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Strategies To Assist Distance Doctoral Students In Completing Their Dissertations, Janine M. Lim, Duane Covrig, Shirley Freed, Becky De Oliveira, Mordekai Ochieng Ongo, Isadore Newman, Isadore Newman Phd

Faculty Publications

Completing doctoral dissertations is difficult work and may be harder for distance students physically separated from institutional and collegial supports. Inability to complete independent research contributes to doctoral student attrition. Factors impacting completion include institutional factors, student characteristics, and supervisory arrangements (Manathunga, 2005). This paper shares proactive strategies used by a Midwestern university in the United States to support distance doctoral students. Strategies and technology tools are described that (a) cultivate a shared culture of responsibility and commitment, (b) increase effective communication between researchers, and (c) grow departmental and institutional services and technologies for faculty and students. This paper suggests …