At 9:00 AM EST, we opened the Winter 2015 Dissertation House at the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC: An Honors University in Maryland). We have a wonderful group of students from UMBC and UMB in house, and we invite you to join us. Our Dissertation Coach is Dr. Wendy Carter-Veale. Dr. Carter-Veale is challenging the group to post “measurable” goals, and she urges everyone to be realistic so that each can accomplish an actual goal by the end of the week. Some people think that they will be able to accomplish huge tasks in a short period of time, and while you will be productive, we want to be sure that you are setting yourselves up for success. Therefore, it is not necessarily prudent to try to finish such a large task within a few days.

Graduate students who are participating in the Dissertation House here at UMBC had to apply to participate. If you are not participating in person, we invite you to join us online:

https://dissertationhouse.wordpress.com/blog-online-challenge/winter-2015-challenge/

Post your goals and join others in the challenge to “get it done!”

At 9:00 AM EST, we opened the Winter 2015 Dissertation House at the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC: An Honors University in Maryland). We have a wonderful group of students from UMBC and UMB in house, and we invite you to join us. Our Dissertation Coach is Dr. Wendy Carter-Veale. Dr. Carter-Veale is challenging the group to post “measurable” goals, and she urges everyone to be realistic so that each can accomplish an actual goal by the end of the week. Some people think that they will be able to accomplish huge tasks in a short period of time, and while you will be productive, we want to be sure that you are setting yourselves up for success. Therefore, it is not necessarily prudent to try to finish such a large task within a few days.

Graduate students who are participating in the Dissertation House here at UMBC had to apply to participate. If you are not participating in person, we invite you to join us online:

https://dissertationhouse.wordpress.com/blog-online-challenge/winter-2015-challenge/

Post your goals and join others in the challenge to “get it done!”

Opportunities to work with your friends and colleagues from any session of the Dissertation House (DH) continues over the next two weekends! The group from the January 2012 DH has nicknamed their group “INSANITY!” People in the group and on the DH blog from UMBC, UMCP, and UM College Park are working hard and counting down. Are you working on your dissertation? Have you participated in at least on DH session in the past? If so, you’re invited to join the group. Your requirement? Follow the steps that you learned in the DH: post your goals, commit to the process, and get to work!

These sessions will be held on UMBC’s Campus.

• Friday, February 10, from 8.30 AM to 11.45 AM and again from 1:15 to 5:00 PM, Commons Room 318(This room has a meeting being held between 12 noon and 1 PM, which means everyone will have to leave for that allotted time.)
• Saturday, February 11, 2012 from 8:30 AM to 8:00 PM, Commons Room 327
• Sunday, February 12, 2012 from 12 noon to 8:00 PM, Commons Room 327

• Friday, February 17, 2012 from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, Commons Room 329
• Saturday, February 18, 2012 from 8:30 AM to 8:00 PM, Public Policy Building Room 206
• Sunday, February 19, 2012 from 12 noon to 8:00 PM, Commons Room 327

Related articles

• Dissertation House WEEKEND at UMBC: 26 hours!! Fri. Feb. 3 – Sun. Feb. 5 (dissertationhouse.wordpress.com)
• Join the PROMISE blogs and websites for up-to-date information. 55,000 hits & 2,300 comments strong on the DH! (promiseagep.wordpress.com)

Opportunities to work with your friends and colleagues from any session of the Dissertation House (DH) continues over the next two weekends! The group from the January 2012 DH has nicknamed their group “INSANITY!” People in the group and on the DH blog from UMBC, UMCP, and UM College Park are working hard and counting down. Are you working on your dissertation? Have you participated in at least on DH session in the past? If so, you’re invited to join the group. Your requirement? Follow the steps that you learned in the DH: post your goals, commit to the process, and get to work!

These sessions will be held on UMBC’s Campus.

• Friday, February 10, from 8.30 AM to 11.45 AM and again from 1:15 to 5:00 PM, Commons Room 318(This room has a meeting being held between 12 noon and 1 PM, which means everyone will have to leave for that allotted time.)
• Saturday, February 11, 2012 from 8:30 AM to 8:00 PM, Commons Room 327
• Sunday, February 12, 2012 from 12 noon to 8:00 PM, Commons Room 327

• Friday, February 17, 2012 from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, Commons Room 329
• Saturday, February 18, 2012 from 8:30 AM to 8:00 PM, Public Policy Building Room 206
• Sunday, February 19, 2012 from 12 noon to 8:00 PM, Commons Room 327

Related articles

• Dissertation House WEEKEND at UMBC: 26 hours!! Fri. Feb. 3 – Sun. Feb. 5 (dissertationhouse.wordpress.com)
• Join the PROMISE blogs and websites for up-to-date information. 55,000 hits & 2,300 comments strong on the DH! (promiseagep.wordpress.com)

The following dissertation support group and writing consultant information is relevant to students from UMBC, UMCP, or UMB. Please register or make an appointment early to get a spot in a group or with a consultant on your campus. In some cases, space is limited. The DH endorses involvement in these campus-sponsored groups. 

