College Of University

Summer is finally over and Apartment communities that maintained 90-100% occupancy levels throughout the summer have now been bombarded with new fall and winter time notices to vacate. Apartment communities pre-lease apartments based on their notices to vacate which are usually given 60-90 days out from the resident’s move date or lease end date.

Most long term tenants are being pushed out of their apartments with rental increases up to $200. Many of my clients recently call me discouraged stating that they have been a perfect resident for 5 years or more and dont understand why their aparmtent community is so anxious to “stick it to them” when it comes time to renew their leases.

The first question I ask them is how much they are paying currentlly ie; a client we’ll call Leslie that I am helping move currently. Leslie told me that she is paying $625 for a 740sf apartment in a community she has lived at for 5 years and is only 7 years old, and they want to raise her rent to $725.?The first thing I told her was that the community wanted to raise her rent $100 due to the fact that since she leased there 5 yrs ago?the market had completely changed. Unfortunately the only people that view long term occupants at an apartment community as an asset are the occupants themselves.

The truth of the matter is that Leslie and many others around Austin whom of which have been exemplary tenants are being viewed as a loss to their apartment communities. With a shortage of available apartments in Austin?the market has changed. For example 5 years ago in South Austin you could get a nice apartmnet at an A class property for between 6-$700. Now you cant even get near an A class property in South Austin for less than $900 and that would be for a 1 bedroom apartment. Availability pushes pricing. If a guy has 50 apartments available they lower prices and offer up a massive upfront concession ie; 1 month free 2 months free etc. But when a management company looks down and sees that they are 96% full which has been the case most of this summer and historically most summers then their rates rise to the market rates (the highest rates they can charge for a particular unit). Long term residents are being viewed as a loss and therefore pushed out.

The good news is that in the last two or three months there have been at least twenty new apartment communities open.? There are also at least 100 more on the horizon. This type of news and the historically slow fall and winter months are forcing apartment communities to drop their prices and drop them fast. There are at least twenty communities that I can think of right now that have dropped their prices $50-$75 in the last month from August pricing to compete with the new properties that have opened or are opening up in their vicinity.

For example the Wyndhaven apartments on Wells Branch. For years wyndhaven was only one of two A property options in the Wells Branch area. Their smallest 1 bdrm apartment 630sf was going for $769 a month. Then comes the Verde Oak Park apartments that opened a month or two ago right next door. The day Verde Oak Park opened their doors Wyndhaven went to $679 on the same floor plan. It still didnt help them though Verde Oak Park has a similar square footage for $710 Brand New Never Been Lived In! Then they were offering two months free upfront. Well if you average out the two months free over the lease term which was 13 months (aka a prorate) $1420 is the total concession or (special)?divided by the minimum lease term which was 13 months thats $1420 divided by?13 months equaling $109.23. The $109.23 is your average monthly concession. You then subtract the $109.23 from the monthly rental rate. $710 minus $109.23 equals $600.77 a month for 13 months. Plus these apartments contain granite countertops, washer and Dryer etc and are BRAND NEW and have NEVER BEEN LIVED in.

So, yes rental rates are dropping dramatically with the rise of new communities you just can’t be fooled by upfront numbers anymore. My advice is that you always contact a Real Estate professional procurement of leasing transactions for the consumer are always 100% FREE. And recommended. Yes rates are higher but if you look past the first picture of the rate being $710 when you’re pricerange is $650 and you end up at Wyndhaven which is over ten years old and a much lesser quality class A property?at $679 then the only one to blame is yourself. With the newer communities trying to fill up their properties they are offering great upfront concessions that will bring the rates back down.

You should always contact an apartment locator before looking at apartments on your own. If that apartment locator dosent find you the best deal available and you are not happy enough to move in then they dont get paid that is your insurance. Austin Apartment Guy would be glad to either help you find an apartment or counsel you on the leasing process. You can contact us through our website http://www.austinapartmentguy.com .?

The major concern many doctoral candidates have is the selection of dissertation topic. In some cases a topic just comes naturally out of past projects and coursework, but for most people it is a very hefty confront.

Selecting a topic is at the core of any dissertation help project, because the dissertation title is what drives the proposal, the prospectus, and dissertation. It’s better to pick the broad topic as early as possible, so that you get a chance to think about it in your research classes. The goal is to be familiar with the relevant literature on your broad topic. If you don’t have something in your job that is interesting, pick something that does fascinate you. Narrowing the actual research question will be done with your dissertation adviser and perhaps your committee because they will know what data you can access.

