Education Commons^™

The Role Of Sports Clubs In University Recruitment And Retention: A Mixed-Methods Case Study, Andrea R. Mcclymont

Department of Educational Administration: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Opportunities for involvement on a college campus can have many positive effects on students. Additionally, opportunities for involvement can have positive implications for student recruitment and retention at a university. There are many ways for students to become involved during college through their campus recreation centers. Through these centers students can have the opportunity to participate in sport clubs. Although multiple studies have been conducted on the importance of student involvement, few studies focus specifically on student involvement in sport clubs. This study addressed six research questions: a) do freshmen student sport club participants have higher 1^st term GPAs …

Engagement In An Online Course: Thestudents' Viewpoint, Michael B. Miller

Department of Educational Administration: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Distance education is not a new phenomenon, distance education had its beginning with correspondence education through postal services in the 19th century (Daniel, 2000) and progressed into the 21st century with the use of computer-mediated instruction. Еvеn with аll оf itѕ соnvеniеnсе аnd роrtаbility, thе оnlinе сlаѕѕrооm iѕ ѕtill ѕееn by mаny аѕ lасking thе humаn “соnnесtivity” оf fасе tо fасе соurѕеѕ. Rесеnt findingѕ hаvе ѕhоwn thаt оnlinе lеаrnеrѕ’ lеvеlѕ оf ѕаtiѕfасtiоn, реrfоrmаnсе, аnd ѕеnѕе оf соmmunity аrе rеlаtеd tо thе intеrасtiоnѕ thеy hаvе with thеir inѕtruсtоrѕ, inсluding thе tyре аnd frеquеnсy оf fееdbасk thеy rесеivе оn аѕѕignmеntѕ аnd соurѕе …

November 8, 2013 - Alec Undergraduate Curriculum Committee Meeting Minutes

ALEC Committee Minutes

No abstract provided.

Institutional Governance Of New Program Development At Public Research Universities, Nathan Brad Miller

Department of Educational Administration: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Central university administration is often involved with guiding new programs through university and state approvals. A number of factors affect these processes. No studies discuss the role of central administrators in program approvals, however. This study addresses the gap through interviews with 13 individuals responsible for new program approvals in the provost’s office of 12 Research University/Very High public institutions. Five primary themes emerged in the interviews. The themes were used to frame discussion on the purpose, barriers, and self-described roles of the participants. Partial findings from this research were reported in Miller (2013).

Adviser: Marilyn L. Grady

October 11, 2013 - Alec Department Meeting Minutes

ALEC Committee Minutes

No abstract provided.

Journal Of The National Collegiate Honors Council, Volume 14, Number 2, Fall/Winter 2013 (Complete Issue)

Journal of the National Collegiate Honors Council Online Archive

Forum on Admissions and Retention in Honors

Forum Articles

Jerry Herron

Sean K. Kelly

Michael K. Cundall, Jr.

Scott Carnicom

Annmarie Guzy

Jeffrey A. Portnoy

Research Essays

Patricia Joanne Smith and John Thomas Vitus Zagurski

Robert R. Keller and Michael G. Lacy

Lynne Goodstein and Patricia Szarek

Timothy J. Nichols and Kuo-Liang “Matt” Chang

Emily Stark

Increasing Access To Post-Secondary Education: A Mixed Methods Study Of The Charleston Clemente Program, Mariane A. Doyle

Department of Educational Administration: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

There is an economic gap that favors adults who have higher levels of educational attainment (United States Department of Labor, 2010). With more than 9.3 million Americans over the age of 25 facing unemployment as of June 2012 and over 79% or 7.4 million of those unemployed Americans having attained less than a Bachelor’s degree (U.S. Department of Labor, 2012), the current need for college access measures and programs that address the adult population is an imperative one.

The Charleston Clemente Program provides a tuition-free course in the Humanities to economically-disadvantaged adult students for a total of two-semesters. Along with …

September 27, 2013 - Alec Faculty Meeting Minutes

ALEC Committee Minutes

No abstract provided.

Exploring How Chinese Students With Master Degree Locate A Career Placement, Xiaoqian Ma

Department of Educational Administration: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This qualitative research study recruited ten subjects and explored how these ten Chinese students with master degree located their positions of employment successfully in the United States after they graduated. The research stated different perspectives of job searching methods, difficulties in the application process, preparation before graduation, visa limitations, and suggestions for the upcoming future graduates. The researcher conducted and scheduled ten interviews individually and all research subjects were asked the same questions in the interviews.

