The Public Presentation of the Dissertation and Defense has three phases:

Public Presentation of the Dissertation and Defense
In the public lecture or presentation, the candidate is expected to share the results of his or her dissertation research with the Dissertation Committee and audience. This presentation may vary in length depending on the circumstances and discipline. At the end of this public presentation, members of the Dissertation Committee, as well as members, of the audience are encouraged to direct questions to the candidate pertaining to the research.

The Dissertation Committee's Meeting with the Candidate
At the conclusion of the public presentation and defense, the Dissertation Committee members will meet privately with the candidate to pose further questions about the candidate's research or to address issues related to the dissertation manuscript. The Dissertation Committee can ask the candidate to address these additional questions or changes to the manuscript.  The chair presides at this meeting.

Evaluation of the Candidate's Performance
Upon completion of the public presentation and defense and the private meeting, the Dissertation Committee members, in the absence of the candidate and the audience, discuss the candidate's performance and decide whether or not she or he has passed the defense. The chair or one of the co-chairs leads the discussion and communicates the result to the candidate.

Defense Announcements