10:41 a.m., March 23, 2009----Rather than drop to the ground and give the instructor 100 push-ups, the students participating in this summer's “Dissertation Boot Camp” at the University of Delaware will spend an intensive two weeks writing about their research findings for the most important publication of their academic career.

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The UD Office of Graduate and Professional Education is partnering with the Writing Program to offer two dissertation boot camps -- June 8-19 and Aug. 10-23.

The program is designed for UD doctoral students who are writing their first dissertation chapters, or who have found their writing progress stalled, or who desire expert guidance and the opportunity to join a community of dissertation writers.

Students accepted to the program will commit to attending a writing session from 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, for two consecutive weeks.

Adapted from similar programs at the University of Pennsylvania, Stanford, Temple and Yale, this summer's dissertation boot camps build on the success of an initial program offered at UD this past winter, according to Debra Hess Norris, vice provost for graduate and professional education, chairperson of the Department of Art Conservation, and Henry F. du Pont Chair in Fine Arts.

“The boot camps are part of our initiative to strengthen student success in the Office of Graduate and Professional Education's strategic plan,” Norris said. “Participants will spend the majority of their time writing; however, the workshop will also include brief discussions on topics of common interest to dissertation students, such as goal setting, time management, and the writing habits of successful and prolific academic writers.”

Writing Program faculty led by Michael McCamley, assistant professor of English, will provide time, space and professional tutorial support to help students progress on their projects. Food also will be provided.

“Students are surprised at how much writing they get done in two weeks,” McCamley noted. “More importantly, though, they learn how to write in healthier and more productive ways.”

Doctoral students must be nominated by their faculty adviser for the boot camp. As part of the application process, prospective participants will write a brief proposal (no more than 300 words) explaining what they will produce during the workshop.

The proposal should note which boot camp session is the applicant's first and second choice. Applicants will be chosen based upon time to degree completion, the importance of the workshop at this stage of the project, and broad disciplinary representation.

Applications are due Friday, May 1, and should be e-mailed to Michael McCamley at [mccamley@udel.edu].

Article by Tracey Bryant