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Student Success Through First-Year Experience Programs: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Jeffrey Scott Downs Feb 2024

Student Success Through First-Year Experience Programs: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Jeffrey Scott Downs

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the persistence and retention after the First Year Experience (FYE) program for second-year college students at Northern Nevada College. The theory guiding this study is Astin’s student involvement theory which links student success in college to the level of involvement students have at their academic institution. This study explores how first-time full-time students being part of the FYE program have been encouraged to be involved at their institution on several levels. In this transcendental phenomenological study, data were collected using interviews, a focus group, and journaling prompts. After the data were …


Qualitative Case Study Regarding Experiences Of Freedom Of Speech On College And University Campuses In The United States, Jeffrey Dana Ward Dec 2023

Qualitative Case Study Regarding Experiences Of Freedom Of Speech On College And University Campuses In The United States, Jeffrey Dana Ward

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to examine how suppression of free speech on college and university campuses in Southtown, USA affects student self-efficacy. The theory guiding my study is Bandura’s social cognitive theory as it will evaluate the interplay between the system and environment sources of influence at Secular university Christian university in Southtown, USA. How has freedom of speech on college and university campuses affected the self-efficacy of college students in faith-based organizations? Interviews and focus groups were utilized to collect data for this central research question. Thematic analysis and coding was utilized to analyze the data collected. …


A Causal Comparative Analysis Of Leveraging The Business Analytical Capabilities And The Value And Competitive Advantages Of Mid-Level Professionals Within Higher Education, Richard L. Monroe Dec 2023

A Causal Comparative Analysis Of Leveraging The Business Analytical Capabilities And The Value And Competitive Advantages Of Mid-Level Professionals Within Higher Education, Richard L. Monroe

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative causal-comparative study is an empirical examination of the differences in business intelligence capability and the value and competitive advantage of mid-level higher education academia professionals from community colleges, four-year public, and four-year private institutions within the United States. Institutions of higher education have an overabundant amount of student data that is often inaccessible and underutilized. Based on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) and Management Information Systems/Decision Support Systems theory, using two-way ANOVA analysis, this research examined factors to understand the mastery of readiness for mid-level professionals in higher education institutions …


Health Sciences Instructor Self-Efficacy And Professional Development Experiences: A Phenomenological Study, Melanie Elizabeth Castle Aug 2023

Health Sciences Instructor Self-Efficacy And Professional Development Experiences: A Phenomenological Study, Melanie Elizabeth Castle

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study aimed to understand the lowered self-efficacy of higher education health sciences faculty at the community college two-year degree level due to deficient professional development in a Mid-Atlantic state. The central research question guiding this study was: What are the professional development experiences of higher education health sciences faculty that affect self-efficacy? The theory guiding this study was Bandura’s social cognitive theory, as it focuses on the behavior determinant of self-efficacy of the participants. A hermeneutic phenomenological methodology was used for this qualitative research design. Criterion sampling was used to interview fourteen faculty individually, followed …


Perceptions Of Student Loan Debt And The Decision To Pursue Higher Education: A Qualitative Case Study Of African American High School Students, Adrian J. Wilkins Apr 2023

Perceptions Of Student Loan Debt And The Decision To Pursue Higher Education: A Qualitative Case Study Of African American High School Students, Adrian J. Wilkins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study was to examine African American high school students’ perceptions surrounding potential student loan debt burden and its perceived influence on the decisions to enter HEIs. The purpose of this study stems from the current status of student loan debt as a significant factor in the decision-making process for potential higher education students as well as current students and those who have graduated. The central research question of this study was what are African American high school student perceptions of student loan debt, student loan debt burden, financial aid, and how are those perceptions influencing …


Higher Education Student Perceptions And Experiences Of Creativity: A Case Study, Nancy Valeur Ellis Jul 2022

Higher Education Student Perceptions And Experiences Of Creativity: A Case Study, Nancy Valeur Ellis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative single instrumental case study was to describe the perceptions and experiences of creativity by university students at a mid-size public university located in the Mid-Atlantic States of the U.S. The theory guiding this study was Amabile’s componential theory of creativity which views creativity as a complex interrelationship of creative disposition, process, product, and social environment. The question, “How do U.S. higher education students perceive and experience creativity within the university environment?”, was explored. Student interviews, documentation, and focus group responses were analyzed using member checks, linguistic and affective coding, and key quotes and themes. Findings …


A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Of Mental Health Symptoms And Awareness In The College Student Population, Stephanie Ann (Hare) Wallace Apr 2022

