Oral Defense
Oral DNP Proposal Defense
Development of the DNP Project is accomplished as a part of the requirements within the DNP Project Immersion courses. Under direction of the Faculty Mentor, the student develops a research proposal for submission and approval by the DNP Project Team. The proposal provides a thorough description of the proposed study, following proposal guidelines as directed by the Faculty Mentor. The student presents the proposal to the DNP Project Team in an oral hearing via a one-hour teleconference. Upon the DNP Project Team’s approval of the proposal, the student is authorized to begin the study. The Faculty Mentor issues written approval to the student using the approval form: Approval of the DNP Proposal.
Final Oral DNP Defense
The Final Oral DNP Defense is the last formal step in the DNP process. It is a requirement all committee members are present for the Final Oral DNP Defense. The Doctoral student produces and presents the DNP Project before the DNP Project Team via teleconference. The DNP Project Team determines the general format of the DNP and the abstract based on the University’s general design guidelines. The Faculty Mentor should ensure that the DNP is in final form before requesting evaluations from the other members of the DNP Project Team. Each of the team members must be available for the final defense.
The student arranges the Final Oral DNP Defense teleconference and solicits and coordinates the availability of the DNP Project Team members. Based upon the student’s presentation, one of three votes may be awarded:
- Accepted with no Changes
- Accepted with Changes
- Acceptance Denied
Where changes are required, the student must make any iteration in a timely manner and submit the final copy to the Faculty Mentor. Where acceptance is denied or the student has not met the allotted timeframe, the student must retake DNP courses. This option may only be exercised once.
Following the successful oral defense, the Faculty Mentor submits the Approval of the DNP with all of the project team’s signatures and copy of the final DNP manuscript to the Program Director with a recommendation for final approval. The Faculty Mentor issues written approval to the student using the approval form: Approval of the Final. If the decision of the DNP Project Team is not unanimous, the case is referred to the Deans for resolution. If the decision of the DNP Project Team is a failure recommendation, the Faculty Mentor, Program Director and Deans formulate a course of action that may include re-registration in DNP courses.
The DNP Project Team must evaluate the DNP and recommend the awarding of the doctoral degree only if the DNP is judged to demonstrate the following qualities. The DNP should demonstrate a host of characteristics, including:
- Establish a historical context for the presentation of an innovative and creative approach to the problem.
- Demonstrate understanding of the problem as revealed by analysis and synthesis of a broad literature base.
- Articulate clarity in composition and careful documentation.
- Merit publication in refereed journals or form the basis of a book or monograph.
- Detail the design of the study so that other scholars can build on it in subsequent work.
- Prepare the author to assume a position within the profession.