Digital Commons Network^™

The New College Of The Arts: Forming A Collaborative Community At The College Of The Arts At Georgia State University In Atlanta, Ga, Peter Huesemann-Odom

Art and Design Theses

The Ernest G. Welch School of Art & Design, the School of Music, and the School of Film, Media & Theatre form the College of the Arts at Georgia State University. These schools operate in separate campus areas. This lack of unified presence impedes collaborative and inspiring exchanges between communities. The New College of the Arts investigates forming a community that combines all the College of the Arts disciplines and highlights the College’s impact on the city of Atlanta, Georgia State University, and the arts. The components needed for a successful evolution are discovered through primary and secondary research, including …

The Power Of Reflection: Understanding The Impacts Made Upon Employees Who Have Managers Who Reflect On Their Professional Development, Ryan Heath Jordan

Business Administration Dissertations

No matter the level, managers who reflect on their professional development will impact their careers in various ways. But what impact can this same reflection have on those individuals who are led by those managers? It is widely known in the literature that professional development reflections can have positive effects on one’s career. With that knowledge, it is intended to drill down into this concept to help identify how a manager’s professional development reflection can have the same impact on their employees. The impact of managers’ professional development reflection on their employee’s increased interest in career development, improved job performance, …

Student Success According To Whom? A Black Aesthetics-Informed Critical Multimodal Discourse Analysis, Natasha Mcclendon

Educational Policy Studies Dissertations

This research aims to identify what and how a university recognized for its success in educating Black students communicates to Black undergraduate students about student success, Blackness and Being by identifying and analyzing the visual discourse of student success policies and practices in this higher education setting. This study was framed theoretically within the Black Intellectual Tradition, using black aesthetics, a theoretical framework that provides the concepts and language (black fungibility, black (in)visibility, Blackness, and Being) to describe Black students’ meaning-making process. Building on existing student success research, policy, and practice, this study seeks to expand this knowledge base by …

Evaluating The Impact Of Digital Media On Prospect Conversion In Nonprofit Organizations: An Action Research, Divya Ramachandran

Marketing Dissertations

Nonprofit organizations struggle to leverage digital marketing to achieve their primary goal of understanding and addressing the needs of their target audience to convert their prospects. Using action research, we conceptualize a strategic digital marketing framework that (a) enables digital marketing efforts to be designed and executed in alignment with organizational goals, (b) considers multiple customer touchpoints in the consumer decision-making process, and (c) accounts for the sequential “funnel” nature of the prospect conversion process. We implement this conversion funnel framework at two nonprofit organizations through two field studies and empirically investigate the impact of digital marketing interventions at each …

A Reflective Study Of Online Faculty Teaching Experiences In Higher Education, Chara H. Bohan, Katherine A. Perrotta

Educational Policy Studies Faculty Publications

Despite the popularity of online course and degree offerings in higher education, a lack of data persists on the unique challenges and opportunities online faculty face. Gaining insights about these experiences is important to ensure the quality of online teaching as colleges and universities continue expanding e-learning programs. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine the online teaching experiences of two faculty members through the implementation of reflective study methods. Major findings show that faculty access to professional development and mentoring, isolation and connectedness to the campus community, and academic freedom and curriculum control have significant implications for …

Reclaiming Our Promise: Victorious Narratives Of African American Males Navigating The School-To-Prison Nexus, Clarice Thomas

Middle and Secondary Education Dissertations

The school-to-prison nexus (STPN) disproportionately targets African American students for school suspension and expulsion, which increases their risk of future incarceration (Heitzeg, 2016). The nexus metaphor describes how students transition from education spaces to the criminal justice system through punitive policies such as zero tolerance discipline (Meiners, 2007), and practices of criminalized control and over-surveillance that reinforces prison-like school structures (Stovall, 2016). Thus, interrupting the social injustice of the STPN calls for a collaboration between K-12 schools and university-based teacher education programs that prepare classroom teachers. In this qualitative narrative inquiry study, I examine the victorious narratives of three African …

Higher Education Pricing: Effects Of Tuition Pricing On Nontraditional Student Persistence Moderated By Demographics., Katherine Crowell Spradley

Business Administration Dissertations

Higher education pricing models have focused heavily on traditional student population analysis, net earnings, financial aid, and enrollment projections or unduplicated headcount. As the population of students shifts to a nontraditional majority, research of the effect of tuition price on nontraditional population segments is needed with a focus on persistence (the likelihood of re-enrollment in the next semester for a given student) rather than overall enrollment levels. It becomes prudent to re-evaluate pricing models and the associated coefficients from tuition pricing changes on persistence to more effectively serve the nontraditional population as nontraditional students rely less on financial aid and …

