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Articles 1 - 30 of 48
Full-Text Articles in Education
Adult Education For Japanese Immigrant Community: Social Bonding To Social Bridging, Naomi Nakamura
Adult Education For Japanese Immigrant Community: Social Bonding To Social Bridging, Naomi Nakamura
Community Engagement Student Work
Many Japanese who have been living in the U.S. for more than decades identify themselves as Japanese, not U.S. citizens. This so called transnational identity has an impact on how they assimilate or integrate to American social life. The purpose of this project is to explore the better learning environment and the effects of education for Japanese adult immigrants who may not actively participate in local communities. A workshop was held with Japanese residents in the Boston area to explore microaggressions and how people can think about their engagement with their communities. Workshop evaluation findings suggested that there is a …
Complicating Homelessness: A Workshop For Students And Volunteers, Madeline Wadley
Complicating Homelessness: A Workshop For Students And Volunteers, Madeline Wadley
Community Engagement Student Work
Homelessness effects 17 out of every 10,000 people in the United States, and approximately 22 out of every 10,000 people in the city of Asheville, NC. Homeward Bound of Western North Carolina (HBWNC) is a nonprofit organization working to prevent and end homelessness in Asheville through low-barrier services and Housing First practices. HBWNC relies on volunteers from the community and higher education institutions for support in running its programs. While most volunteer training focuses on the day-to-day tasks, boundaries, and procedures related to volunteering with HBWNC, this project focuses on the importance of giving volunteers a solid understanding of homelessness …
What Works For You: Engaging With Antiracism Resources Within A College Setting, Grace Chitam
What Works For You: Engaging With Antiracism Resources Within A College Setting, Grace Chitam
Community Engagement Student Work
Higher education is often fondly described as the great equalizer. Society has ingrained the idea that if one is able to get to college and earn their degree, they can pave better outcomes for themselves post-graduation. While that may be true for some, this notion oversimplifies how challenging the college experience is, particularly for students of color and other marginalized backgrounds. This project examined how the burden students of color bear of battling racism in its every-day forms on top of their student responsibilities undermines their success. A two-hour workshop was held which endeavored to familiarize participants with antiracism education, …
Laap: A Centralized Advising Program For The School Of Liberal Arts At Sunnyside College, Stephanie Sartori
Laap: A Centralized Advising Program For The School Of Liberal Arts At Sunnyside College, Stephanie Sartori
Higher Education Student Work
No abstract provided.
Improving Access: An Academic Support Program For First-Year Stem Students Working Toward Calculus, Emily Giantonio
Improving Access: An Academic Support Program For First-Year Stem Students Working Toward Calculus, Emily Giantonio
Higher Education Student Work
No abstract provided.
The Mighty Warriors: A Managing Mental Health Group To Support Students With Disabilities And Mental Health Symptoms, Katlyn Carr
The Mighty Warriors: A Managing Mental Health Group To Support Students With Disabilities And Mental Health Symptoms, Katlyn Carr
Higher Education Student Work
No abstract provided.
Leading Transformational Change: Enhancing The Adjunct Faculty Experience Through Narrative And Relationship, Greta I. Shepard
Leading Transformational Change: Enhancing The Adjunct Faculty Experience Through Narrative And Relationship, Greta I. Shepard
Higher Education Student Work
No abstract provided.
Here They Are, Send Them: An Evaluation Of The Send Program At Merrimack College, Jordan T. Mason
Here They Are, Send Them: An Evaluation Of The Send Program At Merrimack College, Jordan T. Mason
Community Engagement Student Work
The purpose of this study was to gather a deeper understanding of the SEND Program at Merrimack College. This program evaluation sought to determine if the SEND Program was meeting its short-term outcomes for the program. The current literature highlights the important and significant aspects of alternative break/global service-learning programs as they can provide great educational experiences for students. A survey was sent out to a cohort of alumni SEND participants to gather their perspectives of the program. Overall, the survey respondents noted positive responses of their experiences in this program, indicating that they had some level of a positive …
First-Generation College Students: Sense Of Belonging On Campus, Elizebeth Salazar
First-Generation College Students: Sense Of Belonging On Campus, Elizebeth Salazar
Community Engagement Student Work
This if from the policy track for the Community Engagement capstone pathway. First-generation college students have grown in numbers on college campus’ but continue to be a population that has lower completion numbers for their bachelor’s degree. TRIO and other first-generation college programming on college campus’ can contribute to better success of this population. However, first-generation college student’s sense of belonging should be added to campus’ initiatives to promote better retention of students.
