the committee

According to some flyer I recently received from the department:

The dissertation committee can be one of your most valuable sources of advice, mentoring, scholarship, and professional development.

As far as I can tell, grad students in this department communicate with their committee exactly four times:

1. to schedule the general (oral) exam
2. at the general exam
3. to schedule the defense
4. at the defense

Grad students of LJ, what is your experience?