Dissertation in Practice of the Year Award 

Call for Submissions - 2026 Dissertation in Practice of the Year Award 

The Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED) is now accepting nominations from member institutions for the 2026 Dissertation in Practice (DiP) Award. This prestigious award recognizes EdD graduates whose DiPs demonstrate evidence of scholarly endeavors to address complex problems of practice and align with CPED’s designation of a DiP.

Submit your DiP Award application HERE.

Eligibility

Graduates of Designing & Developing, Implementing, or Experienced CPED institutions, who have been an institutional CPED member for at least one year, may submit applications. 

Applicants must have defended their DiPs between June 1, 2025, and May 31, 2026.

Overview of the Submission Process

The DiP Award application process consists of two phases: the Initial Submission and the Final Submission.

Phase 1: Initial Submission (Synopsis Review)

Applicants submit Initial Submission materials. The DiP Award Committee reviews these materials to select finalists.

Phase 2: Finalist Submission (Full DiP Review)

Selected finalists are invited to submit their full DiP for committee review.

Evaluation

Initial Submission Synopsis and Full DiPs will be evaluated using the DiP Award Rubric.

Phase 1: Initial Submission Requirements

Initial submissions must include:

  • Letter of Certification: Completed by the applicant’s DiP Chair, confirming that the submission is the applicant’s original work, accurately represents the DiP, and that the DiP has been successfully defended.

  • Full DiP Title

  • An Anonymized, 8-10 page Synopsis: Written by the applicant. The applicant’s name, institution, and any other identifying information should NOT be included in the Synopsis.

  • DiP References: in APA (7th ed.) format, submitted separately from the Synopsis and not included in word count.

Synopsis Guidelines

The first-person synopsis should include details about the DiP and present a narrative that addresses the following sections (i.e., headings) and their associated content:

Introduction: Overall Alignment with CPED’s definition of a DiP (1 page)
Explain how your DiP aligns with CPED’s definition of a DiP and addresses a complex problem of practice. This includes describing the action you designed and implemented as part of the research or describing the action proposed as a result of the research.

Problem of Practice (1–2 pages)
Explain how your problem of practice (PoP) is a persistent, context-embedded challenge grounded in your professional experience, shaped through engagement with the local community, supported by relevant evidence, and connected to broader historical, social, or theoretical contexts.

Guiding Questions and/or Rationale (1 page)
Explain how your guiding questions or rationale are grounded in your professional experience and practical knowledge, and address issues of equity, ethics, and social justice.

Knowledge that Frames the Problem of Practice (1–2 pages)
Explain how scholarly, theoretical, and practical knowledge informed your understanding of the PoP and your key decisions and actions.

Applied Research and Inquiry Methods (1–2 pages)
Describe the actions you took or proposed to take to address your PoP, and how your research or inquiry methods addressed the PoP's complexity within your professional context.

Impact of the Applied Research (1–2 pages)
Explain how your work influenced your professional practice or the field, advanced equity, ethics, or social justice, was communicated to relevant stakeholders, and includes plans for sustainability and long-term impact.

Phase 1 Review and Selection

The DiP Award Committee will review all initial submissions and select finalists to advance to Phase 2. Initial submissions that do not include all required materials will not be considered.

Phase 2: Finalist Submission

Finalists will be notified in mid-to-late July and invited to submit their full DiP.

The DiP Award Committee will review full DiPs, recognizing that submissions may vary widely and achieve distinction in many ways.

Timeline

  • Synopsis Submission Deadline: June 16, 2026 (11:59 PM EST)

  • Finalist Notification: Mid-to-late July 2026

  • Winner Notification: Early September 2026

Award Recognition

The author(s) of the winning DiP will be invited to attend the October 2026 CPED Convening, where they will be recognized.

Award recipients will receive:

  • A commemorative award

  • A $500 stipend

Recipients are also encouraged to submit an article based on their DiP to Impacting Education: Journal on Transforming Professional Practice.

Submit your DiP Award application HERE.