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The Effectiveness Of The University Of Southern Mississippi's Marketing And Branding Efforts Among Prospective Students, Amy Clevenger

Honors Theses

With enrollment rates expected to surge over the next decade, the competition

between institutions of higher learning will also increase. Because of this, marketing

material produced by all institutions will need to adjust to become more effective at

establishing brand identity to attract the attention of prospective students. Using Aaker’s

brand identity model as a framework to understand branding methods, this research aims

to identify marketing communication strategies that are more effective in a prospective

student’s decision-making process. The thesis also investigates prospective students’

recall and perception of marketing material produced by USM to determine its overall

effectiveness and differences …

Impact Of Organizational Structure On Community Engagement Outcomes, Christy Arrazattee

School of Education Doctoral Projects - Higher Education

Community engagement has been embedded into higher education institutions since the early 1990s, yet scholars and practitioners still debate if there is an ideal reporting structure for coordinating offices (Jacoby, 2014). This study involved a quantitative analysis of 72 institutions who submitted information to the National Inventory of Institutional Infrastructure for Community Engagement survey (NI³CE – pronounced “nice”) between 2017 and 2020. Institutions were categorized by organizational structure (centralized vs. decentralized) and by reporting line (Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, Joint Academic Affairs/ Student Affairs, Outreach, and decentralized). Using the NI³CE inventory and scoring system, points were awarded to institutions based …

I’M Not That Needy: Black Students’ Perceptions Of Food Assistance And The Impact Of Self-Categorization On Campus Food Pantry Utilization, Catherine M. Jermany

School of Education Doctoral Projects - Higher Education

The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify which student groups Black students perceive as needing food assistance, to explore how Black students’ perceptions of students in need impacts their decision to utilize the on-campus food pantry at California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH), and to identify the circumstances that influence Black students’ self-categorization. Nine, Black-identified students enrolled at CSUDH participated in semi-structured interviews that were transcribed and coded using a grounded theory approach. Results of the study revealed that Black students generally perceived low-income students, unemployed or overemployed students, students experiencing food insecurity, and students with non-traditional housing …

Disability Disclosure And Academic Advising: Factors That Influence Disability Disclosure To An Academic Advisor, Autumn Grant

School of Education Doctoral Projects - Higher Education

The National Center for Education Statistics revealed that in 2015-2016, 19.4% of undergraduate students reported having a disability. Further data convey that students with disabilities have lower graduation and retention rates than their non-disabled peers. Academic advising has a long-standing linkage to retention and success; however, academic advisors frequently feel that they are in a better place to support students with disabilities if they understand the impact of the disability on academic life. Existing literature focuses on factors that influence students to disclose a disability to obtain reasonable accommodations from an institution's disability/accessibility office and disclosure to faculty members. This …

Gun Control Laws And Policies Reported Influence On The Attitudes Of Faculty At Mississippi Universities, David Besancon

Dissertations

The concealed carrying of firearms is a polarizing subject. In general, the political left would like to see more restrictive gun laws, whereas the political right would like to see less restrictive guns laws. Research of this also seems politically biased. While one researcher will use data that show violent crime increases with more restrictive gun laws, another researcher will use logic to dictate that less guns means less violence. University campuses are generally considered a liberal environment. However, Mississippi has been one of the two most conservative states since the 1930s. This research examines the attitudes of faculty at …

Boosting Degree Attainment: A Mixed Methods Examination Of An Adult Degree Completion Initiative, Hannah Harrison

Dissertations

Higher education has increased its focus to national degree attainment, especially among adults who have some college education (Hardin, 2008; Nettles, 2017). Research from these entities identifies future economic growth and the strength of the United States economy requires a more highly educated society (Carnevale & Rose, 2014). As a result, Federal and institutional initiatives seek ways to increase the retention rates of current students while also incentivizing students to return to school to complete their degrees (Markle, 2015). A review of the related literature identified economic and social benefits exist for individuals who obtain a postsecondary degree (Chan, 2016). …

