Digital Commons Network^™

Pov: Working In Admissions During The Ruling On Affirmative Action, Kirsty Nicole Bayo-Ang Bocado

The Vermont Connection

Affirmative action has existed to help students from hxstorically marginalized communities have equitable opportunity to receive admissions into institutions of higher education. There are many perceptions of what affirmative action is. It is important to understand the context behind why affirmation action came about in the first place and what purpose it serves students. In recent hxstory, the US Supreme Court ruled against affirmative action. This was a decision that set back our efforts of supporting students’ access to higher education. As an admissions counselor at a Hispanic-serving institution in the New York City metropolitan area, I witnessed how this …

Barriers That Affect Equity In The Occupational Therapy Admissions Process: Student And Faculty Perspectives, Quinn P. Tyminski, Lenin Grajo

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

The use of holistic admissions in higher education has been demonstrated to increase the diversity of incoming student classes; yet, in occupational therapy (OT) research, admissions processes remain under-explored. This phenomenological study aimed to explore the process of OT admissions from the perspective of students, faculty, and staff at a single OT program with the goal to create a more inclusive, equitable, and holistic process. Focus groups were conducted with first-year students, and an online survey was sent to faculty to explore perspectives on the admissions process, necessary qualities for an OT graduate student, and suggestions for increasing inclusion and …

The Black Box Of Enrollment Management: The Influence Of Academic Capitalism And Values Of The Public Good, Kamala C. Kiem

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

The study addresses the widening income and racial access gap in higher education resulting from enrollment management teams’ operationalization of academic capitalism. The study focuses on the local, micro level, emphasizing how enrollment management leadership teams make sense of enrollment management, recognizing that enrollment management and the work of enrollment management stakeholders exist within an organizational space encompassing the values of both public good and academic capitalism. Using a case study methodology and critical sensemaking theory, the research explored how academic capitalism and values of the public good shaped enrollment management leadership teams’ sensemaking and sensegiving as they enacted decisions, …

Law School News: Dean Bowman On The Scotus Admissions Decision 6-29-2023, Gregory W. Bowman

Life of the Law School (1993- )

No abstract provided.

Ouachita's Spring Enrollment Highest In 26 Years, Felley Lawson, Ouachita News Bureau

Press Releases

Following record fall enrollment, Ouachita Baptist University has reported its highest spring headcount in more than 26 years with a total Spring 2023 enrollment of 1,682.

Ouachita is sustaining momentum in student recruitment and retention; total Ouachita enrollment increased 17% the past six years while many colleges and universities have reported enrollment decreases.

Test Optional Admissions: Pre And Post Enrollment, Mackenzie M. Turner

Honors Theses

This phenomenological qualitative study explores students’ experiences navigating test-optional admissions when applying to post-secondary education. This thesis examines how test-optional admissions influence students' admissions decisions. The recent policy changes in college admissions practices raise questions about student experiences when making decisions when regarding test-optional admissions. First, this study explores the factors that go into a student’s decision on whether to submit test scores in their college application. Second, this thesis investigates college admission administrators’ perspectives on test-optional policies at their respective universities. Third, this study analyzes where the views of college admissions and student applicants are dissimilar. One important insight …

How Doctoral Students With Low Gre Scores Succeed: A Grounded Theory Study, Dea Mulolli, June E. Gothberg

The Qualitative Report

Most U.S. graduate schools rely on the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) to predict readiness for graduate degree programs and differentiate between applicants in verbal and quantitative reasoning, critical thinking, and analytical writing skills. Many times, low GRE scores create a barrier to entry into U.S. graduate programs despite research showing that selecting graduate applicants based solely on academic metric thresholds does not guarantee graduate student performance and many low scorers still attain a graduate degree on time (Miller et al., 2019b; Pacheco et al., 2017; Petersen et al., 2018; Wang et al, 2013). In this study, we used a constructivist …

Successful Admissions In A Time Of Great Uncertainty: A Case Study Of Employees' Perceptions Of Employee Well-Being And Emotional Intelligence, Sarah Freed

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

This qualitative embedded single-case study explores admissions employees’ perceptions of departmental success and individual employee well-being, including the role emotional intelligence has on these outcomes, through the lens of Bolman and Deal’s Four Frame Model (1984). This study is necessary because of the turbulent higher education landscape and because social factors contributing to this turbulence are expected to stay the same. More specifically, this study is situated in a thriving Office of First-Year Admissions at an institution within a public university system in a rural setting experiencing an unstable organizational landscape. I interviewed sixteen employees in a successful mid-size public …

Critical (Re)Approach To Higher Education Admission Policy: The Impact Of Open Enrollment Policy Implementation, Shirdonna Yvonne Lawrence

Theses and Dissertations

Federal and state policies affecting higher education, like the Morrill Land Grant Act of 1832, Brown vs. Board of Education, and Higher Education Act of 1965 have posited change regarding the proliferation of diversity and expansion of access (Thelin, 2011).

