Caliber of graduate students: Excellence across our PhD

programs

Academic Senate Retreat; August 17, 2010

Discussion Leader: Sandeep GuptaResource liaisons: David Marsh

Jean Morrison

Observations

• Two primary ingredients of a strong doctoral program: strong students and strong faculty

• Most of our doctoral programs prepare students for academic careers at research universities– Only a small fraction of our doctoral students pursue such careers

• In some schools, many doctoral students pursue careers in teaching

• In some others, many work in their areas of specialization in industry

• Increasing numbers of doctoral fellowships have enabled us to attract stronger doctoral students

• Doctoral students are in a unique position to strengthen interdisciplinary research teams

Proposed activities

• Doctoral fellowship programs should continue to grow Number of fellowships Level of support Number of years supported

• Initiate new programs to recognize doctoral students who flourish in our programs

• Provide doctoral students opportunities to prepare for their chosen careers– Training programs in effective teaching (expand CET?)

– Programs to develop their abilities as research mentors

• Fund studies to identify unique capstones as alternatives to classical doctoral dissertations