Doctor of Education

Mission and Vision Statement

Mission

The mission of the Doctor of Education (EdD) is to facilitate the development of investigative, individual, interpersonal, and innovative skills needed for leaders to address emerging issues in educational settings. This is accomplished through academic experiences that challenge professionals to transform the institutions and communities they serve by advancing ethics, change, and cultural awareness through the decision sciences.

Vision 

To be a nationally recognized leader in the development of scholar-practitioners who serve to advance ethics, change, and cultural awareness through the decision sciences.

Doctor of Education Introduction

Doctoral coursework is offered in an online, asynchronous format with weekly modules for engagement and optional synchronous support sessions. The program is designed for working professionals to develop exemplary educational leaders, accomplished through rigorous academic training, which challenges practitioners to make a positive impact on this generation and the next. Candidates can earn a concentration in one of two areas: Instructional Leadership (IL) or Instructional Practice (IP).

The LMU EdD program is an independent program requiring candidates to take appropriate and timely initiatives to meet program expectations and deadlines regarding coursework and dissertation completion. Students are provided guidance about the program design and dissertation requirements at the beginning of their journey. A program of study serves as a reference for student progress throughout the completion of the degree program. An EdD is a research degree, and the quality of the dissertation (content and form) reflects the attributes of the researcher and the standard of the school, program, and University.

EdD Program Design

Instructional Leadership

Sixty-Three Hour Program. Applicants must possess a master’s degree in education. The program consists of 63 credit hours, including (a) 21 credit hours of doctoral core; (b) 18 credit hours in Instructional Leadership; (c) 12 credit hours in Instructional Practice; and a minimum of (d) 12 credit hours in independent dissertation coursework. Candidates may need to take additional dissertation hours in order to complete the degree program. Candidates will graduate with a degree in two concentrations, Instructional Leadership and Instructional Practice. Students possessing a master's degree in education are strongly encouraged to first complete their Educational Specialist (EdS) at LMU and then bridge to the EdD program (see 36-credit hour program below).

Forty-Eight Hour Program. Applicants must possess an EdS or a master’s degree plus 30 credit hours minimum in education.

The program consists of 48 credit hours, including (a) 18 credit hours of doctoral core; (b) 18 credit hours in Instructional Leadership; and a minimum of (c) 12 credit hours in independent dissertation coursework. Candidates may need to take additional dissertation hours in order to complete the degree program. Candidates may choose to enroll in 15 additional credit hours from the alternate concentration to graduate with a doctoral degree in two concentrations. Candidates holding an EdS degree from Lincoln Memorial University can apply to complete a 48-credit hour program in a different concentration than their EdS. The Program of Studies for each of these options can be found in a section presented later in this catalog.

Thirty-Six-Hour Program. To apply for the 36-hour program, applicants must possess an EdS degree from Lincoln Memorial University within the last 10 years and desire to continue their studies in Instructional Leadership that was selected for their EdS degree. LMU EdS Graduates who qualify for admission into the LMU EdD program can apply 30 EdS credit hours toward the doctoral program when they pursue their EdS concentration within the EdD program. This means the total number of hours of coursework remaining after the EdS would be 36 credit hours. The program consists of 36 credit hours, including (a) 15 credit hours of doctoral core; (b) 12 credit hours in Instructional Leadership; and a minimum of (c) 9 credit hours in independent dissertation coursework.

Instructional Practice

Sixty-Three Hour Program. Applicants must possess a master’s degree in any field. The program consists of 63 credit hours, including (a) 21 credit hours of doctoral core; (b) 18 credit hours in Instructional Practice; (c) 12 credit hours in Instructional Leadership; and a minimum of (d) 12 credit hours in independent dissertation coursework. Candidates may need to take additional dissertation hours in order to complete the degree program. Candidates will graduate with a degree in two concentrations, Instructional Leadership and Instructional Practice.

