Prior to a student undertaking the qualifying examination, the Advisory Committee must provide a written evaluation of the student's performance in the PhD program and potential as a researcher. This evaluation must be signed by all members of the Advisory Committee, and must accompany the request by the student for the qualifying examination. To allow sufficient time for the Advisory Committee to evaluate the student, the written evaluation normally should not be completed before the end of the second semester. Copies of the evaluation will be circulated to the student and to all members of the Examining Committee before the examination.