All NCAS-M fellows are required to complete an Individualized Student Development Plan (SDP).
The SDP will focus on three (3) broad areas that are known to influence educational success: academic development, professional/career development, and social/personal development.
Students will be required to complete the SDP four (4) times a year in collaboration with their mentor/advisor (i.e., planning form, mid-year progress report, end-of-year progress report, and summer progress report).
| SDP Section | Description | |
| 1 | Background Information | To be completed by student at the start of the fiscal year to gather background and contact information. |
| 2 | Annual Planning Form | To be completed by student and approved by faculty advisor and NOAA mentor at the start of the fiscal year to plan student education and research activities for the upcoming year. |
| 3 | Mid-Year Progress Report | To be completed by student and approved by faculty advisor and NOAA mentor at mid-year to document accomplishments, challenges, and needs by mid-year (report will cover fall semester). |
| 4 | Year End Progress Report | To be completed by student and approved by faculty advisor and NOAA mentor at year-end to document accomplishments, challenges, and needs by year-end (report will cover spring semester). |
| 5 | Summer Progress Report | To be completed by student and approved by faculty advisor and NOAA mentor at the end of the summer (report will cover summer experience). |
The SDP will be web-based. Training for this item will take place online.