The Graduate College

Patricia Lee Thompson Dissertation Award 2008 - 2009 Competition

---

The Patricia Lee Thompson Dissertation Award was established through a charitable gift to the Western Michigan University Foundation by Dr. Donald E. Thompson, former vice president for research and dean of the Graduate College. This annual award assists with completion of the dissertation. Award monies may be used for any costs associated with completion of the dissertation.

Eligibility:

Recipients must have earned or completed satisfactorily the following at time of application:

• An overall grade point average of 3.25 or better,
• Appointment of a doctoral dissertation committee and approval of the dissertation proposal by the committee,
• All courses (excluding dissertation credit) and program requirements,
• All research tool requirements,
• Comprehensive examinations, and
• Residency requirement.

In addition, recipients must have received approval by the academic program unit to continue study toward a doctoral degree. The graduate student permanent program of study shall be filed in the Records Office and a copy included as part of the online application, and the committee appoint­ment form filed in the Graduate College.

Award:

The vice provost for institutional effectiveness, as designated by the donor, shall select a minimum of one award annually to a student at the doctoral level. For 2008–09, one award of up to $1,000 is expected to be available.

Financial need is not a consideration. The award shall be available for any educational expenses associated with the completion of the dissertation, including tuition, fees, and other expenses directly related to the dissertation. Expenses beyond tuition and fees will be paid by reimbursement with presentation of appropriate receipts. The award shall be made one-half in the Fall semester and one-half in the Spring semester. If the recipient becomes ineligible at the end of Fall semester, the Spring award will not be made to the recipient. The award is one-time, non-renewable. The recipient may hold the award in conjunction with other awards, but it may not be carried over to the following year. Notification of award selection will occur on or about June 15.

Nomination Process:

The departmental chair may place in nomination one doctoral student for each degree-granting program by submitting to the dean of the Graduate College the following:

• A letter of transmission from the chair, including the name of the student and the program. (This letter must be separate from the letters of support noted below.)
• A nontechnical abstract (750 words maximum) written for the educated generalist reader.
• The draft dissertation.
• Letters of support from three members of the doctoral dissertation committee, addressing the selection criteria.

All materials must be submitted via an iWebfolio portfolio created and maintained by the student. Students must confer with their department before creating an iWebfolio application as only one student per program can be nominated.

Criteria:

Nominations of merit will demonstrate that:

• The research is conducted on a significant topic, contributes to the discovery of knowledge, and uses sound methodology.
• If applicable, research conducted as part of team research uses data and arguments that are clearly identifiable as the author’s.
• The results of the research have been disseminated (e.g., portions have been published or accepted for publication). Absent publication, the nomination must include a description of the revision necessary in order to publish part or all of the research, as well as the plan for dissemination.
• There exists the potential to extend the research.
• The dissertation is characterized by clarity of expression, logical organization, and a mature academic style.
• The nominee and the committee have identified and mutually agreed upon ways in which the dissertation could be improved.
• The nominee has demonstrated timely progress to degree and an approved dissertation will be accomplished during AY 2008–09.

Deadline:

Nominations and all accompanying materials must be submitted via iWebfolio to the dean of the Graduate College on or before midnight of Friday, May 16, 2008. Late, incomplete, or hard­copy nominations and materials will not be reviewed. Questions regarding creation of an iWebfolio account may be directed to Karen Stokes at 387-3867 or by email to karen.stokes@wmich.edu. Requests for additional information may be directed to Dr. Julie A. Scrivener, Graduate College, at 387-8208 or by email to scrivener@wmich.edu.

3/26/2008