Oral Exam Overview and Guidelines
Oral Exam Overview
Each student must take a graduate board oral exam. This is a broad based exam which
will test the depth and breadth of your knowledge based on the coursework you have
taken. The examining committee consists of five faculty members and generally lasts
2 hrs. All current Second year students must have their Oral Exam by July 2007.
Future students must have their Oral Exam by Dec 31st of the Second Year of Training.
Length of the Examination
Ordinarily, examinations should be no longer than two hours; however the committee
should not feel restricted by that time limit. The examination should be of sufficient
duration to permit the committee to make a judgment on the success of the exam.
Results of the Examination
The examination may result in one of the following outcomes:
- If the candidate receives an unconditional pass (a majority of favorable votes),
the committee is to be considered discharged.
- If the candidate receives a conditional pass, the exact terms of the condition are
to be reported on the examination form, in what time frame the conditions(s) should
be met, and any other pertinent information that will point out clearly to both
the student and faculty how to satisfy the condition(s). As soon as all conditions
have been met, the chair of the examination committee must report the removal of
the condition in writing to the Graduate Board. The committee is then discharged.
- If the candidate fails, the examination committee, through the Chair, is requested
to recommend a course for further action:
- No reexamination.
- Reexamination by the same committee.
- Reexamination in written form and conducted by the same committee.
- Reexamination by a new committee. If the recommendation is for a new committee,
at least one outside member of the original committee shall be appointed to the
new committee.
The committee should feel free to recommend whatever action in its judgment seems
desirable, taking into consideration the background of the student, his or her prior
performance and future potential, and reactions to oral questioning.
Student Responsibilities
The student is responsible for the following:
- Discuss choices of Committee Members with advisor. Create a list because scheduling
is always a problem. Note: Your advisor is not a member of your oral exam
committee but he/she should be available on the date so they can introduce you to
the committee.
- Pick several dates and two-hour blocks.
- Contact & recruit members. Email and/or phone are best. Remember to pick a broad
range of faculty. Your committee composition needs to be approved by the Director
and if he/she feels the committee is not balanced, you will need to fix that.
Committee Composition
The Oral Exam Committee should be assembled according to the following:
- Three (3) outside the Immunology Program
- Two (2) inside Immunology Program
- One (1) outside alternate
- One (1) inside alternate
Once the faculty have agreed to be on your committee, submit names to the Program
office (Angela). Please note that Exam must be arranged 1 month prior to actual exam
to allow Graduate Board to approve
Note: Alternates should be made aware that their time commitment should be
as if they were on the actual Committee.
Immunology Program Responsibilities
The Immonology Program will be responsible for the following:
- Submit faculty names to Graduate Board in a timely manner
- Help find a room where you exam can be held. You will be responsible to notify the
committee as to the location
- Submit official documents to chair of exam committee 5 working days prior to committee
meeting
- Send a reminder to committee members 5 working days prior to committee meeting,
including alternates
On day of exam make sure:
- Room is open
- All members are seated (if not, locate them)
- All members have necessary information
Advisor Responsibilities
The advisor is encouraged to help the student prepare for the oral exam. This includes
allowing the student time away from the lab to study. The student advisor is not
a member of the oral exam committee and is not present for the oral exam. However,
it is customary for the advisor to introduce the student to the committee and answer
any questions they may have. Therefore the advisor should plan on being available
at the beginning of the exam.