Education Commons^™

Education Reform In West Virginia And The Effect Of District Takeover, Michael Cunningham, Eugenia Damron, Jessica Hanna

Leadership Studies Faculty Research

The original purpose of this venture was to provide a tool for West Virginia county school board members to perform a mandated annual self-assessment on board effectiveness and to provide appropriate feedback to them. This tool was in the form of a survey instrument that captured both quantitative and qualitative data. A one-way ANOVA analysis, along with descriptive statistics, and an emergent category analysis were performed to interpret the data and provide the needed feedback to the school boards. However, a post-hoc analysis of this state-wide data (55 districts) revealed differences in the data between autonomous districts and those that …

Developing Student Leaders In Campus Outdoor Recreation Programs: An Appreciative Inquiry, Dan Sandberg, Bruce Martin, Andrew Szolosi, Sherry Early Phd

Leadership Studies Faculty Research

Campus outdoor recreation programs can play an integral role in developing student leaders. In this study, we sought a better understanding of the shared positive elements exemplary outdoor programs are using to develop their student leaders. The study was designed using a collec­tive case study methodology and the theoretical lens of the Leadership Identity Development (LID) model. Representatives from five exemplary outdoor programs were interviewed with an appreciative inquiry approach. Five common themes emerged from the data: (a) Institutional Support, (b) Transformative Experiences, (c) Meaningful Culture, (d) Facilitative Structures, and (e) the Keys to the Castle: Authentic Leadership Opportunities. Themes …

Revelations From A Resident Assistant Mentoring Study: Misalignment On Mentoring, Sherry Early Phd, Britt Frye, Jessica M. Hanna Edd

Leadership Studies Faculty Research

What do we really know about mentoring Resident Assistants (RAs)? Does mentoring affect RAs’ leadership efficacies? To address these two research questions we created a successful collaborative research project between Housing and Residence Life (HRL) and Leadership Studies faculty. We wanted to learn more about mentoring encounters/relationships and leadership efficacy (self-efficacy and leadership behaviors). Any successful assessment or research project requires communication and delegation of tasks.

Create A Better Flow Through Sequencing Resident Assistant Training, Rich Whitney, Sherry Early, Travis Whisler

Leadership Studies Faculty Research

The Resident Assistant (RA) role in higher education institutions is one of the most well-known functions on the modern campus (Akens & Novak, 2011; Porter, 1999), tracing back in some form to colonial times (Blimling, 2010; Winston & Fitch, 1993). There are roughly 10,000 (U.S. Department of Labor, 2011) RAs working at U.S. institutions. According to Winston et al. (1984), residence hall administrators are most likely the first student affairs professionals to employ students as paraprofessionals. Their functions include peer support and development, planning educational and social programs, and ensuring safety within the halls. The RA role, as peer educators, …

An Examination Of Mentoring Relationships And Leadership Capacity In Resident Assistants, Sherry L. Early Phd

Leadership Studies Faculty Research

The leadership capacity of resident assistants can be impacted by many experiences, including involvement in mentoring relationships. The purpose of this study was to examine if and how resident assistants’ leadership capacities are influenced by participating in these relationships. A sample of 6,006 resident assistants was analyzed using data from the 2009 Multi-Institutional Study of Leadership. An adapted version of Astin’s Input-Environment-Outcome college impact model was used as the conceptual framework, and the Social Change Model of Leadership was used as the theoretical framework. Overall findings revealed that resident assistants who participated in mentoring relationships exhibited significantly higher leadership capacities …

Farewell From The Co-Chairs, Sherry Early Phd, Michael Baumhardt

Leadership Studies Faculty Research

Has it been three years already?!?!? Indeed it has. We have been honored to serve as Co-Chairs for the Student Leadership Programs Knowledge Community. As a farewell, we would like to reflect on our time as Co-Chairs and revisit our mission and strategic goals.

The mission of the Student Leadership Programs Knowledge Community is to serve as a resource for higher educationprofessionals who have a professional interest in young-adult (i.e., college students) leadership training, education, and development. The Community will share best practices, provide critical evaluation of the field, examine standards for leadership programs, support national and regional efforts to …

Welcome From The Co-Chairs. Knowledge Community For Student Leadership Programs Innovation Newsletter, Sherry Early, Michael Baumhardt

Leadership Studies Faculty Research

On behalf of our entire SLPKC Leadership Team, we'd like to be the first to welcome you to another academic year. We hope that the summer has allowed you the opportunity to unwind, rejuvenate, and come back ready to serve your students. Be assured that the SLPKC has been busy over the summer offering webinars, conducting research, representing our members at a national leadership collaborative summit, recognizing outstanding leadership programs, and much more. We are fortunate to have many of these summer projects highlighted within this newsletter.