Here are some key points that will help you in selecting sparking dissertation ideas for your topic writing project.

Choose a Subject Area First — Then Chose Topic

The more information you consume in your broad subject area, the more patterns will emerge.

Make Sure The Topic Is Interesting

It is imperative that both you and your advisor are interested in your thesis/dissertation topic.



The Research Problem Must Be Worthy Of Your Time

Choosing dissertation titles that are compelling enough to sustain further research is critical.

Make Your Research Topic Original

The prerequisite for finding a new research topic is to be informed because most things have been studied before.

Choose a Solvable And Manageable Research Problem

It is important to select a problem that is narrow enough that you can address it or solve it in a reasonable period of time.

 

Functions of the Doctoral Dissertation Advisor

 

William Allan Kritsonis, PhD

Professor

PhD Program in Educational Leadership

The Whitlowe R. Green College of Education

The Texas A&M University System

Prairie View, Texas

Invited Visiting Lecturer

Oxford Round Table

Oriel College in the University of Oxford

Oxford, England

Distinguished Alumnus

Central Washington University

College of Education and Professional Studies

Ellensburg, Washington

 

 

ABSTRACT

 

The purpose of this article is to provide suggestions for doctoral dissertation advisors. The content was developed from discussions with colleagues, doctoral candidates, recipients of advanced degrees, and reviewing literature pertaining to doctoral studies. This article provides some general guidelines and practical functions for doctoral dissertation advisors.

 

 

Introduction

 

     Those who succeed in academic scholastic writing at the advanced levels typically write an excellent doctoral dissertation. In writing a dissertation, there appears to be an enjoyment of the constant flowing of ideas. At the doctoral level, mentors are critically important in helping their students complete the dissertation, and later in getting graduates published at the national level in refereed, juried, peer-reviewed scholarly journals.

 

 

 

 

Purpose of the Article

 

 The purpose of this article is to establish some basic functions of the doctoral dissertation advisor. Hopefully, the suggestions will help others in the doctoral advisement process.

 

 

Basic Functions of the Doctoral Dissertation Advisor

 

 The following suggestions are functions of a doctoral dissertation advisor:

 

1.      Keep a folder for each doctoral student. This will give you the opportunity to review previous and current work completed by the student. It will give you the opportunity to review your own comments. Reviewing the folder periodically enables you to firmly grasp the student’s concerns with conducting research.

 

2.      Keep track of emails that you send and other correspondence. Make certain that you communicate to students frequently. Not communicating with doctoral students is condescending and shows disrespect.

 

3.      Establish a personal, but professional relationship with your doctoral student advisees. Being a mentor is a very serious responsibility. See each of your students first as people. They have goals and aspirations just as you do.

 

4.      Develop your own style in dissertation advising. The best way to develop your own style is simply by doing it.

 

5.      Be positive in working with doctoral students on their dissertation. Make certain to provide feedback that is constructive and useful. Always strive to be positive and enthusiastic in working with doctoral students on their dissertations. Be cheerful, optimistic, and helpful. Direct advisees to relevant sources of information.

 

6.      Know your strengths, attributes, weaknesses, and limitations.

 

7.      Do you homework in working with each advisee. Make certain to study the dissertation topic your advisee is interested in developing.

 

8.      Think about your own dissertation experience. Avoid any mistakes that were made. Incorporate effective strategies that work.

 

9.      Encourage advisees to document what they want to do as a dissertation topic.

 

10.  Strive to make a difference as an advisor to your advisee. Model appropriate behavior.

11.  Make your presence matter in the life of the doctoral student.

 

12.  Accept the responsibility of doing a good job.

 

13.  Accept the fact you know more about writing a dissertation than your advisee.

 

14.  As an advisor, recognize the time when the dissertation topic must be revised or changed. Do not be afraid to tell an advisee when they are wasting time on something that will not work or is not relevant.

 

15.  Be ready to suggest to your advisee the need to shift the research time to other areas of the dissertation if you see the advisee bog down.

