EdD Dissertation Committee Handbook€¦ · EdD Dissertation Committee Handbook Doctoral Office of...
Transcript of EdD Dissertation Committee Handbook€¦ · EdD Dissertation Committee Handbook Doctoral Office of...
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EdD Dissertation Committee Handbook
Doctoral Office of Advising and Records
College of Education and Health Professions
Columbus State University
Columbus, Georgia
April 2020
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Table of Contents
General Information .........................................................................................................................3
EdD Program Website .........................................................................................................3
EdD Program Timeline ........................................................................................................3
EdD Dissertation Committee ...............................................................................................4
Composition .............................................................................................................4
Appointment ............................................................................................................4
Responsibilities ........................................................................................................5
COEHP Policy for Workload Adjustment for Service on EdD Dissertation Committees ..6
Procedure for Approving an External Committee Member .................................................7
Communication with the Committee ...................................................................................7
Prospectus and Proposal Stages .....................................................................................................11
EDUF 8999: The Dissertation ..........................................................................................11
Continuous Enrollment ......................................................................................................11
Self-Plagiarism Recommendation .....................................................................................12
External Support ................................................................................................................12
Writing Support .................................................................................................................12
Final Dissertation Stage .................................................................................................................14
Institutional Review Board ................................................................................................14
EDUF 8000: EdD Dissertation Defense ...........................................................................14
Hackett Award for Outstanding Dissertation .....................................................................14
Defense ..........................................................................................................................................16
Attendance .........................................................................................................................16
Scheduling..........................................................................................................................16
Procedures for Dissertation Prospectus Defense ...............................................................17
Procedures for Dissertation Proposal Defense ...................................................................19
Procedures for Final Dissertation Defense ........................................................................21
Procedures for Virtual Defenses ........................................................................................23
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General Information
EdD Program Website
The EdD student should monitor the EdD Program Website. The website contains
program policies and procedures, recommended programs of study, EdD dissertation committee
resources (e.g., list of dissertation faculty who can serve on EdD Dissertation Committees),
dissertation process resources (e.g., EdD Dissertation Guide, EdD dissertation template, and
defense applications), the EdD Program Calendar, and other EdD student resources.
EdD Program Timeline
1. Complete the admission process to the EdD Program, including application packet,
interview, and writing assessment.
2. Complete EDUL 8715 (Doctoral Seminar in Curriculum and Leadership) during the first
semester in the EdD Program. In this course, the EdD student will complete the initial
graduate dispositions assessment, orientation to EdD policies and procedures, CSU
Library orientation, introduction to scholarly writing, and dissertation topic development.
3. Complete recommended program of study for designated program track as outlined on
the EdD Program Website.
4. Select a Chair for EdD Dissertation Committee during the spring semester of the second
year (or Semester 5) in the EdD Program.
5. Complete EDUF 8129 (Developing the Dissertation Prospectus) during fall semester of
the third year (or Semester 7) in the EdD Program. The prerequisites for EDUF 8129 are
EDUF 8127, EDUF 8117, and EDUF 8125 with a passing grade of B or higher. In this
course, the EdD student will complete CSU Institutional Review Board (IRB) training
and CITI human subjects training, draft the dissertation prospectus (i.e., Chapters I and II
of the EdD dissertation), and select a methodologist and third committee member for the
EdD Dissertation Committee. EdD students who are enrolled in EDUF 8129 will be
required to meet with their EdD Dissertation Committee Chair at least once per month.
These meetings can occur via phone or video conference.
6. Revise the Dissertation Prospectus draft with support from the EdD Dissertation
Committee as part of EDUF 8999 (The Dissertation). The Chair will moderate this
process. The prerequisite for EDUF 8999 (The Dissertation) is EDUF 8129 with a
passing grade of B or higher.
7. Submit Application for Prospectus Defense at least 2 weeks prior to the scheduled event.
8. Defend the Dissertation Prospectus (i.e., Chapters I and II) successfully, which is this
program’s equivalent to a comprehensive examination.
9. Write Chapter III with support from the EdD Dissertation Committee as part of EDUF
8999 (The Dissertation). The Chair will moderate this process.
10. Submit Application for Proposal Defense at least 3 weeks prior to the scheduled event.
11. Defend the Dissertation Proposal (i.e., Chapters I through III) successfully.
12. Complete the CSU IRB application and obtain CSU IRB approval to conduct the EdD
dissertation study.
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13. Collect and analyze data for the EdD dissertation study.
14. Write Chapter IV with support from the EdD Dissertation Committee as part of EDUF
8999 (The Dissertation). The Chair will moderate this process.
15. Write Chapter V with support from the EdD Dissertation Committee as part of EDUF
8999 (The Dissertation). The Chair will moderate this process.
16. Complete EDUF 8000 (EdD Dissertation Defense) during the last semester in the EdD
Program. In this course, the EdD student will submit the Application for Dissertation
Defense at least 2 weeks prior to the scheduled event, defend the final dissertation (i.e.,
Chapters I through V) successfully, complete the final graduate dispositions assessment,
complete EdD Program Exit Survey, and submit the final EdD dissertation draft for
publication.
EdD Dissertation Committee
Composition. The EdD Dissertation Committee will be comprised of at least three CSU
faculty members who hold graduate faculty status. A Chair of the EdD Dissertation Committee
must have full graduate faculty status and should have previous experience serving on EdD
Dissertation Committees. At least one committee member should have background knowledge,
experience, or research expertise in the EdD student’s dissertation topic. At least one committee
member, who will be referred to as the methodologist, must have expertise in the research
methods for the EdD student’s dissertation study. A fourth committee member may be selected
to serve if approved by the Chair of the EdD Dissertation Committee, the Director of Doctoral
Program in Education, and the Dean of COEHP. An EdD student may select an individual who
is external to CSU to serve as a methodologist or committee member if approved by the Chair of
the EdD Dissertation Committee, the Director of Doctoral Program in Education, the Dean of
COEHP, and the University Graduate Council. An approved external member can replace a
CSU faculty member on the EdD Dissertation Committee. The external committee member will
submit an application, which is available on the EdD Program Website, and a copy of his or her
current vita to the Doctoral Office for Advising and Records for the approval process.
