Education Commons^™

Counter-Stories From Former Foster Youth: College Graduates Disrupting The Dominant Narrative, Amanda May Moon

Theses and Dissertations

In the past decade, research on children in foster care or adults with foster care backgrounds has begun to explore factors that contributed to successful trajectories. Little work has been done, however, on factors that can be controlled, such as resources and support offered by K-12 schools, or for K-12 schooling. In this qualitative study, I explored the beliefs and perceptions of former foster youth college graduates about the impact of K-12 experiences on their academic and life trajectories. After surveying and interviewing five former foster youth college graduates, I used narrative analysis to understand the impact of their K-12 …

Afl Students’ Perception Of Using Mnemonics As A Strategy To Enhance Their Vocabulary Acquisition And Retention, Elsayed Elsisi

Theses and Dissertations

Research in the field of language teaching and learning reveals that mnemonics is one of the most effective language learning strategies for vocabulary. Researchers like Rasiban, et al. (2019); Levin (1993); Zulfa (2019); Kayaaltu (2018) suggest that using mnemonics to learn new vocabulary has a positive effect on vocabulary retention and retrieval. Research also shows however that students’ perceptions may encourage or inhibit the usage of any learning strategy depending on their perceptions of its effectiveness. Hence the importance of detecting learner perception about any learning or teaching device. Despite the above there is limited research about students’ perceptions about …

Graduate Student Experiences With Food Insecurity, Melanie Ibarra

Theses and Dissertations

This research study aimed to examine and analyze food-insecure graduate student experiences at Rowan University. Graduate student experiences are often left out of current literature and this study was conducted to uncover and discuss how food insecurity affects this population and provide recommendations through nuanced food-insecure graduate student experiences. This study used a qualitative phenomenological approach including semi-structured interviews with five participants. A thematic analysis was used to categorize the findings of five themes: Stigma, Academic Engagement, Physical and Mental Health, Coping Mechanisms, and Food Resources. The findings of this study allowed for the transition into further recommendations for practice …

Re(Engineering) Student Success: Constructing Knowledge On Students’ Experiences In Engineering Education Programs To Encourage Holistic Student Success, Shaylin Williams

Theses and Dissertations

If a group of engineering deans were asked whether students at their institutions were successful and why, what information might they immediately or subconsciously use to measure or gauge the engineering students’ success? If only academic performance outcomes like GPA, individual course grades, or graduation rate race to their minds, then their rationale aligns with the majority of researchers. My research seeks to shift the mindset that frames engineering student success mainly within the boundaries of academic performance measures. By measuring students’ perceived autonomy, competence, social integration and relatedness within their programs, and aspirations after graduation, one can more accurately …

Faculty Experiences Facilitating Study Abroad, Francis Edmond Dechert

Theses and Dissertations

Faculty who teach at the college level are often responsible for their own pedagogical training and development, and leading a short-term study abroad program may be one strategy for helping faculty with this development. This study explores the experiences of faculty who have led short-term study abroad programs and provides insight into how the experiences align with experiential learning models and ways that they can lead to pedagogical development. Nine faculty members were interviewed and asked questions about their teaching backgrounds, their introduction to study abroad, and their experiences related to teaching and learning while abroad. The findings show that …

Breaking Bridges: A Latina's Role In Familismo And Higher Education, Desiree Trejo

Theses and Dissertations

This research and collective experiences have been recorded to bring together an autoethnography that demonstrates my personal experiences of being the eldest daughter in a Latino family and how these experiences situate within a social context. The primary purpose of this autoethnography is to provide insight on Latino culture expectations placed upon first born daughters. My own experiences connect to my research covering Latino culture and gender expectations to further understand social meanings and understandings of this culture. This autoethnography presents qualitive research that allows me to self-reflect and apply these findings to my personal experiences within my family to …

Exploring Literary Responses To Culturally Relevant Texts Through An Asiancrit Lens: A Collective Case Study Of Chinese American Students In A Community-Based Book Club, Wenyu Guo

Theses and Dissertations

Building on AsianCrit, reader response theory, and critical literacy perspective, this dissertation study investigated how second-generation Chinese American students at age eight to twelve respond to culturally relevant texts which portray contemporary and historical Chinese American people’s lives and experiences in the United States. In addition, this study explored how these students negotiate their understanding of race, racism, and anti-Asian racism through associating with the stories, their everyday experiences, family traditions, and interactions with peers and researcher in a community-based book club. Specifically, this study examined how students of Chinese descent respond to xenophobia, discrimination, and racism towards Asian people, …

Exploring Black Women, White Women, And White Genderqueer Faculty Experiences Of Critical Incidents Of Whiteness In The Workplace: A Critical - Constructivist Narrative Inquiry, Gabrielle Mcallaster

