Best Practices for Best Practices for Enhancing the Quality of Enhancing the Quality of

Doctoral Degrees Doctoral Degrees

Dr. Dorris R. Robinson-GardnerDr. Dorris R. Robinson-GardnerDean, The Division of Graduate Dean, The Division of Graduate Studies and Professor of Higher Studies and Professor of Higher

Education AdministrationEducation AdministrationJanuary 30 – 31, 2006January 30 – 31, 2006

Updated 2009, 2010, 2014Updated 2009, 2010, 2014

Doctoral Education at Jackson Doctoral Education at Jackson State UniversityState University

Jackson State University (JSU) was classified as Jackson State University (JSU) was classified as a doctoral research intensive university by the a doctoral research intensive university by the Carnegie Commission in 2000.Carnegie Commission in 2000.

This classification was based on doctoral This classification was based on doctoral production in 1998 (awarding 20+ doctoral production in 1998 (awarding 20+ doctoral degrees, per year, across three disciplines).degrees, per year, across three disciplines).

The Carnegie Commission reclassified JSU as The Carnegie Commission reclassified JSU as “high research” in 2006 based on doctoral “high research” in 2006 based on doctoral degree production and expenditures of federal degree production and expenditures of federal research resources.research resources.

PurposePurpose To revisit best practices for doctoral education and To revisit best practices for doctoral education and

specifically quality in dissertations as articulated by the specifically quality in dissertations as articulated by the Council of Graduate Schools.Council of Graduate Schools.

To incorporate current best practices in departmental To incorporate current best practices in departmental handbooks, guides and other university publications handbooks, guides and other university publications distributed to doctoral scholars.distributed to doctoral scholars.

To establish clarity regarding policies and procedures of To establish clarity regarding policies and procedures of quality doctoral education.quality doctoral education.

To disseminate current and accurate information to the To disseminate current and accurate information to the doctoral community of scholars.doctoral community of scholars.

To increase the doctoral completion rate in a timely To increase the doctoral completion rate in a timely manner.manner.

Awarding of Doctoral DegreesAwarding of Doctoral Degrees

The inaugural Ed. D was awarded in Early The inaugural Ed. D was awarded in Early Childhood Education in 1982.Childhood Education in 1982.

The first Ph. D. was awarded in Education, The first Ph. D. was awarded in Education, Administration and Supervision in 1994.Administration and Supervision in 1994.

Other Ph.D.’s included environmental science in Other Ph.D.’s included environmental science in 1996; public administration in 1997; clinical 1996; public administration in 1997; clinical psychology in 2001; business administration, psychology in 2001; business administration, chemistry and social work in 2003; urban and chemistry and social work in 2003; urban and regional planning in 2004; and urban higher regional planning in 2004; and urban higher education in 2006. education in 2006.

The first Dr. P.H. was awarded Spring 2009.The first Dr. P.H. was awarded Spring 2009.

Degree Types Degree Types (3)(3)

Ed.D.Ed.D.

Ph.D.Ph.D.

Dr. P.H.Dr. P.H.

Doctoral Programs Doctoral Programs

Ed.D in Early Childhood EducationEd.D in Early Childhood Education

Ph.D. in Business AdministrationPh.D. in Business Administration Ph.D. in Chemistry Ph.D. in Chemistry Ph.D. in Clinical PsychologyPh.D. in Clinical Psychology Ph.D. in Education AdministrationPh.D. in Education Administration Ph.D. in Environmental SciencePh.D. in Environmental Science Ph.D. in Public AdministrationPh.D. in Public Administration Ph.D. in Social Work Ph.D. in Social Work Ph.D. in Urban and Regional PlanningPh.D. in Urban and Regional Planning Ph.D. in Urban Higher EducationPh.D. in Urban Higher Education Ph.D. in EngineeringPh.D. in Engineering Ph.D. in Computational DataPh.D. in Computational Data

Dr. P.H. in Public HealthDr. P.H. in Public Health

Doctoral Programs by Doctoral Programs by Colleges and Colleges and

Implementation DatesImplementation Dates

College of BusinessCollege of Business

Ph.D. in Business (1997)Ph.D. in Business (1997)