Linguistic Diversity And The Politics Of International Inclusion In Higher Education: A Critical Sociolinguistic Study International Teaching Assistants, Nicholas Subtirelu

Applied Linguistics and English as a Second Language Dissertations

Institutions of higher education (HEIs) in the United States recruit numerous international graduate students, many of whom serve as teaching assistants. HEIs’ motivations for employing international teaching assistants (ITAs) include not only economic incentives but also humanistic aims of internationalization, for example, increasing cross-cultural cooperation. However, integrating ITAs into the institution, making them welcomed and respected members of the community, has proven difficult. In particular, problems in ITA-student communication have been reported for decades.

I argue that the crux of these integration difficulties lies in how linguistic diversity is approached. Policymakers and researchers usually treat ITAs’ Englishes as the cause …

Planning Obsolescence: Generational Labor, Welcoming Crisis, And Actualizing Immaterial Bonds, Syeda Mahmood

Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Theses

The 2008 economic crisis crippled the global public higher education sector, leaving a generation questioning the practicalities of pursuing higher education. In response to the neoliberalization of the public university, I examine the proliferation of DIY ethics and practices Millennials (AKA the Recession Generation) have strategically developed to evade institutions that further indebt their members. I further examine how the Recession Generation shapes affective labor, also described as immaterial labor, which serves as a necessary condition in the informational age of late capitalism. In examining a range of DIY sites, I show how Millennials strategically develop para-academic practices in order …

Pay For Performance, Position, Or Place: The Effect Of Institutions On Salary Equity For Women And Minority Faculty In Science, Technology, Engineering, And Mathematics, Sarah Beth Gehl

Public Management and Policy Dissertations

This dissertation examines organizational influences on gender and racial salary equity among tenured and tenure-track faculty in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. The study argues that traditional individual and disciplinary explanations for salary inequities fail to capture the institutional variations in conditions among women and underrepresented minority faculty in STEM disciplines. A better understanding of these institutional variations is important for theory and practice as scholars continue to attempt to explain the unexplained salary gaps and policymakers target organizational change to resolve persistent gaps. The results show that individual characteristics and discipline do explain salary gaps among STEM …

Transgender Adults’ Access To College Bathrooms And Housing And The Relationship To Suicidality, Kristie L. Seelman

SW Publications

Transgender and gender non-conforming people frequently experience discrimination, harassment, and marginalization across college and university campuses (Bilodeau, 2007; Finger, 2010; Rankin, et al., 2010; Seelman et al., 2012). The minority stress model (Meyer, 2007) posits that experiences of discrimination often negatively impact the psychological well-being of minority groups. However, few scholars have examined whether college institutional climate factors—such as being denied access to bathrooms or gender-appropriate campus housing—are significantly associated with detrimental psychological outcomes for transgender people. Using the National Transgender Discrimination Survey, this study analyzes whether being denied access to these spaces is associated with lifetime suicide attempts, after …

The Power And Peril Of Global Professionalization: The Global Knowledge Economy, The World Bank, And Higher Education, Jeremy Cole

Educational Policy Studies Dissertations

Since 1962, the World Bank has involved itself in higher education discourse and practice through the provision of loans and grants to developing nations. Initially, such involvement focused primarily on tangible infrastructure projects such as building schools and providing textbooks for students. Over time, however, the Bank has increasingly come to involve itself in less tangible projects such as policy work, technical assistance, and educational discourse – including the creation of the imaginary of the Global Knowledge Economy (GKE). Through this increased focus on higher education policy and discourse, the Bank has come to wield increasing authority over the discourse …

Exploring Children's Literature With Authentic Representations Of Disability, Alicja Rieger, Ewa Mcgrail

Middle and Secondary Education Faculty Publications

Given the power of children’s literature to communicate authentic representations of disability and the potential of humor for nurturing social acceptance, teachers should know how to discuss this literature in the inclusive classroom. The authors analyze authentic children’s literature with elements of humor and provide strategies in support of such critical conversations.