The Summer 2011 DH participants in College Park during a "group" support session.

UMBC: (From Dr. Emilie Stuber) The group will be lead by Assistant Director, Dr. Bonita Johnsen, and she is hoping to get it started ASAP. She plans to run the group on Thursday afternoons, at 1:00, 2:00, or 2:30.  Previous group members have been contacted; new members as welcome. Members who have already attended the group will not need to have an intake appointment with us, but we do ask that all new members schedule an intake appointment and let the receptionist know that they are interested in joining the Dissertation Support Group. http://www.umbc.edu/counseling/, 410-455-2472. Participation is free for students of UMBC.

UMCP: The spring Dissertation Support Group at College Park will begin on Feb. 24, 2012. Students must register by Feb. 10. http://www.freestuff.umd.edu/events.cfm?mode=detail&eventID=15382. For more information, contact Dr. Marcia V. Marinelli; Assistant Director, Counseling Center; Director, Learning Assistance Service; marcym@umd.edu; 301-314-7680.  This group is free for students of College Park.

UMB: UMB’s Writing Center offers assistance with dissertations. Students come to the Writing Center for individual help with brainstorming ideas, organizing structure, writing a draft, and revising and polishing prose.  The Writing Center - SMC Campus Center, 621 W. Lombard Street, Suite 302. For Appointment please call 410-706-7725. This service is free for students at UMB.

The following dissertation support group and writing consultant information is relevant to students from UMBC, UMCP, or UMB. Please register or make an appointment early to get a spot in a group or with a consultant on your campus. In some cases, space is limited. The DH endorses involvement in these campus-sponsored groups. 

The Summer 2011 DH participants in College Park during a "group" support session.

UMBC: (From Dr. Emilie Stuber) The group will be lead by Assistant Director, Dr. Bonita Johnsen, and she is hoping to get it started ASAP. She plans to run the group on Thursday afternoons, at 1:00, 2:00, or 2:30.  Previous group members have been contacted; new members as welcome. Members who have already attended the group will not need to have an intake appointment with us, but we do ask that all new members schedule an intake appointment and let the receptionist know that they are interested in joining the Dissertation Support Group. http://www.umbc.edu/counseling/, 410-455-2472. Participation is free for students of UMBC.

UMCP: The spring Dissertation Support Group at College Park will begin on Feb. 24, 2012. Students must register by Feb. 10. http://www.freestuff.umd.edu/events.cfm?mode=detail&eventID=15382. For more information, contact Dr. Marcia V. Marinelli; Assistant Director, Counseling Center; Director, Learning Assistance Service; marcym@umd.edu; 301-314-7680.  This group is free for students of College Park.

UMB: UMB’s Writing Center offers assistance with dissertations. Students come to the Writing Center for individual help with brainstorming ideas, organizing structure, writing a draft, and revising and polishing prose.  The Writing Center - SMC Campus Center, 621 W. Lombard Street, Suite 302. For Appointment please call 410-706-7725. This service is free for students at UMB.

The day began late due to ice-encased cars, slippery roads, and a delayed opening. However, the graduate students at UMBC are hard at work and they are putting in the time and effort needed to work on their dissertations.  This morning, students posted and shared their goals and objectives for the week and began to chip away at their respective projects. Dr. Wendy Carter, the Dissertation Coach for the campus, reviewed the goals with the students to make sure that they were measurable and reasonable for the 4-day period of the workshop.

After lunch, Dr. Robert Deluty (Associate Dean of the Graduate School, Presidential Teaching Professor in the Department of Psychology, and published poet) gave a talk on working with committees and advisors that was filled with both wisdom and humor.  Dr. Deluty’s message of support for all of the graduate students at UMBC was that often, “nothing is utterly hopeless.” He provided some words and phrases that students can use when talking with their advisors and seeking advice from mentors. He also told students to be sure to seek multiple sources of encouragement and support because a solution can often be found with help of others, whether they be peers, faculty, or administrators.  The afternoon mini-lecture series ended with a great story by newly minted Ph.D., Dr. Adrienne Starks, an alum of the Dissertation House. Dr. Starks discussed her journey and some of the solutions that she used, including resources for an editor and a spa to de-stress!  She has shared them on the Dissertation House’s “Winter Challenge” section of the blog: http://dissertationhouse.wordpress.com/blog-online-challenge/winter-2011-challenge/

Read more about Dr. Deluty: http://cocreateumbc.blogspot.com/2010/09/real-people-profiles-robert-h-deluty.html

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wpgAoprz8g

Join us online. You can participate in the Winter Online Challenge regardless of your department, school, state, or country!

Good luck to all who are working on their dissertations.