4.2 COHORT PROTOCOLS
4.2.1 Appointments with Faculty
Students should make appointments directly with the individual faculty member by calling Capital (717-560-8200) or by e-mail. Appointments with the Director of PhD in Leadership Studies are made by calling the same number, or made directly via e-mail at kgushiken@lbc.edu. Appointments with adjunct faculty or visiting lecturers should be made directly with the adjunct or visiting faculty member.
4.2.2 Calendars
Important program dates relevant to the research doctoral program appear in the Capital catalog.
It is the responsibility of the student to take note of due dates, registration dates, defense hearing dates and submission deadlines in the completion of degree requirements. Failure to track these dates carefully can cause you to incur additional fees and could delay progress in the completion of your doctoral degree.
4.2.3 Community of Learning
Doctoral students are encouraged to abandon any competitive habits accumulated during previous years of formal schooling. The idea of the research seminar is to engage the doctoral student in the giving and receiving of ideas, information, sources, and materials in the context of a community of scholarship. This sort of exchange includes sharing foundational research and advanced research manuscripts with other students for analysis and evaluation.
Doctoral students are expected to enter fully into seminar dialogues, and to participate constructively in open hearings for research proposals and oral comprehensive examinations. This community of scholars will be developed and maintained between seminars through the use of e-mail and online discussion groups.
Doctoral students are expected to ground their research in significant and pertinent literature, and to share ideas and resources with their colleagues. In sum, doctoral students are expected to know what they are talking about and are expected to help one another.
In the facilitation of community and the networking for cooperative learning, three educational principles are considered essential:
- The outcome of advanced graduate education is the development of refined sustainable habits of scholarly inquiry with professional integrity. These habits include engaging in seamless and life-long learning, and discerning, upholding, and accurately communicating truth.
- Competitive practices and individualistic approaches to scholarly inquiry are considered inappropriate outcomes and inappropriate toward the community of learning.
- The preferred learning environment is one that fosters a community of cooperative inquiry. Faculty and students alike are to be engaged in this learning community toward the development of all participants, not just the individual.
4.2.4 Dissertation Supervisor
Doctoral students are assigned a Dissertation Supervisor during the fall semester of the third year of study. Every effort is made to match student research interests with the areas of expertise of the graduate faculty of Capital.
Students will be surveyed for their preferences in the configuration of their dissertation committee consisting of a dissertation supervisor and second reader. Faculty members are limited in the number of dissertations they can supervise at one time.
It is inappropriate for doctoral students to approach any faculty member and ask him or her to serve on their dissertation committee.
4.2.5 Faculty Advisors
The Department Chair of Church and Ministry Leadership Studies, the Director of PhD in Leadership Studies, and the Student Experience Specialist (Adult Learner Services) work together to advise students enrolled in a doctoral program. Students are free to contact any of these individuals for advising purposes.
4.2.6 Internet Access and Resources
Doctoral students must have easy access to a personal computer and the Internet. All doctoral students receive a free email account. This is the official account for communications. Students are responsible to check this account on a regular basis. Notifications of Capital matters are sent to your LBC email account and constitute formal notification to the student.
4.2.7 Open Hearings
Dissertation prospectus hearings and dissertation defense hearings are open to all students and faculty. Open hearings provide an opportunity for doctoral students to engage in observation and reflection of hearing protocols and lines of inquiry in preparation for those hearings in the completion of their own program requirements. Attendance and participation in open hearings is encouraged for purposes of collegial support of the person whose work is being evaluated.