It is the responsibility of the scholar to track their progress towards the PhD. Annual report and milestone requirements will assist you in this process. If you don’t know where you stand—ask!

Midsemester evaluation of research effort

All scholars enroll in research credit every semester except for the first semester of the first year. The Instructor of Record for CHEM 599R/ 799R is the Director of Graduate Studies. The DGS will seek input from the primary research mentor as to the scholar’s research progress at the midpoint of each semester. Scholars will be graded as:

• Progressing well, no concerns 
• Some concerns will need improvement 
• Major concerns, needs significant improvement 

Scholars will be informed of their mid-semester evaluation and will be provided with notes from the primary research mentor regarding the assessment. At the end of the semester, faculty will be asked to advise the DGS of any changes to the mid-semester evaluation. Scholars must receive an assessment of “progressing well, no concerns” to earn an “S” grade in research in a given semester.

First year scholars will receive a midsemester progress report based on their early performance in the PhD program from the Director of Graduate Studies. However, there is no specific grade associated with this report.

Annual survey

Every scholar should submit the Annual Report Survey (link released in Spring) every year. Occasionally, other surveys may be required during the year to collect information related to running the graduate program. Failure to complete the survey requirement may result in probation for the semester in which the requirement is not completed.

Annual committee evaluation

Every scholar must submit the Annual Committee Evaluation every year.

Scholars should obtain signatures on the Annual Committee Evaluation during an in-person meeting scheduled on or before April 30th each year. First year scholars are only required to submit the signature of their primary research mentor.

The annual meeting can be scheduled at any time, but it cannot be scheduled earlier than any required in-person meetings for annual milestones (Second Year Qualifying Exam, etc.) The meeting may take place at the same time as the evaluation of milestones with the permission of the committee.

In addition to a discussion of milestone requirements completed in a given year, scholars should be prepared to discuss the following:

• What did you accomplish this year?
• What are your future plans and goals?

The 1-page research summary required in year three and above should address these questions and should be provided to the committee for review when requesting a signature on the evaluation form.

Next: Candidacy