This document outlines the creation of an online Doctor of Education program at The University of Findlay. It discusses conducting a needs assessment that found interest in an EdD program. It then details obtaining internal approvals from various university committees and external approvals from accrediting bodies. The program launched in 2013 with its first cohort. It highlights ongoing program improvements based on lessons learned. Key aspects include online delivery with a summer residency, and assessments throughout the program culminating in the dissertation.

1. Traditional in Rigor and
Contemporary in Design
Creating an Online Doctoral Program
for Education

2. Mission Statement
The mission of the Doctor of Education degree is to
prepare tomorrow’s leaders to plan strategically,
communicate effectively in the modern world, think
critically about the impact of policy and decisions, and
contribute to the knowledge base by conducting
research in their areas of expertise.

3. Our current program
Chair of the Doctor of Education Program (EdD) in the
College of Education at The University of Findlay
Doctoral Faculty (11 members)
COE EdD oversight committee (8 members)
3 cohorts started (45 students enrolled)
Key features: online with a summer residency
institute, initial candidacy writing as a scholar
requirement, integrated dissertation process into
coursework

4. Introductory video

5. Gateways through the program
Initial Candidates – pre-candidates have met all of the admissions
requirements to the Doctor of Education degree program: earned
master’s degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0 out of a possible 4.0, two
letters of recommendation, an interview with the screening committee,
and the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) with a score of 400 or higher. The
MAT score can be no older than five years.
Doctoral Candidate status - candidates who complete EDUC 700:
Writing as a Doctoral Scholar with a “B” or better before becoming a
Doctoral Candidate.
Comprehensive Examination - candidates take a Comprehensive Exam
over EDUC 703, 705, 707, 709, 711, 713, 715, and 750 during or before
EDUC 770: Research III: Research Design.

6. Gateways through the program
Dissertation Candidate - candidate’s present a proposal for the
dissertation to a faculty committee for approval. This should occur at the
end of EDUC 770: Research III: Research Design.
Dissertation Completer - candidates whose dissertations have been
accepted by their committees. This should occur at the completion of
EDUC 780: Research IV: Data Analysis and Coaching.
Program Completer - candidates whose dissertations have been accepted
and who have successfully completed all coursework for the program,
including EDUC 790: Dissemination of Research. These candidates must
also have presented their dissertation research at the summer institute as
part of the EDUC 790 class and as their last residency requirement.

7. Gateway flowchart
Initial Candidacy
meets admission criteria
Doctoal Candidacy
EDUC700
Strategic Plan
EDUC 705 Communications
Project
EDUC 713
Policy Analysis
Project
EDUC 703
Comprehensive
exam
EDUC 703, 705, 707, 709,
711, 713, 715, and 750
Dissertation
candidate
Dissertation
Completer
Program completer
Acceptance of
Dissertation Proposal
EDUC 771
Passing of Oral
Dissertation Defense
EDUC 781
Submission of
dissertation research for
publication
EDUC 790

8. Where to begin?
 Needs Assessment
 Write and Design the Program
 Proforma
 Internal Approvals
 External Approvals

9. Needs Assessment
Current and former graduate students requested a
doctoral program since the beginning of the master’s
program in the early 1990's.
The interest intensified over the last ten years as
superintendents trained at the University had a desire
to expand their education.
An interest/needs assessment survey was sent out to
600 state superintendents and 200 area Principals
asking them to respond if they would be interested in
either a PhD, EdD or a Specialist Program.

10. Specialist
degree
Specialist,
EdD degree
EdD degree PhD degree
12 58 180 0
Responses from the needs assessment survey
N = 250 ( 31 %)

11. Internal groups that
needed to approve it
Internally:
 COE doctoral program writing team /COE EdD oversight committee (5 members)
 Advanced Program Group (8 members)
 Education Advisory Council (25 – 30 community members)
 COE (21 members)
 Office of Graduate and Professional Studies (5 members)
 Sign off by VP Academic Affairs and VP Business Affairs (2)
 Graduate Curriculum committee (13 members)
 Graduate council (20 voting members)
 Board of Trustees (36 members)

12. External Approvals
External
 OBR – written report and site visit
 HLC – written report and site visit

13. Timeline
 Summer 2011 EdD writing group began writing proposal and syllabi
 June 2012 OBR written proposal submitted
 August 2-3, 2012 OBR conducted a two-day on-site visit
 August 20, 2012 UF sends a response to OBR recommendations for the program
 December 4, 2012 UF sends a Substantive Change Application to HLC
 April 1-2, 2013 HLC conducts a Report of Change Visit
 July 2013 HLC approves program at Institutional Actions Council Meeting
 August 2013 First cohort begins

14. Lessons Learned Along the Way: Current
Action Plans & Program Changes
 Miller Analogies Test adjustment
 Split semester classes for the Comprehensive Exam courses
 8 week literature review class  12 week course in the summer!
 Move EDUC 780 Statistical Analysis to Fall semester to make
room to collect data
 Require students to report on conversations with
chairs/committees during the research “companion” courses
 Development of the faculty
 Put together a step-by-step instructional list of guidelines or “things to
do” for the chairs
 Chair workshop

15. Questions?
Dr. Julie McIntosh, Ed.D., Dean COE
McIntosh@Findlay.edu
Dr. Mike Scoles, Ed.D., Chair of Doctoral Program COE
Scoles@Findlay.edu
Dr. Gwynne Rife, Ph.D., Chair Advanced and Professional Programs
Rife@Findlay.edu

16. 7 Key assessments
 KA1 – Strategic Plan (EDUC 705)
 KA2 – Innovation and Information Literacy Project (EDUC
713)
 KA3 – Policy Analysis Project (EDUC 703)
 KA4 – Comprehensive Exam (over EDUC 703, 705, 707, 709,
711, 713, 715, and 750)
 KA5- Acceptance of Dissertation Proposal (EDUC 771)
 KA6- Passing of Oral Dissertation Defense (EDUC 781).
 KA7- Submission of dissertation research for publication in
peer-reviewed journals (EDUC 790)