Forty-Eight Hour Program. Applicants must possess an EdS, a master’s degree plus 30 hours minimum in any field, or a doctorate in their professional field, e.g., OTD, JD.

The program consists of 48 credit hours, including (a) 18 credit hours of doctoral core; (b) 18 credit hours in Instructional Practice; and a minimum of (c) 12 credit hours in independent dissertation coursework. Candidates may need to take additional dissertation hours in order to complete the degree program. Candidates may choose to enroll in 15 additional credit hours from the alternate concentration to graduate with a doctoral degree in two concentrations. Candidates holding an EdS degree from Lincoln Memorial University can apply to complete a 48-hour program in a different concentration than their EdS. The Program of Studies for each of these options can be found in a section presented later in this catalog.

Thirty-Six-Hour Program. To apply for the 36-hour program, applicants must possess an EdS degree from Lincoln Memorial University within the last 10 years and desire to continue their studies in Instructional Practice (or Curriculum and Instruction) that was selected for their EdS degree. LMU EdS Graduates who qualify for admission into the LMU EdD program can apply 30 EdS credit hours toward the doctoral program when they pursue their EdS concentration within the EdD program. This means the total number of hours of coursework remaining after the EdS would be 36 credit hours. The program consists of 36 credit hours, including (a) 15 credit hours of doctoral core; (b) 12 credit hours in Instructional Practice; and a minimum of (c) 9 credit hours in independent dissertation coursework.

Graduate Certificate in Teaching Adults in Higher Education

Twelve-Hour Program. Applicants must possess a master’s degree in any field. 

The program consists of 12 credit hours in Instructional Practice culminating in a Graduate Certificate. Upon obtaining the graduate certificate in Teaching Adults in Higher Education, students can apply the certificate toward the Instructional Practice EdD program, at either the 48- or 63-credit hour level, depending on previous coursework attainment (see above). Students who complete the Teaching Adults in Higher Education program have one calendar year from completion to enroll in the Instructional Practice EdD Program. All 12 credit hours of the graduate certificate will be accepted as credit into the Instructional Practice EdD Program, should the EdD program faculty deem the student accepted into the EdD program.

Application Process

Domestic Applicants

Domestic applicants seeking admission to the doctoral program must meet the following criteria and submit the required documentation as stipulated. Admission packages for membership in the fall or spring cohort group must be submitted in completed form prior to one month before the start of the fall or spring cohort of the year in which the candidate seeks admission (i.e., end of June for the fall cohort and end of November for the spring cohort). The admissions process consists of three stages, with the first being a paper-based document review, the second a performance-based writing activity, and the third an interview. Additionally, an early application period occurs three months prior to the start of the fall or spring cohort admission dates (i.e., April for the fall cohort and September for the spring cohort). Anyone who has submitted all application materials by these dates qualifies for the early admissions process.

STAGE ONE: DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR APPLICATION PACKAGE

1. Application Forms - University online form 
2. Application fee of $50 (USD), non-refundable (graduates of the LMU EdS program can request a fee waiver for this application fee)
3. Official Transcripts for all graduate-level coursework
4. Three (3) recommendations from persons knowledgeable of the applicant's professional experience and skills (A link will be sent to recommenders via your online application)
5. Resume or Curriculum Vitae depicting professional history (Please email directly to Dr. Julia Kirk, Julia.Kirk@LMUnet.edu)

The Admissions Committee will review all documents and rate the applicants based on their ability to successfully complete requirements within the doctoral program. In some cases, a conditional status may be granted, with additional preparation required for an applicant to obtain full graduate status. In the event this review leads the Admissions Committee to make an affirmative decision, the applicant will advance to Stage Two of the application process. All decisions made by the Admissions Committee are final.

STAGE TWO: WRITING ACTIVITY

Those applicants recommended for additional consideration will be invited to complete a writing activity.

