Programs make every effort to ensure at admission that adequate advising is available for a student's scholarly interest at the time. Circumstances, including but not limited to departure of faculty with specialized expertise or changes in student interest may impede the ability of OSU to find an academic advisor or constitute a full committee.

Students1 who find themselves without a major advisor or unable to form a full committee must follow the steps as presented in the order below. 2 For example, if a major professor has not been secured at Step 1, the student should proceed to Step 2, and so forth.

Step 1

The student must meet with the leader of their graduate program who will provide them with a written list of actions to guide the student in securing an advisor or committee members. Failure by the student to complete these actions within four weeks may lead to a loss of good academic standing and possible dismissal from the program.

Step 2

The student's graduate program leader and the unit head/chair with supervisory authority over faculty will, in consultation with the student and potential advisors/committee members, within four weeks, assign an advisor and/or committee member(s).

Step 3

The student's college-level associate dean for graduate programs or other dean-level college representative will, within four weeks, make a similar attempt to secure a major professor.

Step 4

A panel convened by the dean of the Graduate School (or designee) and consisting of the members listed below will make every attempt, within four weeks, to secure a major professor.

  • The student's graduate program director or the unit head such as department chair, department head or school director,
  • The dean (or designee such as the associate dean) of the college that houses the student's program,
  • The dean (or designee) of the Graduate School,
  • A representative from OSU Faculty Senate Graduate Council from a college other than the affected student's graduate program home, and
  • Optionally, at the student's request, a graduate student enrolled in a college other than the affected student's graduate program home.3

If the panel determines that sufficient expertise is not available among the faculty at the university to secure a major professor, then the panel may recommend dismissal from the program. If the graduate student does not agree with the outcome designated by the panel, they are free to attempt, once again, to find their own major professor and will have four additional weeks to do so before losing good academic standing and being dismissed from the program.

Note: Students who believe that their academic rights have been denied in connection with the assignment of an advisor may file a grievance pursuant to the Grievance Procedures for Graduate Students at OSU. Students who believe that they have been discriminated against in this process may contact the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access at OSU.

1 This policy applies to graduate students in good academic standing, which is defined as one who currently meets all of the following requirements:

  • Has a GPA that meets or exceeds the OSU and program-specific GPA minimums.
  • Has met all OSU Graduate School established deadlines commensurate with the stage in their academic program (currently accessible here);
  • Has met all requirements and deadlines of the degree program in which they are enrolled, with the exception of having a current major advisor;
  • Is not in violation of the student conduct code;
  • Is deemed, by their academic program, to be making satisfactory academic progress towards their degree. A student may assume that they are making satisfactory progress towards their degree unless they have been informed otherwise in writing by their major advisor and/or graduate program leader.

2 This process can also be initiated by the graduate program when a student is found to be without a major advisor.

3 Prior to service on this committee, the graduate student representative will need to be fully apprised of the confidential nature of the procedures and agree to keep all discussions in strict confidence as a requirement of federal student protections under FERPA.