2025 AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF HISPANICS IN HIGHER EDUCATION (AAHHE)
OUTSTANDING DISSERTATION COMPETITION GUIDELINES

The following guidelines and accompanying explanations are provided to ensure objectivity and the highest possible standards for the AAHHE Outstanding Dissertation Competition (ODC).

Who is eligible to enter the competition?

The competition is open to any Latinx who has completed a dissertation as part of a doctoral degree program in the social sciences and education, broadly defined, and/or anyone whose dissertation research conducted as part of a doctoral degree program in the social sciences focuses on the Latinx community. Additionally, the dissertation needs to have been completed between December 2022 and September 6, 2024. 

Dissertations are eligible if they are related to education and the social sciences. Studies using any research approach (historical, experimental, survey, quantitative, mixed methods, etc.) are eligible. Dissertations in the humanities, basic sciences, technology, engineering, and mathematics are not eligible. Previous applicants are ineligible to apply.

Completion is defined as either a OR b as follows:

1. received the doctoral degree between December 2022 and September 6, 2024
2. satisfactorily completed all the coursework and the dissertation between the dates specified above and the dissertation is acceptable to the candidate’s committee, but the degree has not been conferred.

Application Process

Phase 1- Submit Dissertation Summary

• Complete the ODC online application
• Upload a Dissertation Summary via the AAHHE Submission Portal.

Submission portal will close on September 6, 2024, at 11:59 pm ET. Note: at the end of the application, upload the Dissertation Summary (PDF, see instructions below).

The Dissertation Summary must include and clearly label the following in this order:

1. Title page — A title page in the format provided  for your use. Please provide all the information requested. One (1) page in length.
2. Letter — A letter on university letterhead signed by the applicant’s dissertation committee Chair indicating that the dissertation meets the eligibility criteria defined earlier in these guidelines — detail is essential. The letter must be submitted in PDF and must also state how the dissertation committee chair would rank the dissertation among previous dissertations chaired.
3. Abstract — On a separate page, include a summary of approximately 250 words in length stating, in non-technical terms, the purpose, research problem, the methods, and major findings of the study, and the significance to the Latinx community. One (1) page in length, double-spaced.
4. Main report section — You should include: (a) the statement of the problem; (b) the purpose of the study; (c) conceptual model, theoretical framework, and/or orientation, as applicable, and literature review; (d) methodology including participants, instrumentation, hypotheses or research questions, and data analysis; (e) major findings; (f) conclusions; (g) implications; and (h) significance to the broader research community and to the Latinx community. Not to exceed eighteen (18) pages, double-spaced.
5. Appendix — List the references, tables, figures, diagrams, and pictures relevant to your summary. Not to exceed four (4) pages, double-spaced.

Compile all documents (1-5) into ONE PDF in the order above. During the application process via the AAHHE Submission Portal, applicants will upload the PDF to the submission portal with the file name LastName_FirstName.pdf.

Phase 2 - Semi-Finalist: Submit full dissertation

• Semi-finalists will be invited to submit a full dissertation via the AAHHE Submission Portal (link provided later).
• Semi-finalists will be notified of their selection via email and further instructions will be provided at that time.

Selection Process

Phase 1: Review of Dissertation Summaries

The first phase uses the Dissertation Summaries as a basis of selection. The ODC Chair will send the Dissertation Summaries to a panel of judges who will evaluate them using the rubric attached to these guidelines (see p. 4). Each judge will be asked to submit a Dissertation Summary ranking score. Based on the judges’ rankings, the ODC Chair will determine the top seven (7) to ten (10) Dissertation Summaries and these become the semifinalists.

For the first round of judging, the applicant’s dissertation is rated SOLELY upon the Dissertation Summary submitted. These summaries must accurately, concisely, and precisely reflect the research of the full dissertation. Dissertation Summaries that do not adhere to page limits specified in these guidelines will not be considered for the competition.

Phase 2: Selection process - Review of Dissertation

In the second phase, the ODC chair contacts the semifinalists and requests a copy of the complete dissertation. The panel of judges will evaluate the complete dissertations using the rubric attached to these guidelines as a basis for the selection’s second phase. The panel of judges will convene to discuss and rank the complete dissertations and will determine the top three (3) dissertations, and honorable mentions, if applicable. All decisions by the panel of judges are final.

Important Deadlines

The schedule below, in addition to providing important dates and deadlines, provides additional information about the process.

What recognition will be given to the finalists?

The first place winner will receive an award $3,000 and an AAHHE Award. The second place and third place winners will receive an award of $2,000 and $1,000, respectively, and an AAHHE framed certificate.

The three (3) finalists will be formally recognized at 2025 AAHHE National Conference in March 2025. If applicable, AAHHE will reimburse travel expenses within the continental U.S. for the three (3) finalists, to include hotel room for two (2) nights and per diem for two (2) days. All winners will receive complimentary conference registrations.

The three (3) finalists are given the opportunity to present their dissertations in individual concurrent sessions at the conference.

Occasionally, the committee also recognizes additional outstanding dissertations as Honorable Mention (out of the remaining semi-finalists). All finalists are required to be AAHHE members.

Announcements will be posted on the website of both AAHHE and advertised in the Journal of Hispanic Higher Education, Hispanic Outlook of Higher Education and other journals.          

Additional Information

Download a copy of the 2025 AAHHE & ETS Outstanding Dissertation Competition Brochure (PDF)
Download a copy of the 2025 AAHHE & ETS Outstanding Dissertation Competition Guidelines (PDF)
Download a copy of the 2025 AAHHE & ETS Outstanding Dissertation Competition Title Page (PDF)

Revised as of October 24, 2024