Once a student has received approval for his/her project from the IRB, they may begin working on the dissertation project (according to dates approved by the IRB). It is strongly recommended that students maintain regular contact with their advisor and other students in the program during this time. Most students at this stage in the dissertation are no longer taking coursework and many no longer visit campus on a regular basis. Because of this, it is easy to feel isolated and this may be quite different from one’s educational experiences up to this point. Joining writing groups at this stage is encouraged.
The use of artificial intelligence (ChatGPT, Google Bard, etc.) is not allowed in the writing of the PhD Dissertation.
Students conducting their dissertation work still need to register every fall and spring semester to maintain their active student status, even if all required coursework and dissertation credits have been taken.
It is recommended that students work out a plan with their advisor(s) for getting feedback on chapter drafts if this has not already been done. In most instances, the expectation is that only the advisor reviews dissertation drafts until s/he believes it is ready to be forwarded to the whole committee for review. However, certain committee members may be asked—or may ask—to read particular chapters where their expertise is sought before the dissertation is completed.