A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Of Mental Health Symptoms And Awareness In The College Student Population, Stephanie Ann (Hare) Wallace

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand mental health concerns and the services provided within the college population located at an on-ground campus in the United States. The theories guiding this study were Schlossberg’s transition theory and self-efficacy theory, which play a major role in understanding the concerns and heightened symptoms students faced when transitioning into the college setting. The transcendental phenomenological study focused on gathering data from sophomore students enrolled at Rose College who have recently faced the transition from high school or undergraduate settings. The setting took place virtually due to restrictions and limitations of …


Prevalence And Correlates Of Food And Housing Insecurities At A Historically Black College, Melissa Massey Lockard Apr 2022

Prevalence And Correlates Of Food And Housing Insecurities At A Historically Black College, Melissa Massey Lockard

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, predictive correlational study was to determine the prevalence of food and housing insecurities at one historically Black college and explore whether these insecurities influence students’ academic performance or their mental health quality. The study also explored possible predictors of students at risk of experiencing these basic needs challenges. A convenience sample of 175 participant surveys was collected in the fall 2021 semester at the small, private, liberal arts college in urban South Carolina. The instruments used in the survey included the USDA’s 6-item Household Food Security Survey Module, the Housing Insecurity and Homelessness Module, the …


Recommendations For Improving A Sense Of Community Between Online Contingent Faculty And Higher Education Administrators, Heather Lee Strafaccia Sep 2021

Recommendations For Improving A Sense Of Community Between Online Contingent Faculty And Higher Education Administrators, Heather Lee Strafaccia

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this applied study is to solve the problem of a lack of a sense of community between online contingent faculty and higher education administrators for a private university in the Midwest and to design a solution to address the problem. A multimethod design was developed, consisting of both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Online contingent faculty participated in individual structured interviews and a focus group to examine the current perception, problem, and preferred solutions to the problem of a lack of a sense of community with the participating institution. Higher education administrators and online contingent faculty participated in …


Connections Between The Enneagram Personality Type Of Christian University Presidents And Provosts With Student Enrollment, Pamela J. Daly Jun 2021

Connections Between The Enneagram Personality Type Of Christian University Presidents And Provosts With Student Enrollment, Pamela J. Daly

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Limited research has examined the relationship between the Enneagram personality styles of faith-based university presidents/provosts and the institution’s student enrollment size. While there are many personality theories, the Enneagram is a sophisticated model that exposes the unconscious predispositions, motivations, anxieties, and behavioral tendencies of nine different personality profiles. Ego development is the evolution of personality constructs that integrate experiences into a personal framework of interpreting self and the world. Ego maturity is demonstrated by understanding self and others with the ability and motivation to maximize individual potential. Mature leaders exhibit wisdom, broad empathy towards self and others, tolerance of differing …


A Phenomenological Study Of Instructors’ Experiences With Receiving And Utilizing Student Feedback In Online Course, Stanley T. Triplett Apr 2021

A Phenomenological Study Of Instructors’ Experiences With Receiving And Utilizing Student Feedback In Online Course, Stanley T. Triplett

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative transcendental phenomenological study was to explore how community college online course instructors at a large community college in the Deep South experience students’ feedback to reevaluate course quality and instruction. The central question of the study regarded how community college online instructors experience receiving and engaging with student evaluations. The theory guiding this study was Knowles’s theory of andragogy as it provides a framework for understanding adult learning, including those of adult learners in community college contexts as well as those instructors receiving and responding to student evaluations of teaching. A total of 11 instructors …


African American Women In Leadership In Faith-Based Higher Education: A Qualitative Study, Michael Charles Walker Mar 2021

African American Women In Leadership In Faith-Based Higher Education: A Qualitative Study, Michael Charles Walker

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

African American women hold unique experiences in the pursuit of leadership roles within faith-based colleges and universities. Since leadership occurs within a cultural context, there is sound reason to explore if transformational leadership behavior could positively impact the lived experiences of African American women within faith-based colleges and universities who seek to enter into leadership roles. The survey was cross-sectional with data collected at one period and returned to the researcher. This research design utilized qualitative interview as the means of data collection. Five open-ended research questions guided the research study. Women were qualified for sampling with employment at a …


A Phenomenological Study Examining The Challenges And Strategies Of Students Who Are Parents In The Higher Education Setting, Amy Joelle Dewitt Mar 2021

A Phenomenological Study Examining The Challenges And Strategies Of Students Who Are Parents In The Higher Education Setting, Amy Joelle Dewitt