1. Writing Activity. Applicants will have a specified period of time in which to respond in writing to a select number of essay questions. The prompt and supporting article will be emailed to each applicant. The applicant will draft their writing sample and submit it to the program director via email within the specified period of time.

 STAGE THREE: INTERVIEW

The applicants who score well on the writing activity sample will be invited to an interview.

1. Structured Interview. Applicants will participate in personal interviews with members of the doctoral program faculty. Interviews will take place via Zoom and will last thirty minutes.

The Admissions Committee will review all available data and forward a final recommendation for or denial of admission to the applicant. The decision of the Admissions Committee is final. Upon notice of acceptance, applicants will work with the program director to complete a program of study appropriate to the degree program and concentration(s) they have selected. Admitted applicants will be required to attend a program orientation before beginning their work in the program. Failure to do so will result in a deferred enrollment or re-assessment of the admittance decision.

 

ADMISSION STATUSES

Conditional

Applicants may also be admitted to the doctoral program on a conditional basis. An assignment of this status indicates that, although all mandatory admissions paperwork has been duly submitted, one or more criteria required for program admission have not yet been met. Conditional status is often accorded as a result of the writing activity scores that do not meet the program's required level of performance.

Candidates who enter with a conditional status will submit a collection of assignments from the first two terms of coursework, which will be subject to review by two doctoral faculty members. This review will occur at the end of the second term of coursework.

Given that this review indicates, in the opinion of the faculty, the candidate has the required knowledge and skills to successfully complete the program, his or her admission will be changed to reflect full graduate status.

Full Graduate Status

Candidates who have successfully met all program requirements, upon admission, are accorded full graduate status.

International Applicants
Given that the application and admissions processes to the doctoral program require time, applicants should begin collecting and submitting required paperwork once a decision has been made to apply. All paperwork that is required within the first stage of the process is due before February 1 for early consideration or before May 1 for final consideration of the year in which application is being made. Under this timeline, applicants receive a decision regarding their admission by May 30 of the same year.
The admissions process to the doctoral program consists of two stages. The first stage is a paper-based examination of applicant data which is conducted by the University’s Principal Designated School Official (PDSO). The PDSO for LMU is Conrad Daniels, who can be reached at this email: William.daniels@lmunet.edu. The second stage is performance-based and is undertaken by the School of Education Doctoral Program.

• Stage One Review: The PDSO coordinates a review process with other personnel within the university to ensure the applicant is able to meet the criteria established by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, and other agencies, as required. This process includes but is not limited to: obtaining a copy of the applicant’s passport; collecting data from standardized examinations; securing copies of evaluated transcripts; and other related actions. This information must be received before Stage Two. Upon the candidate’s successful completion of the Stage One process, the PDSO will send verification of the applicant’s eligibility to the School of Education Doctoral Program for continued review and consideration.

Note: The PDSO reserves the right to undertake any identity verification procedures that they believe are required in order to validate the applicant’s personal identity. Such procedures may include but are not limited to direct contact with university faculty having personal knowledge of the applicant; request for additional documentation; photographic identification; and other means as might be deemed necessary to authenticate the identity of applicant.

Should fraudulent identity be discovered:

• During the application process, the process shall be immediately terminated, and the School of Education shall have no obligation to return any monies or materials provided as part of the application process; and
• After admission has been granted, the applicant shall be immediately dismissed from the program and forfeit any and all rights to re-enrollment.
  Entrance into candidacy within the doctoral program begins with the applicant’s certification by the PDSO. Please see the table below for an overview of the documents required in Stage One of the application process. Should the PDSO determine that the applicant does not meet its requirements, the applicant shall not receive consideration for admission to the doctoral program.

