Education Commons^™

The Black Male Triumph Story: Successfully Achieving Graduate Degrees, Albert Charles Furlow Iii

Theses & Dissertations

Research Focus. In post-baccalaureate education, Black males have historically and continuously been underrepresented and misrepresented; however, this research was focused on abstracting the positive characteristics that were similar among successful post-baccalaureate Black male graduates. My research looked at the post-baccalaureate attainment of 16 Black male participants in a nuanced way by pinpointing the common positive attributes of the successful scholars. Specifically, I explored the importance of informing educators about necessary tools that contributed to the success of Black males in graduate school. The goal of my study was to target policymakers in education, present and future researchers, practitioners, and faculty …

The Role Of Student Services In Student Retention: A Case Study Of A Ugandan Private University, Olive Kajoina

Theses & Dissertations

Student services plays an essential role in higher education not only by reducing student dropout rates, but also by increasing student retention. This study explored the role of student services in promoting student retention which in turn addresses the problem of college student drop out at a private, non-profit Ugandan university. The purpose of the study was to identify the types of student services available at the university and understand how such are utilized to meet student needs and promote student retention. A qualitative case study method was be used to understand the role of student services in student retention …

Faculty And Staff Perceptions Of Their Roles In Preparing Students For College And Career Readiness: A Qualitative Exploration Of High Schools, Community Colleges, And Universities, Monica Ruiz

Theses & Dissertations

In 2020, nearly half of Texas’s 385,000 public high school graduates were unprepared for college-level reading or math. Limited research reveals K-12 faculty perceive limited roles and responsibilities in the college process, relying heavily on guidance counselors and college admissions counselors for preparing students for college and careers. The purpose of this study was to help fill this gap by answering the central research question: How do high school and college-level faculty and staff prepare high school students for college and careers? I chose a qualitative, interpretive design to explore educators’ individual and shared social meanings and interpretations. I used …

Nursing Students' Knowledge Of And Attitudes Towards Near-Death Experiences, Laura Lee Varela

Theses & Dissertations

Incidence of reported near-death experiences (NDEs) has increased over decades; however, they continue to be inappropriately pathologized or dismissed. These types of responses to disclosures of NDEs by patients can potentially lead to them having problems integrating the experience into their lives. The purpose of this study was to assess undergraduate nursing students’ levels of accurate knowledge of and attitudes towards NDEs and to determine the predictors of nursing students’ knowledge of and attitudes toward NDEs. Additionally, I explored the sources in which nursing students acquire NDE knowledge. I accomplished this by using a cross-sectional, correlational research study design. I …

An Autoethnograpy Of A Baby Boomer In Higher Education: Challenges And Catalysts For Change, Deborra Finlan

Theses & Dissertations

Higher education as a baby boomer brings mental, physical, and economic adjustments, concerns, and insecurities. Additionally, life delivers unexpected challenges and barriers which can cause hardships requiring various types of motivation. Fortunately, there are also catalysts which can contribute toward successes. Literature from four major elements were the focus in this study: motivation, adult learning, challenges, barriers, and catalysts. Theorists and theories included Vroom’s expectancy theory of motivation with the added factor of cost, and Ryan and Deci’s theory on self-determination; Mezirow’s transformative learning and Knowles’s self-directed learning; Cross’s theory on educational barriers—situational, dispositional, and institutional; and Cobb’s social support …

Mi Familia Es Mi Fuerza, Yvonne Borkowski

Theses & Dissertations

Latinx parents have been unfairly blamed for their child’s negative educational outcomes due to how they choose to be involved in their child’s education. School expectations of parent involvement typically follow the Epstein Model, which is aligned with traditional, White, middle-class involvement such as fundraising and bake sales. Meanwhile, Latinx, low-income parents often perceive their involvement as shaping their child’s behavior at home and teaching them about moral values. This qualitative case study examines how five Latinx parents in a predominantly Latinx school district on Long Island defined school-based and home-based parent involvement, advocated for their children, as well as …

A Case Study Of Parentschool Relationships: How Spanish-Speaking Latino Parents Of Elementary Multilingual Learners Perceive Parental Involvement In Schools, Ingrid Corpuz

