CSSA Committee Membership Criteria

Students are responsible, in conjunction with advice from their major professor/advisor, to select a committee to review their portfolio. Below are guidelines for selection and criteria for committee membership.

Portfolio

  • Each student must assemble an internal committee of at least three members (one CSSA major professor/advisor, a second from the CSSA faculty or CSSA-affiliated, and a third either CSSA, CSSA-Affiliated, orAt-Large).
  • In the case of a student selecting a minor, one of the committee members must include the minor professor.
  • Committee members will act as reviewers for the student's portfolio at a mid-program review and final review.
  • A final recommendation for program completion/graduation will be made by the committee through the major professor.
  • Final graduation paperwork will be signed off by the major professor, Rich Shintaku and Jessica White.

Thesis-Portfolio

  • Each student must assemble a University committee of at least four members (two from the CSSA faculty [including major professor/advisor], one minor professor, and one Grad Rep).
  • In the case of a student not pursuing a minor option, any other OSU faculty member may serve on the committee.
  • Defenses will be conducted and paperwork completed according to University policy (which does not allow at-large members to vote).

Committee Membership Criteria:

  • All committee members must have a minimum of an earned master's degree in student affairs, higher education, counseling or other closely related field.
  • All committee members must be willing, interested, and available for required mid-program and final review meetings.
  • All CSSA major professors must be a current CSSA graduate faculty member and member of the advising team. In cases of advising the Thesis-Portfolio, the major professor must have an earned doctorate or terminal degree and be approved by the GraduateSchool to chair student research.
  • The CSSA faculty member must be a formal member of the CSSA faculty as approved by the GraduateSchool.
  • The "CSSA-affiliated member" must be knowledgeable and/or active in the field of student affairs/higher education administration through service, work, or research. CSSA-affiliated members can include CSSA faculty currently at OSU, past/present assistantship supervisors currently at OSU, past/present practicum supervisors currently at OSU. CSSA-affiliated members must be approved by the major professor.
  • The "At-large member" must be knowledgeable and/or active in the field of student affairs/higher education administration through service, work, or research. At-large member can be CSSA faculty currently at OSU or another institution, past/present assistantship supervisors currently at OSU or another institution, past/present practicum supervisors currently at OSU or another institution, or another appropriate colleague at OSU or another institution. At-large member must be approved by the major professor.