Date & Time
Friday, April 19, 2024, 5:15 PM - 6:45 PM
Name
"ABD” to “Dr.” - A Second Chance for an Overlooked Student Population
Description

Only 56% of doctoral students in the US complete their degree within 10 years (Sowell et al., 2008). Abandonment of doctoral research relates to university and personal factors, leaving many students labeled “All But Dissertation” (ABD) (Gafner & Wilson, 2015). The Dissertation Completion Pathway (DCP) was developed as a call to action for ABD students, directly addressing university and personal factors through building trust, increasing communication, using strategic supports, and focusing on positive wellbeing. After 6 years and lessons learned, DCP has seen 123 completers and 192 active students in 13 programs across 5 schools. Doctoral completion pathways need to be specifically designed to address the unique needs of “ABD” students.

Session Type
Poster
Topical Area
Effectiveness