Once the dissertation is finally done and the Advisory Committee's suggestions and comments have been incorporated by the student, it is time for the final oral examination. Four weeks prior to the final oral defense or examination, the student must give each member of the Advisory Committee a copy of the final dissertation. This will allow the Advisory Committee two weeks to review the final dissertation before signing the Scheduling of Final Oral Examination(*) form. After each committee member has reviewed a copy of the dissertation and has determined that the copy is of oral exam quality, then each should sign the Scheduling of Final Oral Examination(*) form. This form is due in the Graduate School office two weeks before the final oral examination. In scheduling the final oral the student should also keep in mind that faculty members have many commitments and often travel. Thus, a student should start planning for the oral defense several weeks in advance.
After the Scheduling of Final Oral Examination(*) form has been signed and at least two weeks before the final oral, a copy of the dissertation must be available in the CS Department office. This copy of the dissertation will most likely not be the final copy; there will likely be changes made after the final oral. However, this copy is the one upon which the passing or failing of the final oral is determined.
In an effort to meet deadlines, students sometimes are tempted to give committee members a copy of the dissertation which is incomplete, with plans to make further changes before the oral itself. This should not be done, and after signing the Scheduling of Final Oral Examination(*) form, committee members are free to not accept any subsequent copy of the dissertation until after the oral. Of course, if mistakes or major problems are discovered, it is good for the student to make these known to the committee members. However, the committee members are free to consider these changes as possible post-oral changes. The draft of the dissertation which the committee members have when they sign the Scheduling of Final Oral Examination(*) form is the draft of record for the final oral examination.