MSCHE Self Study April 2021

 Apply foundational knowledge of the anatomy, physiology, biophysics and neurobiology of the visual system  Formulate significant questions and apply innovative methods to answer them  Apply systematic ways of analyzing and modeling experimental results  Utilize relevant research technology  Draw broad theoretical implications of research data  Present their work clearly and effectively in written and oral form  Apply ethical practices and responsible conduct of research  Demonstrate competency in scientific writing (abstracts, proposals, papers, thesis)  Author publications in peer reviewed journals  Demonstrate competence in teaching  Create competitive grant applications to fund their current and future research As described in the College Assessment Plan , assessment of student learning at the program level occurs through multiple mechanisms and data sources, including • key performance indicators o primary place of employment of graduates o primary positions of graduates o teaching and work effort of graduates o time to degree completion • other sources of information o review of PhD thesis and papers by the thesis examination committee with oversight by the graduate faculty Committee on Graduate Program, Policy, Admissions and Standing o annual compilation and review of published papers and abstracts by the associate dean for graduate studies and research o assessments by Committee on Graduate Program, Policy, Admissions, and Standing o exit and alumni surveys PhD Exit Surveys are conducted in those years when there are a sufficient number of graduates to ensure confidentiality, and PhD Alumni Surveys are conducted about every 4 – 5 years. The results of the exit and alumni surveys are shared with the associate dean for graduate studies and research and the Committee on Graduate Programs, Policy, Admissions and Standing. The program is comparatively small ‐ over the past 10 years, 15 students have earned their doctorate. Median time to graduation for students entering from 2009 ‐ 2019 was 4.7 years, which represents a 1.3 year decrease compared to the average rate in the previous 10 year period and compares favorably with the national median time to degree of just under 7 years for the biological sciences (NSF survey) ( PhD Program Completions ). In the past 5 years (2015 ‐ 2020), PhD students authored 27 publications in peer ‐ reviewed journals and made 51 presentations at annual conferences such as the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, American Academy of Optometry and Vision Sciences Society.

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