Education Commons^™

The Effects Of Academic Advising On College Student Development In Higher Education, Kelly K. Pargett

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

This paper explored the relationship between faculty academic advising and college student development by examining factors such as a student’s academic success, including grade point average, campus involvement, expected graduation date, and job placement upon graduation. The research studied the relationship by examining the student’s age, gender, academic year, ethnicity, and grade point average. Results from this study will be significant to retention, graduation rate, and overall student success at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. In addition, information gathered from student surveys can help the improvement of faculty advising for all advisors on campus. Results also indicated that the majority of …

Ex Corde Ecclesiae And Catholic Higher Education In America, James A. Caridi

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

This research assessed Ex Corde Ecclesiae within American Catholic higher education from the perspective of presidents and academicians who oversee or teach within theology or religious studies. Pope John Paul II’s Ex Corde Ecclesiae outlines the theological essence of the Catholic University and details its specific responsibilities toward providing an authentic Catholic experience. It is valuable to examine whether Catholic postsecondary presidents and academicians believe their institutions are fulfilling these expectations.

Specifically, this research explored how presidents understand and value Ex Corde Ecclesiae and whether they believe their institution has achieved progress toward its prescribed norms. Similarly, this research surveyed …

Does Being Rural Matter?: The Roles Of Rurality, Social Support, And Social Self-Efficacy In First-Year College Student Adjustment, Allison L. Bitz Phd

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

One out of every three first-year college students will not return for a second year of college (Postsecondary Education Opportunity, 2010). Due to a variety of factors, minority students are at an even higher risk of dropping out of college. Rural youth, comprising approximately 22% of the nation’s total youth, form a significant minority population; yet the rural student experience in college has not yet been widely considered in research. The purpose of this quantitative study was to explore college adjustment and its predictors among first-year students, with an emphasis on the role of rurality in college adjustment. Social self-efficacy, …

A Phenomenological Study Of Millennial Generation Cooperative Extension Educators' Development Of Core Competencies, David L. Varner

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Scholarship

The purpose of this qualitative research study was to describe the experiences that contribute to the development of core competencies among Millennial Generation, county-based Extension educators in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension Division. Fourteen educators were randomly purposefully selected to participate in the study. Participants were born in 1977 or later as determined by Tapscott (2009). Educators’ tenure in Cooperative Extension ranged from two months to seven years. Three themes and associated sub-themes emerged from semi-structured interviews: (a) Blindfolded and Scared—educators were confused, overwhelmed and in need of support; (b) Developing the Big Skills: A Daunting Task—focused on discovering competencies …

The Difficulties And Opportunities Chinese Transfer Students Encounter In An American University: A Learning Perspective, Hui Chen

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Scholarship

The purpose of this study was to investigate the difficulties and opportunities that Chinese transfer students encounter in learning in one American university. The researcher also explored the strategies that transfer students used to deal with the difficulties and opportunities.

The study employed qualitative survey and interview methods. Ninety-seven students who transferred from Zhejiang University City College and Xi’an Jiaotong University City College to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln were invited to participate. These students came to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln through the Partner Degree Program (PDP). Forty-one individuals completed the online survey and two students participated in interviews. The participants …

A Study Of Factors Related To Success For Nontraditional Versus Traditional Aged Students At A Public Urban Community College, Megan Mccormick

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

Non-traditional students encounter many obstacles in attending college and earning a degree. Many of these obstacles, including work, family, and financial responsibilities have been shown to hinder older students’ academic success as well as their campus involvement. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there was a difference using a number of factors that relate to the success of non-traditional and traditional aged students at the Community College of Allegheny County, Boyce Campus. Success was determined by a number of factors including (a) whether a student has formally declared a major; (b) their grade point average; (c) their …

Environmental Impact Assessment For Socio-Economic Analysis Of Chemicals: Principles And Practice (Technical Report No. 113), Peter Calow

Office of Research and Economic Development: Publications

This report describes the requirements for, and illustrates the application of, a methodology for a socio-economic analysis (SEA) especially as it might be adopted in the framework of REACH.

Socio-economic analysis weighs the costs of any restrictions on the production and use of chemicals against the benefits to human health and the environment.

The reasons why industry needs to understand the principles and practices of socioeconomic analysis are: (l) to carry out, where appropriate, a SEA as an argument for authorisation (this is an industry responsibility), and (2) to be able to contribute as stakeholders in socio-economic discussions with regulatory …

An Exploration Of The Use Of Student Services And Support Programs In An Athletic Deparment, Sara Sackett

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

The purpose of the study was to explore the utilization of student services and support programs by athletic personnel. The sample was comprised of eight academic advisors (4 males and 4 females) from eight athletic institutions who agreed to participate in oral interviews. The institutions represented medium and large public universities. The participants expressed their perceptions of student services and support programs to the contributions and educational outcomes for student-athletes. The data analysis portion of the study produced two themes: (1) support services and programs in an athletic department; and (2) collaboration within the institution. The results helped athletic personnel …

Satisfied Superintendents: A Case Study, Zachary G. Kassebaum

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

The role of the superintendent is viewed as high-stress. Research reports a high turnover rate in the superintendency. Superintendents face pressure and criticism from several fronts. Despite these circumstances, many superintendents find satisfaction within the position. Through the stories of superintendents, we discover new findings about satisfaction derived from the superintendency.

