Education Commons^™

The Influence Of Fraternity And Sorority Membership On Retention And Gpa At Rowan University, Arthur Gathercole Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

There are multiple influences that effect retention and GPA for a student. The main objective of this study is to examine the social satisfaction and academic success of students who are active members of a fraternity or sorority at Rowan University. This study focuses on students who have been involved in a Greek-letter organization for two or more years to see how their involvement impacts their GPA and college career. With retention being a key factor in institutional ratings and ultimately contributing to degree attainment, it is a main focus for many colleges and universities.

Exploring Intercultural Wonderment As A Mediator For Global Perspective Development In Engineering Students, John A. Schneider

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to investigate the mediatory role intercultural wonderment plays in global learning during engineering students' international experiences. Engberg and colleagues have posited a connection between the programmatic components of an international experience (i.e., study abroad) and global learning, with international wonderment serving as a conduit for that connection. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected under an NSF multi-institutional grant that focused on identifying ways global preparedness can be developed in and out of formal curricula. Data included semi-structured, student interviews, student background data, and global perspective scores as measured by the Global Perspective Inventory (GPI). …

How Does Performance Funding Impact The Open Access Mission Of Community Colleges In Massachusetts?, Walter T. Brooks

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this case study of four community colleges was to determine if the Massachusetts Performance Funding Formula (MAPFF) has negatively impacted access in two threats to access: 1) decreased affordability; and 2) restriction of admissions, enrollment, and recruitment in fiscal years 2014, 2015, and 2016. Participating senior administrators provided their perceptions of how the Massachusetts Performance Funding Formula impacted student access and their institutions. Access was negatively impacted by decreased affordability due to significant increases to tuition and fees the students pay. Access was also negatively impacted by a reduction and elimination of programs, courses, and sections.

Program Evaluation Of Greek Showcase Events At Rowan University, Xochil R. Ramirez

Theses and Dissertations

The primary focus of this study was to investigate the current practices used to meet the needs of the National Pan Hellenic Council (NPHC) and Greek Cultural Organizations Council (GCOC) within the Office of Greek Affairs (OGA) at Rowan University. The study further explored the autonomy (if any) within these councils when it comes to the planning and coordination of their significant showcase events and programming. The data analysis suggested that the organizations operate independently from one another and have a sense of autonomy which could be nourished by the practices of the Office of Greek Affairs.

Town-Gown Sense Of Community In Campus-Adjacent Neighborhoods: A Mixed Methods Study, Andrew Perrone

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this mixed methods study was to examine the perceptions of a sense of community held by non-student residents within the campus-adjacent neighborhoods of a college town. Employing an explanatory sequential design, the study further explored any differing perceptions of a sense of community held after participation in a community-wide program modeled after Texas A&M University's The Big Event. Residents of owner-occupied homes in neighborhoods that have experienced "studentification"(Smith, 2008) were surveyed with the Sense of Community Index 2 (Chavis, Lee, & Acosta, 2008) in order to understand the established Psychological Sense of Community (PSOC). Follow-up interviews were …

The Lived Experience Of A Freshman Female Collegiate Student-Athlete, Kaitlin Schullstrom

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of collegiate freshman female student-athletes at Rowan University. The lived experience refers to the way researchers can view the perceptions of people within the world they exist (Kafle, 2011). The study explored the meaning of female student athletes and attach them to their lived experience as a student-athlete and how they anticipate this experience impact their future college careers. This study interviewed 10 freshman female student athletes and aimed to receive honest and valuable information about the students experience in their first year at Rowan University. The data were …

Persistence Of Veteran Students At Cumberland County College, Latoya Latisha Gibbons

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceived persistence of Veteran students at Cumberland County College. This study implemented a quantitative approach by issuing a survey to the current cohort of Veteran students at Cumberland County College. A large number of barriers present themselves to students who study at two-year institutions of higher education, but the Veteran population is one that has not been extensively studied at this level. The experience of Veteran students presents some unique factors that may affect their education differently from other populations of students at two-year intuitions. Through content analysis of the data, …

An Investigation Of First-Generation Student Experiences And Their Career Development, Desiree Saraceno

Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this study was to analyze the student experiences and career development of students who identify as first-generation and who are members of the Flying First Program (FFP) at Rowan University. The qualitative study included one focus group consisting of first-generation students who are involved with the FFP and a second focus group consisting of first-generation students who are not involved with FFP. The purpose of this thesis is to assess first-generation students' experiences, challenges, and resources related to their career development. Currently there has been limited utilization of qualitative data collected regarding students' perspectives and their experiences …

An Assessment Of Irb Member Values Using The Irb Researcher Assessment Tool, Andrew Gerber

Theses and Dissertations

This study employed the IRB Researcher Assessment Tool (IRB-RAT) to better understand values held by IRB members at Rowan University, and piloted the use of the IRB-RAT in this institutional context. A sample of Rowan University IRB affiliates, including administrators and members (N = 11), provided ratings related to their "ideal" and "actual" IRB on this 45-item questionnaire, addressing eight areas of IRB performance. Analyses included mean calculations, calculations of mean difference, and comparisons to those provided in a national validation sample for the measure. Results indicated that, by comparison to a national validation sample, Rowan University IRB members tended …

Intramural Sports Leadership: Exploring The Impact Of Being An Intramural Sports Official On Leadership Skills, Shan Yu Paracka

Theses and Dissertations

This study focuses on the leadership development of intramural sports student officials at a med-sized public institution in the northeastern United States. Twenty-six total intramural student officials participated in the study that were evenly mixed between veteran officials and first time officials. The data shows that while there is a change in the scores from the pre-test and the post-test, there is a high probability of this being a random occurrence.