The Perceived Absence Of African American Women In Leadership Positions In Public Four-Year Predominantly White Institutions Of Higher Education In Mississippi, Tonya Neely

Dissertations

There is a perceived absence of African American women in leadership positions in predominantly White institutions of higher education. This research study explored the experiences of African American women in leadership positions at predominantly White institutions of higher education in Mississippi. The themes that emerged from the published literature that were explored in this research study were barriers, mentorship, leadership, and copying strategies. A mixed methods research approach was used to complete this research study using semi-structured interviews and an online Qualtrics survey to capture the experiences of the study participants. The results of this research study support the narrative …

Honor And Duty: The Collegiate Education Of A Yeoman Farmer’S Son In Antebellum Mississippi, David Taylor

Dissertations

This endeavor reviews the mindsets and ideologies emerging from the South in the era known as "King Cotton," a time which predated the American Civil War and in which cotton was the primary export of the South. It is historically relevant to Higher Education in that it views this mindset through the eyes of young, white, single males and in particular, one male, a student of Mississippi College in Clinton, Mississippi. This description will focus on the years from 1850 to 1860 and this male population. This in no way degrades or neglects the contribution or inclusion of women in …

A Guided Orientation Process For Online Adult Learners, Shana L. Palla

School of Education Doctoral Projects - Higher Education

To the MS in Applied Statistics, Analytics & Data Science program at the University of Kansas, the orientation process, between accepting an offer of admission and starting the first day of classes, takes approximately 7 steps. Students to this program, typically online non-traditional working professionals, were sent an email with directions on how to complete the steps, and the students self-guided their way through the process using the email. The steps must be completed in a specific order and some steps require overnight processing before the next step can be initiated. When students were unable to complete the process on …

Parental Engagement In The Transition To College, Casey M. Henceroth

School of Education Doctoral Projects - Higher Education

Increased parental involvement with children in college has been attributed to rising higher education costs, an increase in technology usage and communication, a generational shift in parenting style with increased closeness and involvement at the primary and secondary education levels, and the growing number of college students whose parents attended college. Some higher education professionals are concerned this increased parental engagement has a negative impact on college student growth and maturity, while others see benefits to students from a developmental standpoint. While there has been increased scholarly attention over the previous two decades about the growing involvement of parents on …

Decision-Making By Community College Administrators On Satellite Campuses Of Mississippi Community Colleges, Raymunda Barnes

Dissertations

According to Schindler (1952), the first off-site community college campuses were not named satellite campuses. They were referred to as “off-campus undergraduate divisions of higher institutions.” Over time, the satellite campus has evolved into a critical part of the higher education landscape. As a result, the administrators that are assigned to manage satellite campuses are responsible for making decisions that affect college personnel and students who attend the satellite campus. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to examine administrative decision-making on satellite campuses of Mississippi community colleges by satellite campus administrators. Eight satellite administrators participated in this study. …

Living On Campus Is Beneficial: Studying The Impact Of Student Involvement Through Living-Learning Communities, Stephen R. Mccay

Dissertations

Since the early days of higher education, living-learning communities have been beneficial for student success, involvement, and retention. A living-learning community can be studied using the following as a basic definition for this research: a group of students living together who have a purpose of focusing on learning outside the classroom and that interacts with the institution’s staff, who assist with the students’ holistic development. Research suggests that students who are involved and those who live on campus have greater academic success and are more likely to return for their next academic semester. Astin’s involvement theory explores the interactions between …

Organizational Stressors As Predictors Of Burnout, Kristen Albritton

Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to determine if organizational stress, measured by role conflict and role ambiguity, predicts burnout among employees. A review of the related literature identified variables that demonstrate a relationship with burnout, supported by the Maslach (1998) theory of burnout and Katz and Kahn’s (1966) organizational role theory. The researcher also examined whether organizational level and demographic variables (gender, education level, and job tenure) moderate the relationships between role conflict, role ambiguity, and burnout.

