Education Commons^™

The Minnesota Alliance For Nursing Education: A Case Study, Faith Johnson

Culminating Projects in Higher Education Administration

The purpose of this case study is to tell the story of the Minnesota Alliance for Nursing Education (MANE), a grassroots innovation in nursing education. Specifically, I interviewed fourteen nurse educators who had experience on at least one of the four work teams. Using Yin’s (2014) work as a guideline, I asked the participants why they committed to becoming involved in this collaborative curriculum and how they worked to create and implement the curriculum between community colleges and a university partner. I used Kezar and Lester’s (2011) grassroots leadership model as a theoretical framework to guide my research. From this …

An Exploration Of The Experiences Of Mid-Level Women Leaders In Academia, Eglantina Cenolli

Culminating Projects in Higher Education Administration

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of women leaders in mid-level positions in academia, particularly academic deans in four-year public institutions in the Beta System. This study focused on the barriers, risk factors, and protective and compensatory factors shaping the leadership journey for the participants and while holding the current leadership position. The results of this study may provide higher education institutions in potential strategies and approaches to increase women’s representation in leadership positions and improve gender equity in leadership.

Women in leadership have been the focus of many research studies, which have identified some …

Reluctance Toward Online Teaching, Sally Dufner

Culminating Projects in Higher Education Administration

Online education has become a staple in the American higher education system. A shortage of qualified and motivated online instructors exists as online learning demand increases. The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify why faculty members are not motivated to teach online courses. This study sought to answer the following three questions: (1) Why are faculty members not participating in online instruction? (2) What incentives, if any, are likely to motivate non-participating instructors to adopt online instruction? and (3) What are the differences in perceptions regarding online instruction between faculty members who had been asked or had an …

Measuring Employee Perceptions Of A Learning Organization During Strategic Change, Kasey Uran-Linde

Culminating Projects in Higher Education Administration

The landscape of higher education is shifting yet many institutions fail to adequately adapt to the changes. This divide has put many institutions of higher education in a precarious situation and, for some, at risk of closing operations all together. With all the research indicating the benefits of a post-secondary degree, it is vital that institutions become more nimble to adapt to the changing environment. Using the framework of a Learning Organization and the Dimensions of a Learning Organization Questionnaire, this case study evaluates how one institution aligns with learning organization characteristics that can help the institution better adapt to …

Building The Case For Succession Planning In Higher Education: A Study Of Succession Planning Pilots Within The Minnesota State Colleges And Universities System, Kristina Keller

Culminating Projects in Higher Education Administration

This qualitative research study examines the role of succession planning in five two-year colleges in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system (MnSCU). The role of succession planning to help prepare colleges for the leadership crisis is examined by exploring the participation of these colleges in a system pilot program. Succession planning, commonly used in business and private sector, remains a new concept in higher education. Thus, the purpose of this qualitative study will be to identify the challenges that prevent campuses from succession planning, tie leadership pipeline issues and their resolution to succession planning practices, and provide recommendations on …

An Interpretive Phenomenological Study Of How Rn To Bs Students Experience And Make Meaning Of Participating In A Poverty Simulation, Carrie Mcnamer

Culminating Projects in Higher Education Administration

The purpose of this research was to explore the lived experience of nursing students as they participated in, and reflected upon, a poverty simulation using the techniques of interpretive phenomenology. Eight registered nurses enrolled in a bachelor’s degree completion program were interviewed about their experience including the ways they made meaning of new information and whether or not it influenced their perspective on providing culturally competent patient care. The theoretical framework consisted of the constructivist learning theory and Campinha-Bacote’s Development of Cultural Competence in Healthcare theory. Data were analyzed according to van Manen’s six steps to guide phenomenological research. Three …

Understanding The Lived Experiences Of Former Mn State Community College Nursing Directors And Deans: Working Together To Identify The Challenges To Inform Solutions, Misun Bormann

