Collaborating with their respective dissertation committee, as well as continuing with peer interaction, candidates engage in the planning, organization, research, writing and revising of the dissertation. Regularly scheduled virtual meetings with the chair and full committee will ensure that timely and satisfactory progress is made in order to present the finished product at the end of the their academic year.
There are four, 3 credit courses required for program completion. Students will document their progress at the middle and end of each 3 credit course with a progress report and the end of each of the 8-week course by posting a draft of their current deliverable in the Community Engagement (CE) gradebook. Lead advisors will document student progress at the end of each 8-week course.
Students must demonstrate satisfactory progress through the four Phases of dissertation work to remain enrolled in the four course sequence. Successful program completion is dependent upon timely and substantive responses to advisors’ directions.
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Deliverables are linked to the four Phases of the dissertation. Students will be completing work within “Dissertation 1” that may be the proposal, data collection, or data analysis. Use the relevant phase as your guide (see below).
Within the Dissertation section, there are two types of “assignments.” At the mid-term, you will file a progress report that aligns with your Phase. At the end of each term, the deliverable for your phase is due, whether or not it is complete. Advisors will document adequate progress at the end of term.
Phases and Documentation
Activities | Documentation to program office | Deliverable to Community Engagement (CE) | |
Diss Phase 1 | Proposal presentation |
Proposal Status form IRB application |
Proposal Drafts Revised, approved proposal |
Diss Phase 2 | Collect and analyze data, other documentation |
Initial documentation and analysis Completed documentation and analysis section (no raw data per IRB guidelines) |
|
Diss Phase 3 |
Write up findings and conclusions Revise document in collaboration with stakeholders |
Advisor’s’ approval to present |
Dissertation drafts Presentation draft of dissertation |
Diss Phase 4 |
Successful presentation of dissertation Feedback and editing |
Evidence document was submitted to DUNE Stakeholder presentation |
Completed, revised dissertation submitted to DUNE |
Phase 1: Proposal
Steps | Activity | Forms/Actions | Documentation |
1 | Submit proposal |
Evaluation guidelines Permission to present |
Proposal that you will present |
2 | Confirm presentation date | Permission to present | Presentation date |
3 | Create or revise presentation slides | Agenda (sync meeting link) sent to committee | Presentation (ppt, Prezi or other visual) |
4 | Draft IRB application | IRB application |
Application Certificate |
5 | Present proposal in synchronous format | Committee feedback | Advisor(s) feedback |
6 |
Follow up Complete revisions |
File IRB application if necessary | Approved proposal (with revisions if needed) |
7 | Permission to begin data collection or formal documentation of project | Proposal status form |
Phase 2: Data collection, documentation and analysis
Steps | Activity | Forms/Actions | Documentation |
1 | Pilot interview, pilot survey | Completion of pilot if applicable | |
2 | Conduct first round of data collection, documentation (interviews, surveys, other) | Documentation of first round of data solicitation (surveys) or interview/focus group activities | |
3 | Complete documentation, data collection activities | Initial review of data received and analysis of data (protect raw data per your confidentiality agreements) | |
4 | Complete analysis of data, report on change or intervention | Advisors confirm completion of data collection | Data and analysis draft to advisors, participants |
Phase 3: Write up of findings, conclusions, and recommendations
Steps | Activity | Forms/Actions | Documentation |
1 | Write up findings, draft conclusions and obtain feedback from advisors | Submit to lead advisor | Draft of Chapter 5 |
2 | Revise all chapters, update literature review, introduction | Obtain permission from lead advisor to distribute draft to committee members | Draft chapters 1 to 5 |
3 | Revision cycle (all chapters) | Incorporate advisors’ feedback into draft | Clearly marked revisions to advisors |
4 | Review presentation draft with advisor and committee | Advisors’ permission to present | Advisors’ approved draft to program office |
Phase 4: Presentation and submission
Steps | Activity | Forms/Actions | Documentation |
1 | Committee presentation plan, stakeholder presentation | Sign off successful presentation | |
2 | Presentation | Agenda (sync meeting link) sent to committee | E-version of document, proposal for stakeholders |
3 | Revision cycle | Web-based presentation to program office | |
4 | Submission of final document | DUNE website and instructions | Final dissertation draft for evaluation by CGPS |
The grading scheme is Pass (P) or Fail (F). Students making adequate progress through the Phases will receive a Pass. Within the Dissertation container, there are two types of “assignments.” At the mid-term, you will file a progress report that aligns with your Phase. At the end of each term, you will file an “end of term” progress report and the deliverable for your phase, whether it is complete. Advisors will document adequate progress at the end of term.
