Education Commons^™

The Cultural Construction Of Diverse Other(S): A Discourse Analysis Of Institutional Policy, Rachel E. Friedensen

Doctoral Dissertations

Institutions of higher education are tasked with grappling with their long histories of exclusion and inequality. As more members of historically marginalized groups gain access to higher education, colleges and universities strive to create more equitable environments within their walls and to produce equity-minded democratic citizens. These institutions turn to policy to help them achieve these ends. These policies often emphasize diversity—a multivalent concept that often simply means difference, but also serves as a stand-in for the policy performances produced by institutions as they attempt create equitable and just campuses. Diversity’s multivocality inspires the main question that this study answers: …

Let My People In: A Comparative Study Of Diversity Rhetoric To Reality In Institutions Of Higher Education, Darvelle Hutchins

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Due to longstanding structures that have failed to provide an academic climate that is inclusive of the many dimensions of difference that exist among all people, institutions of higher education are under increased pressure to not only communicate but to live out a commitment to diversity as a means for business survival. By conducting this two-step research study at one private, Midwestern university, I examined the extent to which Black faculty members identified with their institutional rhetoric on diversity. In the first step, I completed a rhetorical analysis on four official texts to fully understand the extent to which Saint …

Freshman Student Perception Of Institutional Engagement Strategies, Donald J. Comi

CUP Ed.D. Dissertations

Technology, socio-economic disparities, and an increasingly diverse population base have changed the nature of American communities and thus the educational and occupational landscape. Access to higher education is functionally the gatekeeper for technical and professional careers. The gap between the number of students starting a four-year degree and the number completing a degree is discouraging. As a student transitions to college, many factors influence personal resiliency. Familial support, pre-college preparation, peer-to-peer relationships, and institutional connection all influence a student’s resiliency. However, higher education’s traditional engagement and transitional programming does not always engender connection nor promote academic success. This qualitative case …

Diversity Matters: A Case Study Of The Cultural Components Of Three Ontario College Leadership Development Programs, Candace M. Miller

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

With the number of international students increasing notably in the Ontario college system, educational leaders in those institutions need to provide culturally sensitive leadership to ultimately support student learning and achievement. In order to investigate how and why leaders need to lead in culturally sensitive ways, an exploratory case study of leadership development programs was undertaken in three Ontario colleges. In all, 17 semi-structured, one-to-one interviews were conducted with leaders from different areas of each college (organizational development, academics, and student services). In addition, the physical settings of the three institutions were observed by the researcher and professional learning documents …

Seeing Polar Bears In A Snowstorm: Examining Racial Equity Work In A Predominantly White Suburban School, Timothy Hayes

Dissertations

This three-part dissertation examines efforts to address racial equity at a predominantly white, suburban school. The first part is a program evaluation of Pacific Educational Group's Beyond Diversity Workshop. The second part proposes a change leadership approach to implementing a youth participatory action research project examining racial equity at the school. The final part proposes a professional development policy ensuring all teachers are prepared to engage in racial equity work at the school.

A Phenomenological Case Study Of Transformative Learning In A Non-Traditional Diversity Training Program, Ame Lambert

Human Resource Development Theses and Dissertations

Rapidly changing demographics and globalization has spurred a plurality of organizations to invest millions of dollars annually in diversity training, with the primary aim of improving the experiences of underrepresented employees. However, the results of diversity training to date have not proven encouraging. Positive outcomes of diversity training have generally been confined to increased awareness and improved attitudes towards diversity, with implicit and explicit prejudice and behavior remaining unchanged. The aim of this study was to understand the transformational learning experiences of participants in a non-traditional diversity training program and the impact of their transformational learning on their behavior.

A …

Exploring The Impacts Of Study Abroad On Hospitality Student’S Perceptions Of Emotional Intelligence, Diversity And Sustainability, Jordan Glynn Griffin

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated if there was a significant difference in hospitality students who did and did not participate in a study abroad program to determine if study abroad had an impact on their emotional intelligence, diversity, and sustainability awareness. The results of this study will assist both hospitality education and study abroad by providing information.

A descriptive, four-section survey was distributed online via Qualtrics utilizing snowball sampling. A total of 110 respondents participated in the study; 72 nonstudy abroad and 38 abroad. The respondents completed the questionnaire that measured emotional intelligence, career longevity, perceptions of diversity, sustainability awareness, and demographic …

An Examination Of Texas Agricultural Education Regarding Absence Of Diverse Students, John D. Denson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study was designed to investigate reasons for, and issues regarding, the lack of diversity in the department of agriculture and the Future Farmers of America (FFA). Data for this research were collected, studied, and analyzed. Data were examined to identify explanations for the lack of interest in agriculture among diverse students, and the lack of interest among school administrators and teachers to encourage studies in agriculture among the diverse. The analysis of data verified the existence of a real need for more disquiet in the differences of attitudes among diverse students regarding agriculture and agriculture programs, such as FFA. …

What Gets Lost In The Numbers: A Case Study Of The Experiences And Perspectives Of Black And Latino Faculty In Academic Medicine, Sylk M. Sotto Santiago

