1. Council of Graduate Schools The Ph.D. Completion Project: Implications for the Study of Masters Degree Attrition Daniel Denecke December 8, 2006 Washington, DC

2. The PhD Completion Project: (2004-2007; 2007-2010) Completion Data (program) Demographic Data (broad field) Attrition Data (program) Exit Surveys Factor Assessments (program and institution) Best Practices

3. Completion Template (10 year)

4. Attrition Template

5. Student Experiences and Program Interventions Exit Surveys (for completers and non-completers) Innovation: Midcourse surveys Factor Assessments: 1) Selection and Admissions 2) Mentoring and Advising 3) Program Environment, 4) Financial Support, 5) Research Experiences 6) Curricular Processes and Procedures

6. Questions to Consider Who has institutional memory in the department/program? When are students leaving? Is this good or bad attrition? Avoidable or unavoidable? Why are students leaving? External (e.g. economic factors) vs. internal reasons Who is leaving? Are there rate differences by demographic group? What can be done? Engage faculty > Set targets > Enact changes > Evaluate progress What are the costs?

7. Next Steps for CGS Determine demand for a masters component Need your input Benchmarking Tools (print, online) Publication (2007 [baseline analysis] and 2010) Policy Recommendations

8. For more information.. Website www.phdcompletion.org Contact Daniel Denecke ddenecke@cgs.nche.eduddenecke@cgs.nche.edu Helen Frasier hfrasier@cgs.nche.eduhfrasier@cgs.nche.edu