Course Number | Term | Begin | End of 4 | End |
EDU 814 | SU B | June 26 | July 19 | Aug 18 |
EDU 815 | FA A | Aug 28 | Sept 22 | Oct 20 |
EDU 816 | FA B | Oct 23 | Nov 17 | Dec 15 |
EDU 817 | SP A | Jan 8 | Feb 2 | Mar 1 |
Cohort 11 Timeline
DATE | Course | Title | Focus | Outcome |
Feb 27 – April 21 2019 |
812 | Dissertation Seminar (I) |
Begin Proposal
|
Draft Chapter 2 |
May 1 – June 23 2019 |
813 | Dissertation Seminar II |
Evaluate influence of research process on organization (research site) Continue Proposal development |
Draft Chapters 1 & 3
|
June 26 – August 18 2019 |
814 | Dissertation Credit | Present proposal |
Enroll in research credit sequence Revise Proposal |
August 28 – October 20 2019 |
815 | Dissertation Credit |
Present proposal Data collection Revise Chapters 1 to 3 |
|
October 23- December 15* 2019 |
816 | Dissertation Credit |
Data collection Write up findings, conclusions Final revisions |
Present dissertation to committee |
November-December* 2019 |
(with permission, early birds also enroll in 817 to complete by December) | Receive diploma end of December | ||
January 8- March 1 2020 |
817 Regular schedule
|
Final Dissertation Credit Term |
Present Dissertation Complete revisions of paper document Create executive version for specific stakeholder(s) Those who present by 15 April can graduate in May |
Submit approved final products |
March 4- April 26 2020 |
8 week grace period to complete without additional registration
|
Receive diploma May 2020 | ||
4/29-6/21 2020 8/26-10/18 2020 1/6-2/28 2021 |
818 819 820 |
Dissertation completion credit (1) | (For those who need additional time beyond EDU 817). Those who present by 15 July can graduate in August. Those who present by 15 November can graduate in December. | Receive diploma August 2020 or December 2020 |
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The College of Professional Studies supports its online students and alumni in their career journey!
The Career Ready Program provides tools and resources to help students explore and hone in on their career goals, search for jobs, create and improve professional documents, build professional network, learn interview skills, grow as a professional, and more. Come back often, at any time, as you move through your journey from career readiness as a student to career growth, satisfaction, and success as alumni.
Collaborative Work
The program encourages students to collaborate in the preparation of projects and assignments with the instructor/professor’s prior knowledge and approval. However, any assignment turned in must be the distinctive work of that student and must acknowledge the role of others in its development. In those cases where the instructor allows a single assignment to be turned in for a group, the contributions of each group member must be clearly described. Failure to follow these guidelines may result in collaborative work being unacceptable and/or grading penalties (which could result in a failing grade for the course).
The Graduate Programs in Education holds the position that Grammarly and other AI writing and generative technology should not be used when completing course assignments, unless explicitly permitted by course faculty and assignment instructions. These tools do not support a student’s personal and direct capacity to develop and hone skills in creativity, logic, critical thinking, analysis, evaluation, theorization, and writing, which are central to graduate-level rigor, assessment, and research. Use of these tools when not explicitly permitted may result in an academic integrity infraction.
The College of Professional Studies uses Turnitin to help deter plagiarism and to foster the proper attribution of sources. Turnitin provides comparative reports for submitted assignments that reflect similarities in other written works. This can include, but is not limited to, previously submitted assignments, internet articles, research journals, and academic databases.
Make sure to cite your sources appropriately as well as use your own words in synthesizing information from published literature. Webinars and workshops, included early in your coursework, will help guide best practices in APA citation and academic writing.
You can learn more about Turnitin in the guide on how to navigate your Similarity Report.
Please review the technical requirements for UNE Online Graduate Programs
Course surveys are one of the most important tools the University of New England uses for evaluating the quality of your education, and for providing meaningful feedback to instructors on their teaching. In order to assure that the feedback is both comprehensive and precise, we need to receive it from each student for each course. Evaluation access is distributed via UNE email at the beginning of the last week of the course.
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Assignments: Late assignments will be accepted up to 3 days late; however, there is a 10% grade reduction (from the total points) for the late submission. After three days the assignment will not be accepted.
Discussion posts: If the initial post is submitted late, but still within the discussion board week, there will be a 10% grade reduction from the total discussion grade (e.g., a 3 point discussion will be reduced by 0.3 points). Any posts submitted after the end of the Discussion Board week will not be graded.
Please make every effort ahead of time to contact your instructor and your student support specialist if you are not able to meet an assignment deadline. Arrangements for extenuating circumstances may be considered by faculty.
8 week: Students taking online graduate courses through the College of Professional Studies will be administratively dropped for non-participation if a graded assignment/discussion post is not submitted before Sunday at 11:59 pm ET of the first week of the term. Reinstatement is at the purview of the Dean's Office.
16 week: Students taking online graduate courses through the College of Professional Studies will be administratively dropped for non-participation if a graded assignment/discussion post is not submitted before Friday at 11:59 pm ET of the second week of the term. Reinstatement is at the purview of the Dean's Office.
The policies contained within this document apply to all students in the College of Professional Studies. It is each student's responsibility to know the contents of this handbook.
Please contact your student support specialist if you are considering dropping or withdrawing from a course. The last day to drop for 100% tuition refund is the 2nd day of the course. Financial Aid charges may still apply. Students using Financial Aid should contact the Financial Aid Office prior to withdrawing from a course.
The University of New England values academic integrity in all aspects of the educational experience. Academic dishonesty in any form undermines this standard and devalues the original contributions of others. It is the responsibility of all members of the University community to actively uphold the integrity of the academy; failure to act, for any reason, is not acceptable. For information about plagiarism and academic misconduct, please visit UNE Plagiarism Policies.
Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to the following:
Charges of academic dishonesty will be reviewed by the Program Director. Penalties for students found responsible for violations may depend upon the seriousness and circumstances of the violation, the degree of premeditation involved, and/or the student’s previous record of violations. Appeal of a decision may be made to the Dean whose decision will be final. Student appeals will take place through the grievance process outlined in the student handbook.