Niagara University Leadership and Policy Doctoral Program
Purpose and Framework of the Program
The mission of Niagara University's Doctor of Philosophy program in Leadership and Policy is to prepare scholars to be influential leaders who shape, implement, and evaluate policy within an international, cross-disciplinary, and diverse context. In keeping with the mission of Niagara University, the program focuses on bringing social justice and empowerment to those most in need to the forefront of research and development and provides a course of study in which professionals from various disciplines become change agents. As such, new research can inform organizational leadership needed for transforming communities and systems.
The Doctor of Philosophy program enhances the research and policy leadership acumen of practicing professionals already established in their respective career paths to extend their professional research and scholarly contributions as defined by the program's standards. The program is cohort-based, with the cohorts forming once each academic year. This approach is designed to improve collegiality and completion of the Doctor of Philosophy program.
Program Standards
The program goals and objectives are embedded within the standards to guide program requirements, learning outcomes for doctoral candidates, and program assessments.
Standard 2
Advocate for, nurture, and sustain a creative and caring culture consistent with the organization's mission and embracing equity, diversity, and inclusion.
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Standard 3
Foster an environment of cooperation, comprehension, and effective management of their organization's people, resources, and ideas while embracing flexibility and adaptability.
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Standard 1
Promote a visionary mindset and continuously develop, advocate for, and enact a mission and core values shared and supported by organizational stakeholders.
Standard 4
Assess organizational quality and
make decisions to positively impact the organization, informed by sound data analysis and evidence following accepted research methods and practices.
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Standard 5
Model integrity, fairness, equity
and ethical purpose while also personifying optimism,
perseverance, self-efficacy, and composure.
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Standard 6
Appreciate, respond to, and influence the larger political, social, economic, legal, and cultural contexts through their research, analysis, and evaluation of procedures and policies and empower others to join in the process with them.
Standard 7
Use current technologies to improve and enrich their practice and the work of the
organization.