College of Education College of Education and Human and Human

DevelopmentDevelopment

Ed. D. in Early Childhood Education (1978)Ed. D. in Early Childhood Education (1978)

Ph.D. in Education Administration (1989)Ph.D. in Education Administration (1989)

Ph.D. in Urban Higher Education (2004)Ph.D. in Urban Higher Education (2004)

College of Liberal ArtsCollege of Liberal Arts

Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology (1992)(1992)

College of Public College of Public ServiceService

Ph.D. in Public Administration (1991)Ph.D. in Public Administration (1991)

Ph.D. in Social Work (1997)Ph.D. in Social Work (1997)

Ph.D. in Urban and Regional Planning (2000)Ph.D. in Urban and Regional Planning (2000)

Dr.P.H. in Public Health (2005)Dr.P.H. in Public Health (2005)

College of Science, College of Science, Engineering and Engineering and

TechnologyTechnology

Ph.D. in Chemistry (1991)Ph.D. in Chemistry (1991)

Ph.D. in Environmental Science (1992)Ph.D. in Environmental Science (1992)

Ph.D. in Engineering (2014)Ph.D. in Engineering (2014)

Ph.D. in Computational Data (2014)Ph.D. in Computational Data (2014)

Graduate Faculty ApprovalGraduate Faculty Approval

ALL FACULTY MEMBERS ALL FACULTY MEMBERS delivering graduate instruction, delivering graduate instruction, research or service must apply research or service must apply and be granted graduate faculty and be granted graduate faculty status.status.

Applications for graduate faculty status are available on the Graduate School Applications for graduate faculty status are available on the Graduate School website. The Graduate School @JSUMS.EDUwebsite. The Graduate School @JSUMS.EDU

Graduate Faculty ApprovalGraduate Faculty Approval Applications must be complete with requested information Applications must be complete with requested information

and appropriate recommendations from departmental and appropriate recommendations from departmental chairpersons and academic school deans for review by the chairpersons and academic school deans for review by the Graduate Faculty Status Committee of the Graduate Graduate Faculty Status Committee of the Graduate Council. Incomplete applications are not considered for Council. Incomplete applications are not considered for review purposes.review purposes.

Applications must be submitted to the Division of Graduate Applications must be submitted to the Division of Graduate Studies. The DGS forwards the applications to the Studies. The DGS forwards the applications to the chairperson of the Graduate Faculty Status Committee for chairperson of the Graduate Faculty Status Committee for a recommendation to the Graduate Council. The Graduate a recommendation to the Graduate Council. The Graduate Council approves/disapproves the recommendation.Council approves/disapproves the recommendation.

The Provost grants graduate faculty status with an official The Provost grants graduate faculty status with an official letter of appointment. letter of appointment.

Graduate Faculty ApprovalGraduate Faculty Approval

Approved applications are forwarded to Approved applications are forwarded to the Provost for granting written approval to the Provost for granting written approval to applicants with copies to department applicants with copies to department heads, academic deans and graduate heads, academic deans and graduate school. school.

Applications not approved are returned to Applications not approved are returned to academic departments indicating reasons academic departments indicating reasons for denial.for denial.

Applications are reviewed during the Applications are reviewed during the academic year only. academic year only.

Graduate Faculty Graduate Faculty

Graduate Faculty may teach graduate courses, Graduate Faculty may teach graduate courses, supervise and serve on supervisory supervise and serve on supervisory (dissertation/thesis) committees, vote on (dissertation/thesis) committees, vote on nominations for the Graduate Council and serve nominations for the Graduate Council and serve as members of the Graduate Council. as members of the Graduate Council.

Associate Graduate Faculty may teach graduate Associate Graduate Faculty may teach graduate courses, supervise masters’ theses, co-supervise courses, supervise masters’ theses, co-supervise doctoral dissertations, serve on supervisory doctoral dissertations, serve on supervisory committees vote on nominations for the Graduate committees vote on nominations for the Graduate Council and serve as members of the Graduate Council and serve as members of the Graduate Council.Council.