Theses & Dissertations

This study examined how Spanish-speaking Latino parents of multilingual learners (MLs) perceived their participation in the school community and their role in the educational process of their children. It explored several factors that can influence the involvement of Spanish-speaking parents in their children's education. Social capital, cultural capital, and social learning theories guided this study to provide a deeper understanding of the parental involvement of Spanishspeaking Latino parents in schools. Ten participating parents shared their experiences and described their view of parental involvement in their children’s school. This study concluded that Spanish-speaking Latino parents displayed characteristics of highly involved parents, …

Passing The Camel Through The Eye Of The Needle: Documenting A Culture Of Teacher Praxis At An Affluent Catholic High School, Nicholas S. Vasiliades

Theses & Dissertations

There is a dearth of research concerning critical communities of learning in affluent Catholic high schools. This ethnography captured a culture of praxis developed through the process of five educators team-teaching an interdisciplinary AP Seminar course at St. Aurelia’s Catholic High School on Long Island, New York, from September 2021 to February 2022, with a particular emphasis on Catholic Social Teaching as an authentic avenue for the implementation of social justice education. Observations, one-to-one interviews, focus group discussions, peer-observations, and journals were recorded and coded to explore the facets of the team culture engaged in this collaborative endeavor. A culture …

Seeing The World Through Their Eyes: The Impact Of Place Attachment On Teachers' Understanding Of Worldviews, Kathleen Murray

Theses & Dissertations

Over the past 20 years, Long Island, New York, has seen an increase in linguistic and racial diversity within its schools. The growth in linguistic diversity has brought with it an increase in English language learners (ELLs), representing almost a 50% increase since 2012. As the ELL population has grown, so has the achievement gap between ELLs and their non-ELL peers. The current teaching staff on Long Island does not match the diversity of its student population. Prior research has shown that the cultural mismatch between the teachers and students is one contributing factor to the aforementioned achievement gap. In …

Toward A Transdisciplinary Model Of Social Justice In Academic Librarianship: Promoting Critical Awareness Within Advocates And Privileged Allies, Judith L. Brink Drescher

Theses & Dissertations

Academic libraries are largely comprised of White, middle-aged females, and as part of the overall diversity crisis within higher education, grapple with issues of racism, sexism, heterosexism, classism, and ableism. This mixed-methods study uses an original theoretical framework of critical transcendence, based on the philosophies of Carl Jung and Paulo Freire, to examine what triggers and/or preconditions lead some academic librarians to reflect upon and interrogate their worldview to become actively engaged as advocates and social justice allies (SJAs). An online survey was conducted that obtained data from a sample of 113 academic librarians regarding their interest and commitment toward …

A Comparative Exploration Into First Time In College Student Academic Performance In Face-To-Face Versus Remote Learning Environments, Ashley Click

Theses & Dissertations

In spring 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced educational systems to transition into an emergency remote learning modality. This quantitative study compared retention and productive grade rates of two 16-week academic semesters and compared face-to-face (fall 2019) and remote (fall 2020) emergency remote instruction. The study sample was drawn from the core courses of History, English, and Speech at San Antonio College. Those courses were selected in part due to the high proportion of first time in college students who were considered a vulnerable population regarding performance and persistence. Additional variables (i.e., gender, veteran status, first-generation status, and socio-economic status) were …

Impacts Of Granite Quarrying: The Case Of Subsistence Farmers In The São Pedro River Valley, Isabelle Poupard Santizo

Theses & Dissertations

Granite quarrying constitutes an occupational hazard that compromises workers’ health, destroys the environment and negatively affects nearby communities (Azevedo et al., 2020; Ibrahim et al., 2019; Oktriani, Darmajanti, & Soesilo, 2017; Shaik et al., 2015). But the demand for granite and other decorative stones continues to grow (Gupta, 2018). Despite a decrease in imports/exports due to Covid-19 (Alves et al., 2020), today Brazil remains the number 1 granite exporter to the United States (US Geological Survey, 2021). In the last 30 years, the extraction of granite in Brazil has been continuous, particularly in the states of Espírito Santo (ES) and …

Understanding Perceptions Of Professional Development In A Multi-Generational Learning Environment Among High School Teachers, Gina Pagano

