At the end of each academic year, the department reviews the progress of all its PhD students. The goal of this process is to step back once a year and reflect on your progress in the PhD program. Part of the purpose of the review is to make sure that various requirements are getting checked off, but the review also serves as an annual check-in on the less tangible aspects of progress toward your PhD, including what is going well and what could be improved upon.
The first step in the annual evaluation is a written self-review, an opportunity for you to reflect on your own progress and to share your thoughts in writing with your advisor. Your advisor, possibly as well as other faculty, will then meet with you in person to discuss your self-review and your progress. Finally, you will receive a written letter from your advisor and the department summarizing your overall progress in the previous academic year.