Appointment. The EdD student is advised to select and invite committee members from
among faculty who have expertise in the area where the student plans to conduct research,
including content and methodology. During the second year of coursework, the EdD student will
identify a potential Chair for his or her EdD Dissertation Committee utilizing the EdD
Dissertation Faculty website and/or recommendations from the Director of Doctoral Program in
Education and CSU faculty members. The EdD student must contact that faculty member
directly and ask if he or she is willing to serve prior to completing the Doctoral Dissertation
Committee Appointment Form. More than likely, the faculty member will request a phone,
video, or face-to-face meeting before agreeing to serve on an EdD Dissertation Committee. In
addition, he or she may review a writing sample or a current prospectus draft to review before
agreeing to serve. Once the EdD student has established his or her EdD Dissertation Committee,
the EdD student must complete the Doctoral Dissertation Committee Appointment Form. After
submission to the Doctoral Office of Advising and Records, all EdD Dissertation Committee
members, the Director of Doctoral Program in Education, and the Dean of COEHP must approve
the EdD Dissertation Committee. Any or all members of the EdD Dissertation Committee may
be replaced by recommendation of the student along with approval of EdD Dissertation
Committee members, the Director of Doctoral Program in Education, and the Dean of COEHP.
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If committee membership changes, the EdD student must submit a Change in Doctoral
Dissertation Committee Membership Form for approval.
Responsibilities. The responsibilities of the EdD Dissertation Committee include:
• Provide timely feedback on drafts submitted by the EdD student. (Note. EdD students
should give committee members a minimum of 2 weeks to review their submitted draft.)
• Determine appropriateness and quality of the EdD dissertation.
• Approve the dissertation prospectus and its oral defense using the appropriate evaluation
rubric.
• Approve the dissertation proposal and its oral defense using the appropriate evaluation
rubric.
• Approve the final dissertation and its oral defense using the appropriate evaluation rubric.
• The Methodologist Expert will provide feedback to student on the following:
o Alignment of problem statement, purpose of the study, research questions,
research design, data collection, and data analysis
o Selection of appropriate research methods and participants
• The Methodologist Expert will provide constructive criticism about the following:
o Data collection and analysis that would be considered practitioner-friendly.
o Presentation of the data and the conclusions drawn from the analyses.
• The Content Expert will assist the EdD student with outlining a comprehensive literature
review to summarize current knowledge and identify the gap in literature and establishing
the significance of the topic and research findings.
The responsibilities of the Chair of the EdD Dissertation Committee include:
• Guide the EdD student in selecting an EdD dissertation topic.
• Guide the EdD student to set a realistic timeline for completion of the EdD dissertation.
• Assist the EdD student in developing a dissertation proposal.
• Moderate the draft revision process among the EdD student and EdD Dissertation
Committee members.
• Facilitate collaboration between the content expert and EdD student if Chair is not the
content expert.
• Facilitate collaboration between the methodologist and EdD student if Chair is not
serving as a methodologist.
• Coordinate the scheduling process for all defenses and preside over all defenses (i.e.,
Prospectus, Proposal, and Final Dissertation).
• Monitor completion and submission of forms required during the dissertation process
(e.g., CSU IRB and defense application forms).
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• Assist EdD student in the selection of other EdD Dissertation Committee members and
replacement members if needed.
• Serve as the instructor of record for the EdD student’s EDUF 8999 course.
• Be familiar with current EdD policies and procedures.
The responsibilities of the Director of the Doctoral Program in Education include:
• Serve as the primary advisor for an EdD student upon admission to the EdD Program
who guides the student through the coursework based on the Program of Study.
• Assist the EdD student in planning the preliminary program of study based upon
when required courses are offered. Ensure pre-requisites are met for course
enrollment.
• Assist the EdD student with the selection and/or approval of major field elective
courses.
• Assist the EdD student with the selection of a Chair of the EdD Dissertation
Committee.
• Provide dissertation resources for EdD students and faculty.
The EdD Student is expected to engage in active preparation of the dissertation process
from the onset of the doctoral program. EdD student is responsible for choosing a topic,
submitting proofread drafts of materials to the Chair, preparing adequately for meetings,
thoroughly reviewing all EdD policies and procedures, and communicating on a regular basis
with the Chair via email, phone, or video conferencing. The EdD student should contact the
Chair in the event of any significant changes in his/her personal or professional life, which may
interfere with program completion. To document the dissertation process, all drafts are
submitted and feedback returned through CougarVIEW.
COEHP Policy for Workload Adjustment for Service on EdD Dissertation Committees
Service to the education profession is expected for all COEHP faculty, including serving
on EdD dissertation committees. One 3-hour course in the COEHP faculty workload during the
academic year will be provided to (1) faculty who serve as a chair for 6 active EdD dissertation
committees, (2) faculty who serve as a methodologist for 9 active EdD dissertation committees,
(3) faculty who serve as a committee member for 12 active EdD dissertation committees, or (4)
faculty who serve on EdD dissertation committees in a combination of roles(chair,
methodologist, or member) equal to 12 (i.e., weighting of 2 for chair, weighting of 1.5 for
methodologist, and weighting of 1 for committee member). An active EdD dissertation
committee will be defined as a student who has completed the prospectus development course
(i.e., EDUF 8129) with a B or better and maintains continuous enrollment in the dissertation
course (i.e., EDUF 8999).
This policy will apply to faculty members meeting the above stated equivalent for a 3-
hour workload credit through service on EdD Dissertation Committees and will be approved in
consultation with the Department Chair and Dean. Faculty Professional Goals, which should be
reflective of the workload, will be evaluated during the annual evaluation process. In addition,
EdD students’ proposal drafts will be evaluated prior to the defense by an outside reader using
the approved EdD dissertation proposal rubric. The outside reader will be approved graduate
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faculty, will not be affiliated with the EdD Dissertation Committee, and will be appointed by the
Director of Doctoral Program in Education. The following timeline outlines the proposal
evaluation process.
1. Student will submit a defense application 3 weeks from the desired defense date
along with clean draft.
