Syllabus

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)

EDU 814 – Dissertation I – Fall A 2021

Credits - 3

Description

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. 

Materials

Texts from previous coursework and resources provided, as applicable.

Learning Objectives and Outcomes

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. Lead advisors will document student progress at the end of each 8-week course.

Students must demonstrate satisfactory progress through each of the four phases of dissertation work to remain enrolled in the four-course sequence. Successful dissertation completion is dependent upon timely and substantive responses to advisors’ directions.

Assignments

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

Grading

The grading scheme is Pass (P) or Fail (F). Students making adequate progress in the course will receive a Pass. At the mid-term, you will prepare a reflection on your progress and a mid-term grade will be assigned. At the end of the term, you will prepare a final, “end of term” reflection and a final grade of “P” or “F” will be assigned.

Student Resources

Online Student Support

Your Student Support Specialist is a resource for you. Please don't hesitate to contact them for assistance, including, but not limited to course planning, current problems or issues in a course, technology concerns, or personal emergencies.

Questions? Visit the Student Support Education page

UNE Libraries:

Accommodations

Any student who would like to request, or ask any questions regarding, academic adjustments or accommodations must contact the Student Access Center at (207) 221-4438 or pcstudentaccess@une.edu. Student Access Center staff will evaluate the student's documentation and determine eligibility of accommodation(s) through the Student Access Center registration procedure.

Online Peer Support

Togetherall is a 24/7 communication and emotional support platform monitored by trained clinicians. It’s a safe place online to get things off your chest, have conversations, express yourself creatively, and learn how to manage your mental health. If sharing isn’t your thing, Togetherall has other tools and courses to help you look after yourself with plenty of resources to explore. Whether you’re struggling to cope, feeling low, or just need a place to talk, Togetherall can help you explore your feelings in a safe supportive environment. You can join Togetherall using your UNE email address.

Information Technology Services (ITS)

Students should notify their Student Support Specialist and instructor in the event of a problem relating to a course. This notification should occur promptly and proactively to support timely resolution.

ITS Contact: Toll-Free Help Desk 24 hours/7 days per week at 1-877-518-4673.

Career Ready Program

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.

Policies

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).

AI Use

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.

Turnitin Originality Check and Plagiarism Detection Tool

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.

Technology Requirements

Please review the technical requirements for UNE Online Graduate Programs

Course Evaluation Policy

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.

Information Technology Services (ITS)

ITS Contact: Toll Free Help Desk 24 hours/7 days per week at 1-877-518-4673

Late Policy

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.

Attendance Policy

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.

Student Handbook Online - Policies and Procedures

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.

UNE Online Student Handbook

UNE Course Withdrawal

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.

Academic Integrity

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:

  1. Cheating, copying, or the offering or receiving of unauthorized assistance or information.
  2. Fabrication or falsification of data, results, or sources for papers or reports.
  3. Action which destroys or alters the work of another student.
  4. Multiple submissions of the same paper or report for assignments in more than one course without permission of each instructor.
  5. Plagiarism, the appropriation of records, research, materials, ideas, or the language of other persons or writers and the submission of them as one's own.

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.