people have interviewed me to be a member of their committee, and those that have have been especially successful in navigating the challenges of writing one diploma .

Whereby to Ask Someone to Breathe on Thy Dissertation Committee

If you’ve followed all is the above steps, to rest supposed be prettier simple. The professor knows that you’ve taken the time to see if they’re ampere good fit, and that to are conscientious enough to do your research and respect my time. A simple email telling them that thou would are honored if they would serve as your committee become is just fine. Store, though, it’s still an ask –you’re cannot telling them they’re on your committee.

How to Request a Dissertation Committee Member: Summary

Choosing committee members is important. You want a committee where each is pulling for you in reach your goal. It doesn’t take an lot of hours to explore potential committee members, and in the lang run that small zeit investment can pay from.

Since additional sustain, you capacity also consider a dissertation coach . They can help guide you through the process and even finish more quickly, as you becomes avoid optional pitfalls and delayed. Read more about how to choose a dissertation coach here.

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Book a Free Consultation with the of our expert coaches today.

Steve Tippins

Steve Tippins, PhD, has bloom in akademisches for over thirty years. You continues toward love classes by zusammenrechnung until coaching new PhD graduates as well as students writing their dissertations. Learn more about yours dissertation personal and career education services. Book a Free Consultation with Step Tippins

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Asking Faculty to Sit on Your Dissertation Committee

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The Role of the Dissertation Committee

Choosing a dissertation committee, give some warning, make your intentions known, explain their role, dealing with rejection.

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Graduate study can best be explained as a series of hurdles. First is getting in. Then comes coursework. Comprehensive exams typically are the culmination of coursework in which you demonstrate that you know your stuff and are ready to begin your dissertation. At this point, you are a doctoral candidate, unofficially known as ABD. If you thought coursework and comps were difficult you’re in for a surprise. Most students find the dissertation process to be the most challenging part of graduate school. It’s how you show that you are an independent scholar capable of generating new knowledge. Your mentor is critical to this process, but your dissertation committee also plays a role in your success.

The mentor is highly invested in the dissertation’s success. The committee serves as an outside consultant, offering a more broad perspective as well as support for the student and mentor. The dissertation committee can serve a checks and balances function that can boost objectivity and ensure that university guidelines are adhered to and that the product is of high quality. Members of the dissertation committee offer guidance in their areas of expertise and supplement the student and mentor’s competencies. For example, a committee member with expertise in specific research methods or statistics can serve as a sounding board and offer guidance that is beyond the mentor’s expertise.

Choosing a helpful dissertation committee isn’t easy. The best committee is composed of faculty who share an interest in the topic, offer diverse and useful areas of expertise, and are collegial. Each committee member should be carefully selected based on the project, what he or she can contribute, and how well he or she gets along with the student and mentor. It’s a delicate balance. You don’t want to argue over every detail yet you need objective advice and someone who will offer insightful, and tough, critiques of your work. Ideally, you should trust each committee member and feel that he or she has your (and your project’s) best interests in mind. Choose committee members whose work you respect, who you respect, and who you like. This is a tall order and finding a handful of faculty who meet these criteria and also have the time to participate on your dissertation committee is a daunting task. It’s likely that not all of your dissertation members will fulfill all of your professional and personal needs but each committee member should serve at least one need.

Work with your mentor to select committee members. As you select potential members, ask your mentor if he or she thinks the professor is a good match to the project. Aside from seeking insight – and making your mentor feel valued – professors talk to each other. If you discuss each choice with your mentor beforehand he is she is likely to mention it to the other professor. Use your mentor’s reaction as an indicator of whether to move forward and approach the potential committee member. You may find that the professor is already aware and may have already implicitly agreed.

At the same time, don’t assume that each professor knows that you’d like them as a committee member. When the time comes, visit each professor with that as your purpose. If you haven’t explained the purpose of the meeting by email then when you enter, sit and explain that the reason you’re asked to meet is to ask the professor to serve on your dissertation committee.

