I tried to get help from Wallace Fowler to prepare for the oral qualifying exam. He rambled on for 20 minutes about radiation pellets for prostate cancer, taking hormones, and emotional issues. Etc. He would not schedule a practice exam like they always do. A few days later, the graduate advisor banned me from registration until I passed the oral exam. He copies Wallace Fowler in the letter.
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October 15, 2001 Bill Clark
21203 Paseo De Vaca Street
Lago Vista, TX 78645-4941-03
Dear Bill:
For some reason, I am no longer able to communicate with you by e-mail. My messages are returned (the email address l have for you is center4cm@earthlink.net). Below are two messages I sent to you Friday and today.
Under Aerospace Engineering, the Graduate Catalog says that a student is making satisfactory progress toward the PhD degree if he takes courses during the first year and takes the Written Qualifying Exam at the end of the first year. You have been in the program for four years and just this summer took the written exam. It is also the policy of the ASE Graduate Studies Committee that students take the Oral Qualifying Exam soon after taking the written exam, at least during the next semester. As a consequence, I am expecting you to take the Oral Qualifying Exam before the beginning of the spring 2002 semester. You will not be allowed to register for another semester until you do so.
The research part of the PhD in ASE must be carried out under the supervision of a faculty member on the ASE Graduate Studies Committee. When that faculty member is satisfied that you have done a good piece of research, he will allow you to write a dissertation and present it to your committee.
Until you begin to follow the procedures of the program, all the work you are doing independently of the faculty will not get you a PhD degree. Dr. Fowler has indicated that he would be willing to work with you. Until you associate yourself with him in a manner which is satisfactory to him, nothing will happen.
I am also expecting you to come to my office at your earliest convenience to discuss what is expected of you in the completion of the PhD degree.
Sincerely,
Prof. David G. Hull
Chairman, ASE Graduate Studies Committee Xe:
Dr. Wallace Fowler