Why We Gatta Be Da Poorest?: Disrupting The Cycle Of Poverty For Single Mothers In The Bahamas By The Assessment Of Their Needs And The Mapping Of Community And Educational Institutions Resources, Philadenrin Russell
Community Engagement Student Work
The purpose of this research study is to explore the barriers and needs of Bahamian single mothers to obtaining higher education. A needs assessment survey was administered via social media and 78 single mothers responded. Human services and educational institutions practitioners were also interviewed to understand their perspective of the needs and to map the resources currently available for single mothers in the Bahamas. The research assume that limited financial resources, lack of child care, lack of transportation, limited access to resources and lack of family support would have been the main barriers found. Nevertheless, the results showed that Bahamian …
Extension Of A Commuter Advisor And Engagement Program, Michael Secreti
Extension Of A Commuter Advisor And Engagement Program, Michael Secreti
Higher Education Student Work
Commuter students continue to face a number of challenges when it comes to building social connections with their peers (Krause, 2007). Despite the number of programs targeted towards first-year college students, few programs are adequately prepared to address the needs and concerns of the commuter student population. In an effort to produce greater learning and development outcomes among Commuter Advisors (CAs) and their protégés (first-year commuter students), the Commuter Advisor Program at Merrimack College will provide seasoned commuter students with the opportunity to receive the training and guidance necessary to become strong mentors to the first-year commuter student population. According …
Developing A Centralized Tutoring System: A Comprehensive Resource Available For Students, Catherine Johnson
Developing A Centralized Tutoring System: A Comprehensive Resource Available For Students, Catherine Johnson
Higher Education Student Work
Peer tutoring at colleges and universities has become an essential resource in helping to enhance undergraduate students’ academic performance and persistence (Arco-Tirado, Fernández-Martin, & Fernández-Balboa, 2011), institutional retention rates (Grillo & Leist, 2013), and the academic abilities of students with learning disabilities (Troiano, Liefeld, & Trachtenberg, 2010). The Tutoring Center at Merrimack College, designed for this project, will house all peer tutors specializing in a variety of subjects, including, but not limited to: business, engineering, foreign languages, computer science, biology, and chemistry. According to Vygtosky’s (1978) learning theory, students learn most effectively and more thoroughly when working with more knowledgeable …
Enabling Student Moral Development In The Conduct Process, Evelyn Dina
Enabling Student Moral Development In The Conduct Process, Evelyn Dina
Higher Education Student Work
College is not only an opportunity for students to develop various aspects of their identity, but also a time to develop their moral maturity (Mathieson, 2003). In order to further increase student moral development and the learning that takes place for students in the conduct process, institutions should strive to implement educational sanctions and restorative approaches. This project will outline the components to establishing a civic learning sanction, as well as a model for restorative-oriented administrative hearings to be utilized throughout the student conduct process at Merrimack College. Kohlberg’s (1976) Theory of Moral Development provides an understanding of the stages …
Diversity And Postsecondary Education: Are Local Teacher Preparation Programs Really Preparing Educators For Supporting And Teaching Diverse Populations In The Classroom?, David Prescott
Honors Senior Capstone Projects
This intensive research endeavor is focused in the realm of education, specifically inclusion in classroom settings. This paper will be examining local teacher preparation programs by analyzing their requirements for diversity education and training. The overall purpose of this research project is to increase awareness of the disconnect between inclusion and diversity education, inspire others to want to do something to better serve the diverse populations in local school districts, and to begin discussion about changing diversity requirements in local teacher education programs. This paper will begin by defining and distinguishing inclusion and diversity education. Next the paper will provide …
The Effect Of Dance And Team Sports On Mental Health, Kayla Hulburt
The Effect Of Dance And Team Sports On Mental Health, Kayla Hulburt
Honors Senior Capstone Projects