No professor will agree to participate in a project without knowing something about it. Be prepared to explain your project. What are your questions? How will you study them? Discuss your methods. How does this fit with prior work? How does it extend prior work? What will your study contribute to the literature? Pay attention to the professor’s demeanor. How much does he or she want to know? Sometimes a professor might want to know less – pay attention.

In addition to discussing your project, be prepared to explain why you are approaching the professor. What drew you to them? How do you think they will fit? For example, does the professor offer expertise in statistics? What guidance do you seek? Know what the professor does and how they fit in with the committee. Likewise, be prepared to explain why you think they are the best choice. Some faculty might even ask, “Why me? Why not Professor X?” Be prepared to justify your choice. What do you expect expertise-wise? Time-wise? How much or little time and effort will you require? Busy faculty will want to know whether your needs outstrip their time and energy.

If a professor declines your invitation to sit on your dissertation committee, don’t take it personally. Easier said than done but there are many reasons people decide to sit on committees. Try to take the professor’s perspective. Sometimes it’s that they’re too busy. Other times they may not be interested in the project or may have issues with other committee members. It’s not always about you. Participating on a dissertation committee is a lot of work. Sometimes it’s simply too much work given other responsibilities. If they are not able to meet your expectations be grateful that they’re honest. A successful dissertation is the result of a great deal of work on your part but also the support of a helpful committee that has your interests in mind. Be sure that the dissertation committee you build can meet these needs.

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Email Template To Ask Someone To Be On Your Thesis Committee

You will certainly believe that you must start on the right path to begin any relationship of any kind. Regardless of the relationship type, either casual friendship or professional relationship, all must start with a good impression that will last long. Writing a thesis document at any stage of your education can be very challenging, tasking, and draining if suitable measures are not implemented. Now that you have decided to get started with your thesis, you need collaborative efforts from others to help you achieve your academic thesis goals. Here is the Email Template To Ask Someone To Be On Your Thesis Committee.

Having found the right person to be the chairperson of your thesis committee, it is high time you be on the lookout for the committee members. In this piece, you would understand how you can easily find thesis committee members, sample email for the committee members’ request, how you can evaluate people willing to join your committees and the best way to ask them to join. 

Finding and choosing committee members for your thesis

Talk to your committee chairman.

Talking to your committee chairman is a good step in the right direction, and informing the person, you are on the lookout for other committee members. Firstly this action would help you have a second opinion about the characteristics of people you should add to your committee. Besides, as for the individual input, with these requests, the committee chairman will know that you are ready to get started with your thesis and that you trust their wealth of knowledge which prop you to also for help.   You can also be specific by asking them about individuals they do not want to work with on the team. 

Talk to other students.

IndeedIndeed, you will have networks of friends you might want to talk to about setting up a thesis committee. Ask for their opinion on who should make your committee list and who should not, and it is better to have this conversation through private discussion and not through. This will enable your friend to recommend trustworthy people and are ready to work on any thesis. 

Carry out your research

Of course, you do not just want anybody on your committee, as the success of your thesis is significant to you. Once you have a list of potential people to work with and onboard as your committee members, it is time to do some basic research about those people. You shouldn’t depend on the information you have gathered from either your thesis committee chairperson or friends and other students. Find out what the people on the list are about and do extensive research on them. Ensure you lay your hands on each person’s CV and see what research they have done in the past. With this information, you will get the appropriate information that will help you picture the most promising thesis committee members. You can have a table to categorize individuals into groups like; what they published in the past? In their research and publications, what methodology do they adopt? Besides, you might find people who have the same interest as you through your research, which would be a great point to connect with them. 

