Graduate Student Annual Reviews

Annual Reviews

Annual reviews are designed to provide students with the dedicated support and feedback essential for success in the PhD program. Each review is an opportunity to set and refine research goals, clarify faculty expectations, and address any challenges where support is needed. This process was established as a formal program requirement in 2017 (see the official Annual Committee Meeting Policy).

Annual review meetings should be scheduled for 1.5 hours. The format of the meeting should be as follows:

  1. For the first 15 minutes the primary advisor should not be in the room and the student should meet with the other Advisory or Dissertation Committee members to discuss their working relationship with their advisor. Students who have significant issues or concerns in this area that they feel are inhibiting their progress should use this as an opportunity to inform their other committee members of these issues.
  2. Once the primary advisor arrives, the committee should spend one hour discussing the student’s progress over the past year, challenges they have faced, and goals and timelines for the coming year.
  3. Following this the student should leave the meeting and the committee should spend the last 15 minutes discussing any advising issues that student may have raised or any issues that the primary advisor has identified in their working relationship with the student.

Please note: The final signed version of the student's annual review packet needs to be digitized and merged into a single PDF (including all review items listed on the cover page) and submitted to the department via this form by the stated deadline.

 

Annual Review Survey

As part of their annual review, all students who have passed their qualifying exam must also complete the Annual Review Survey.

 

Annual Review (First Year Graduate Students) First Year Coversheet [Google Doc]

Either make a copy or download the coversheet as a PDF before filling it out. Follow the directions provided on the coversheet and submit your signed annual review packet to the first year cohort advisor for their review and approval.
The final annual review packet (with all signatures) is due as a single PDF via this submission form -- submit it no later than September 15.

Your annual review packet needs to include the following:

  • Annual review coversheet, signed by all of your advisory committee members and your 1st year Graduate Cohort Advisor.
  • Your CV.
  • A list of relevant courses you have taken before coming to Berkeley.
  • A semester-by-semester plan of what classes you'll be taking during your first and second year.
  • If faculty mentor is guiding student in a first year "pilot" research project, please include the details of the project with expected dates of project milestones.
  • A rough outline of the topics you hope to pursue in your dissertation research, and the tools you'll need.
  • Written record of the committee's feedback. 

The final annual review packet (with all signatures) is due as a single PDF via this submission form by September 15.

 

Annual Review (Pre-Advanced to Candidacy Students) Second Year Students Pre-Advanced Coversheet [Google Doc]

Either make a copy or download the coversheet as a PDF before filling it out. Follow the directions provided on the coversheet and submit your signed annual review packet to the second year cohort advisor for their review and approval. The final annual review packet (with all signatures) is due as a single PDF via this submission form by October 1.

  • Arrange a meeting with your Advisory Committee to discuss your plans and progress.
  • Bring a 2-page dissertation plan to the meeting (optional dissertation template), and other required materials outlined on the 2nd year annual review coversheet.
  • Discuss your Qualifying Exam plans for this academic year.
  • If your faculty mentor guided you in a first year pilot research project, provide an update on your progress (include a draft manuscript if you have it).
  • In the meeting, make sure your committee follows instructions listed under the "Committee Members Provide Input at Meeting" section of the 2nd year annual review coversheet.
  • Make sure to have a written record of the committee's feedback by either taking notes at the meeting, or receiving written feedback from the committee after the meeting. 
  • Your 2nd year Graduate Cohort Advisor must review and sign the annual review packet.
  • The final annual review packet (with all signatures) is due as a single PDF via this submission form by October 1.

 

Annual Review (Advanced to Candidacy) Third Year Students Advanced 3rd Year Coversheet [Google Doc]

