For the second year in a row, The FAMU Office of Graduate Studies and Research hosted a Thesis and Dissertation Boot Camp in the School of Architecture and Engineering Technology building.
It was a two-day event that began on Friday, Feb. 6, 2015 at 8 a.m. and ended Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015 at 5:30 p.m.
The Boot Camp’s schedule included workshops on How to publish a scientific paper, How to organize your references and also set aside a combined 10 hours of sustained writing time for the students.
Interim Dean of The Office of Graduate Studies and Research, Verian Thomas Ph.D, felt like this event helps graduate students get back on track with writing their thesis and dissertations.
“When you are in the writing phase of a thesis or dissertation, sometimes you may get into a rut and we just bring the students back to remind them that we know it’s a struggle but we encourage them to re-focus,” Thomas said.
Doctoral candidate in the Pharmacology and Toxicology program, Jana Miles from Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., especially appreciated the individual writing time during the day.
“It’s difficult to find time for me to write. So this workshop has afforded me protected writing time,” Miles said.
Many students, including doctoral candidate in the Pharmaceutical Science program Adaugo Ezeiyi from Nigeria, expressed the importance of pursuing a graduate degree while attending this event.
Ezeiyi said, “A graduate education allows you to do almost anything. You have a lot of options. It teaches you how to think and be productive.”
Thomas felt that a graduate degree makes you more marketable.
“You need to go to graduate school to be more competitive and it’s economically rewarding, you make more money. There’s not if, it’s just when,” Dr. Thomas said.
Thomas added that there will be two additional writing Boot Camps offered this semester.
“There will be one during spring break and another opportunity during Graduate Students Appreciation Week,” Thomas said.
Ezeiyi has enjoyed the boot camp. She has been both years it has been offered.
“I think it’s a good experience,” Ezeiyi said. “It’s definitely something we should continue.”