Evaluation

Melanie Dubard, PhD, Coordinator

Overview

At the start of each training year, postdoctoral fellows collaborate with their fellowship supervisor(s) to establish their Individualized Training Activities.  Each fellow’s Individualized Training Activities are reviewed by the Director or Associate Director in their respective program; i.e., Clinical Psychology Program (CPP); Clinical Child Psychology Specialty Program (CCPSP); Clinical Neuropsychology Specialty Program (CNSP); or the Research Fellowship Program (RFP).  

Individualized Training Activities are achieved through an apprenticeship model where the postdoctoral fellow works closely with their supervisor(s) in the provision of clinical services and/or in conducting research.  The primary supervisor fosters a close supervisory relationship with the fellow that permits the fellow to develop clinical and/or research skills as well as professional role identity.

Evaluation is an integral part of the supervisor/fellow relationship.  It is a process that should involve an ongoing dialogue between postdoctoral fellows and their supervisors.  Formal evaluations of trainees and of supervisors occur every six months.    Evaluations should occur in face-to-face meetings between the postdoctoral fellow and their primary supervisor (or appropriate designee) and possibly other supervisors.  

Minimal Expected Levels of Achievement

At each evaluation time point, fellows are expected, at minimum, to demonstrate satisfactory progress toward achieving independent competence on each specific-level competency item required by their specific PFTP program (i.e., CPP, CCPSP, CNSP, and RFP) within each of the eleven competency domains:

I. Integration of Science and Practice
II. Ethical and Legal Standards
III. Individual and Cultural Diversity
IV. Assessment
V. Intervention
VI. Consultation and Interprofessional/Interdisciplinary Skills
VII. Teaching/Supervision/Mentoring
VIII. Leadership
IX. Communication and Interpersonal Skills
X. Professional Values, Attitudes, and Behaviors
XI. Research 

 Typically, fellows making satisfactory progress need additional, ongoing practice and supervision with these ten competency domains to achieve independence.  At the end of fellowship, fellows are expected to demonstrate competence to perform independently. That is, they should have demonstrated the ability to perform each specific competency skill at the level expected of an independent practitioner in the field.

Postdoctoral fellows should be engaged in an open, ongoing dialogue with their supervisor(s) regarding their progress.  Fellows have the right to appeal any formal evaluation (please see the Postdoctoral Fellowship Training Program Manual for more information on Evaluation Procedures and the Remediation/Grievance Policy).  Supervisors and fellows take mutual responsibility for ensuring that these evaluations are completed in a timely fashion. 

A graduation certificate will only be distributed upon completion of all evaluations and one full calendar year of training.