Annual Dissertation Progress Presentation (ADPP)

Following the successful completion of the Research Proposal Examination (RPE), every PhD student must deliver an Annual Dissertation Progress Presentation (ADPP) to the Research Supervisory Committee (RSC) once each academic year during a regular (Fall or Spring) semester. In the final year of study, the final ADPP shall be delivered no later than the regular semester preceding the semester in which the Dissertation Defense is scheduled. In all cases, the ADPP must be delivered no later than the end of Week 12 of the applicable regular (Fall or Spring) semester. The ADPP shall normally last one hour, consisting of a 30-minute presentation by the student followed by a discussion period during which the RSC shall ask questions and provide feedback and recommendations.

The purpose of the ADPP is to provide the RSC with a comprehensive annual review of the student's dissertation research and to evaluate its overall quality, direction, feasibility, and progress. The presentation also provides an opportunity for the RSC to assess the student's research achievements, discuss future research plans, identify any significant issues that may affect the successful completion of the dissertation, and provide strategic academic guidance.

The ADPP shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

• A summary of the research completed since the previous ADPP.
• The principal research findings and achievements.
• Progress toward the dissertation objectives and overall research milestones.
• Research outputs, including publications, conference presentations, patents, software, datasets, or other scholarly or research outputs, where applicable.
• Significant challenges encountered and the actions taken or proposed to address them.
• The proposed research plan and major milestones for the forthcoming year.
• Any changes to the research direction, methodology, or dissertation plan, where applicable.

The final ADPP shall place particular emphasis on the student's readiness for dissertation submission and defense, including the completeness of the research, the quality and significance of the research outcomes, the status of publications and other degree requirements, and the proposed timetable for dissertation submission and examination.

Following the ADPP, the RSC shall provide the student with constructive feedback and recommendations regarding the overall quality, direction, and progress of the dissertation research. The RSC may also recommend modifications to the research plan, methodology, timeline, or other aspects of the research, where appropriate. The Main Advisor and Co-Advisor(s), where applicable, shall take the RSC's recommendations into consideration in the continued supervision of the student's research.