Brazilian And Nigerian International Students’ Conceptions Of Learning, Carol Ashong

Communication Sciences and Disorders Dissertations

The growth, benefits, and challenges of international students in higher education provide compelling reasons to closely examine the social, cultural, and introspective aspects of learning for this population. One area of research that provides insight into the learning experiences of international students is investigations on conceptions of learning. Previous research has found that conceptions of learning guide primary beliefs, experiences, interpretations, and outcomes of learning. Conceptions of learning also provide insight into the ways students choose to approach learning and influence how they interact with courses, classroom environment, teachers, and peers (Marshall et al., 1999). However, research on conceptions of …

The Impact Of Help Seeking Attitudes, Perceived Racism, And Racial Identity On Intentions To Seek Counseling Amongst African American Undergraduate College Students, T.M. Mosley

Counseling and Psychological Services Dissertations

Help-seeking attitudes are the tendencies to seek or resist professional psychological services during crises or after prolonged psychological difficulties. Although African American undergraduate college students are just as distressed as students from other racial and ethnic backgrounds, they are less likely to seek psychological counseling at their college counseling centers. The primary focus of this research was to assess help-seeking attitudes of African American undergraduate college students attending predominantly White institutions (PWIs). Furthermore, scant attention has been devoted to examining the impact of perceived racism and racial identity development on the African American undergraduates' willingness to seek out psychological assistance. …

The Effect Of Student Default Rates For The Underprivileged: Engaging The University, Katherine Napier

Business Administration Dissertations

As the cost of higher education continues to grow at astounding rates, research shows that, in most cases, students and their families face some level of debt to pay for their undergraduate degrees (Layman, 2011). This research study will use an engaged scholarship approach to address the reason some students repay their educational debt and some students’ intent to repay their debt is quite different from the desired behavior. Additionally, we review the factors that affect students from underprivileged socioeconomic backgrounds that are, unfortunately, the largest contributor of delinquent student loan debt. Specifically, this study will identify elements using qualitative …

Transgender Individuals’ Access To College Housing And Bathrooms: Findings From The National Transgender Discrimination Survey, Kristie L. Seelman

SW Publications

Within higher education settings, transgender people are at risk for discrimination and harassment within housing and bathrooms. Yet, few have examined this topic using quantitative data or compared the experiences of subgroups of transgender individuals to predict denial of access to these spaces. The current study utilizes the National Transgender Discrimination Survey to research this issue. Findings indicate that being transgender and having another marginalized identity matters for students’ access to housing and bathrooms. Trans women are at greater risk than gender-nonconforming people for being denied access to school housing and bathrooms. Implications for practice and research are detailed.

Recommendations Of Transgender Students, Staff, And Faculty In The Usa For Improving College Campuses, Kristie L. Seelman

SW Publications

Research indicates that transgender individuals frequently experience marginalization and interpersonal victimization within college and university settings. Missing from the literature is a discussion of what can be done to address such patterns in higher education, based upon empirical data gathered from transgender and gender non-conforming students, staff, and faculty. The present study aims to fill this gap by reporting on solutions offered by a sample of 30 individuals in one U.S. state while integrating a lens of intersectionality. Five resulting themes include: (a) offer education, campus programming, and support for trans individuals; (b) improve university systems and procedures for recording …

Essays On Phd Output At U.S. Undergraduate Institutions, Erin Nicole Coffman

Economics Dissertations

This dissertation focuses on the production of knowledge that contributes to economic growth through the accumulation of human capital and technological change. More specifically, I look at the proclivity and effectiveness of different types of universities and colleges to send individuals on to pursue a doctoral degree in science or engineering (S&E) and how PhD attainment relates to characteristics of students who attend these institutions and the faculty who teach at these institutions.

A tobit estimation is employed to test for institution effects, the effect of student and faculty characteristics, and also the impact of economic factors. To partially control …

Publishing Trends In Economics Across Colleges And Universities, 1991-2007, Anne E. Winkler, Sharon G. Levin, Paula E. Stephan, Wolfgang Glanzel

UWRG Working Papers

No abstract provided.

Publishing Trends In Economics Across Colleges And Universities, 1991-2007, Anne E. Winkler, Sharon G. Levin, Paula E. Stephan, Wolfgang Glanzel

UWRG Working Papers

No abstract provided.

The Diffusion Of Information Technology And The Increased Propensity Of Teams To Transcend Institutional And National Borders, Anne E. Winkler, Wolfgang Glänzel, Sharon Levin, Paula Stephan

UWRG Working Papers

No abstract provided.

The Diffusion Of Information Technology And The Increased Propensity Of Teams To Transcend Institutional And National Borders, Anne E. Winkler, Wolfgang Glänzel, Sharon Levin, Paula Stephan

UWRG Working Papers

No abstract provided.

The Black Student Movement At The Ohio State University, Greer C. Stanford-Randle

Africana Studies Theses

Black/African American alumni from Ohio State University in Columbus, OH are collective subjects in this research. The study has sought to discern and explicate the behaviors, experiences and attitudes of former Black students, now alumni, to effectively privilege their voices and viewpoints, which were previously not included in the scholarship and literature of African American Studies or Higher Education about the historic 1960s and 1970s. Determining how alumni experienced the Black Student Movement at Ohio State during the 1960s and 1970s has been the principal objective.

