II. Program Outcomes, Student Progression, and Advising
A. Program Outcomes
The University of Iowa College of Nursing PhD program prepares scholars to advance nursing science and contribute to transdisciplinary efforts to improve health outcomes. Graduates of the program are prepared to be leaders who engage in the three roles highlighted by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). These roles develop the science, steward the discipline, and educate the next generation of nurses.
PhD graduates of this program will:
- Master in-depth knowledge in a substantive area of nursing and/or healthcare.
- Conduct original research that generates new knowledge.
- Disseminate research results and articulate implications for policy, practice, and the profession.
- Assimilate evolving roles and responsibilities of a scholar.
B. Progression
We expect that students will progress through the program in a timely fashion as follows: “Undergraduate to PhD” students in 5-6 years and “Master’s to PhD” students in 4-5 years. To guide and document student progress, a progression guide (“PhD_STUDENT_PROGRESSION_FACULTY_ADVISOR_GUIDE”) was developed. This guide should be started at the beginning of a student’s program of study and will be used (along with other documents such as CV, progression report) at the student’s annual review, which is held in the spring of every year.
1. Progression Meetings
The purpose of progression meetings is to have a yearly check-in with PhD students. They are meant to be a positive experience where students and faculty connect to assess where students are in meeting the program’s outlined goals. In addition to the student, the PhD Director, Graduate Coordinator, a member of the Progression and Admission Faculty Committee, and students’ faculty advisors are expected to be present.
Progression Meeting Documents
The following documents must be updated and sent to the PhD Graduate Coordinator and Faculty Advisor(s) 1 week prior to the scheduled progression meeting. You do not need to bring printed copies.
- The PhD Student Progression Report- Update Progression Updates Section
- CV with content appropriately highlighted.
- Updated Plan of Study
Progression Meeting Agenda
Progression meetings are scheduled for 30 minutes. Below is an example agenda for the meeting:
- Introductions (2 minutes)
- Brief overview of Publications and Activities added to CV (5 minutes)
- Discussion of goals, reflections, and questions (20 Minutes)
- Wrap up (3 minutes)
2. PhD Student Involvement
In addition to your individual plan of study, all students are expected to participate in College of Nursing, University, and professional activities that contribute to the student’s professional and academic experiences. See PhD_STUDENT_PROGRESSION_FACULTY_ADVISOR_GUIDE for examples.
C. Advising
Upon admission, all PhD students are assigned a faculty advisor. The faculty advisor is a faculty member with expertise in the student’s focal area of interest, typically with a funded program of research. Students and faculty meet on a regular basis throughout the program. The schedule of meetings is negotiated between the students and the advisor. Faculty advisors discuss course selection, timing of courses, research practicums, the comprehensive examination, and the dissertation process with their students. The PhD Student Progression Report/Faculty Advisor Guide is expected to be used as a guide for the student’s progress. See Section II for more information. A student’s faculty advisor is typically also the Chair of the student’s comprehensive examination committee and the dissertation committee; however, this is not required. The Director of the PhD Program may change a student’s advisor at the request of the student and/or faculty advisor.
Additional student support is provided by the PhD Academic Support Specialist to assist in orientation to the Graduate College policies, resolution of progression hurdles, assisting students in meeting important deadlines, and complying with College requirements such as licensure, HIPAA, or a criminal background check.