The purpose of this study was to examine the common characteristics of satisfied superintendents and the components of the superintendency that provide satisfaction. The major contribution of this study is a greater understanding of how superintendents can increase the likelihood of experiencing satisfaction and longevity in their position.

Through …

Satisfied Superintendents: A Case Study, Zachary G. Kassebaum

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

The role of the superintendent is viewed as high-stress. Research reports a high turnover rate in the superintendency. Superintendents face pressure and criticism from several fronts. Despite these circumstances, many superintendents find satisfaction within the position. Through the stories of superintendents, we discover new findings about satisfaction derived from the superintendency.

The purpose of this study was to examine the common characteristics of satisfied superintendents and the components of the superintendency that provide satisfaction. The major contribution of this study is a greater understanding of how superintendents can increase the likelihood of experiencing satisfaction and longevity in their position.

Through …

A Descriptive Analysis Of Demographic Characteristics And Their Influence On Student Attendance At Programming Board Events, Kayla Person

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

The purpose of this study was to analyze selected demographic characteristics of students who attended programming board events at a medium size, four-year, public institution located in the upper Midwest to determine if statistically significant differences were present between attendees and the full-time undergraduate population. The study tested for: (a) significant differences in the demographic characteristics of full-time undergraduate students who attended one or more programming board events versus fulltime undergraduate students who did not attend programming board events, (b) significant differences in the demographic characteristics of students who attended more than one programming board event versus those who attended …

Internationalization At Home? Exploring Domestic Students' Perceptions Of And Interactions With International Students At A Large Midwestern Research Institution, Sondra T. Schreiber

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

The purpose of this qualitative, interview-based study was to explore international and domestic student interactions and perceptions of international students from the domestic students’ point of view at a large Midwestern research institution. This study concentrated on domestic students who had not studied abroad or traveled outside the United States in order to focus on the concept of internationalization at home.

Eight students participated in the study. They were all classified as seniors (having completed 89 credit hours or more) at the time of participation. The participants’ ages ranged from 21-31 years old. The participants were asked about their interactions …

The Missing Box: Multiracial Student Identity Development At A Predominately White Institution, Ashley M. Loudd

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

The purpose of this study was to add to the growing body of research aimed at deciphering the unique identity development experiences of multiracial college students. In doing so, this particular study sought to explore the process for self-identified multiracial students attending a Mid-western predominately white institution. Personal interviews and a focus group were utilized to delve into the students’ stories, and the participants’ pathways through negotiating their racial identities were linked with Renn’s (2004) ecological identity development patterns. The result was an in-depth and critical understanding of how a predominately white institution places multiracial students in an unsupportive environment, …

Behind Two Doors: The Lived Experience Of Resident Assistants In Transition At A Midwestern University, William R F Harmon

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

The purpose of this qualitative, multi-case study was to explore the experiences of resident assistants (RAs) as they transitioned from a traditional, corridor-style residence hall, to suite-style hall environments. RAs that were in the transition from the traditional, corridor-style hall to a suite-style hall contributed to this study by participating in multiple interviews over the course of the fall semester of the 2010-11 academic year. In addition, the Residence Hall Director (RD) was also interviewed during the fall semester. Throughout the study, the RAs were asked to reflect upon their (a) roles and responsibilities as RAs in the suite-style environment, …

An Investigation Of The Potential Use Of Advanced Placement Examination Scores In The College Admission Of Transfer Students, Andrew Callahan Dwyer

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Faced with making college admission decisions on an increasingly large number of applicants, many higher education institutions have begun to consider using additional information to assist with those decisions. Unlike college admissions practices for the population of first-time freshmen, however, admission practices for the population of transfer students have been largely ignored in the literature. There is evidence that the transfer student population is growing and will likely continue to grow for the foreseeable future, which emphasizes the need for colleges and universities to find additional suitable information to use in transfer student admission. Using data from the University of …

Learning Style Differentiation Between Hispanic And Non-Hispanic College Students In Selected Institutions In The North Carolina Public University System, Robert C. Tripp