Assistant Graduate FacultyAssistant Graduate Faculty

Assistant Graduate faculty may teach graduate courses,, serve on supervisory committees vote on nominations for the Graduate Council and serve as members of the Graduate Council.

Adjunct Graduate Adjunct Graduate FacultyFaculty

May TEACH graduate courses, May TEACH graduate courses, and SERVE on dissertation and and SERVE on dissertation and

thesis committees ONLY.thesis committees ONLY.

Approved Graduate Approved Graduate FacultyFaculty

Faculty members with graduate Faculty members with graduate faculty status are listed in the faculty status are listed in the

Graduate Catalog with updates Graduate Catalog with updates listed on the Graduate School listed on the Graduate School

website. website.

Best PracticesBest Practices

Graduate Schools provide careful review of Graduate Schools provide careful review of credentials of graduate faculty members.credentials of graduate faculty members.

Academic departments provide new and existing Academic departments provide new and existing graduate faculty members with professional graduate faculty members with professional development training for their programs.development training for their programs.

Graduate Schools provide university-wide Graduate Schools provide university-wide professional development training for professional development training for new/existing graduate faculty members.new/existing graduate faculty members.

Dissertation/Thesis Handbooks inform both Dissertation/Thesis Handbooks inform both graduate faculty members and students of rights graduate faculty members and students of rights and responsibilities.and responsibilities.

Graduate Schools advise graduate scholars to Graduate Schools advise graduate scholars to review credentials of faculty members before review credentials of faculty members before selecting them to chair dissertations.selecting them to chair dissertations.

Graduate schools give faculty members intellectual Graduate schools give faculty members intellectual reaffirmation through awards and certificates for reaffirmation through awards and certificates for their contributions to graduate education.their contributions to graduate education.

Graduate schools evaluate graduate faculty Graduate schools evaluate graduate faculty members through a comprehensive five-year review members through a comprehensive five-year review process.process.

Universities provide incentives for Universities provide incentives for responsible dissertation supervision responsible dissertation supervision when they give more weight to when they give more weight to dissertation advising in salary and dissertation advising in salary and promotion decisions.promotion decisions.

Elements of Handbooks for Elements of Handbooks for Dissertation Advisers and ScholarsDissertation Advisers and Scholars

Detailed statements of major stages of the Detailed statements of major stages of the process including deadlines and time limits. process including deadlines and time limits.

An updated list of previous dissertation topics An updated list of previous dissertation topics with names of former dissertation chairpersons; with names of former dissertation chairpersons; research interest of faculty; and expected research interest of faculty; and expected periods of absence and retirements of faculty periods of absence and retirements of faculty members.members.

A guide on how to select a dissertation A guide on how to select a dissertation chairperson.chairperson.

Appropriate scope and nature of a dissertation.Appropriate scope and nature of a dissertation. University guidelines on IRB, IACAUC approval University guidelines on IRB, IACAUC approval

and other intellectual property rights.and other intellectual property rights. Departmental expectations for faculty members Departmental expectations for faculty members

reading, editing, evaluating and providing written reading, editing, evaluating and providing written feedback on research materials to scholars in a feedback on research materials to scholars in a timely manner.timely manner.

Departmental/external support for dissertations.Departmental/external support for dissertations.

The DissertationThe Dissertation

The process of writing a dissertation fulfills two The process of writing a dissertation fulfills two major purposes:major purposes:

(1) it is an intensive, highly professional training (1) it is an intensive, highly professional training experience; the successful completion of which experience; the successful completion of which demonstrates the scholar’s ability to address a demonstrates the scholar’s ability to address a major intellectual problem and arrive at a major intellectual problem and arrive at a successful conclusion independently and at a high successful conclusion independently and at a high level of professional competence, andlevel of professional competence, and

(2) a dissertation constitutes an original (2) a dissertation constitutes an original contribution to knowledge in the field. (CGS, 2005)contribution to knowledge in the field. (CGS, 2005)

Quality Dissertation ResultsQuality Dissertation Results

The dissertation should The dissertation should (1) reveal the student’s ability to analyze, interpret (1) reveal the student’s ability to analyze, interpret

and synthesize research results; and synthesize research results; (2) include a hypotheses; research methodology (2) include a hypotheses; research methodology

and procedures used;and procedures used; (3) demonstrate relevant knowledge of the (3) demonstrate relevant knowledge of the

literature; literature; (4) present results in a sequential and logical (4) present results in a sequential and logical

manner; manner; (5) discuss fully and coherently the meaning of the (5) discuss fully and coherently the meaning of the

results.results.

