Graduate advisers are appointed by the dean of the Graduate Division for each department, school, or group and are announced before the beginning of the fall semester. Graduate advisers (1) assist students in selecting programs of study; (2) act on petitions for study list changes only; (3) maintain records of all students enrolled under their jurisdiction; and (4) supply information requested by the dean of the Graduate Division about a student's progress. In addition, the head graduate adviser (1) endorses applications for candidacy for higher degrees and for qualifying examinations; (2) acts on readmission applications and petitions by graduate students; and (3) assists the dean in the enforcement of regulations, particularly those relating to registration, admission to graduate courses, and maintenance of acceptable scholastic performance.

You may also have an individual or major adviser, usually assigned after you are advanced to candidacy for the doctorate, but frequently appointed in the earlier stages of your training. The individual or major advisers may be the same as the official graduate advisers. You should keep in close touch with your individual adviser and should confer with your official graduate adviser at the beginning of each semester to obtain approval of your program of study.