Higher Education: Doctoral Research Projects

The doctoral research examines the experiences and perceptions of underrepresented minority faculty in academic medicine through a case study approach. The study focuses on several stages as presented through a model referred to as the faculty life cycle. Specifically, the study addresses the socialization, mentoring, and professional development experiences of URM faculty in academic medicine. How do URM faculty experience their environment, culture, and climate in academic medicine? And what is their perception of the impact of diversity and inclusion initiatives and offices in academic medicine? This study utilizes the conceptual frameworks of Inclusive Excellence (IE} and Culturally Engaging Campus …

An Examination Of Educators' Perceptions Of Host Country Cultural Dynamics In International Schools Abroad, Sharlene M. Fedorowicz

Educational Studies Dissertations

This research examines dynamics and challenges of relationships between international schools (IS) and host country cultures as perceived by educators. Cultural impacts that influence the capacity of educators to manage, lead, and navigate IS are investigated. A sample of 133 educators (administrators and teachers) employed in IS responded to the survey and 13 of those participants were interviewed using a Mixed Method Sequential Explanatory Design (Creswell, 2009). IS promote international-mindedness where adverse contact zones are minimized by providing opportunities for students of different races, genders, and nationalities to integrate and work together. Although IS provide a strong basis for cultural …

Perceptions Of Cultural Competency Skills Among Professional Housing And Residential Life Staff At Postsecondary Institutions, William Washington Iii

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Student demographics on college campuses continues to change. The globalization of the student population brings challenges to providing optimal services from staff throughout higher education and particularly from professional housing and residential life (HRL) staff, who may be the first level of support for many students. The purpose of this quantitative study was to understand HRL staffs’ perceptions about their ability to support diverse students. Responses to the Multicultural Competence for Student Affairs Preliminary 2 scale (MCSA-P2) survey instrument provided a basis to compare the level of cultural competence of HRL staff across six demographic variables: gender, age, ethnicity, professional …

Conversations With Chris: Discussing Racial Diversity In A Professional Book Club, A. Brennan Davis

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative action research study was to understand and describe the experiences and the effects of one high school teacher’s membership in a professional development book club focused on issues of racial diversity with the overall aim of change toward equitable teaching practices through the following actions: confronting personal biases, discussing and reflecting on personal experiences and beliefs, questioning and critiquing personal beliefs and teaching practices, interacting with other professionals and with the readings in a supportive environment in which we celebrated and supported articulations of social justice or positive change. Thematic analysis was used to analyze …

Cognitive Style And Conflict On Superintendent-School Board Teams, Douglas J. Asbjornsen

Education Dissertations

Abstract

Cognitive Style and Conflict on Superintendent-School Board Teams

By Douglas J. Asbjornsen

Chairperson of the Dissertation Committee:

Dr. Thomas Alsbury

School of Education

Quality learning and high student achievement are primary goals of K-12 public school education. Superintendent-School Board teams can have a positive impact on both. Collaboration is critical to these teams’ effectiveness and efficiency. Research has suggested conflict can have a negative impact on collaboration and may be related to the diversity on the team. One type of diversity is cognitive diversity within the construct of cognitive style, as defined by the Kirton Adaption-Innovation Theory (A-I Theory). …

Creating An Inclusive School Environment And Experience For Minority Students In A Faith-Based University: A Case Study Of Undergraduate Programs, Caroline O. Abiaziem

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Higher education institutions are experiencing the need to advance their understanding of diversity and inclusion on campus. Therefore, this study was to explore the experiences and challenges of minority students in the undergraduate programs of a Faith-based Private University. This case study utilized interviews and focus group methods to understand the challenges and experiences of Asians, Hispanics, Latinos, Africans/African Americans, Native Americans, and other Minority students currently in the undergraduate programs of a Faith-based higher education institution. Responses were collected through interviews from two alumni of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) programs of the institution. Historical records were …

Student Religious Ideologies As Predictors Of Openness To Diverse Others, Curt Hinkle

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As Christian higher educational institutions and particularly Council of Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) member institutions seek to become more diverse bodies and prepare students to become people of influence in a pluralistic global society, educators must know and understand the effects of students’ religious ideologies on their openness to others and their willingness to engage with diversity-infused pedagogy. The purpose of this study was the connection of students’ religious ideologies to their openness to diverse others, those culturally different, with the understanding that openness to others affects the efficacy of diversity infused pedagogy. The research demonstrated students’ religious ideologies …

Diversity: Is It Worth It?, Christopher Jackson

CMC Senior Theses

This paper takes a dive into understanding if funding extra diversity initiatives at Claremont McKenna College currently spurred on by students are worth the cost to the institution. Resources like that of Claremont McKenna’s C.A.R.E. Center (Civility, Access, Resources, and Expression) and funding for representative student organizations place large pressures on the institution’s available budget and there is not much proof that they will pay off in the long-run. In this paper, financial costs for supporting diverse students on campus are aggregated and compared to the possible financial benefits that may come of their consequential use. Results show that there …