Education Commons^™

A Lifelong Network: Perceptions And Experiences Of First-Generation Alums After Graduation, Allison Toney

Theses and Dissertations

As first-generation students transition to college graduates, the question lies in whether institutions of higher education are continuing to provide opportunities for them as alums. As a result of first-generation college students being the first in their family to attend college, students may enter college not knowing what to expect. But institutions have evolved to provide services, resources and opportunities that support their success while enrolled. Upon graduation, the process of transitioning out of college can be a challenging time for students as they seek post-graduation success. Some institutions offer support and resources tailored specifically to first-generation graduates or graduates …

Profiles And Perspectives Of Middle School Students On Science Talk Engagement And Relevance: A Mixed Methods Analysis, Kamil Hankour, Javonti Braxton, Martinique Sealy, Hui Sun, Christine Lee Bae

Education Graduate Presentations

Research shows that in urban classrooms, middle school students often feel disengaged and alienated from science (Emdin et al., 2021; Fredricks et al., 2018). Yet, few studies have examined youths’ perspectives directly. In this mixed methods study, we surveyed middle school students on their engagement (e.g., social, agentic, Patell et al., 2019; Wang et al., 2016), funds of knowledge (e.g., interests, cultural resources, Moll et al., 1992), and participation in science discourse (Murphy et al., 2018), and conducted focus group interviews about their learning experiences.

Pathways To Belonging And Engagement: Testing A Tailored Social Belonging Intervention For University Students, Molly L. Taylor, Danielle N. Berry, Kali A. Delay, Viyana Banjade, Jeen Joy, Korinthia D. Nicolai, Erica Ross, Navdeep Sekhon, Tanya Wineland, Sharon K. Zumbrunn Dr.

Graduate Research Posters

Background

Prominent theories of motivation suggest that belonging plays a critical role in student success (Connell & Wellborn, 1991). Social-belonging interventions have been shown to improve student belonging, well-being, engagement, and more—especially those from traditionally disadvantaged backgrounds (Walton & Brady, 2017). The current study aimed to explore the effects of a tailored social-belonging intervention delivered in introductory classes at VCU on students’ belonging, engagement, persistence, and achievement.

Methods

A diverse sample of first-year undergraduate students at VCU participated. To create authentic intervention materials, we collaborated with a diverse group of upper-level undergraduate student researchers who wrote narratives to present vivid …

Putting You First: First-Generation Student Perceptions, Needs, And Engagement At Virginia Commonwealth University, Jennifer D. Adams, Brittany M. Gracik, Rochelle H. Jordan, Yeimarie Lopez

Doctor of Education Capstones

You First at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) submitted a Request for Assistance with the need for increased engagement with VCU first-generation (FG) students. To address this request, a doctoral Capstone team conducted problem and context analysis, a literature review, a mixed-methods study analyzing institutional data, a survey of current FG students at VCU, and focus group sessions with FG students at VCU. The goal was to identify FG student perceptions of their FG identities, determine the needs of FG students, and uncover factors that impact FG students’ engagement with You First. Findings suggested that the underlying cause of minimal engagement …

Disentangling Student Engagement In Afterschool Programs, Ashlee M. Lester

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation presents a line of research exploring the characteristics and role of student engagement in afterschool programs, specifically during early adolescence. The dissertation takes a two-study format, building off of my comprehensive exam Measuring engagement in out-of-school time programs. This first chapter is an introduction in which I will detail the underlying problem that is investigated in the following two manuscripts. Following this introduction, the two separate studies are presented.

Answering The Question, "To What End?": Building A System Of Enterprise Data Measurement To Track And Assess Our Engagement With And Impact On Our Communities, Valerie Holton

Division of Community Engagement Resources

This was presented at the Florida Campus Compact held February 8-10, 2016.

The Role Of Partnerships In Achieving The Vision: Tracking And Assessing Community Engagement, Valerie Holton, Kathleen Shaw

Division of Community Engagement Resources

This presentation was given at the Association for Institutional Research Forum in New Orleans, Louisiana on June 2, 2016.

Aspire Partner Report: Assessing The Impact Of Aspire From The Perspective Of Sustained Partners, Jennifer Jettner, Tessa Mckenzie

Division of Community Engagement Resources

The purpose of this evaluation was to assess the quality of ASPiRE's partnerships from the perspective of partners. In addition, this effort also gathered preliminary information about partners' perspectives on VCU as a whole and functioned as a pilot test to inform future efforts for collecting partner voice about VCU's partnerships across the university.

Smashing Silos: Community Engagement Maps - A Vivo Extension, Tessa Mckenzie, Audrey Trussell, Valerie Holton, Stephen Guilford, Jonathan Deshazo

Division of Community Engagement Resources

This poster was presented at the VIVO 2016 Conference in Denver, Colorado.

Incorporating Community Engagement Language Into Promotion And Tenure Policies: One University's Journey, Lynn E. Pelco

Division of Community Engagement Resources

This presentation was given at the 2016 Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities Conference in Washington, D.C.

The Role Of Partnerships In Achieving The Vision: Tracking And Assessing Community Engagement, Valerie Holton, Kathleen Shaw

Division of Community Engagement Resources

This presentation was given at the Virginia Association for Management Analysis and Planning in Richmond, Virginia on October 20, 2016.

