Student Counseling and Personnel Services Commons^™

Assisting High School Students With Career Indecision Using A Shortened Form Of The Career Construction Interview, Mark C. Rehfuss, Pamela H. Sickinger

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

A shortened form of the Career Construction Interview (CCI) was used to help high school students struggling with the career decision making process. The shortened instrument is described, as well as, its use with eleventh grade high school students who had low levels of career concern and career curiosity. Students who completed the exercise reported several themes that are introduced and discussed in the article. These themes reflected that the intervention was helpful and facilitated student self understanding and career exploration. Practical applications for school counselors are discussed.

Addiction Counseling Practice Competencies And Curriculum In Cacrep-Accredited Programs, Christine Chasek, Julie A. Dinsmore, Douglas R. Tillman, David D. Hof

Counseling Faculty Publications

Addiction counseling is a growing field with emerging practice competencies and standards that have implications for counselor education programs. This study examined addiction counseling practice competencies and curriculum elements in CACREP-accredited programs to determine curriculum and program needs. A survey of 62 CACREP programs found that programs are including addiction counseling content into the curriculum, employing faculty who have experience in addiction counseling, and addressing the skill practice competency by adding increased credit hours in addiction counseling and teaching from a didactic and constructivist pedagogy. Recommendations are made to align addiction counseling training curriculum, including adding an addiction counseling specialization …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Perceptions Of Beginning Counselors About The Development Of The Therapeutic Alliance Over The Practicum Experience, Cristina Braga

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore master students’ experience regarding the development of the therapeutic alliance with first clients over the length of the practicum experience. The American Psychological Association (APA) emphasizes the importance of studies that identify factors involved in the therapeutic alliance. In the literature on the therapeutic alliance, there is a lack of qualitative research on the perceptions of graduate level counseling students regarding their ability to build and maintain a therapeutic alliance with their first clients during the therapeutic process. The problem in the counselor education profession is the urgent need of assessment …

The Moderating Effect Of Resilience Factors On Bully Victimization And Subsequent Psychological Adjustment Problems Among Adolescent Girls, Alexandra Hayley Quinn

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

Bully victimization is linked to poor psychological adjustment, low self-esteem, and social withdrawal in children and teens. However, little research to date has examined the unique experiences of adolescent girls, the specific contributions of various subtypes of bullying, and the utilization of comprehensive instruments to examine the constructs of psychological adjustment and bully victimization. Further, researchers studying these issues have called for more studies to examine buffering factors that may protect teen girls from the psychological insults associated with peer victimization. This study advances research in the field by utilizing standardized self-report measures to examine the relationship between bully victimization …

An Evaluation Of A Secondary Student Advisement Program, Barbara A. Jordan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This mixed methods program evaluation examines the effectiveness of a high school advisory program in meeting its stated goals from the perspective of its various stakeholders. Using both qualitative and quantitative methods and applying a concurrent embedded strategy, the researcher uses Stufflebeam’s CIPP Model (Stufflebeam, McKee & McKee, 2003) as a framework to conduct a study of the Teachers-As-Advisors (TAA) Program in a rural high school in Georgia. Surveys were administered to 205 students, 40 parents, and 17 advisors. Two district administrators, three school administrators, and two counselors were interviewed. In addition, focus group discussions were held with a purposeful …

Processes And Outcomes Of Theistic Spiritually Oriented Psychotherapy: A Practice-Based Evidence Investigation, Peter W. Sanders, P. Scott Richards, Jason A. Mcbride, Troy Lea, Randy K. Hardman, Daniel V. Barnes

Faculty Publications

Various approaches for incorporating spirituality into psychotherapy have been devel- oped, but few have been submitted to empirical scrutiny. The present article reports the results of a practice-based evidence (PBE) study, and demonstrates the value of PBE as a research strategy for the empirical evaluation of spiritually oriented psychothera- pies (SOPs). This approach involves examining the effectiveness of SOPs in routine settings, providing more externally valid results than randomized controlled trials. Outcome and process data for 304 clients at a private, religious, university counseling center were examined using a PBE methodology. Clinicians integrated a wide variety of spiritual interventions with …

