AAUA National Assembly 2008

Call for Nominations – Dissertation Awards

The Leo and Margaret Goodman-Malamuth
Outstanding Dissertation Award

The Donald A. Gatzke Outstanding Dissertation Award

Each year, the American Association of University Administrators (AAUA) recognizes two outstanding doctoral dissertations in the field of higher education or higher education administration with the awarding of the Leo and Margaret Goodman-Malamuth and the Donald A. Gatzke Outstanding Dissertation Awards. Criteria for selection are as follows: (1) the importance and relevance of the topic to the broad field of higher education administration; (2) evidence of the development of a theoretical framework which guided the research; (3) the appropriateness of the research method and analysis; (4) the overall quality of writing; (5) the potential for publication and/or other dissemination of research results; and (6) the degree to which the results provide useful information for practitioners in the professional field of higher education.

Recipients receive a suitable award plaque and are recognized at AAUA's annual National Assembly. A similar recognition plaque is presented to the program from which the student graduated. (The registration fee for the annual meeting is waived for both the award recipient and a faculty representative from the institution which awarded the doctoral degree.)

To be eligible for one of the outstanding dissertation awards to be presented at the 2008 AAUA National Assembly (June 26 to 28, 2008 in Salt Lake City, Utah), a dissertation must have been completed and accepted by the student's doctoral committee between the dates of January 1, 2007 and March 15, 2008. Submissions should contain the following:

1. A letter from the dissertation author (a) stating why he/she believes the dissertation topic to be of importance and its relevance to the broad field of higher education administration, (b) describing any plans for proceeding with publication or other dissemination of the results of the research, (c) and stating his/her intention to be present at the National Assembly to accept the award, if selected.

2. A summary of the dissertation, not to exceed 15 pages single spaced, in 12 point font, with at least one inch margin on all sides. Include (1) a cover page with complete contact information, (2) an abstract not to exceed 200 words, (3) a discussion of the issue or problem addressed by the work, (4) a description of the method or methods of analysis used, (5) a summary of findings, and (6) a selected bibliography. The cover page and any graphs, tables, appendices, or bibliographies are not included in the page count.

3. A supporting letter from the student's doctoral dissertation advisor or program director. This letter should comment directly on one or more of the selection criteria identified above.

The deadline for receipt of applications is April 1, 2008. Materials must be submitted as MS Word attachments to a single e-mail, and must be transmitted to: NEUNER@CANISIUS.EDU.

The dissertation author will be expected to give a presentation of approximately 15 minutes, plus Q. and A. at the annual AAUA conference on Friday, June 27, 2008 at Salt Lake City, Utah.

For further information contact Dr. Jerome L. Neuner, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, Canisius College, Buffalo, NY 14208; phone 716-888-2120, fax 716-888-2125, email NEUNER@CANISIUS.EDU.