NATIONAL+JOURNAL%3a+FOCUS+ON+COLLEGES%2c+UNIVERSITIES%2c+AND+SCHOOLS+VOLUME+2+NUMBER+1%2c+2008%0d%0a%0d%0aFunctions+of+the+Dissertation+Advisor%0d%0aWilliam+Allan+Kritsonis%2c+PhD+Professor+PhD+Program+in+Educational+Leadership+The+Whitlowe+R.+Green+College+of+Education+Prairie+View+A%26M+University+Member+of+the+Texas+A%26M+University+System+Prairie+View%2c+Texas+Visiting+Lecturer+(2005)+Oxford+Round+Table+Oriel+College+in+the+University+of+Oxford+Oxford%2c+England+Distinguished+Alumnus+(2004)+Central+Washington+University+College+of+Education+and+Professional+Studies+Ellensburg%2c+Washington%0d%0a%0d%0aABSTRACT+This+article+provides+helpful+suggestions+for+dissertation+chairs+for+doctoral+dissertation.+The+content+was+developed+from+numerous+discussions+with+colleagues%2c+doctoral+candidates%2c+graduates%2c+personal+reading+along+with+reviewing+the+literature+at+various+websites+pertaining+to+doctoral+studies.+The+primary+purpose+of+this+article+is+to+establish+some+general+guidelines+and+functions+for+doctoral+dissertation+advisors.+________________________________________________________________________%0d%0a%0d%0aIntroduction%0d%0a%0d%0aThose+who+succeed+in+academic+scholastic+writing+at+the+advanced+levels+typically+write+an+excellent+doctoral+dissertation.+In+writing+a+dissertation+there+appears+to+be+an+enjoyment+of+the+constant+flowing+of+ideas.+At+the+doctoral+level+mentors+are+critically+important+in+helping+their+students+complete+the+dissertation%2c+and+later+in+getting+students+published+at+the+national+level+in+refereed%2c+juried%2c+peer-reviewed+scholarly+journals.%0d%0a%0d%0a1%0d%0a%0d%0a%0cNATIONAL+JOURNAL%3a+FOCUS+ON+COLLEGES%2c+UNIVERSITIES%2c+AND+SCHOOLS+2_____________________________________________________________________________________%0d%0a%0d%0aPurpose+of+the+Article%0d%0a%0d%0aThe+purpose+of+this+article+is+to+establish+some+basic+functions+of+the+dissertation+advisor.+Hopefully%2c+the+suggestions+will+help+others+in+the+doctoral+advisement+process.%0d%0a%0d%0aThe+Functions+of+the+Doctoral+Dissertation+Advisor%0d%0a%0d%0aThe+following+suggestions+are+functions+of+a+dissertation+advisor%3a+1.+Keep+a+folder+for+each+doctoral+student.+This+will+give+you+the+opportunity+to+review+previous+and+current+work+completed+by+the+student.+It+will+give+you+the+opportunity+to+review+your+own+comments.+Reviewing+the+fold+periodically+enables+me+to+firmly+grasp+what+student%e2%80%99s+are+most+concerned+with+in+conducting+their+research.+2.+Keep+track+of+emails+that+you+send.+Make+certain+that+you+communicate+to+students+frequently.+Not+communicating+with+doctoral+students+shows+disrespect.+3.+Establish+a+personal+relationship+with+your+doctoral+student+advisees.+Being+a+mentor+is+a+very+serious+responsibility.+See+each+of+your+students+as+people.+They+have+goals+and+aspirations+just+as+you+do.+4.+Develop+your+own+style+in+dissertation+advising.+The+best+way+to+develop+your+own+style+is+by+doing+it.+5.+Be+positive+in+working+with+doctoral+students+on+their+dissertations.+Make+certain+to+provide+feedback+that+is+constructive+and+useful.+6.+Know+your+strengths%2c+attributes%2c+weaknesses%2c+and+limitations.+7.+Do+your+homework+in+working+with+each+advisee.+8.+Think+about+your+own+dissertation+experience.+Avoid+any+mistakes+that+were+made.