2. Doctoral Program Administrative Assistant will send a link for the EdD
dissertation proposal rubric and the clean draft to each committee member and the
outside reader.
3. The committee members and outside reader will complete the rubric evaluation
and provide constructive feedback within the draft within 2 weeks.
4. The Doctoral Program Administrative Assistant will send the evaluation results to
the Chair within 1 week before the scheduled defense date.
5. Based on the rubric evaluation, the Chair will confer with the committee members
and outside reader and decided whether or not to move forward with the
scheduled defense.
Procedure for Approving an External Committee Member
The individual who would like to serve as an external committee member on an EdD
dissertation committee will complete and submit an application, which is available on the EdD
Program Website, with his or her vita to the Doctoral Office of Advising and Records. To be
eligible to serve as an external committee member, the individual must (1) have a terminal
degree (e.g., MFA, EdD, or PhD); (2) demonstrate qualifications and/or experience relevant to
the EdD student’s dissertation topic; and (3) be a faculty member with a regular academic
appointment (e.g., assistant professor or higher) at another higher education institution or a non-
faculty member who is a recognized authority in the appropriate discipline.
After consulting with the Chair of the student’s EdD Dissertation Committee, the
Director of Doctoral Program in Education will review the application and vita and decide
whether or not to approve the external committee member for service. If approved, the COEHP
Dean will review the application and vita and decide whether or not to approve the external
committee member for service. If approved by the COEHP Dean, the Director of the Doctoral
Program in Education will draft a memo and send the memo along with the application and vita
to the University Graduate Council for review during their next scheduled meeting. If approved,
the external committee member will be approved for service on the student’s EdD dissertation
committee. The notification of approval will be sent to the student, chair, and external
committee member by the Doctoral Office of Advising and Records.
Communication with the Committee
When the committee is established initially, the committee is encouraged to meet either
face-to-face or via video conference to discuss timeline, content, and methodology development.
All communication with Committee Members and the EdD student should be moderated by the
chair. The Chair will determine when a document is ready for electronic review by the full EdD
dissertation committee and will initiate communication amongst committee members. The EdD
student should avoid consulting with the full committee for feedback without prior approval of
the Chair.
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Ongoing dialogue with committee members should be maintained throughout the
dissertation process, so they are reviewing and providing feedback during the development
process. Figures 1, 2, and 3 illustrate the communication between Committee Members for three
different scenarios; (1) Chair is not the Methodologist, (2) Chair is not the Content Expert, and
(3) Chair is the only Methodologist. In Figure 1 and Figure 2, the optional path indicates the
Chair may opt for the communication between the EdD student and Methodologist to occur
without the Chair’s moderation; however, the Methodologist should keep the Chair aware of the
student’s progress.
Figure 1. The dissertation process flowchart for reviewing and approving if the Chair is not the
Methodologist.
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Figure 2. The dissertation process flowchart for reviewing and approving if the Chair is not the
Content Expert.
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Figure 3. The dissertation process flowchart for reviewing and approving if the Chair is the only
Methodologist.
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Prospectus and Proposal Stages
EDUF 8129: Developing the Dissertation Prospectus
In the EDUF 8219 (Developing the Dissertation Prospectus) course, EdD students will be
required to work with the Chair throughout the semester and submit the documentation to the
instructor of record. In addition, the EdD students will be required to complete a research
consultation with a CSU Librarian and submit the documentation to the instructor of record. The
final course project for this course will be a prospectus draft, which includes Chapters I and II of
the EdD Dissertation.
EDUF 8999: The Dissertation
EdD students will enroll in the EDUF 8999 (The Dissertation) course after completing
EDUF 8129 (Developing the Dissertation Prospectus) with a passing grade of B or higher and
establishing an approved EdD Dissertation Committee. The EdD Program of Study requires a
minimum of 9 hours of EDUF 8999 (The Dissertation). The hours for each section of EDUF
8999 can vary from 1 hour to 3 hours. The grading for this course will be S for Satisfactory
or U for Unsatisfactory. EdD students are expected to make substantial progress each semester
(e.g., submitting at least one draft to the instructor every 2 weeks with previously noted
comments addressed and new content added). Failure to make substantial progress or maintain
communication with the Chair could result in a U for the final course grade. An EdD student
should complete at least one goal each semester. Those goals include:
• Defend dissertation prospectus successfully.
• Defend dissertation proposal successfully.
• Obtain IRB approval.
• Collect and analyze data.
• Defend final dissertation successfully.
At the beginning of each semester, the EdD student and instructor will develop a
professional development plan (PDP) or student contract to outline specific measurable
objectives and associated timelines. If those objectives and timelines within the PDP or student
contract are not fulfilled during the designated semester, the EdD student will earn a U as a final
grade for EDUF 8999, which could result in academic exclusion. If those objectives and
timelines within the PDP or student contract are fulfilled, the student will earn an S as a final
grade for EDUF 8999.
Continuous Enrollment
EdD students must maintain continuous enrollment by enrolling in EDUF 8999 each
semester after the EDUF 8129 course. The number of credit hours can vary between 1 and 4
semester credit hours for EDUF 8999. EdD students are not required to enroll during the
summer semester if they will not be working with faculty or using university resources, unless
summer semester is the term they plan to graduate. If continuous enrollment cannot be
maintained, EdD students can request a leave of absence for up to 1 year or 3 full semesters.
Once an EdD student has completed the 63-hour program of study successfully, he or she may
enroll in a 1 credit hour EDUF 8999 section with reduced fees to maintain continuous enrollment
with approval from the Director of Doctoral Program in Education.
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Self-Plagiarism Recommendation
EdD faculty should include a statement within the course syllabus about self-plagiarism,
including whether or not a student can resubmit an assignment that is the same as or substantially
similar to one’s own previously submitted work(s) during EdD coursework (i.e., research,
specialization, or electives). Similarity will be determined using TurnItIn.com. EdD students
may utilize previously submitted assignments when writing their EdD dissertation in EDUF
8129, EDUF 8999, and/or EDUF 8000 with the Chair’s approval.
