On this page, you will find the official Best Practices for Advisory Committees and Defenses document, which provides guidance for Oklahoma State University Graduate Faculty, graduate students, and graduate programs on advisory committee responsibilities, mentoring practices, academic milestones, and thesis and dissertation defenses.

This resource outlines nationally aligned best practices for supporting graduate student success through effective faculty mentoring, active engagement with advisory committees, and clear expectations throughout the graduate education process. It includes guidance for both master's and doctoral degree programs, covering advisory committee composition, member roles and responsibilities, Plan of Study development, doctoral candidacy, thesis and dissertation preparation, defense procedures, and approval processes.

The document is intended for graduate students, Graduate Faculty, Advisory Committee members, Graduate Program Coordinators, and academic leaders involved in graduate education. It serves as a companion resource to the university's broader graduate education best practices and promotes consistent, high-quality experiences for students and faculty throughout the degree completion process.

Graduate students and faculty are encouraged to review this document when forming advisory committees, preparing for academic milestones, and planning thesis or dissertation defenses to ensure a shared understanding of expectations and responsibilities.

Download the Official Template

The full document is available in its original format and may be downloaded using the link below.

Best Practices For Advisory Committees and Defenses File