Interviewing potential members that will join your thesis committee 

Firstly you must understand that onboarding the right person to join your team can easily make your task easier to achieve. Meanwhile, if you have the wrong person on the thesis committee, you are bound to have issues in achieving your thesis goal in time. With this in mind, you must quiz every potential member appropriately to avoid itching when ready to get the work done. Generally, the best approach to make the interview a successful one is effectively gauging their research ability. Understanding how they approach research and publication can give you an insight into how resourceful that individual will be to your group. You can prepare some sets of questions you would need to ask them, which can be as listed below:

• How do you view research work? Is it in pieces or finished chapters?
• What is your preferred communication method? For example, do you prefer it to go through the chairman in charge of the committee, or do you choose direct communication?
• When it comes to reviews, how long does it take you to get them done?
• Are there members of the faculty you find so enjoyable to work with, and are there the ones you would avoid working?
•  When you see a successful student that succeeds, which attributes makes them successful in your own opinion
• Based on the information about my topic, do you have any pre-proposed idea of what it is all?
• What are the questions you would like to ask about the project topic?

Most often, students do forget that they can interview people that will be on their thesis committee. Meanwhile, I’ll impress the faculty as it shows your willingness to work with professionals and experts to ensure your task delivers without any challenges. It is undoubtedly familiar with this, and most people might have also interviewed you interview before at some point.  You must understand that to have excellent dealing and a serious-minded thesis committee successfully; you must be ready to scout for the best minds committed to the task. 

Thesis committee members request email samples.

Once you have decided on who you will be inviting and who you will not, the next step is to reach out to the individual and ask them about their interest in joining you on the thesis committee. Here are some sample categories of how you can easily reach out to the candidates you have segmented out. 

When you ask a senior student on your thesis committee, the following email sample would be best for such communication. It is because senior students are perfect individuals to help you through the writing process, and you can consult with students with whom you have previous relationships.

Sample Email 

Dear (Student’s Name)

I am (Put your name here) from the faculty of (faculty name) at the university/college of (here your university or college name goes in). Presently I am working on a thesis titled (thesis titled goes in here),  and I will love your input. 

Your outstanding track record and how you have always shown keen interest in helping other students got my attention. I am humbly requesting that you be a member of my thesis committee on the above-said title. I am pretty confident that you will be able to contribute your wealth of knowledge and enrich the content of my thesis. 

More so, your experience and exceptional skills in researching and publication will be very instrumental to the success of my thesis, which schedules for presentation on (put the date of defense and venue). 

Please find the attached copy of my thesis proposal for your reference; I will be grateful to hear from you soon. 

Thank you for your time and consideration

Yours sincerely,

(your name goes here)

Hello (student name)

I am currently carrying out research on (name the title of your thesis research), and my presentation expects to be on ( put date here) at ( put the defense location). I believe that your contribution to my current research topic will be a valuable asset to my thesis and also helping with refining the idea. I understand that you recently graduated from your Ph.D. program in (mention the person’s Ph.D. title) successfully, and I am confident I would benefit immensely from your knowledge. 

Having gone through your profile, I realized you would be an asset to my success, through your contribution will certainly help me. Therefore I humbly request that you be a member of my thesis committee for the above name project topic, which we will meet at ( the location name goes here) on (the date also goes here. 

I am sure that your presence at the thesis presentation would be valued, and your constructive criticism would help my work become well polished and up to the required standard. 

Attached below is a copy of my thesis for your review; your assistance would be highly appreciated.

(your name goes here )

How you can ask professors to be one of your thesis committee members.

Having a professor in your committee would be an invaluable experience for you and your team, especially if they are more inclined to your thesis title as their field of study. The following sections show examples of how you can email a professor to be on your thesis team. 

Dear Professor (The professor name)

I am (your name), and I am in my final year of the ( your course goes here) at the university/college of (Your university name or college goes here). After discussing with my advisor(put your advisor name here) regarding my thesis committee members, he recommended that I request your presence in my thesis committee. So with this, I humbly ask you to be on my thesis committee as it will be an honor to have you, sir. 

