Joining a Dissertation Support Group

Since the dissertation can be a unique, but lonely experience, I initiated a student group to provide emotional support, share practical advice (re: from where to get your thesis bound to how to run computer programs), and intellectual guidance. The purposes of such a group are: 

1) to provide support for those ready or close to doing a dissertation, 

2) to help manage and coordinate my advising time and resources, and 

3) to share ideas, information, and research help in starting (and continuing )a dissertation. 

Such group support supplements, but does not supplant, individual conferences with the committee chair. If I am a member of your committee, but not chair, you need to keep our chair informed about your involvement and progress. 

While a group sets its own meeting time and agenda, most meet at least monthly and sometimes around food. Group members typically: 

• give progress reports, 

• react to each other’s ideas and drafts of documents, and 

• share books, IRB documents, frustration, and progress. 

The first group met from 1992 through the summer of 1995 and the last of its five successfully defended her dissertation in December 1995. The second group met from 1997 through 2000. A current group of 4 meets on its own. Such a group helps to demystify the research process and provides a unique service to students. If interested in joining or starting a group, please contact me at helen.hazi@mail.wvu.edu.