This study uses the World Health Organization model of physical, social, and mental health to examine the effect of participating in dance and team sports during childhood on mental health in adulthood. Prior research has suggested that physical activity is strongly integrated with mental and social health and therefore is a protective factor among mental illness. However, there is not sufficient research comparing the differences among dance and team sports on mental health. This study hypothesized that dancers would experience more positive mental health in adulthood than team sports due to the basis of physical activity in dance, but the …
Female Students Of Color In Higher Education, Kile Adumene
Female Students Of Color In Higher Education, Kile Adumene
Community Engagement Student Work
This participatory social justice focused project used both qualitative and quantitative approaches to examine our understanding of who we are individually, groups, and as citizens; nationally and globally, and how one’s identity will continue to evolve and change over a life time. We looked at self-claim identity, social imposed identity, and societal categorizing processes of identity such as one’s geographical, ethnic, or national connection. Participants engaged in detailed discussion on the constructed racial designations to different groups, the inter-sectional simultaneity by which people may experience their identities, and explored to understand the language that groups prefer to use to self-name …
Poverty Through Simulation: Examining Concerns With Affordable Housing In Relation To The Cycle Of Poverty, Emily Mccaffrey
Poverty Through Simulation: Examining Concerns With Affordable Housing In Relation To The Cycle Of Poverty, Emily Mccaffrey
Community Engagement Student Work
This social justice-based project used evaluated the level of understanding that students of Endicott College had regarding poverty within the United States. This project provided a space for students to communicate with each other using discussion questions about poverty to guide the conversations. All students were given the chance to participate in an online simulation during class that provided them with an opportunity to live in someone else's shoes for thirty days, after losing their housing. This project was conducted with one traditional class setting while the other was conducted completely online using an online platform provided by Endicott. The …
The Unheard Stories Of Service-Learners: An Exploratory Study Of The Assumptions Of Race, Identity, And Privilege Within The Service-Learning Experience, J. Faith Krefft
The Unheard Stories Of Service-Learners: An Exploratory Study Of The Assumptions Of Race, Identity, And Privilege Within The Service-Learning Experience, J. Faith Krefft
Community Engagement Student Work
Service-learning has become a powerful pedagogical practice in Higher Education. Yet many of its practices have been premised on the idea that participants are white and serving a community unlike their own. Research suggests that the perspectives and identities of students of a diverse background participating in service-learning experiences may be unheard and/or misunderstood. Through a qualitative exploratory study, this study examined the perspective of nonwhite students. Four students from two higher education institutions selected to participate in a set of longitudinal, semi-structured, in-depth interviews in order to better understand their perspectives and experiences in their service-learning field site. Service-learning …
“I Can’T Believe I’M In Charge”: How Zlotkoswki’S “Students As Colleagues” Model Prepares Bentley University Service-Learning Students For Civic Leadership, Brian Shea
Community Engagement Student Work
Business schools exhibit a remarkable ability to produce graduates who are exceptionally analytical; however, these students have been shown to lack sensitivity to the impact of actions taken in the workplace, in communities, and in society. Service-learning is a method that has been proven to instill stronger ethics in business students. Bentley University, a business school in Waltham, Massachusetts, models its Service-Learning and Civic Engagement Center after the “Students as Colleagues” framework championed by its founding Director, Dr. Edward Zlotkowski (2006). By employing this approach, Bentley positions its undergraduate students as leaders in social impact initiatives, thereby preparing these students …
Making The Case For Faculty And Staff Diversity And Inclusion Training At Merrimack College, Nicole Williams
Making The Case For Faculty And Staff Diversity And Inclusion Training At Merrimack College, Nicole Williams
Higher Education Student Work