+Incorporate+effective+strategies+that+work.+9.+Encourage+advisees+to+document+what+they+want+to+do+as+a+dissertation.+10.+Strive+to+make+a+difference+as+an+advisor+to+your+advisee.+11.+Make+your+presence+matter+in+the+life+of+the+doctoral+student.%0d%0a%0d%0a%0cWILLIAM+ALLAN+KRITSONIS+_____________________________________________________________________________________3%0d%0a%0d%0a12.+Accept+the+responsibility+of+doing+a+good+job.+13.+Study+the+dissertation+topic+your+advisee+is+interested+in+developing.+14.+Accept+the+fact+that+you+know+more+about+writing+a+dissertation+than+your+doctoral+students.+15.+As+an+advisor%2c+recognize+the+time+when+the+dissertation+topic+must+be+revised+or+changed.+16.+Be+ready+to+suggest+to+your+advisee+they+need+to+shift+their+research+time+to+other+areas+of+the+dissertation+if+you+see+them+bogging+down.+17.+Do+not+hesitate+to+tell+the+advisee+they+need+to+put+more+effort+into+their+dissertation.+18.+Make+certain+to+realize+as+an+advisor+that+there+are+many+different+strategies+for+writing+a+doctoral+dissertation.+19.+Encourage+doctoral+students+to+talk+with+others+writing+their+dissertation.+They+often+can+provide+practical+feedback+and+encouragement.+20.+Encourage+doctoral+students+to+communicate+with+others+in+different+departments+and+colleges+that+are+writing+dissertations.+21.+Encourage+advisees+to+explore+other+ideas+beyond+your+own+suggestions.+22.+Tell+your+advisees+how+you+like+to+work+with+them.+If+you+need+to+work+from+an+outline+%e2%80%93+tell+the+advisee.+Let+advisee%e2%80%99s+know+your+work+habits.+23.+Remember%2c+it+is+the+advisee%e2%80%99s+dissertation+%e2%80%93+not+yours.+24.+If+serving+as+an+advisor+to+a+dissertation+is+new+to+you%2c+try+to+work+with+a+colleague+that+has+successful+experience.+25.+Be+supportive+of+the+advisee%e2%80%99s+work.+Use+specific+example%e2%80%99s+in+telling+advisee%e2%80%99s+their+work+is+good.+26.+Point+out+where+the+work+is+good.+Point+out+where+the+work+needs+improvement.+27.+Make+certain+you+develop+the+habit+of+getting+things+back+to+students+in+a+timely+manner.+By+doing+so%2c+the+advisee+will+keep+focused+on+what+they+were+working+on.%0d%0a%0d%0a%0cNATIONAL+JOURNAL%3a+FOCUS+ON+COLLEGES%2c+UNIVERSITIES%2c+AND+SCHOOLS+4_____________________________________________________________________________________%0d%0a%0d%0a28.+Read+dissertation+chapters+at+your+earliest+convenience.+Do+not+let+too+much+time+pass.+You+are+a+busy+person.+Your+advisee+is+a+busy+person.+Establish+with+the+advisee+time+lines+and+meet+them.+29.+Encourage+students+to+contact+you+if+you+have+taken+too+long+to+respond+to+them.+30.+As+an+advisor%2c+gives+lots+of+suggestions.+Be+specific%2c+exact%2c+concise%2c+detailed%2c+and+comprehensive+in+your+advising.+31.+Always+strive+to+be+positive+and+enthusiastic+in+working+with+students+on+their+dissertation.+Be+cheerful%2c+optimistic%2c+and+helpful.+32.+As+an+advisor%2c+you+are+there+to+help.+Help+as+much+as+you+possibly+can.+Remember%2c+however%2c+it+is+the+advisee%e2%80%99s+dissertation.+33.+Encourage+your+doctoral+students.+deadlines.+Give+them+the+responsibility+to+meet%0d%0a%0d%0a34.+Encourage+your+doctoral+students+to+talk+with+their+committee+members.+Advisees+can+practice+explaining+their+dissertation+topics.