Advisor: Miles T. Bryant

The Role Of General Education In The Development Of Ethical Reasoning In College Students: A Qualitative Study On The Faculty Perspective, Deborah J. Erie

Department of Educational Administration: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Historically, colleges and universities saw their purpose as educating individuals to be productive, civic-minded individuals. General education was the curricular structure used to provide students with the skills and knowledge that promoted moral and ethical behavior. As societal forces changed the complexion of higher education, the singular purpose of a college education also changed.

There has been extensive research on the ethical and moral development of college students, but little research on the faculty role in the development of ethical reasoning in college students through general education coursework. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the attitudes of …

Personality And Panhellenic Sorority Recruitment: A Quantitative Study Of Personality Typeology And Persistence In Formal Sorority Recruitment Practices, Laura Roof

Department of Educational Administration: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Since the inception of Greek life in the late 18th century, the organizations involved have gained attention for both their positive and negative contributions to society. One particular aspect of Greek life that has not always received positive attention, is formal sorority recruitment, which is the main method used by sororities to obtain to new members. In light of this negative attention, this study aims to investigate a positive characteristic of Formal Sorority Recruitment; the type of person or personality it takes to successfully complete the formal recruitment process.

The purpose of this exploratory quantitative research study is to explore …

Who You Know And How To Go: The Impact Of Social Capital On Higher Education Access For Black Males, Morgan E. St. John

Department of Educational Administration: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This qualitative case study explores the relationship between social capital, or the social networks in a young man’s life, and access into and persistence in higher education for a group of six Black, male, upperclassmen students at Heartland University. Heartland University is a predominantly White, four-year institution in the Midwest region of the United States. The literature review discusses reasons for the steadily declining rate of males choosing to pursue a college education, particularly young Black men, whom have been referred to as an “endangered species” in society (Johnson, Farrell, & Stoloff, 2000). Providing a framework of social capital theory, …

How College/University Administrators Handle The Disgruntled Parent, Loreal E. Robertson

Department of Educational Administration: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This qualitative study explored how student affairs and academic affairs professionals communicate with parents of undergraduate students who attend MidPointe University (MPU). The literature review indicates that there has been little research conducted on the nature of the interaction between college and university administrators and parents. Available research studies indicate that administrators communicate with parents with more frequency than expected, considering the past findings. Millennial students are sheltered, pressured, unique, and are overly involved (Howe & Strauss, 2007; Elam, Stratton & Gibson, 2007). Parents of today’s students are making an extra effort to be involved in the lives of their …

Terry L. Fairfield: A Portraiture Of Nonprofit Leadership In Educational Fundraising, Stephanie R. Davis

Department of Educational Administration: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The purpose of this qualitative study was to create a narrative of Terry L. Fairfield’s leadership legacy at the University of Nebraska Foundation. Using the educational research methodology of Portraiture, this biographical sketch analyzed personal and professional events in Fairfield’s life and chronicled notable achievements, as well as the strife involved in securing financial support for the University of Nebraska system through means of philanthropy and private gifts. Exploring these experiences share and extend knowledge on his personal and professional history. As the financial health of colleges and universities continue to dwindle, both leadership in fundraising and the reliance on …

Fulfilling An Institutional And Public Good Mission: A Case Study Of Access, Renee F. Batman

Department of Educational Administration: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Access to higher education has been and remains a critical issue, yet research typically focuses on students and programs which may overlook the role of the faculty. Through an in-depth case study, the perspectives of tenured and tenure-track faculty at a predominately White, Midwestern land-grant, research institution are described as they relate to issues of student access to higher education. The context of the case was instrumental in understanding faculty perspectives of access and centered on the fundamental notion of education as public good and its association with institutional history and mission. The findings suggest that faculty members uphold the …

Success Informs Success: Experiences Of Persisting First-Generation College Males, Taylor Weichman

Department of Educational Administration: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This research focuses on the experiences of first-generation college males who have successfully persisted into their second year of college. The experiences of a first-generation student have been described as “a constant battle.” The students in this study have overcome the many challenges ascribed to them as first-generation college students, and persisted into their second year of college. Exploring the experiences of these men through their eyes allowed the research to examine the challenges and supports that the men themselves identify as important to their first year experience. This information has implications for future practice involving first-generation students, with the …

A Qualitative Study To Examine The Relationships Of First-Year Student Residents And Their Resident Peer Assistants At A Four Year Private University, Janet P. Goodman