The study follows a non-experimental, cross-sectional design using data collected from a survey. Results of linear regression analyses reveal role conflict and …

The Relationship Between The Perceived Value Of Professional Development, Job Satisfaction, And Intent To Leave, Wendy Marie Wells

Dissertations

Organizations striving to remain competitive compete in the war for talent in order to recruit and retain employees. Studies assessing intent to leave and turnover suggest numerous strategies to mitigate the revolving door of employees quitting jobs (Allen, 2008; Allen, Bryant, & Vardaman 2010; Lee, Hom, Eberly, & Li, 2018). This study assesses the relationship between the perceived value of professional development, job satisfaction, and intent to leave. Results of the study reveal as one finds professional development, valuable job satisfaction increases. In assessing the relationship between professional development and intent to leave, the results of the study suggest that …

The Influence Of Emotional Intelligence Training On College Student Employee Workforce Readiness, Wynde Jones

Dissertations

Working while enrolled in college has become routine for the Millennial college student (Riggert, Boyle, Petrosko, Ash, & Rude-Parkins, 2006). Approximately 14 million students in the United States work and attend college simultaneously (Carnevale, Smith, Melton, & Price, 2015). Millennials graduate and infiltrate the workforce, now composing half of the U. S. labor market (Calk & Patrick, 2017). Yet, a mismatch between employer and new graduate’s competencies occurs in the workplace. While Millennials view themselves as workforce ready, employers see them as unprepared and lacking the necessary skills for success in the workplace (Jaschik, 2015). Many Millennial college graduates do …

Transgender College Students In The English Composition Classroom In The Rocky Mountains, Tracey Williams

Dissertations

Transgender students face challenging and unique experiences in academic classrooms on college campuses. This qualitative study, which used queer and transgender theory, sought to examine the realities of transgender students’ experiences within the English Composition classroom in the Rocky Mountains. English Composition is a class nearly every undergraduate student must take, no matter their major. It acts as a microcosm of the college population. Composition classes are generally small (20-25 students), offering a more intimate setting than other general education classes in college. Additionally, personal writing is expected, as is sharing work with classmates for peer-review sessions. Within this context …

An Examination Of The Relationship Between Sports Participation And Financial Accessibility For First-Generation African-American Students At Selected Mississippi Colleges And Universities, Theresa Rash

Dissertations

First-generation students, and particularly African Americans, are historically underserved in terms of college access and success. During college, they often carry greater financial responsibilities and remain less likely to be engaged in activities, both academic and social, that promote academic success. Becoming a collegiate athlete may increase a student’s financial capacity to successfully complete college.

This study examined whether being a collegiate athlete was related to greater college financial accessibility, particularly for first-generation students. The study included 537 undergraduate African-American students from 5 Mississippi colleges and universities. I hypothesized that (1) athletic status is related to college financial accessibility for …

Faculty Interactions With Black Male Students At Hbcus And Community Colleges As Predictors Of Academic Achievement In Stem, Antoine Gates

Dissertations

A myriad of studies in STEM education aim to identify the underlying reasons behind poor achievement of Black males in higher education. Research studies have indicated that HBCUs make significant advances in various desired outcomes such as graduation rates for Blacks, especially males. However, Black males at community colleges do not always fare similarly to their counterparts at HBCUs. There are limited studies on faculty interactions with Black males in STEM at community colleges. Therefore, the goal of this study was to identify whether significant differences existed in the interactions STEM faculty formed with Black males at community colleges and …

Mechanism For Leadership Development And Effectiveness: The Relationship Between Followership, Leadership, And Psychological Capital, Saurabh Gupta

Dissertations

Research supports the strategic role of a leader in improving individual and organizational performance (Day et al., 2009; Kaiser & Curphy, 2013). Developing leadership and enhancing leadership effectiveness remains at the forefront of organizational strategic plans (Day et al., 2009; Kaiser & Curphy, 2013). However, a majority of leadership development efforts fail in their purpose, which causes a leadership crisis in many organizations (Fernández-Aráoz, Roscoe, & Aramaki, 2017; Gurdjian, Halbeisen, & Lane, 2014; Kaiser & Curphy, 2013; Madanchian, Hussein, Noordin, & Taherdoost, 2017; Pfeffer, 2015; Wakefield, Abbatiello, Agarwal, Pastakia, & van Berkel, 2016). Neglecting the role of followership and using …

