(Approved by Faculty at 2-18-99 Department Meeting)

According to a 1998 Department of Education policy, Research Apprenticeship Courses (RACs) are a model for research mentorship-apprenticeship training for Ph.D. students. RACs should assist doctoral students in learning how to develop and conduct research by providing a structure that allows students to engage in research under the continuous supervision of a faculty member. The central focus of each RAC is on the research interests of the graduate students and their development as independent researchers.

After a year of widespread implementation and thorough review and discussion, the Department of Education is refining RAC policy in order to improve the operation of RACs for both faculty and students. What follows is a proposed new RAC policy.

Description/Definition/Goal of RAC

Research apprenticeship courses are a model for research mentorship-apprenticeship training for Ph.D. students. RACs should assist doctoral students in learning how to develop and conduct research by providing a structure that allows students to engage in research under the continuous supervision of a faculty member.

Although the central focus of each RAC is on the research interests of the graduate students and their development as independent researchers, a balance must be struck between student and faculty interests. Thus the central focus of the RAC must be to help students develop their own research agenda within a faculty member’s expertise.

Procedural Requirements

A RAC by definition must:

• meet for any three consecutive quarters
• have an enrollment of at least four students
• be only graded as Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory

Divisional Requirements

Divisions, not individual faculty members, authorize RACs as part of their course schedule for the coming academic year. The teaching needs of the division and the students takes precedence over the request of any one faculty member to offer a RAC. Moreover, the Department can not currently afford to have every faculty member of every division offer a RAC.

Faculty can earn one of their required courses per year by teaching a RAC.

Faculty

Faculty must make clear the expected student workload if at all possible before the RAC begins, but certainly within the first two weeks.

If an individual faculty member requires their own advisees to attend her/his RAC, then students’ research interests/agendas must be accorded heavy weight in determining the class focus and workload.

Faculty can limit the enrollment of their RAC to no more than 10 students, but they may not limit enrollment to only those students who work on paid research projects with them. Faculty may, however, limit the enrollment to their advisees only, if that number meets the course cap. A faculty member’s student advisees should have first access to his or her RAC. Faculty may require their advisees to enroll in their RACs. Divisions should ensure that all Ph.D. students have an opportunity to participate in a RAC. Students should consult Division Heads or Advisors regarding the availability of RACs and student access to them.

Students

Students must be enrolled for any three consecutive quarters in order to receive the two credits each quarter.

• PSE: Requires all students to take a RAC every year. No RAC counts toward the 18-course requirement.
• US: RACs are not required but can count for maximum of two divisional electives.
• SSCE: RACs are not required but can count for maximum of two divisional electives.
• HEOC: RACs are not required but can count as one Divisional elective.
• SRM: RACs are required every quarter of second and third years and they can count as one divisional elective.

Policy Change

If a Division wishes to change their RAC policy, the change must be approved by CDAS.

Grievance Procedures

Each division should develop its own grievance process and CDAS/OSS can mediate where that process is unsuccessful.