External Support
EdD students may discuss assignments with fellow students, colleagues, instructors, or
writing tutors, but the actual course assignments must be completed by the EdD student alone. If
the EdD student utilizes an external agency or individual for any purpose during any part of the
dissertation process, the EdD student must obtain approval from his or her EdD Dissertation
Committee and acknowledge that agency or individual within the Acknowledgements section of
the EdD dissertation.
Writing Support
Online writing tutoring through the Academic Center for Tutoring (ACT) is available for
writing assignments in any course and at any level, including writing related to the dissertation
process. This service is free of charge to all CSU students. ACT recommends 1-hour
appointments (two 30-minute appointments scheduled back to back) for up to eight pages. A
student can schedule multiple appointments for more than eight pages. Students must use the
Google Drive to participate in an online writing tutoring appointment. Prior to making an online
appointment, please read the instructions, Making and Participating in an ACT Online
Writing Tutoring Appointment - STUDENTS.
The APA Help Desk ([email protected]) can answer questions related to APA (6th
edition) Style Guidelines, which includes, but not limited to, commas, numbers, abbreviations,
tables, figures, citations, and references. In addition, the APA Help Desk can answer questions
about dissertation formatting based the EdD Dissertation Guide. The APA Help Desk is not
intended to be an editorial service. The responses from APA Help Desk will be sent during
normal business hours when the University is open to the public.
Several online writing modules are available through the Doctoral Office for Advising
and Records. These modules cover the following topics: (1) Creating Cohesive Academic
Writing, (2) Summarizing, Paraphrasing, and Quoting Outside Sources, (3) Annotated
Bibliography, and (4) APA Formatting. If a Chair would like one or more of these modules
copied into a specific student’s EDUF 8999 section, that Chair will submit a request to the
Doctoral Office for Advising and Records.
The Doctoral Office for Advising and Records sponsors a Dissertation Writing Retreat
each fall and spring semester. All EdD students are encouraged to attend the event. The session
topics include APA style guidelines, writing literature reviews, and research methods. Figure 1
displays the expectations for scholarly writing in the EdD Program.
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Scholarly Writing
Criteria Undeveloped Emerging Developing Developed Well-
Developed
Organization
is poorly
focused and/or
poorly
organized
is limited in
focus and/or
organization.
The
progression of
ideas is
interrupted by
several errors
in logic, such
as absolutes or
contradictions
is adequately
focused and
organized.
The
progression of
ideas is
interrupted by
rare errors in
logic, such as
absolutes or
contradictions
is focused and
generally well
organized,
connecting
ideas
appropriately
sustains a well-
focused, well-
organized
analysis,
connecting
ideas logically
Clarity
has severe
problems in
language and
sentence
structure that
persistently
interfere with
meaning
has serious
problems in
language and
sentence
structure that
frequently
interfere with
meaning
has problems
in language
and sentence
structure that
result in a lack
of clarity
demonstrates
sufficient
control of
language to
express ideas
with
acceptable
clarity
conveys ideas
fluently and
precisely,
using effective
vocabulary and
sentence
variety
Mechanics
contains
pervasive
errors in
grammar,
usage, or
mechanics that
result in
incoherence
contains
serious errors
in grammar,
usage, or
mechanics that
frequently
obscure
meaning
contains
occasional
major errors or
frequent minor
errors in
grammar,
usage or
mechanics that
can interfere
with meaning
generally
demonstrates
control of the
conventions of
standard
written
English, but
may have
some errors
demonstrates
superior
facility with
the
conventions of
standard
written English
(i.e., grammar,
usage, and
mechanics),
without errors
APA (6th
edition) Style
APA (6th
edition) style
guidelines
were not
followed
consistently.
All APA (6th
edition) style
guidelines
were followed
occasionally.
All APA (6th
edition) style
guidelines
were followed
with some
errors.
All APA (6th
edition) style
guidelines
were followed
with few
errors.
All APA (6th
edition) style
guidelines
were followed
strictly without
errors.
Figure 1. EdD Program rubric for scholarly writing.
Pilot Studies
If an EdD student needs to conduct a pilot study to validate a data collection measure,
then that student is encouraged to conduct the pilot study after the prospectus defense and before
the proposal defense. The pilot study should be conducted with the consultation of the Chair and
Methodologist. In addition, the EdD student is required to obtain IRB approval before
conducting the pilot study. The results of the pilot study should be included in Chapter III and
discussed during the proposal defense.
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Final Dissertation Stage
Institutional Review Board
The CSU IRB must approve all research involving human subjects, including EdD
dissertation research studies, before recruitment and/or data collection begins. After receiving
official approval for the Dissertation Proposal, EdD degree candidates must submit an IRB
application to the CSU IRB and obtain IRB approval. Application, informed consent templates,
and directions are available on the CSU IRB Website.
EDUF 8000: EdD Dissertation Defense
EDUF 8000 is a zero-credit course in which an EdD degree candidate documents (1) his
or her successful oral defense of the final dissertation; (2) the completion of edits and approval of
final dissertation by the EdD Dissertation Committee, Director of Doctoral Program in
Education, Director of COEHP Office of Graduate Studies, and Dean of COEHP; and (3)
submission to the CSU Library for publication. EdD degree candidates must be enrolled during
the semester of their final dissertation defense after obtaining approval from their Chairs and the
CSU IRB. The approval process in EDUF 8000 includes an originality review and a format
review based on APA (6th edition) and the EdD Dissertation Guide. One of the following
actions will be recommended after university review of the final dissertation draft: (1) Accept
for publication without revisions, (2) Return to EdD degree candidate for minor revisions, or (3)
Return to EdD degree candidate for major revisions. If the EdD degree candidate is unable to
complete revisions by the stated deadline, the EdD degree candidate will be allowed to
participate in the hooding ceremony and commencement ceremony; however, the EdD degree
will be awarded when the final dissertation is accepted for publication. A final grade of S in
EDUF 8000 is required for EdD program completion.
