Assessment

External PhD Program Assessments

Sara Dolan and Steven Driese, Associate Deans for Research

External assessment of our doctoral programs is normative among R1 universities and essential to furthering our mission and vision.  This past Academic Year (2020-2021) we had to cancel all three scheduled external Ph.D. program assessments because of the COVID-19 pandemic; however, the program has picked up again, starting in Fall of 2021 with a review of the PhD program in the Department of Religion. This review was completed using a virtual format for the first time, with great success.  Spring 2022 brings the review of the PhD program in Philosophy, and we are working toward scheduling a review for the PhD program in Electrical and Computer Engineering.  Review teams consist of three colleagues from highly respected, R1-level peer institutions chosen by the Department and approved by the Graduate School.  These peer reviewers study documents provided by the Department and the Administration, and then spend 1.5 to 2.5 days on campus visiting with Administrators, Graduate Faculty, Graduate Students, and Staff, and touring Department facilities. The report they prepare offers an evaluation of strengths and weaknesses and recommendations for growth for each program.  Provost Brickhouse has mandated that all Baylor PhD programs be externally reviewed every 10 years, with an internal review conducted 5 years after the external review. Already scheduled reviews for 2022-2023 include the Departments of Psychology & Neuroscience and Curriculum & Instruction.