Education Commons^™

Thorn In The Side Of Segregation: The Short Life, Long Odds, And Legacy Of The Law School At South Carolina State College, Alfred D. Moore Iii

Theses and Dissertations

The Law School at South Carolina State College, or more commonly known as “State College,” opened on September 17, 1947 with nine African American students. It closed on May 15, 1966 when the Law School graduated its final class. The Law School was conceived when John Wrighten, an African American veteran of World War II and graduate of State College, applied for admission to the University of South Carolina (USC) School of Law on June 30, 1946. Wrighten, who was denied admission due to his race, sued the University on grounds that the rejection violated his constitutional rights under the …

Examining Organizational Change Through A Socio-Cultural Lens: A Case Study Of Persistent Educational Inequity In A Rural, Mid-Sized School District In South Carolina, Deborah Hooks-Ward

Theses and Dissertations

This researcher in this study examined the dynamics of organizational change in a rural, mid-sized school district in South Carolina, with a focus on socio-cultural factors that hindered effective implementation of reforms aimed at reducing educational inequity. The research was conducted through a series of 15 interviews with board members and current and former superintendents from the school district and surrounding school districts. An analysis of the various responses led to the following findings: 1) a deep level of distrust seems to exist between board members and superintendents, 2) there is an ignorance of how income disparities may block educational …

Principal And Teacher Perceptions Of Principal Leadership Behaviors As It Relates To Teacher Evaluative Feedback And Recognition, Tammy Joy Burnham

Theses and Dissertations

Attention to instructional leadership practices and their impact on teacher effectiveness continues to dominate professional educational literature. Although much quantitative research has been conducted on instructional leadership styles and behaviors, few published studies have explicitly studied the principal and teacher perceptions of evaluative feedback and recognition. This study addresses the motivational needs of competent teachers and how evaluative feedback and recognition influence these motivations. Qualitative data were drawn from three elementary schools in the Upstate region of South Carolina. Teachers and principals completed surveys, the researcher performed observations in various settings, and principal and teacher interviews were conducted to further …

Teaching Distance Education In Library Science: A Comparative Study Of Faculty Satisfaction, Teaching Effectiveness, And Support Services, David S. Adams

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine whether distance education technologies, institutional support services and/or faculty demographics have a relationship to the job satisfaction of faculty teaching in American Library Association (ALA) accredited master of library and information science programs (MLS) delivered through online distance education. A better understanding of faculty satisfaction in these areas will allow universities to more effectively select technologies and design/maintain support services that can contribute to faculty morale, teaching effectiveness, and program quality in distance education.

The researcher studied faculty in MLS programs because the discipline of library science interconnects academe, information collection and …

Organizational Perspective On Implementing The Residential Curriculum Approach: An Ethnographic Case Study, Hilary L. Lichterman

Theses and Dissertations

How does a college or university housing department adopt and adapt to a new curricular approach? This qualitative descriptive case study describes how one, mid-size, co-educational residence life department in the Midwestern region of the United States adopted the residential curriculum approach based on “The 10 Essential Elements of a Residential Curriculum” (The 10EERC) that are a foundational aspect of the content discussed at the ACPA – College Student Educators International’s annual Residential Curriculum Institute (RCI). This study is the first empirical research published on the residential curriculum approach. Additionally, there is a deficit in existing literature on Bolman and …

The Evolution Will Not Be Televised: A Comparative Study Of Women Of Color And Their Pursuit Of The Community College Presidency, Simone Annika Francis Gause

Theses and Dissertations

Although the career paths of presidents have been documented, the personal considerations an individual makes for choosing these pathways are not articulated. This study sought to uncover the decision-making of sitting presidents and presidential aspirants in their proposition of advanced leadership roles and their personal career choices. Conceptually framed by the Theory of Planned Behavior and Career Construction Theory, this dissertation examined the attitudes, motivations and considerations of select minority female community college presidents and presidential aspirants to understand their pursuit of the community college presidency. Using purposive sampling, semi-structured interviews were used to collect narrative data from both groups …

Against The Odds With A Red Solo Cup, T-Shirt, And A Bible: Motivations And Expectations Of Non-Drinking Fraternity Men, Anna C. Edwards

Theses and Dissertations

Extensive research has consistently linked high-risk alcohol use and fraternity membership. However, not all men who join fraternities are high-risk drinkers. This qualitative descriptive case study describes the experiences and motivations of six nondrinking fraternity men to better understand who they were before they arrived on campus, why they joined the organization they did, and how they navigate the fraternity environment. The research conducted for this study indicates that their experiences and motivations for joining and staying in fraternities are identified in three primary ways: (1) their upbringing and the role that parental expectations play, (2) the influence of faith …

Leadership Preparation Programs And Social Justice, Lessons Learned From A Graduate School Of Education, Jason Robert Bryant

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines the influence of a graduate school of education on adult learning to determine if transformative learning has taken place. This qualitative study analyzed the stories and experiences of six graduate students to determine if there had been transformative learning and if transformative learning had influenced leadership behaviors that promote social justice in schools. A steady demographic shift over the years has resulted in schools with a higher percentage of minority and poor students. Many of these students are in marginalized in schools. In these marginalized schools, social justice reforms are necessary to address the needs of all …

The Preferred Leadership Style Of South Carolina, Title I, Middle School Principals: Is There A Relationship To Student Achievement ?, Valarie Green

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the self-perceived leadership style preferred by Title I middle school principals and its association to student achievement as measured by the South Carolina, Palmetto Assessment of State Standards (PASS) tests. Research studying effective schools strongly supports the concept that school principals are the key to a school's success or failure. This study was conducted in South Carolina school district middle schools with grade configuration of sixth to eight grade. Twelve schools were selected based on Title I status, or the school's poverty rate, and included only schools in which the principal had served in the same school …

Rallying Education Activism From The Grassroots Up: A Case Study Of The South Carolina Education Improvement Act Of 1984, Sally Saunders Huguley

Theses and Dissertations

With the 1983 publication of A Nation At Risk that warned of the “rising tide of mediocrity” in American public education, southern governors took the lead in proposing reforms to their states’ lagging education systems. Among those was South Carolina Governor Richard W. Riley, who proposed public school reform legislation funded by a statewide one cent sales tax increase within the difficult context of a legislative election year. Facing stiff opposition to the tax increase from the South Carolina General Assembly, Riley launched a statewide grassroots effort to pressure the Legislature to enact the 1984 Education Improvement Act (EIA) and …