My advisor and I have gone through several research articles you have written and published on the internet. With the research methodology used in your papers, I can say that your insight in the (field of name the area and where their expertise corresponds to your thesis) would be a great asset to my thesis project and presentation. 

My thesis defense schedules to come upon (put the date of the presentation), and the venue is (have the location venue added also).

The title of my thesis revolves around (mention the central theme of the idea), and I have referred to several papers (list some of the documents you referred to). Meanwhile, I have attached my CV and some other supporting documents for your reference. 

I will be happy if my humble request grant. Again, thank you for your time and consideration; I will be expecting your feedback in the meantime. 

Yours Sincerely

(you can put your name here)

Dear Dr (Here goes the name of the professor)

Good day, Sir/Ma; I am (here is your name goes in). I am a graduate student of (here your faculty name goes in). I am humbly inviting you to serve as one of my thesis committee members.

I have had the opportunity to be under your tutelage at a conference in (name the forum area), and you are among the elite college professors I will be honored to have on my thesis committee. 

Your exceptional contribution to (highlight the professor’s expertise) and make a good recommendation on it, and thus your presence would be valuable to my thesis project. 

In addition, my thesis title is (name your thesis title), and it centers more on (highlight the objectives and the direction of your study). Your experience and perspective about this (state the subject matter) will undoubtedly benefit my project and research. My thesis scheduled to present on the (the date goes here)

Below is a copy of my thesis and my CV for your review. I will highly appreciate your consideration of this humble request. 

I look forward to hearing from you regarding my request soonest. Thank you for your time and consideration. 

Yours sincerely

(here you put your name)

The two samples should be able to help convince any professor to join your thesis committee. 

How you can ask someone to be part of your thesis committee when asking a professional in your field of study

Professionals in any field who have expertise will be a great asset to your thesis committee because they have field experience and understand what the industry is all about. They will also have diverse experience on what you should look out for and structure your thesis. The following sample email will guide you on how you can ask professionals in your field to join your thesis committee. 

Dear Mr/Mrs (Put the name of the person)

I am humbly using this opportunity to request you to be a member of my thesis committee. 

Thanks for your continuous effort and research to bring out the core aspect of this field and even go beyond the surface of this practice. Your expertise in (name the field and the expertise of the professional) has caught my attention, and it would be of great value to have if you could spare some time out of your busy schedule to contribute to my thesis. 

The thesis title I am working on is (name your thesis title), and it centers on (give a brief explanation of the core concept of your thesis and its objectives). The date for my thesis defense is set for last week in November, and I hope you will spare this time to be available for this reason. 

In this email, I have attached the final copy of my thesis for your review. It is essential that you go through the documents why it is taking time to consider my humble request to join my thesis committee. I Will highly appreciate your presence on my committee, and I will be looking forward to your response. 

Thank you for your time and consideration; I would keep an eye on your response soonest.

Dear Sir/Ma

My name is ( your name goes here) in the final year of my graduate studies at ( name your institution here) at the (input your faculty here). My thesis research is on (name your research topic) and the Department of (call your Department). 

My research focuses on (state the objective of the study), which is the field that you have dominated and constantly represent over time through your professional experience and research results.  

I am confident that your enthusiasm about the (state of your research field) could help broaden my horizon and research work. I have had the opportunity to review some of your publications, and I found them very interesting and exceptional. 

With this, I humbly request that you be a member of my thesis committee to offer your insight on this project and add some more value to my work. 

The thesis defense has a schedule for (date of the reason) at the (state the security location). I will appreciate it if my humble request grant and you are present at the defense. With this email are the attached copy of my final thesis proposal and my CV for your review. 

I am looking forward to your favorable response. Many thanks for considering my request. 

Yours sincerely 

The above template should guide how you can request the presence of anyone on your thesis committee. You must send out this email in time to have responses from people who would be available for your thesis defense, whether it’s a professor, a professional, forum area. Your student, you can easily find the best template that will suit your request. These templates would also give you some other ideas on approaching people to be on your thesis committee.