Stage One Screening Process (PDSO)

• Initial Application Form and Non-Refundable Application Fee of $50.00 USD – completed on the University’s website  
• Copy of the Passport Photo Page

Standardized Examinations
Applicants from Non-English-speaking countries:
a. In those cases where English is not the native language of the applicant, score reports from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)² or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) are required for admission. In order to qualify for program admission, applicants are required to obtain a minimum TOEFL score of 71 (iBT), 197 (CBT) or 527 (paper-based) as determined by the type of examination that was taken. In the case of the IELTS, a minimum score of 6.0 is required for program admission.

b. International candidates seeking to transfer from other regionally accredited United States post-secondary institutions who have earned a minimum of thirty (30) college-level credit hours and who meet the aforementioned standards of academic proficiency will not be required to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores. Applicants from English-speaking countries:

In those cases, in which English is the spoken language, official score reports from the Graduate Record Exam (GRE)³ depicting performance in the areas of quantitative reasoning; verbal and analytic writing are required. These data must be less than five (5) years old as of the date of application. Applicants must obtain a minimum combined verbal and quantitative score of 750 (or 285 if taken after August 1, 2011) and a minimum analytical writing score of 3.5.

Official Transcripts for all Graduate-Level Coursework
Lincoln Memorial University (LMU) requires that all graduate-level transcripts for international candidates be evaluated and translated by an outside service. The official transcripts must be sent to World Education Services (www.wes.org, or www.jsilny.com) for a course-by-course evaluation and verification that the degree is equivalent to a master’s degree issued from an institution of post-secondary education in the United States of America. The official WES report should be sent to LMU along with the application packet.

Recommendation Forms
Three (3) recommendations from persons knowledgeable of the applicant’s professional knowledge and skills need to be completed and submitted.

Resume or Curriculum Vitae
A copy of the applicant’s resume or curriculum vitae is required and should be submitted.
Additional Documents - Additional documents as requested by the PDSO at the time of application.

² TOEFL scores are non-negotiable – applicants failing to perform at the stipulated level shall not be considered for admission to the program.

Stage Two Screening Process (School of Education Doctoral Program)
Writing Sample
Applicants will submit a copy of a thesis or a formal paper that they completed as part of their master’s degree program. Applicants may also be required to submit their philosophy of education and research interests.
Structured Interview Applicants will participate in an online or in-person structured interview with members of the doctoral program faculty.

Topical Presentation
Applicants may be asked to provide a five (5) minute presentation on a current topic of their interest. This presentation may be delivered in-person or via the Internet.

• Stage Two Review: School of Education Doctoral Program. Following notification from the Office of International Programs that an applicant has passed the Stage One review, the admissions representative for the doctoral program will deliver the information collected by this office to the faculty Admissions Committee. This Committee will review the data and determine the applicant’s level of preparation and likelihood of success in completing the degree requirements. In the event these data lead the Committee to make an affirmative decision, the applicant will advance to Stage Two of the admissions process. At this point in time, any information requested from the applicant should be submitted as follows: Attention: Doctor of Education Program, Carter & Moyers School of Education, Lincoln Memorial University Cedar Bluff, 421 Park 40 North Blvd., Knoxville, TN 37923.

International applicants recommended for Stage Two consideration will be asked to fulfill the requirements listed.

Admission packages for membership in the Fall cohort must be submitted in completed form prior to February 1 for early consideration or before May 1 for final consideration of the year in which admission is being sought.

The Admissions Committee will review all available data and forward a final recommendation for, or denial of, admission to the applicant. The decision of the Admissions Committee is final. Candidates who are granted admission to Lincoln Memorial University will receive a letter of acceptance - a copy of which will be provided to the Office of International Programs for use in working with the candidate to complete all remaining processes. This letter, along with the I-20 form furnished by the University, must be presented to the Consular Office of the United States to which the candidate applies for a student visa. Those applicants accepted into the program will be required to complete, sign, and return related documents (e.g., Affidavit of Support and Certification of Finances form) and pay the Candidate and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS 901) fee (see www.fmjfee.com.) These final steps in the admissions process are coordinated and directed by the Office of International Programs in conjunction with the PDSO.

