Doctoral Program Policies

Time for Completion

Students who enter the Ed.D. program have ten years total to complete their courses, research credits, and dissertation defense. If using transfer hours, the timeline starts from the date of the earliest date of the course used for transfer.

Given that students already enter with one or more advanced graduate degrees completed, we assert that seven years is ample time to complete the doctoral program. However, as we very well understand, “life happens.” Our students’ real-life experiences have included new job transitions, relocations to different countries, pregnancy, loss of very close loved ones, financial hardship, new marriage, divorce, care for elderly parents, and even cancer treatment. We wish to be understanding of any situation that causes a student to not be able to finish in a timely manner.

Leave of Absence Request

If a student is facing a hardship that would warrant the consideration of additional time for degree completion, then we have a mechanism in place that allows the student to request a Leave of Absence (LoA). The “Time for Completion Clock” does NOT stop during a Leave of Absence.

• • A LoA can will only be granted for up to one academic year at a time
  • A student will not be granted leave for more than two total academic years
  • The LoA covers fall and/or spring semesters (no leave is needed for the summer)
  • The student does not have to enroll in *any* credit hours during the LoA period
  • The LoA is considered an approved by the Department of Educational Technology’s Doctoral Management Committee (Ed Tech DMC) and the student’s advisor

Keep in mind that a LoA might actually put you further behind due to course rotation. For example, if a student were to take a LoA during her/his 2nd fall semester, than any courses missed that fall would not be offered again until the *next* fall, and any spring courses with a fall pre-requisite would also have to wait.

The letter asking for a LoA must state the circumstances leading to request (sensitive personal details are not required) AND the student must create a timeline for the completion of his/her studies. The letter should be sent as an email (or attachment) sent to the advisor and the coordinators (edtechdoc@boisestate.edu).

Extension of Studies Request

Students are HIGHLY encourage to submit a LoA if possible. In some cases, however, a student has been working regularly on her or his dissertation, but given the vagaries of data collection, etc., it does not appear that the dissertation will be defended by the completion window. If this is the case, then in consultation with her/his advisor, the student can compose an email (or attach a letter) that specifies why an extension is necessary and a very specific timeline for completion. An extension request will only be considered by the Ed Tech DMC if the student has completed ALL coursework, has passed the Comprehensive Exam (EDTECH 691), and has continuously enrolled in Research credit hours (EDTECH 693) since passing the Comp Exam.

Program Change

Students who do not appear that they’ll be successful in the Ed.D. program, or who will not complete it by the End of Program date, can request a program change to the Ed Tech Education Specialist degree. This path is only open to students who have actively sought it based on either a personal decision or based on their advisor’s / coordinators’ urging. No student can be ‘forced’ into the Ed.S. by faculty or the Graduate College. See the “Switching from EdD to EdS” page for more information.

Consequence of Lack of Communication

Students who reach the end of their Ed.D. study sequence (or who will be reaching it soon but have made no progress), but who have not communicated with their advisor and/or program coordinators, have not had leaves of absence, etc., will not be granted a Leave of Absence or an Extension of Studies. They will not be allowed to enroll in future 600-level courses or credits for the Ed.D. program.

Reducing Course Load

All students must be aware that by not taking one or more courses in a given semester, they could be adding as much as six months to a year of extra time to their studies, as a certain course might be a prerequisite for another, and many classes are only offered once per year.

Students in the Ed.D. program are only permitted to reduce course load if documentable, serious issues related to the student’s (or immediate family member’s) physical health and mental health are at stake, or if employment or family

Enrollment

Students in the Ed.D. in Educational Technology are required to enroll in at least seven credit hours during each of the first four semesters. In so doing, a student will have completed 31 credit hours within two years. A student’s research interest will be developed from the start of the program, but concentration on the literature review and research proposal development tends to gain momentum around the same time as the required comprehensive exam (this happens after course work has been completed). Only select cognate and elective courses can be completed during the summer session, no online core or research courses are offered during the summer.

End-of-Year Student Evaluations

Why: To help track student progress in the program with respect to academic progress and personal dispositions.

When: At the end of the spring semester

Who: Individual student, course instructors, academic advisor / sponsor, and the Ed.D. program coordinator. The departmental personnel will be known as the “Doctoral Student Evaluation Committee.” This committee is different from the supervisory committee that gets appointed before the student proposes his or her comprehensive exam.

Areas that will be addressed (as appropriate):

• • Indication of courses completed
  • Timeliness of assignments
  • Participation in class discussions
  • Responsiveness to feedback
  • Academic performance (grades)

Results: If a student is deemed as not making satisfactory progress, a faculty member (one or more) will contact the student to discuss steps for improvement. More than two negative reviews can result in dismissal from the program.

Submitting the End of Year review is critical because we need to stay in regular contact with you about completion plans. All doctoral students, no matter their cohort, are expect to complete the annual review. The student’s advisor will review the information by the end of May and “sign” the form, and communicate with the student as necessary.

Course Grades

The Graduate College catalog states that students who have earned a “C” or better can use a course on her or his “Application for Admission to Candidacy.” However, the Graduate College also allows programs to set a higher standard. In the Ed.D. program in the Department of Educational Technology, a student must earn a “B” or better (this includes a B-) in order for the course to count toward program completion. If a student earns a lower grade than B-, the course must be re-taken the next time it is offered (and different work must be submitted; prior work cannot be recycled).