Dause's academic background is in Communication Studies with a specialty in argumentation and debate. He is co-author of Argumentation: Inquiry and Advocacy, a college argumentation text. Dause developed and implemented the Academic Exploration Program at the University. He has done numerous programs on undergraduate advising issues for the National Academic Advising Association. Dause holds a B.A. degree from Muskingum College and M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from Wayne State University. He came to UDM in 1964.