Upon notice of acceptance, applicants will work with an assigned faculty member from the EdD program to complete a program of study appropriate to the degree program and concentration(s) they have selected. Sample program of studies plans are posted and available for review within the Graduate Education Catalog.

Applicants who are accepted for candidacy in the doctoral program will be expected to participate in an all-day orientation program which is offered in advance of the onset of Fall term courses. 

Program Degree Concentrations
Each of these concentrations has been designed to develop leaders who are scholars; have outstanding personal qualities; are able to conduct original research and interpret and communicate the results of that research through their writing, teaching, and leadership; learn the art of effective collaboration; and can, and will, translate theory into practice. In addition to completing all of the required coursework successfully, candidates must complete a dissertation to earn the education doctorate. The dissertation must be a work that reflects a high-level of quality and represents an original and significant contribution to the discipline.

Most candidates will take at least 12 hours of doctoral core classes.

Doctor of Education—Concentration in Instructional Practice (IP)

Educators who are interested in pursuing leadership positions in PK-16 settings, higher education faculty or leadership positions, and workforce development professionals will find this concentration provides a rich curriculum capable of preparing them for careers they may want to undertake. Successful completion of the coursework and research will enable them to develop the skills, confidence, and knowledge required to become leaders in positions at an administrative level in curriculum and instruction; at the state level with a focus on curriculum and instruction; and other types of organizations that demand knowledge in the area of curriculum and instruction.

Course Curriculum provides:

• access to current research and practice pertaining to the design, delivery, and assessment of instructional programs;
• direction on how to ensure the appropriate inclusion of information and other digital systems into organizational processes;
• exposure to instructional strategies, learning styles, human cognition, and diversity-related issues; and
• knowledge and skill growth in understanding, conducting, and applying research in the field of curriculum and instruction in the context of developing a deep appreciation of, and ability to implement constructivist principles in all aspects of instructional programs.

Doctor of Education—Concentration in Instructional Leadership (IL)

This concentration affords those educators who want to enhance their opportunities in PK-16 settings as principals, assistant principals, superintendents, directors, or in related leadership roles at local, regional, state, or even national positions that demand skilled leadership and a comprehensive knowledge base. This concentration provides multiple opportunities to acquire the knowledge needed to pursue such positions, but is not an initial licensure program.

Course Curriculum provides:

• acquisition of expertise in evolving leadership and organizational theories;
• practice in the identification of issues surrounding financial stewardship;
• employment of predictive leadership models to address emerging educational issues;
• development of the skills required to analyze and reflect critically upon contemporary issues facing education;
• learning on how to engage inquiry in decision- making processes; and
• opportunities for candidates to acquire a deeper understanding of the application and conduct of research in the field of leadership and administration in education.

Graduate Certificate in Teaching Adults in Higher Education

The certificate in Teaching Adults in Higher Education is for individuals in higher education or in the workplace who are charged with leading or teaching the students or employees in their school or organization, but who do not have a background in instruction. For example, faculty who have professional knowledge but do not have instructional practice knowledge would benefit from this program. The certificate is a 12-credit-hour graduate program where students will learn how to:

• Engage and instruct the adult learner;
• Develop high-quality curriculum and assessment practices;
• Plan and facilitate training and development; and
• Determine effective instructional strategies to enhance learning.

Course Delivery

The doctoral program operates in a completely online, asynchronous format. Cohorts begin in the fall or spring terms. Instruction occurs via Canvas with weekly interactive and engaging modules that students complete in an asynchronous format. Additionally, faculty offer synchronous support sessions weekly, which are optional for students. During each term (summer, fall, spring), students enroll in three or four courses (nine or twelve hours), depending on their program of study. Courses are offered in either a full-term or 8-week format. Research courses are delivered in a full-term format. Concentration courses are delivered in an 8-week format. Students are required to be enrolled in at least one full-term course each semester. Courses in the 8-week format contain the same level of rigor as a full-term course, with an accelerated timeline. Students should expect to engage in no more than three courses at a time in any given term due to the 8-week model. Each term’s course schedule is designed to leverage delivery of the program of study that is aligned to completion of the degree; however, given the number of variables that must be factored into schedule development, there may be occasions when it is impossible to provide access to a specific course and/or access to a given course at a specific time.

