Overview
The Dissertation Committee Report (or DCR) is a tool we use to ensure that committees are regularly meeting to provide meaningful feedback on a student's progress through the independent research phase of the PhD. Committee meetings should be in real time with all of the members present simultaneously. It is not appropriate to have individual separate meetings with each member, as this leads to inconsistencies in expectations. Deviations from this policy require explicit permission from the Chair of Student Affairs and Advising.
In the DCR, students should present a short summary of the years dissertation research activities. Discussions of student progress, evaluation of the work performed and formulation of the work over the next year are typical elements of a DC meeting. A summary of this discussion forms the basis for the DC report.
Download a digitally accessible PDF template here. Download a digitally accessible Word template here.
Submit your completed Dissertation Committee Report (DCR) here.
- This progress assessment is to be completed as part of each dissertation committee meeting. After a BMCDB student advances to candidacy, they are required to convene their dissertation committee for a meeting:
- Annually each spring, for students in their third and fourth years of study
- Biannually each fall and spring, for students in their fifth year of study and beyond
- With advisor approval, students who are graduating in spring or summer are not required to schedule a spring committee meeting.
- "Advisor approval" is extremely informal here - an emailed "okay" is fine. Please CC the Graduate Program Coordinator, or forward the email from your advisor - that is all the action you have to take!
- With advisor approval, students who are graduating in fall quarter are not required to schedule a fall committee meeting.
Expected Components of the DCR
- A summary evaluation of the student's progress for the year including changes in expectations from the previous report.
- A list of expectations for the coming year, such as experiments, writing, presentations, and lab responsibilities.
- If the student expects to graduate within the next year, a comprehensive list of the work that needs to be completed to fulfill that expectation must be provided.
- The expected date for filing the dissertation. This is aspirational, but not contractual. This date also goes in the SPA field at the bottom of the "Accomplishments and Expectations" tab.
- Signatures of all committee members and the student.