As there has been some confusion and different readings on what this 
means, I asked Matt Zingraff for clarification.

This means that we MUST have three faculty from George Mason. Two of 
these three MUST be from our department, though you also CAN have all 
three from our department.

Anybody from outside the university can only be added as a fourth member 
and cannot count for the three required members.

Hope this clears it up. It is still a much better situation than where 
we had been for the last year, as we are no longer required to have an 
outside the department but inside Mason person.

Steve

Steven A. Barnes wrote:
> I am extremely pleased to forward the attached e-mail which notes a 
> very positive change in the rules for forming dissertation committees. 
> This will greatly ease the process!
>
> Let me know if anybody has questions.
>
> Steve
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Subject:
> Change in Dissertation Committee Composition
> From:
> Matthew Zingraff <[log in to unmask]>
> Date:
> Thu, 01 Apr 2010 12:46:07 -0400
> To:
> Faye Taxman <[log in to unmask]>, Carl Botan <[log in to unmask]>, "Roger N. 
> Lancaster" <[log in to unmask]>, Richard E Wagner <[log in to unmask]>, 
> Steven H Weinberger <[log in to unmask]>, Steven Barnes 
> <[log in to unmask]>, "cortin >> Jose M Cortina" <[log in to unmask]>, 
> David Wilsford <[log in to unmask]>, Amy L Best <[log in to unmask]>, 
> william miller <[log in to unmask]>, Frances Harbour <[log in to unmask]>, 
> Matthew Zingraff <[log in to unmask]>
>
> To:
> Faye Taxman <[log in to unmask]>, Carl Botan <[log in to unmask]>, "Roger N. 
> Lancaster" <[log in to unmask]>, Richard E Wagner <[log in to unmask]>, 
> Steven H Weinberger <[log in to unmask]>, Steven Barnes 
> <[log in to unmask]>, "cortin >> Jose M Cortina" <[log in to unmask]>, 
> David Wilsford <[log in to unmask]>, Amy L Best <[log in to unmask]>, 
> william miller <[log in to unmask]>, Frances Harbour <[log in to unmask]>, 
> Matthew Zingraff <[log in to unmask]>
> CC:
> Susan Turriziani <[log in to unmask]>
>
>
> Dear Colleagues,
>
> Graduate Council approved the below and the revision will appear in 
> the 2010-2011 University Catalog. Officially, this revision begins at 
> that time. CHSS will approve dissertation committees that meet the new 
> wording below, if that is what you desire, effective immediately. [mz]
> ***
>
>
>         Dissertation Committee
>
> Before a doctoral student is advanced to candidacy, the dean or 
> director of the school, college, or institute or its designee (as 
> specified by the school/college/institute) appoints a dissertation 
> committee upon recommendation of the student’s dissertation chair. 
> Students work collaboratively with the program director and faculty to 
> form the dissertation committee, with the understanding that some 
> areas of research may be impossible to support due to available 
> faculty expertise. Program personnel will facilitate the formation of 
> the dissertation committee to the extent possible, but there can be no 
> guarantee of successful formation.
>
> All dissertation committees must consist of at least three members of 
> the graduate faculty, at least two of whom must be from the student’s 
> academic unit or program faculty. The committee consists of a 
> dissertation chair, typically a graduate faculty member from the 
> department or program of the student’s field of study and at least two 
> other members of the graduate faculty. Only a graduate faculty member 
> with a full-time appointment at George Mason University may serve as 
> dissertation chair. Other Mason faculty, as well as individuals from 
> outside the university, may be appointed as additional members to the 
> committee. Such appointments are made where the additional member’s 
> expertise and contribution add value to the dissertation, but 
> appointment does not require graduate faculty status.
>
> Student-initiated changes in the composition of the dissertation 
> committee may occur only with the approval of the dean or director of 
> the school, college, or institute or its designee in consultation with 
> the committee. Faculty may resign from a dissertation committee with 
> appropriate notice by submitting a written resignation.
> -- 
>
>
> Matthew Zingraff
> Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Programs
> College of Humanities and Social Sciences
> George Mason University
> 4400 University Drive
> MSN 3A3
> Fairfax, Virginia 22030
> 703-993-4769 (Phone)
> 703-993-8714 (Fax)
>