The Carnegie initiative on the Doctorate was a multi-year research and action project. A student survey was distributed to all graduate students within the department. Five focused changes were made to improve the doctoral program.
The Carnegie initiative on the Doctorate was a multi-year research and action project. A student survey was distributed to all graduate students within the department. Five focused changes were made to improve the doctoral program.
The Carnegie initiative on the Doctorate was a multi-year research and action project. A student survey was distributed to all graduate students within the department. Five focused changes were made to improve the doctoral program.
Revisiting the Carnegie Initiative on the Doctorate
Trials, successes and failures
M.E. Estevez, K.C. Dominick, P.R. Bergethon, T. Hoagland, M. Moss
Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, Boston University Schools of Medicine
Background -2004 Vesalius Program Development
Student Representation and
The Carnegie Initiative on the Doctorate (CID) was Communication
The Qualifying Examination was changed from a
a multi-year research and action project intended high stakes content-summative assessment to an
to support departments' efforts to more authentic assessment model using an NRSA grant
Student representation has a three formal structures:
purposefully structure their doctoral programs. The • GMSSO Graduate Medical Sciences Student format with oral defense as the evaluation
initiative had three interacting elements: a Organization) – with representation at the Division procedure. Formative feedback is provided to
conceptual analysis of doctoral education, the Level
students during the QE process.
• Departmental Omsbudsman for all graduate design of experiments in departments, and dissemination of research results. In 2004 during students
the initiation of the CID project within the …and the survey says!!
• Student representation (2) on the Graduate Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology at Advisory Committee
Query: I found my qualifier exam a good tool for Boston University School of Medicine, a student assessing my progress/knowledge in the field.
survey was distributed to all graduate students
Agree
Disagree
…and the survey says!!
within the department as a descriptive assessment of the state of the department. Student opinions 2004
27%
19%
2008
27%
9% Query: There are adequate resources in the on topics including curriculum, professional Department in case of perceived abuse or development, career guidance, time to completion misconduct towards graduate students.
of degree, advisor mentorship, and department Professional Skills Course
Agree
Disagree
climate were measured. Based on the results of The overall goal of this new course is to provide a
All Students: Vesalius Students: 2004
41%
26%
this survey as well as participation in many 2008
82%
18%
formal opportunity to address two topics that had
-serve as teaching assistants 1 dialogues with partnering CID departments, five semester per year in the medical In addition to the regular .
focused changes were made to improve the been left to the discretion of individual graduate
and dental school courses of requirements, students on the anatomy, histology, or Vesalius track take the Query: Students in the Department are treated with doctoral program in the Department of Anatomy advisors. The first is to provide students with
neurosciences. following two courses: respect.
training in some of the professional skills. The
-Attend annual T.A. orientation* - GMS AN804: “Teaching in and Neurobiology. These changes included:
the Biomedical Sciences I”, 2
Agree
Disagree
second is to provide a forum for discussions of
-Receive mid- and end-semester credits, methods and theory • revision of the qualifying exam process.
written evaluations to include in 2004
69%
23%
research ethics in the specific context of their
teaching portfolio* - GMS AN805: “Teaching in • formalization and refinement of the Vesalius - Receive opportunities to teach the Biomedical Sciences II - 2008
91%
9%
work.
Practicum”, 4 credits, Program.
formal lectures in the medical or mentored teaching practicum dental school courses. experience* • development of a professional skills course Query: I feel my voice is heard when I have for first year graduate students.
…and the survey says!!
concerns or issues within the Department.
• the development of a student representative
Agree
Disagree
Query: Students in the Department receive training 2004
37%
56%
organization.
• the development of an alumni network. in professional ethics via coursework or seminars.
…and the survey says!!
2008
64%
27%
Agree
Disagree
2004
65%
23%
2008
82%
9%
Query: Teaching experience available through the .
department is adequate preparation for an academic/ Now, in 2008 we have assessed the relative short
Query: Students in the Department receive training teaching career.
Conclusions
term results of these changes that were inspired
in professional skills such as public speaking, grant
Agree
Disagree
The successful implementation and some change in by our participation in the CID by resurveying
writing, and publications.
2004
69%
12%
satisfaction indices to over 80% of the CID initiatives students. All members of the current PhD program
Agree
Disagree
2008
64%
9%
suggests an enduring effect of the CID. We believe were invited to participate in this survey that
2004
31%
62%
.
that there may be value for continued longitudinal Measured satisfaction in a variety of areas of PhD
2008
64%
27% characterization in the future.
Student life.