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

As the Hispanic population increases in North Carolina the number of college graduates of Hispanic descent should follow. Although a gradual increase in Hispanic students attending state universities has been seen, the increase has not kept pace with the increases seen in the general population. Additionally, the numbers of those achieving the baccalaureate degree have not increased. There have been a number of research projects in recent years that have documented qualitative reasons why Hispanic students have been reluctant to go to college and the factors that contribute to their success and failure at institutions of high education. Cultural influences …

Building Organizational Capacity For Enrollment Performance Measurement: A Mixed Methods Investigation, Lynda Ruth Wallace-Hulecki

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

The use of enrollment performance measurement systems can enable the provision of intelligence information to inform strategic decision-making and the effective management of enrollment. A review of the literature indicated that the development of enrollment intelligence systems was a nascent area in which only a select few institutions had successfully developed applications. In addition, no published models or guidelines were found for assessing an organization’s capacity for success in developing advanced enrollment performance measurement capabilities linked to enrollment performance improvement.

The purposes of this study were twofold: (a) to identify the culture value orientations and organizational capacity conditions that existed …

Instructor Technology Use: A Mixed Methods Investigation, Suzanne K. Becking

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

This mixed methods concurrent triangulation study was designed to examine instructional leaders’ descriptions of their experience with integrating technology into their teaching. Seminal studies from the 1990s were found to remain true today—that teachers are not ready to incorporate technology into their teaching (Becker, 1999; Ertmer, 1999). In the decade since Becker’s and Ertmer’s findings, changes have been seen in select pockets of the university community. I was interested in exploring one of these “pockets” that has been identified through my work with online instruction and in consultations with faculty who are either beginning or are veterans at integrating technology …

Go Abroad And Graduate On-Time: Study Abroad Participation, Degree Completion, And Time-To-Degree, Heather Barclay Hamir

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

Over the last four decades, participation in postsecondary education has grown, yet degree completion rates have not risen at a proportional rate (Bound, Lovenheim & Turner, 2009; National Center for Educational Statistics, 2008; Turner, 2004) and the length of time to graduation is increasing (Tinto, 1993; Turner). At the same time, the benefits of degree completion for the individual and society are well documented (McMahon, 2009). Significant research since the 1970s explored factors related to student retention and attrition in an effort to understand and intervene in these processes. Building on Astin’s (1984) Theory of Student Involvement, Kuh and associates …

Nefdc Exchnage, Volume 22, Number 2, Spring 2011, New England Faculty Development Consortium

NEFDC Exchange

Contents

President's message: Who is your mentor? - Tom Thibodeau, New England Institute of Technology

Sparks, insights, and affirmations: reflections of a mentor - Denise Marchionda, Middlesex Community College

Engaging students through social media to promote learning - Suzanne Markham, Mount Ida College

Vampires, and zombies, and ghosts, oh my… run! The undead in the college classroom - Kristine Larsen, Central Connecticut State University

Service learning as a way to engage students and serve the community - William Stargard, Pine Manor College

Save the date! NEFDC 2011 Fall Conference, Friday, November 11, 2011, College of the Holy Cross

Models for …

Academic Library Directors' Perceptions Of Joining A Large Library Consortium Sharing An Integrated Library System: A Descriptive Survey, Dennis Krieb

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

The collective holdings of CARLI’s (Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in Illinois) “I-Share” catalog total approximately 32 million items. It is the third largest academic catalog in the United States, however only 76 of CARLI’s 148 academic libraries participate in I-Share. This descriptive survey examined the factors that influenced a CARLI academic library director’s decision to join, or not join, I-Share’s integrated library system. Seventy-seven of the 145 CARLI library directors sampled completed the web-based survey. This represented a 53.1% response rate.

The framework for the survey was designed around three sections; advantages, disadvantages, and obstacles to participating in …

Unopa Notes, Volume 49, Issue 7, March 2011

UNOPA Newsletters

PSP: WHAT IS IT? 2

PSP LUNCHEON 2

FEBRUARY MEETING RECAP 2

LOLA YOUNG’S JOURNEY 3

NEW MEMBERS SPOTLIGHT 3

CIRCLE OF GENERATIONS 4

UAAD WORKSHOP 4

TRIBUTE TO ROSE FROLIK 5

HUMOR FOR YOUR HELATH 5

UNOPA SPRING WORKSHOP 7

NATIONAL CONFERENCE 7

BRIGHT LIGHTS ADVENTURES 6

CENTRAL AREA RETREAT 6

BRADLEY MUNN FUNDS 7

RECOGNITION SKILLS 8

SAVE THE DATES 8

WORKPLACE COMMUNICATION 9

PROCRASTINATION WEEK 9

CALENDAR OF EVENTS 10

Appreciative Accreditation: A Mixed Methods Explanatory Study Of Appreciative Inquiry-Based Institutional Effectiveness Results In Higher Education, John Thibodeau

