Advice regarding PhD Committee Co-Chair

[sam2016]

Hi,

I am a 2nd year PhD student. I have a great committee. My advisor is extremely helpful as well. However, lately, I've been working closely with one of my other committee members as well. This professor has been as invested in my dissertation as my advisor. So, recently, he told me that if he continues to have the same level of investment of time and effort, he would like to be a co-advisor. Now, my advisor and this professor share a good chemistry as well and they've been on advising committees to other students in the past (not in the capacity of a chair/co-chair though). This professor was confident that my advisor won't have any problem with this idea. However, I am not sure how to discuss this with my advisor. I am very nervous that he may be upset with this development and interpret it as a lapse on his guidance to me (which is certainly not my intention). Any advice on how I should proceed with this?

[ClassApp]

I assume that these two advisors do not share the same strengths. If that is the case, perhaps it would be easiest to explain that you've benefitted so much from your current advisor's strengths in A, B, and C, that you'd like to benefit as much from the potential new advisor's strengths in X, Y, and Z. Even if it is not your ultimate intention, bring it up as entirely the current advisor's decision (though hint that you prefer having the new advisor). It might also be helpful to bring up that you think making strong connections with multiple professors might create stronger recs/better chances at a job when you finish your PhD. If your current advisor reacts negatively, just shut it down and change the direction of the conversation to something completely different and positive (go in with some good news in mind). You can figure out how to deal with that later, but do not aggravate your advisor by pushing the subject. I would recommend practicing how you intend to present the information--maybe practice with a roommate or friend so that you don't seem too nervous about the topic or freeze up during the conversation.

[GradSchoolTruther]

It just seems as if the second professor wants credit as co-chair of your committee because that factors into course releases and tenure/promotion. Also, just be blunt and say the other professor requested his/her status change to co-chair. At this stage, though, you don't have a dissertation committee, do you? Don't you have to wait until after comprehensive exams?

[TakeruK]

54 minutes ago, GradSchoolTruther said:

It just seems as if the second professor wants credit as co-chair of your committee because that factors into course releases and tenure/promotion. Also, just be blunt and say the other professor requested his/her status change to co-chair. 

I agree with this. It's not as big of a deal as you think it is. Because it sounds like you do want this person involved in your dissertation, you can approach it a few ways:

1. Tell your advisor that you have been working really well with the other professor and that you would like them to be a co-advisor on your dissertation because they will be making your work so much better.

2. Tell your advisor that the other professor is requesting to be a coadvisor/cochair because of the time they have invested and that you agree with this since they have been very helpful in advising you.

Either way, I support being direct and straightforward. This isn't a tricky situation where you have to phrase it carefully because this is a standard professional request in academia. I don't think you have to worry about hurting your first advisor's feelings (unless for some reason, there is something you didn't say here that would suggest your own advisor would be against this). 

[sam2016]

Thank you very much for the advice! I think I shall have a straightforward conversation with my advisor.

By the way, in my school, I need to have a dissertation committee before my comprehensive exams. So, I have a full committee now.

[sam2016]

Hey thoughtful respondents! I had a great conversation with my advisor and he was very supportive of having the other professor as my co-chair. So, thanks a lot for your great advice. I figured I should update you in case you were wondering!

[TakeruK]

Great Always nice to hear how things went!