Theses and Dissertations

The cross-racial collaborations of Black women and white individuals in the academy are fraught and complex, as their livelihoods are connected to larger socio-political structures and intersecting systems of oppression, namely race and gender (Crenshaw, 1989, 1990). In this study, I engaged in the research alongside three Black women, two white women, and one white genderqueer faculty to uncover their experiences of critical incidents of whiteness in the workplace at Historically White Colleges and Universities (HWCUs). I relied on three critical theoretical frameworks, Intersectionality, Critical Whiteness Studies (CWS), and Critical Human Development Resource Development Theory (CHRD), to comprehensively examine Black …

Assessing Artificial Intelligence Readiness Of Faculty In Higher Education: Comparative Case Study Of Egypt, Ayatallah Ali

Theses and Dissertations

The field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been gaining considerable attention from many countries worldwide due to its rapid development and its potential benefits in different sectors. One of the leading global sectors that are currently considering the adoption of AI is the education sector. As a developing country, Egypt is gradually realizing the importance of AI and has begun considering the integration of AI in numerous sectors. Despite the importance of the field, there is a lack of published research on the integration of AI in education in Egypt or on the readiness levels of any stakeholders in the …

Accessibility Of Blended Learning For Special Needs Students In Higher Education, Reem Yaseen Al-Sulaimani

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigated the experiences of visually impaired students and their faculty members with blended learning at University X. Qualitative research methods were employed to gather data through interviews with six visually impaired students and six professors. The study analyzed the data using two frameworks, Universal Design of Learning (UDL) and Community of Inquiry (CoI). The findings indicate that the course design, personalization of accessibility, social inclusion and classroom dynamics, university support and resources, and technology accessibility and digital literacy have an impact on the experiences of visually impaired students and their professors. The study provides recommendations for improving the …

The Use Of Artificial Intelligence In Higher Education: A Study On Faculty Perspectives In Universities In Egypt, Farah S. Sharawy

Theses and Dissertations

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is an emerging technology that is transforming various aspects of society, including higher education. This paper examines faculty perspectives from five different institutions; The American University in Cairo (AUC), The German University in Cairo (GUC), The Arab Academy for Science and Technology (AAST), Ain Shams University, and Cairo University, on the use of AI in higher education in teaching and learning in Egypt, with all its challenges and resources available to support it, and how it can be used to achieve equity and accessibility. This research was conducted through a qualitative study using semi-structured one- on-one interviews …

More Than Athletes: Do Student Athletes Perform Better Academically In Their Respective Competitive Season?, Kristiina Michele Castagnola

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research study was to analyze the grade point averages of student athletes in their competitive season versus their “off” season. This study also provides suggestions to Rowan University on how they can better support their student athlete’s academic success. This research study used surveys and a quantitative data analysis to analyze the grade point averages of the student athletes. The participants in this research study were student athletes that attended Rowan University in the 2021-2022 academic school year and had completed one full academic year. The most significant data collected was that student athletes do not …

Neurodivergent College Students And Therapy Dogs In Higher Education, Georgia Jean Majka

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to examine neurodivergent students in higher education and their experience with The Shreiber Family Pet Therapy Program at Rowan University to investigate whether therapy dogs reduce anxiety levels and provide relaxation. In addition, this study provides recommendations for The Shreiber Family Pet Therapy program at Rowan University to promote the program and its purpose on campus. These resources are important when discussing the neurodivergent student population in higher education, which this research study discusses, based on previous research and the results found from this quantitative approach. This study also makes recommendations for Rowan University …

Perceptions Of Tattoos And Piercings In Higher Education, Diane Elizabeth Duncan

Theses and Dissertations

This study attempts to examine the perceptions of faculty and staff at Rowan University towards professionals with visible body modifications (VBM), specifically tattoos and piercings, in higher education. Five main research questions were addressed: (i) What are the attitudes towards professionals with VBM at Rowan University? (ii) How might the display of VBM affect Rowan University’s values and objectives? (iii) How are professionals with VBM perceived by hiring managers at Rowan? (iv) In what ways do perceptions differ across campus units at Rowan University regarding professionals with VBM? (v) What kind of environment does staff and faculty at Rowan University …

Campus Safety And The Impact Of Emergency Alert Systems, Madelyn Elliott

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative study is to understand the impact emergency alert systems have on campus safety for Rowan University members using a quantitative survey. With a need to examine how universities and campus communities react to emergency scenarios, this study will focus on the reactions of those at Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey and how they respond to emergency alerts. Through the research completed, we will look into how community members of Rowan University view their safety on the Glassboro campus, the effectiveness of Rowan’s emergency alert systems, when Rowan sends out the emergency alerts, and how …

