Hello to all of you,
We are very excited to offer all of you the opportunity to participate in the Summer 2016
Dissertate in Eight, the University Writing Center’s (UWC) dissertation completion boot camp.
The eight week camp is designed to provide support for those working on some facet of their
dissertation, regardless of where they are in the process. There is no charge for this program.
The camp information:
 Meets Wednesday afternoons from 1:00 - 4:30
(6/15, 6/22, 6/29, 7/6, 7/13, 7/20, 7/27, 8/3)
 Located in the SSWC (the smart classroom in the UWC’s Stevenson South location).
 Computers are available for your use or you may bring a laptop if you would prefer.
Each session will provide approximately one and one-half hours of information related to the
dissertation process as well as time to work on your dissertation and time to meet with UWC
consultants to discuss your writing and/or dissertation related concerns.
The tentative weekly topics are
6/15 Introductions
Dissertation survival: Tips and setting schedule – Sarah Cacciatore
6/22
Dissertation components
6/29
Conflict Resolution/Negotiation Strategies
7/06
Visual Spectacular (employing graphics in your documents) – Anne Marquette
7/13
Quantitative and Qualitative Methodologies – TBD
7/20
Incorporating Sources and Maintaining Voice
7/27
Discussion with Graduate School readers
8/03
Preparing for Defense – Dr. Erin Evans
Wrap up
Please complete the attached information and email it as a word document attachment to
gjacky@niu.edu no later than June 1, 2016. Please type dissertation boot camp in the subject line
of the email. If you have any questions or would like any additional information, please contact
Gail Jacky at 815-753-6636 or gjacky@niu.edu.
Summer 2016 Dissertation Boot Camp Application
Please complete the following information and email it as a word document attachment to
gjacky@niu.edu no later than June 1, 2016. Please type dissertation boot camp in the subject line
of the email.
Section I: Demographics
1. Name:
2. Email address:
3. Department:
4. Will you be available for all eight meetings of the program?
1:00 - 4:30 (6/15, 6/22, 6/29, 7/6, 7/13, 7/20, 7/27, 8/3)
Section II: Dissertation Information: Complete the questions you can answer at this point in your
process.
1. What is your dissertation topic?
2. Who are your committee members?
3. Where are you in the dissertation process?
4. Where would you like to be in the process by the end of the boot camp?
5. When do you anticipate completing the dissertation?
6. Is your dissertation quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods?
7. How long is an average dissertation in your department?
a. Number of chapters
b. Number of pages
8. How much have you written so far?
a. Number of chapters
b. Number of pages
9. What are your current challenges with the dissertation process?
10. How are you managing the organizational side of the process?
11. Will your committee be available during the summer should you need to discuss
methodology, research design, etc.?
Section III: Dissertation Description
Please attach a 200-400 word description of your research (or proposed research).