The comprehensive portfolio allows doctoral students to document their research and teaching abilities and provides students with an opportunity to integrate the knowledge they have attained from courses and other academic experiences in their doctoral program. Publications, conference presentations, and teaching experiences are crucial to obtaining academic or non-academic positions after graduation. The materials in this portfolio should represent a student's overall knowledge of the field of literacy as well as her/his area of expertise.

Portfolio requirements

The ability to analyze and synthesize research related to one's area of expertise is an essential skill and students are required to write a paper that demonstrates this ability. Students choose (in consultation with their advisors) other items to include in their portfolios to foster their own professional development.

Portfolio artifacts

The first item is required . Choose three additional items to complete the portfolio.

      1.   A literature review. Paper must be of publishable quality in a scholarly journal

      2.   First or co-authored published journal article, or article submitted for publication

      3.   First or co-authored published chapter, or chapter submitted for publication

      4.   First or co-authored paper presented at a national conference

      5.   Annotated syllabus for a graduate course

      6.   First or co-authored grant proposal for external funding

      7.   A web site that synthesizes research on a particular topic. The site will include key readings  
            and theories and provide resources for other researchers interested in the topic.

 

Evaluation committee

A three-person committee of the student's choosing evaluates the comprehensive portfolio. The committee consists of the student's advisor, one member of the reading center faculty, and one additional faculty member. This committee should be chosen by the end of the first year of the student's program. The committee advises the student, and reads and provides evaluative feedback on the various artifacts the student submits as part of the portfolio.

Timeline

In the first year of the program the student chooses an evaluation committee. During subsequent years the student complies the materials for the portfolio. Completing of the portfolio occurs before the student advances to doctoral candidacy. Students must advance to candidacy by their fifth year after admission to the program. We recommend that the portfolio be completed by the end of the student's third year, particularly for full-time students.

 

Evaluation

The committee evaluates each item separately

1. The committee evaluates each item in the portfolio. Articles accepted for publication in reputable journals or books, papers presented at national conferences, or grants submitted to reputable agencies or foundations do not need further evaluation. Articles, chapters, conference presentations, or grants not judged by outside agencies will be read and evaluated by the committee.
   
2. Within six weeks of receiving the portfolio, the evaluation committee decides whether each item in the portfolio exceeds the requirements (high pass: all three members must agree to this designation), meets the requirements (based on a minimum of two faculty judging the item acceptable), or needs revision (based on two of the three faculty member's evaluations). All items must meet the requirements for the portfolio to be judged acceptable. If the items are acceptable to two of the three members, the student passes.
   
3. If some or all items are not acceptable the student will be given one opportunity to revise the item(s) to provide acceptable ones. Students unable to revise item(s) successfully will not be allowed to complete the doctoral program.
   
4. Students must complete the portfolio by the end of their fifth year (preferably the fourth) or they will be dropped from the program.

Student progress report

Each year students complete a progress report that they submit to their advisor. This report will summarize their progress in the program and their progress towards completing the portfolio.