| The purpose of the study was to investigate the perceptions of participants with regard to the importance and effectiveness of required competencies in an alternative residency doctoral pilot program. The populations in the study included 13 students from the pilot program who had attended the Doctoral Competency Seminar during the summer of 1997 or the summer of 1998, 10 faculty members from The University of South Dakota (USD) Division of Curriculum and Instruction, and 18 faculty members from the Teacher Education Department at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO).;Data collection was done by mailed questionnaires with stamped, self-addressed envelopes. The UNO population had the questionnaires hand-delivered to faculty mailboxes.;The key findings of the study were that the student perceptions on the importance of the competencies and the helpfulness of the components, with regard to ensuring their reaching their career goals, differed from those of the two university faculties. While the two faculties reported similar perceptions of teaching, service, and research efficacy required for a career in higher education, only those students who were actively pursuing the degree reported these competencies as being important and effective for helping them reach their career goals.;Recommendations from the study were as follows: based on student and faculty perceptions of the general importance of the competencies clarification of their purpose is needed, check points and intermediate progress reports would provide additional support towards the completion of the competencies, the faculty should consider periodic meetings with students in order to better monitor progress towards successful completion of the program, based on student narratives a structured attempt is needed to foster the collegial networking of students, and periodic reviews of overall functioning of the program would be beneficial in maintaining the quality and integrity of the program. |