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the challenges of student-parents, or those students who are also parents, in higher education and discover the strategies that this student population has found to overcome such challenges. Participants included student-parents who attended residential classes, online, and/or in hybrid formats at a public institution. Tinto’s (2012) theory of student persistence guided this study with the abundance of trials student-parents encounter through their student career. Knowles’ (1990) theory of adult learning and views on self-directed learning also contributed to this study examining how students learn as adults who take accountability for …


Hispanic First-Generation College Student Perceptions Of University Support Programs, Katelynn Elizabeth Wheeler Feb 2021

Hispanic First-Generation College Student Perceptions Of University Support Programs, Katelynn Elizabeth Wheeler

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study was to understand the Hispanic first-generation student perspectives on provided support programs at universities across the United States. Only 54% of Hispanic students graduate from public universities within six years, and the rates are drastically lower at private for-profit schools. Additionally, for those Hispanic students who do graduate from college, the chances of continuing to graduate school are slim, with only ten percent of Hispanic students enrolling in graduate school, compared to 64% of white students. With statistics such as these, universities need to create useful and valuable support systems for Hispanic students that …


Prevalence Of Cyberbullying Among Traditional Undergraduate Students Attending Faith-Based Universities: A Causal-Comparative Study, Susan Alice Hayes-Mcelroy Feb 2021

Prevalence Of Cyberbullying Among Traditional Undergraduate Students Attending Faith-Based Universities: A Causal-Comparative Study, Susan Alice Hayes-Mcelroy

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Cyberbullying among traditional undergraduate students is a relatively new issue that involves the safety of postsecondary students. The purpose of this study was to provide statistical data to faith-based universities that relate the prevalence of cyberbullying victimization experiences and the prevalence of cyberbullying offending experiences of traditional undergraduate students to biological gender (female/male) and level of religiosity (higher/lower), and to add to the small body of research conducted among this demographic. In this quantitative, causal-comparative study, traditional undergraduate students were recruited from two faith-based universities in the southern United States. Level of religiosity and cyberbullying prevalence were determined through responses …


Exploring The Influence Of Acbsp Accreditation On The Value Proposition Of Nc Business Schools, Jamie Holleman Conrad Sep 2020

Exploring The Influence Of Acbsp Accreditation On The Value Proposition Of Nc Business Schools, Jamie Holleman Conrad

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

National accreditation agencies, such as the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs, offer accreditation opportunities to provide external validation of continuous improvement processes implemented within the business schools’ programs of study. The requirements for obtaining and maintaining the most popular national business program accreditations are resource consuming and do not yet have a documented level of influence on the business schools’ value propositions associated with the accreditation process or accreditation status. The current study is necessary to explore the influence accreditation has on the value proposition presented to the marketplace, which is an essential component of the marketing strategy …


Burnout, Compassion Satisfaction, And Secondary Traumatic Stress Among Higher Education Faculty Members, Ramon Jose Velez-Cruz Aug 2020

Burnout, Compassion Satisfaction, And Secondary Traumatic Stress Among Higher Education Faculty Members, Ramon Jose Velez-Cruz

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study used a quantitative correlational method to examine the correlation between self-care, burnout, compassion satisfaction, and secondary traumatic stress among higher education faculty members across multiple disciplines. One hundred and fifty-one participants from two higher education institutions and Listservs provided feedback for the study. Participants completed a demographics questionnaire and two surveys, the National Alliance in Mental Illness Self-care instrument and the Professional Quality of Life scale. Results showed collectively significant results between self-care and burnout, compassion satisfaction, and secondary traumatic stress. Physical self-care and emotional self-care had significant, positive relationships with compassion satisfaction. Physical self-care and emotional self-care …


The Intersection Of Job Satisfaction, Job Dissatisfaction, And Motivation Of Instructional Designers In Online Higher Education: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Laura Elaine Dykstra Jul 2020

The Intersection Of Job Satisfaction, Job Dissatisfaction, And Motivation Of Instructional Designers In Online Higher Education: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Laura Elaine Dykstra

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Online education has become a significant part of the strategic growth and health of institutions of higher education (HEIs) today. Instructional designers support the strategic mission of the HEI, and while research to date has looked extensively at the role of the instructional designer in higher education, no research has looked at the experience of the instructional designer focusing specifically on the feelings and intersection of job satisfaction, dissatisfaction, and motivation. The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study is to understand the experiences related to job satisfaction, dissatisfaction, and motivation for instructional designers working in online higher education. The theoretical …


A Case Study Exploring The Self-Disclosure Experiences Of Students With Psychiatric Impairments In An Online University Setting, Marcie Anne Dimač Jun 2020