Department of Educational Administration: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This research study investigated the characteristics of a positive resident to resident peer assistant relationship. At Nebraska Wesleyan University, resident peer assistants “are trained students dedicated to giving their peers personal and academic guidance” (Nebraska Wesleyan University, 2011, sect. Peer Assistants). Peer Assistants work to “organize social and educational programming on their floors and in their buildings. They coordinate social activities and enforce community standards, university policies and state laws” (Nebraska Wesleyan University, 2011, sect. Peer Assistants). Two Residential Education Coordinators at Nebraska Wesleyan University recommended residents they believed had a highly interactive relationship with their resident peer assistants for …

Developing Purpose In College: A Mixed Methods Study To Investigate How First-Year And Senior Students Developed Purpose At A Large Research Midwestern University, Laura J. Coombs

Department of Educational Administration: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The purpose of this convergent mixed methods study was to investigate how students develop purpose at a large research Midwestern University. More specifically, this study assessed how students developed their sense of purpose in college, according to both first-year students and senior students.
The central research question for this study was: how do students develop purpose in college? More specifically, how do first-year students compare with senior college students when developing purpose in college? The Developing Purpose Inventory (DPI), created by William Barratt, was utilized to determine how students were developing purpose in college, according to Arthur Chickering’s student development …

Expectations V. Reality: A Study About Chinese Students' Expectations And Experiences At A Midwestern University In America, Sarah J. Barg

Department of Educational Administration: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to add to the research regarding the expectations and experiences of Chinese students studying at an American university. In doing so, this study sought to examine newly arriving Chinese students’ expectations of what their experience would be like compared to the reality of what their experiences actually were while attending Midwestern State University (MSU). Ten participants participated in two semi-structured interviews. The first set of interviews explored what Chinese students expected their experience studying at MSU to be like. The following interview explored the actual experiences the Chinese students had while studying at …

Student Perceptions Of First-Year Experience: A Comparison Of Participants And Non-Participants In A Learning Community Program And Their First-Year Experiences, Jordan D. Black

Department of Educational Administration: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The purpose of this mixed-methods study is to better understand first-year experiences from a student perspective, while comparing two different student groups: learning community participants and non-learning community participants. First-year experiences studied were defined through intentional conversations with administrators and students to better understand what experiences were believed to be common at the institution studied. An online survey was then administered to determine the perceived value of experiences, followed by interviews with selected participants to better understand their perspectives. The results demonstrated that although there were differences between the perceptions of experiences between the two samples, the reasoning behind the …

First To Second Year Retention Based On Financial Aid Package: A Quantitative Study, Emily E. Carpenter

Department of Educational Administration: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Retention in higher education continues to be a constant issue for administrators. The university studied for this research is one that intends to expand its current undergraduate body by more than 25% by 2017. To do this, the chancellor of the institution has claimed that increasing the retention rate is vital. As shown in many studies, if an institution can retain students into their sophomore year they are more likely to graduate them within a 6-year period. This study specifically analyzes 1,328 equity aid eligible resident students from the 2011-2012 academic year to the 2012 fall semester. A student is …

The Role Of Leadership Experience In Self-Authorship Development: A Qualitative Case Study, Anna Pressler

Department of Educational Administration: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Marcia Baxter Magolda’s research showed development of self-authorship typically occurred around 30 years of age. However, some programming and experiential learning presented opportunities to accelerate self-authorship development in college. Baxter Magolda emphasized the importance of self-authorship in the formative years of college and post-graduation with significant life decisions of academic major, career choice, and relationships. Therefore, the purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the role leadership experience played in development of self-authorship in college. Previous research touted multicultural programming, developmental advising, challenging classroom environments, and living-learning community models as ways to promote self-authorship development, but little research …

Institutional Crisis Readiness As Perceived By Small College And University Senior Student Affairs Officers At Naspa Member Institutions, Philip D. Covington

Department of Educational Administration: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The purpose of this study was to examine current readiness plans of small colleges and universities through the eyes of Senior Student Affairs Officers and develop recommendations for institutional use. Plans were examined across both institutional size and type to gauge institutional readiness, and commonalities were sought in the areas of plan development and maintenance. This explanatory mixed-methods study utilized survey research methodology and phone interviews. Following the initial survey administration, five respondents participated in phone interviews focused on the development and maintenance of institutional crisis management systems. Unexpected delays in the research necessitated a second administration of the survey …

Exploring The Construct Of Social Integration In A Community College Environment, Scott Mertes

