The goals of this VIGRE proposal are to broaden the preparation of undergraduates, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows in the mathematical sciences, and to improve education activities which stimulate teaching, learning, and research interactions across conventional boundaries of academic age, rank, and discipline.
We believe that the primary components of this VIGRE proposal, as described in section 2, will allow us to attain these goals. We have several objectives in mind, including:
For each VIGRE graduate trainee, the following specific indicators will be monitored:
Assessment. All graduate students are reviewed once a year to gauge academic performance, to estimate time-to-degree, and to assess teaching performance. There are a number of formal academic requirements that a student must satisfy before beginning work on a dissertation: the qualifying exams, the breadth requirements, the foreign language requirement, and the general exam. The student's progress through these formal requirements is summarized on the annual academic survey, distributed to each student in February, which the student and his or her advisor review and update as necessary. The advisor must sign the survey form before it is returned.
For students who have passed the general exam, an additional component of assessment is required, which is appropriate to the less structured academic environment of students in the research stage. (This will be considered for approval by the Graduate Studies Committee in the 2001-2002 academic year). Advanced graduate students are asked to compose a 1-2 page progress report to be shared with their thesis advisor by the middle of Winter Quarter. The report is an opportunity to review teaching, research, and course work and to set goals for the following year. The student, the thesis advisor, and a second faculty member appointed by the Vice Chair for Graduate Studies in consultation with the advisor will then meet to hear the student's presentation of the progress report. The second faculty member serves as an auditor whose role is to listen and ask questions. The presence of the auditor creates the occasion to thoughtfully discuss the student's progress in all areas. After the meeting, the thesis advisor will append comments to the student's report which will then be included in the annual evaluation.
Evaluation. Annual evaluation of all our graduate students is made by the Graduate Studies Committee. Good academic standing according to university standards and timely academic progress according to departmental standards are considered. If the student is supported as a TA, satisfactory teaching performance as gauged by student evaluations and faculty/staff observations and responsible discharge of duties are considered as well.
Letters of renewal (or non-renewal) of support are given to the students before the end of the academic year. There is ample time before year end for the Graduate Studies Committee to consider any appeals.
The following specific indicators will be monitored for each VIGRE postdoc:
As with VIGRE graduate trainees, during the Spring Quarter of each year, VIGRE postdocs will draft a 1-2 page progress report which addresses all areas of performance including teaching, research, and participation in principal components of the VIGRE program. The Department Chair, or a designated member of the Coordinating Committee, will serve as auditor in an annual meeting with the VIGRE postdoc and his or her mentor. After the meeting, the mentor will append comments to the report, and a copy will be given to the Coordinating Committee. The annual assessment of postdocs will take the form of an evaluation letter from the Department Chair. The Chair will draft the letter using as a basis the progress report and the indicators listed above as well as input solicited from the mentor and other faculty.
Each undergraduate will be asked to draft a brief summary report of their activities at the end of each period of VIGRE support. The summary will be discussed with the student's advisor, and the advisor will append comments, if appropriate, and sign the report.
Similar to assessment of VIGRE undergraduates.
The following specific indicators will be monitored for the duration of the VIGRE project:
These data, and the accumulated annual assessments of VIGRE participants described above, will form the basis of the performance assessment. We will convene an external review panel consisting of three distinguished mathematicians to conduct a site visit of the Ohio State VIGRE project in the Spring Quarter of Years 1, 2, and 4 of the project. The Review Panel will be provided with the above data and materials prior to their visit and will have such access to the facilities and participants as they find necessary. The Review Panel will be asked to draft a report evaluating the performance of the VIGRE project on the basis of the stated goals and objectives. They will also be asked for constructive criticism.
The VIGRE Coordinating Committee will include a summary of the data, the Review Panel report, and intended changes and improvements to the VIGRE project as part of its annual report to the NSF.