Human Kaleidoscopes: Cultivating Success In Non-Traditional Students, Carolyn Coles Benton

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

Non-traditional students are a growing population in higher education, yet our understandings of the unique factors that predict their success have not increased. This narrative inquiry examines the lived experiences of high school dropouts entering the college arena as non-traditional students, attempting to improve their personal and academic lifestyles by acquiring a General Education Diploma (GED) in addition to obtaining an associate’s degree from a for-profit postsecondary educational institution. The purpose of this study is to better understand the lives and circumstances of students, leading up to their dropping out of high school. Participants’ reflections of their own college experiences, …

Comparing Persistence Of Upward Transfer And Native Students Pursuing A Bachelor's Degree, Jacob W. Deters

Masters Theses

This study, which was conducted at a rural, Midwestern, four-year, public institution, compared the predicted persistence and factors of persistence of successful upward transfer students, transfer students who started at a community college and then transferred to the four-year institution, and native students, students who start at a four-year institution. To be considered for participation in the study, subjects had to have at least one successful semester at the research site. A quantitative study was designed using Davidson, Beck, and Milligan's (2009) questionnaire which measures predicted persistence as well as ten factors of persistence, such as social integration and academic …

An Analysis Of Contextual Conditions As First Year Ras Train In And Implement The Phase One Safe Zone Program, Cameron Carrara

Masters Theses

Since the 1990s, safe space initiatives, such as Safe Zone, have been developed on college campuses across the United States as a way of educating participants on LGBTQ-related issues and how to become a better ally/advocate for the LGBTQ community. While little qualitative research has been conducted on safe space initiatives to begin with, there is even less research on the perceptions participants have of these types of programs. Thus, the primary purpose of this study was to analyze the perceptions of the Phase 1 Safe Zone training among first year RAs in the residence halls. A secondary purpose was …

Understanding The Development Of Sophomore Resident Assistants, Aaron Hollis

Masters Theses

Sophomore resident assistants have to face many challenges in the position and outside of it. This study was designed in an effort to understand the development of sophomore RAs and what they might need in training to better handle the position. Through qualitative interviews with six sophomore RAs, the researcher was able to gather information that was coded to find trends that related to the research questions. The results of this study suggest that sophomore RAs are challenged to develop time management skills, they rely heavily on their staff members and supervisors for support, and they desire more hands-on training …

Perceptions Of Historically Black Greek Letter Organizations Impact On Leadership Development, Sherry Gunn

Masters Theses

Historically Black Greek - Lettered Organizations (HBGLO) have an impact on Black students at a Predominantly White Institution. As student affairs professionals, it is important to understand how these organizations affect our students and their development. This study aimed to learn how these Historically Black Greek - Lettered Organizations assisted with members gaining leadership skills, members experiences versus non - members, and members connection/ retention to the institution. The researcher conducted interviews with members of Historically Black Greek Lettered Organizations to examine the perceptions of seven participants. These participants represented four of the six Historically Black Greek Lettered Organization at …

The Perception Of Black Male Students Of Black Faculty/Staff Involvement In Mentorship At A Predominantly White Institution, B. James Griffin Jr.

Masters Theses

This research study explored the perception African American men had of mentorship, its value to their education and the effects it had on their college success at a predominantly White institution. The study further focused on the impact mentorship had on the student when the mentor was of a different race versus the same race of the student. The research was guided by the following questions: (1) What is the value of mentorships related to attending a higher education institution, (2) What factors lead Black male students to seek mentorships, (3) What are the perceived differences between mentorship with cross-race …

Factors Influencing Job Satisfaction Of Student Employees Within Campus Recreation, Dale P. Kolnitys

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to assess the overall predictors of job satisfaction for student employees within campus recreation departments. The study centered around three main research questions, 1) what are the predicting factors of job satisfaction? 2) What, if any, differences exist based on the size of the school? 3) What, if any, differences exist based on whether the academic major is closely related to campus recreation?