Experiential Research And Practical Application: A Case Of Student Affairs Partnering With Academic Affairs, Sherry L. Early Phd, David Sleasman Mph, Jd, Nicholas A. Bowman Phd

Leadership Studies Faculty Research

Excerpt:

Learning occurs everywhere. Jernstadt (2004) suggests learning occurs on a continuum comprised of knowledge, recognition, application, and extrapolation (as cited in Keeling, 2006). “In our need to put things into categories, we have classified some parts of higher education as curricular, and other parts as co-curricular, but students just call it college” (Keeling & Associates, 2006, p. vii). Learning Reconsidered argued for the integrated use of higher education’s resources in the education and preparation of the whole student. One of the most critical elements required to accomplish this was the creation or enhancement of strong, collaborative working relationships among …

Welcome From The Slpkc Chairs (2013), Sherry L. Early Phd

Leadership Studies Faculty Research

This is one of our most important newsletter issues. In Orlando, we hope you take advantage of the opportunities to engage with SLP KC members, our leadership team, and volunteer to become more involved with the KC. In addition, we welcome you to inquire about becoming a leadership team co-coordinator or team member. At each conference, we host an annual member meeting where we disseminate our annual awards, showcase our leadership team, and brainstorm about leadership practices "Think Tank" style.

The Reciprocal Cycle Of Mentoring, Sherry Early Phd, Matthew Cooney

Leadership Studies Faculty Research

The leadership development encounter we want to share has been ongoing for nearly six years. I met Matt Cooney after he returned from a study abroad experience in Mexico. I was hired as an assistant director and Matt asked me-"Who are you and why should I care?" A bit brazen, but forgivable. Once I told him about my experiences and why I was hired it was like at first sight. Matt and I connected instantly. Things got even more intense when I was his instructor for his internship and he had to be accountable to me online.

Encouraging The Heart, Sherry L. Early Phd, David Sleasman

Leadership Studies Faculty Research

Bowling Green State University’s Center for Leadership hosts workshops throughout the year for skill enhancement, reflection, and overall leadership efficacy. The student interaction we would like to share was as co-facilitators for a workshop based on Kouzes and Posner’s “Encouraging the Heart” principle from The Leadership Challenge.

Values-Based Ethical Leadership: Developing Leaders With Integrity, Sherry L. Early Phd, Kim Kushner

Leadership Studies Faculty Research

Values-based leadership and ethical decision-making are hot topics. However, the expectations and frameworks surrounding these characteristics are often unclear. The purpose of this article is to analyze values-based, ethical leadership by defining values and ethics, summarizing values-based ethical decision-making frameworks, and examining how leadership educators (scholars and practitioners) can develop students who lead with integrity.

Modeling The Way: Mutually Beneficial Outcomes Of Collaboration, Sherry L. Early Phd, Michael Baumhardt

Leadership Studies Faculty Research

Collaboration is a term often identified as essential, but far less frequently practiced. As leadership practitioners and scholars, the act of collaborating with colleagues by way of sharing best practices, resources, and knowledge is a must.

Welcome From The New Slpkc Chairs, Sherry L. Early Phd

Leadership Studies Faculty Research

Greetings! Please allow me to introduce myself as one of your co-chair elects for the Student Leadership Programs knowledge community (SLP KC). I am both honored and humbled to have been elected to this position and I look forward to serving the SLP KC to the best of my ability. To share a bit about myself, I have been a member of the leadership within the SLP KC for the past three years as the conference team leader. Those responsibilities have included collaborating with the coordinators of tile pre-convention workshop, sponsored programs, mentoring program, graduate support network, community/ graduate fair, …

Empowering Advisors To Facilitate Change, Melissa R. Shehane, Michael Baumhardt, Michael E. Shehane, Sherry L. Early Phd

Leadership Studies Faculty Research

Advancing group dynamics is difficult. In order for students to learn, develop, and grow within an organization, they need to be empowered by their advisor to feel that their ideas and contributions are both important and valuable. This concept of empowerment means providing freedom for people to do successfully what they want to do, rather than getting them to do what you want them to do (Whetten & Cameron, 2011). As an advisor to a student-led organization, it is important to empower students to identify specific actions and strategies that facilitate change and achieve the outcomes of the organization.