Evaluating the DissertationEvaluating the Dissertation

Dissertations must be defended in an announced, open Dissertations must be defended in an announced, open public forum.public forum.

Committee members must be present (physical or Committee members must be present (physical or electronic presence) for the defense, vote on the defense, electronic presence) for the defense, vote on the defense, and provide written and concise feedback to scholars and provide written and concise feedback to scholars immediately after the defense.immediately after the defense.

Identical evaluative instruments must be used to assess Identical evaluative instruments must be used to assess performance of each scholar.performance of each scholar.

A written copy of results, including concerns, request for A written copy of results, including concerns, request for additional research or modifications with timelines must additional research or modifications with timelines must be provided to the scholar, departmental chairperson and be provided to the scholar, departmental chairperson and academic dean of the college or designee.academic dean of the college or designee.

Ethical IssuesEthical Issues

Graduate faculty and students must understand Graduate faculty and students must understand ethical issues involved in research as well as the ethical issues involved in research as well as the consequences. consequences.

Consequences for unethical behavior apply to Consequences for unethical behavior apply to students, faculty, the institution and to students, faculty, the institution and to scholarship for any erosion of integrity. scholarship for any erosion of integrity.

The highest standards of ethical conduct are The highest standards of ethical conduct are expected by graduate faculty and students.expected by graduate faculty and students.

The most important The most important ones concern ones concern plagiarism; falsification plagiarism; falsification of experimental data; of experimental data; improper use of human improper use of human and animal subjects; and animal subjects; ownership of research, ownership of research, disregard of health and disregard of health and safety standards; and safety standards; and conflict of interest conflict of interest involving industrial and involving industrial and private companies private companies funding the research.funding the research.

Sponsored, Classified or Sponsored, Classified or Proprietary ResearchProprietary Research

Research that is classified by a Research that is classified by a governmental agency or that is proprietary governmental agency or that is proprietary in nature and restricted with regard to in nature and restricted with regard to publication is widely held by universities to publication is widely held by universities to be unsuitable for doctoral research. An be unsuitable for doctoral research. An essential aspect of dissertation research essential aspect of dissertation research and scholarship is the free and full and scholarship is the free and full dissemination of research results.dissemination of research results.

Intellectual Property RightsIntellectual Property Rights

The university has developed clear, written The university has developed clear, written policies about the ownership of intellectual policies about the ownership of intellectual property rights.property rights.

The doctoral scholar retains copyright over the The doctoral scholar retains copyright over the dissertation.dissertation.

The university typically retains ownership of any The university typically retains ownership of any research products/produced during candidacy research products/produced during candidacy that result from the student’s use of university that result from the student’s use of university resources, facilities, and faculty supervision. resources, facilities, and faculty supervision.

PatentsPatents

Doctoral scholars may be asked to sign Doctoral scholars may be asked to sign institutional agreements regarding how institutional agreements regarding how authorship responsibilities for research authorship responsibilities for research results will be allocated; how patentable results will be allocated; how patentable materials will be handled, and who will materials will be handled, and who will process the patent application and own process the patent application and own royalties.royalties.

The Office of Research provides The Office of Research provides information on patents.information on patents.

The DoctorateThe Doctorate

The student who has satisfactorily completed all The student who has satisfactorily completed all requirements is awarded the doctoral degree. requirements is awarded the doctoral degree.

The degree is a recognition of the fact that the The degree is a recognition of the fact that the student has demonstrated mastery of a field, student has demonstrated mastery of a field, successfully completed and defended a successfully completed and defended a dissertation, presented formally the results of dissertation, presented formally the results of the research and appreciates its significance in the research and appreciates its significance in the context of the general field.the context of the general field.