Culminating Projects in Higher Education Administration

Turnover in academic leadership of nursing programs in our community colleges is a national problem. This qualitative study explored and documented the stories of six female practical nursing and associate degree nursing program directors and deans in the MN State college system, who voluntarily left their positions. This study looked to amplify their voices to help inform a solution to address the turnover problem. The feminist theoretical framework with the Job Characteristics Theory model were used to understand how job characteristics influenced job outcomes for female nursing directors and deans, and how their lived-in experiences effected work motivation, performance outcomes, …

The Vanguard Of Racially Reconstituting Higher Education Black Student Campus Activism: #Standwithus!, Marcellus James Davis

Culminating Projects in Higher Education Administration

This study researched the current role of black student campus activism in a Midwestern, predominantly white institution (PWI). The researcher employed Critical Race Theory (CRT) framework and qualitative methodology to amalgamate 10 black student narratives about their participation or nonparticipation in Black Student Campus Activism (BSCA). The researcher found that BSCA is active at this PWI, as it shows up in various forms, such as sit-ins, teaching and awareness of peers, social media organizing, and participation in the campuses black student organizations. The development of black students’ racial identities and critical racial-consciousness development (or being “woke”) enhanced participants involvement in …

Athletic Identity, Identity Foreclosure, And Career Maturity Of A Ncaa Division Ii Female Student-Athlete, Paula U'Ren

Culminating Projects in Higher Education Administration

Abstract

National College Athletic Association (NCAA) and Division II (DII) athletics provide an opportunity for student-athletes to complete at a highly competitive level, at smaller regionalize institutions (50.8% of institutions with less than 2,500 students) (NCAA, 2017). There are approximately 300 NCAA DII institutions that participate in 24 conferences throughout the United States of America. NCAA DII athletics philosophy supports a “balanced and inclusive approach” that promotes an opportunity for student-athletes to have a greater opportunity to access championships and promotes preparation for student-athletes for life beyond graduation. This is done through monitored time commitment, limiting class absences due to …

Healthcare Student Collegiate Honors Decision-Making: A Grounded Theory, Brenda Frie

Culminating Projects in Higher Education Administration

This qualitative study explored high aptitude healthcare students’ decision-making surrounding collegiate honors program participation. The topic of decision-making was relevant; according the National Collegiate Honors Council (2014-2015) the mean four-year honors program completion rate is less than 50% . The primary research question explored how students’ values, knowledge, and experiences influenced decisions to participate in a collegiate honors program. Twenty-five students’ were interviewed representing ten different healthcare professions. The transcribed narratives were analyzed using a constructivist grounded theory method. The result was a model, grounded in the data, which identified the factors associated with decisions to join, decline or drop …

How Demographic And Professional Characteristics Affect Faculty Attitudes Regarding Assessment Of Student Learning, Angela Erickson-Grussing

Culminating Projects in Higher Education Administration

The attitudes of faculty members regarding the assessment of student learning is a topic that has garnered much attention in recent years, predominantly since the ‘assessment movement’ (Walvoord, 2004) gained strength in the 1990s. While much research has been conducted to investigate attitudinal trends, relatively little investigation has uncovered what factors contribute to varying attitudes among faculty members, especially when it comes to assessment. This study investigated the relationship between personal, demographic, and professional characteristics of individual faculty members and their attitudes regarding student assessment. Specifically, teaching faculty members at a private, undergraduate, liberal arts institution in the Midwestern United …

Female Student Affairs Professionals And Work-Life Balance, Debra K. Deminck

Culminating Projects in Higher Education Administration

Abstract

The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand how mothers, working as mid-level student affairs professionals, perceive and navigate their dual roles at work and in the home. This study asked the following: how does the participant’s sense of identity, relational style, adaptive style, and drive and motivation shape her work-life balance decisions and practices? What personal strategies are these working mothers using as they respond to the demands of the dual roles of professional and parent? Using a basic qualitative research design, I explored the work-life experiences of eight female student affairs professionals through participant interviews. Data …

