Annual Review of Progress

Purpose

Every year the faculty conducts a review of progress for each graduate student. The Review of Progress Committee (RPC) meets in the Spring of each year to assess the progress of each graduate student. This is also a good time for each student to review his or her own progress to see if personal goals are being met and to plan for the next year.

The review of progress process complements the role of the faculty advisor for each student. The faculty advisor helps the student prepare a plan of study both in course work and in research. The Review of Progress Committee assesses whether or not the student is progressing in a timely manner through the milestones in the program: the Quals, the Generals, and the Dissertation for Ph.D. students and the Quals or Thesis for M.S. students. Ultimately, it is the student's responsibility to make the progress necessary to achieve his or her goals in the graduate program.

Students should be aware that there is no ideal schedule for progress through the program. There is a great deal of variation depending on the student's background, the particular course of study, and personal circumstances. The RPC is sensitive to this variation.

The Review of Progress Process

  1. Each student should prepare a self assessment of progress and a brief plan for next year. A Self Assessment Form may be useful for helping the student in this assessment.
  2. Each student should then meet with his or her advisor before the end of April, to discuss the progress made during the previous year and the plans for the future. The faculty advisor should ask the student to fill out the self assessment form as a basis for the discussion.
  3. The faculty advisor will then provide his or her assessment of the student's progress to the RPC by the end of April.
  4. The RPC will meet shortly thereafter and prepare progress letters for students. Students should receive their letters before the end of the quarter but no later than the end of June.

grad-advisor@cs.washington.edu