PhD Excellence Initiative

A campus-wide, student-centric effort to ensure that UB’s PhD programs remain among the strongest in the world.

Learn more about the initiative
Presentation on the committees' findings and recommendations

On May 1, 2020, the Chairs of the PhD Excellence Initiative Bridge Committee (Professor Stephen Tiffany) and the PhD Excellence Initiative Curriculum and Teaching Committee (Professor David Castillo) presented CAS faculty the committees' findings and recommendations. 

View the PhD Excellence Initiative Curriculum and Teaching Committee Report and the Bridge Committee Report.

Messages from the Dean

CAS PhD Excellence Bridge Committee

  • Stephen Tiffany, Psychology, Committee Chair
  • Rachel Ablow, English, Director of Humanities
  • Michelle Benson, Political Science, Director of Graduate Studies
  • Craig Colder, Psychology, Director of Graduate Studies
  • Jonathan Golove, Music, Chair
  • David Herzberg, History
  • Laura Rusche, Biological Sciences
  • David Watson, Chemistry, Chair
  • Krzysztof Ziarek, Comparative Literature, Chair

Report and Recommendations of the PhD Excellence Bridge Committee

Download PhD Excellence Bridge Committee Recommendation for Fall 2020

PhD Excellence Bridge Committee Fall 2020 Recommendation

Download PhD Excellence Bridge Committee Recommendation for Fall 2020

Update from the Bridge Committee Feb. 27, 2020

Download Faculty Update - PhD Excellence Bridge Committee February 2020

CAS PhD Excellence Curriculum and Teaching Committee

  • David Castillo, Romance Languages and Literature, Committee Chair
  • Rachel Ablow, English, Director of Humanities
  • Ashley Barr, Sociology
  • Anne Burnidge, Theatre and Dance, Chair
  • Colleen Culleton, Romance Languages and Literatures
  • Denise Ferkey, Biological Sciences, Associate Chair
  • Xuedong Hu, Physics, Director of Graduate Studies
  • William Menasco, Mathematics
  • Sara Metcalf, Geography
  • Cristanne Miller, English, Arts Management Program Director
  • Sasha Pack, History, Director of Graduate Studies
  • Neil Williams, Philosophy, Chair

PhD Excellence Curriculum and Teaching Committee Report

Download PhD Excellence Curriculum and Teaching Committee Report

PhD Excellence Curriculum and Teaching Committee Questions for Departments

Download PhD Excellence Curriculum and Teaching Committee Questions for Departments
Download PhD Excellence Curriculum and Teaching Committee Letter Template