Current students may use this page to find and access resources related to the Doctoral Program in Educational and Organizational Learning and Leadership and other campus resources.
Program handbooks have been developed to assist students throughout their academic experience. These handbooks do not constitute the whole of the Seattle University or the College of Education policies concerning students. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of and comply with all policies, procedures and deadlines.
By Academic Year:
All students are responsible for meeting deadlines when fulfilling final degree requirements and should check the doctoral program for applicable deadlines. The College of Education may have earlier scheduled deadlines in order to meet Registrars deadlines. Please contact the Program Director for more information.
Please check Academic Deadlines for registration and schedule adjustment deadlines. Please also refer to the Registrar’s Office for graduation deadlines for more information.
All students enrolled in the College of Education are governed by school and university policies and procedures. Understanding these policies and procedures is crucial to your success as a student.
College of Education Policies and Forms
Educational and Organizational Learning and Leadership Program Forms
Program forms are fillable with electronic signatures section enabled. Please download and save the form prior to completing it. Unless otherwise indicated, the forms below should be submitted to the program office at eoll@seattleu.edu.
All degree forms should be submitted to electronically.
The program abides by the established student advisement, candidacy, continuous registration, readmission, degree conferral timetable, comprehensive exams, dissertation policies.
Advising Policy
Program faculty members serve as academic advisors and one is assigned to you in EDLR 6000 during your first summer in the program. This faculty member remains your academic advisor throughout the program. If it appears that there may be a better match with another faculty member, a change can be made upon request from the student.
Students wishing to change primary advisors within the degree program may do so upon written consent of both advisors, signed by them and filed with the Program chair. Forms are available in the here (link to form).
Annual Performance Evaluations
As a part of the annual assessment process and to enable students and their faculty advisors to monitor and provide feedback on student progress through the program, each student is required to prepare and submit a formal progress report each year. Program faculty review and discuss student progress and give written feedback and recommendations to enhance or sustain the student’s progress in attaining their course, leadership, and research goals. Each student will meet with their assigned advisor to review and complete this evaluation on an annual basis.
Candidacy
Students attain doctoral candidacy after passing the Comprehensive Exam in Leadership Practice.
Continuous Registration
Once admitted to the College of Education, a doctoral student is required to maintain continuous registration. If such registration should be impossible, the student must petition for a leave of absence.
Grades and Grading
Faculty members are responsible for establishing course standards and grading requirements and for evaluating student work. Please see the here for more details. Seattle University requires graduate students to maintain a minimum term and cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 to remain in good standing.
Doctoral students must repeat any course when a C- grade or lower is received. The grade(s) earned on the repeated course(s) will remain on the record, but course credits for a required course will be counted only once toward a degree.
Leave of Absence
Students are encouraged to take all courses with their cohort. Seattle University (SU) acknowledges that students may encounter situations which require interruption of continuous enrollment. The EOLL Program provides options for a student leave-of-absence (SLOA). Refer to the EOLL website for more information about requesting a leave of absence. Returns from SLOA are subject to the Time Limits for Degree Completion and Program Continuation policy.
Readmission
If a student fails to maintain continuous registration each semester (fall and spring) and does not petition for and receive a leave of absence, his/her student status is automatically terminated by the University.
In order to request reinstatement to the department, a student must apply for "Readmission Form” through Graduate Admission. The Educational and Organizational Learning and Leadership program reserves the right to deny any request for readmission to its program.
Time Limits for Degree Completion and Program Continuation
All credits applied to a degree (including transfer credits) must be completed within six calendar years. Credits not completed within the six-year limitation cannot be applied toward degree requirements unless a petition for an exception to policy (PEP) is submitted and approved.
The Doctor of Education degree at the Seattle University requires three to four years of full-time study. Per SU policy, students are required to enroll in each quarter of the academic year (Summer, Fall, Winter, and Spring) from their first through final quarter in the program (i.e., until receipt of the degree). Approved leaves of absence are the only exception to this requirement. Please note that although this timeline outlines the expected progress for doctoral students, students may always complete milestones differently than what is outlined below.
Year One:
Year Two
Year Three
Each of these steps requires action and documentation by the student. At various times, the faculty advisor and Program Director, or other entities participate in the completion of degree requirements. Students must ensure that each step is completed and that all appropriate parties have taken the necessary actions.
Program Calendars
Each of these steps requires action and documentation by the student. At various times, the faculty advisor and Program Director, or other entities participate in the completion of degree requirements. Students must ensure that each step is completed and that all appropriate parties have taken the necessary actions.
Each Spring quarter the program assesses the doctoral program. This assessment process includes gathering data from our students via an annual review. The annual review is designed to facilitate students’ progress by providing timely feedback regarding their overall performance. The process allows graduate students and faculty to discuss student achievements and to address programmatic questions or concerns. The online Annual Review form(s) allows students to highlight information regarding their academic progress and accomplishments (career goal, honors and awards, conference presentations, publications, research experience, community-based experience) and to share their plans for upcoming year.
The comprehensive examination for doctoral students in educational and organizational leadership and learning is a "take-home" exercise which students have one month to complete.
The purpose of the comprehensive examination process is threefold. The first emphasis is placed upon the use of the comprehensive exam for the student to demonstrate the ability to produce an independent integration and synthesis across the graduate course work and topic areas in the program of study. The second emphasis is to assess the student's ability to interrelate theory, research and practice in the program of study. Third, the comprehensive exam is an opportunity to assess the readiness of the student to continue the doctoral program to completion, with an emphasis on appropriate knowledge, scholarly writing and organizational skills.
A student is considered eligible to take the doctoral comprehensive examination in leadership practice during or immediately following the final quarter of required course work, or within six hours of completion of the courses listed on the plan of study, excluding dissertation hours.
A primary aim of the program is to foster creative leadership among students. It is essential that students take advantage of the many opportunities which exist to work with peers in the area and with colleagues in the field of leadership.
Such associations provide for the exchange of ideas, the enhancement of professional growth, and in many instances offer the opportunity to gain experience in the practice of educational and organizational leadership. Students whose only contacts with the program consist of classroom experiences deny themselves of an essential and rewarding link in their professional education.
The Graduate Student Council enables students to participate in university-GSC sponsored special interest clubs and events.
Seattle University Alumni Association provides opportunities for alumni to enjoy and build connections and benefit from the power of participating in an alumni network.
Students are encouraged to become acquainted with their professional associations and to participate in these as part of their own professional development.
Eta Kappa Delta is a student-run honors society dedicated to fostering leadership skills to help students achieve their goals and become leaders within their communities. It is unique in its focus on leadership, justice, and community, all of which are universal skills which encourage students to collaborate regardless of major or special interests.
Our organization aims to help students identify what being a successful leader means to them and support them on their path to success. ΗΚΔ also believes in forming future leaders through creating tangible, positive impact locally. Through volunteer work and collaboration, students can see the positive impact that they wish to make within their communities.
For more information, email us at: etakappadelta@seattleu.edu
Seattle University encourages you to investigate becoming a member. If you are interested in becoming a member, please contact program director for further details regarding your ability to become an associate member with Seattle University.