Full-Time Status and Engagment Expectations

Students in the EdD program must be enrolled full-time, which means taking at least nine hours per semester during the coursework portion of their program and remaining continuously enrolled during the fall, spring, and summer terms. Should a student fail to enroll in at least nine hours per semester during coursework, or fail to remain in continuous enrollment until graduation, they will be withdrawn from the EdD program. While in coursework, we expect students to have meaningful interaction with the instructor and the content of the course. As the courses in the EdD program meet online, weekly modules will be provided, including some or all of the following items: readings, interactive assignments, written assignments, discussion posts, major assignments, reflective exercises, and others at faculty discretion. Students are required to complete all activities and assignments in each weekly module to be considered attending the course. No late assignments will be accepted in any course in the EdD program. Thus, course attendance in the EdD program is determined by completing weekly module items and is reflected in the student’s grades in the course (i.e., missing an assignment results in a zero for that assignment).

Candidates in EDLC 899, or dissertation hours, must remain enrolled in at least one 899 credit hour per term. While either nine hours (36-hour students) or twelve hours (48- and 63-hour students) are required in EDLC 899 to complete the dissertation phase of the EdD program, candidates are responsible for continuously taking at least one hour per term until their dissertation is deemed complete by their chair and committee, which may include hours beyond the required amount. Candidates should meet with their chair as needed. Candidates and chairs will work together to find times to meet. 

Grading Policy

EdD Faculty do not assign Incompletes. Per program policy, a student must earn a grade no lower than a B- to successfully complete the course. If a student earns a C+, they must repeat the course. In the event a student earns a grade lower than a C+, they will be administratively withdrawn from the doctoral program. 

A	Superior	Quality of work exceptional
A-	Excellent	Quality of work above course expectation
B+	Very Good	Quality of work better than satisfactory
B	Good	Quality of work satisfactory
B-	Average	Quality of work meets minimum requirements
C+	Must repeat course before moving forward	Quality of work does not meet requirement for doctoral program
C	Dismissal from doctoral program

A grade of B- is the minimum grade a candidate can receive to successfully pass an LMU doctoral course successfully.  

A grade of an A is an expectation of a doctoral student; however, if a faculty member notices a problem with work, including but not limited to lack of quality (e.g., not using the provided template, failure to write at a doctoral level), lack of completion (e.g., grossly not meeting expectations of length requirement), lack of growth (e.g., not making appropriate changes to writing using feedback on previous drafts), not meeting specific requirements (e.g., page numbers, word counts), or other reasons via faculty discretion, the grade should reflect this issue. Faculty members will deduct half a letter grade for each instance of each issue. Faculty members should meet with students if any of these issues occur and document this meeting.

Late Work Policy

As the courses in the EdD program operate in an online, weekly module format, it is paramount that students meet their deadlines to make adequate progress in their courses. Thus, faculty do not accept late work under any circumstances in any course in the EdD program. Assignment due dates and times are posted in Canvas. If a student misses the deadline, faculty will not grade the work, and a zero will be automatically entered in Canvas for that assignment. Faculty may still provide feedback should the work be an important checkpoint in writing progression. This is at faculty discretion. Should an emergency arise where a student needs an extension on their work, the student should contact the appropriate faculty member and the Program Director immediately for consideration of an extension. There is no guarantee of any extensions at any time. Candidates enrolled in EDLC 899 work with their chair on their deadlines. The chair has full discretion on due dates for EDLC 899.