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Dissertation Committee: Roles, Functions, and How to Choose

The path to a dissertation is filled with choices that determine the quality of your experience as a student as well as the future strength of your professional network. 

Choosing your dissertation committee is one of the most important decisions–and one of the most fraught–that you’ll make as a graduate student. With the stakes being so high, many doctoral students worry about making a misstep and getting it wrong. 

Fear not! Putting together your dissertation committee becomes easier once you know the right questions to ask: of potential committee members, of your dissertation chair, and of yourself. While forming your dissertation committee can be challenging, striking the right balance will lead to a richly rewarding academic experience that will pay dividends throughout your career. Do your homework, and you’ll be just fine. 

Dissertation Committee Questions

• What does a dissertation committee do?
• Who serves on your dissertation committee?
• How do you choose dissertation committee members?
• What can you expect from your dissertation committee? 

What Does a Dissertation Committee Do?

The basic function of your dissertation committee, which typically consists of five members, is to guide you through the process of proposing, writing, and revising your dissertation.  

Dissertation committee members serve in a mentoring capacity, offering constructive feedback on your writing and research, as well as guiding your revision efforts. They are also the gatekeepers of the ivory tower, and the ultimate judges of whether or not your dissertation passes muster. 

The dissertation committee is usually formed once your academic coursework is completed. It is not uncommon in the humanities and social sciences for dissertation committee members to also write and evaluate qualifying exams, and of course serve as faculty. By the time you begin working on your dissertation, you may know the faculty members who will serve on your dissertation committee quite well. 

Who Serves on Your Dissertation Committee? 

To a degree, who serves on your dissertation committee is up to you. Dissertation committees usually consist mostly of faculty members from the doctoral student’s home department, though this can vary due to the rise of interdisciplinary programs. 

Some universities also allow an outside expert–a former professor or academic mentor from another university–to serve on your committee. It’s advisable to choose faculty members who know you and who are familiar with your work. 

While it’s a good idea to have a mix of faculty members, it’s also important to be mindful about the roles they can play. For instance, I always advise graduate students working in quantitative fields to have a statistician on their committee. When there’s big data to crunch, it never hurts to have a stats expert in your corner. You’ll also want at least one faculty member–besides your chair–whose research is in the same relative area as yours, or adjacent to it. 

How to Choose Dissertation Committee Members

Think Carefully. It’s tempting to approach a faculty member who is a superstar in their field (if not, necessarily, in yours) to lend a little extra sparkle to your own academic credentials. Or perhaps the kindly professor you can always count on for an easy A. Or even the faculty member you’d like to be friends with after graduate school. Right? 

Not so fast. Here are some things to keep in mind when building your dissertation committee dream team: 

• Avoid Superstars. Though the prospect of having your department’s most eminent name on your committee sounds exciting, their star power comes with a price. Between guest lectures, books, keynotes, and conference travel, their time is not their own, and it won’t be yours, either. Choose dissertation committee members who have time for you. 
• Choose faculty members you know, like, and can learn from. It’s not a bad idea to approach a professor whose coursework challenged you. One of the professors who served on my committee was such an exacting grader that my term papers for her courses were accepted for publication without revision (academia’s most coveted mythical creature). 
• Keep your eyes on the future. Members of your dissertation committee can be your mentors, co-authors, and research collaborators throughout your career. Choose them wisely. 

Forming Your Dissertation Committee

Reaching out to potential dissertation committee members and formally asking them to serve on your dissertation committee can be a surprisingly taxing process. It takes some planning, and you’ll want to put some thought into it before making the big ask. While being asked to serve on a dissertation committee won’t come as a surprise to most faculty–they know the drill–these are some considerations to know going in:

• Talk to your advisor before approaching anyone to be on your committee. Remember, your advisor knows their colleagues in a way that you don’t, and is also aware of departmental politics, potential personality conflicts, and which faculty members are a good fit on a dissertation committee. Trust your advisor’s judgement. 
• Know what you’re asking. Serving on a dissertation committee is a big time commitment for any faculty member. If they say yes to being on your committee, it means they are invested in you and your research, and they want to play a role in your future. It doesn’t hurt to send a thank-you note. 
• Don’t sweat it if they say no. It does not reflect on you as a student or a scholar. A good faculty member is aware of their limitations, and they probably just don’t have the time or bandwidth to take on another big commitment. Thank them and move on. 