 

16.  Do not hesitate to tell the advisee to put more effort into the dissertation.

 

17.  Make certain to realize as an advisor there are many different strategies for writing a doctoral dissertation.

 

18.  Encourage doctoral students to talk with others who are writing their dissertation. They often can provide practical feedback and encouragement.

 

19.  Encourage doctoral students to communicate with others in different colleges or departments who are writing their dissertation.

 

20.  Encourage advisees to explore ideas beyond your suggestions.

 

21.  Tell your advisees how you like to work with them. If you need to work from an outline – tell the advisee. Let advisees know your own work habits.

 

22.  Remember, it is the advisee’s dissertation – not yours. They must do the work.

 

23.  If you are an inexperienced dissertation advisor, try to work with a colleague who has successful experience. As an advisor, you are there to help. Help as much as you possibly can.

 

24.  Be supportive of the advisee’s work. Use specific examples in telling advisees their work is good or not acceptable. Point out where the work needs improvement.

 

25.  Make certain you develop the habit of getting things back to students in a timely manner; hopefully, within five – ten business days. Through being diligent in your efforts, the advisee will keep focused. Read dissertation chapters at your earliest convenience. Do not let too much time elapse. Remember, you are a busy person and so is your advisee. Establish timelines with the advisee and meet them.

 

26.  Give your doctoral students the responsibility of meeting deadlines.

 

27.  Encourage students to contact you if you have taken too long to respond to them.

 

28.  As an advisor, give lots of suggestions. Be specific, exact, concise, detailed, and comprehensive in all aspects of your advising.

 

29.  Encourage your doctoral students to talk with their committee members throughout the entire process. Other committee members might suggest different approaches or a new study altogether. When this happens, meet with the advisee. Perhaps you will agree or disagree. Keep the dialogue open and positive.

 

30.  It is your duty to encourage your advisees to do the work that must be done to have a quality and professionally satisfying dissertation.

 

31.  Be available. If this means meeting with a doctoral student at a location other than the university, do it. Some advisees need a lot of attention, guidance, and direction. Others are self-directive. Be flexible and adaptable.

 

32.  The advisee should not hear major changes for the first time at the proposal defense.

 

33.  In giving guidance to your advisees, constantly prepare them for their proposal defense and ultimately defending their dissertation. This will keep them f
ocused.

 

34.  Do not take on the job of advisor if you do not intend to make it a priority. Dissertation advisement takes an enormous amount of time and commitment. During the entire process, it will be necessary for you to meet with the other members of the dissertation committee to discuss the progress of the doctoral student. 

 

35.  You want your students to tell you “I like the way you are always available, keep up the good work.”

 

36.  The doctoral student and advisor should consult someone other than the student’s committee members for special advising or expertise. 

 

37.  Help your advisee when there is a need to clarify the dissertation topic.

 

38.  Try to obtain adequate funding for your advisee’s research.

 

39.  Link students with similar dissertation topics together.

 

40.  During the advisement process, dissertation advisors should mentor students by helping them to prepare manuscripts for publication in national, refereed, peer reviewed journals.

 

41.  Consider or recommend doctoral students for university responsibilities, such as facilitating classes when professors are unavailable, and giving examinations at distance learning facilities. This gives them experiences in higher education.

 

42.  Involve doctoral students with coordinating orientation sessions for new students.

 

43.  As a dissertation advisor, develop an approval form for both the proposal and dissertation defense that must be signed by all committee members prior to scheduling a formal meeting. By doing so, the committee members agree the student is ready to present and defend.

 

 

Concluding Remarks

 

     In conclusion, the purpose of this article was to establish some general functions of a dissertation advisor. There are numerous functions of a dissertation advisor and these are only a few. In addition, my intention was to provide some general guidelines for thoughtful consideration. Perhaps, you can add to the list.

 

 

References

 

Dave, R. (2007 December).  Quality time with your dissertation. Retrieved December 4,

2007, from the Association for Support of Graduate Students Website:   http://www.asgs.org/

Eastwood, J.S. (2000). Comprehensive editing. Retrieved December 2, 2007, from

            www.jeastwood.com

Jensen, S. (2000). Dissertation news. Retrieved December 3, 2007, from

            http://www.dissertationdoctor.com

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Formatted by Dr. Mary Alice Kritsonis, National Research and Manuscript Preparation Editor, National FORUM Journals, Houston, Texas    www.nationalforum.com