Brandman University

Preparing for the 2017 June Immersion

UNSTOPPABLE!!
GREETINGS EPSILON STUDENTS!
Where has the time gone! It seems like just yesterday you were all sitting with your cohort members
in September wondering how this program would unfold. Congratulations on completing the first
year of challenging course work and accomplishing your goals. The Summer II term is fast
approaching and we are excited to see everyone at Immersion on June 23-26th. This Immersion
promises to be one of the best ever! In preparation for this engaging event, please note the following
items for your review.

UNSTOPPABLE
As you have learned, Immersions usually take on various leadership themes to illustrate the
importance of key learning objectives. To keep our Immersions fun, creative and motivational we try
to expound upon our theme each day. Also in the spirit of our four days together we will also be
celebrating EPSILONS for completing your first year of coursework and DELTAS for their success as
doctoral candidates.

MEET THE CHAIRS/COMMITTEE MEMBER EVENT

On the second day of Immersion in the afternoon you will participate in the Meet the
Chairs/Committee Member Activity. Many of the chairs on the approved list will be in attendance and
are eager to meet you. Please bring at least 50 of your business cards for Dissertation Chair
networking. Update your Elevator Speech to include your dissertation area of focus and interest.
Write your topic/focus area/or research interests on the back of your business card. Enclosed with
this letter, is an updated list of attending Dissertations Chairs who indicated they will be at this event.
We suggest you take some time to review this list and select a few potential chairs or committee
members you would like to formally meet during this activity. You can find out more about these
chairs and their interests at the following link:

https://my.brandman.edu/future_student/resources/Pages/DissertationChairsMember.aspx

In addition, an Adobe room will be set up for you to meet a few Northern Chairs during this activity.
Please remember that you are not able to select a chair at this activity. You will formally select your
chair after your Advancement to Candidacy during Spring II next year and all chair
assignments/committee members must be approved by the university. This Meet the Chair event
however is a good way to begin to establish relationships with prospective chairs and/or committee
members.

GET READY TO RALLY!

As you know, last September we presented you with a challenge to demonstrate that you are

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becoming the kind of transformational leader that understands the global and national context which
can affect your organization, your transformational change project, your people, and you! To help
develop the depth of understanding that you need to become a true transformational leader, we
asked you to read, discuss, and debate the concepts presented in That Used to Be Us, by Thomas
Friedman and Michael Mandelbaum. In your cohorts and at the Immersion, we are looking for the
demonstration of all the qualities of a scholarly practitioner and transformational leader on which
you were assessed in your first course. You have been in a learning mode all year and now you are in
a demonstration mode.

We hope that the culminating demonstration of this learning will provide you with some fun and
excitement, as well. As you know we are going to stage a mock political rally for the
Transformational Change Party! By now, your cohort has selected the pillar you want to pursue and
are preparing the plank for the party platform. The plank is a position that you want your TC Party to
adopt for the next election. We hope that the speaker representing your cohort will present your
ideas with both passion and well-thought out reason. We are looking for very persuasive arguments
that stir the central committee (of outside judges) to vote for your planks.

The purpose of this year-long project and demonstration of scholarly-leader skills is to prepare you
to become the kind of transformational leader that will go out and change the world. It is also
intended to help you see a bigger picture as you approach your TCP and other assignments in this
program. We encourage you to bring lots of energy and spirit into the room as we turn the Immersion
into a Political Rally on Monday morning. Feel free to use your creativity to make signs or whatever
else interests you to support your speaker. Cohorts will present in Alpha order; i.e. Antelope Valley,
Fairfield, etc.

At the conclusion of the speeches, a panel of outside judges will select the top ranked planks for the
platform. A copy of the judging rubric is included with this letter. Remember, you must adhere to
the 5 minute presentation limit or risk losing points in the final analysis. The learning you will take
away from this experience will be of great benefit to you in your career if you embrace it fully. We
hope you will understand the value and feel the excitement of The Rally! Finally awards will be given
in the following categories:

Best of Rally (top all around award)

Best Analysis of the Issue

Best Evidence of Teamwork

Most Innovative Solution

Most Persuasive Presentation

Most Well Researched Proposal

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TCP SYMPOSIUM-SATURDAY, JUNE 24TH
The June Immersion is the time when students who are completing their second year in the program,
develop poster presentations that demonstrate the learning from their Transformational Change
Project. This impressive display offers you an opportunity to see what lies ahead for you a year from
now. It also offers you a time to learn about the strategies the Deltas used to evaluate their TCP,
which will help you in your upcoming Evaluation course in Summer II. You will receive an assignment
in the morning that must be accomplished as you view Delta TCP presentations in an overall TCP
Showcase Reception from 4:30-6:00 PM. Your attendance is required at this event. You will then
complete assignment (Evaluation 1.2) in your next scheduled Cohort Meeting during Summer II.

IMMERSION HANDOUTS AND POWERPOINTS

Many students indicate they prefer using hard copies for Immersion presentations and like to print
them up before coming to the Immersion. PowerPoints and related materials will be available for
downloading and printing on June 19, 2017 on the Epsilon Ed. D. webpage.

BRING YOUR TEXTBOOK

Please bring your new textbook Preparing Literature Reviews by Ling Pan to the June Immersion.

COMMON GROUND
Enclosed with this email you will find a document with further details about the June Immersion
Common Ground activity. Please read the information contained through the web links before
coming to Immersion in addition to noting who is on your assigned Common Ground Team.

IMMERSION ATTENDANCE
Full attendance at all Immersions is mandatory as it prepares you for upcoming coursework and
fulfills requirements for program accreditation. More importantly, your participation in all activities
and events serves to fulfill partial requirements for your advancement to candidacy. If an emergency
prevents you from attending all or part of an Immersion session, you need to contact Dr. White as
soon as possible. Make-up assignments are always required for any absences. You should also notify
your Cohort Mentor, but they do not have the authority to excuse you from any portion of the
Immersion, no matter how short.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact your Cohort Mentor or
one of the Doctoral Leadership Team Members. We look forward to seeing everyone again on Friday,
June 23, 2017. Safe travels!

Sincerely,
The Doctoral Leadership Team