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The Racial Attitudes Of White Students At A Christian Institution, Jarad Russell Jan 2024

The Racial Attitudes Of White Students At A Christian Institution, Jarad Russell

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

This phenomenological study used semi-structured interviews to understand the lived experiences and racial attitudes of White students at a Council for Christian Colleges and Universities institution as they related to Black people. The participants were asked about their past experiences with Black people, their discussions with family about race, their present understanding of terminology related to race and racism, and their desire to support racial justice in the future. Through this study, three categories of students emerged: those that had taken steps to educate themselves on matters related to race and racism, those that were just beginning to understand issues …


Revisiting Domestic And International Study "Abroad" Program Learning Outcomes: A Qualitative Pilot Study, Jessica Martin Jan 2024

Revisiting Domestic And International Study "Abroad" Program Learning Outcomes: A Qualitative Pilot Study, Jessica Martin

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

Christian institutions missionally commit to educate students to be both professionally competent and capable of engaging across difference. This quantitative pilot study analyzes survey responses from graduates of two intentionally-designed Christian off-campus study programs—one located in the United States and one located abroad. A multivariate analysis of covariance reveals graduates of both programs scored comparably on professional competency and engaging difference scales. This challenges narrow approaches to researching, designing, and promoting international study abroad programs as superior arenas for developing global competency and domestic programs as primarily focused on professional development. Consequently, Christian educators are invited reconsider how various off-campus …


Digital Restlessness: Student Social Media Misuse As A Problem Of Worship, Scott Busby Jan 2024

Digital Restlessness: Student Social Media Misuse As A Problem Of Worship, Scott Busby

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

No abstract provided.


The Elephant In The Room: The Intersection Of Religion And Pornography Among Young Christian Men, Ryan Hewitt Jan 2024

The Elephant In The Room: The Intersection Of Religion And Pornography Among Young Christian Men, Ryan Hewitt

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

Pornography presents a unique paradox for young Christians —a culturally normative phenomenon among younger generations, yet one that most Christians morally oppose. These conflicting trends make pornography an “elephant in the room” among young Christians today—an ever-present reality, yet one often not discussed due to its sensitive nature. This work presents a recent quantitative study exploring pornography use patterns and its impact on Evangelical Christian men from both Christian academic institutions and other social and religious contexts. Results revealed high levels of religiosity and porn use, and significant correlations between religiosity, porn use, potentially problematic use, and perceived problems due …


Full Issue Jan 2024

Full Issue

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

The full issue of the twenty-third edition of Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development.


Embodied: Transgender Identities, The Church, And What The Bible Has To Say, Kaleigh Richardson Jan 2023

Embodied: Transgender Identities, The Church, And What The Bible Has To Say, Kaleigh Richardson

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

Kaleigh Richardson reviews Embodied: Transgender Identities, the Church, and What the Bible Has to Say by Preston Sprinkle, published by David C. Cook, 2021.


The Lived Religious Experience Of Black Students At A Southeastern Cccu Institution, Harold Goss Jan 2023

The Lived Religious Experience Of Black Students At A Southeastern Cccu Institution, Harold Goss

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

The overall purpose of this qualitative study was to better understand the religious experiences of Black students at a Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU) institution. The researcher interviewed 22 participants at a private Christian university and analyzed the data using in vivo coding, constant comparison, and thematic analysis. Findings suggest formal religious activities that are required and presumed by the institution to be nurturing can have the opposite effect for some Black students at the institution. The researcher identified three major themes regarding how Black students perceive and experience religious activity. The themes provide helpful insight regarding participants’ …


Pursuing Campus Collaboration That Works: Assessing The Impact Of Relational Leadership And Work Engagement On Relational Coordination Between Student Affairs And Academic Affairs In Christian Higher Education, Mark Muha Jan 2023

Pursuing Campus Collaboration That Works: Assessing The Impact Of Relational Leadership And Work Engagement On Relational Coordination Between Student Affairs And Academic Affairs In Christian Higher Education, Mark Muha

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

Collaboration between student affairs and academic affairs departments has long been a focus of organizational development but is inconsistent at best. This quantitative study of student affairs professionals (n = 256) within the Christian higher education context examined the role that experience of relational leadership and a worker’s level of work engagement have on a student affairs professional’s experience of relational coordination with the academic affairs departments within their organization. The study used three validated surveys and subsequent regression analysis to measure relational leadership, work engagement, and relational coordination to identify the predictive relationship between the variables as well …


