The Appointment of Supervisory Committee (ASC) form is required for all thesis and dissertation students. The ASC form is used to officially establish the supervisory committee that will guide the student’s scholarly work and evaluate academic progress throughout the thesis or dissertation process.
The ASC form is available on the Graduate Student Forms page.
Supervisory Committee Requirements
A supervisory committee is required for all thesis and dissertation students.
The supervisory committee consists of a Supervisory Committee Chair and additional Graduate Faculty members selected to provide a broad range of knowledge and expertise to support the student’s scholarly work.
Thesis and dissertation supervisory committees must include at least three (3) and no more than five (5) Graduate Faculty members.
Graduate students should take an active role in identifying Graduate Faculty members who can provide appropriate expertise and guidance when establishing their supervisory committee.
When Should I Submit the ASC Form?
Students should identify a Supervisory Committee Chair and establish their supervisory committee as early as possible in their graduate career.
Graduate students engaged in thesis or dissertation activity must identify a Supervisory Committee Chair by the beginning of their second year in the program.
The ASC form should be submitted as soon as the committee has been identified and no later than the submission of the Application for Admission to Candidacy (AAC) form.
Before You Submit the ASC Form
Before completing the ASC form, students should:
- Consult with their proposed Supervisory Committee Chair regarding committee membership.
- Confirm that all proposed committee members have agreed to serve.
- Verify that all proposed committee members hold current Graduate Faculty status.
The Graduate Faculty webpage provides access to:
- The Approved Graduate Faculty roster
- Graduate Faculty nomination and renewal forms
- Graduate Faculty membership policies and eligibility requirements
Supervisory Committee Chair Eligibility
The Supervisory Committee Chair serves as the student’s primary mentor and coordinates supervisory committee activities.
To serve as a Supervisory Committee Chair (or Co-Chair), an individual must:
- Hold current Graduate Faculty membership
- Have an endorsement to chair a supervisory committee
In addition, the supervisory committee must include a Chair or Co-Chair who holds an appointment in the department responsible for the program (or a participating department in the case of an interdisciplinary program).
Graduate Faculty members who are approved to chair supervisory committees are identified in the Approved Graduate Faculty roster.
Doctoral Students and Graduate Faculty Representatives (GFRs)
Beginning in Fall 2026, doctoral students and graduate programs are no longer responsible for identifying a Graduate Faculty Representative (GFR) when submitting the Appointment of Supervisory Committee form.
Instead, the Graduate Student Success Center will coordinate GFR assignments for doctoral dissertation defenses during the semester in which the student plans to defend.
Students defending their dissertation during Summer 2026 should continue following existing guidance and may list their previously identified GFR on the ASC form.
Questions about GFR assignments should be directed to the Graduate Student Success Center at success@boisestate.edu.
Adding a Committee Member Who Is Not Graduate Faculty
If a proposed committee member does not currently hold Graduate Faculty status, students should consult with their Supervisory Committee Chair or graduate program before submitting the ASC form.
Programs may nominate eligible individuals for Graduate Faculty membership through the Graduate Faculty nomination process. Supervisory committee appointments cannot be finalized until all committee members meet Graduate Faculty requirements.
Changes to the Supervisory Committee
Changes to supervisory committee membership after the initial appointment require submission of an updated Appointment of Supervisory Committee form.
Students should consult with their Supervisory Committee Chair and graduate program before requesting changes to committee membership.
What Happens After Submission?
Once submitted, the ASC form is routed for review and approval by the designated reviewers and the Graduate College.
Upon approval, the Graduate College formally appoints the supervisory committee and notifies the student and graduate program by email.
Questions?
If you have questions about supervisory committee requirements or the Appointment of Supervisory Committee form, please contact the Graduate Student Success Center at success@boisestate.edu.