+Perhaps+other+committee+members+suggest+other+approaches+or+a+new+study+altogether.+When+this+happens%2c+meet+with+the+advisee.+Perhaps+you+will+agree+or+disagree.+Keep+the+dialogue+open.+35.+Maintain+a+professional+relationship+with+each+doctoral+student.+36.+Make+positive+suggestions+on+their+dissertation.+Direct+them+to+relevant+sources+of+information.+37.+Remember+it+is+their+dissertation.+They+must+do+the+work.+38.+It+is+your+duty+to+encourage+them+to+do+the+work+that+must+be+done+to+have+a+quality+dissertation.+39.+Be+available.+If+this+means+meeting+with+doctoral+students+at+your+home%2c+at+a+restaurant%2c+do+it.+The+important+thing+to+remember+is+to+help+them+achieve+their+goals+in+completing+the+dissertation.+40.+As+a+leader%2c+know+your+leadership+style+and+most+importantly+know+your+advisee+style.+Some+advisee+need+a+lot+of+attention%2fdirections%2c+while+others+are+selfdirective.+Be+adaptable.+41.+Don%e2%80%99t+be+afraid+to+tell+an+advisee+when+they+are+wasting+time+on+something+that+won%e2%80%99t+work+or+is+not+relevant.+The+advisee+shouldn%e2%80%99t+here+this+for+the+first+time+in+their+proposal+defense.%0d%0a%0d%0a%0cWILLIAM+ALLAN+KRITSONIS+_____________________________________________________________________________________5%0d%0a%0d%0a42.+In+giving+directions+to+your+advisee%2c+constantly+prepare+them+for+their+proposal+defense.+This+will+keep+them+focus+on+the+relevant+things.+43.+Don%e2%80%99t+take+on+the+job+as+advisor+if+you+don%e2%80%99t+intend+to+make+it+a+priority.+44.+You+want+your+students+to+tell+you+%e2%80%9cI+like+the+way+your+are+always+available%2c+keep+up+the+good+work.%e2%80%9d+45.+The+doctoral+student+and+advisor+should+consult+someone+other+than+the+student%e2%80%99s+committee+members+for+the+need+for+special+advising+or+expertise.+46.+Provide+your+advisee+with+a+dissertation+topic.+47.+Try+to+obtain+adequate+funding+for+your+advisee%e2%80%99s+research.+48.+Link+students+with+similar+dissertation+topics+together+49.+Consider+or+recommend+doctoral+students+for+university+responsibilities+such+as%3a+A)+Facilitating+classes+when+professors+are+unavailable.+B)+Giving+examination+at+distance+learning+facilities+50.+Coordinate+an+orientation+with+refreshing+information+on+the+PhD+program.+51.+Have+knowledge+of+the+university+functions+and+the+ability+to+inform+the+advisee.%0d%0a%0d%0aConcluding+Remarks%0d%0a%0d%0aIn+conclusion%2c+the+purpose+of+this+article+was+to+establish+some+general+functions+of+a+dissertation+advisor.+There+are+numerous+functions+of+a+dissertation+advisor.+Perhaps+you+can+add+to+the+list.+My+intention+was+to+provide+some+general+guidelines+and+functions+for+thoughtful+consideration.%0d%0a%0d%0aReferences%0d%0a%0d%0aDave%2c+R.+(2007+December).+Quality+time+with+your+dissertation.+Retrieved+December+4%2c+2007%2c+from+the+Association+for+Support+of+Graduate+Students+Website%3a+http%3a%2f%2fwww.asgs.org%2f%0d%0a%0d%0a%0cNATIONAL+JOURNAL%3a+FOCUS+ON+COLLEGES%2c+UNIVERSITIES%2c+AND+SCHOOLS+6_____________________________________________________________________________________%0d%0a%0d%0aEastwood%2c+J.S.+(2000).+Comprehensive+editing.+Retrieved+December+3%2c+2007%2c+from+www.jeastwood.com+Jensen%2c+S.+(2000).+Dissertation+news.+Retrieved+December+3%2c+2007%2c+from+http%3a%2f%2fwww.dissertationdoctor.com%0d%0a%0d%0a%0c