As we continue to develop and implement this assessment plan, we will direct specific efforts toward the following initiatives.

• Determine whether and how to include skills related to teaching in our assessment plan
• Revisit the structure of comprehensive exams to ensure they test fundamental concepts
• Design a rubric to evaluate comprehensive exams, the research proposal, and thesis/dissertation defense
• Design a seminar course on presentation skills modeled after that required in Chem/Biochem
• Begin conducting exit interviews with graduating students
• Begin asking for information about presentations, publications, awards, collaborations