Education Commons^™

Engagement Of Faith-Based Institutions In Diverse Communities: A Phenomenological Study, Michael Miller

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

Diverse community engagement in faith-based institutions is potentially lacking faith-based intentions. Though community engagement is a well talked about topic within Christian higher education and conversations on diversity are rapidly growing, there was no previous research on the intersection between faith-based institutions, diversity and community engagement. Thus, the purpose of this phenomenological study was to find how faith-based institutions implement diverse community engagement within US communities and then show the implications that engagement has on increasing diversity on campuses. Results revealed many shared themes through the institutions and how they are working to increase racial and cultural awareness. However, the …

An Internet-Connected Community: How College Students Experience Residential Living In The Age Of New Media, Jared Hobson

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

Higher education professionals, particularly those in the realm of Residence Life, are working with outdated knowledge. Emerging research is showing that the incoming cohorts of college students are fundamentally different than their predecessors because of new media technology's prevalence in our society. This study aims to determine if the usage and presence of internet-connected technology impacts how students experience community within their residence halls. In this context, students' sense of community is defined as the extent to which these individuals develop senses of attachment, belonging, and involvement.

Success And Retention Of 21st Century Scholars: A Phenomenological Study, Stanley Duncan

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

Since 1990, access to a college education in Indiana has become more accessible, and a significant contributor to this has been the 21st Century Scholarship. This research explores what factors affect success and retention of 21st Century Scholars at a private institution. A phenomenological design was used along with semi-structured interviews to gain insights from nine participants from a faith-based liberal arts university located in the Midwest. These participants expressed themes that recognized the factors that were contributing and hindering their success and the institution’s ability to retain them. Despite this insight, these participants lacked a true understanding of what …

Promoting Persistence: Female Stem Professors And Graduation Rates Of Female Stem Students, Madison Miyakawa

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

In higher education there have been notably more men than women pursuing areas of study in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). This quantitative mixed method study investigated pre-existing data including faculty male to female ratios and female graduation rates within the STEM fields. This study also surveyed current male and female students studying STEM in their final undergraduate year at a Midwest, faith-based, liberal arts college, with the intention of analyzing the impact of the role of female professors on the retention and graduation rates of female students studying in the STEM fields. The discussion unpacks the responses of …

Understanding Integration Post-Study Abroad: A Case Study Of A Semester In France, Emma Hagan

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

This study sought to understand the experience of college students with integration post-study abroad. Integration refers to the process by which students continue learning from their experiences and make meaning from time spent abroad.

A Burning Issue: A Quantitative Correlation Study On Students’ Overinvolvement In Cocurricular Activities Contributing To Burnout, Shelby Robbins

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

Cocurricular involvement plays a large part in the holistic college experience. However, too much involvement in cocurricular activities may lead students to experience burnout over the course of their four years in college. The quantitative correlation study investigated students’ overinvolvement in cocurricular activities through the Cocurricular Involvement and Burnout Survey. Participants were students who were involved in said activities at a private, faith-based, liberal arts institution located in the Midwest. The research question that guided the study was: To what extent, if any, does overinvolvement in cocurricular activities contribute to burnout for college students at a four-year institution? The results …

Parent Involvement: A Quantitative Study On Parent Involvement Within Residence Life, Kimberlie Kline

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

The purpose of this study is to explore college students' parents and their perspective on involvement when it comes to contacting residence life professionals on behalf of their student. In this quantitative study, the researcher collected survey responses from fifty parent participants. The study explored the research questions: What causes parents to become involved with residence life personnel on the behalf of their student? What does this involvement look like, as well as, what type of involvement is it? The study found that parents of freshman and sophomore students are most likely to reach out about housing and health concerns …

Perceptions Of Classrooms Physical Environments And Nature On College Students, Benjamin Williams

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

The purpose of this study is to discover how students are affected by the physical environment they learn in and if the restorative benefits of nature adds to the positive experience of learning. The physical environment or the classroom, can complement the learning experience alongside with the curriculum that is being taught, but the physical environment is often overlooked. This study asks how students perceive the physical environment of college classrooms, if they see it affecting their classroom learning, and if students perceive the elements of nature to affect classroom learning. A convergent parallel mixed methods approach is used to …

Administrative Leadership During Crisis In Higher Education: Absorbing Chaos, Giving Calm, And Providing Hope - A Phenomenological Case Study, Eryn Marburger

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

Encountering crises is inevitable when working with people, and while higher education institutions tend to operate in systems, unique circumstances call for unique responses. This study sought to understand the experiences of a university president and the surrounding community after experiencing a campus crisis.