Publication of the Dissertation
After approval from the EdD Dissertation Committee, Director of Doctoral Program in
Education, Director of COEHP Office of Graduate Studies, and Dean of COEHP, the EdD
students will be published on Columbus State University’s ePress. EdD students are encouraged
to publish part or all of the dissertation in scholarly journals; however, the EdD student and/or
EdD Dissertation Committee Members cannot publish any part of the dissertation until the final
dissertation has been defended and approved by the EdD Dissertation Committee, Director of
Doctoral Program in Education, Director of COEHP Office of Graduate Studies, and COEHP
Dean.
Hackett Award for Outstanding Dissertation
The Hackett Award for Outstanding Dissertation was established to recognize annually a
graduating EdD student, and his or her EdD Dissertation Committee Chair, who conducted
dissertation research that has great potential to impact the field of education. The award was
named in honor of Dr. Paul (Paul) Thomas Hackett, Sr. and Dr. Paul Thomas (Tom) Hackett, Jr.
for their years of outstanding service to Columbus State University.
Purpose of the Award
● Recognize annually a graduating EdD student, and his or her EdD Dissertation
Committee Chair, who conducted dissertation research that has great potential to impact
the field of education.
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● Honor Paul Thomas Hackett, Sr. for his years of service to Columbus State University.
● Honor Paul Thomas Hackett, Jr. for his years of service to Columbus State University as
a faculty member, department chair, dean, provost, and interim president.
Guidelines
● The award shall be given annually unless, in the opinion of the Doctoral Program
Committee, there was not an outstanding recipient for that year (i.e., previous spring,
summer, and fall semesters).
● The Director of Doctoral Program in Education (or other representative) will send a call
for nominations to all EdD Dissertation Committee Chairs in January.
● EdD Dissertation Committee Chairs will submit a statement to the Doctoral Program
Assistant that highlights the strengths of the dissertation research and the potential impact
for the field of education.
● The Doctoral Program Committee will serve as the selection committee.
● The discussions related to the selection process shall remain confidential. Ballots will be
anonymous.
● The name of the award recipient and the EdD Dissertation Committee Chair will be
added to a perpetual plaque. The recipient will receive an award plaque, and the EdD
Dissertation Committee Chair will receive an award certificate.
Criteria
The award recipient will be selected on the following criteria:
● Defended the final EdD dissertation successfully during the previous spring, summer, or
fall semester.
● Graduated from the EdD in Curriculum and Leadership Program during the previous
spring, summer, or fall semester.
● Conducted dissertation research to address an identified problem, which has the great
potential to impact the field of education.
● Published the final EdD dissertation using scholarly writing (i.e., conveys clear and
insightful ideas fluently and concisely with well-focused analysis).
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Defenses
EdD students are required to defend their prospectus, proposal, and final dissertation.
Students’ draft should be in final form prior to each defense. Committee members who perceive
major flaws that are likely to result in an unsuccessful defense should discuss these concerns
with the EdD student and Chair immediately.
Attendance
All committee members should be present physically at all defenses (i.e., prospectus,
proposal, and final defense). In the event of an emergency or unforeseen circumstances, a
methodologist or committee member can virtually attend if approved in advance by the
Teaching, Leadership, and Counseling Department Chair, but this option should be used
cautiously as there are always risks for technical difficulties, but the committee chair must be
physically present. If any members of the EdD Dissertation Committee are unable to attend the
defense, the defense must be postponed. The EdD Dissertation Committee members are
responsible for planning ahead of time to meet with the deadline requirements. Ideally, the EdD
student should attend each defense in person; however, the student can join the prospectus and
proposal defenses via video conference if distance of extended travel is a concern (i.e., minimum
of 150 miles from Columbus, Georgia). The EdD student must attend the final defense in
person. The EdD Dissertation Committee Chair must approve the video conference defense
before scheduling the defense. The Doctoral Program Administration Assistant can serve as a
resource for organizing the video conference. The prospectus and proposal defenses include the
EdD student and his or her EdD Dissertation Committee. The final dissertation defense is open
to the public, which can involve CSU faculty and staff, current EdD students, and friends and
family of EdD student.
Scheduling
The EdD Dissertation Committee Chair will schedule each defense in coordination with the other
EdD Dissertation Committee members and the EdD student. Scheduling of defenses is subject to
the availability of EdD Dissertation Committee members. Defense applications and EdD
Program Calendar are available on the EdD Program Website. Completed applications for a
prospectus defense and final dissertation defense should be submitted to Doctoral Program
Administrative Assistant at least 2 weeks prior to the scheduled defense. Completed applications
for a proposal defense should be submitted to Doctoral Program Administrative Assistant at least
3 weeks prior to the scheduled defense. The Proposal Defense and Final Dissertation Defense
cannot occur within the same semester. Only one defense can occur during the summer
semester. The Prospectus Defense and Proposal Defense can occur within the same semester
(e.g., spring or fall) if approved by the EdD Dissertation Committee Chair and Director of
Doctoral Program in Education. Defenses held outside of the designated term dates will be
counted as completed in the following semester. Table 3 presents the guidelines for establishing
EdD calendar dates.
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Table 3
Guidelines for Establishing EdD Calendar Dates
Anticipated Timeframe Event
2 weeks before deadline for defense
applications
Deadline for Chair and Methodologist to
complete edits of dissertation prior to final
defense for semester graduates
2 weeks before the deadline to defend final
dissertation
Deadline for the Application for Dissertation
Defense for semester graduates
2 weeks before the deadline to defend final
dissertation
Deadline to send the final dissertation to all
committee members for semester graduates
Monday before 3 weeks (spring and fall) or 2
weeks (summer) prior to the class day of full-
term classes
Deadline to defend final dissertation
2 days (spring and fall) or 1 day (summer) after
deadline to defend final dissertation
Last day to submit one electronic copy of
dissertation for university review
Last day of classes
Final Dissertation Approval Form with
signatures and Dissertation Submission
Approval Form with signatures are due to
Doctoral Program Assistant
Procedures for Dissertation Prospectus Defense
The primary purpose of the Dissertation Prospectus Defense is for the EdD student to
demonstrate his or her knowledge of current empirical literature related to a specific problem. A
prospectus defense PowerPoint template is provided on the EdD Program Website. Prior to the
scheduled defense, the Doctoral Program Administrative Assistant will distribute the oral
presentation rubric, approval form, and any other needed materials to the Chair of the EdD
Dissertation Committee. When the Committee agrees the EdD student’s Prospectus is ready to
defend, the Chair will coordinate with the members of the Committee and the EdD student to
schedule the date and time for the Dissertation Prospectus Defense. Once the date and time have
been established, the EdD student will submit an Application for Prospectus Defense to the
Doctoral Program Administrative Assistant at least two weeks prior to the scheduled event, so a
meeting location can be reserved. The Chair will provide each committee member with the
Proposal at least 14 calendar days prior to the scheduled defense. EdD students should be
encouraged to provide the Chair with a draft of the PowerPoint presentation at least seven days
prior to the scheduled defense. Chairs are encouraged to work with the EdD student to refine
and rehearse the defense presentation. The following protocol will be followed when conducting
a prospectus defense.
