1. Strategic Intervention for Doctoral Completion
A collaborative initiative to understand and improve completion.
Strategic Intervention for Doctoral Completion
Maureen Grasso
Dean of the Graduate School
The University of Georgia

2. Collaborators University of Georgia
Strategic Intervention for Doctoral Completion
A collaborative initiative to understand and improve completion.
Collaborators
University of Georgia
• Research, publications, and IT functions
University of Florida
North Carolina State University

3. Guiding Principles Theoretical Framework Data-based Interventions
Strategic Intervention for Doctoral Completion
A collaborative initiative to understand and improve completion.
Guiding Principles
Theoretical Framework
Data-based Interventions
Collaborative Action with Faculty

4. Theoretical Framework
Strategic Intervention for Doctoral Completion
A collaborative initiative to understand and improve completion.
Theoretical Framework
Four Conditions for Optimal Doctoral Completion
Condition
Description
Condition #1: The right people apply for doctoral study
Applicants must be realistic about the demands and expectations of doctoral study
Condition #2: The right applicants are admitted as doctoral students
Admissions committees must properly screen applicants and, upon enrollment, orient them to the program

5. Theoretical Framework, (cont.)
Strategic Intervention for Doctoral Completion
A collaborative initiative to understand and improve completion.
Theoretical Framework
Four Conditions for Optimal Doctoral Completion
Condition
Description
Condition #3: Students and faculty form productive working relationships
Faculty members and students must interact in a mutually respectful and task oriented manner
Condition #4: Students experience social support from fellow students.
Students must recognize themselves as members of a community of learners facing common challenges and opportunities

6. Data Based Interventions
Strategic Intervention for Doctoral Completion
A collaborative initiative to understand and improve completion.
Data Based Interventions
Completion data
Interviews with Faculty and Students
Structured Self Assessment by each department

7. Collaborative Action with Faculty
Strategic Intervention for Doctoral Completion
A collaborative initiative to understand and improve completion.
Collaborative Action with Faculty
Faculty buy-in – program level change
Data are provided to departments to optimize doctoral completion
Self study at department level
Goal setting at department level

8. Principal Project Activities
Strategic Intervention for Doctoral Completion
A collaborative initiative to understand and improve completion.
Principal Project Activities
Conferences
Data Collection/ IT Systems to track
Research and Publications
Collaborative Planning with the Dean
Creation of unified website

9. Conferences Strategic Intervention for Doctoral Completion
A collaborative initiative to understand and improve completion.
Conferences
1st Conference- June 2005
• Theoretical framework (including key concepts & definitions)
• Data issues
• Engage faculty in the process
2nd Conference- February 2007
• Department accomplishments
• Strategies for accomplishing each condition in framework

10. Data Collection Preparation of templates for CGS Data Verification
Strategic Intervention for Doctoral Completion
A collaborative initiative to understand and improve completion.
Data Collection
Preparation of templates for CGS
Data Verification
Improving data systems on campus
Establishment of benchmarks

11. Research and Publications
Strategic Intervention for Doctoral Completion
A collaborative initiative to understand and improve completion.
Research and Publications
Interview based study with faculty and students
4 research briefs
Program practices
Benchmarks
Producing strategy sheets

12. Collaborative Planning
Strategic Intervention for Doctoral Completion
A collaborative initiative to understand and improve completion.
Collaborative Planning
Full faculty discussions
Role of the Dean
• Face to face meeting with deans and deal with resistance
• Charge them for structure of self assessment
• Review and Revise data and goals
• Analysis of Program practices
• Self assessment – Benchmarks
• Goal setting

13. Project Website http://www.grad.uga.edu/cgs/
Strategic Intervention for Doctoral Completion
A collaborative initiative to understand and improve completion.
Project Website
Information is key to success

14. Strategic Intervention for Doctoral Completion
A collaborative initiative to understand and improve completion.

15. Strategic Intervention for Doctoral Completion
A collaborative initiative to understand and improve completion.

16. Project Publications- Research Brief #1
Strategic Intervention for Doctoral Completion
A collaborative initiative to understand and improve completion.
Project Publications- Research Brief #1

17. Resources Strategic Intervention for Doctoral Completion
A collaborative initiative to understand and improve completion.
Resources

18. Strategic Intervention for Doctoral Completion
A collaborative initiative to understand and improve completion.

19. Strategic Intervention for Doctoral Completion
A collaborative initiative to understand and improve completion.

20. Strategic Intervention for Doctoral Completion
A collaborative initiative to understand and improve completion.

21. Strategic Intervention for Doctoral Completion
A collaborative initiative to understand and improve completion.

22. Strategic Intervention for Doctoral Completion
A collaborative initiative to understand and improve completion.

23. Strategic Intervention for Doctoral Completion
A collaborative initiative to understand and improve completion.

24. Strategic Intervention for Doctoral Completion
A collaborative initiative to understand and improve completion.

25. Strategic Intervention for Doctoral Completion
A collaborative initiative to understand and improve completion.

26. Project Website http://www.grad.uga.edu/cgs/
Strategic Intervention for Doctoral Completion
A collaborative initiative to understand and improve completion.
Project Website