Division of Graduate Studies

A.  The Dissertation Committee

Students in doctoral programs must demonstrate evidence of a high degree of scholarship, competence in scholarly exposition and ability to select, organize and apply knowledge through a dissertation.  “Guidelines for Preparing the Dissertation” as developed and enhanced by the Graduate Faculty of Jackson State University, provides examples of best practices concerning format standards that must be met before it receives final approval by the Division of Graduate Studies.

Each student should obtain a copy of the “Guidelines for Preparing a Doctoral Dissertation”.

B.  Master’s Thesis and Project

Each student should obtain a copy of the “Guidelines for Preparing a Masters’ Thesis” or “Guidelines for a Master’s Project“

Institutional Review Board (IRB) and Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)

• If your proposed research involves human subjects, it must be approved by the Jackson State University Institutional Review Board, (IRB).
• If your proposed research involves animals, it must be approved by the Jackson State University Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.
• A full explanation of the procedures and Federal Guidelines are available at the website of the JSU Office of Research Compliance

Student’s Responsibility

• Choosing a chairperson following the policies & guidelines of the major department.
• Choosing the members of the dissertation committee in conjunction with the chairperson following the policies & guidelines of the major department.
• Meeting with the chairperson and setting a schedule for completion of the dissertation in a timely manner.
• Keeping on schedule.
• Turning in all dissertation material to chairperson typed in correct format.
• Knowing and meeting all deadlines.
• Filing all forms in a timely manner.

Advisor and Committee’s Responsibility

It is the chairperson’s and committee members’ responsibility to know policies, rules, and regulations of both the Division of Graduate Studies and the major department relative to the dissertation process.

In addition the committee chair is also responsible for..

• Ensuring that the student is aware of the rules, regulations and policies of the Division of Graduate Studies and the department.
• Assisting the student in the formation of a committee.
• Meeting with the student on a regular basis.
• Keeping the scheduled appointments.
• Ensuring that the student’s work is properly documented and not plagiarized.
• Scheduling the prospectus hearing, if required, and the final defense of the dissertation.
• Notifying the committee members and the Department chair of the place, time & date of the prospectus hearing.
• Notifying the Graduate Dean, College Dean, Department chair and committee members of the place, time & date of the final defense.

Committee’s Responsibility

It is the committee members’ responsibility to …

• Attend the prospectus hearing and final defense.
• Read the student’s work throughout the writing process.
• Provide written feedback for correcting and/or improving the dissertation.
• Department Chair/Program Director’s Responsibility

It is the department chair/program director’s responsibility for knowing and enforcing policies, rules, and regulations of both the Division of Graduate Studies and department/program.

The chair/director is also responsible for….

• Ensuring that the graduate faculty of the department/program know and adhere to the policies, rules and regulations of the Division of Graduate Studies.
• Keeping the faculty abreast of rule, policy and procedure changes from the Division of Graduate Studies.
• Serving as a liaison between the student and the advisor, if necessary.
• Ensuring the dissertation advisor and all committee members are qualified to serve.