Committee Organization
1. The Chair will explain the purpose of the defense and the Committee’s primary tasks.
2. The Chair will explain the two options (i.e., votes) available to each committee member:
pass or fail.
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3. The Chair will introduce the EdD student and give the title of the prospectus.
Presentation
4. The candidate will take 30 minutes acquainting the committee with the Prospectus. In this
time period, the EdD student will present essential and notable points regarding:
a. the problem studied and why the study will be significant.
b. significant aspects of the literature review reported in Chapter II.
c. state the research questions.
d. overview of the proposed research methodology.
5. When the EdD student completes the presentation, the committee members will ask
questions beginning with the third committee member and ending with the Chair. The
EdD student will respond to the questions posed with further discussion among the
committee members. As each member of the Committee asks questions of the EdD
student, other Committee members may wish to probe the student further or to follow up
on a related topic. Please ask the committee member who is currently questioning for
permission to interrupt their questioning process.
Committee Deliberation
6. When committee-student interactions are completed, the EdD student will leave the room
while the committee deliberates.
7. The committee will vote as to the defensibility of the dissertation prospectus, according
to these criteria:
a. Has the EdD student proceeded according to the requirements for the dissertation
prospectus?
b. Were the committee’s concerns addressed to every member’s satisfaction?
c. Did the EdD student organize the presentation around the written materials?
d. Was the description of the problem adequate?
e. Did the EdD student articulate the need for the research correctly?
f. Did the EdD student cite appropriate literature in Chapter II to guide the research?
g. Are the proposed research questions “smart”?
Specific: Does it include specific variables or concepts?
Measurable: Can it be evaluated (i.e., methods)?
Aligned: Does it align with the problem and purpose?
Realistic: Do I have the resources to answer it (i.e., feasible)?
Timely: Is it relevant to current issues in research?
h. Did the EdD student portray the importance of the study accurately in such a
manner that it will contribute to the field?
i. Can the study be conducted efficiently and effectively?
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Decision
8. The Chair will ask the Committee whether or not the EdD student should move onto the
Dissertation Proposal stage.
a. If the Committee votes pass, the Chair will invite the EdD student back into the
room and inform him or her of the vote. The Chair will ensure that all required
signatures are obtained on the Proposal Approval Form.
b. If the vote is fails, the Chair will invite the EdD student back into the room and
inform him or her of the vote and the options that are available to the student.
c. If the Committee elects to suspend their vote, the Committee will be required
meet again via face-to-face, phone, email, or video conference. Before the EdD
student and Committee dismiss, a specific set of recommendations for corrective
action and a timeline for their completion must be developed before the
Committee can reconvene for the formal vote.
9. As a group, the committee members will complete the oral presentation rubric.
If revisions are required, those completed revisions should be reviewed and approved by the
Chair. Other committee members can request to review the revisions. On the approval form, the
Chair should indicate if the prospectus was approved by the Committee as
• “no revisions needed”
• “minor revisions needed” (e.g., formatting or grammar)
• “major revisions needed” (e.g., change from quantitative research methods
to mixed methods research or addition of more literature in Chapter II.)
If major revisions are indicated, the Chair should indicate what
specific revisions are needed on the approval form, and the Chair
should notify the Doctoral Program Assistant and Director of the
EdD Program to determine if another should occur.
Debriefing
Any edited copies of the EdD student's prospectus should be left with the Chair. The EdD
student must respond promptly to any recommendations or editorial suggestions. The Chair will
debrief the EdD student at the close of the defense and discuss how to improve the dissertation
prospectus.
Final Steps
After the defense concludes, the Chair will provide the Doctoral Program Administrative
Assistant with the completed oral presentation rubric and signed approval form.
Procedures for Dissertation Proposal Defense
The primary purpose of the Dissertation Proposal Defense is for the EdD student to
propose comprehensive and well-defined methodology for answering his or her research
questions. A proposal defense PowerPoint template is provided on the EdD Program Website.
Prior to the scheduled defense, the Doctoral Program Administrative Assistant will distribute the
oral presentation rubric, approval form, and any other needed materials to the Chair of the EdD
Dissertation Committee. When the Committee agrees the EdD student’s Proposal is ready to
defend, the Chair will coordinate with the members of the Committee and the EdD student to
20
schedule the date and time for the Dissertation Proposal Defense. Once the date and time have
been established, the EdD student will submit an Application for Proposal Defense to the
Doctoral Program Administrative Assistant at least two weeks prior to the scheduled event, so a
meeting location can be reserved. The Chair will provide each committee member with the
Proposal at least 21 calendar days prior to the scheduled defense. EdD students should be
encouraged to provide the Chair with a draft of the PowerPoint presentation at least seven days
prior to the scheduled defense. Chairs are encouraged to work with the EdD student to refine
and rehearse the defense presentation. The following protocol will be followed when conducting
a prospectus defense.
Committee Organization
1. The Chair will explain the purpose of the defense and the Committee’s primary tasks.
2. The Chair will explain the two options (i.e., votes) available to each committee member:
pass or fail.