I analyzed BOT policies for enrollment and conducted a socio-diagnostic CDA on the implementation of admission policy to understand the impact of the policies’ implementation. I focused on 1) exploring how open enrollment (OE) policies were constructed, 2) how institutions adopt and interpret these policies, and 3) how individuals at the institution enact these policies, by conducting a discourse-historical analysis …

Ouachita's Fall 2022 Enrollment Growth Reflects University Momentum, Felley Lawson, Ouachita News Bureau

Press Releases

Enrollment continues to grow at Ouachita Baptist University, where a Fall 2022 headcount of 1,784 is the university’s highest in 56 years.

Total enrollment, up 17.6% since 2016, includes a cohort of 445 first-time freshmen that has distinguished itself academically. Half earned a high school grade point average (GPA) of 4.0 or higher, 23 graduated first in their high school class and 36 are Arkansas Governor’s Distinguished Scholars.

Ouachita Reports Highest Total Spring Enrollment In More Than 25 Years, Felley Lawson, Ouachita News Bureau

Press Releases

Ouachita Baptist University has reported record spring enrollment for the second consecutive year, with a total Spring 2022 headcount of 1,663. This represents a 2.7% increase over Spring 2021 and the highest spring enrollment in more than 25 years.

In Fall 2021, Ouachita celebrated a number of historic school records including its highest enrollment in 55 years and largest, most diverse freshman class in its history. The two semesters of back-to-back records are part of the university’s multi-year enrollment growth and are indicators of Ouachita’s momentum in recruiting and retaining students, even while total university enrollment in the state and …

Ouachita Receives Initial Approval For 4-Year Bsn Program In Arkadelphia, Felley Lawson, Ouachita News Bureau

Press Releases

Ouachita Baptist University’s Department of Nursing has been initially approved by the Arkansas State Board of Nursing (ASBN) to begin recruiting and admitting students to its 4-year, residential Bachelor of Science in Nursing pre-licensure program option. The first cohort will start the program at the beginning of the Fall 2022 semester.

Prior to earning initial approval on Jan. 6, 2022, Ouachita’s program was granted pre-requisite approval by the ASBN on Sept. 9, 2021.

“Ouachita’s experienced faculty is well prepared to offer a high-quality, student-centered nursing education to help meet the demand for nurses,” said Dr. Brenda Trigg, director of nursing …

A Study On Formerly Incarcerated Women From Appalachia Pursuing Higher Education, Marcie Simms

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The pursuit of higher education is a goal that is embedded in secondary education and often correlated with the American dream. This study concentrated on the barriers that women with a felony conviction face when pursuing higher education after incarceration. Based on the identified barriers, current best practices for admission to higher education institutions and individual resources available for the ex-offender population were assessed. Using a questionnaire and interviews, a qualitative research approach helped identify the barriers that women with a felony conviction face when pursuing education and best practice solutions for institutions of higher education when working with the …

2021 View Book, Cedarville University

View Books

No abstract provided.

Admitting Smarter: Refining The Admission Process Through Professional Dispositions, Catherine Snyder

University of South Florida (USF) M3 Publishing

Since 2018, news agencies have shifted from reporting teacher layoffs to teacher shortages. This swift shift in the industry left many floundering to recruit enough teachers to fill classrooms. Even in the midst of the Covid-19 crisis, there is still a demand for teachers, now with added online teaching skills. This article addresses one program’s admissions improvement process: an analysis of the acceptance process, improvements and changes in the process with the goal of reducing attrition, and improving the quality of candidates admitted. Several improvements were made, specifically related to introducing dispositional tools and standardizing the acceptance process across the …

Law School News: Dean's Distinguished Service Award 2021: Ralph Tavares 05/28/2021, Michael M. Bowden

Life of the Law School (1993- )

No abstract provided.

Ouachita Baseball’S Carter Wade On Playing College Sports: “It Doesn’T Matter What Division You Are In”, Madison Cresswell, Ouachita News Bureau

Press Releases

In choosing a college to further his education and baseball career, Carter Wade, a senior accounting major from Little Rock, Ark., first decided to attend a Division I university.

From Someone Who’S Been There: Consider Ouachita Even If You Don’T Know Anyone, Claire Phillips, Ouachita News Bureau

Press Releases

As if the final stretch of senior year is not hard enough, you’re also having to make a decision that will affect the next few years of your life – where you’re going to college. The process can be overwhelming, frustrating and confusing, and it oftentimes can seem like a competition among peers; who will be accepted into the best school, who is going to receive the most offers, who is going to commit to a university first. I know how defeating this process can be. Even during my senior year of high school, I really didn’t begin to apply …

Law School News: Staff Person Of The Year 2021: Ann Marie Thompson 05/18/2021, Michael M. Bowden

Life of the Law School (1993- )

No abstract provided.

Founded On Friendship: And How The Ouachita Community Overflows Beyond Campus, Erin Calhoon, Ouachita News Bureau

Press Releases

The Ouachita community truly is something special. While on campus, I was surrounded by faculty and peers alike who uniquely challenged me and pushed me to grow in my relationship with Christ.

