Dissertation Defense

The purpose of the dissertation defense meeting is to assess the merits of the completed dissertation research and the ability of the doctoral candidate to interpret and explain research results and implications.

Once the chair deems the dissertation ready to be defended, the candidate will be given permission to schedule a dissertation defense meeting. The candidate will contact the committee members to find a date and time acceptable to all. Once the date and time are determined, the candidate should complete the SOE Dissertation Defense Form in Qualtrics. This form will be used to keep track of scheduling and announcing dissertation defenses in the School of Education. The candidate will provide a copy of the completed dissertation manuscript to the chair and committee members at least two weeks prior to the scheduled final defense of the dissertation, either electronically or in hard copy, depending upon their preferences.

All members of the dissertation committee must attend the defense (in-place or virtually) and the meeting should be open to all members of the university community and invited guests. The dissertation committee chair will notify the School of Education community of the time, date, and location of the defense meeting at least two weeks prior to the event.

Complete the Dissertation Defense Verification form (DocuSign) prior to the defense. Upon successful defense of the dissertation, your committee will sign the Dissertation Defense Verification form. Once it is completed by the School of Education Registrar, Tammy Gainer, the candidate will receive a copy in DocuSign. 

At the defense meeting, the dissertation chairperson will convene the session and then ask the candidate to summarize the study’s findings. Discussion will follow, as committee members pose questions about the research and its possible implications. When all questions have been asked and answered, the committee will meet in executive session to determine whether the candidate has completed the dissertation research requirements.

If requirements are met, the committee returns to open session, provides feedback to the candidate about edits and/or revisions to the dissertation document needed (if any), and signs the approval form. A unanimous vote from the committee members is required for approval of the dissertation.

If unanimous approval is not given at this defense, the committee informs the candidate and provides feedback in executive session. The candidate should then seek a conference with her/her chairperson. The chair will make recommendations to remedy any deficiencies in the dissertation document. A second dissertation defense may then be scheduled.

After making any changes recommended by dissertation committee members during a successful defense meeting, the dissertation will be ready for final submission to ProQuest.