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

This study examined the effects of using Appreciative Inquiry in accreditation and related institutional effectiveness activities within higher education. Using an explanatory participant-selection mixed methods approach, qualitative data from a series of interviews were used to explain the experiences of individuals identified from quantitative survey results. Appreciative Inquiry is a theoretical framework for action research, organizational development, and evaluation that emphasizes the positive aspects of human systems. In recent years, Appreciative Inquiry has been applied specifically to improvement activities associated with regional accreditation, such as the Vital Focus self-assessment that precedes the transition to the Higher Learning Commission's AQIP process. …

Unopa Notes, Volume 49, Issue 6, February 2011

UNOPA Newsletters

PSP BROWN BAG 2

KIM RATZ RETURNS 2

UNOPA SPRING WORKSHOP 2

NAEOP MEMBERSHIP 3

MENTORING BROWN BAG 3

NATIONAL WEAR RED DAY 4

ROSE FROLIK AWARD 4

TALK YOUR WAY TO THE TOP 5

CALENDAR OF EVENTS 6

Honors Thesis Rubrics: A Step Toward More Consistent And Valid Assessment In Honors, Mark Haggerty, Theodore Coladarci, Mimi Killinger, Charlie Slavin

Journal of the National Collegiate Honors Council Online Archive

Several recent issues of the Journal of the National Collegiate Honors Council have devoted considerable space to questions of grading and assessing honors student work: the 2006 Forum on “Outcomes Assessment, Accountability, and Honors” (Frost et al.), the 2007 Forum on “Grades, Scores, and Honors” (Andrews et al.), and Greg Lanier’s expansive piece in 2008, “Towards Reliable Honors Assessment.” One target of assessment is the honors thesis, which is either a required or optional component of many honors programs and colleges and which poses a myriad of assessment challenges. What follows is a description and analysis of the attempt at …

Beyond Formulas: A Collaboration Between Liberal Arts Honors Underclassmen And Senior Math Majors, Alissa S. Crans, Robert J. Rovetti

Honors in Practice Online Archive

“Congratulations! Sony Pictures producers have hired you as a scientific consultant to assist them in producing a remake of the classic film Gone With The Seabreeze, which chronicles the founding of the Westchester campus of Loyola University in 1929. The original film features shots of various old buildings that can still be found across campus today. The producers wish to recreate these shots, but need to know where to position the camera, which they have tasked you with finding.”

Thus began the month-long, collaborative project at Loyola Marymount University between the honors underclassmen in HNRS 140, On Motion and Mechanics, …

Dedication: Vishnu Narain Bhatia (1924-2003)

Honors in Practice Online Archive

Vishnu (Vic) Narain Bhatia was one of the founders of the National Collegiate Honors Council in the early 1960s, and his influence was prominent in the organization for the next three decades.

Born in Lucknow, India, and having received his BS in Pharmacy from Banaras Hindu University, he immigrated to the United States in 1947. After earning his MS and PhD in pharmacy at the University of Iowa, he was offered a faculty position in the College of Pharmacy at Washington State University in 1952, and he remained on the faculty there for forty-seven years. He became Associate Chair of …

Rethinking Asian Studies In The Interdisciplinary Honors Setting, Adam D. Frank

Honors in Practice Online Archive

In an interdisciplinary honors setting, especially at colleges and universities with minimal Asian studies offerings, teaching interdisciplinary Asian studies courses can present a particularly difficult challenge. The problem, as Charles Holcombe notes, is that “Asia is simply too enormous, spanning the better part of the entire Old World, and too diverse, to serve as a very meaningful label” (9). Unless students already have a background in Asian studies, have studied Asian languages and cultures, or are themselves from Asian countries, they often lack the basic, macro-level knowledge of geography, history, and politics necessary to address complex issues, particularly Orientalist stereotypes …

Understanding And Defining Addiction In An Honors Context, Sarah W. Feldstein Ewing, Bevin Ehn

Honors in Practice Online Archive

Exploration and development of identity, autonomy, sexuality, academic functioning, and peer relationships are important age-appropriate tasks of adolescence and emerging adulthood (Baer & Peterson; Cicchetti & Rogosch; Erikson). During college, this developmental stage may manifest as questioning prior beliefs and assumptions and exploring fresh philosophies and behaviors (Schulenberg & Maggs). Many emerging adults try out what they believe are different facets of adult life. Some of the requisite experimentation may include risk-taking behavior, including experimentation with alcohol, cigarettes, and marijuana (Baer & Peterson; Shedler & Block; Winters). College provides opportunities to experiment with potentially addictive substances at peer-run social events …

Nchc Order Form

Honors in Practice Online Archive

NCHC PUBLICATION ORDER FORM

NATIONAL COLLEGIATE HONORS COUNCIL MONOGRAPHS & JOURNALS