Attending A College That Loves You Back: A Ouachita Senior’S Reflections, Abby Turner, Ouachita News Bureau

Press Releases

“Why did you want to go to college at Ouachita? Didn’t you want to get out of your hometown?” I have been asked these questions frequently since I stepped on to campus as a freshman in 2017. To me, not going to Ouachita had never been an option. For as long as I can remember, Ouachita was the next step, and it couldn’t get here soon enough.

Using Grit Scale Scores To Predict Retention And Persistence, Kristin Sowden

Dissertations, 2020-current

Existing theory and evidence regarding the effects of grit on a range of antecedents suggest that students reporting higher grit levels should be more likely to be retained and to persist when meeting the challenges of earning a college degree. However, like others before it, this study does not indicate support for overall grit scores on student retention and persistence outcomes. Therefore, grit should not be considered as a non-cognitive predictor for the admissions process. These null findings were present for overall grit scale scores and grit subdimension scores (passion, perseverance). One significant interaction was found between Pell recipiency and …

Understanding And Enhancing The Graduate Admissions Experience For Dacamented/Undocumented Students, Taylor Ulrich

M.A. in Higher Education Leadership: Action Research Projects

The informal and often ad hoc nature of college admissions can deter DACAmented/ Undocumented students from applying, being admitted, or choosing to enroll in higher education. Admissions offices can serve as a resource to these students, assisting them in navigating this extensive process. The purpose of my research was to better understand the DACAmented/Undocumented graduate student experience and explore how DACAmented/Undocumented students’ needs could be better met in graduate admissions at University of San Diego. The research questions guiding my study were (1) how could I understand and enhance the DACAmented/Undocumented graduate student experience? and (2) how could I work …

Investigating Barriers Experienced By Underrepresented Minorities In Becoming A Competitive Genetic Counseling Applicant, Katie Huang

Dissertations & Theses (Open Access)

Representation for both racial/ethnic and gender identity minorities in genetic counseling (GC) remains the lowest among similar healthcare professions. Barriers that underrepresented minority (URM) individuals face in becoming a competitive GC applicant have not yet been described. Academic capital (AC) is a theoretical framework describing the social processes necessary for individuals to navigate and succeed in higher education. This study aimed to characterize barriers experienced by applicants who self-identify as underrepresented and to explore how AC could identify areas for intervention. Prospective GC applicants for the 2021/2022 cycles were recruited to complete an anonymous online survey in Qualtrics through a …

The Growth Of The Test-Optional Movement: Analysis Of Test-Optional Admissions Policies In American Higher Education, Angela C. Lofaro

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The landscape of American higher education is becoming more competitive each year. Discussions about equity and increasing access to underrepresented student groups grows each year, particularly regarding the role of standardized testing. Some research has shown the SAT and ACT exams, the two primary college entrance exams used in the United States, to be discriminatory towards students of some racial and ethnic minority and low-socioeconomic backgrounds. The number of institutions in the U.S. choosing to forego standardized test scores as part of their admission process for freshman applicants is growing annually, particularly in the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic …

Memories On And Off The Field: What Ouachita Women’S Soccer Has Given Me, Meagan North, Ouachita News Bureau

Press Releases

Ouachita has given me so much, but my favorite thing it has given me is soccer. As a little girl, I dreamt of playing college sports. I saw pictures of college-age soccer players and how athletic and intimidating they looked, and I really wanted to be that. Ouachita gave me that opportunity.

4 Ways To Break Out Of Your Comfort Zone And Have The College Experience You Want, Gabrielle Davis, Ouachita News Bureau

Press Releases

As a rising senior, it’s incredibly easy for me to look back at my college experience and say, “College was a time for growth.” I started my time at Ouachita as a shy freshman who just wanted to earn her degree, maybe go to a few events and get out. I was afraid to try anything outside of my comfort zone, lest I jeopardize my education.

The Grizzly, April 8, 2021, Simra Mariam, Ava Compagnoni, Amelia Kunko, Gillian Mccomeskey, Marie Sykes, Layla Halterman, Sean Mcginley, Shannon Henes, Rosalia Murphy, Madison Handwerger

Ursinus College Grizzly Newspaper, 1978 to Present

Anger About Admitted Students Day • Eligible Faculty, Staff, and Students Granted Opportunity to Participate in Vaccine Clinic • A Baden Presentation by Kneia DaCosta, Psychology Department • Ally Hendrikson '21: A Graduating Senior Interview • Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated • Opinion: The Enemy That Became my Friend; Nomadland Film Review • Spring Sports Week Two Recap • What is Next for Women's LAX?

5 Tips To Get Ahead If You Plan To Study Two (Or Three!) College Majors, Jessica Daniell, Ouachita News Bureau

Press Releases

If you are scanning the multiple academic schools and academic programs offered at Ouachita, you are likely to come across several that may pique your interest. You probably have several passions and talents already, so declaring one major over another may be a difficult challenge.

Covid-19_Umaine News_Richards Discusses Ums Admissions Changes Due To Pandemic With News Center, University Of Maine Division Of Marketing And Communications

Division of Marketing & Communications

Screenshot of UMaine in the News regarding Christopher Richards, vice president of enrollment management at the University of Maine, discussing how the University of Maine System altered the admissions process in response to COVID-19 with News Center Maine.