Expectations

Once your dissertation committee is formed, it’s time to get down to business. As a faculty member, I love serving on dissertation committees because doing so gives me the chance to work with grad students one on one as they journey into new frontiers and carve a place for themselves in academia. It is a deep, rich learning experience, and it’s thrilling to watch students transform into scholars. 

Even though researching and writing a dissertation is the most challenging work you’ll ever do, recognize this time for the opportunity it truly represents. In your dissertation committee, you have a panel of experts all to yourself, and they’re eager to help you knock your dissertation out of the park. This is the experience of a lifetime; take advantage of your dissertation committee’s time and talent, and channel that energy and goodwill into your development as a scholar. 

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Courtney Watson, Ph.D.

Courtney Watson, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of English at Radford University Carilion, in Roanoke, Virginia. Her areas of expertise include undergraduate and graduate curriculum development for writing courses in the health sciences and American literature with a focus on literary travel, tourism, and heritage economies. Her writing and academic scholarship has been widely published in places that include  Studies in American Culture ,  Dialogue , and  The Virginia Quarterly Review . Her research on the integration of humanities into STEM education will be published by Routledge in an upcoming collection. Dr. Watson has also been nominated by the State Council for Higher Education of Virginia’s Outstanding Faculty Rising Star Award, and she is a past winner of the National Society of Arts & Letters Regional Short Story Prize, as well as institutional awards for scholarly research and excellence in teaching. Throughout her career in higher education, Dr. Watson has served in faculty governance and administration as a frequent committee chair and program chair. As a higher education consultant, she has served as a subject matter expert, an evaluator, and a contributor to white papers exploring program development, enrollment research, and educational mergers and acquisitions.

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Sample emails to your dissertation supervisor

Published on October 13, 2015 by Sarah Vinz . Revised on March 24, 2017.

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Making an appointment, asking questions, confirming agreements.

Dear Dr. Janssen,

The college has informed me that you will be my supervisor. I would therefore like to make an initial appointment to discuss my dissertation idea with you.

I look forward to hearing from you as to when you would be available to meet with me.

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Dear Prof. Smith,

I have encountered several difficulties while working on my dissertation. Could you please answer the following questions?

• I have found only limited literature on the concept of “social enforcement.” Are you familiar with any authors who have written on this topic?
• Measuring “social enforcement” in the literature has proven virtually impossible. At this point I would like to use “social control” as a starting point for the concept. What are your thoughts on this?

I would like to make an appointment to discuss these questions with you. When would be convenient for you?

I am writing in follow-up to our meeting on Monday. Could you please check the notes I have prepared concerning what we agreed and confirm that they are accurate?

Thanks in advance for your response.

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How To Assemble Your Dissertation Committee

Graduate school is full of complicated assignments and difficult decisions, and most graduate students have developed a process they follow when faced with a daunting task. Since choosing your dissertation committee is one of your most consequential scholarly decisions, you might want to try something besides your standard operating procedure. If it's time to select your dissertation committee but you don't even know where to start, follow the following seven tips to select a stellar dissertation committee.

What is a dissertation committee?

A dissertation committee is a carefully selected group of people who will provide feedback and guidance as you research and compose your dissertation. It is important to pick a balanced group of people for your committee, because these people will help shape your research and ultimately, they will determine whether your dissertation is complete enough to earn you the coveted Ph.D. title.

What does a dissertation committee do?

