Abstract:

This paper is a report on a study-in-process conducted at an institution of higher learning in the Western United States. The study examines the degree to which a student community shell within the Blackboard learning management system will support doctoral business students to successfully complete their program. It is known that doctoral candidates from graduate programs struggle with completing their degrees with many giving up at the dissertation. Research suggests that doctoral students struggle in their program due to the experience of frustration, self-doubt, and high levels of stress. The doctoral student community shell was designed to provide support around these areas covering writing, research, publication, and anxiety-reduction support as well as peer to peer mentoring. Initial qualitative data results from the study are included along with a literature review, initial findings, and discussion.

Keywords:

Doctoral students, student support, Blackboard, writing instruction, research, anxiety-reduction, peer mentoring.