Theses & Dissertations

In today’s workforce, individuals are staying in their respective professions longer and retiring at ages past 67, resulting in a generationally diverse workforce. Currently, teachers range from 21-80 years of age, working in the same profession and receiving the same professional development. Considering adult learning and the dynamics associated with individuals, it is important to understand that, historically, the professional development provided to this workforce is facilitated in a one-size-fits-all arrangement (Gregson & Sturko, 2007), instead of using diverse adult learning styles (Malik, 2015). The purpose of this study is to understand individual teachers’ perceptions of the efficacy of professional …

How Romantic Relationships Impact Athletic Performance In Student-Athletes In Higher Education; A Regression Analysis, Heriberto Justin Chacon Iv

Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative regression analysis was to test examine the association between romantic relationships to athletic performance, after controlling for gender, sport, grade, and partner athlete status for student athletes at a private catholic university in South Texas. Being a student-athlete comes with a lot of pressure and expectations. Research has shown how performance from a student-athlete is crucial from keeping their scholarship from being on thin ice (Gord, 2018). Studies have helped point how relationships can influence athlete performance in some way, whether it is family, coach, teammates and friends, or romantic (Bolter & Weiss, 2012; Moll, …

The Successful Military Retirement Transition: A Phenomenology Of A Journey To Becoming Full, Ann Lee

Theses & Dissertations

Research Focus. Change and transition are life constants and are uniquely defined by the individual experiencing them—whether expected or unexpected, positive, negative, or neutral. Only the individual can determine the nature and impact of a transition experience. Military members transitioning from the military environment to civilian life after retirement experience change and transition on several levels—a career shift, a forfeiture of role and status as a military member, a lifestyle change, financial instability, a culture shift, and a loss of military community and friendships, to name a few. This transition represents an exit from, not just a job, but a …

Latinas Abriendo Caminos: Stories Of Latina Women To The Doctoral Degree, Jessica Ballesteros

Theses & Dissertations

Research Focus. Most of the current research focusing on Latinas succeeding academically has been conducted at the undergraduate and master’s level. The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of the experience of Latinas in their doctoral program and what leads them to complete a doctoral degree. Latinas currently have low completion rates in doctoral degrees compared to all other ethnicities in the U.S. Thus, the goal of this research study was to identify factors that contribute to these Latinas succeeding academically.

Research Methods.

I used both Critical Race Theory (CRT) and Latino Critical Race Theory (LatCrit) to …

Factors For Success Of International Female Doctoral Students In Science In The United States, Maria Patricia Cantu

Theses & Dissertations

Factors for Success of International Female Doctoral Students in Science in the United States

Many international doctoral female students in the sciences in the United States do not obtain a degree despite their large investment in time, effort, and financial resources. The loss of highly prepared and credentialed international female doctoral students, who have a genuine interest in science but who choose not to pursue their studies to graduation or switch careers due to real or perceived barriers, signifies such a loss not just for the women themselves and their families but for their countries of origin, their hosts universities, …

A Case Study Examining High-Achieving Black And Latinx Students’ Reasons For Using Or Not Using Academic Support Services, Nafeeza Uddin-Schmidt

Theses & Dissertations

Black and Latinx students are completing college at lower rates compared to White and Asian students. Many studies have documented the role of academic support services in helping students successfully complete college. Yet, many of the support services are built into students’ course schedules during freshman year to help transition to college. During the sophomore year, many of those supports are no longer built in, and students must seek them out themselves. Therefore, the purpose of this qualitative case study was to examine the reasons high-achieving Black and Latinx students opt in or opt out of using academic support services …

Perceptions Of Secondary Music Educators On The Transition To, And First Years Of The Every Student Succeeds Act, Thomas Rizzuto

Theses & Dissertations

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015 has the potential to be important for American music education. Unlike its predecessor, No Child Left Behind (NCLB), ESSA mentions music by name as one of the components of a “well-rounded education,” rather than including it under the arts. However, there is much that is unknown about ESSA and how it pertains to music education. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to better understand the perceptions of music educators on the transition to and the first years of ESSA. The primary source of data included 18 semi-structured interviews with secondary …

Decolonizing My Classroom During The Covid-19 Pandemic: An Autoethnographic Study, Nadia Khan-Roopnarine

Theses & Dissertations

American schooling is a colonized construct that seeks to maintain white patriarchal hegemony (Battiste, 2013). As a critical educator whose personal epistemologies are shaped by Indo-Caribbean feminism and Coolie feminism, I continually grapple with a large bureaucratic system that thrives on the perpetual dehumanization of teachers, families, and students. The sudden shift to remote learning surfaced the particular cognitive dissonance I navigate, both within myself and in my professional spaces, as I work to decolonize my classroom spaces while inadvertently perpetuating them.