Purpose And Autonomous Functioning In College Students, Michelle Steffenhagen Jan 2022

Purpose And Autonomous Functioning In College Students, Michelle Steffenhagen

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

This study sought to understand the relationship between a sense of purpose and autonomous functioning in college students. Further, the results were compared with the independent variables of gender, volunteerism, and faith community participation. Participants (n = 356) were undergraduate college students at a small private liberal arts Christian institution located in the Midwest of the United States of America. Measures included the Claremont Purpose Scale and the Index of Autonomous Functioning. Pearson correlations were used to analyze the data, and purpose and autonomous functioning were positively correlated. Women reported higher levels of a sense of purpose and autonomous functioning. …


Advising And Supporting College Students Experiencing Imposter Syndrome: A Christian Perspective, Jeannine Kranzow Jan 2022

Advising And Supporting College Students Experiencing Imposter Syndrome: A Christian Perspective, Jeannine Kranzow

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

For Christian student affairs educators, it is essential that the methods of advising and supporting students be in line with biblical directives for a whole and holy life. This paper will examine approaches for advising and supporting students experiencing imposter syndrome. Current research on impostor syndrome is presented as well as a discussion of ways that Christian insight can provide additional guidance and awareness for supporting struggling students. By connecting both biblical wisdom and the current scholarship, a Christian perspective of impostor syndrome, anchored in a discussion on spiritual warfare, is offered. Using this perspective, recommendations for practice are identified.


Growth: 21 (2022) Full Issue Jan 2022

Growth: 21 (2022) Full Issue

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

The full issue of the twenty-first edition of Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development.


Living Life Together: A Qualatative Study Of Taylor University's Lifestyle Covenant, Jana Roste Jan 2022

Living Life Together: A Qualatative Study Of Taylor University's Lifestyle Covenant, Jana Roste

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

Taylor University, a small, Christian, liberal arts institution in the Midwest, utilizes a lifestyle covenant which outlines expectations for campus life to promote character development and fulfill the university’s mission. In pursuit of exploring community members’ perceptions of the Life Together Covenant (LTC), the larger qualitative study, consisting of individual interviews with ten senior students, ten staff members, and ten faculty members, found that participants generally perceived the LTC as a guide or set of expectations to live cohesively at Taylor. This article focuses on the student findings and analyses. Students generally perceive and experience the LTC in a legalistic …


Multiculturalism In Higher Education: Increasing Access And Improving Equity In The 21st Century, Crystal M. Cartwright Jan 2021

Multiculturalism In Higher Education: Increasing Access And Improving Equity In The 21st Century, Crystal M. Cartwright

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

No abstract provided.


Developing Multicultural Competence In Undergraduate Student Leaders Through A Civil Rights Bus Tour, Kevin J. Villegas, Catherine Lombardozzi Jan 2021

Developing Multicultural Competence In Undergraduate Student Leaders Through A Civil Rights Bus Tour, Kevin J. Villegas, Catherine Lombardozzi

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

This qualitative study provides insight on the impact of an intensive civil rights bus tour on the multicultural competence development of undergraduate student leaders. Specifically, this phenomenological inquiry explored the lived experiences of four individuals who participated in a civil rights bus tour as undergraduate student leaders. Through interpretive phenomenological analysis, several themes emerged that have bearing on the development of multicultural competence in undergraduate student leaders. The results of this study conclude that the multicultural competence of the undergraduate student leaders who participated in the tour developed in significant ways. Ideally, this study informs the work of student affairs …


The Experiences Of Lgbtq+ Christians In A Support Group And Implications For Practitioners, Christian Heasley, Stacy A. Jacob Jan 2021

The Experiences Of Lgbtq+ Christians In A Support Group And Implications For Practitioners, Christian Heasley, Stacy A. Jacob

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

LGBTQ+ students attending Christian colleges and universities represent a unique intersection of sexual and spiritual identity. There is a dearth of literature regarding LGBTQ+ students at Christian institutions. Research is difficult to undertake because of the challenge of recruiting participants who may not feel comfortable or even safe identifying as LGBTQ+, even in an anonymous study. This qualitative study specifically studies LGBTQ+ students who are members of a school-sanctioned LGBTQ+ support groups at a Council for Christian College and Universities (CCCU) institution. Participants involved in such a group responded to an interview discussing their faith development, their sexual identity development, …


