All doctoral degree students are advised during their first year by the graduate program or the associate dean of academic and student services, who reviews and discusses each first-year student's course selection during the fall and spring registration periods. Ph.D. students may register online after the completion of the first 9 credits of the program. The graduate program will continue to serve as a doctoral student's academic adviser until the student is appointed a Core Area Examination Committee. At that time, the core committee's chairperson assumes responsibility for the student's future academic advisement, and the student should consult with the chairperson each term prior to enrollment. If a different faculty member later assumes responsibility as the dissertation committee's chairperson, that faculty member then assumes responsibility for future academic advisement.