Lgbtq Mid-Level Administrators Of Color In Student Affairs: Experiences Of Support And Resilience, Saby Leimomi Labor

Culminating Projects in Higher Education Administration

Existing literature provides an insufficient understanding of the lived experiences of LGBTQ Student Affairs Mid-Level Administrators and particularly from a strengths-based approach. This study applied a life story interview approach to the exploration of the support and resilience experiences of mid-level Student Affairs administrators who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, two spirit and/or queer (LGTBTTQ) and a person of color or indigenous (POCI), using a theoretical framework comprised of the ecological systems approach (Bronfenbrenner, 1979), queer theory (Jagose, 1996; Plummer, 2005; Watson, 2005) and intersectionality (Collins, 1998; Crenshaw, 1991; McCall, 2005). Findings of this study include a wide range …

Experiences Of Bangladeshi Undergraduate International Students’ Studying In The United States, Kristy Modrow

Culminating Projects in Higher Education Administration

This qualitative research explored the experiences and needs of undergraduate Bangladeshi international students studying in the United States. The purpose of this research was to understand the needs of undergraduate Bangladeshi international students so college campuses could best serve this population. Eleven undergraduate Bangladeshi international students at an Upper Midwest regional comprehensive university participated in this qualitative research study. This researched showed that while studying in the United States undergraduate Bangladeshi students experience academic stressors such as: academic performance expectations, classroom norms, student relationships with professors, student to student relationships. They also experience sociocultural stressors such as: culture shock, social …

The Effect Of Lgbt Resource Centers On Student Success & Engagement, Kristopher A. Oliveira

Culminating Projects in Higher Education Administration

This quantitative study was developed to determine whether involvement in a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) Resource Center had a measureable impact on the success, engagement, and retention of LGBTQ students at St. Cloud State University. Success included academic completion and grade point average (GPA); engagement included the number of times and type of participation in the LGBT Resource Center; and retention was measured by the student’s self-reported intention of returning to the university. An online survey was sent to all students (undergraduate and graduate) at St. Cloud State University in the spring semester of 2017. Approximately 500 …

Finding Voice: A History Of The Minnesota Two-Year College Faculty Union, Shawn E. Mueske

Culminating Projects in Higher Education Administration

A comprehensive history of the Minnesota two-year college faculty union was compiled with emphasis placed upon union organization, leadership, activities, events, faculty satisfaction levels, and relationship to national education labor movements. The Hirschman exit, voice, and loyalty theory provided the conceptual framework of the project. Total faculty satisfaction was determined by the combination of academic, working conditions, and governance factors experienced in the profession. Faculty satisfaction was influenced by intrinsic and extrinsic factors coupled with a procedural and distributive justice evaluation. When total satisfaction dropped to unacceptable levels faculty faced a dilemma. Highly dissatisfied faculty either exited the profession/institution or …

Students' Performance On Institutional Learning Outcomes, Cheryl R. Norman

Culminating Projects in Higher Education Administration

In response to increased attention within higher education to develop essential learning outcomes, faculty and administrators have worked to measure students’ performance in relation to these outcomes. Students’ learning is often measured through standardized tests or students’ perception of their learning, rather than authentic learning that is connected to the curriculum. This study incorporated results from one institution’s involvement in the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) project to assess learning outcomes using the Valid Assessment of Learning in Undergraduate Education (VALUE) rubrics. The learning outcomes assessed included critical thinking, quantitative literacy, and written communication. The purpose of this …

A Multiple Regression Analysis Of Factors Concerning Satisfaction,, Jim S. Knutson-Kolodzne

Culminating Projects in Higher Education Administration

This study investigated the patterns of student involvement, the level of satisfaction and acculturation of American Indian college students to determine if a relationship existed between these processes. This study gathered data from 139 students between the ages of 18-54 who self-identify as American Indian. This study included men and women. Four state colleges and universities participated in the study. Data was gathered in the spring semester 2016 using two instruments: the College Student Experience Questionnaire (CSEQ) and the Native American Acculturation scale (NAAS) that were combined on an on-line survey. The data analysis used descriptive statistics, with a T-Test …

