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University of Central Florida

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-

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A Phenomenological Exploration Of Transfer Students' Experiences With Coaching And Advising At A Large Metropolitan Research University, Mirvate El Jerdi Aug 2023

A Phenomenological Exploration Of Transfer Students' Experiences With Coaching And Advising At A Large Metropolitan Research University, Mirvate El Jerdi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-

The number of students transferring from state colleges to state universities in Florida is significant due to the articulation agreements that are supported by the Board of Governors. These agreements allow students who have completed an associate degree to transfer their credits toward a bachelor's degree at a state university. However, transfer students face numerous barriers including academic, financial, and personal that hinder their success as they transition and start their first year at the state university. A large metropolitan public university in Florida has implemented success coaching, a new model of holistic student support, and advising services to provide …


Due Tomorrow, Do Tomorrow: Measuring And Reducing Procrastination Behavior Among Introductory Physics Students In An Online Environment, Zachary Felker Aug 2023

Due Tomorrow, Do Tomorrow: Measuring And Reducing Procrastination Behavior Among Introductory Physics Students In An Online Environment, Zachary Felker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-

This work is focused on the measurement and prevention of procrastination behavior among college level introductory physics students completing online assignments in the form of mastery-based online learning modules. The research is conducted in two studies. The first study evaluates the effectiveness of offering students the opportunity to earn a small amount of extra credit for completing portions of their homework early. Unsupervised machine learning is used to identify an optimum cutoff duration which differentiates taking a short break during a continuous study session from a long break between two different study sessions. Using this cutoff, the study shows that …


The Successful Characteristics That Contribute To Black Male Students Matriculating Into Medical School, Cedric Brown Jan 2023

The Successful Characteristics That Contribute To Black Male Students Matriculating Into Medical School, Cedric Brown

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-

In 2019, individuals that identified as Black represented 13.4% of the U.S. population, 12.5% of the undergraduate student enrollment population and 7.1% of the medical school population. Subsequently, this has yielded a 5% Black physician population and workforce consisting of just 2.3% Black male physicians (AAMC, 2018). The disproportionately low Black physician representation contributes to greater healthcare disparity outcomes within the U.S. Black population. This study is centered on the post-positive characteristics of Black male medical students that have successfully overcome barriers to entry and matriculated into medical school. The phenomenological post-positive study was conducted through the lens of Self-Efficacy …


Executive Function Coaching: Support For Postsecondary Student Success, Kiera Anderson Jan 2022

Executive Function Coaching: Support For Postsecondary Student Success, Kiera Anderson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-

The advantages of postsecondary education are numerous and serve as a gateway to increased opportunity. Benefits include improved employment opportunities, lifetime earnings, job satisfaction, access to healthcare and preventative care, and overall better quality of life. In addition, valuable life skills development, including; building new social skills and relationships, developing critical thinking, personal development, how to overcome challenges, time management and organization, and deeper knowledge and understanding of the world. Enrollment rates in postsecondary education are predicted to continue to rise for students with and without disabilities. Students are often underprepared for the transition to college and the levels of …


The Relationship Between College Students' Level Of Alcohol Use And Their Grit, Personal Growth Initiatives, And Emotion Regulation Scores Using Structure Equation Modeling, Gelawdiyos Haile Jan 2021

The Relationship Between College Students' Level Of Alcohol Use And Their Grit, Personal Growth Initiatives, And Emotion Regulation Scores Using Structure Equation Modeling, Gelawdiyos Haile

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-

The purpose of this study was to examine the directional relationship between college students' level of grit, personal growth initiative, cognitive reappraisal emotion regulation strategy, and their level of harmful alcohol consumption and related problems. This study tested the theoretical structure model that college students' (N = 356) level of grit (as measured by the Grit Short Scale [Grit-S; Duckworth & Quinn, 2009]), personal growth initiative (PGI; as measured by the Personal Growth Initiative Scale-II [PGIS-II; Robitschek et al., 2012]), and cognitive reappraisal emotion regulation strategy (as measured by the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire [ERQ; Gross & John, 2003]) contribute to …


