The University of Washington Taskforce on the Future of PhD Education is a joint initiative of the Office of the Provost and the Graduate School, charged with shaping innovative and forward-looking directions for UW’s PhD programs and students.
As a leading R1 institution with over 4,000 PhD students, UW is uniquely positioned to model best practices in preparing the next generation of scholars, researchers, and public leaders. The Taskforce is focused on three core goals:
- Career Readiness: Ensuring PhD students receive education, training, and experiences aligned with diverse career paths,including those beyond academia.
- Strategic Vision: Aligning PhD education with UW’s R1 status, public mission, and fiscal realities.
- Student Experience: Enhancing the quality and consistency of the PhD student experience across programs.
The Taskforce will also explore where flexibility is appropriate for departments and where shared standards should be established. The final outcome will include not only a comprehensive report with actionable recommendations, but also a suite of resources and toolkits designed to support PhD programs in conducting self-reflective evaluations and advancing continuous program improvement.
Taskforce Co-Chairs:
- Joy Williamson-Lott, Dean of the Graduate School
Daniel Pollack, Divisional Dean of Natural Sciences, College of Arts & Sciences (CAS)
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