Education Commons^™

How Do Faculty And Staff Perceive The Effectiveness Of Student Support Systems That Promote The Retention Of First-Generation College Students?, David Shawn Wolff Dr.

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Research showed faculty-student interactions impact student engagement and was a primary factor to student retention (Kuh & Hu, 2001; Means & Pyne, 2017; Swecker et al., 2013; Tinto, 1987). The literature revealed while retention may be an issue for many institutions, there is a greater need to address retention specifically related to first-generation college students (FGCS). Students often seek advice from faculty and staff when faced with questions about their academic progress. Faculty and staff voices need to be collected regarding their perceptions of the effectiveness of the support systems used within an institution that promote retention for FGCS. This …

How Doctoral Students In A Formal Leadership Program Conceptualize Followership: A Mixed-Methods Study, Katy J. Johnson

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The purpose of this exploratory mixed-methods study was to determine how doctoral students in a formal leadership program conceptualize followership. The methods used to conduct this analysis included distributing a Qualtrics (released in August 2022) survey and conducting one-on-one interviews with a sample of degree-seeking doctoral students within a formal leadership program. The researcher collected quantitative and qualitative data addressing students’ followership style, leadership attitudes and beliefs, and perceptions of followership. These data were analyzed concurrently using a triangulation design. A total of 67 students completed the survey, and seven students were interviewed. The findings revealed that the participants employ …

Correlation Of Perceived Quality Of Program And Retention Among Online Non-Traditional Professional Management College Students, Rachel Axness

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Online learning for undergraduate college students has significantly grown in demand and allows for more diverse and nontraditional students (e.g., 24 years old or older, attend part-time, work fulltime, have dependents) to pursue a college education. Although research studies indicate that online education is just as effective and robust as traditional, face-to-face delivery, students in online courses have lower retention rates (Bawa, 2016). Understanding the students’ perceived quality of online programming, along with demographic variables, will provide insight to understand retention of undergraduate students within online programs. This post-positivists, correlational research study examined two research questions including the relationship between …

Autism Friendly Lesson Planning: A Universal Design For Learning Training For College Level Instructors, Juliann Stark

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The literature on adults on the autism spectrum is a vastly growing one, but there is still a great need for more in-depth research. There are common misunderstandings about individuals on the autism spectrum that leads to stigma from the overall population in the United States (John et al. 2018). As more individuals on the spectrum enroll in higher education, their needs in the classroom are becoming more apparent to instructors at this level. This literature review explores research on the community of people on the spectrum, their needs in the college setting, what can be done to accommodate these …

The Role Of Family Members Or Caregivers And Their Involvement In A Loved One’S Usage Of Augmentative And Alternative Communication In The Preschool Setting From The Perspective Of An Slp, Megan Hintz

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) can be used by an individual to supplement or support communication modalities when there is difficulty with verbal communication. ASHA, n.d.a delves further into the true meaning of AAC and defines the terminology of augmentative as adding to a person’s spoken language and alternative as other methods used to produce verbal communication. The purpose of this research study was to explore the perceptions of speech-language pathologists (SLPs) concerning the involvement and/or role of caregivers or family members when their loved one is utilizing an AAC device for communication across the preschool setting. Four semi-structured interviews …

Strategies To Overcome Special Education Teacher Burnout, Amber Eastwood

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Special education teacher burnout has been a topic of concern dating back to the 1970s when it was first identified and conceptualized and has since been a growing trend in the field of education (Embse, 2019). With the everchanging world of education, the demands of a special education teacher have grown and are causing new triggers that are contributing to their burnout. Research is showing that 40% of new teachers are leaving the profession within the first five years of teaching with stress and burnout at the top of the list contributing to their departure (Herman, 2020). Since researching about …

Extinguishing The Fuse Of Teacher Burnout, Elizabeth Pfeifle

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

In the 1970’s, Herbert Freudenberger, defined teacher burnout as being a state of exhaustion or displeasure brought on by professional relationships that failed to generate predictable rewards. Teacher burnout is defined by three themes, emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and lack of personal accomplishment.

Some indications of teacher burnout consist of sleeping and fatigue issues, constantly neglecting or having difficulties with focusing, weight and appetite concerns, and depression and anxiety (Tapp, 2021). In 2021, an evaluation was given to teachers highlighting how they are feeling and if they feel like leaving or are planning to leave the education world. They found that …

Full-Service Community School Intervention: Case Study Of Somali Parent-School Engagement Within A Rural Midwestern School District, Anne Leland

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

ABSTRACT

Current research has recognized considerable benefits of parent and family engagement with their children’s schools. However, research shows many systemic and individual barriers to effective parent and family engagement. Located in a rural Minnesota setting, Faribault Public Schools (FPS) has a large population of Somali refugee parents with limited English proficiency. Based on data from FPS, children from these families are falling behind in school. The FPS system has acknowledged the need to enhance engagement with these families to more effectively support their children’s success in school.

The purpose of this quasi-experimental, qualitative case study was to characterize Somali …

A History And Contemporary Analysis Of The Standard Adult High School Diploma Program In Minnesota, Ray Michael Ades

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

This research project, which focused on a competency-based, secondary credential option for adult learners, known as the Minnesota Standard Adult High School Diploma, investigated the development of this credentialing option from its inception prior to 2014 legislation through present implementation. Three research questions, which centered on the circumstances that instigated, the process that developed the implementation of the Minnesota Standard Adult High School Diploma, which is referred to as the quintain in this study, and the perceived impact upon Adult Basic Education programs guided this multiple case study. Group interviews and document analysis were employed to answer the aforementioned questions. …

Factors That Influence The Success In Higher Education For Students With Autism, Elizabeth O. Gardner

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine factors that influence the success in college for students with autism. To meet this purpose, four upperclassmen college students with ASD were recruited for semi-structured interviews on their college experience. The interviews were transcribed and coded which led to the uncovering of three categories and three themes. The data from this study suggest that success in college for students with autism is influenced by an integration of multiple factors working together which include personal, macro educational, and micro educational. Many general themes uncovered in this study were mirrored by the current literature …