This study utilized the 2006 van accident at Taylor University as a case study. The researcher used a phenomenological case study approach and design to interview thirteen people who were directly involved as administrators, senior level leaders, student development faculty, academic faculty, staff, students, or members of the board of trustees. The findings of this study …

Understanding Forgiveness During College: A Phenomenological Study, Ethan Mcneil

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

College students see their understanding of many different topics and ideas change during their time in college. One such topic is forgiveness. This phenomenological study looks to gauge an understanding of how students’ understanding of forgiveness changes during college at a small, private, Christian, liberal arts institution located in the rural Midwest. The results of the study showed that students’ understanding deepens, even if they still struggle to practice different aspects of forgiveness. The discussion explains the results of the study and introduces opportunities for educators to engage students about forgiveness, teaching, and mentoring them as their understanding grows and …

To Lead Or Not To Lead: Undergraduate Women’S Experiences In Leadership, Kait Bedel

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

Women have increasingly occupied a greater percentage of the college student population in recent history. Given the importance of involvement and leadership development during the undergraduate years, the purpose of this study was to examine the effect that participating within a leadership role can have on a woman’s view of self-as-leader as well as her overarching leadership development. This study implemented a qualitative, phenomenological design through the use of individual interviews. The interview protocol was designed to be semi-structured which allowed the participants freedom in their ability to communicate about their leadership experiences. The data collected from these interviews revealed …

Practicing Postures Of Growth: A Quasi-Experiment Exploring Student Engagement And Ownership Of Learning, Morgan Allison

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

The American education system has evolved into a competitive learning environment that defines student learning as the ability to pass high-stakes standardized tests and have high grade point averages, but there is a significant gap between K-12 and higher education expectations in what qualifies a student as “smart” and college ready. Literature shows that students who are taught how to take ownership of, engage in, and develop skills to enhance their learning are more likely to be college ready and cultivate deep learning experiences throughout the entirety of their academic career. The purpose of this study is to evaluate if …

Living Life Together: A Qualitative Exploration Of Taylor University’S Lifestyle Covenant, Jana L. Roste

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

In pursuit of exploring student, staff, and faculty perceptions’ of the Life Together Covenant (LTC) at Taylor University, this qualitative study consisting of individual interviews with ten senior students, ten staff members, and ten faculty members, found that participants generally perceived the LTC as a guide or set of expectations to live cohesively at Taylor. However, outside of this unified purpose, the three participant groups’ perceptions and experiences of the LTC varied.

Tension, Division, And Chaos: A Phenomenological Study On The Impacts Of The 2020 Election On Belonging In White Student And Students Of Color, Bailey S. Sauls

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

This qualitative study researched the impacts of the 2020 presidential election on college students’ sense of belonging and the differences in impacts between White students and students of color. Belonging is crucial to student experience, and students of color face more barriers to belonging than White students. Additionally, the 2016 presidential election left more lasting negative effects on mental health and student experience than previous elections. These impacts were more directly felt by students of color. In this study ten White students and ten students of color were interviewed about their experiences during the 2020 election. Both groups indicated that …

Experiencing God Together: A Phenomenology Of Campus Revival And Its Impact On Student Faith And Spirituality, Caleb Hoelscher

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

Campus revivals are a significant historical phenomenon in higher education, and interest in faith and spirituality is gaining significant amount of attention in student development literature. However, there are currently no studies exploring the connections between campus revival and father and spirituality from a student development perspective. In order to fill this gap in the literature, two questions guided this study: What is the shared experience of students who participated in a campus revival? What impact, if any, does participation in a campus revival have on student faith and spirituality? The study employed a phenomenological design, interviewing nine alumni who …

Inclusive Environments: How Campus Mobility Effects A Sense Of Belonging For The Student With A Mobility Impairment, Taylor Treece