Dissertation committee members will read sections of your dissertation and provide extensive feedback at various points in your process. They will identify weak arguments and challenge your assertions, with the understanding that you will use their feedback to craft a strong dissertation backed with exceptional research. Make sure to choose people capable of providing constructive feedback, because committee members will expect you to resolve their previous concerns by the next time they review your work.

Many graduate students cringe at the thought of asking faculty members to serve on their dissertation committees, because they erroneously think they're asking potential members for a favor. While serving on your dissertation committee will require members to invest time and effort, it is actually one of their professional responsibilities as faculty members. Keep this in mind as you create your list of possible committee members.

Now that you have a better understanding of the purpose of your dissertation committee, follow these seven essential steps to choose an effective dissertation committee.

1. Review your department's requirements

Consult your departments guidelines to determine how many people you need to select for your dissertation committee and identify any necessary qualifications for committee members. Requirements vary based on your department: Some departments and universities require faculty members to make up a certain portion of the committee while others might require a percentage of the committee to come from external institutions or from your specific industry.

2. Ask for recommendations

• Ask your advisor if he or she has any recommendations that you should consider for your committee. Your advisor is most likely already invested in you and your research topic, and aside from you, probably has the best understanding of your dissertation topic and your ultimate goals. Your advisor will hopefully have established strong relationships with other faculty members in your department, so he or she should have valuable suggestions for you to consider. Your advisor will probably also serve on your committee (and might even serve as the committee chair), so it will be worthwhile to consider people that you know will work well with your advisor.
• Ask your fellow graduate students if they can recommend any potential candidates for your dissertation committee. If you have friends who have already selected their dissertation committee, try to learn from their experiences. Ask how they selected their committee members and if they encountered anyone that might be a good fit for you. Friends can also give you tips if a favorite faculty member is going on sabbatical soon or is too busy to serve on any additional committees.

3. Make a list of your ideal committee members

• Professors and teachers you respect and value
• Faculty members who have shaped your understanding of your subject matter
• Industry experts in your field
• People who will broaden your networking circles: If you plan to seek a career in industry after earning your PhD, select at least one committee member with extensive contacts in your preferred industry (if your department's guidelines allow external members on your committee). Additionally, if you choose well-connected committee members, they might be able to introduce you to future collaborators or suggest research areas you have not yet considered.
• People with strong communication skills
• People who will challenge and inspire you

4. Present your list to your advisor and ask for feedback

As you research and write your dissertation, you will seek feedback from your advisor frequently, and you will get some good old-fashioned practice at this during the committee selection process. In Step 2, your advisor recommended a handful of candidates for your committee. Since then, you have added more names to your list, so ask your advisor for feedback on your complete choices. Here are some questions you might want to consider asking:

• Is there anyone on the list who is difficult to work with and might impede your dissertation progress?
• Does your list include someone who is already serving on multiple committees and won't be able to give you the time and attention you deserve?
• Are there any knowledge gaps in your list? In other words, have you included two or three people from the same specialty, which means you probably overlooked including a candidate from another important sector?
• Does your advisor possess personal or professional information that might lead you to exclude any candidates? Don't be nosy here—you don't need to know the reason, just trust your advisor if he or she tells you that someone you should probably remove someone from your list.

5. Ask your top candidates for a meeting

Email your preferred candidates a brief summary of your research topic and ask if you can schedule an appointment to discuss the possibility of them serving on your dissertation committee. If candidates don't reply to your email within a reasonable time frame, assume that they are too busy to serve on a dissertation committee and remove them from your candidate list. Similarly, if a candidate does not have any availability to meet with you during your selected time frame, that candidate is likely overbooked. You might want to take this as a sign and scratch this person off your list.

6. Meet with your top candidates

If a candidate responded promptly, agreed on a time to meet, and followed through on the meeting, chances are high that he or she is reliable and will be able to fit you into a busy schedule. Remember, you are interviewing this person for to serve on the committee that will have the final say in whether you complete your dissertation and earn your Ph.D. Approach the meeting as if you are interviewing them for a position on your payroll.

