Beyond The Pride and The Privilege

A volume in Work-Life BalanceSeries Editors: Joanne M. Marshall Iowa State University Jeffrey S. Brooks Iowa State University BonnieC. Fusarelli North Carolina State University Catherine A. Lugg Rutgers University Latish C. ReedUniversity of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and George Theoharis Syracuse UniversityAttrition among doctoral students has become a perennial issue in higher education (Gardner2009; Golde 2000) as 40 to 60 percent of doctoral students do not complete their program of study (Bair &Haworth 2005). Suchoutcomes are inconsistent with the rigorous evaluation that occurs prior to being accepted into a doctoral program (Bair & Haworth2005). Despite deemed levels of student excellence promise and efforts made by programs to counter student departure (Offerman2011) attrition rates remain alarmingly high (Bair & Haworth 2005; Gardner 2009). The purpose of this book is to provide a view intodoctoral student work-lives and their efforts to find a balance between often seemingly conflicting responsibilities. In addition tocontributing to the ongoing dialogue on work-life balance in doctoral studies (Brus 2006; Golde 1998; Moyer Salovey & Casey-Cannon 1999) the intention of this book is to provide other doctoral students with potential coping mechanisms guidance andassurance that they are not alone in this process. Lastly we anticipate that these doctoral student narratives will help illuminate potentialstrategies that doctoral programs departments and institutions can incorporate in their efforts to help students successfully completetheir program of study. As such the intended audience is doctoral students higher educationprofessionals faculty members and educational leaders.