Department of Educational Administration: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Among current retention models, Tinto’s Interactionalist Model has reached near paradigmatic status. When his model has been applied to two-year college settings, the social integration results have been inconsistent. This has led Maxwell (2000) and Deil-Amen (2011) to suggest that a different construct of social integration exists in community colleges, and that this construct may not be related to the traditional construct of social integration in four-year university settings. The current study sought to ascertain whether these two constructs of social integration were related. A random sample of two-year college students were asked to complete a survey consisting of questions …

Exploring Tribal/Ethnic Inequality In The Allocation Of Campus Housing To Students In A Kenyan Public University, Diana C. Awuor

Department of Educational Administration: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Kenya has 42 ethnic groups. The importance of tribal affiliations in the culture has led to reports of ethnic inequality in job distributions, service provision and resource allocation. Higher education institutions (HED) have not been left out in this. This descriptive/exploratory study focused on government/public HEIs with the aim of knowing the perceptions of students regarding the allocation of on-campus housing and how ethnicity influences the process, if any. The sample was made up of 100 students currently enrolled at a public university in Nairobi, Kenya.

The researcher used nonrandom purposeful sampling because there were specific characteristics that the sample …

Journal Of The National Collegiate Honors Council, Volume 14, Number 1, Spring/Summer 2013 (Complete Issue)

Journal of the National Collegiate Honors Council Online Archive

Forum on “Nontraditional Honors Students”

Forum Articles

Janice Rye Kinghorn and Whitney Womack Smith

Nancy Reichert

Angela M. Salas

Mimi Killinger, Rachel Binder-Hathaway, Paige Mitchell, and Emily Patrick

Kimberly Aramburo and Suketu Bhavsar

2012 NCHC Portz Scholar’s Essay

Jeffrey Cisneros

Research Essays

Melissa L. Johnson

John S. MacLean and Brian J. White

The Effects Of Parental Involvement On The College Student Transition: A Qualitative Study At A Large Midwestern University, Lauren Edelman

Department of Educational Administration: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This qualitative research studied the phenomenon of parental involvement in the college transition process and sought to understand if students perceived they were affected, relative to the development of independence and autonomy, by the amount of parental involvement they experienced during this transition. Six traditional college freshmen were interviewed and asked about their relationships with their parents, their parent’s involvement during the college search, application, and transition process, and how they perceived this involvement affected their development of independence and autonomy.

This study explored the effects of parental involvement as students transitioned from high school to college. The study looked …

Nefdc Exchange, Volume 26, Fall 2013, New England Faculty Development Consortium

NEFDC Exchange

Contents

President's message - Deborah J. Clark,

Peer-Instruction in your Classroom: A Balancing Act - Dorothy A. Osterholt and Sophie Lampard Dennis, Landmark College

Call for Proposals for the Spring 2014 Conference

Spring conference: June 6, 2014, “Moving from STEM to STEAM: What Really Works”

Build Tomorrow’s Problem Solvers Today: Develop Positive Deviants! - Genevieve E. Chandler, University of Massachusetts-Amherst

Engaged Learning and the Art of Mindfulness in Higher Education - Yvonne Vissing, Salem State University and Michelle Solloway, Greater Los Angeles VA Health Care System

What Can Evolutionary Psychology Teach Us about Pedagogy? - Randy Laist, Goodwin College

Board …

Influence Of Academically-Based Living-Learning Communities On Men’S Awareness And Appreciation For Diversity, Christina W. Yao, Matthew R. Wawrzynski

Department of Educational Administration: Faculty Publications

THIS STUDY EXAMINED the influence of academically based living-learning programs on men's awareness of and appreciation for diversity. Findings include statistically significant and practical differences between student characteristics and their pre-college attitude towards diversity. Living on campus for one year revealed no significant differences for men. Discussion includes the importance of increasing the numbers of diverse students and creating environments that support diversity awareness and appreciation.

Fostering A Growth Mind-Set: Integrating Research On Teaching And Learning And The Practice Of Teaching, Beth A. Fisher, Carolyn L. Dufault, Michelle D. Repice, Regina F. Frey

To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development

Centers for teaching and learning have a crucial role to play in helping facuity learn about and apply research on learning. The approach we have developed integrates discussion of recent research with specific recom mendations of teaching modifications that can be adapted for different disciplines and courses. Preliminary evaluation suggests the effectiveness of this approach in fostering a growth mind-set about teaching--a mind-set that helps faculty develop, implement, and assess effective teaching modifications, thereby transforming facuity into scholars of teaching and learning and further developing a collaborative, innovative culture that integrates research on teaching and learning with the practice of …