The responsibility for selecting and recommending defense committee members rest with the dissertation sponsor and department chair or director of doctoral studies. With the exception of choosing their sponsor, students may be consulted but neither select their own defense committees nor be placed in a position to ask particular faculty members to serve on their committee. The final committee membership is approved by the department chair or director of doctoral studies and confirmed by the Academic Dean. Within the guidelines for committee composition, the department has some discretion regarding the number of committee members. Departments may opt to form a full committee at the time of the proposal defense. Others may delay selection of the complete committee until closer to the scheduling of the dissertation defense.