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

With an increase in students with disabilities entering into a college campus, understanding their unique needs is necessary to ensure they complete their college experience. Their rise in enrollment by students with disabilities is due in part to the increased supports within the K-12 schooling systems. This leaves higher education professionals unprepared to serve college students with disabilities in developing a positive sense of belonging during the transition to postsecondary education. This study explores if and how campus mobility impacts the sense of belonging for a student with a mobility impairment. This student implemented a best practices design and also …

Selfies, Stories, And Statuses: The Impact Of Social Media Usage On The Self-Esteem Of College Students, Nick Dennig

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

Social media is pervasive in today’s culture, and this reality is true among college students as well. As a result, students must understand what, if any, impact social media usage had on their lives, specifically self-esteem. This quantitative, true experiment answered the question “What impact does social media usage have on the self-esteem of college students?” For the purpose of this study, social media usage was defined as time spent on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, Twitter, and YouTube. This study took place at a private, small, four-year, liberal arts institution in the Midwest and included 61 participants. Participants were asked …

The Impact Of The First-Year Experience On A College Student’S God Image: A Phenomenological Study, Josiah Peterson

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

The first year of college comes with many new experiences, including those that impact and change a student’s faith. This phenomenological study investigated how the first-year experience of students at a Midwest, faith-based, liberal arts college impacted faith development and particularly God images. Results revealed that the community around the students, the difficulties and struggles they faced, and the new perspectives they encountered led students to view God in more relational and loving ways than prior to their first year of college. The discussion introduces readers to opportunities for student development educators to engage with first-year students in their faith …

Should Universities Encourage Students To Be Undecided?: A Consideration Of Major Declaration Patterns And First-Destinations, Amber D. Stanley

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

Research on undecided students is contradictory at best. Studies both support and condemn the undecided states based on factors like persistence, changing majors, and graduation rates. Given the conflicting nature of the research on undecided students and the absence of research on undecided students and first-destinations (i.e., first jobs following graduation), it is difficult to discern whether or not institutions should actively encourage students to choose an undecided status.

This study sought to combine major declaration and first-destination data to explore what, if any, relationship exists between major declaration patterns and first-destination outcomes. Quantitative descriptive analysis was used to compare …

Let’S Talk About Sex: Healthy Sexuality Programming At Faith-Based Institutions, Kenedy M. Kieffer

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

College is a time in life where students grow and develop inside and outside of the classroom. Attitudes that students develop related to healthy sexuality should not be different from anything else learned in college, as it is a central part of who they become by the time they graduate. This research study explores the methods faith-based institutions are employing to educate students toward healthy sexuality when requiring specific sexual behavior expectations to which students adhere. These methods included institutional commitment to educating students, educating through relationships with students, specific groups being educated, and educating in curricular and co-curricular spaces …

Promoting Persistence: Faculty Of Color And The Graduation Rates Of Students Of Color At Predominantly White Institution, Serena Draper

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

Over the last several decades, access to higher education for students of color has rapidly expanded. Yet while the population of students of color continues to grow in higher education, faculty diversity has not matched pace. This disparity creates curiosity regarding the relationship between faculty representation and persistence in college. In light of this reality, this study examined the relationship between faculty representation and graduation rates by race and ethnicity at predominantly white institutions. This study used publicly available IPEDS data to measure the 6-year graduation rates for varying racial groups and the percentage of faculty of those groups at …

The Academic Challenges Of First-Generation College Students Within A Four-Year Institution, Maribel Magallanes

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

Existing literature affirms an increase of first-generation college students (FGCS) attending a four-year institution and their lack of academic preparation to graduate on time. The purpose of this study was to better understand the academic challenges FGCS experience in a four-year institution and how those challenges contribute to their overall academic experience. To capture the unique experiences and academic challenges of FGCS, the study engaged in a qualitative narrative research design. The study involved one-on-one interviews with FGCS attending a four-year institution. Written biographies and a number of common themes that contributed to understanding the academic challenges of FGCS are …

Not-So-Silent Night: How A Small-Town Institution Has Developed And Sustained A Nationally Renowned Tradition, Ryan W. Kristofek