The questionnaire was completed by 150 students at nine different universities. Data analysis revealed that four factors had a significant influence on job satisfaction of college students working within campus recreation. …

College Senior's Utilization Of Career Center Services And Career Readiness, Carrie Ann Klaphake

Masters Theses

This quantitative study focused on the utilization of Career Center services and the correlation between utilization and three career decision-making difficulties, lack of readiness, lack of information, and intra and inter career conflict, and differences of utilization between academic colleges. The 50-item survey was administered to seniors graduating that academic year. The results indicated that seniors under-utilized Career Center services, and there was no significance found between their utilization and their career decision-making difficulties. Significance was found between academic colleges in their utilization of the Career Center. The findings suggest that seniors do not experience difficulties deciding on a …

Veterans' Perceptions And Use Of Student Support Services At A Midwestern University, Amanda J. Starwalt

Masters Theses

The number of student veterans on college campuses is increasing (NCVAS, 2012). There is a need to support these students, but how? Campuses must take a closer look at the student services they offer to student veterans, and how they are being utilized (McBain, Kim, Cook, & Snead, 2012). In this study, six student veterans were interviewed to better understand what resources and support student veterans utilize on campus. It was found that student veterans are similar to adult learners and bring with them experiences and responsibilities which play an important role in the support and services they utilize. Student …

Inclusive And Catholic: Challenging The Myth With Reality, Nasser A. Razek

Nasser A Razek

Complex Perceptions Of Identity: The Experiences Of Student Combat Veterans In Community College, Shane P. Hammond

Shane P Hammond

This qualitative study illustrates how complex perceptions of identity influence the community college experience for student veterans who have been in combat, creating barriers to their overall persistence. The collective experiences of student combat veterans at two community colleges in northwestern Massachusetts are presented, and a Combat Veteran Conceptual Identity Model to illustrate the ongoing negotiation of identity combat veterans experience while in college is intro- duced. Notable implications for future research and practice in Student Affairs are discussed.

Precursors To And Pathways Through Conversion: Catalytic Experiences Of Born Again Christian College Students, John D. Foubert, Matthew W. Brosi, Angela Watson, Dale R. Fuqua

John D. Foubert

Born again Christians are a significant religious population in the United States, and throughout the world. The process by in which a born again identity is assumed is not clearly described in the research literature. Therefore, we asked 18 born again Christian college students a series of questions designed to uncover what led to their identity of being born again. Responses fell into three overarching themes. First, participants described exposure within relationships to God’s principles. Second, participants noted the influence of introspection and reflection on their lives apart from the influence of God. Third, participants had an active response in …

Christian Academic Motherhood In Secular Higher Education: The Experiences Of One Evangelical Christian, Christy M. Craft, Jo Maseberg-Tomlinson

Christy Moran Craft

Although some scholars have highlighted the challenges faced by academic mothers in secular higher education and others have investigated those of Christian academic mothers in Christian higher education, none have looked at the experiences of Christian academic mothers in secular higher education. This autoethnographic study was conducted to analyze and to interpret one evangelical Christian’s experiences as a new academic mother at a secular university. The results of this study suggest that religious academic mothers working in secular higher education might benefit from drawing on religious-based strategies for dealing with the unique challenges that they face in their pursuit of …

Bridging The Gap: Technology And Veteran Academic Success, Shane P. Hammond, David Cass

Shane P Hammond

This paper presents two unique yet confluent perspectives regarding the use of technology to support student veterans in college, and is meant to ignite discussion of the blending of high impact practices with technology to promote their academic success. The authors highlight the historical trends of student veterans in the academy and discuss the barriers to success for this unique population of students. Uvize—an online mentoring and advising platform for student veterans—is introduced, and preliminary results from three forward thinking institutions are discussed. This article further defines why student veterans are a special student population on our campuses and require …