Education Commons^™

Classroom Climate, Academic Success, And Intent To Persist Among Non-Christian And Christian Undergraduate Students, Christy M. Craft, Yang Yang

Christy Moran Craft

Advising Doctoral Students In Education Programs, Christy M. Craft, Donna Augustine-Shaw, Amanda Fairbanks, Gayla Adams-Wright

Christy Moran Craft

Conceptualizations Of Spirituality, Religion, And Faith: Comparing Biblical Notions With The Perspectives Of Protestant Christian Students At A Lutheran College, Christy M. Craft, Alyssa B. Rockenbach

Christy Moran Craft

As part of a larger investigation into the spiritual climate at one Lutheran college, we interviewed Protestant Christian students in order to compare their conceptualizations of spirituality, religion, and faith with biblical notions of those concepts. We found that the students' understandings of those concepts only loosely reflected general understanding within the higher education literature, and a significant disconnect existed between their conceptualizations of the relevant terms and those found in the Bible. In an effort to make meaning of our findings, we discuss existing literature about religious illiteracy as it relates to inherited faith and to the impact of …

Faith Development Within Religion And Philosophy Courses At A College Of The Lutheran Church, Christy M. Craft, Alyssa N. Bryant

Christy Moran Craft

As part of a larger investigation into the spiritual climate at one college of the Lutheran church, we interviewed students to determine the meaningful experiences that they faced as students. Many experiences mentioned related to two specific religion and philosophy courses. The analysis of data provided by 10 students who had completed one of the courses of interest resulted in intriguing insights concerning the development of the cognitive dimension of students' faith.

Integrating Religious And Professional Identities: Christian Faculty At Public Institutions Of Higher Education, Christy M. Craft, John D. Foubert, Jessica J. Lane

Christy Moran Craft

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to investigate how Christian faculty members integrate their religious identity with their professional identity within public colleges and universities. Semi-structured interviews with 12 Christian faculty members shed light on their perceived "calling" to public higher education, as well as revealed insights as to how they overtly and covertly attempt to express their religious identity within the workplace.

Essential Responsibilities Of Student Affairs Administrators: Identifying A Purpose In Life And Helping Students Do The Same, Christy M. Craft, Robin Hochella

Christy Moran Craft

As part of a larger investigation into the spiritual lives of student affairs administrators, the first author interviewed 24 practitioners representing four types of institutions to determine how they think about issues related to their purpose in life. The results of the study provide insight into the importance of reflecting upon such issues in order to be equipped to assist students in their own identification of a purpose in life.

Finding Congruence, Finding Meaning: Value Intersections And Transforming Relationships Among Faculty And Staff At A Religious College, Christy M. Craft, Alyssa N. Bryant

Christy Moran Craft

This case study explored how faculty and staff derived meaning from their work within a religious college environment. The findings suggest that the meaning-making process was fostered by connection. Many staff and faculty found meaning in their work as they experienced correspondence between work and personal values, the mission and values of the institution, and/or global democratic values. Furthermore, transforming relationships that were personally affirming and enabled faculty and staff to make a difference and observe transformation in others' lives were instrumental in providing a conduit for meaningful connection.

The Challenge And Promise Of Pluralism: Dimensions Of Spiritual Climate And Diversity At A Lutheran College, Alyssa N. Bryant, Christy M. Craft

Christy Moran Craft

This qualitative case study sought to explicate relevant features of the spiritual climate at one liberal arts religious college and also highlight the diverse ways in which students, faculty, and staff identities shaped the experience of climate. The findings revealed that the spiritual climate of Lutheran College was a product of diverse and voluntary spiritual expressions, the struggle to balance the institution's denominational heritage with commitment to diversity, and community fragmentation brought on by conflicting ideologies. Moreover, minority narratives suggested that spiritual climate is not a singular, absolute reality, but is perceived and experienced in ways that depend on one's …

Campus Ministers In Public Higher Education: Facilitators Of Student Development, Wade M. Weber, Donna J. Menke

Christy Moran Craft

This article highlights the impact of campus ministers upon students within campus ministries at public colleges and universities. Data gathered for this qualitative study suggest that campus ministers serve as facilitators of religious development, personal development, and leadership development among the students with whom they work. Implications for student affairs practice are discussed in light of these findings.

