91AV

The 91AV Doctor of Education program is designed to prepare professionals from a variety of fields to develop or enhance their leadership skills and knowledge. Leadership, ethical decision-making, and dissertation preparation are explored with a solid grounding in the theoretical underpinnings of education as a discipline. Graduates of the Ed.D. program become experts in their unique areas of research through the dissertation process.

This program requires completion of fifty-one (51) credits. The program (including dissertation) will be completed entirely online with no residency requirement.

Program Goals

• Provide candidates with a student-centered interdisciplinary program that emphasizes scholarly research of publishable quality and the development of a theoretical framework related to their area of interest and professional goals.
• Examine and bridge the gap between educational theory and its connection to leadership theory, philosophical theory, and scientific theory.
• Afford students the opportunity to be actively engaged in the topic selection and construction of the dissertation throughout the program under the direction of experienced faculty and a carefully selected dissertation committee.
• Promote the use of technology that is educationally effective and academically rigorous.
• Prepare professionals who are future-focused and capable of fostering innovation and change.

*Please see the transfer credit policy below in regard to these four (4) courses specifically.

Minimal Grade Standard and Academic Progress

Candidates may proceed to subsequent courses in the curriculum with one (1) Low Pass (LP) grade. A second LP (or below) course grade may result in termination from the doctoral program. For those needing to report course completion status to employers, a Pass equates to a B or better.

Program Progression

The 91AV Doctor of Education program is designed for students to earn their doctorate by completing fifty-one (51) credits. Those individuals who do not complete the program within this timeframe are afforded the opportunity to continue work on their dissertation by enrolling in a series of one (1)-credit continuation courses that provide continued access to faculty and the full resources of the university provided to all enrolled students and doctoral candidates. This enrollment keeps students in active status and on the path to graduation, increasing the likelihood they will complete the Ed.D. program within the mandatory five (5)-year period.

Students in need of additional coursework to progress in the program may be advised to take EDU 850 — Dissertation Apprenticeship or EDU 851 — Dissertation Apprenticeship II. Students may take each course only once. 

Students who do not complete the Doctor of Education (EdD) program may choose to transfer 800-level course work successfully completed in the Doctor of Education program to the Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies (CAGS) program.  At the discretion of the program, students may be awarded a CAGS if they have successfully completed thirty (30) credits or more of 800-level courses within the Doctor of Education Program (EdD) program. 

With approval from the program, matriculated students in the Doctor of Education program (EdD) may take up to twelve (12) credits of interprofessional course work offered within the College of Professional Studies, including approved courses within the Master of Education (MSEd) and CAGS programs, to replace elective courses. 

Timeline for Completion

A student who has not completed the Doctor of Education program within five (5) years will be administratively withdrawn from the program and be required to apply for readmission.

In order to participate in the May hooding and commencement ceremonies, a doctoral student must complete fifty-one (51) credits, defend their dissertation, and have all of their required documents uploaded to the Learning Management System (LMS) no later than the Monday before the end of the Spring B session that precedes the ceremonies.

ATTENDANCE POLICY

Students taking online graduate courses through the College of Professional Studies will be administratively dropped for non-participation if a graded assignment/discussion post is not submitted before Sunday at 11:59 p.m. of the first week of the term. Reinstatement is at the purview of the Dean’s Office. 

COURSE WITHDRAWAL POLICY

Add/Drop Period

A student may add or drop a course during the time frames published on the 91AV Academic Calendar. Courses dropped during the add/drop period will not appear on a student’s official transcript.

Course Withdrawal Period

Grade for the Course Withdrawal
A course withdrawal during the withdrawal period results in a grade of W, which will appear on a student’s official transcript. The grade of W is awarded only if a student has submitted a completed Course Withdrawal Form to the Registrar’s Office by the deadline. A W grade does not impact the term or cumulative GPA.

Consultation Before a Course Withdrawal

Before deciding to withdraw from a course, students must consult their Program/Academic Director and are encouraged to discuss the situation with the instructor. 

International students must obtain the approval of the Office of Global Education, as withdrawals may affect visa status.

Students are strongly urged to consult with Student Financial Services, as course withdrawals may affect financial aid or Veterans benefits. 

Course Withdrawal Process

Students who wish to withdraw from a course must submit a Course Withdrawal Form, signed by their Program/Academic Director and Office of Global Education (if applicable), to the Registrar’s Office before the Course Withdrawal deadline.

Ceasing to attend classes or notifying the instructor does not constitute an official withdrawal.

Late Withdrawal

Requests to withdraw from a course after the withdrawal period will only be considered in extreme circumstances. To request a late withdrawal, a student must consult with their Program/Academic Director and submit a completed Academic Petition stating the extenuating circumstances and a letter of support from an advisor, faculty member, or Program/Academic Director to the College’s Dean’s Office offering the course for consideration. 

If approved, a W grade will appear on the transcript, not impacting the GPA calculations.

Late withdrawal petitions must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office by the last day of the class.

Note: All deadlines, procedures, and policies related to course withdrawal are subject to the guidelines specified on the 91AV Academic Calendar.

Leave of Absence (Academic Stop Out)

Students may stop out of their program for up to two (2) semesters. Students need to coordinate stop outs in advance with their assigned student support specialist, and stop-out time is considered part of the time allotted to complete the academic program. Application for readmission is not necessary if the student returns as planned. However, the student who does not return at the specified time or who exceeds two (2) semesters of stop out will be administratively withdrawn and will be subject to readmission procedures. Readmitted students are subject to the re-admittance term’s catalog (this may mean that policies and/or program requirements have been changed or been updated since previous admission, and should be reviewed for potential impact on degree requirements, time to complete the degree, and degree planning).

