Doctoral Student’s Latest Work Rejected

The University of Idaho has rejected possibly the last version of disgruntled doctoral student Jack Van Deventer’s dissertation.

“I don’t know what more can be done to give Jack the opportunity,” Graduate Studies Associate Dean Roger Wallins said Friday.

Van Deventer, a graduate student in Idaho’s fisheries and wildlife department, has no more extensions or appeals left.

He must either abandon 12 years of work and his Ph.D. aspirations at the university, or “basically start over from scratch,” he said Friday.

Vice Provost Jean’ne Shreeve told Van Deventer that committee members Mike Scott and Kirk Lohman will not approve the dissertation he submitted Dec. 19, which means he did not meet the Dec. 20 deadline.

He believes he is being punished for mid-1980s whistleblowing about graduate student research conditions, but Wallins flatly rejected that.

Van Deventer reached the point of final defense of his dissertation last spring. He passed by a committee vote of 3-2. But the two professors refused to sign his work, saying it does not meet academic standards.

That essentially vetoes the dissertation, which requires all committee members’ signatures.

The idea that one member’s refusal can snag the end of the degree process has concerned graduate students.

In November, the university’s Graduate Students Association passed a resolution requiring all committee members to sign a dissertation if the student passes final defense by a majority - contradicting the school’s policy.

Van Deventer is considering legal action.

, DataTimes