Religious Expression Among Residents And Resident Assistants In Residence Halls At Public Colleges And Universities: Freedoms And Constraints, Camilla J. Roberts, James A. Tobin, Linda M. Harvey

Christy Moran Craft

The purpose of this article is to equip housing professionals at public colleges and universities to adequately handle the challenges related to the religious expression of residents and resident assistants living in the residence halls. To that end, case law and other legal principles are discussed to provide guidance related to the freedom of religious expression within residential environments at public institutions. Furthermore, the fear of offending students is addressed in an effort to encourage productive dialogue about religious differences.

The Public Identity Work Of Evangelical Christian Students, Christy D. Moran

Christy Moran Craft

As part of a larger investigation into the experiences of 25 evangelical Christian student leaders at two public universities, students were interviewed to determine how they conceptualized their religious identity as well as how that dimension of their identity impacted their roles and responsibilities as students. Results suggest that the public identity work of these students may involve two interrelated, yet distinct, processes: identity revelation and "identity authentication."

Cultural Incongruity And Social Status Ambiguity: The Experiences Of Evangelical Christian Student Leaders At Two Midwestern Public Universities, Dennis J. Lang, Jenea Oliver

Christy Moran Craft

This phenomenological investigation highlights the experiences of evangelical Christian student leaders at two Midwestern public universities. These students perceived their public university environments not only as incongruent with, but also as antagonistic and oppressive toward, their values, beliefs, and behaviors. Besides detailing how these students navigated their culturally incongruent environments, the authors introduce the concept of "social status ambiguity" to describe how differing perceptions of the religious identity of these students may result in the concurrent existence of the privileged and oppressed social statuses in that identity domain.

The Role Of Contextual Influences On Self-Perceptions Of Identity, Christy D. Moran

Christy Moran Craft

This qualitative study investigated contextual influences involved in college student identity development. It examined events, experiences, and relationships that alumni suggest either nourished or thwarted their perceptions of multiple dimensions of their identity during college. Findings suggest that self-perceptions of identity often change as a result of the emotions experienced by individuals in reaction to various contextual influences.

Blending Two Worlds: Religio-Spirituality In The Professional Lives Of Student Affairs Administrators, Christy D. Moran, Gayla D. Curtis

Christy Moran Craft

Student affairs administrators representing four types of institutions were interviewed to determine the role that religio-spirituality plays in their professional lives. Results reveal that most desire more freedom to express this aspect of their identity in that it has a salient impact in how they work with students. However, several reasons are given for the reluctance of many to freely express their religio-spirituality with their colleagues.

Conceptualizing Identity Development: Unmasking The Assumptions Within Inventories Measuring Identity Development, Christy D. Moran

Christy Moran Craft

The purpose of this qualitative research was to analyze the dimensions and manifestations of identity development embedded within commonly used instruments measuring student identity development. To this end, a content analysis of ten identity assessment tools was conducted to determine the assumptions about identity development contained therein. Findings suggest the importance of determining and assessing all dimensions and manifestations of identity development.

Nourishing And Thwarting Effects Of Contextual Influences Upon Multiple Dimensions Of Identity: Does Gender Matter?, Christy D. Moran

Christy Moran Craft

The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate possible gender differences in the nature and role of the contextual influences (events, experiences, and relationships) that shape multiple dimensions of identity during college. Fifteen college alumni used lifelines to document their identity-shaping experiences during college; two interviews were conducted with each of these alumni. Findings suggest the existence of gender differences in the following areas: types of contextual influences that shape identity during college, reactions to those contextual influences, and attributions of salience to various identity dimensions.

Purpose In Life, Student Development, And Well-Being: Recommendations For Student Affairs Practitioners, Christy D. Moran

Christy Moran Craft

To supplement student development research, the author reviews clinical psychological research on the concept of purpose in life. This review is presented to provide impli- cations and recommendations for practice in the higher education setting. By not only encouraging students to identify a purpose in life but also assisting them in this process, student affairs practitioners may positively influ- ence their personal development and well-being.