Create a list of questions to gauge candidates' knowledge about your topic and to get an idea of their communication styles. Asking the same questions in every meeting will highlight the candidates' similarities and differences, and you can use this information to assemble a compatible group of experts. Ideally, each member of your committee will contribute a different type of knowledge or expertise, so treat these meetings as if you are interviewing to fill a specific role on your team.

After each meeting, take a moment to write down your assessments of the candidate and anything that stands out from the meeting. If a candidate stimulated your mind and offered valuable suggestions during an initial meeting, write that down and make a mark to signify that you definitely want that person on your committee.

In contrast, if you feel an abundance of negativity while meeting with a candidate, it's probably best to eliminate that person from your list of potentials. Choosing who serves on your dissertation committee is one of the most important decisions of your academic career, and you have a better chance of success if you assemble a group of people who challenge and inspire you in positive ways.

7. Ask candidates to join your committee

After you've met with all of your possible candidates, use your post-meeting notes to evaluate your options and create a compatible team. Send a separate email to each potential member and highlight a few reasons that you think he or she will be an ideal choice for your dissertation committee. Explain that you are currently in the process of gathering your dissertation committee and ask candidates to give you an answer by a (reasonable) deadline.

If you decided after a meeting that a candidate was not a good fit for your committee, send a follow up email and thank the person for meeting with you. After expressing your appreciation, state that you have filled all positions on your dissertation committee at this time. If applicable, you might consider asking if you can consult him or her if you have questions while working on your dissertation.

Follow the seven steps above if you want to assemble a dissertation committee composed of experts who will guide you towards a successful dissertation. You're already off to a great start.

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Forming Your Committee

Students should not schedule the proposal defense prior to their committee being finalized and their appointment form being approved by the Graduate School.

It is necessary to have the form approved in advance of the proposal defense, as there are instances in which committee members are not approved (for example, if someone is listed as the Graduate Faculty Representative who the Graduate School does not deem  qualified to serve in this capacity).

The Graduate School's requirements for everything from committee formation to graduation clearance can be found under the Current Students tab on the Graduate School website. 

Composition of the Doctoral Committee: Roles and Responsibilities

The Graduate School requires that doctoral committees consist of no less than four members. These four members must be regular members of the Graduate Faculty or must be granted an exception by the Dean of the Graduate School.  All committees must include a chair and a Graduate Faculty Representative. Assistant Professors are usually not approved to serve as chair unless they have served as a committee member first. Exceptions are granted on a case-by-case basis. 

Graduate Faculty Representative

The primary role of the Graduate Faculty Representative is to ensure that the student is treated fairly and that Graduate School policies are upheld. Expertise in the student's area of research is not a requirement. The Graduate Faculty Representative's responsibilities are explained in greater detail here . Assistant Professors are not eligible to serve as Graduate Faculty Representative. 

The requirement to include an outside member on all dissertation committees is not uncommon among institutions of higher education and is in keeping with best practices in doctoral support. 

Committee Members

Committee members are often chosen to provide topic or methodological expertise. Even without contributing their expertise, committee members may be chosen based on faculty with whom the student has a good professional relationship or who could offer a helpful outside perspective. Committee members are generally not as involved as the committee chair in the everyday progression of the dissertation.  Typically, they read the dissertation only in its final form before the defense, although they should be available for consultation throughout the process and may be more closely involved in sections or chapters in which they have particular expertise. 

The committee members and Graduate Faculty Representative will:

• Approve of the subject matter and methodology of the thesis or dissertation research
• Review and comment on drafts of the thesis or dissertation prior to submission to The Graduate School
• Verify, to the best of their ability, the quality of the data collection and evidence, data analysis, and logical reasoning or interpretation in light of the proposal aims
• Evaluate whether the student’s thesis or dissertation fulfills the requirements of the degree

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