Overview
Sponsored by the Center of Educational Leadership and Transformation (CELT), the Dissertation Support Group (DSG) provides ongoing support, instruction, problem-solving and advice regarding the dissertation process for GSEHD doctoral students.  The group is designed for students to join from the semester they begin their doctoral programs and to provide community and colleagueship through their graduation.  Session content is driven by student needs and interests while examining the research and dissertation process from every angle.

Objectives
1. To provide a cohesive learning community for students pursuing the doctorate degree in education at the Graduate School of Education and Human Development of The George Washington University.

2. To make available a venue wherein doctoral students provide mutual support, information, and knowledge about the research and dissertation process while mentored and facilitated by faculty.

3. To expose doctoral students to the research and dissertation process from the moment they enter their programs so as to instill the concepts of research in order to be knowledgeable and prepared when it is time to enter the dissertation phase of the degree.

4. To provide a connection to faculty and other students during the lonely process of writing, data collection, analysis and defense; and to provide deadlines supported by a learning community so that all students can progress through the process as expeditiously as possible. 

Logistics
DSG meets once a month throughout the entire calendar year.  Sessions meet between 6 and 8 p.m.  Typically, sessions are on Wednesday night, but may also be on Tuesday or Thursday.  Sessions during the academic year focus on a variety of topics relevant to the research/dissertation process such as IRB, problem statement, sampling, and paradigms of inquiry.  Summer sessions specifically focus on the content and organization of the dissertation proposal chapters (Chapter I in June, Chapter II in July, Chapter III in August).

Please consult the GSEHD Calendar for specific dates and locations.

Supporting Blackboard Site
DSG is supported by a special use Blackboard site.  This site provides a listing of upcoming session dates and titles, with supporting materials for each.  There is also an archive of previous sessions and supporting materials.  The site also includes a wealth of materials to help students navigate the research and dissertation process, including links to useful resources, sample dissertations, and useful articles about the dissertation and research process.  It is a useful launching pad for many aspects of the dissertation process.  Because this is a special use Blackboard site, students cannot register directly into it.  Instead, students should send a gwu email address (only gwu email addresses can be used) to Dr. Sharon A. McDade,  CELT Director and DSG coordinator, at smcdade@gwu.edu. 

Educational Symposium for Research and Innovations (ESRI)
CELT also sponsors ESRI.  This annual symposium (typically held on the last Saturday of February) provides an opportunity for GSEHD students to present their class projects and dissertation work in a safe, supporting environment.  ESRI provides an excellent opportunity for GSEHD doctoral students to present aspects of their dissertation-in-development, and receive feedback from faculty.  ESRI and DSG coordinate closely; for example, ESRI proposals are reviewed for conference selection at the November DSG session.  For more details, see http://gsehd.gwu.edu/ESRI