Empathy Activators: Strategies For Developing Empathy In Service-Learning Students, Katie Elliott, Robin Everhart, Lynn E. Pelco

Division of Community Engagement Resources

This poster presentation explores the link between service-learning and the development of student empathy. It will share the initial research results of a pilot study on student empathy, service-learning, and key ingredients for cultivating empathy. It also offers instructors concrete ideas for teaching tools that activate student empathy.

Preparing Future Faculty As Service-Learning Instructors: A Proposal To Integrate Instruction In Service-Learning Pedagogy Into The Vcu Preparing Future Faculty Program, Amanda Hall, Lynn E. Pelco

Division of Community Engagement Resources

This proposal provides a detailed plan for incorporating service-learning pedagogy into the VCU Preparing Future Faculty Program (http://graduate.vcu.edu/development/faculty.html). The VCU Preparing Future Faculty Program (PFF Program) is an optional training program offered by the VCU Graduate School to all graduate students enrolled at the university. The PFF Program involves a series of courses and professional development opportunities aimed at preparing doctoral students for the professoriate.

Strategies For Establishing Mutually Beneficial Service-Learning Partnerships, Erin Marie Burke Brown

Division of Community Engagement Resources

In an ideal world, instructors would begin the process of planning for their service-learning course at least one year in advance of teaching it, but sometimes that is not the case. Use these steps to get started whether you are one year or a few weeks out before the semester starts.

Measuring & Monitoring Impact Of Community Engagement At Virginia Commonwealth University, Valerie Holton, Jennifer Jettner

Division of Community Engagement Resources

This report provides a summary of existing and developing enterprise data mechanisms that track and assess Virginia Commonwealth University’s engagement with our communities. The activities included here are limited to those efforts with which the DCE is actively involved.

The Division of Community Engagement (DCE) undertook this effort and published the original document in fall 2014. This 2015 report has been updated to reflect progress that has been made during the 14-15 academic year.

Innovating The 21st Century: Developing A Mobile App To Collect Student Service Activities To Assess Impact, Jennifer Jettner

Division of Community Engagement Resources

No abstract provided.

Building Community-Engagement Infrastructure At Warp Speed: Leveraging Enterprise Data And Partnerships, Valerie Holton, Kathleen Shaw

Division of Community Engagement Resources

This was presented at the pre-conference workshop on November 16, 2015 at the annual meeting of IARSLCE in Boston, Massachusetts.

Community Partner Challenges And Strategies Infographic, Audrey Trussell

Division of Community Engagement Resources

The infographic depicts common community partner challenges and strategies that were compiled in the Spring 2-15 VCU Service-Learning Institute.

To What End?: How We Put Your Engagement Data To Work, Meghan Resler

Division of Community Engagement Resources

No abstract provided.

Better Research Through Community-Engagement, Valerie Holton

Community-Engaged Research Resources

Presentation from the 2015 Conference on Social Work Education and Community Work at National Taiwan University on March 27, 2015

Rethinking School Improvement: The Case For Networked Improvement Communities, Jesse Senechal

MERC Publications

The question of why school improvement efforts have not been as effective as we would hope is a complicated one that could be addressed from a number of perspectives. The purpose of this paper is to explore some of the underlying problems that prevent current school reform effort from achieving sustained impact, and to describe a promising model of school improvement, called the Networked Improvement Community (NIC). The NIC model – which has just started gaining traction in the world of K-12 school reform – establishes small inquiry groups within organizations to engage in cycles of improvement that involve implementing …

Capturing The Social/Emotional World Of Students, David Naff, Jesse Senechal

MERC Publications

The goal of this report is to explore the possibilities using student social emotional measures withing K-12 schools. This will include (1) a discussion of what constitutes a social emotional measure, (2) an overview of commonly used measures, and (3) a discussion of how these measures may inform school improvement processes and promote the success of students at the classroom, school, school system, and community level.

First-Generation College Students: A Qualitative Exploration Of The Relationship Between Parental Education Level And Perceptions Of Faculty-Student Interaction, Micol Hutchison

Theses and Dissertations

While quantitative research has determined that first-generation college students (FGS) are less likely to interact with faculty than are their non-FGS peers, this qualitative study examines how incoming first-year college students, both FGS and non-FGS, perceive faculty-student interaction and whether they consider it important. Addressing different types of interaction with college instructors, both in-class and out-of-class, participants across a range of FGS status shared their views through surveys, individual interviews, and focus groups. Focusing specifically on incoming first year students, this study also explores the motives for, impediments to, and encouragements to faculty-student interaction that students identify. Finally, the study …

Utilizing Service-Learning Teaching Assistants In The Classroom, Erin Burke Brown, Kristy Byrd, James Fueglein

Division of Community Engagement Resources

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Service-Learning On Degree Completion, Kelly Lockeman, Lynn Pelco

Division of Community Engagement Resources

No abstract provided.

Students' Perspectives On Their High School Experience, Kathleen M. Cauley, Carl Chafin, Janine Certo

MERC Publications

This study explored what it is like to be a high school student today. Our purpose was to describe the extent to which the schools in the metropolitan area are meeting the needs of their diverse body of students.

Knowing whether disengagement and alienation are widespread is important if we are to determine whether systemic change is needed or a more localized approach that targets particular students. We looked at those internal (school) factors related to instructional time; non-instructional time in school, extracurricular activities and school climate that help or hinder students’ perceived levels of engagement. Obtaining a snapshot of …