Each academic year after the candidacy exam (via a staggered schedule to be created by the graduate office), students will be required to prepare a 1 page executive summary of research progress to date since the last examination. Beyond research, this document should also include an “individual development plan” discussing future plans and strategies for personal and career development (approximately ¼ of the page). In addition, students will be required to complete the PhD update form, documenting research papers, presentations, awards, conference proceedings, etc. earned to date in the program. Both of these documents will be provided to committee members. Students will meet with all committee members (either as a group or individually) to discuss annual progress and sign-off on PhD update form (typically <45 minutes). GSC Committee members will assess the performance of the student based on the PhD update form in the form of “making excellent progress”, “making satisfactory progress” and “needs improvement”. We expect that most students will be assessed as “making satisfactory progress”. The PI and committee will communicate concerns and suggestions to the student. These signed documents will be provided to the graduate office.
Forms and additional information will be forthcoming.
Resources for creating an Individualized Development Plan
Individual Development Plan Resources, Graduate School, UW-Madison
My IDP, Science Careers, American Association for the Advancement of Science
Individual Development Plan, Department of Science, Purdue College of Science
Adviser, Teacher, Role Model, Friend: On Being a Mentor to Students in Science and Engineering, National Academy Press (1997)–I recommend chapters 3 & 4
S.G. Brainard and L. Ailes-Sengers, "Mentoring Female Engineering Students: A Model Program at the University of Washington," Journal of Women and Minorities in Science and Engineering 1 (1994): 123-135