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Dear Colleagues:
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;" class="">The dissertation proposal defense is an important part of ensuring our doctoral programs produce high quality graduates that represent our university in a favorable manner. As part of the dissertation approval
process, our office requires that an objective graduate faculty member attend dissertation proposal defenses as a Graduate Faculty Representative in order to:<o:p class=""></o:p></div>
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·<span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class=""> </span>Assure that the defense is conducted in a professional manner,<o:p class=""></o:p></div>
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·<span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class=""> </span>Assure that the candidate is challenged in a manner that permits a proper evaluation by the committee members,<o:p class=""></o:p></div>
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·<span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class=""> </span>Protect both the committee members and candidate against any unfair claims, and<o:p class=""></o:p></div>
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·<span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class=""> </span>Uphold the academic excellence of the University.<o:p class=""></o:p></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;" class="">Unfortunately, finding available Graduate Faculty Representatives has proven difficult in recent months. I would ask that as part of your graduate faculty membership you please commit to serve as a Graduate Faculty
Representative at least once per year (and twice would be wonderful). While you are welcome to review the document and comment on the thesis project at the defense, this is not required. The time commitment can be just the ~1 hour that the defense will take.
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;" class="">Thanks very much! </div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;" class="">Matt</div>
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<div><b style="color: rgb(3, 45, 153); orphans: 2; widows: 2;" class="">Matt A. Wood, Ph.D.</b><br class="">
Vice Provost for Research and</div>
<div>Dean of the Graduate School<br class="">
Texas A&M University-Commerce<br class="">
Commerce, TX 75429<br class="">
O: 903.886.5160 M: 903.269.6682</div>
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