Dear Potential Dissertation Committee Member:
Thank you for your consideration in serving as a dissertation committee member for one of our students.
Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions (RMUoHP) is dedicated to fostering a spirit of inquiry in a
scholarly environment and the sharing of ideas within a dynamic collegial setting. In addition to its
commitment of enhancing the doctoral student’s clinical expertise, the University is dedicated to achieving the
following research goals:
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Critically evaluate, refute and/or support scientific literature.
Articulate feasible, answerable and important research question.
Perform efficient, effective literature searches.
Design and orally defend a feasible dissertation proposal to a dissertation committee.
Design and submit a feasible institutional research board (IRB) application/consent form.
Appropriately collect data following IRB approval emphasizing sound procedures and ethical
principles.
Conduct appropriate study data analyses and write a dissertation manuscript suitable for peer-review
publication.
Aptly orally defend the complete manuscript at a final defense to dissertation committee, peers, and
general public.
All RMUoHP doctoral students are required to complete a scholarly dissertation. The student will propose and
complete a dissertation from a variety of research designs, including: randomized control trial, single subject
(minimum of 5 subjects), quasi-experimental, correlational, or qualititative designs, or survey research. It is
RMUoHP’s goal that the final manuscript of each dissertation will be of sufficient quality to be
submitted for peer-review in a leading journal.
The student must assemble a Dissertation Committee that is approved by the RMUoHP Director of Research.
The Dissertation Committee shall consist of a minimum of three individuals. The Committee members are
initially screened to ensure that the Committee members meet the following criteria:
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The Dissertation Committee Chairperson will have a terminal academic doctorate (e.g., PhD, EdD,
ScD., DSc.), and show evidence of a strong background in research design and/or statistics.
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At least two (2) Doctoral Committee members shall have a terminal academic doctorate (e.g., PhD,
EdD, ScD, DSc) with a strong background in research design and methodology.
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The third committee member may have either an entry-level doctorate, such as a MD and DPM, or if
board certified, a DNP, DPT, or D.OT. A MS degree in biostatistics/statistics is considered in special
cases. In general, this individual contributes statistical expertise.
At least one (1) Committee member should be a subject (content) matter expert.
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The Dissertation Committee Chairperson and other committee members are then approved based on the
Dissertation Committee’s composition of subject matter expertise, experience in the academic dissertation
defense process, and methodological knowledge. Because we feel this criterion is important in guiding the
student through the dissertation process, we require each potential committee member to submit his/her
curriculum vitae and to complete the Dissertation Committee Experience form. While some of the
requested information may duplicate what may be on your curriculum vitae, we would like you to provide
specific information about your committee experience and/or research process background. Please sign the
bottom of the form when completed, and then attach the form to your curriculum vitae. If you have any
questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at (619) 971-5317 (San Diego) (801) 734-6816 (Provo)
or mrauh@rmuohp.edu. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Mitchell J. Rauh, PhD, PT, MPH, FACSM
Professor/Director of Research
Form B
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Dissertation Committee Experience Form
1. What strength(s) do you feel you can offer to the student’s dissertation? (check all that apply)
Research Methodology
Biostatistics/Statistics
Content expertise:
Laboratory setting
Avenue to recruit subjects
Other:
2. What role have you been asked to serve on the student’s dissertation?
Dissertation Committee Chairperson
Dissertation Committee member
3. Please indicate your experience teaching the following courses at the corresponding levels
(Please check all that apply)
Course
Research Methods
Biostatistics/Statistics
MPT
DPT
MS
PhD
Dsc
Other
No
experience
4. Please indicate your experience serving on a research committee at the corresponding levels:
(Please check all that apply)
Degree Level
DPT/MPT
MOT
MRN
MS
PhD
DSc
Other
Form B
Committee Member
Chairperson
Page 2 of 3
How recent was your committee service?
Current
1-2 yrs
3-5 yrs
6+ yrs
Current
1-2 yrs
3-5 yrs
6+ yrs
Current
1-2 yrs
3-5 yrs
6+ yrs
Current
1-2 yrs
3-5 yrs
6+ yrs
Current
1-2 yrs
3-5 yrs
6+ yrs
Current
1-2 yrs
3-5 yrs
6+ yrs
Current
1-2 yrs
3-5 yrs
6+ yrs
09/10
5. Please indicate your experience in submitting a manuscript to a peer-reviewed journal?
(check all that apply)
Submitted manuscript(s) as first author
Submitted manuscript(s) as co-author
Never submitted a manuscript to a peer-reviewed journal
5a. If yes, how many have been accepted as a peer-reviewed paper?
6. Have you ever written or collaborated on a grant proposal?
No
Yes
If yes, what role(s) have you served? (check all that apply)
Principal investigator
Co-investigator
Project Director
Data Manager
Consultant
Other
Thank you for your response.
Signature
Date
Please attach form to your curriculum vitae and return to the RMUoHP student
Contact information:
Mitchell J. Rauh, PhD, PT, MPH, FACSM
Professor
Director of Research
Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions
561 East 1860 South
Provo, UT 84606
Phone: (801) 734-6816 [Provo] or (619) 971-5317 [San Diego]
Fax: (801) 375-2125
Email: mrauh@rmuohp.edu
Form B
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09/10