Graduate programs in the Department of Veterinary Pathobiology (VP) lead to MS and PhD degrees in the disciplines of Microbiology, Immunology, Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Parasitology, Pathology and Comparative Medicine. Our residency/graduate programs provide training in research combined with disciplinary experience in pathology or laboratory animal medicine. The graduate component is also offered for MD\PhD (Medical Scholars), DVM/MS and DVM/PhD (Veterinary Medical Scholars) dual degree programs within the Colleges of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine.

1. Process used in developing the plan:
1. The core of this plan grew out of a pilot program between the department (VP) and the Graduate College to assess the quality of the VP program. Benchmarks were established by the VP Graduate Advisory Committee. Issues relating to the strengths and weaknesses of the graduate program were identified during the VP strategic planning process and were discussed at a departmental teaching retreat in 1998. An ad hoc committee on evaluation of teaching was formed and completed a teaching assessment plan for the department.
2. This assessment plan was developed by the Director of Graduate Programs, the lead person/coordinator for the assessment efforts in the department.
3. The plan was reviewed by the VP Graduate Advisory Committee, the VP Departmental Advisory Committee and the department head and sent to CTE for review.
2. Desired learning outcomes:
1. All MS graduate students must perform hypothesis-driven research and gain technical expertise in the area of study.
2. All PhD graduate students in the department must achieve a level of competency and research independence commensurate with the degree and be prepared to perform in quality postdoctoral positions or research positions in academia or industry. Doctoral students must possess comprehensive knowledge of their discipline and acquire advanced skills in their research area. They are expected to submit abstracts and defend their data at national and international meetings. PhD students must also demonstrate competency in:
1. statistics
2. scientific writing in the area of their research
3. grant writing in NIH or USDA style
3. The graduate programs administered by the Division of Pathology and Comparative Medicine are combined residency and graduate programs that take 3 to 7 years to complete. These programs have several well-defined bench marks for assessing the quality of its graduate students. First, division faculty members expect their graduate students to complete meaningful research projects which result in high-quality Masters and PhD degrees and to publish their results in peer-reviewed journals with high impact factors. As graduate students, they are also expected to submit abstracts and defend their data at national and international meetings. The residency component of the program, prepares the student to pass the certification examinations in laboratory animal medicine administered by the American Association of Laboratory Animal Science or in anatomic pathology or clinical pathology administered by the American College of Veterinary Pathologists. Finally, graduate students are expected to obtain appropriate and meaningful employment in academia, industry or government.
4. Each division in the department has defined specific requirements and expected outcomes. These are included in the Graduate Rules and Regulations Handbook provided to each student.
3. Measurement instruments/techniques:
1. Graduate College Program Assessment: annual and extensive 5 year review.
2. Annual progress reports on all graduate students are reviewed by the VP Graduate Advisory Committee. Feedback is provided in written format to the student and advisor. Residency progress is reviewed every semester.
3. Teaching review of Teaching Assistants, Teaching Associates and faculty as well as ICES scores are provided to the instructor and department head.
4. Results of annual meetings of the Director of Graduate Programs with students in each division are summarized for the head of the department and the chairs of the divisions.
5. Exit interviews by the department head are conducted with all students leaving and summarized and provided to the Graduate Advisory Committee.
6. University survey of graduates provides data that are incorporated in the Graduate College Reviews and considered by the VP Graduate Advisory Committee.
7. External expert review of the graduate program is provided periodically by accreditation reviews and by external reviews initiated by the department. The department plans to establish an External Advisory Committee that would include members from employers’ groups and include review of the graduate programs.
8. Tabular display of all graduates is updated annually with the number of publications resulting from the thesis and listing of the current employment position.
9. Survey of graduates by the department will be developed as a web-based system for gathering data and communication with graduates. Students will be contacted at least at 2, 5 and 10 years post degree.
4. Process for using the results:
1. The outcomes assessment data will be managed by the VP Teaching Coordinator and the Director of Graduate Programs. They will report to the VP Graduate Advisory Committee who will consider the outcomes assessment data and recommend appropriate changes in the program. Changes will be implemented by the department head which may include proposed changes in the rules governing the VP graduate programs. Those recommendations that involve the dual programs may be passed on to the Veterinary Medical Scholars and the Medical Scholars Programs.
5. Timetable for implementation
1. The Graduate College Program Assessment is under way.
2. IIIB, C, D and the first part of IIIE above are standard practice in the department.
3. The second part of measure IIIE will be implemented following approval.
4. An external expert review and accreditation review are taking place this spring.
5. The survey for graduates will be developed this summer.
6. Support needs:
1. The web survey is being developed with the aid of funds from Outcomes Assessment Assistance Funds.