Part III: Dissertation Forms and Graduation Procedures

Thematic Dissertation Roadmap

• Intro to Thematic Dissertation
• Part I: The Road to the Thematic Dissertation in Leadership Practice
• Part II: Ethical Responsibilities in Doctoral Research
• Part III: Forms and Graduation Procedures

The Educational and Organizational Learning and Leadership (EOLL) Program has instituted policies to help students with the forms and procedures required for the doctoral dissertation. These are outlined under the headings below and are intended to ease the process of completing forms correctly and obtaining official signatures.

Dissertation Timeline

The Educational and Organizational Learning and Leadership Program requires students to submit a completed draft for committee review two weeks prior to scheduling the TDiLP proposal defense or TDiLP final defense. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that all procedures are completed by their associated deadlines.

Note that while Seattle University holds one graduate commencement ceremony each year, degrees can be conferred four times a year (Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring).

Fall 2022 Conferral Deadlines

Spring 2023 Conferral Deadlines

Summer 2023 Conferral Deadlines

Missed deadlines can delay a student’s graduation. If the student is not registered for other courses, they will be required to register for EOLL 6100 until the dissertation process is complete.

Dissertation Rubric

Below are the dissertation rubrics utilized to ensure that your dissertation meets the rigor and quality required of all doctoral dissertations at Seattle University.

Students are to ensure that they clearly read each specific criterion outlined and the information that is required for each section. This document will be utilized by Dissertation Chairs and Committee members in their review of the dissertation chapters and final manuscript.

• TDiLP Dissertation Proposal Chapter Rubric
• TDiLP Dissertation Last Chapters Rubric

Dissertation Forms

Starting January 2022, the Educational and Organizational Learning and Leadership Program will process the following forms using DocuSign. The forms that will be available via DocuSign are:

• Dissertation Committee Request Form
• Dissertation Proposal Hearing Report Form
• Dissertation Defense Scheduling Request Form
• Report of the Final Dissertation Examination and Filing of the Dissertation Form
• Dissertation Final Approval Form

How Does it Work?

Based on the dissertation process timeline, EOLL has developed workflow processes for each form. The Initiator represents the person who starts the process. If you are the Initiator, (1) click the link for the form you wish to complete, (2) complete the section requested of you on the form. Then, (3) click Submit, and the form will route to the next party. It’s that easy.

Except for the Dissertation Final Approval form, the Senior Program Administrator in the EOLL program will have a chance to review the form for accuracy before it routes to other parties.

How Do I Know if I Need to Sign Something?

You will receive an email to your SU email account. Once you receive an email, respond to the prompts, provide your initials or signatures (whichever is requested), and then continue.

I Want to Know More:

DocuSign has a robust Support Center.  You can watch a video to learn more about signing documents. There are also step-by-step instructions related to printing documents, accessing documents you previously signed, and other basic information.

What if I Have a Form That is the Old Version but is Routing Now?

We will continue to accept both versions (the fillable PDF and DocuSign) until February 15, 2022, after which time we will only accept DocuSign forms.

How Do I Access these forms?

Enrolled students can find dissertation forms here.

Dissertation Format and ETD Submission Guidelines

These guidelines summarize the steps you will follow to prepare for, write and submit a dissertation in the College of Education. Students are responsible for the content of the dissertation, which must be original work, and for ensuring the document is appropriately referenced and in the correct format.  The content and format must be approved by your dissertation chair and committee. You will be responsible for uploading your approved dissertation to ScholarWorks and ETD.   Electronic Thesis and Dissertation (ETD) Submission Instructions

Applying for Graduation

Doctoral Graduation Application Deadline

Doctoral students who are in the final year of their program are eligible to apply for graduation.  Students should apply for graduate by logging in MySeattleU and select Graduation Application. The registrar has established the following deadlines to apply for graduation:

• Winter Quarter: October 1
• Spring Quarter: November 1
• Summer and Fall Quarter: February 1

If students need to change their graduation date, they change their anticipated graduation date by submitting a Graduation Update Notification form.

Graduation and Commencement Participation Eligibility

Spring 2022 Deadlines & Commencement

*Commencement Date:  Between June 12 and June 14, 2022 (TBD)

Details are available on the Seattle University Commencement website