Summary Instructions For Annual Reviews During Coursework (Adapted from the Blue Book Section C)
In the second semester of both coursework years, each doctoral student is required to write a 1-2
page self-assessment narrative. The narrative should discuss the student’s own perception of their academic progress in the context of courses taken, developing intellectual interests, relevant professional development, and plans for the next steps of the program. Guiding questions that may be used to write this assessment narrative include (but are not limited to) the following:
1. Comment on your progress through the program. Are there areas where you are
especially pleased with your progress or are there any aspects of your progress about which you
might be concerned?
2. What are your career goals? How have your goals evolved since you entered the
program and/or since your last annual review (if applicable)? What aspects of your work in the past
year most contributed to your future goals?
3. What do you consider your most significant achievement this past year, and why? Have you experienced any academic difficulties this year? If so, offer a reflection on them. What steps are you taking to avoid such difficulties in the future?
4. Offer a brief reflection on the department. How is the department helping to meet your
academic and career objectives? Comment on all aspects that apply: academic, administrative, etc.
After writing this self-assessment narrative, the student (in consultation with the advisor) should
then choose a second faculty member to participate in the annual review. While this second
faculty member is ordinarily from the student’s field of study, in cases where a student’s work
has strong interdisciplinary dimensions, it may be appropriate to invite the second faculty
member from a different field of study. The student then schedules a meeting (approximately one
hour) with the two faculty members. This meeting should take place by the end of spring semester.
This process is carried out twice for each doctoral student—that is, once a year during the time
that the student is in coursework. For the annual review meeting in the second year, the student
may use the same second faculty member. Alternatively—and in consultation with the advisor—
the student may invite a different faculty member to serve in this capacity. A change in the
second faculty member may be made for intellectual or administrative reasons (i.e., nonavailability of a faculty member on leave).
Any problems should be reported to the Chair and the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies.
Please note that the department anticipates use of the designation “Unsatisfactory” only in
extremely rare cases where a student is experiencing serious difficulty making progress. In such
cases, a follow-up meeting should be scheduled with the student, the advisor, and the Associate
Chair for Graduate Studies.
Students: Please forward the self-assessment narrative to the advisor and the second faculty
member at least one week in advance of the scheduled meeting.
Students and Faculty: Please use the Annual Review Meeting Form and return the completed forms to the
departmental secretary in the department office. Forms are available directly in the office and
also on the department’s website.