Doctoral students who have Advanced to Candidacy complete their Doctoral Candidacy Review ) online using the DCR eForm in Campus Solutions (This eForm replaced the GLOW DCR preciously in use). The Doctoral Candidacy Review, to be completed on an annual basis, is designed to assist doctoral students and their dissertation chair to stay on track with advising and other supportive activities to help facilitate the completion of doctoral work in a timely manner. The Graduate Council of the Academic Senate requires an Doctoral Candidacy Review to be completed each year for all doctoral students after they advance to candidacy until they complete their program. What is the DCR? What is the purpose of the Doctoral Candidacy Review? The Graduate Division checks to ensure that there is a completed Doctoral Candidacy Review for the most recent year when a student eligible for the Doctoral Completion Fellowship (DCF) asks to activate that fellowship. The Report is also used to check that a student is in good academic standing for compliance with certain fellowship conditions. The Graduate Division may consult your Doctoral Candidacy Reviews in cases where there is a disagreement about your progress. Finally, the Graduate Division will use aggregated information about students’ activities to inform decisions about new programs and resources for professional development. Where can one find a list of the DCR questions? A template of the form is available as a PDF document. Timeline Questions – When to complete the DCR? What should happen when? After a year of Candidacy, you should initiate your part of the Doctoral Candidacy Review each academic year. Once your part of the report is complete, the eForm will notify your dissertation committee chair and ask him or her to convene a meeting to review your academic progress. This meeting should involve at least two members of your committee. This consultation should consider your Doctoral Candidacy Review (which your dissertation chair or co-chairs can view once you submit the eForm) and any other documents you provide separately to the committee, such as an updated CV or examples of writing. When should a student file the report? The online report for the current year is available from the first day of Fall semester until the day before the Fall semester begins for the next academic year. The Graduate Council does not indicate when during the year the report should be completed. Each student and committee can work out whatever schedule is convenient. If a student will be in absentia in spring, for example, it can be completed in the fall. The DCF process will review the student record to see that there is a satisfactory progress report from the previous academic year, which ends the day before the next fall term. What if a student is intending to file this semester? This is the best proof possible that the student is making good academic progress and as such no DCR is required. Timeline Questions-Doctoral Completion Fellowship Issues The student advanced during this academic year and wants to take the DCF in the following academic year. Does an DCR need to be on file for me to take the DCF then? No. The act of advancement constitutes making sufficient academic progress and having an DCR on file is not needed for the first two semesters after advancement. However, DCRs are required annually until you file. Please note that it is vital for you to discuss when you should take the DCF with your dissertation chair as taking the DCF early make not be in your best interest. It was intended to provide financial support for you to finish your dissertation. If you have other fellowships and teaching opportunities, these should be exercised before use of the DCF. Other Student Questions Why does the list of activities on the form include things I haven’t done? Students in each of Berkeley’s 100-plus graduate programs have a variety of experiences: some present papers at national conferences; others conduct research with human or animal subjects requiring additional ethical conduct documents; some engage in extensive professional practice, such as internships. A comprehensive list of possible activities is provided to make this form quicker for you to complete. If you want to expand on anything in the narrative, feel free to do so. Why does the form refer to previous reports? What are these, and where can I obtain copies? This Graduate Council requirement has been in place for decades, and your department should have on file your Doctoral Candidacy Reviews beginning the first year you advanced to candidacy. DCRs filed in Campus Solutions will also be available to view there. Who gets to see this report? Your dissertation committee chair and other members of the committee are involved in completing the report. Your department’s Graduate Student Affairs Officer has access to all the reports from the program. Graduate Division Deans and staff can also access these reports as needed.