Book Review: Student Engagement Techniques: A Handbook For College Faculty, Sherry L. Early Phd

Leadership Studies Faculty Research

Publisher Description: Keeping students involved, motivated, and actively learning is challenging educators across the country, yet good advice on how to accomplish this has not been readily available. Student Engagement Techniques is a comprehensive resource that offers college teachers a dynamic model for engaging students and includes over one hundred tips, strategies, and techniques that have been proven to help teachers from a wide variety of disciplines and institutions motivate and connect with their students. The ready-to-use format shows how to apply each of the book's techniques in the classroom and includes purpose, preparation, procedures, examples, online implementation, variations and …

Developing A Leadership Consortium, Jan Lloyd, Sherry L. Early Phd

Leadership Studies Faculty Research

Although the term “leadership” did not appear until approximately the 1850s, leadership can be viewed as an ancient art (Bass, 1990). However, it was not until 1976 that the American College Personnel Association (ACPA) Commission IV developed a leadership task force to investigate leadership programs in higher education and clearly defined the differences between leadership development, leadership training, and leadership education (Roberts & Ullom, 1990). The field of leadership progressed over the years by examining various components such as trait theory, behavioral theories, situational theories, and, most recently, leadership identity development theories. Since then, information regarding definitions of leadership, descriptions …

Principals’ Sense Of Efficacy And Cultural Factors In Rural West Virginia Schools, Louis Watts, Cynthia Kolsun, Vicky Cline, Leatha Williams

Leadership Studies Faculty Research

Some studies of rural education in the United States suggest there are unique features of rural communities that affect schooling and student outcomes. Appalachia has been a special interest of many studies. Chenoweth and Galliher (2004) measured the influence of three cultural factors associated with Appalachia on the college aspirations of rural West Virginia high school students: (1) localism, a sense of connection to the land, (2) historicism, the sense of understanding one’s place in the family and region where born, and (3) familism, the tendency to maintain close family ties geographically and interpersonally. A key influence in creating effective …

The Reflective Principal: Surviving The Journey, Louis K. Watts

Leadership Studies Faculty Research

I recently retired from the public school system after 34 years of service in the rural West Virginia county where I was born, reared, and educated through grade 12. For 22 of those years I was an elementary principal. Those years were an exciting and challenging time for me, and I hope that sharing some of my experiences will be entertaining and useful to young principals who are just beginning their journey. It is impossible to prescribe all of the steps that will be a part of that journey, but I can’t think of any better source of guidance than …

Poor Rural Neighborhoods And Early School Achievement, Teresa R. Eagle, Robert Bickel, Cynthia Smith

Leadership Studies Faculty Research

School consolidation and the search for economies of scale are threatening to render the neighborhood school obsolete. Nevertheless, students and their families do live in neighborhoods. Consequently, education researchers have asked if there are neighborhood-based advantages and disadvantages which influence student achievement. Research has yielded conflicting results. This may be due to failure to properly define and measure neighborhood, acknowledging variation in its nature from place to place. We use ethnographic material to help operationalize the concept neighborhood for use in quantitative research on two very poor, rural counties in West Virginia. We then do a contextual analysis to gauge …

Top-Down, Routinized Reform In Low-Income, Rural Schools: Nsf's Appalachian Rural Systemic Initiative, Robert Bickel, Terry Tomasek, Teresa Hardman Eagle

Leadership Studies Faculty Research

Since 1991, the National Science Foundation has funded fifty-nine state, urban, and rural systemic initiatives. The purpose of the initiatives is to promote achievement in math, science, and technology among all students, and to encourage schools and communities to secure the resources needed to maintain such outcomes. The Appalachian Rural Systemic Initiative (ARSI) is a six-state consortium which focuses these efforts on low-income, rural schools. The primary means of accomplishing ARSI's aims is a one-day-one-school site visit, called a Program Improvement Review, done by an ARSI math or science expert. The centrally important Program Improvement Reviews, however, seem to be …