3. The Chair will introduce the EdD student and give the title of the proposal.
Presentation
4. The candidate will take 30 minutes acquainting the committee with the Proposal. In this
time period, the EdD student will present essential and notable points regarding:
a. the problem studied and why the study will be significant from Chapter I.
b. highlights from the literature review reported in Chapter II.
c. detailed methodology for conducting the proposed study as reported in Chapter
III.
5. When the EdD student completes the presentation, the committee members will ask
questions beginning with the third committee member and ending with the Chair. The
EdD student will respond to the questions posed with further discussion among the
committee members. As each member of the Committee asks questions of the EdD
student, other Committee members may wish to probe the candidate further or to follow
up on a related topic. Please ask the Committee member who is currently questioning for
permission to interrupt their questioning process.
Committee Deliberation
6. When committee-student interactions are completed, the EdD student will leave the room
while the committee deliberates.
7. The committee will vote as to the defensibility of the dissertation prospectus, according
to these criteria:
a. Has the EdD student proceeded according to the requirements for the dissertation
proposal?
b. Were the committee’s concerns addressed to every member’s satisfaction?
c. Can the study be conducted efficiently and effectively?
d. Does the candidate have sufficient resources to complete the study?
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e. Has the EdD student explained the methodology using accurate and appropriate
language?
Decision
8. The Chair will ask the Committee whether or not the EdD student should move onto the
Final Dissertation stage (i.e., Degree Candidacy).
a. If the Committee votes pass, the Chair will invite the EdD student back into the
room and inform him or her of the vote. The Chair will ensure that all required
signatures are obtained on the Proposal Approval Form.
b. If the vote is fails, the Chair will invite the EdD student back into the room and
inform him or her of the vote and the options that are available to the student.
c. If the Committee elects to suspend their vote, the Committee will be required
meet again via face-to-face, phone, email, or video conference. Before the EdD
student and Committee dismiss, a specific set of recommendations for corrective
action and a timeline for their completion must be developed before the
Committee can reconvene for the formal vote.
9. As a group, the committee members will complete the oral presentation rubric.
If revisions are required, those completed revisions should be reviewed and approved by the
Chair. Other committee members can request to review the revisions. On the approval form, the
Chair should indicate if the proposal was approved by the Committee as
• “no revisions needed”
• “minor revisions needed” (e.g., formatting or grammar)
• “major revisions needed” (e.g., change from quantitative research methods
to mixed methods research or addition of more literature in Chapter II.)
If major revisions are indicated, the Chair should indicate what
specific revisions are needed on the approval form, and the Chair
should notify the Doctoral Program Assistant and Director of the
EdD Program to determine if another should occur.
The Dissertation Proposal Approval Form should not be signed the Committee until the proposal
is deemed acceptable and the study is ready to submit to the CSU IRB for review. An approved
Dissertation Proposal functions as a document that specifically outlines how the EdD student
will implement the research study.
Debriefing
Any edited copies of the EdD student's proposal should be left with the Chair. The EdD
student must respond promptly to any recommendations or editorial suggestions. The Chair will
debrief the EdD student at the close of the defense and discuss how to improve the dissertation
proposal.
Final Steps
After the defense concludes, the Chair will provide the Doctoral Program Administrative
Assistant with the completed oral presentation rubric and signed approval form. If upon
completion of the Proposal defense, the Proposal is not ready for approval, the Chair will notify
the Doctoral Office of Advising and Records to hold the approval form. When the final draft of
the Proposal is approved (with no revisions), the EdD student will submit a copy of the clean
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draft in TK20. Once the Proposal has been approved by the committee and received by the
Director of Doctoral Program in Education and COEHP Dean, the EdD student may move
forward with the IRB application process. Recruitment and/or data collection cannot begin until
the Dissertation Proposal has been defended successfully and the study has received CSU IRB
approval.
Procedures for Final Dissertation Defense
The primary purpose of the Final Dissertation Defense is for the EdD student to present
the findings, conclusions, and implications from his or her dissertation study. A final
dissertation defense PowerPoint template is provided on the EdD Program Website. Prior to the
scheduled defense, the Doctoral Program Administrative Assistant will distribute the oral
presentation rubric, approval form, and any other needed materials to the Chair of the EdD
Dissertation Committee. When the Committee agrees the EdD student’s final dissertation is
ready to defend, the Chair will coordinate with the members of the Committee and the EdD
student to schedule the date and time for the Final Dissertation Defense. To qualify for
graduation in a given semester, the Committee and EdD student should be mindful of the
deadline on the EdD Program Calendar, which is posted on the EdD Program Website. Once the
date and time have been established, the EdD student will submit an Application for Final
Dissertation Defense to the Doctoral Program Administrative Assistant at least two weeks prior
to the scheduled event, so a meeting location can be reserved. The Doctoral Office for Advising
and Records will announce the date, time, and location publicly via email to the COEHP faculty,
EdD Dissertation Faculty in other Colleges, the Provost’s Office, and current EdD students. The
Chair will provide each committee member with the Final Dissertation at least 14 calendar days
prior to the scheduled defense. EdD students should be encouraged to provide the Chair with a
draft of the PowerPoint presentation at least seven days prior to the scheduled defense. Chairs
are encouraged to work with the EdD student to refine and rehearse the defense presentation.
The following protocol will be followed when conducting a final dissertation defense.
Committee Organization
1. The Chair will explain the purpose of the defense and the Committee’s primary tasks.
2. The Chair will explain the two options (i.e., votes) available to each committee member:
pass or fail.
3. The Chair will introduce the EdD student and give the title of the dissertation.
Presentation
4. The candidate will take 30 minutes acquainting the committee with the dissertation. In
this time period, the EdD student will present essential and notable points regarding:
a. highlight the problem and purpose of the study from Chapter I.
b. state the research questions and methodology from Chapter III.
c. discuss the results from Chapter IV.
d. discuss the conclusions and implications from Chapter V.
5. When the EdD student completes the presentation, the committee members will ask
questions beginning with the third committee member and ending with the Chair. The
candidate will respond to the questions posed with further discussion among the
23
committee members. As each member of the Committee asks questions of the EdD
student, other Committee members may wish to probe the student further or to follow up
on a related topic. Please ask the Committee member who is currently questioning for
permission to interrupt their questioning process.