Predictors Of Faculty Intentions To Refer Students With Mental Health Concerns To Mental Health Professionals, Jessica Tye

Culminating Projects in Higher Education Administration

Abstract

College students’ mental health has become a crucial issue in recent years after the violent acts at Columbine High School, Virginia Tech University, and Northern Illinois University (Kraft, 2011). The National College Health Assessment conducted by the American College Health Association found that one in twelve college students reported having seriously considered suicide in the previous 12 months (American College Health Association, 2014). The purpose of this quantitative study was to identify belief-based predictors of faculty members’ intentions to refer students with mental health concerns to a mental health professional. The participants were N = 149 faculty members at …

Mentorship Of Select African American School Administrators, Michael Favor

Culminating Projects in Higher Education Administration

While the percentage of African American students in the state of Minnesota increased by more than 23% over the span of seven years from 2006-07 to 2013-14, the percentage of African American school administrators in the state decreased by one-tenth of one percent (-.1%) during the same time period (MDE 2007; MDE, 2014). If school districts in Minnesota and throughout the United States are to address the achievement gap disparities that exist among African American and non-African American students, it would appear essential that school districts employ strategies that have been identified as successful in increasing the numbers of African …

Campus Activities Boards: Student Self Ratings For Officers And Committee Members, Mary Tosch

Culminating Projects in Higher Education Administration

This study explored student self-ratings of leaders and members of the campus activities board on the ten NACA core competencies at seven Midwest public institutions. Advisor ratings were collected and compared to students’ ratings and length of time of participation for students was also collected. Student and advisor ratings were negatively correlated and there was a statistical significant difference in the means. Student leaders and members did not show any difference on self-ratings of the ten core competencies and length of time did not impact the ratings either.

Assessing The Needs Of Non-Monosexual Students Related To Campus Lgbt Services, Sidney R. Gardner

Culminating Projects in Higher Education Administration

This research looked at the current campus climate for non-monosexual people and whether or not non-monosexual students felt understood and supported through current LGBTQ programs, services, and resources on their campus. The purpose of this research was to understand how LGBTQ centers/offices/services could best serve non-monosexual student populations. Ten undergraduate, mostly female identified, non-monosexual students at a large research intensive institution in the south participated in this basic qualitative research study. This research showed that non-monosexual students’ needs are not entirely being addressed through current programs, resources, and services on campus. According to this research, students were able to find …

Engaging Master’S Students: The Forgotten Population, Caitlin Lindsay

Culminating Projects in Higher Education Administration

This study evaluated the way in which master’s degree students report engagement at three institutions within the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System (MnSCU. Utilizing a quantitative online survey, participants’ perspectives were compared based on age, relationship status, and family status to determine factors which influence their engagement. Overall, the population reported engagement as related to both academic and social factors; however, their views of the statistically significant factors differed.

Key factors included family, academic, and work demands. Single participants, 20-24 year olds, and single participants who either had no children or were expecting were more likely to report statistically …

Marijuana Use Among Community College Students: A Study Of Academic And Social Involvement, Matthew J. Borcherding

Culminating Projects in Higher Education Administration

This quantitative study examined the effects of marijuana on academic and social involvement in undergraduates using a structural equation model. The study was conducted at a mid-sized comprehensive community college in the mid-West and was guided by Astin’s (1985) theory of student involvement and by Anderson’s (1998) cultural identity theory of drug abuse.