  • Either make a copy or download the coversheet as a PDF before filling it out.
  • Follow the directions provided on the coversheet.
  • Create an 8-page dissertation proposal.
    • The proposal should be approximately 8 pages and contain goals, hypotheses, and planned methods of data gathering/analysis for each chapter of your dissertation. You can use this template as a starting point (2-page outline from 2nd year).
    • Send this proposal to your committee members at least one week in advance of your meeting.
  • Arrange a meeting with your Dissertation Committee to discuss your plans and progress.
    • Complete the IB Annual Review Survey.
    • Download your CalCentral Academic Progress Report (see directions at the bottom of this page).
    • Bring your dissertation proposal, annual progress report, and other items outlined in the 3rd year annual review coversheet to your meeting.
    • In the meeting, make sure your committee follows instructions listed under the "Committee Members Provide Input at Meeting" section of the 3rd year annual review coversheet. 
    • Make sure to have a written record of the committee's feedback by either taking notes at the meeting, or receiving written feedback from the committee after the meeting.
    • Make any necessary updates to the materials, then have your 3rd year Graduate Cohort Advisor review and sign the annual review packet.
    • The final annual review packet (with all signatures) is due as a single PDF via this submission form by November 15.

     

    Annual Review (Advanced to Candidacy) Fourth Year Students Advanced 4th Year Coversheet [Google Doc]

    • Either make a copy or download the coversheet as a PDF before filling it out.
    • Follow the directions provided on the coversheet.
    • Arrange a meeting with your Dissertation Committee to discuss your plans and progress.
    • Complete the IB Annual Review Survey.
    • Download your CalCentral Academic Progress Report (see directions below).
    • Bring your updated dissertation proposal, annual progress report, and other items outlined in the 4th year annual review coversheet to your meeting.
    • In the meeting, make sure your committee follows instructions listed under the "Committee Members Provide Input at Meeting" section of the 4th year annual review coversheet.
    • Make sure to have a written record of the committee's feedback by either taking notes at the meeting, or receiving written feedback from the committee after the meeting.
    • Your 4th year Graduate Cohort Advisor must review and sign the annual review packet.
    • The final annual review packet (with all signatures) is due as a single PDF via this submission form by December 1.

     

    Annual Review (Advanced to Candidacy) Fifth Year Advanced 5th Year Coversheet [Google Doc]

    • Either make a copy or download the coversheet as a PDF before filling it out.
    • Follow the directions provided on the coversheet.
    • Arrange a meeting with your Dissertation Committee to discuss your plans and progress.
    • Complete the IB Annual Review Survey.
    • Download your CalCentral Academic Progress Report (see directions below).
    • Bring your updated dissertation proposal, annual progress report, and other items outlined in the 5th year annual review coversheet to your meeting.
    • In the meeting, make sure your committee follows instructions listed under the "Committee Members Provide Input at Meeting" section of the 5th year annual review coversheet.
    • Make sure to have a written record of the committee's feedback by either taking notes at the meeting, or receiving written feedback from the committee after the meeting.
    • The 5th year Graduate Cohort Advisor must review and sign the annual review packet.
    • The final annual review packet (with all signatures) is due as a single PDF via this submission form by December 1.

     

    Annual Review (Beyond Normative Time) Sixth Year and Beyond 6th+ Year Coversheet [Google Doc]

    Please note: Continuation in the program for students beyond normative time is contingent upon remaining in good standing, which requires holding an annual review and submitting the required packet on time. Students' committees must request an exception request from the department for continued funding on the student's behalf.

    • Either make a copy or download the coversheet as a PDF before filling it out.
    • Follow the directions provided on the coversheet.
    • Arrange a meeting with your Dissertation Committee to discuss your plans and progress.
    • Complete the IB Annual Review Survey.
    • Download your CalCentral Academic Progress Report (see directions below).
    • Bring your updated dissertation proposal, annual progress report, and other items outlined in the 6th+ year annual review coversheet to your meeting.
    • In the meeting, make sure your committee follows instructions listed under the "Committee Members Provide Input at Meeting" section of the 6th+ year annual review coversheet.
    • Make sure to have a written record of the committee's feedback by either taking notes at the meeting, or receiving written feedback from the committee after the meeting.
    • The 6th+ year Graduate Cohort Advisor must review and sign the annual review packet.
    • The final annual review packet (with all signatures) is due as a single PDF via this submission form by December 1.

     

    Downloading your official CalCentral Academic Progress Report

    1. Sign into CalCentral 
    2. Go to "My Academics"
    3. Find the box labeled "Degree Progress"
    4. At the top of the Degree Progress box, it'll say "View Academic Progress Report"
    5. Click on that link and then "print" your report as a PDF to save to your device