Academic Advising

Undergraduate Advising

Undergraduates are welcome to visit the Materials Science and Engineering faculty anytime for information. However, students are encouraged to start with the assigned faculty advisors for curriculum planning early on. The assigned faculty advisors are:

Students with last names beginning with A-M:

Dr. Jeffrey LaCombe, (775) 784-1797, lacomj@unr.edu

Students with last names beginning with M-Z:

Dr. Olivia Graeve, (775) 784-7098, oagraeve@unr.edu

To insure that each and every student follows the prescribed curriculum, the undergraduate advisors use an advisement checklist. In addition, the University’s DARS (Degree Audit Reporting System), a computerized database report is accessed online by the advisor and it reports the student’s progress toward graduation. Students also has access to his/her own DARS report. Any petition for exceptions and substitutions in taking required courses must be approved by the advisor, Chair, and by the Dean.

Transfer and freshman students are initially advised by Mrs. Mirey Varol or Dr. Walter Johnson of the College of Engineering.

Our program has a relatively small number of students. As a result, the advisors can monitor and follow students’ academic accomplishments every semester on a personal basis.

Advising is generally available before registration. However, students can be advised anytime of the year. Each student is required to show his/her signed advisement copy to the instructor on the first day of class.

Graduate Advising

Advisory-Examining Committee: This is the committee that approves your program of study and guides you through your graduate program. All committee members are members of the graduate faculty. Master’s committees require at least three (3) members; two (2) from the student’s program and one university-at-large member. Doctoral committees require at least five (5) members; three from the student’s program, one from a related discipline and one (1() university-at-large member. The university-at-large member’s role on the committee is not (necessarily) to provide subject-matter expertise but rather to ensure compliance with university policy and regulations: to serve as a representative of the Graduate Dean, “outside” the department granting the degree and providing an objective, non-partisan, independent perspective. You should maintain close contact with your committee, keeping them informed of your progress and allowing them ample time to review drafts of your thesis or dissertation. Be aware of their schedules when trying to arrange committee meetings and your thesis/dissertation defense. Remember, it is your responsibility to make these arrangements.

You should save a copy of this GRADUATE SURVIVAL HANDBOOK to help you through your time as a graduate student.