A Case Study Exploring The Self-Disclosure Experiences Of Students With Psychiatric Impairments In An Online University Setting, Marcie Anne Dimač

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this single case study was to explore the self-disclosure experiences of students with psychiatric disabilities in a fully online university setting. The theory guiding this study was the social model of disability as it focuses on the barriers imposed by society on students with disabilities as it pertains to self-efficacy, academic success, and the need to self-disclose. This case study asked the central question, “What can be learned from the self-disclosure experiences of students with psychiatric impairments?” Perspectives of students with psychiatric impairments, faculty, and disability support services professionals as it relates to the self-disclosure process and …


Residential Faculty Members’ Differential Use Of Blackboard Tools: A Case Study, Stephen Mwendwa Kitoo May 2020

Residential Faculty Members’ Differential Use Of Blackboard Tools: A Case Study, Stephen Mwendwa Kitoo

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this single instrumental case study was to understand the differential use of Blackboard tools for residential faculty members at a large private nonprofit university in the Southeastern part of the United States. The differential use of Blackboard tools was generally defined as the tendency of residential faculty members in universities to use certain Blackboard tools over others available to them. The theory that guided this study was the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) by Venkatesh, Morris, Davis, and Davis (2003) as it explained factors influencing faculty members’ use of Blackboard tools. The central …


Attitudes Of Health Profession Faculty Involved In A Simulation-Based Interprofessional Education Experience, Shannon Ashe May 2020

Attitudes Of Health Profession Faculty Involved In A Simulation-Based Interprofessional Education Experience, Shannon Ashe

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Interprofessional education and collaborative practice are the current standards of the global healthcare field. In order to better understand the barriers to completing simulation-based interprofessional education (Sim-IPE), faculty attitudes and perceptions need to be identified and addressed. In the current study, the researcher sought to identify the attitudes of health profession faculty at a private university within a college of health sciences that includes over 20 academic programs, exclusive of medicine, in relation to a planned large-scale Sim-IPE in the acute care setting. Utilizing both a correlational and repeated measures approach, the researcher explored a previously planned interprofessional experience that …


Understanding Self-Efficacy Of Regional University Adjunct Faculty: A Qualitative Case Study, Aletta Brook Purdum Apr 2020

Understanding Self-Efficacy Of Regional University Adjunct Faculty: A Qualitative Case Study, Aletta Brook Purdum

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to understand the self-efficacy of adjunct faculty at Colonial State University (CSU; a pseudonym). The theories guiding this study were Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy and Maslow’s human motivation theory since motivation-impacting self-efficacy was described as a dynamic that has definitive antecedents, but confidence in one’s abilities and skills can change as a result of personal achievements, individual experiences, outside influences, and purpose. This qualitative research was conducted to improve understanding about the self-efficacy of regional university adjunct faculty. There was a plethora of research available about adjunct faculty but none of that …


Class Standing And Student Perceptions Of Safety In Christian Higher Education: A Causal-Comparative Study, Bradley Carlton Bowen Apr 2020

Class Standing And Student Perceptions Of Safety In Christian Higher Education: A Causal-Comparative Study, Bradley Carlton Bowen

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Campus safety has become a significant topic in higher education. A dynamic environment including regulatory changes and notable criminal incidents has resulted in rapid changes in campus policy in the United States. Limited research has been conducted regarding stakeholder perceptions of campus safety, though research is lacking regarding campus safety in Christian higher education. Research is especially lacking among Christian institutions in the southeastern United States and in comparing student perceptions based on class standing. This causal-comparative study examined the results of a survey presented to undergraduate students at a Christian university to answer the question as to whether there …


Growing Grit To Produce Doctoral Persistence: A Grounded Theory Study, Melanie Denise Moran Hudson Mar 2020

Growing Grit To Produce Doctoral Persistence: A Grounded Theory Study, Melanie Denise Moran Hudson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this systematic grounded theory study was to generate a model explaining how grit and a growth mindset develop and influence doctoral persistence in doctoral completers. The theories guiding this study were Tinto’s (1975) student integration theory of college persistence, Duckworth’s (2016) theory of grit, and Dweck’s (2016) theory of mindset. Interview and reflective journaling data, as well as scores on the Short Grit Scale (Duckworth, 2016) and the Dweck Mindset Instrument (Dweck, 2016), from 12 doctoral completers were analyzed using systematic coding consistent with a grounded theory research design. The central research question of the study was, …