As a high school English teacher serving a population of exclusively BIPOC students in a small urban school, …

Understanding The Homesick Experience Through The Narratives Of First-Year College Residential Students, Talita Santos Ferrara

Theses & Dissertations

Homesickness is a complex phenomenon that operates on a spectrum and impacts individuals' psychological, cognitive, and physical functioning. Sufferers experience a preoccupation of home and a strong desire to return home. In higher education, homesickness among first-year students has been linked to a higher risk of dropping out of school, symptoms of depression and anxiety, and a lack of satisfaction with the overall college experience. Through the lens of belongingness theory, this phenomenological study examined the essence of the homesick experience among first-time undergraduate college students living in the residence halls of a private Catholic college in the Northeast. The …

‘Let Them Be Who They Are’: Discovering Special Education Teachers’ Perceptions Of Oppressive Normativity And Their Practice Of Celebrating Neurodiversity, Caitlin Sweetapple

Theses & Dissertations

Autistic students are faced with ableism and oppressive practices daily in their school environments. Special educators can mitigate this problem by celebrating the neurodiversity of the students in their classroom. Utilizing a critical disability theory lens, I conducted an instrumental case study through observations and interviews with six special education teachers at a special education school. The research objective was to understand how special education teachers approach oppressive normativity in their classroom and adapt their practice for neurodiverse learners. The findings revealed that special education teachers who work strictly with neurodiverse learners do not perceive oppressive normativity in their classroom …

Women In The Superintendency: A Phenomenological Study Of Women Superintendents’ Perceptions Of Social Capital, Victoria Catalano

Theses & Dissertations

Public schools are faced with a shortage of women superintendents in the United States. Although women dominate the teaching profession and outnumber men in educational leadership and doctoral programs in education, there is a disproportionate number of men compared to women leading the nation’s public schools. Using feminist theory and social capital theory, this qualitative phenomenological study examined how nine women superintendents perceived gender-based obstacles, as well as the support of social capital during their ascent to the superintendency. The findings revealed that women in the study faced sex-role stereotyping and gender bias from men and women as they aspired …

Professional Development For Veteran Teachers: Let Them Speak!, Livia M. Gama Fagundes

Theses & Dissertations

Professional development is designed to enhance teachers’ pedagogical knowledge and their professional growth. However, veteran teachers have divergent professional learning needs that must be addressed to positively impact the effectiveness of the professional development they attend. This research study emphasizes the importance of care practices and how veteran teachers want to be heard and included in the planning of the professional development they attend. This study also highlights the importance of positive relationships between school administrators and veteran teachers and how this leads to learning conditions that better serve the professional learning needs of veteran teachers. The purpose of this …

A Phenomenological Investigation Of Academic Momism: Perceptions Of Female College Faculty’S Role Expectations In High-Stakes Stem Courses, Donna Cempa-Danziger

Theses & Dissertations

This qualitative phenomenological study looked at how female faculty in higher education who teach high-stakes courses may experience a role of academic momism (AM) and how they negotiate their roles and responses within a patriarchal system. Gender bias and prescriptive stereotyping of women as communal may lead female STEM instructors to be perceived more as “academic mothers” (Bernard, 1964) rather than respected academicians. Within higher education institutions, students often perceive their female professors as more concerned about their emotional well-being, nurturing, service oriented, and less academic when compared to male faculty members. The demanding nature of high-stakes courses in STEM-oriented …

Cultural Competence And Motivation To Control Prejudiced Reactions Of Criminal Justice Students: A Survey Methods Approach, Carole Marguerite Byrd

Theses & Dissertations

Implicit bias and discrimination in the police department can lead to devastating effects for people of color in racially diverse urban and suburban areas. However, there is very little research on the racial attitudes and assumptions that aspiring police recruits and other criminal justice professionals have about people of color who reside in inner cities and diverse communities. This study focused on assessing cultural awareness and motivation to control prejudiced reactions in a self-selected group of criminal justice undergraduate college students to see what bias they may have prior to entering the police department. Students completed a survey that included …