Podcasts As Informal Learning Tools: Graduate Students' Experiences With Podcasts As Self-Directed Learning, Michael Heller Jan 2020

Podcasts As Informal Learning Tools: Graduate Students' Experiences With Podcasts As Self-Directed Learning, Michael Heller

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-

The purpose of this phenomenological inquiry was to explore how graduate students in education programs at a large, public university in the Southeastern United States perceived and interpreted their informal learning experiences from listening to podcasts. Guided by a conceptual framework comprised of Andragogy, Uses and Gratifications, and King's Reflective Action Research Model, this qualitative investigation, conducted during the COVID-19 lockdown of 2020, utilized in-depth Zoom interviews with 15 graduate students in education programs. The participants' constructed personal narratives revealed four distinguishable educative benefits of podcast listenership: Educative Engagement and Enhancement, Self-Directed Convenience, Parasocial Perspective Gathering, and Educative Growth Through …


Utilizing Institutional Data For Curriculum Enhancement To Improve Student Success In Undergraduate Computing Programs, Prateek Basavaraj Jan 2020

Utilizing Institutional Data For Curriculum Enhancement To Improve Student Success In Undergraduate Computing Programs, Prateek Basavaraj

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-

Student success is one of the widely discussed topics in post-secondary institutions and is measured in terms of the graduation and retention rates of programs. The goal of an educational institution is to achieve maximum student success and, hence, high graduation and retention rates. There are multiple studies on factors affecting student success. One of the factors that contributes to student success is the "program curriculum." Unfortunately, the traditional program curricula at many higher education institutions were developed with a belief or assumption that all students possess equal expertise, skills, and follow a similar learning path. The traditional curricular development …


Student Affairs Fundraising: A Comparative Case Study Of Two Programs At Public Research Universities, Neal Robinson Jan 2020

Student Affairs Fundraising: A Comparative Case Study Of Two Programs At Public Research Universities, Neal Robinson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-

This comparative case study examined the development, design, and evolution of two student affairs fundraising programs, each led by a full-time development officer, at public research universities in the Southeastern region of the United States. The purpose of the study was to identify practices and strategies for higher education administrators exploring, creating, or reframing student affairs fundraising programs that traverse advancement and student affairs divisions. The research is timely given the increased role of philanthropy in funding public higher education institutions (Giving USA, 2018) and the growing number of student affairs fundraising programs (Crowe, 2011). Bolman and Deal's (2017) four …


The Transition Through Higher Education: An Exploration Of Challenges, Barriers, And Support Services For Student-Athletes, Lucas Noboa Jan 2020

The Transition Through Higher Education: An Exploration Of Challenges, Barriers, And Support Services For Student-Athletes, Lucas Noboa

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-

During the recent decades, the importance of intercollegiate athletics has proliferated amongst institutions of higher education. As such, the transition through higher education for student-athletes has increasingly included experiences with challenges and barriers, which influence their success. To address difficulties, institutions and athletics departments have implemented support services and resources to assist student-athletes throughout their transition. Additionally, the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) has conducted several studies, which examined the experiences and well-being of current student-athletes. Through the Growth, Opportunities, Aspirations and Learning of Students in college (GOALS) survey, detailed information has been provided to member institutions, which has influenced …


The Impact Of Faculty Socialization On Teaching Practices Of Postsecondary Physics Instructors, Claudine Mclaren Turner Jan 2020

The Impact Of Faculty Socialization On Teaching Practices Of Postsecondary Physics Instructors, Claudine Mclaren Turner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-

This research investigates faculty socialization of college physics instructors and its effect on teaching practice. Results of two studies—a statistical analysis about professional characteristics and teaching practice and an ethnography about culture, professional roles, and teaching practice—are integrated to inform our understanding of the impact of socialization on teaching practice. These findings have the potential to improve institutional and organizational faculty development, as well as improve individual teaching practice and, by extension, student persistence and success. Exploratory factor analysis, latent class analysis, and multiple analysis of variance were used to examine cross-sectional survey data collected from 1,176 postsecondary physics instructors …