Leading Department Causes Of Acculturative Stress Among International Students At A South Jersey Public Institution, Meagan Kathleen Mcferren

Theses and Dissertations

The study in this paper was conducted at Rowan University, a South Jersey public institution founded in 1923. The purpose of this study was to collect data regarding various university departments that might cause and affect acculturative stress in international students and determine which area has the greatest impact on the students’ stress levels at the university. During the 2022-23 academic year, I distributed an anonymous online survey to the majority of Rowan international and domestic students, both undergraduate and graduate, to better understand their perspectives of specific campus resources and departments. In this paper, I state my questions as …

Representation In Higher Education: Does Representation Matter To Black And Hispanic Students, James Wright

Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this study was to investigate if there is a correlation between minority students retention and encountering, whether through teaching a course or having an advisor, minority faculty. Moreover, the study investigated how the minority students felt on a predominantly white campus. The subjects included were freshmen, sophomore, junior, and senior students who resided on-campus at Rowan University. The students data and information will be collected via an online survey. The findings of the data will consider the attitudes of minority students and if they feel that their experience would be different if they had more minority faculty …

Novice Teacher Perceptions Of Induction Supports Provided During The First Year, Keri James Tawater

Theses and Dissertations

This descriptive case study examined the perceptions of 6 beginning teachers regarding the supports offered to them during their 1st year of teaching. Based on purposeful and convenience sampling through administrative recommendations, the participants included 4 middle school 6th, 7th, and 8th grade teachers in their 2nd year of teaching. I collected data from documents and multiple interviews to understand the needs of beginning teachers and how to best support them. Utilizing the social cognitive learning framework, I analyzed the results in terms of which supports provided vicarious reinforcements, self-reinforcements, and ultimately self-efficacy. These perceptions and understandings were then compared …

The Effects That Spaces And Places Of Campus Have On Undergraduate Students, Ashley Davis

Theses and Dissertations

Student sense of belonging on campus is changing post COVID-19 pandemic, and this is because the way students utilize spaces on campus has evolved. Facilities on campus can impact the way students feel they belong based on how the spaces are set up and where students go in between classes (Samura, 2018). This study investigated the relationship between providing accessible, specific physical spaces and the participants' perception of student belonging. Undergraduate students enrolled full time at Rowan University were interviewed to collect data, and a qualitative research approach was used to analyze the data. Results conclude that there is a …

Student Engagement Through Programming At Four-Year Institutions, Sydney Hartman

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to quantitatively examine the ways in which student engagement is utilized on the Glassboro campus at Rowan University and how it has impacted the overall development of undergraduate students enrolled in the Fall of 2022 and Spring of 2023. Utilizing Qualtrics, a 14-question survey was distributed to all enrolled students starting in December of 2022 and ending in February of 2023. This survey contained questions that surveyed the population demographically and asked how frequent they attend various programs on-campus. The survey data was then analyzed to better understand students’ perceptions of the current programming …

Exploring Self-Authorship Development Among First-Generation Latinx College Undergraduates Who Participate In A Summer Bridge Program, Alexis Manuel Delgado

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research study was to explore self-authorship theory through the insights and experiences of first-generation Latinx undergraduate students who completed a summer bridge program. This qualitative critical single case study focused on participants' unique experiences during a state-funded summer bridge program at a public 4-year institution in New Jersey. This study found how participants summer experiences offered students the opportunity to begin to question, rethink, and reshape their own beliefs, values, or knowledge. Findings from this study suggest that students' experiences during the summer elicited a form of dissonance that helped them develop confidence, empathy, college culture …

New Jersey Community Colleges: Is There A Relationship Between Part Time Faculty And Student Success?, Gerald Maxmilian Slusher

Theses and Dissertations

The increasing number of part time instructors in the community college professorate combined with low student retention and graduation rates makes research into part time faculty and student success highly germane. My dissertation investigated if higher ratios of adjunct faculty were related to student retention, certificate/degree attainment, and transfer without a credential while accounting for institutional, student body, and county characteristics. The dissertation was limited to New Jersey community colleges to eliminate differences in state policies. The sector was examined over 12 academic years yielding 228 data points arrayed into three panel models to run 12 regressions.

