DNP Project Team
Each doctoral student must work with a qualified DNP Project Team (formally called DNP Committee) that is knowledgeable in methods of graduate-level study and research, as well as in the subject area concerned. In addition to the student, the 3-person DNP Project Team is comprised of the Faculty Mentor (Chair), Faculty Reviewer (Content Specialist), and Independent Reviewer. The student will also need a site/clinical preceptor and the preceptor may serve as the Independent Reviewer. The Faculty Mentor is the course instructor for all DNP Project courses, acting as the Project Chair for the student. The Faculty and Independent Reviewers must have appropriate understanding and interest in the topic of the DNP research project. All members of the DNP Project Team must hold a doctoral degree and one member must hold a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, ensuring that all members of the DNP Project Team are well versed on doctoral-level work as well as in the field of the program. The student is permitted to select the DNP Project Team members in consultation with the Faculty Mentor, but Aspen University Program Leadership (DNP Program Coordinator, Deans, and Director) makes the final decisions. To select Faculty and Independent Reviewers, the student sends a statement of request to the Faculty Mentor along with the rationale for selecting the individual.
The professional relationship between the student and the DNP Project team is characterized by enthusiasm, professionalism, and regular and reciprocal communication. In the ideal relationship between the DNP Project Team members, the student receives constant, timely, and quality feedback on progress. This type of interaction and feedback can be accomplished in a variety of ways. However, the emphasis of interactions and feedback is on both the frequency of interactions and quality feedback to maintain a dialogue on the issues and research questions raised by the student’s investigative work.
The Faculty Mentor assists the student in formulating the DNP Project Team and oversees its progress. The Faculty Mentor also serves the roles of supervisor, advisor, director, counselor, coach, role model, guide, collaborator, facilitator, advocate, chair and the like. The Faculty Mentor supervises the immersion experience and communicates with the preceptor and student during the Project and related immersion hours. At the beginning of each DNP Project course the Faculty Mentor will have a required teleconference with the preceptor and the student to discuss project objectives, goals and immersion activities to provide clarity to the student and the preceptor at the beginning, middle, and end of the course.
The Faculty Mentor facilitates communications and resource exchanges among all members of the DNP Project Team and is accountable for the DNP Project Team’s work. The Faculty Mentor provides guidance and supervision for the entire DNP process, timely and practical reviews including specific constructive critiques to the student, communicates appropriate concerns to the student, and communicates with all the members of the DNP Project Team and Aspen University administrators. The Faculty Mentor is responsible for contacting and chairing meetings of the full DNP Project Team. When there is a difference of opinion or conflict, the Faculty Mentor negotiates with all DNP Project Team members and the student.
The Faculty Mentor serves as a guide and consultant to the student throughout the DNP process and ensures the integrity of Aspen University’s DNP guidelines. The Faculty Mentor is an expert in providing guidance to the student about research including the research topic, problem statement, current literature review, research design and planning, data collection, analysis and reporting, DNP document preparation, and the like to maximize the student’s progress for successful and ethical doctoral research. The Faculty Mentor maintains documentation of all communication within the DNP Project Team, ensuring that all necessary forms are completed, signed, and submitted to Aspen University administrators.
If the Faculty Mentor is unable to serve for the entire duration of the student’s DNP project, the Program Director will arrange for a replacement Faculty Mentor.
Any additional human resources should be discussed with the Faculty Mentor. Such resources might comprise a DNP editor, academic advisor, or a subject matter expert (SME), such as a statistics expert. All individuals associated with the DNP process should be acknowledged for their contribution. Any expense incurred by the student for external services rendered is managed independently between the student and the service provider. Hiring a writer or buying a completed DNP product is not acceptable and grounds for termination.