College of doctoral studies
Dissertation Services
Dissertation Services is a team of CDS Operations staff that serves students regarding their proposal and dissertation processes and systems. The first resource for a student is their committee and academic counselor, but this team provides various support that those members may be unable to help with. This team handles issues and questions regarding the following:
• TK20 binder creation
• Tk20 submission questions
• Teams 365 portfolio creation
• Signature page processing and routing
• Publishing instructions/questions for ProQuest
• Documentation of Phase 3 (Concept Review), Phase 4 (QRM), and Phase 5 (IRB, QRF, and
oral defense) approvals
TK20 binders are created for students when they enter the appropriate phase course. Tk20 is the system students use to submit their final approved document (Precis, Prospectus, Proposal, or Dissertation) for each milestone. Committee members will evaluate documents in Tk20 (if they were approved to submit) at the end of each phase. Teams 365 portfolios are created for students when they enter DOC/715. Teams 365 is the system students use that houses the dissertation document, all previous revisions, and the place students will communicate with their committee members.
Students can reach the team at DissertationServices@phoenix.edu 
. Students can also submit a request via Contact the College (login required).
Resources include:
• TK20 user guides for students and faculty
• Teams 365 user guides for students and faculty
• FAQs for TK20 and Teams 365
IRB is a separate process that follows Phase 4 and is the start of Phase 5. This is submitted via IRBNet. Guidance documents to assist with the IRB submission are found within IRBNet Forms and Templates. Log in to IRBNet is required.
IRB can be reached at IRB@phoenix.edu . Students can also submit a request via Contact the College (login required).
The resources below are broken down by resource type and audience.
Watch: Dissertation Resources and Support
Watch Dissertation Resources and Support video.
What resource do you need assistance with?
Institutional Review Board (IRB)
University of Phoenix IRB is guided by The Belmont Report and focuses on respect for persons, beneficence, and justice. The University holds Federal Wide Assurance filed with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (FWA: 00004202). Students should register for the UOPX IRB at IRBNet.org and access the forms and templates within the IRBNet library. Please read the READ ME FIRST document under forms on IRBNet.org .
IRB maintains a Human Research Protection Program to protect the rights and welfare of those persons who volunteer to participate in the research activities of our faculty, students, and staff. While the definitive responsibility for the ethical treatment of all human participants rests with the individual researcher who has secured the privilege to conduct research through University of Phoenix. The IRB acts as a regulatory oversight group committed to promoting the ethical and responsible treatment of volunteer human participants in a research study. The IRB performs ethical reviews of research studies to ensure research compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations as well as all institutional policies and procedures in addition to offering education and guidance related to human subject research for the University community. Chairs are listed as co-researchers on the IRB application.
Please note for DBA 004, EDD 004, DM 005, and DHA 004: Within DOC/719S, you’ll have an opportunity to discuss, ask questions, and prepare for IRB. A Central Administrator from the College of Doctoral Studies will facilitate this class.
For Students: TK20 and Teams 365 Guides and FAQs
For Faculty: TK20 and Teams 365 Guides and FAQs
Dissertation Criteria Assessment
Dissertation Criteria Assessment (DCA) is a developmental and progression feedback tool that students, faculty members, and committees can use to monitor students in meeting dissertation assessment criteria throughout the Doctoral Journey Life Cycle and Dissertation Phases. For more on the Phases, please visit the Dissertation Journey page.
Doctoral ACCESS, content, and research courses use Program Student Learning Outcomes (PSLOs) to assess the degree to which students meet course objectives, while the DCA uses criteria to assess the degree to which students achieve dissertation designing, executing, and reporting on empirical social science research.