6. When committee-student interactions are completed, the Chair will allow guests and
other observers to ask questions of the EdD students related to the dissertation study. The
Chair will moderate the process to keep the exchange relevant and timely.
Committee Deliberation
7. When the questions by the guests and other observers are finished per the Chair, the EdD
student, guests, and other observers will leave the room while the Committee deliberates.
8. The committee will vote as to the defensibility of the dissertation prospectus, according
to these criteria:
a. Has the EdD student proceeded according to the requirements for the final
dissertation?
b. Were the committee’s concerns addressed to every member’s satisfaction?
c. Did the EdD student speculate on the meaning(s) of the results correctly?
d. Did the EdD student state the implications that can be drawn from the results
accurately?
e. Were the important strengths and limitations of the study identified and discussed
in light of future research?
f. Did the EdD student point out consistencies and inconsistencies in the results with
the findings in the literature cited in Chapter 2?
Decision
9. The Chair will ask the Committee whether or not the EdD student should move onto the
Final Dissertation stage (i.e., Degree Candidacy).
d. If the Committee votes pass, the Chair will invite the EdD student back into the
room and inform him or her of the vote. The Chair will ensure that all required
signatures are obtained on the Proposal Approval Form.
e. If the vote is fails, the Chair will invite the EdD student back into the room and
inform him or her of the vote and the options that are available to the student.
f. If the Committee elects to suspend their vote, the Committee will be required
meet again via face-to-face, phone, email, or video conference. Before the EdD
student and Committee dismiss, a specific set of recommendations for corrective
action and a timeline for their completion must be developed before the
Committee can reconvene for the formal vote.
10. As a group, the committee members will complete the oral presentation rubric.
If revisions are required, those completed revisions should be reviewed and approved by the
Chair. Other committee members can request to review the revisions. The Dissertation
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Approval Page should not be signed the Committee until the final dissertation is deemed
acceptable.
Debriefing
Any edited copies of the EdD student's final dissertation should be left with the Chair.
The EdD student must respond promptly to any recommendations or editorial suggestions. The
Chair will debrief the EdD student at the close of the defense and discuss how to improve the
final dissertation. In addition, the Chair will discuss the steps involved with the final dissertation
approval process.
Final Steps
After the defense concludes, the Chair will provide the Doctoral Program Administrative
Assistant with the completed oral presentation rubric and signed approval form. Once the
Doctoral Program Administrative Assistant receives the rubric and form, the Director of
Doctoral Program in Education will contact the EdD student about preparing the final
dissertation for university review and publication.
Procedures for Virtual Defenses via Zoom
1. The Doctoral Program Assistant will schedule all virtual defenses after the defense
application has been received and approved. (Note: Applications should be submitted to
the Doctoral Program Assistant two weeks prior to the scheduled defense.)
2. All procedures for a face-to-face defense that are included in the EdD Dissertation
Committee Handbook, which is posted on the EdD Program Website, should be followed
when conducting a virtual defense, except the following tasks:
a. For All Defenses
i. The Doctoral Program Assistant will email the Zoom link to the EdD
student and all EdD Dissertation Committee Members along with the
virtual defense procedures.
ii. Prior to the defense, the Chair of the EdD Dissertation Committee will
make sure that phone numbers are exchanged among the committee
members and EdD student.
iii. The committee approval form will be signed using DocuSign. This form
will be initiated by the Doctoral Program Assistant.
iv. The Doctoral Program Assistant will attend all virtual defenses to assist
with technical issues and create the breakout rooms for the EdD
Dissertation Committee’s pre-defense and post-defense discussions. The
Assistant will have the camera turned off and microphone muted, unless
assistance is needed. If the Doctoral Program Assistant is unable to
attend, the Director of the EdD Program will attend on behalf of the
Assistant.
v. The committee members will be assigned to a breakout room by the
Doctoral Program Assistant prior to the defense presentation to discuss the
EdD student’s dissertation draft. After the committee members leave the
breakout room, the defense presentation will begin.
25
vi. The EdD Dissertation Committee will be assigned to a breakout room by
the Doctoral Program Assistant after the defense presentation to discuss
the EdD student’s presentation and dissertation draft. After the committee
members leave the breakout room, the Chair will render the decision of
the EdD Dissertation Committee and discuss any suggestions and/or
revisions required by the Committee.
b. For Final Dissertation Defenses Only
i. The Doctoral Program Assistant will email the Zoom link to the EdD
student and all EdD Dissertation Committee Members along with all EdD
faculty and students.
ii. The Chair should remind all guests of these guidelines before the defense
begins:
1. All guests who attend the virtual defense will be asked to mute
their microphones and turn off their webcam until the defense has
concluded.
2. If one of the guests would like to ask a question, he or she will type
that question using the chat box feature within Zoom. The Chair
will screen the questions prior to presenting them to the EdD
student.
iii. The approval form, which is the first page of the dissertation, will be held
by the Doctoral Program Assistant until the campus reopens. After
campus reopens, the Assistant will obtain the signatures from the
appropriate individuals. The hard copy dissertation will be printed after
the handwritten signatures are obtained.
iv. To gather the appropriate approvals for program completion, these steps
will be followed.
1. The Chair of the EdD Dissertation Committee will send an email
to the Doctoral Program Assistant and CC all committee members
to document the Committee’s approval decision.
2. The Doctoral Program Assistant will forward that email to the
Director of the EdD Program.
3. After the university review process has been completed, the
Director of the EdD Program will forward the EdD Dissertation
Committee Chair’s email and indicate his/her approval to the
Director of the COEHP Graduate Studies.
4. The Director of COEHP Graduate Studies will reply to this email
to indicate his/her approval for the EdD student’s final dissertation
to be published.
5. The Director of the EdD Program will forward the email from the
Director of COHEP Graduate Studies to the COEHP Dean.
26
6. The COEHP Dean will reply to this email to indicate his/her
approval for the EdD student’s final dissertation to be published.
7. The final dissertation PDF along with the above email thread will
be sent to the CSU Library, then the Library will notify the
Registrar that the final dissertation has been received in
DegreeWorks.