The Impact Of Physical Space In The College Union And Students' Sense Of Community On Campus, Erik A. Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the impact that physical spaces in The Chamberlain Student Center had on participants' sense of community on campus. A survey was distributed to 600 undergraduate students to determine the extent to which participants believed various locations within the facility either enhanced or diminished their sense of community on campus. Of the 600 surveys distributed, 73 responses were collected, yielding a response rate of 12%. Results show that there is no statistically significant relationship between any specific space in The Chamberlain Student Center. However, data showed that there is a relationship between students …

Do Lgbtqia Rowan Students Matter? Marginality And Mattering In Rowan University's Lgbtqia Undergraduate Population, Liz Ditzel

Theses and Dissertations

This study explores feelings of marginality and mattering as defined by Schlossberg (1989) in LGBTQIA undergraduate students at Rowan University. The study used a modified version of the College Mattering Inventory (Tovar, Simon, and Lee, distributed via email to students utilizing the university's LGBTQIA Center. The study provided an opportunity for LGBTQIA undergraduate students to give feedback regarding their experiences at Rowan. A total of 39 students responded to the survey.

The study found that LGBTQIA undergraduate students at Rowan University are experiencing feelings of mattering and marginality simultaneously. These students feel that they matter as students, and that they …

Understanding Annual Giving & What Motivates Young Alumni To Give To Their Alma Mater: A Mixed Methods Study, Danielle Davis

Theses and Dissertations

Donations are the largest source of private funding for colleges and universities in the United States (Etzkowitz, Webster, Gebhardt, & Terra, 2000). College and universities need to turn to funding through fundraising, which includes alumni donations. One difficulty that higher education advancement professionals face is the ability to engage young alumni. This study investigated the motivations of young alumni to give to their alma mater, Rowan University. In this study, young alumni were defined as individuals that were 35 years of age or younger that gave during the 2018 fiscal year. A mixed methods approach is utilized in this study …

A Needs Assessment For Programming For Adult Undergraduate Students At Rowan University, Jennifer V. Savage

Theses and Dissertations

This needs assessment is evaluating if Rowan University in Glassboro, NJ, has a need for student services oriented toward adult (aged 25 or older) undergraduate students. Adult undergraduate students are a population that has been consistently growing in the United States, and research shows that this population has specific needs and characteristics. This assessment is comparing demographic data of its student population for the past 20 years, plus the national trends. A search of the Rowan University website returned limited results for student services for adult student service. An electronic survey was administered to its current adult student population, evaluating …

The Influence Of Career Motivation On College Major Choice, Candace R. Lehmann

Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this study was to investigate whether current Rowan University students feel they are motivated to reach their career goals. The study further explored the attitudes and understanding of the advising process of students and their use of career planning related services. Subjects included Rowan University students who had visited the University Advising Center or the Office of Career Advancement. Student responses were gathered using an Advising and Career survey measuring responses on a Likert scale. Data were analyzed to determine the mean score of student career motivation and understanding of their role in achieving their career goals. …

The Effect Of Leadership Programs On Engagement, Megan Ann Henry

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect that collegiate leadership programs offered through Leadership Rowan had on student levels of engagement at Rowan University. This study sought to find a connection between participation in leadership programs and higher levels of engagement as well as evidence of applied leadership skills as a result of their engagement. The National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) was used to develop a measurement instrument to quantify student engagement. The survey was distributed to undergraduate students who engaged in the leadership Rowan Leadership Certificates at the Silver and Gold Levels.

The conclusions revealed …

A Replication Study On The Impact Of Rowan After Hours Student Employment On Student Engagement, Eleni Dendrinos

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to analyze the impact of student employment at Rowan After Hours (RAH) on student engagement. This is a replication study of Lauren Thompson's thesis from 2013, which investigated the impact of RAH student employment on student engagement at Rowan University. A survey was distributed to the spring 2019 Rowan After Hours undergraduate student staff, collected, and compared to the findings from the National Survey for Student Engagement (NSSE). This survey consisted of questions regarding the student's engagement on Rowan University's campus, such as their engagement with peers and faculty, taking lessons learned in class …

Perceptions Of Mattering And Marginality: A Study Of International Students At Rowan University, Katelyn Sullivan

Theses and Dissertations

This study explores the theory of mattering first developed by Rosenberg and McCullough (1981) that was later adapted to a higher education setting by Schlossberg (1989) and applies it to an international student context. More specifically, this study aims to measure the degree to which international students feel as though they matter to Rowan University across six subscales: general college mattering, mattering versus marginality, mattering to counselors, mattering to instructors, mattering to students, and perception of value.