Foster Youth Transitioning To Independent Living And Higher Education: A Phenomenological Study, Janet P. Harrison Aug 2019

Foster Youth Transitioning To Independent Living And Higher Education: A Phenomenological Study, Janet P. Harrison

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the experiences of foster youth who aged out of foster care and enrolled in higher educational programs in rural areas of southern Virginia. The theory that guided this study was Maslow’s hierarchy of needs as it applied to higher educational pursuits of foster youth who had, or were about to, age out of foster care. Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory also guided this study to identify additional barriers to higher education for foster youth. This phenomenological study used a transcendental research method. Data collection methods included face-to-face and phone interviews, focus …


A Logistic Regression Study Of How Pre-Enrollment Factors Predict Graduation At A Christian Historically Black University, Tara Laron Young Dec 2018

A Logistic Regression Study Of How Pre-Enrollment Factors Predict Graduation At A Christian Historically Black University, Tara Laron Young

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this logistic regression study is to review the pre-admission factors through the lenses of multiple retention constructs and graduation rates at a Christian, Historically Black College or University (HBCU). A binary logistic regression is used to analyze the odds of graduation based on a set of pre-admission factors of first-time freshmen, as predictor variables. In particular, the predictor variables of interest are eligibility of academic support based on academic scholarships, gender, international status, and type of high school attended. The outcome variable of interest is graduation. This study is important because it contributes to the scholarship in …


A Quantitative Examination Of The Relationship Between Project Management Training And Project Management Self-Efficacy Among Faculty/Staff In Higher Education, Alan W. Stanfield Nov 2018

A Quantitative Examination Of The Relationship Between Project Management Training And Project Management Self-Efficacy Among Faculty/Staff In Higher Education, Alan W. Stanfield

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Project management techniques are common within a number of construction related industries, however, higher education is not a field to which the practices of project management are routinely applied. Although multiple factors could lead to the lack of project management application in higher education, this study focused on faculty/staff self-efficacy and project work experience. The purpose was to determine if self-efficacy and project work experience contribute to the lack of project management techniques applied in higher education. The study was based upon Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy and how project work experience may affect faculty/staff venturing into applying project management techniques. …


Employee Perceptions Of Succession Planning Within Higher Education: A Qualitative Case Study, Matthew Swanson Jun 2018

Employee Perceptions Of Succession Planning Within Higher Education: A Qualitative Case Study, Matthew Swanson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Higher education institutions provide programs and services in support of personal, professional, and community development. The positive impact of higher education is threatened by the imminent departures of experienced employees responsible for implementing institutional programs and services. Research suggests succession planning assists organizations in responding to the potential departures of experienced employees while successfully serving stakeholders, yet a majority of higher education institutions do not possess adequate succession planning programs. Employee perceptions are essential to developing and evaluating programs, however, there is currently a lack of available insight into employee perceptions pertaining to succession planning within the field of higher …


Undocumented Hispanic Students In Higher Education: A Phenomenology Of Students Struggling To Obtain Educational And Career Goals, Marvin Rondon May 2018

Undocumented Hispanic Students In Higher Education: A Phenomenology Of Students Struggling To Obtain Educational And Career Goals, Marvin Rondon

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative transcendental phenomenological study is to describe the experiences of undocumented Hispanic students paying out-of-state tuition while enrolled at selected community colleges in Eastern North Carolina. This study is guided by Arnett’s emerging adulthood theory, a stage of life linking adolescence and young adulthood marked by self-identity issues, exploration, planning for the future, instability, crisis, commitment, family expectations, new relationships, and new roles. The central research question focuses on the educational experiences of undocumented Hispanic students paying out-of-state tuition enrolled in rural North Carolina community colleges with restrictive in-state tuition laws. A purposeful sample of 12 …


Comparing Active Duty And Transitional Military Veteran Students' Evaluation Of Online Distance Higher Education Learning Environments, Sherry Crissman Apr 2018

Comparing Active Duty And Transitional Military Veteran Students' Evaluation Of Online Distance Higher Education Learning Environments, Sherry Crissman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Active duty service members’ participation in non-traditional higher education designed for veterans and other non-traditional adults can be uniquely impacted by their unpredictable military schedules, geographic instability, and frequently limited access to technology needed to complete course requirements while in remote areas. The purpose of this study was to examine whether active duty undergraduates differed significantly regarding their attitudes toward distance learning and their perceptions of the distance learning environment compared to veterans and non-traditional adults. This causal comparative study examined adult students’ perceptions after participating in 200-level undergraduate education delivered online at a private four-year institution based on their …