The Influence Of The Educational Environment On College Student Activity Behaviors, Helen M. Ziegler

Dissertations

Healthy Campus 2020, an initiative that provides a framework to support campuses in improving the health of their students, staff, and faculty, recognizes physical activity as one of the top eleven priorities for positively influencing health risk behaviors in college populations (American College Health Association, 2012). However, there is not much research to support the best way to influence physical activity behaviors and what types of programs and facilities can provide the greatest impact. The purpose of this study was to investigate which components or programs within the higher education environment have the greatest influence on college students’ intention to …

Exploring Issues Of Diversity Experiences In Student Organizations Sponsored By The University Of Southern Mississippi, Cornelia Welch-Dick

Honors Theses

Colleges and universities are becoming increasingly racially/ethnically diverse. Previous studies have noted that an increase in racial/ethnic diversity has positive outcomes for minority and majority groups. Additional research supports that positive diversity experiences in student organizations have benefits for college students (Kuk & Banning, 2010; Cheng & Zhao, 2007; Antonio, 2001). While the benefits of increased diversity are clear, no previous study was found to have looked at diversity experiences at USM or more specifically, USM’s student organizations. The current study examined the degree to which leaders of each organization perceived experiences of diversity as positive compared to the members’ …

Barriers And Enablers To Native American Persistence In Higher Education Programs: Narratives From Mississippi Band Of Choctaw Indians, Bianca J. York-Crockett

Dissertations

According to data from the U. S. Census Bureau (2016), Native Americans have the lowest postsecondary education completion rate (13.8%) among all racial and ethnic groups in the United States; and simultaneously, Native Americans had the second highest unemployment rate among all ethnic groups. A positive and direct correlation exists between a community’s economic growth and the attainment of higher education by members within that community (Becker, 1994; Fann, 2009). Though 567 federally recognized tribes exist in the United States, this research study focuses on one tribe, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians (MBCI). The national postsecondary six-year completion rate …

The Efficacy Of A Goal-Based Study Skills Course For Academically At-Risk, First-Generation, African American, Female Students, Sarah Beth Garrison

Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to identify effective intervention strategies used in a goal-based study skills course for academically at-risk, first-generation, African-American, female students. Based on the theoretical framework from goal, motivation and achievement theories (Covington, 2000; Kuh, 2007; Nicholls, 1984), this study provided an analysis of research regarding the academic success and persistence of at-risk students. An explanatory mixed-method design was employed that consisted of two phases. The first phase of the study used quantitative data to test for difference in GPA and academic status between the control and treatment group. Quantitative data was also used to identify …

A Mixed Methods Exploration Of Black Presidents Appointed To Predominantly White Institutions: Assessing Their Exposure To The Glass Cliff And Experiences As Administrators Of Color, Melandie Katrice Mcgee

Dissertations

Leadership studies have infrequently addressed the diversity of leaders. Moreover, little is known about the experiences of Black presidents serving at predominantly White institutions (PWIs). The present study was conceptualized using the glass cliff framework which posits that women and racial minorities are more often promoted to precarious leadership positions than are White males. Examined through a lens of race and leadership, the goals of this study were to: (1) assess whether there were observable differences in the prevalence and magnitude of adverse conditions surrounding the appointments of Black and White presidents at PWIs; and (2) gain an understanding of …

Understanding Noncompliance: A Qualitative Content Analysis Of Title Ix Sexual Misconduct Violations Using The Office For Civil Rights Investigative Findings, Lenore N. Schaffer Nee Malone

