In the Graduate School at Cornell, a graduate student's ``Special Committee" has ultimate power over his/her progress and degree.
Different fields have different requirements and expectations concerning special committees. The graduate school requires that you have an advisor (who also serves as your special committee chair) within three weeks of first registering in the graduate school. In some cases, this may just be a temporary advisor. Some departments assign their Director of Graduate Studies to be every first-year student's advisor, for example. Then, when you decide whom you want to work with, you can easily change your advisor by filling out the appropriate form. The Graduate School insists that a full committee must be formed by the end of the third semester of graduate study. If you do not form the committee by the end of third semester, your registration for the fourth semester will be put on hold. You will not be able to add or drop courses unless you are registered. Also, if you delay it too much, a fine may also be imposed on you by the Graduate School.
It's a good idea to start by choosing the chair of your special committee (your advisor) and then get his or her advice before choosing the other members of the committee. For more information on choosing your advisor, see section 1.12.2.
The composition of special committees varies widely. While your committee chair is usually the faculty member you do your research under, there are different ways to select your other committee members. Two models are presented here, but these are not the only options. Every graduate student at Cornell may have slightly different criteria when forming a special committee.
In some departments, there may be a requirement of two minors and so, both the other members of the committee would be representing minors. In this case, you may add one more member for help on career and professional development and/or for technical guidance.
The special committee is responsible for ensuring that the requirements of the field are being fulfilled. These requirements could be course, minor, or grade requirements. The Graduate School does have some regulations but it does not have any specific course or other similar requirements. The primary objective of the special committee is to make sure that the candidate attains the desired level of independence in scholarship.
Even though there is no such obligation, you should try to arrange regular meetings of the whole committee from time to time. Such meetings ensure proper and timely communication. If you have more than one faculty member in your committee who can understand the technical details of your work, then such meetings may generate new ideas or may warn you of certain overlooked aspects. Such meetings can also ensure than your current project(s) and activities are commensurate with your professional goals.
The Graduate School is very flexible about the reconstitution of the special committee. So, if you are not satisfied with it, you can reconstitute your committee any time. However, after your A exam if you decide to replace a non-chair person in your committee, you will have to petition the Graduate School. Normally, such permissions are granted. For Masters' students, a petition is required for committee changes less than 3 months prior to the thesis defense.
Changing your chair is more complicated. You may have to start your work from scratch on an altogether new topic, especially if no other faculty member is interested in working on the same topic. In particular, if you are in an advanced stage of your program, try seriously to sort your differences with the chair person before you finally decide upon the change. Read Section 1.12.2 for more information about the factors you should consider before you decide to change advisors.
If a member of your committee leaves Cornell, he/she can still remain as member for at least one more year. You need to petition the Graduate School for longer durations. If the chair decides to leave Cornell or goes on a sabbatical, you may decide to accompany him/her. To do this, you may need to take a ``leave of absentia" from the Graduate School. To take a leave of absentia, the Graduate School requires you to have spent at least two residence terms at Cornell for a Ph.D. student and at least one term for the M.S. Students. The duration of ``leave of absentia" should be less than two residence units. In both the above cases, as usual, exceptions are permissible but require petitioning the Graduate School. Other possible options could be to take a ``leave of absentia" and do work outside or stay and work here and take the guidance of another faculty member.
In some departments, the field appoints a member to committees. Ph.D. students can choose three other members (and Masters two other members) to complete the committee. If the student so desires, a field appointed member can be the third member in his committee. It is the prerogative of the student to decide whether the field appointed member serves on the committee throughout the program or just sits for the exams.