Diversity and inclusion training is essential for long-term success and sustainability of an organization, especially institutions of higher education (Cocchiara, Connerley, & Bell, 2010; Cunningham, 2012). This capstone investigates the necessity and benefits of diversity and inclusion training, as well as effective training structures to contextualize the resulting curriculum model. This curriculum addresses an underlying institutional leadership gap at Merrimack College where faculty and staff are not adequately trained or provided with sufficient opportunities to engage in diversity and inclusion training. Feminist Standpoint Theory (Collins, 1997) and Transformational Learning Theory (Mezirow, 2000) provide the theoretical grounding to establish this foundational …
A Case Study: What Are The Social Experiences Of An International Minority Male At A Pwi Really Like?, Victoria Evans
A Case Study: What Are The Social Experiences Of An International Minority Male At A Pwi Really Like?, Victoria Evans
Honors Program Contracts
International students of color often have trouble integrating socially into a Predominantly White Institution (PWI). The purpose of this study is to explore the social experiences of an international student of color at a Predominantly White Institution. My research methodology was a case study. The methodology and methods consisted of a study of a single international student of color at Merrimack College this fall semester. The data collection techniques included an in-depth interview, participant observation, and a journal written by the participant. After gathering my data, I used the coding method to analyze my data and find common themes throughout …
Stem Center For Student Retention And Success: A Proposal, Madhu Dhar Ph.D
Stem Center For Student Retention And Success: A Proposal, Madhu Dhar Ph.D
Higher Education Student Work
The STEM pipeline, a commonly used analogy (Kuh, 2006; Tierney, 2000), has been shrinking. Furthermore, degree attainment for women and underrepresented minority students in STEM are even lower than for undergraduates as a-whole (National Science Foundation, 2007). With low numbers of students enrolling in STEM fields and even smaller numbers of women and minorities in the STEM pipeline, colleges and universities need to pay particular-attention to retaining the students they have. This capstone proposes a STEM Center that provides an infrastructural support for undergraduate students in the School of Science and Engineering at Merrimack College. The Center will consolidate programs …
Factors Supporting The Leadership Of Women Of Color In Higher Education, Local Politics, And The Nonprofit Sector, Kayla J. Bynum, Paula Gomez Stordy
Factors Supporting The Leadership Of Women Of Color In Higher Education, Local Politics, And The Nonprofit Sector, Kayla J. Bynum, Paula Gomez Stordy
Higher Education Student Work
Women of color (WOC) are underrepresented in leadership roles within the fields of higher education and the nonprofit sector. The purpose of this study is to learn about the experiences of WOC who have achieved leadership roles in their professional fields. The collective experiences of women of color leaders will inform best practices for WOC who are pursuing professional leadership roles or professional mobility. These best practices will be beneficial for WOC, as well as employers who have the power to create a culture which supports the leadership of diverse WOC. It is essential for their leadership to inform best …
Investigating The Effects Of Pre-Laboratory Videos With Associated Questions On The Performance And Overall Laboratory Experience Of Organic Chemistry Students, Shareef Gamal Mohamed Kotb
Investigating The Effects Of Pre-Laboratory Videos With Associated Questions On The Performance And Overall Laboratory Experience Of Organic Chemistry Students, Shareef Gamal Mohamed Kotb
Health Sciences Student Work
Background: Teachers struggle communicating ideas to students (Moreno et al, 2001). One of the aspects of teaching that’s most concerning is when students experience cognitive overload: the total effort exerted by working memory to grasp new information (Mayer, et al, 2002). The educational community found that introducing multimedia in learning minimizes cognitive overload (Mayer, et al, 2002). Little research has related to undergraduate chemistry classes, specifically the relationship between organic chemistry pre-laboratory multimedia and student learning. Purpose: The purpose of this capstone is to investigate the subjective efficacy of integrating pre-laboratory videos for lab preparation in an undergraduate organic chemistry …
Assessing The Impact Of Mentoring Underserved Youth Through Service Learning, Breanna Walukevich
Assessing The Impact Of Mentoring Underserved Youth Through Service Learning, Breanna Walukevich
Higher Education Student Work
Mentoring underserved youth through service learning can provide various positive impacts for both mentors and mentees (Banks, 2010; Hughes et al., 2012; Rhodes, Grossman & Resch, 2000; Thompson & Kelly-Vance, 2001; Washburn-Moses, Fry & Sanders, 2014; Weiler et al., 2013). This qualitative interview study assessed the perceived impact that a mentoring program had on mentees, who were underserved youth at an elementary school in a low-income community, and mentors, who were college students participating through a service learning course. The findings revealed overall positive outcomes for both the mentors and mentees. The mentees benefited academically and looked up to their …
