Departmental Self Review - UCLA Academic Senate

A. Recruitment policies1) Objective: Increase faculty participation in recruiting PhD students, pre and post docstudents.2) Rationale: Faculty has the most influence on whether or not students will choose apply andbe successful. We need to increase the pool in order to choose the best candidates. We alsoneed to recruit our Ph.D. students to make a good match between faculty research andstudents.3) Benefits: An increase in applicants would allow faculty to choose the best students to mentorand help with research. We would get the best students.4) Current Status: Currently our applicant pool has been about 12 – 15 per year with approx.half coming from international students and requesting administration. We have limitedfaculty in this area for mentoring.5) Strategies:a) Have the faculty identify current master’s students who they think would be successful inthe PhD program. The recruiter can provide the appropriate faculty with names andnumbers for personal contact. Personal contact by faculty is the most critical componentof successful recruitment!b) Provide support for the summer research program we have had 6 students participate inthis program and 2 have been admitted to the master’s program. We expect them to enterthe doctoral program at some point.c) Meet with the undergraduates to discuss what a doctoral program is.d) Provide information to the faculty to identify and encourage clinical preceptors to thePh.D. program.e) Meet with the current MSN students to discuss admissions and applications process.f) Expose students to faculty research during a brown bag lunch or having faculty displaycurrent research posters in the student lounge.g) Attending national research meetings to recruit.h) Provide guidelines for the faculty who are attending open house to counsel possible Ph.D.students. The guidelines would include discussion of the Ph.D. experience, financial aidand referral to an appropriate mentoring faculty for follow-up phone call.i) Have faculty attend national meetings to encourage students to apply to our program.6) Measurement Indicators: The applicant pool increases with good candidates.7) Resources and Cost: Some increase in the recruitment budget for the national meetings andincrease in faculty time.8) Time Line: Begin ASAP.B. Increase Ph.D. Student Financial Support1) Objective: Increase Ph.D. student support financially.2) Rationale: Students need to have financial support to complete their degree in a timelymanner. Most of the students who attend our school have to keep their jobs for security andbenefits. Providing increased funding would allow them to focus on their degree programand finish in reasonable time.237