To DOC or not to DOC? Exploring Doctorate Level Education for Housing and Residence Life Professionals Stephanie Hurley Marshall University MACUHO Annual Conference October 28, 2011

 Explore the necessity of a doctoral degree in the field of housing and residence life.  Investigate the variety in doctoral programs and identify parameters of specific interest.  Identify the difference between an EdD and PhD education.  Explore your personal needs/wants and if they are in line with a doctoral education.  Have a discussion about the value of doctoral programs and how they can meet your needs. Who are we? Why are we here?

Should housing professionals pursue doctoral degrees?  Upward Mobility  Salary Increases  Competition  Opened Doors  Exploring HE from a new perspective  Gain skills to assist in your current position

Average Salaries Resident Director (10-11) Low: $21,000 Average: $30,229 High: $41,000 Assistant Director, Residence Life (10-11) Low: $28,000 Average: $44,960 High: $76,000 Chief Housing Officers (10-11) 2% have doctoral degrees Low: $42,000 Average: $73,945 High: $145,000 Dean of Students (10-11)31% have doctoral degrees Low: $57,800 Average: $88,178 High: $120,778 Vice President (10-11) 67% have doctoral degrees Low: $99,090 Average: $185,989 High: $311,177

Upward Mobility  Many Director positions do not mention the need for a doctoral degree BUT  Dean positions typically list as a preference AND  VP positions are specifically looking for these credentials  In many circumstances, education can forgive some experience qualifications…so consider…

What kind of programs are available?  Leadership  Student Affairs  Higher Education Administration  Diversity  Communication  Counseling  Women’s Studies  It all depends on what your long term goals are!

What is available to me?  

Considerations  On my campus or not?  Prestige/Rank  Title vs. Content  Is the content reflective of my long-term goals?  Residency/Portfolios/Research  Who would be my peers in the program?  How are research topics defined?  What are the interests of faculty partners?  Is the faculty involved in professional organizations?  Faculty-student ratio  Completion ratings of previous students  Reputation and politics  Would you have a cohort?

PhD Versus EdD  Historically based in tradition, not differences  Content analyses find few differences  No difference found in admissions criteria  EdD yields toward practitioners, PhD toward researchers  EdD dissertations were reflective of local or regionals concerns while PhDs reached on a more national level  Some evidence states that PhD dissertations use a higher level of statistical methods  Be mindful of employment and goals  PhD compared to union card for teaching

Should YOU pursue a doctoral education?  Consider location  Will your institution cover costs?  Do you really want to go back into student loans?  What is the financial pay-off?  Can I make the time commitment?  Full time student responsibilities?  Support systems  It has been a while …

Want more information?  Google!  ACPA, NASPA, and ACUHO-I  Seek out information at conferences  Network  Talk to campus administrators and faculty

Comments, Questions, Concerns?

Sources     ACUHO-I Salary Survey,   Envisioning a New EdD, Redden, 2007   Degree Of Distinction: The Ed.D. Or The Ph.D. In Education  Benjamin Baez      Northern Illinoin University College of Education   Will Barrett, PhD, Indiana State Univeristy ACPA Commission for Professional Preparation