Evaluating The State Of Departmental Student-Employee Training And Employment, Brandon E. Clinton
Evaluating The State Of Departmental Student-Employee Training And Employment, Brandon E. Clinton
Higher Education Student Work
Student-employment is an important aspect of a college student’s experience. According to Kathman and Kathman (2000), students benefit from an on-campus job, as they are able to develop strong interpersonal skills, and develop experience for their resumes (p 176). In this study, I examined the dynamics of a campus center-based student employment program, and the related training program that is administered by a campus operations department. Using a focus group, a 13 item protocol was administered to nine undergraduate student-employees of this department, and an additional two alumni student-employees were interviewed individually. The focus of this research was rooted in …
Development Of A Graduate Level Faculty Led Study Abroad Course, Chelsea Levine
Development Of A Graduate Level Faculty Led Study Abroad Course, Chelsea Levine
Higher Education Student Work
As the world becomes more globalized, society must create ways to adapt to these changes. One result is more internationalization at the higher education level (Mckenzie, Lopez & Bowers, 2010). Internationalization includes recent efforts to increase study abroad participation for graduate students. This exploratory study sought to understand best practices for the creation of a faculty led study abroad course in a higher education Master’s degree program. Topics of research included preparatory travel logistics, coursework to maintain academic rigor, and outcomes as it relates to personal and professional growth. Faculty leaders from across the U.S. who lead their own courses …
Assessing The Power Of College Culture In Educational Transformation, Kenneth Eze
Assessing The Power Of College Culture In Educational Transformation, Kenneth Eze
Higher Education Student Work
The fundamental purpose for the existence of every educational institution is to provide knowledge and value through the teaching and learning exercise. Positive culture is an invisible yet significant element of success that inspires excellence in colleges and universities that enjoy good reputation. This qualitative study investigated the power of college culture in improving the quality and performance of a low performing college to become a high performing college through the college’s day to day operations and services. Six faculty and senior administrators were interviewed to determine how positive culture delivery is perceived to function, impacts students’ academic success, students’ …
Persistence Factors For Nontraditional Undergraduate Students At A Northeast Catholic College, Heather Macneil Pfordresher
Persistence Factors For Nontraditional Undergraduate Students At A Northeast Catholic College, Heather Macneil Pfordresher
Higher Education Student Work
Nontraditional students are an extremely diverse group with very unique backgrounds and needs, and their motivations to enroll, persist, and graduate vary depending on factors internal and external to the college and are often dissimilar to their traditional aged counterparts (Pelletier, 2010). Given this difference and increasing enrollment numbers of nontraditional students, understanding the lived experiences of these students is critical for institutions of higher education. This study examined persistence factors for nontraditional students at a Northeast Catholic college, including academic and social engagement, the role of support systems in their lives, and their sense of belonging. It also sought …
Assessment Of Chinese International Graduate Students’ Experience Working With Agents, Haozhe Yu
Assessment Of Chinese International Graduate Students’ Experience Working With Agents, Haozhe Yu
Higher Education Student Work
In the past fifteen years, the numbers of Chinese international students have increased rapidly across the United States in all types of institutions of higher education (Farrugia & Bhandari, 2015). This study explores the experience of Chinese international graduate students working with study abroad agents in China. In this qualitative semistructured interview study, seven Chinese international students were interviewed. Students were asked x, y and z about their experience working with agents; several challenges of Chinese international students, including finding college information, Internet limitations, language barriers and limited time, and lack of knowledge of the application process. Based on the …