Predicting The Persistence Of Traditional And Nontraditional University Undergraduates Using The Psychosociocultural Model, Lauren Maroon Jan 2020

Predicting The Persistence Of Traditional And Nontraditional University Undergraduates Using The Psychosociocultural Model, Lauren Maroon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-

Nontraditional students are increasingly more common in higher education but have lower persistence rates than their traditional peers. While educational researchers have developed several models to predict college persistence using both cognitive (e.g. entrance exam scores) and noncognitive (e.g. academic motivation) factors, most of these models were created for traditional students. The psychosociocultural (PSC) model was created to better predict academic outcomes specifically for underrepresented students using psychological, social, and cultural factors. However, the PSC model has never been used to study nontraditional students. To address these limitations, this study used the PSC model to predict the persistence of traditional …


The Impact Of An Interprofessional Education Curriculum On The Clinical Practice Of Physical Therapy Doctoral Students, Patrick Pabian Jan 2020

The Impact Of An Interprofessional Education Curriculum On The Clinical Practice Of Physical Therapy Doctoral Students, Patrick Pabian

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-

As the healthcare system has continued to change in the 21st century, the creation of a more collaborative practice-ready workforce is necessary. Interprofessional education (IPE) is an accepted mechanism to cultivate interprofessional collaborative practice in health care providers to improve quality of care and address workforce needs. Development of interprofessional collaborative practice requires synergies of the health care and education systems to develop and deliver an effective IPE curriculum. This study examined the impact of an IPE curriculum on the clinical practice of physical therapy doctoral students through a mixed-methods approach. The IPE curriculum was rooted in the established Interprofessional …


Using High Impact Practice Characteristics And Career Readiness Competencies To Examine A College Work Experience Program, Veena Garib Jan 2020

Using High Impact Practice Characteristics And Career Readiness Competencies To Examine A College Work Experience Program, Veena Garib

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-

Utilizing a quantitative approach, the researcher examined the extent to which undergraduate students participating in a college work experience program agreed with statements relating their experience in the program to the characteristics of high impact practices and the career readiness competencies. Additionally, the researcher determined which characteristics of high impact practices were statistically related to each career readiness competency. The characteristics of high impact practices are: high performance expectations, investment of time and effort, interactions with faculty and peers, experiences with diversity, receipt of constructive feedback, opportunities for reflection and integration of learning, real-world applications, and demonstration of competencies. The …


Aspirational Ethos: An Exploration Of Self-Efficacy And Motivation Of First-Generation Students Who Pursue The Master's Degree, Andrea Withington Jan 2020

Aspirational Ethos: An Exploration Of Self-Efficacy And Motivation Of First-Generation Students Who Pursue The Master's Degree, Andrea Withington

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-

First-generation students are estimated to comprise nearly 25 percent of the current national undergraduate college population. First-generation student status is defined as students for whom neither parent attended college (Choy, 2001; Chen & Carroll, 2005; Engle, 2007; Nunez & Cuccaro-Alamin, 1998; Pryor et al., 2006; Ross et al., 2012) or neither parent graduated from college (Mehta, Newbold, & O'Rourke, 2011; Pike & Kuh, 2005). It may take these students longer to earn the bachelor's degree, they may be less prepared for the academic and social environment of college, many could drop out before graduation, and the majority will enroll only …


An Investigation Of Postsecondary Education Program: Students With Intellectual Disabilities, Anna Schoenfeld Jan 2020

An Investigation Of Postsecondary Education Program: Students With Intellectual Disabilities, Anna Schoenfeld

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-

Since 2008, the number of students with intellectual disabilities and the number of postsecondary education programs supporting students with intellectual disabilities have drastically increased on college campuses in the United States. The purpose of this document analysis qualitative research was to explore the publicly available information provided by universities with Postsecondary Education Programs (PSP) that have Southern Association of College and Schools (SACS) accreditation and receive Transition Program for Students with Intellectual Disabilities (TPSID) grant funding. K. Patricia Cross's Chain-of-Response (COR) model was the conceptual framework used to frame this andrological inquiry. Lack of information, as identified by Cross (1981) …