Using the College Mattering Inventory (CMI) instrument developed by Tovar, Simon, and Lee (2008), 132 international students at Rowan University were surveyed on …

Gender And Organizational Citizenship Behavior In Library Technology: Mixed Methods Study, Sharon Whitfield

Theses and Dissertations

Academic librarianship continues to be a feminized profession, yet there are specializations within the profession that tend to be gender segregated, such as library technology. In this mixed methods study, women technology librarians' behaviors are examined through the gendered lens of organizational citizenship behaviors (OCBs), which are discretionary, voluntary acts that are outside an employee's job description (Organ, 1988), but help shape the organizational culture and facilitate organizational functioning (Podsakoff & MacKenzie, 1997). This mixed methods study uses a survey to inform the extent of differences in organizational citizenship behaviors between men and women, and interviews to provide new insight …

The Lived Experiences Of Black Men Creating A Third Space At A Predominantly White Institution, Steven E. Radwanski

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of Black men creating third spaces at a predominantly White institution (PWI). The use of the third space theory permitted the researcher to examine both the student's current cultural experiences and the campus climate to understand better how Black men create a third space (Bhabha, 1994). Many Black men have found themselves in between two cultures their previous cultural experiences, and the campus climate of the institution they are attending.

The research gathered and analyzed through this study indicates that the third space theory can be situated to the student's …

White Faculty Perceptions Of Diversity And Diversity Work, Ariane Hutchins-Newman

Theses and Dissertations

Higher education has become increasingly diverse over the past 100 years. Women and people of color have integrated and, in many cases, assimilated into the academy. However, not all groups have gained access equally. While certain groups, such as women, have experienced measurable growth, African Americans have lagged in their presence within the academy. Representation of Black scholars in the faculty has been constant over a nearly 20-year period. Black faculty comprised 5% of the faculty in 1998 and 6% of the faculty in 2015. Colleges and universities dedicate significant resources to diversity and inclusion. However, there continues to be …

College Readiness: The Disconnect Between High School And Community College, Elizabeth C. Giacobbe

Theses and Dissertations

The proportion of students attending college continues to increase and college remediation rates remain considerably high, particularly at community colleges. This study explored high school teachers and community college perceptions of college readiness in the area of English. An explanatory sequential mixed methods approach was employed to develop a better understanding of teachers' perceptions of students' preparedness for the academics rigors of college English. This study was motivated by three research questions. How do community college professors describe college-readiness in the area of English? How do high school teachers describe college-readiness in the area of English? What aspects of college-readiness …

Measuring Undergraduate Student Satisfaction As An Indicator Of Customer Service In Higher Education, Sanaz Shahi

Theses and Dissertations

The primary purpose of this study was to measuring undergraduate students' satisfaction at Rowan University. The theoretical framework that guided this study was Tinto's Theory, Astin's IEO Model, and Hezberg's Theory. This study use the quantitative method, which includes a survey focused on students' satisfaction of seven areas including: university staff, services provided by the university, academic advisor, class availability, academic major, and campus safety. One hundred seventy nine subjects completed a Likert-type survey using a five-point scale to assess their satisfaction in the seven focus areas. The Statistical Program for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to input all …

The Influence Of Pentecostal Social Networks On Latino Student College Choice, Michael J. Farrow

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation describes the experiences of Latino Pentecostal students of traditional college age with regard to their college decisions, along with the influence of Pentecostal social networks on Latinos' college choice. Much research has focused on Latino students' college choice processes but Latino Pentecostal students as a specific subgroup have received little attention. This dissertation provides a more nuanced approach to the college decisions of the increasing number of Latino Pentecostal students in the United States. Applying a phenomenological research design, I conducted semi-structured interviews in which participants described their Pentecostal social network's role in their college choice process. In …

Impact Of A Leadership Development Intervention On Career Decision-Making Self-Efficacy Of Community College Students: A Quasi-Experimental Research Design, Sarah Jane Mcelroy

Theses and Dissertations

The overall purpose of this quasi-experimental research study was to determine if a formalized leadership development program had an effect on a community college student's level of career decision-making self-efficacy. This research study utilized the Career Exploration & Decision-Making Learning Experiences Scale (CEDLE) and the Career Exploration & Decisional Self-Efficacy Brief Decisional (CEDSE-BD) questionnaire to determine a student's level of career decision-making self-efficacy before and after participation in a leadership intervention (n = 411). Propensity Score Matching was utilized to account for a variety of confounding variables and self-selection bias. Results showed that community college students who participated in a …

Gateway To Student Satisfaction: A Mixed Methods Study For Redesigning Student Services From A Legacy Model To A 21st Century One-Stop Model, Debora Rivera

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the student experience, in a One Stop Center at a public comprehensive community college located in the Mid-Atlantic region. This study utilized an explanatory sequential mixed methods analysis to assess the perceived impact of the centralization of functions on student satisfaction. Using expectation confirmation theory, customer satisfaction theory, and the researcher's professional experiences as a framework, the data collected allowed insight into the student experiences within an integrated one stop student service delivery environment. Five key findings demonstrated that further exploration of student needs and more frequent evaluation of services to meet …