I'm not sure how to work with my committee
Understand what each committee member is for, keep them in the loop, and run committee meetings that move the project forward.
In short
Start here, today. List each committee member, why they're on your committee, and when you last had a real conversation with them. If you can't say why someone is there, ask your supervisor. This takes about 15 minutes.
After that, work through these steps. Choose one to jump to it.
Step by step
Tick each step as you finish it. Open a step for the how.
0 of 6 steps done
Know who does what
Your main supervisor usually guides the project day to day. Other members bring specific expertise and a fresh pair of eyes. Check your handbook for what the committee formally approves in your program, such as your proposal, annual progress or readiness to defend, so you know which meetings carry weight.
Send short regular updates
Every few months, send the whole committee a half-page update on what you've done, what has changed and what's next, with any question you'd like input on. It takes twenty minutes and means nobody is surprised at the annual meeting. Mention it to your supervisor first so they know it's coming.
Use members for their expertise
Between meetings, it's usually fine to ask a committee member for a short conversation about their area: your model specification, your interview guide, a theoretical framing. Tell your supervisor you're doing it and share what you learned. It builds the relationship and takes some pressure off your supervisor.
Prepare committee meetings properly
Send a written progress report and any chapters two weeks ahead, or whatever your program requires. Open the meeting with a short presentation, then put your questions to the committee clearly, starting with the one that matters most. Afterwards, send a summary of their recommendations and file any progress form your program needs.
Manage different views
Disagreement between members is normal and often useful. Log each person's concern in the Feedback Tracker, talk it through with your supervisor, and come back with a proposed resolution rather than trying to satisfy everyone separately. If two members disagree during a meeting, ask the committee to settle on a direction before everyone leaves the room.
Record what was agreed
Agreements about scope made in committee meetings are the ones you'll want to point to when someone later asks why the thesis doesn't cover something. Log them in the Decision Log with the date and who was present.
Words you can use
Is this you? Signs to look for
- You see your committee once a year and dread it.
- You don't know whether you're allowed to contact committee members between meetings.
- One member's comments pull the project somewhere your supervisor doesn't want it to go.
- You know some of your committee only by name.
- You suspect the final defence will be the first time some of them read your work closely.
Why this happens
Committees go by different names. In North America it's usually a supervisory or thesis committee. In the UK, Australia and many other places you may have a supervisory panel, a second supervisor or co-supervisors, sometimes with an independent reviewer at progress points. The details vary by country and university, so check your handbook for how yours works. The underlying idea is the same: more than one person shares responsibility for your progress.
Students often treat the committee as an exam board that appears once a year. Used well, it is closer to a small group of advisors. Each member was usually chosen for something specific, such as a method, a body of theory, a population or a region, and in many programs they will also sit on your defence.
Most committee problems come from too little contact, not too much. A member who hasn't heard from you in a year arrives without context, and that is when surprising objections appear.
When to bring someone in
If a committee member is unresponsive, leaves the university or retires, or if disagreement between members is blocking your progress, talk to your supervisor first and then to the graduate coordinator. Programs usually have rules about committee membership and how a member can be replaced, so check your handbook. If a disagreement is serious enough to delay a milestone, the program director can help find a way forward.
Find the right person, or talk to Ify