Using results from …

Rowan University Full-Time Instructors’ Knowledge And Attitudes Regarding Neurodiversity And Neurodivergent Undergraduate Students, Serena Powell

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to use quantitative research methods to better understand the knowledge and attitudes that full-time instructors of undergraduate students at Rowan University have regarding the concept of neurodiversity and neurodivergent students. The sample consisted of 97 full-time instructors of undergraduate students at Rowan University. Participants completed an online survey about their knowledge and feelings regarding the concept of neurodiversity, participation in neurodiversity-related professional development, knowledge and attitudes regarding neurodivergent students and accommodations, and knowledge of support resources on campus. Overall, the findings showed that full-time instructors of undergraduate students at Rowan University have high levels …

Students’ Perceptions Of The Effects Of Internships On Confidence And Post-Graduation Outcomes In Higher Education, Jaime L. Grillo

Theses and Dissertations

Internships as a form of experiential learning have been consistently considered a “high impact educational experience” because of the value that it provides students during their college careers (O’Neill, 2010, p. 7). Administrators and faculty professionals in colleges and universities are in positions to encourage student engagement by creating experiential learning opportunities for students that will aid them in navigating their academic major and intended career trajectory. This study focused on how a stronger emphasis on internships could influence confidence among college students, as well as play a part in their decision-making process when considering post-graduation plans. The researcher explored …

Impact Of On-Campus Childcare On Student Parent Success In A Community College Setting, Jessica Dillon

Theses and Dissertations

The present study examines the impact of on-campus childcare on student parent success. Researchers believe the role stress they experience while balancing their responsibilities as students and parents, combined with their increased likelihood of experiencing financial stressors relative to their peers, impact their success outcomes. Supports like on-campus childcare and financial assistance have both shown positive impacts on student parent success but more research is need to understand their combined impact on student parent success. This study used ex post facto data from n=10785 students that were enrolled in at least one class at New York Community College in fall …

Educating Business And Management Students: Using A Critical Management Lens To Learn From Chattel Slavery, Linda L. Ridley

Theses and Dissertations

The value of business school pedagogy has received increased attention in recent years (Delgado and Stefancic, 1992; Giacalone and Wargo, 2009; Podolny, 2009; Grier & Poole, 2020; Prieto & Phipps, 2021). This qualitative study examined the ability of higher education business faculty to include chattel slavery in the history of American business (Katznelson, 2005; Baptist, 2014;). Traditionally, the fundamentals of management teaching have been aligned with the belief that conventional management theories were developed separate and apart from the institution of chattel slavery and the management of race (Aufhauser, 1973; Cooke, 2003; Blackmon, 2008; Roediger & Esch, 2012). An interpretivist …

Students’ Experiences: An Examination Of The Academic Success Of Developmental Education Students In Corequisite Courses, Sheryce Woolery

Theses and Dissertations

A significant number of students enter community colleges with developmental education (DE) needs in reading, writing, and mathematics. Many of these students are typically referred to more than one level of DE courses before they can enroll in a college-level course. This has led to lower than desired success rate of DE students over the years. As administrators look for ways to improve DE student outcomes, many institutions have now adopted the corequisite model on account of results of several quantitative studies, which reveal high success rates of DE students enrolled in corequisite courses. With the corequisite model being widely …

The Role Of Mentorship In The Advancement Of Black Women In Higher Education Administrative Roles, Kimberly Colclough

Theses and Dissertations

Literature has suggested that mentorship is one of the most influential components of career advancement. However, for Black women in higher education administrative roles, mentorship also serves to garner community and support. This research study focuses on the lived experiences of Black women administrators in higher education institutions, the obstacles they face in pursuit of support and career advancement, and how they benefited from a relationship with a mentor. This descriptive phenomenological qualitative study was implemented by conducting in-depth interviews with a small sample of (6) six African American women administrators from various higher education institutions located in the Northeast, …

The Effectiveness Of College Readiness College Preparatory Programs For Low-Income Teenagers, Leah Heartfield

Theses and Dissertations

High school students from low-income backgrounds experience academic under-preparedness, financial distress, and socialization challenges when entering college. For these students, challenges may begin in the K-12 setting, where this population is more likely to face limitations in college counseling, lack highly qualified teachers, and have limited access to college programs. First generation college students are less likely to pursue and persist in higher education than their peers with different backgrounds (OECD, 2012). Because of this, low-income students may seek out or be invited to join supplemental programs, including summer bridge and afterschool programs, to help them become college ready. The …

A Case Study On The Role Of Pre-Departure Training In Study Abroad Experiences, Lampeto Efthymiou

Theses and Dissertations

As students need to attain the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to live and work in a diverse global society, they participate in study abroad opportunities offered by higher education institutions to assist them with intercultural learning. However, prior research shows that the level of intercultural learning in study abroad programs can vary substantially. The purpose of this case study is to investigate how a program’s use of pre-departure training relates to the development of global competence in participants of a short-term study abroad program. The participants of this study come from a purposive sample who attended a community college in …