Assessment Details
Academic Year: 2020-2021 Level: Graduate
Campus Department: Morrissey College of Arts & Sciences [UG and Grad]
Program Type: Major [UG] / Program [Grad]
Program Name: Mathematics PhD (Link)
Description of Data Collection:
Knowledge: Graduate Student broad knowledge is assessed by our PhD exam system. This includes assess-ment by faculty through written Comprehensive exams in their first year. Their ability to do research is as-sessed through Qualification oral exams to a faculty committee (year two/three) in their chosen research area, and in their Dissertation Defense (year four/five/six).
Research: The research of the each of the graduates—including, but not limited to, the thesis—is carefully ana-lyzed by the thesis advisor and the relevant members of the department (e.g., researchers within the relevant subareas of our core research areas). Some indicators of research achievement are publications (papers in print, submitted, or on the arXiv), presentations at professional conferences and meetings, job offers and ulti-mate job placement, and awards won. In addition to these indicators, the specific research done by each graduate is scrutinized.
Teaching: The teaching of all of our graduate students is carefully analyzed by the Graduate Program Director, the Undergraduate Vice Chair, and various members of the department. This begins with the department gradu-ate teaching seminar which is mandatory for 1st year graduate students. Further assessment is done by careful review of teaching course evaluations. The department also organizes an additional informal teaching seminar open to all. Furthermore we have a mentoring program which is organized by our full-time-non-tenure-track fac-ulty.
Career: The Department has ongoing longitudinal study tracking the career path of all graduated students which is updated each year with their current profession and career advancement. The database contains full infor-mation on all graduates of the program since inception in 2010. The Graduate Program Director records data on the graduate students.
Review Process:
The Graduate Program Director and the Graduate Committee supervise the assessment of the graduate stu-dents. Specifically, broad knowledge is primarily affected by the departmental courses, hence the two main groups in the department (number theory/representation theory/algebraic geometry, and geometry/topology) carefully evaluate the courses offered and modify them as needed (this does not require departmental approv-al). Teaching outcomes are assessed by the Graduate Program Director and the Undergraduate Vice Chair; minor changes in the program would be decided on by them in consultation with the faculty, and would not re-quire departmental approval but would be approved by the Department Chair. Research outcomes would be evaluated by the thesis advisors and relevant researchers in the areas, and this overall data would be aggregat-ed by the Graduate Program Director. If the assessments indicate the need for significant changes in the pro-gram, these would be presented to the full department.
Resulting Program Changes:
No major changes. The program is working well. Our students are completing their theses at a good rate and in a timely fashion, usually in five to six years. Quality of theses and other research work appears to be very good. Job placement (almost all in academe, so far) is excellent as tracked by our longitudinal data. The teaching skills of our graduates range from good to excellent.
In 2019 the department applied for and obtained curricular practical training (CPT) authorization to allow stu-dents to take part in paid or un-paid off-campus training. This training, such as temporary employment, intern-ship, practicum, field work, clinical, must be directly related to their PhD and students who participate receive credit towards their PhD. Graduate students have taken advantage of this program in recent years. We believe this program can open new avenues for graduate research and job placement in the long term.
Members of the mathematics community at Boston College recognize that there is much to be done in moving toward inclusivity for people of color in our discipline. In Summer 2020 the department initiated a regular Anti-Racism Seminar, organized by the Mathematics Anti-Racism Committee (Math ARC), a group of undergradu-ates, graduate students, and faculty. We invite all new and current mathematicians to join us in this important work.
The department plans on implementing detailed review forms to be filled out by the committees of the Qualifi-cation Exams and Dissertation Defenses. The department will seek guidance and input from Director Greene, of the University Assessment and Accreditation Services to the Graduate Chairs for implementation.
Date of Most Recent Program Review:
No major changes. The program is working well. Our students are completing their theses at a good rate and in a timely fashion, usually in five to six years. Quality of theses and other research work appears to be very good. Job placement (almost all in academe, so far) is excellent as tracked by our longitudinal data. The teaching skills of our graduates range from good to excellent.
In 2019 the department applied for and obtained curricular practical training (CPT) authorization to allow stu-dents to take part in paid or un-paid off-campus training. This training, such as temporary employment, intern-ship, practicum, field work, clinical, must be directly related to their PhD and students who participate receive credit towards their PhD. Graduate students have taken advantage of this program in recent years. We believe this program can open new avenues for graduate research and job placement in the long term.
Members of the mathematics community at Boston College recognize that there is much to be done in moving toward inclusivity for people of color in our discipline. In Summer 2020 the department initiated a regular Anti-Racism Seminar, organized by the Mathematics Anti-Racism Committee (Math ARC), a group of undergradu-ates, graduate students, and faculty. We invite all new and current mathematicians to join us in this important work.
The department plans on implementing detailed review forms to be filled out by the committees of the Qualifi-cation Exams and Dissertation Defenses. The department will seek guidance and input from Director Greene, of the University Assessment and Accreditation Services to the Graduate Chairs for implementation.
Attachments (if available)