Overview
The Student Progress Assessment (SPA) is an online tool that communicates and documents an evaluation of a graduate student’s progress in their degree program. The tool promotes productive discussions and the setting of clear goals and expectations for graduate students.
Annual SPAs are required for all students and completed in Spring Quarter. As needed, interim SPAs are available to document expectations in Summer, Fall, or Winter Quarter. Please contact your Graduate Program Coordinator to launch an Interim SPA.
There are three possible outcomes for a SPA:
- Satisfactory - Student is making adequate progress towards completing their degree.
- Marginal - Student is making some progress, but there are opportunities for improvement. Marginal SPAs should be very detailed and include specific information on what expectations are not being met, how satisfactory progress can be achieved, and a timeline for action.
- Marginal SPAs do NOT have an impact on student standing (i.e. student is not on probation or subject to dismissal). A second SPA should be completed after a Marginal rating to review progress towards satisfactory standing.
- Unsatisfactory - Student is not making adequate progress towards their degree, and immediate improvements are required. Unsatisfactory SPAs should be very detailed and include specific information on what expectations are not being met, how satisfactory progress can be achieved, and a timeline for action. In cases where the graduate student is registered in 299 units, unsatisfactory progress related to research should be reflected in both the research grade (S/U) and the SPA.
- No student will be disqualified based on one unsatisfactory progress report. The student must have at least one quarter to remedy whatever is unsatisfactory about their work. A second SPA should be completed after an Unsatisfactory rating to review progress towards satisfactory standing. Graduate Studies explains more information about outcomes of an Unsatisfactory SPA.
Annual SPA Minimum Expectations
Below are the minimum academic expectations of all MCIP students. Additional expectations, especially regarding research progress, are set for individual students through discussion with their major professors. Failure to complete these expectations may result in a marginal or unsatisfactory SPA.
In addition to the SPA, all MCIP students are expected to complete an Individual Development Plan (IDP). Both the SPA and IDP should help students reflect on progress and goals; therefore, both documents should be completed by the student before meeting with the major professor. After the student completes the SPA and IDP, the student and major professor should discuss and edit the documents together, as needed. The final step of the assessment process is sending the SPA and IDP to the Graduate Advisor for final review and discussion. It is highly recommended that annual SPA discussions are "live" (either in-person or Zoom) and occur before June 15th.
- Year 1:
Complete 210 series with B or higher in each course
Complete all pre-requisites (if applicable)
Identify a major professor
Complete IDP with major professor and send to Graduate Advisor
Register for 12+ units per quarter
B- or better in all graduate courses
Overall GPA of 3.0+
- Year 2:
Complete all course requirements
TA for one quarter (or, receive waiver from Graduate Advisor due to funding restrictions)
Present at MCIP colloquium
Pass QE and advance to candidacy before start of Year 3
Complete IDP with major professor and send to Graduate Advisor
Register for 12+ units per quarter
B- or better in all graduate courses
Overall GPA of 3.0+
- Year 3+:
Meet with dissertation committee annually
Complete IDP with major professor and send to Graduate Advisor
Register for 12+ units per quarter
Overall GPA of 3.0+
Best Practices
- Discuss expectations and progress often. Students and faculty should not wait until SPA season to begin conversations about progress. It should be happening year round.
- Interim SPAs are a great way to document meetings about expectations and progress, even when progress is satisfactory. The SPA helps ensure all parties are in agreement and have a written record of ongoing goals and expectations.
- Be specific in SPAs. Use objective, factual language that clearly evaluates the student’s progress. Provide detailed action items with clear deadlines.
- Do not assess students on:
- Personal issues (medical/mental health, pregnancy/family obligations). Faculty should refer any student who needs support to campus resources.
- Conduct (plagiarism, behavior). Faculty should report these issues directly to OSSJA.
- Employment issues with no academic component for the student (such as TA performance). Faculty should report these issues to Academic Personnel by emailing Tracey Pereida at tgpereida@ucdavis.edu.