Authoring An Undivided Self: Predictors Of Self-Authorship Among First-Year Students Attending Christian Universities, Rachel Abouras Jan 2021

Authoring An Undivided Self: Predictors Of Self-Authorship Among First-Year Students Attending Christian Universities, Rachel Abouras

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

Ample research suggests that self-authorship may serve an important role in helping students develop as whole people. Therefore, the time is ripe for Christian student affairs professionals to further investigate the construct of self-authorship, specifically how it may be shaped in the college context. To that end, the purpose of this study was to identify key factors that influence self-authorship among a sample of first-year students attending a Christian university (N=428). Drawing on the work of Kegan (1994) and Baxter Magolda (2001), this study utilized hierarchical multiple regression analysis to examine the relationship between self-authorship and a set of predictor …


Why We're Polarized, Serena Draper Jan 2021

Why We're Polarized, Serena Draper

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

No abstract provided.


Growth No. 20 (2021) - Full Issue Jan 2021

Growth No. 20 (2021) - Full Issue

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

The full issue of the twentieth edition of Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development.


When The Church Comes To Campus: Christian Convictions And The Challenge Toward Authentic Membership In The Secular Academy, Henrique G. Alvim Jan 2021

When The Church Comes To Campus: Christian Convictions And The Challenge Toward Authentic Membership In The Secular Academy, Henrique G. Alvim

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

This article argues for a certain kind of pluralism in the context of the secular university that would afford Christians the opportunity to more intentionally bring their religious convictions and resources to their lived experiences and academic pursuits. It points to possibilities in what pertains to the place of believers while also reminding the Church of what it ought to be in these shared educational spaces: a community of worship, not of domination. As both the university and the Church rethink ways in which to respectfully engage with one another, thus taking faith commitments more seriously, collaboration among all members …


Presumed Incompetent Ii: Race, Class Power, And Resistance Of Women In Academia, Dannemart Pierre Jan 2021

Presumed Incompetent Ii: Race, Class Power, And Resistance Of Women In Academia, Dannemart Pierre

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

No abstract provided.


The Leadership Stories Of Students Of Color At Predominantly White Christian Institutions, Sharia Hays Jan 2020

The Leadership Stories Of Students Of Color At Predominantly White Christian Institutions, Sharia Hays

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

Leadership has been identified as an important component of higher education and the college student experience (Dugan, 2006; Komives, Dugan, & Owen, 2011; Shertzer & Schuh, 2004; St. John, Rowley, & Hu, 2009). Although there has been an in-crease in leadership initiatives across higher education, many institutions, specifically dominantly White Christian institutions have struggled to find ways to involve students of color in leadership. Utilizing a phenomenological approach, this study explored the leadership experiences of 11 students of color from 3 dominantly White Christian institutions (DWI). This article will provide a broad overview of the study while focusing on how …


Growth No. 19 (2020) - Full Issue Jan 2020

Growth No. 19 (2020) - Full Issue

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

The full issue of the nineteenth edition of Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development.


The Relationship Of Gender, Spirituality, And Willingness To Seek Mental Health Treatment Among Students At A Faith-Based Institution, Lauren Hoffman, William Buhrow Jan 2020

The Relationship Of Gender, Spirituality, And Willingness To Seek Mental Health Treatment Among Students At A Faith-Based Institution, Lauren Hoffman, William Buhrow

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

College is a demanding time in a student’s life that often requires a willingness to seek help in times of significant distress. The factors that influence this decision are numerous and complex. This study examined the relationship between willingness to seek mental health treatment, gender, and level of religiosity and spirituality in students enrolled in a single faith-based institution. Results suggest that female students were more willing to seek help from a mental health professional than males, and students who endorsed high levels of religiosity and spirituality were more inclined to seek help from a religiously affiliated advisor than those …


In Praise Of Consent: Why Talking About Sex On Christian Campuses Matters Differently Than We Think; A Review Essay, Kristen L. Guidero Jan 2020

In Praise Of Consent: Why Talking About Sex On Christian Campuses Matters Differently Than We Think; A Review Essay, Kristen L. Guidero

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

For many contemporary evangelical Christians, the concept of consent tends to evoke marked squeamishness. Popular essays have construed consent as a mark of a dangerous, God-forsaking world or of a modernity that can only form shallowly contractual, liability-avoiding relationships (Franks, 2017; Harrison Warren, 2017). But revelations of abuse and assault by high-profile perpetrators in contexts as varied as sports, entertainment, education, and, yes, churches, should prompt renewed deliberation. This review essay engages with Donna Freitas’s work on consent to argue that Christians in higher education ought to heed her wisdom and adapt such conversations. The essay traces Freitas’s research-driven definitions …