Incomplete Policy

Instructors do not assign a grade of Incomplete (I) in the EdD program unless under emergency circumstances. Instructors may assign a grade of Incomplete (I) only in cases where a student has a documented emergency, after consultation with the program director. Emergency refers to a sudden, often medical, situation where the student is physically unable to complete coursework and is up to the discretion of the program director. If a grade of Incomplete (I) is assigned, students must satisfy all course requirements, including outstanding assignments, within six weeks of the end of the term (the day in which final course grades are posted) in which they receive an incomplete. Dissertation chairs are not permitted to assign an Incomplete (I) in 899 for any reason, including for documented emergencies. Grading in 899 is explained in a future section.

Academic Misconduct

Academic misconduct is a serious offense that jeopardizes a candidate’s academic, career, and personal success. Candidates may be dismissed from the Doctoral Program for academic misconduct (including plagiarism). If that occurs, the candidate will receive an email and a letter indicating the infraction and the effective date of dismissal. Candidates who are dismissed will not be readmitted to the Program.

Behavior and Dispositions

Appropriate dispositions and behavioral expectations are discussed in the EdD orientation. After orientation, students are required to sign these dispositions stating they will adhere to them during their time in the EdD program. This signed form is uploaded to the student’s portal under forms.

Faculty will monitor students' behavior while they are engaged in coursework. If any issues are noted, the following procedure will be implemented.

1. First offense with any behavioral issue: Faculty send an email about the issue to the student (e.g., the student did not meet the quality of the assignment) and forward it to the Program Director.
2. Second offense with any behavioral issue: Faculty meets with the student (including the Program Director), documenting the issue using the Developmental Plan form; student, faculty, and Program Director must sign the form; then send via email to the student and copy the Program Director. The grade in class should reflect this second offense. Students in this situation should not score above a B in the class.
3. Third offense with any behavioral issue: Administrative withdrawal –Faculty sends an email communication that the student has had two offenses previously and has not improved, and copies the Program Director. The Program Director sends an Administrative Withdrawal letter to the student. The grade in the class should reflect this third offense. Students should score a C in the class.

All offenses will be shared internally, during faculty meetings (under candidate concerns). Additionally, regular disposition forms are collected each term. Each term, each instructor will complete a disposition form on each student in their class. Forms are completed within five days after the last class. This also includes candidates in 899 hours – all chairs are required to complete disposition forms. Should there be any issues noted, the same procedures above will be followed unless one of the procedures has already started with an in-class issue, in which case the procedure will resume at the next appropriate step.

Comprehensive Examination

Criteria for Taking the Comprehensive Exam

Students must have successfully completed all appropriate coursework (i.e., B- or above) as deemed by the EdD Program Director before they can take comprehensive exams. Comprehensive exams are typically taken after the student completes the quantitative research course, the qualitative research course, and the dissertation design course, or at the Program Director’s discretion. Comprehensive exams will be given at the end of each semester, if appropriate, to provide anonymous scoring. Students will be sent an email from the Program Director or designee with the comprehensive exam dates for the two available terms, and students must declare which term they will take the comprehensive exams by a designated date, which is prior to the offering of either exam. Students take one comprehensive exam, called the Core Comprehensive Exam, and potentially a concentration-based exam, at the discretion of the EdD program director.

Comprehensive Exam Repeat Policy

Students who do not pass the comprehensive exam will be permitted to re-take the exam. They must re-take their exam in the following semester. Students who do not pass the comprehensive exam on their second attempt will be administratively withdrawn from the program.

