Program Advising

The doctoral faculty for the Ed.D. program includes the program area coordination team, the student’s advisor, and the supervisory committee. Some of the coordination team & advisor’s responsibilities overlap, but essentially the former exists to help you plan your program and navigate the various administrative aspects of it, whereas your advisor is tasked to help you with your doctoral research preparation and planning.

PROGRAM AREA COORDINATION TEAM

The team is comprised of the Research & Doctoral Programs area coordinator and the College of Education’s Graduate Student Success Coordinator. Together, they are responsible for program-level advising, This can include, but is not limited to:

• Helping a student develop a program plan for coursework.
• If needed, assist the student with completing the requirements of provisional status and verify the change to regular status has occurred.
• Helping students under Graduate College requirements and forms
• Can also help the student identify a cognate
• Can also help the student find other faculty to serve on his/her supervisory committee
• Help a student find a new advisor or co-advisor if necessary

FACULTY ADVISOR

Most commonly, students in the Ed.D. program are selected by a faculty advisor who shares their interest in the area of study or professional context. This advisor is likely to remain the student’s guide throughout the program, but it’s important to note that changes can occur (e.g., due to a faculty member’s retirement), and the program is designed to accommodate such transitions. In some cases, the program area coordinator and/or Research & Doctoral Committee members agree to admit a student under an “Interim Advisor.” The interim advisor may or may not become the student’s main advisor, depending on synergies with the advisor’s own area of study.

As students progress through the program and their research focus becomes clearer, they have the option to select a new program advisor. This advisor, who typically serves as the chair of the doctoral dissertation committee, will guide the student in their chosen research area. The program is designed to allow for this transition, providing flexibility and opportunities for growth. The students’ advisor will support the student in the following manner:

• Helping the student identify and development of a cognate
• Assist the student in developing a program of study (and in completing prerequisites if needed)
• Getting students involved in their research whenever possible (including writing and revising manuscripts, preparing conference presentations, reviewing manuscripts, and writing grants)
• The selection of supervisory committee members (two others are required)
• Helping students develop their program of research
• Helping student navigate the program requirements (i.e., completing coursework, selecting a Doctoral Committee, completing the comprehensive evaluation, the dissertation proposal, and the dissertation)
• Providing career advice

SUPERVISORY COMMITTEE

Generally, the two additional faculty who make up a student’s Supervisory Committee (there are three people total: the advisor who chairs the committee, plus two others) are added around the time that a student is preparing for his/her Comprehensive Examination (usually after Year 2). Responsibilities of the committee include, but are not limited to:

• Support the student in the identification and development of a cognate area
• Provide support and feedback to the student during the dissertation process
• If needed, assist the student with completing the requirements of provisional status and then notifying the Doctoral Coordinator when the student has met the requirements and is ready to move to regular status