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

The purpose of this study was to explore the origin and impact of a popular tradition at Taylor University known as Silent Night. Through a phenomenological design, this study investigated traditions, specifically Silent Night, at a small, faith-based, liberal arts institution in the Midwest called Taylor University. The following questions guided this exploratory research: What is the student perception of the value of Silent Night? What is the personnel perception of the value of Silent Night? What are the institutional elements surrounding a successful campus tradition? Key findings from this study include an understanding of traditions defined from student and …

Home Away From Home: The Experience Of First-Generation Students Living On Integrated Floors In Residence Halls, Carey Collins

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

First-generation college students, individuals seeking to earn a bachelor’s degree and whose parents or guardians do not have post-secondary degrees, are attending college at ever-increasing rates. These students regularly encounter obstacles they must overcome in order to persist and graduate. The purpose of this study was to discover if a relationship exists between retention of first-generation students and living on an integrated residence hall floor. The research occurred as a qualitative phenomenological approach with focus groups, and, after coding and theming the data, three themes—finances, involvement with the floor, and relationships—emerged. During the focus groups, mental health surfaced as a …

Durable Discipleship: The Value Of A Strengths-Based Approach To Discipleship, Jacob Gerding

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

Jesus has commanded His Church to go into the entire world, making disciples, but how do so many different people do something so significant on such a massive scale? God has created each person to reflect His image, and He has given each of us talents and gifts—characteristics that set us apart from everyone else. These unique qualities are what God uses to empower us to accomplish His mission of making disciples. The Clifton StrengthsFinder assessment is a tool designed to provide individuals with a greater understanding of their strengths, those characteristics that make them who they are. How can …

Getting 1% Every Day: An Exploratory Case Study About Growth Mindset In A Collegiate Athletic Setting, Justen Paden

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

This study explored the impact of a coach implementing growth mindset at a faith-based, liberal arts institution in the Midwest. The purpose of this study was to determine if there was any impact on student-athletes being under a coaching philosophy rooted in growth mindset. Results from the study indicate the positive impact of implementing growth mindset from the perspective of both the head coach and the student-athletes. Despite the exploratory nature of the study, the head coach’s philosophy is affirmed as a positive influence to help student-athletes improve in skill and ability.

“As A Person, There Is Nothing Else I Would Rather Have Studied”: A Phenomenological Exploration Of The Impact Of The Humanities On Whole-Person Development, Jennifer Cline

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

The content covered within humanities courses is intrinsically personal, and the pursuit of a degree from this school of study requires deep contemplation, as well as the ability to convey those thoughts in meaningful text. This study explored the impact that pursuing a degree within the humanities (English, history, philosophy, etc.) has on an undergraduate student’s whole-person development. The areas of development identified include intellectual, emotional, and spiritual development. This study implemented a phenomenological design with an interview-based data collection process. The ten participants in this research were Senior undergraduate students studying English and history; the questions posed in their …

A Qualitative Exploration Of Undergraduate Students’ Experiences Of Psychological Safety In The Classroom, Josh Meredith

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

Psychological safety is defined as an individual’s perceptions that the space is safe for interpersonal risk-taking, such as asking questions or proposing an idea. The current study explored student experiences of psychological safety in the metaphorical, interpersonal undergraduate classroom learning environment. Twenty-two students were interviewed. Several themes emerged from the study, including students’ internal perceptions and external experiences of the classroom learning environment. Findings offer insight for higher education practitioners.

Creating A Sense Of Belonging For College Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Case Study Analysis, Hannah Gumbert

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

Higher education institutions exist to prepare individuals academically, personally and socially for life after college. However, individuals with special needs, specifically those with “invisible disabilities” like autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are often overlooked or left out in discussions about higher education. The purpose of this study was to develop a greater understanding of how a sense of belonging affects a student’s experience in higher education when they have a diagnosis of autism and how institutions can create a successful environment of belonging for their students with ASD. The study implemented a case study design and interviewed current students and staff …

Student Study Abroad Goals And Change In Intercultural Competence, Tammera R. Maloney

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

University study abroad facilitators must maximize the benefits of a semester away from the home campus for students seeking to realize a transformational experience. Among the documented benefits of study abroad for students is the development of intercultural competence. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between student goals (excluding foreign language goals) for study abroad and change in intercultural competence. Data for this study was collected over four semesters from students (N = 78) who applied and were accepted to attend a study abroad program in a western European country. The study abroad program was hosted …