Adherence to Established Program Deadlines

The following listing presents the deadlines for completion of doctoral candidates’ dissertation work. Please note that there is a distinction between deadline dates for participation in graduation exercises and deadlines for completing work prior to the end of a given term.
Deadline Dates for Participation in the Spring and Fall Graduation Ceremonies
Spring: Dissertation has been approved by the Dean by March 31 for a May graduation (Intent to Graduate forms due February 1)
Fall: Dissertation has been approved by the Dean by October 31 for a December graduation (Intent to Graduate forms due September 1)
Summer: Dissertation has been approved by the Dean by June 30 for a Summer degree conferral (Intent to Graduate forms due June 1). No commencement services are held in the summer, therefore summer graduates will walk in December but will have degrees conferred in July. Deadline

Dates for Completing Work Prior to the End of the Term
Spring: To avoid registering for the summer term, the dissertation must be approved by the Dean by April 30 
Summer: To avoid registering for the fall term, the dissertation must be approved by the Dean by July 31 
Fall: To avoid registering for the spring term, the dissertation has been approved by the Dean by November 30

Leave of Absence

A candidate who wishes or needs to interrupt study temporarily because of personal exigencies may request a personal leave of absence. A candidate who is current with his or her degree requirements is eligible for a personal leave after satisfactory completion of at least one term of study. Personal leaves cannot be granted retroactively and normally will not be approved after the tenth day of a term.

To request a personal leave of absence, the candidate must complete the appropriate form explaining the reasons for the leave, stating both the proposed start and end dates of the leave, and the address at which the candidate can be reached during the period of the leave. A copy of this form is available on the Dissertation Portal. Upon program re-entry, the candidate must schedule a meeting with the Program Director and complete a re- enrollment form a copy of which will be sent to the LMU Registrar.
The following information further explicates the leave of absence process.

1. The Dean, on the recommendation of the Doctoral Program Director, must approve all leaves of absence.
2. Candidates in the doctoral program may be granted a leave for up to one (1) academic year (three terms). The expected last date of registration will be adjusted by one term for each term of the leave.
3. Candidates on leave may complete outstanding work in courses for which they have been granted approved incompletes. They may not, however, fulfill any other degree requirements during the time on leave.
4. A leave of absence does not exempt the candidate from meeting the tuition requirement or payment of fees already accrued.
5. A candidate on leave of absence is not eligible for financial aid, including loans; and in most cases, candidate loans are not deferred during periods of non- enrollment.
6. Candidates should consult the University Financial Aid Office to ascertain financial aid implications prior to applying for a leave of absence.
7. A candidate on leave of absence is not eligible for the use of any University facilities normally available to enrolled candidates.
8. Candidates on leave of absence must file a formal application for readmission and submit it to the doctoral program office. The doctoral program office will forward a copy of the application to the Registrar. Such notification should be given at least four weeks prior to the end of the approved leave.
9. Candidates who fail to register for the term following the end of the approved leave will be administratively withdrawn from the doctoral program.
10. Candidates who do not apply for a personal leave of absence, or whose application for a personal leave is denied, and who do not register for any term, will be administratively withdrawn from the doctoral program.

Continuous Enrollment Requirement

Candidates and students must maintain continuous enrollment in the EdD program. Continuous enrollment means the candidate or student is enrolled in their coursework, including 899 hours, by the day of the start of the EdD program courses. If a student or candidate is not enrolled by the first day of the start of the EdD program courses, the student or candidate will receive a letter of administrative withdrawal. It is the candidate or student’s responsibility to keep up with their hours and to follow and abide by all registration deadlines.

Time in the EdD Program

Each student has a maximum number of years to complete their doctoral degree. This section refers to full completion of all requirements in the EdD program. The number of years is determined by the hour program in which the student is enrolled.

• 36-credit hour program – 5 years maximum
• 48-credit hour program – 6 years maximum
• 63-credit hour program – 7 years maximum

Once candidates reach the year maximum for their program, they will be administratively withdrawn from the program, unless they are 1) actively working on their dissertation and 2) making adequate progress on their dissertation. The program director will send a letter to the candidates who have met their year maximum and explain that the program director will review all progress in the dissertation portal at the end of every term to ensure the candidate is making adequate progress. This review of progress is in addition to and above the chair’s determination of adequate progress. Should the program director find the candidate is not making adequate progress, the candidate will be administratively withdrawn from the program and not allowed an appeal.