Black students’ experiences and motivations were very different than popular Black Student Movement discourse …

A Historical Analysis Of The Leadership And Strategic Plan Of Chancellor Stephen R. Portch In The University System Of Georgia, Jennifer El Fairchild-Pierce

Educational Policy Studies Dissertations

This dissertation provides historical insight into the design and implementation of one strategic plan of a public higher education system in an effort to inform future similar strategic planning processes. On July 1, 1994, the Board of Regents appointed Stephen R. Portch the ninth Chancellor of the University System of Georgia. The timing was advantageous because then Governor Zell Miller was determined to leave his legacy as Georgia’s “education governor,” and in those prosperous economic times, the Governor was eager to pour money into the university system. The regents selected Portch because they recognized his potential to lead the system …

Race Scholars On The Politics Of Race, Research, And Risk: A Narrative Inquiry, Sibby Anderson-Thompkins

Educational Policy Studies Dissertations

This qualitative study examined the experiences of race scholars whose agenda include investigating and writing about racial issues which run counter to the entrenched ideas, values and philosophies of the dominant academic culture. It questioned the possible risks associated with race work, and it examined the available support and validation for race scholars within the academy. Perceived prejudices and micro-aggressions are examined, as well as coping strategies for navigating the political academic landscape. Designed as a narrative inquiry, the study utilized in-depth interviews and the analysis of written documents of four prominent race scholars, while critical race theory (CRT) served …

A Critical Analysis Of The University Of Georgia's Response To The United States Supreme Court Decisions In Grutter V. Bollinger And Gratz V. Bollinger, Rodney S. Lyn

Educational Policy Studies Dissertations

Minority enrollments at selective colleges and universities have historically been low. Affirmative action programs have been a primary driver for increasing enrollments. These programs were called into question in the Grutter and Gratz US Supreme Court cases (2003). The Court’s opinions in these cases provide direction for institutions in setting admissions policy. Using a qualitative methodology, this study examined the University of Georgia’s response to the Grutter and Gratz Supreme Court decisions. The study utilized data from interviews with UGA officials, as well as documentary evidence, to chronologically reconstruct the actions that UGA initiated following the Grutter and Gratz decisions. …

Having It All? Mothers' Experiences As Assistant Professors In Counseling Psychology Academia, Caroline Hecht Leavitt

Counseling and Psychological Services Dissertations

ABSTRACT HAVING IT ALL? MOTHERS’ EXPERIENCES AS ASSISTANT PROFESSORS IN COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGY ACADEMIA by Caroline H. Leavitt For approximately the past 20 years, women have earned significantly more Ph.D.’s in the area of counseling psychology than men. However, women continue to lag with regard to rates of tenure and promotion in counseling psychology academia. Despite the significant amount of theoretical literature, there is limited empirical research on this gender disparity. The current study is designed to begin filling this gap in the literature. For this study, ten female assistant professors in counseling psychology were interviewed to elicit information about their …

Student Government Presidents' Perceptions Of Their Role In Institutional Decision-Making At A Two-Year Public College, Michael Lenard Sanseviro

Educational Policy Studies Dissertations

This qualitative study investigated the roles students play in institutional decision-making, and in particular how the students perceive both what their roles should be and what their roles actually are. Five Student Government Association (SGA) presidents, serving sequential one-year terms from 1999 to 2004 at one campus of a multi-campus two-year public college located in a large metropolitan area in the southeast, were interviewed. The qualitative research methodology employed thematic analysis to describe the students' perceptions in the context of both the letter and spirit of policy implementation regarding institutional decision-making. Through analysis of interviews, institutional documents, and documents at …

Cultural Identity, Voice, And Agency In Post-Secondary Graphic Design Education: A Collective Case Study, Larry Michael Stultz

Educational Policy Studies Dissertations

ABSTRACT CULTURAL IDENTITY, VOICE, AND AGENCY IN POST-SECONDARY GRAPHIC DESIGN EDUCATION: A COLLECTIVE CASE STUDY by Larry M. Stultz This study investigates areas of conflict between students’ cultural identities and the educational environment established and maintained by their faculty and school. It analyzes the usefulness and value of personal creative expression in the classroom and how treatment of cultural identity and performance influences student persistence and success. Four theoretical frameworks ground this study and comprise the majority of the relevant literature. The inquiry is framed by theories in curriculum, performance, cultural difference, and symbolic interaction. Three purposely selected students participated …