A Comprehensive Investigation Of Hispanic Student Success In Gateway Stem Courses At Five State Of Florida Institutions, Renee Becker Jan 2020

A Comprehensive Investigation Of Hispanic Student Success In Gateway Stem Courses At Five State Of Florida Institutions, Renee Becker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-

National employment data forecasts a significant need for graduates in the STEM disciplines for middle-income American jobs. If the American labor force is to keep pace with the global economy, it is critically important that American higher education increase STEM degree production. Currently, minority populations lack access and thus opportunity for success in higher education, but, among them, Hispanic peoples account for about 59 million Americans, are the youngest demographic, and have the highest growth rate of any ethnic group. Hispanic students are inadequately represented in higher education enrollment numbers, graduation rates, graduate degree attainment, and STEM degree attainment. While …


An Exploration Of Interactions Between Institutional Agents And College Students Who Are Undocumented In The U.S., Doris Alcivar Jan 2020

An Exploration Of Interactions Between Institutional Agents And College Students Who Are Undocumented In The U.S., Doris Alcivar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the awareness, knowledge, and skills of institutional agents who interact with college students who are undocumented, to inform professional development and practice. Through a survey and interviews, participants revealed familiarity with students who are undocumented and discussed the support provided to them. All interview participants understood the experience of assisting students who are undocumented, as evidenced by six major themes: (a) an understanding of student financial needs, (b) recognizing students' anxiety, (c) providing consistent guidance, (d) establishing supportive collaborations, (e) gaining foundational knowledge, and (f) sharing professional development with others. Participants …


Exploring Influences On Black Student Study Abroad Participation, Stephanie Hartkopf Jan 2020

Exploring Influences On Black Student Study Abroad Participation, Stephanie Hartkopf

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-

The purpose of this case study was to explore the factors that influence Black students' decisions to participate in study abroad programs. This study took place at a large, public, Predominantly White Institution in the southeastern United States. Three theories formed a conceptual framework to guide this study, including Critical Race Theory, Theory of Planed Behavior, and Astin's Input-Environment-Output Model. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 5 Black study abroad alumni, which revealed 6 themes of influential factors in making decisions to participate in study abroad: (a) familiarity, (b) finance, (c) family, (d) faculty, (e) fear, and (f) finish.


Natural Language Processing For Modeling Domains In Higher Education, Rebecca Leis Jan 2020

Natural Language Processing For Modeling Domains In Higher Education, Rebecca Leis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-

The present dissertation investigates elements of domain formalization, resource allocation, and student success in higher education to conceptually design a university-wide system to assist in strategic planning efforts. The proposed system is a program-level tool with a modular design to allow scalability and generalizability across the entire university. Higher education strategic planning decisions are under investigation by stakeholders and transparency is needed. University resources allocation models are often outdated lack to adequately support program-level decisions. Further, with the dynamic nature of technology, domain knowledge components are evolving rapidly. This complicates the situation as updating curriculum takes additional time and resources. …


Inquiry As Practice In The Implementation Of A Bachelor Of General Studies Degree In The College Of Undergraduate Studies At The University Of Central Florida, Devon Cadwell Bazata Jan 2020

Inquiry As Practice In The Implementation Of A Bachelor Of General Studies Degree In The College Of Undergraduate Studies At The University Of Central Florida, Devon Cadwell Bazata

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-

Prior to the Fall 2019 implementation of the Bachelor of General Studies (BGS) degree at the University of Central Florida (UCF), the Interdisciplinary Studies (IDS) degree programs were the primary option for students with a range of majors, accumulated credits, and diverse curricular interests. While the IDS degree required students to fulfill requirements in two disciplinary areas of study and a minor, the BGS degree program was introduced to provide students greater flexibility with coursework. The BGS degree was a solution to the complex educational problem of practice presented by the increasing number of undergraduate students with 120+ credit hours …