Academic Advisement

You will have several advisors while a graduate student in the School of Public Policy and Administration.

Academic Advisor

Your advisor will help you pick classes, choose an area of specialization or concentration, and help you fulfill your academic requirements. You will be assigned an advisor at orientation; your match is determined the interests you expressed on your application. You will meet with your advisor to choose your classes and approve your course of study at the beginning of your first semester and at the time for registration every year.

If the advisor assigned to you no longer seems like an appropriate fit and you wish to change, please notify your current advisor, then download and complete the Change of Advisor form. Completed forms should be returned to the School office, Graham 182.

Change of Advisor Form for the MPA program
  Change of Advisor Form for the MA and PhD programs

Assistantship Supervisor

While at your research assistantship (RA), you will have a site supervisor to whom you will report for day-to-day management issues. Your assistantship supervisor is responsible for your tasks, goals, roles, and evaluation within the organization. The assistantship placements and supervisors are assigned by research centers supporting the RAs.

Thesis or AP Advisor

When you undertake your thesis, analytical paper, or policy brief, you will need to find a faculty member to serve as your advisor. This advisor will help in your planning, methodological questions, analysis, and editing. Most of the time, your thesis, analytical paper or policy brief advisor becomes your chair.

Internship Supervisor

Much like an assistantship supervisor, your internship supervisor is your on-site contact to whom you will report for day-to-day management issues during your internship that usually takes place in the summer. Your internship supervisor is responsible for your tasks, goals, roles and evaluation within the organization.

Internship Coordinator

The Internship Coordinator, Douglas Tuttle will work with your on-site supervisor to make sure you have a productive, beneficial summer internship. Any academic questions about your internship should be directed to Douglas Tuttle while any site-specific management questions should be directed to your supervisor.