Graduate students should regularly seek the advice of members of the faculty, at all stages of their graduate studies, especially in planning their programs, selecting their courses, deciding upon their dissertation topics and committees, and preparing for their post-graduate careers. Faculty members with whom they should consult include the Director of Graduate Studies and their advisors, but are by no means restricted to them alone. For various purposes, graduate students may also find it helpful to consult with the Department Head and Associate Head, the Director of Graduate Studies, the Chairs of other department committees, and members of the faculty who teach and work in particular areas, or who are knowledgeable of departmental, university, or professional affairs. New graduate students should be sure to consult with the Director of Graduate Studies (who acts as their advisor during their first semester) immediately upon arrival. All graduate students should bear in mind that advice sought and received at the right time may be very valuable, and can help to avert or alleviate difficulties down the road.
All graduate students enrolled in Philosophy 599 in a given semester are required to submit to their advisors a statement reporting their progress that semester on their dissertations and describing a plan for future work on the dissertation. This report is to be submitted at the end of the semester. It must be signed by the student and the student's advisor.