Students who successfully completed EDU 813 — Proposal Capstone II and/or any of the dissertation completion or continuation courses and subsequently stopped out for more than one (1) year will be required to enroll EDU 850 — Dissertation Apprenticeship as a condition of reenrollment. 

Re-admission

Students who have been withdrawn from the program for any reason must reapply if they wish to continue their studies. The application procedures, academic policies, and program requirements that are in effect at the time of readmission will apply. Students who re-enroll following withdrawal will have their previous coursework evaluated for applicability to the existing academic requirements. Coursework that is more than five (5) years old may not be accepted for credit in the program.

Students who have been administratively withdrawn from the program may petition for re-admission after a full semester has elapsed. The petition letter must provide a justification for re-admission that addresses how past issues have been resolved and will not re-occur. The letter should be sent electronically to the Education Program Director prior to applying for re-admission.

Dismissal from the Program

Termination from the Program may occur when the Education Program Director becomes aware of one of the following:

• Surrender of a teacher license in any jurisdiction for disciplinary reasons.
• Documented academic dishonesty (Note this also includes course online postings and email communications with faculty and staff. Students are advised that their behavior while participating in the program should exemplify the ethical behavior of a professional educator with respect to all communications).
• Academic failure (see Minimal Grade Standard and Academic Progress above).

Students will learn to:

• Participate fully and responsibly in supportive learning environments for colleagues in K-12 education, higher education, health, business, and other sectors.
• Use technology for research collaboration and dissertation development (e.g., web/videoconferencing).
• Fully utilize an integrated curriculum that combines elements of each candidate’s program of study into a coherent whole.
• Fully utilize online search tools and databases to identify research studies and other relevant resources.
• Write and successfully defend a dissertation that has been developed throughout the program.

Students who are currently or previously enrolled in a 91AV-College of Professional Studies (91AV-CPS) CAGS or PMC program may, upon acceptance to the Doctor of Education program, apply to transfer up to four (4) 91AV-CPS Education courses earned in these programs.

91AV transfer courses should be:

• Taken and completed in a 91AV-CPS CAGS or PMC program
• Taken within five (5) years of application
• Worth three (3) credits
• Completed with a grade of B or better

Students who are currently or previously enrolled in a doctoral program at another institution may, upon acceptance to the Doctor of Education program, apply to transfer up to two (2) courses earned in this program.

Non-91AV transfers courses should be:

• Classified as doctoral level earned in a terminal degree program
• Taken at a regionally accredited institution
• Taken within five (5) years of application
• Worth three (3) credits
• Completed with a grade of B or better
• Equivalent to one (1) of the required program courses or an elective course that meets programmatic goals

To request consideration for transfer credit, a student must provide an official transcript. For non-91AV College of Professional Studies courses, students must submit a syllabus for each course. Transfer credit is awarded at the discretion of the College of Professional Studies based on specific program details listed. Requests for approval of transfer credit should be submitted to and will be granted at the discretion of the Program Director.

Admission Requirements

• A Master's degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university, or its equivalent.
• Applications are reviewed holistically as a determination of academic readiness. The admissions committee values previous academic performance as indicated on transcripts and considers it as part of the review process.
• Computer with an internet connection, including the hardware and software requirements described in our . Must also possess sufficient computer skills to navigate the internet as all classes are accessed 100% online.

Application Process

• Completed online application: .
• Current Resume or Curriculum Vitae.
• Application Essay/Writing Sample.
• Two (2) professional/academic references.
• Official transcripts reflecting conferral of a master's degree from a regionally accredited institution. 

Transcripts for any coursework appearing as transfer credit on the transcript of the conferred degree can be waived if the coursework is unrelated to the degree being sought. The program admissions committee defines all coursework not eligible for waiver.

Procedures and Policies

• Applications for admission are accepted through 91AV’s online application only. Detailed instructions are included in the online application.
• Official transcripts, as well as other documents to support the application, must be submitted to the College of Professional Studies, either electronically or sent to 716 Stevens Ave, Portland, ME, 04103.
• International applicants and applicants with international degrees must have their transcripts evaluated for degree and grade equivalency to that of a regionally accredited US institution. See International Admissions.
• All applicants to 91AV must be able to understand and communicate in English to be admitted to the university. 91AV accepts several methods of English Proficiency, see International Admissions.
• If an applicant cannot prove English Proficiency in another way, scores from the  are required and must be submitted as a part of the completed application. 
• All materials submitted as part of the application become the property of 91AV and will not be returned or released to anyone, including the applicant. This policy includes letters of reference, primary and secondary applications, personal statements, transcripts, and other supporting materials.

For additional information on the admissions process and requirements, please access the .

Policy Exceptions

The Doctor of Education program and the EdD Admissions Committee in collaboration with the College of Professional Studies reserve the right to make exceptions to the admissions criteria and to make changes or exceptions to policies and procedures, on a case-by-case basis, when it deems such a decision is necessary and appropriate.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition and fees for subsequent years may vary. Other expenses include books and housing. For more information regarding tuition and fees, please consult the Financial Information section of this catalog.

Detailed information and applications are available on request from the Financial Aid Office. Call (207) 602-2342 or visit the Financial Aid website.