Dissertations

On April 4, 2011 the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) released a Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) reminding higher education institutions (HEIs) of their obligations under Title IX to respond to complaints of sexual misconduct. The 2011 DCL was meant to be a guidance document to assist HEIs in complying with Title IX, but many higher education administrators expressed frustrations concerning some of OCR’s requirements. Since releasing the 2011 DCL, OCR has opened more than 200 Title IX investigations at HEIs across the nation. When OCR concludes that a HEI has failed to comply with Title IX, …

A Motivational Profile Of Nurses Who Pursue Doctoral Education, Tomekia Yvette Luckett

Dissertations

The need for nurses to pursue doctoral education is imperative to the professionalization of the discipline of nursing in light of the changing healthcare environment. Presently, < 1% of the nursing workforce possesses a doctoral degree (“Transforming Nursing Education,” 2016), albeit recommendations from the Institute of Medicine (IOM) (2010) admonish the need to increase the number of doctoral-prepared nurses. The need to understand characteristics of nurses who seek doctoral education is critical in planning long-term strategies for nursing education in the United States (US) (Kovner, Brewer, Katigbak, Djukic, & Fatehi, 2012). In conjunction with describing characteristics of nurses pursuing doctoral education, this research describes the motivational orientation and factors of registered nurses (RNs) pursuing doctoral education.

A descriptive correlational design was utilized to examine concepts relating to motivational orientation of RNs pursuing doctoral education. Participants were divided into two categories: (a) RNs seeking the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree and (b) RNs pursuing the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree. A total of 173 RNs enrolled in either a Ph.D. or DNP program in the Gulf South region of the US comprised the final sample. Binary logistic regression was utilized …

Factors Influencing Accessibility To American Public Higher Education, Angela Leanne Bryan

Dissertations

Since their inception in the early 1900s, community colleges have been about making higher education accessible. While their initial purpose was to overcome the geography barrier to higher education, the mission of community colleges and higher education on the whole has expanded over time to mitigate other barriers to higher education to include gender, race, religion, and socioeconomic barriers. As public support for higher education has changed over time, institutions have had to change their tuition and fee structure to make up the budget shortfall created by the decreases in public funding. How have these changes impacted accessibility to public …

Profiles Of Academic Commitment, Anna Jill Womack

Dissertations

Tinto (1993) found that only 15-25% of students who dropped out of college did so due to academic failure, while the reasons for leaving among the remaining group of students who dropped out were unknown. This suggests that the majority of students who drop out of college are likely doing so for reasons other than academic struggles. Researchers have suggested that individuals who are committed to their major are more likely to obtain a bachelor’s degree (Bowling, Beehr, & Lepisto, 2006; Den Hartog & Belschak, 2007; Duffy, Dik, & Steger, 2011; Goulet & Singh, 2002; Landrum & Mulcock, 2007), indicating …

The Relationship Of The Type Of Academic Advising And Parental Types On The Transition Of Freshmen Students To College, Elizabeth Ruth Gordon

Dissertations

The field of academic advising has evolved to incorporate more developmental approaches to academic advising, which includes analyzing a college student's personal or academic experience, as well as future career aspirations. An avenue of understanding a student’s background would be to understand the parental type to which students have been exposed. This study attempts to determine if there are relationships between academic advising type, parental type and transition of the freshmen college student. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships of the academic advising types, including developmental and prescriptive advising, and parental types, whether permissive, authoritative, and …

Our Voice, Our Choice: Race, Politics And Community Building On The Pages Of Five Historically Black College And University Newspapers From 1930 To 1959, Sheryl Monique Kennedy Haydel

Dissertations

From 1930 to 1959, the black college student-run press was a prolific voice leading discussions about ways to eradicate racial discrimination, amass political currency, and nurture communal solidarity. Embedded in their mission was a desire to awaken their readers intellectually and emotionally to join a mounting movement toward racial liberation. Yet, historians have ignored this expansive network of black collegian editors and writers, who were a philosophical extension of the professional Black Press.

Like their mentors in the Black Press, black college student editors and writers vigorously advocated for racial equality, took a combative stance against political gerrymandering that left …