On Wednesday, October 28, all currently enrolled students and faculty in Olivet Nazarene University’s signature Doctor of Education in Ethical Leadership (Ed.D.) program were invited to the main campus in Bourbonnais, Illinois, for a day-long event.
The three-year terminal Ed.D. degree is facilitated completely online, which gives working adults some convenient flexibility
as they complete the program. Students seem to thrive in the cohort community fostered via digital connections, but three years ago, the director of the program, Kelly Brown ’92, Ed.D., saw an opportunity to increase the value of the Olivet experience by inviting students and faculty to gather in person.
“We wanted to offer a space for students to come to Olivet,” Dr. Brown said. “To see the campus and meet their professors, chairs and [dissertation] readers. I’m still impressed with how well the students gel together online in the program, they become like family to each other. While I love that, I also want them to see where they are getting their degree from. The Ed.D. day is a way to show off campus and spoil our Ed.D. students. This year, in addition to the usual Olivet swag, we also provided each student with a beautiful leather Bible.”
The average cohort size of Olivet’s Ed.D. program is 10-12 students and over the three years of coursework, students engage with and are supported by a committed team of full-time faculty.
The Ed.D. Day participants started their morning with a welcome breakfast, followed by attending chapel with the undergraduate student body. Visiting students were invited to take a campus tour, check out resources offered in Benner Library and visit the Spirit Store and Campus Starbucks in Ludwig Center. In addition to hearing from faculty speakers and past alumni, including a special message from Cheri Betz ’98/’16 Ed.D., the event featured breakout groups to connect with faculty on topics like adhering to Institutional Review Board standards, APA review and picking a dissertation topic.
“Any time you visit somewhere, you’re more invested in that place,” said Dr. Brown. “When you get a terminal degree from an institution, you want to feel fully invested and connected. We’ve found that being able to meet people you’ve corresponded with online in a face-to-face environment is super meaningful for the overall program experience of our students.”
Olivet’s unique Ed.D. program uses content area experts as chairs who teach the three interwoven dissertation courses. This allows students to engage in meaningful discussions of ethics, leadership, culture, strategy and change management, and then apply the knowledge to their unique area of interest. Recently, the Higher Learning Commission has authorized Olivet to recognize the specific academic track on students’ final transcripts if the dissertation content falls into a category of business, education, healthcare, law enforcement or ministry.
To register for the upcoming November 10 virtual open house for the Graduate and Continuing Studies programs within Olivet’s School of Education, click here.
For more information about the next start date for Olivet’s Ed.D. program, visit Olivet.edu/EdD