A survey link was e-mailed to all 4,527 eligible students at the college and 573 students participated in the study. Of the 573 students, 194 identified as users of marijuana and were used as the primary basis of the study. The data from the survey were used …

International Students Adjustment To College: The Relationships Between Adjustment, Background Characteristics And Student Success, Ghulam Yahya Ahmadi

Culminating Projects in Higher Education Administration

Abstract

This quantitative study examined the relationships between international students’ background characteristics, adjustment to college and academic success in the United States. An online survey questionnaire was sent to all graduate and undergraduate degree-seeking international students (935 students) studying in Saint Cloud State University in the spring semester 2016 and 149 (nearly 16%) completed questionnaires were returned. The data was collected using a modified version of Student Adjustment to College Questionnaire developed by Gomez et al. (2014). Independent sample t-test and one-way ANOVA tests were used to study the relationship between students’ background characteristics and five adjustment sub-scales. Multiple …

The Influence Of Advanced Preparation Program Transition Experiences On Students Of Color, Brian P. K Johanson Sebera

Culminating Projects in Higher Education Administration

Abstract

This study looks at the impacts of the Advanced Preparation Program (APP) experiences on students of color at St. Cloud State University. Both Astin’s (1993) Input-Environment-Output (I-E-O) model and Schlossberg’s Theory (1981) were utilized to determine and understand what impact various environmental experiences had on student outcomes. Through the application of qualitative research methodologies, interviews were conducted to find recurring themes within the shared experiences. Six emerging themes were utilized to share the experiences of each student, pointing specifically to environmental experiences which impacted their ability to sustain academically. The themes reflected the importance of engagement during the transition …

The Development Of Critical Thinking Skills In Undergraduate Students, Karla J. Saeger

Culminating Projects in Higher Education Administration

This quantitative study investigated whether alternative instructional approaches to develop critical thinking, exemplified by different general education requirements in two different Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) institutions, impacted the development of critical thinking skills among undergraduate students. This study is framed by Ennis’s classification of general, infused, immersed, and mixed instructional approaches.

St. Cloud State University and Winona State University, two MnSCU institutions, share a collective definition of critical thinking and a common goal of developing critical thinking in undergraduate students. St. Cloud State University and Winona State University do, however, differ in approaches to fulfilling the goal area …

Grow Your Own Leaders: Campus-Based Leadership Development Programs, Eric J. Runestad

Culminating Projects in Higher Education Administration

As the field of higher education becomes more complex and professionalized, some institutions are responding by growing their own leaders through local, grassroots leadership development programming for faculty and staff. There is a significant body of research on leadership, though no universal theory of leadership exists. And, although campus-based leadership development has been studied modestly around the world, and considerably in community colleges, there is little broad knowledge and a significant lack of empirical research about such programs at four-year colleges and universities. This qualitative research study investigated three university campus-based leadership development programs. It seeks to provide an improved …

Factors That Influence Students' Persistence And Degree Attainment While Matriculating Through A Doctor Of Education Program, Michele L. Braun

Culminating Projects in Higher Education Administration

The purpose of this research study was to examine factors that influence doctoral students’ persistence and retention during various phases of professional development in the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) program. This study used a quantitative approach and a quasi-experimental methodology to explore doctoral students’ needs and experiences from the students’ viewpoint as they were matriculating through their Ed.D. program. The factors explored included competencies, cultural adjustment, student transition to/through doctoral education, professional role identification and commitment, doctoral program environment, academic integration, social integration, SCSU campus environment, advising, research experiences, financial resources, and orientation.

Four assessment surveys (Admissions, Membership, Candidacy, and …

Past, Present, Future: Times Of Change For Continuing Education Units In Higher Education Institutions, Gail M. Ruhland

Culminating Projects in Higher Education Administration

This is a qualitative multiple case study that analyzes and compares the purpose, roles, and drivers of change for continuing education divisions in public, four-year, post baccalaureate, comprehensive higher education institutions in the United States. The research stems from a historical standpoint. This study also examined processes carried out by continuing education leadership to demonstrate quality and accountability to their higher education institutions. This investigation focuses on the distinctive drivers that have triggered and influenced changes in continuing education units within higher education institutions.

The findings from this study illuminated areas in need of development and enhancement of continuing education …