Impact Of A Student Leadership Experience On The Development Of Creativity In Undergraduate Students, Austin Smith Jan 2019

Impact Of A Student Leadership Experience On The Development Of Creativity In Undergraduate Students, Austin Smith

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of a leadership experience on the development of creativity in undergraduate students in order to help student affairs professionals, faculty, and administrators better understand how they can develop creativity in their students. A phenomenological study was conducted on students who held a leadership position as a Resident Assistant or cabinet member of a student organization on the campus of a small institution in the Midwestern United States. The study consisted of an open-ended survey and semistructured interviews. Key findings from this study include insight into various aspects of students’ experiences …


The Rise And Impact Of Premarital Cohabitation: Implications For Christian Higher Education, Heidi Morris, Suzie Macaluso, Prentice Ashford Jan 2019

The Rise And Impact Of Premarital Cohabitation: Implications For Christian Higher Education, Heidi Morris, Suzie Macaluso, Prentice Ashford

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

Premarital cohabitation is an increasingly common aspect of relationships today. Despite Christian theology that often frowns on cohabitation, modern students entering institutions of Christian higher education are influenced by this societal trend. For some students, cohabitation does not carry the negative connotation as in previous years. However, how aware are students of the implications of cohabitation on relationship satisfaction? This study examines whether the level of satisfaction within a relationship is affected by having lived in a cohabiting relationship before marriage. Through an analysis of U.S. data from the 2010 Married and Cohabiting Couples survey, levels of relationship satisfaction were …


Listening To Sexual Minorities: A Study On Faith And Sexual Identity On Christian College Campuses, Brad A. Lau Jan 2019

Listening To Sexual Minorities: A Study On Faith And Sexual Identity On Christian College Campuses, Brad A. Lau

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

No abstract provided.


A Pivotal Point In Identity Development: The Impact Of The Resident Assistant Experience, Levi C. Huffman, Erin M. Lefdahl-Davis Jan 2019

A Pivotal Point In Identity Development: The Impact Of The Resident Assistant Experience, Levi C. Huffman, Erin M. Lefdahl-Davis

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

Does serving as a Resident Assistant (RA) in college impact students’ identity and long-term leadership skills? This article details a grounded theory qualitative research study where alumni are interviewed about their RA experience five to ten years post-graduation. The study revealed that a profound change (labelled a pivotal point) occurred in participants’ lives while they were serving as RAs. These former student leaders unanimously identified the role as important to their overall identity development and leadership skills. Even though the RA experience often caused a significant disruption in self-perception, it was also a catalyst for significant change in areas such …


The Motivation Of Students Of Color For Pursuing Leadership Positions At Faith-Based Universities, Grant Burns, Jenny Elsey, David M. Johnstone Jan 2018

The Motivation Of Students Of Color For Pursuing Leadership Positions At Faith-Based Universities, Grant Burns, Jenny Elsey, David M. Johnstone

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

As faith-based universities increasingly diversify the culture of their student body, student leadership roles also diversify. While there is literature on barriers and challenges students of color experience in these roles, there is little to help understand their motivation in pursuing these roles. Using conversations, interviews, and surveys this research was conducted to start such a conversation. The researchers’ goal was to go beyond conventional wisdom and begin gathering data reflecting the experiences of students of color on our campuses. While compensation is definitely a motivation, this research suggested there might be a variety of reasons to pursue these roles.


"It Feels A Bit Like Imposter Syndrome": Examining The Issue Of Masculinity And Depression In Male College Students, Wildon Story Jan 2018

"It Feels A Bit Like Imposter Syndrome": Examining The Issue Of Masculinity And Depression In Male College Students, Wildon Story

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

This research seeks to examine the intersectional relationship between depression and identity development of male students at a liberal arts institution. The present study focused on the statistics of male students attending the university counseling center alongside multiple conversations with three counselors who help depressed male students and two students whose personal accounts detailed the interaction between their depression and male gender identity. The findings suggest male students’ depression may be rooted in the incongruence between students’ self-perceived identity and the culturally-demanding narratives of male behaviors and thought patterns. Students detailed their experience navigating shame, loneliness, comparison, and their hesitancy …