Higher Education Commons^™

Leadership In Physical Therapist Education: Instructional Strategies And Assessment Methods Used Among U.S. Capte Accredited Programs, Gretchen R. Prather

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The physical therapy profession has recently placed greater significance on leadership education and research at all levels of professional development. Excellence and innovation in physical therapy practice must address leadership development beginning in professional education. This call for reform has been adopted broadly, including from an accreditation standpoint. The challenge now becomes to determine the most effective ways for preparing student physical therapists to lead in today’s fluid healthcare environment. This study examined leadership content among U.S. CAPTE accredited physical therapist education programs and, specifically, the instructional strategies and assessment methods frequently used to develop emerging leaders. An online survey …

A Qualitative Examination Of Pre-Service Teachers’ Perceptions Of Self-Efficacy For Teaching Writing, Abby Rose Waldorf

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this research was to determine self-efficacy levels of Secondary English Education pre-service teachers attending two public universities concerning writing and the teaching of writing. The study found that pre-service teachers were confident and identified as writers, but they felt uncertain as teachers of writing. Past teachers’ praise was found to positively increase writing self-efficacy. Even though pre-service teachers enjoyed and looked forward to teaching writing, they felt they needed more time in the classroom and preparation from college courses. College courses were found to be lacking in the preparation needed for teaching writing. Pre-service teachers did not …

The Effects Of Stem And Non-Stem Mathematics Corequisite Courses On Student Success At Public Institutions In West Virginia, Vanessa S. Keadle

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This study explored the differences in student success outcomes between students enrolled in non-STEM and STEM corequisite mathematics courses at 18 postsecondary institutions across five academic years in West Virginia, using de-identified student data. The researcher analyzed this extant data to determine if student characteristics were predictors of success, as defined as passing the mathematics corequisite course, retention to the next semester, and earning a GPA of 2.0 or higher. The researcher also conducted analyses to understand if the differences in those outcomes between STEM and non-STEM courses were significant. This study identified statistically significant gaps in success for students …

Student Perspectives On The Presence And Usefulness Of Navigational Course Elements In Distance Education Courses, Christopher Joseph Sochor

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The Quality Matters Standards for Course Design (2018) rubric is a course development rubric for online courses in higher education. General Standard 1 provides a list of specific review standards that are integral in the development of courses, including course expectations, course structure, learning guidance, communication expectations, technology skill requirements, criteria for student assessment, and overall course organization. Student feedback is necessary in order to determine whether students view elements of the course overview and introduction as present in their courses, and whether those elements are useful for the successful completion of their online course. This research utilized a mixed-methods …

Black And White Student Adaptability To College At A Predominately White Historically Black University: A Single Institution Examination Of West Virginia State University, Christopher D. Jackson

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

With respect to studies examining Black students at predominately White historically Black colleges or universities (HBCU), very little data exists; therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which the specific benefits to Black and White students attending an HBCU (i.e., academic adjustment, social adjustment, personal-emotional adjustment, and attachment to the institution) also accrue to those students whose HBCU is predominantly White. When comparing Black and White students, no research has been conducted on whether the benefits of attending an HBCU, for Black or White students, also accrue if the HBCU’s student population is majority White. …

Doctor Of Physical Therapy Students’ Perspectives On Leadership Development In The Context Of The Proposed Leadership Competencies Framework For Physical Therapists, Laura Stephens

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Leadership is an emerging field in physical therapy professional research. Research efforts have concentrated on identifying the most desirable leadership skills and behaviors for practicing physical therapists, or on curricular interventions implemented in specific educational programs. This study utilized a qualitative phenomenological design to investigate the perspectives of 21 current and former student leaders from Marshall University School of Physical Therapy, specifically investigating the scope and effectiveness of available opportunities in developing leadership skills and behaviors. Participants were also probed regarding their motivation for pursuing pre-professional leadership development opportunities. Findings from this study suggest the available opportunities are effective to …

Filling The Middle Skills Gap: Increasing Silver-Level Career Readiness Certificate Attainment In Mississippi, Steven Wayne Pickering

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of Smart Start Career Pathway as a method of supporting student success on the ACT WorkKeys assessment. Since the 1970s, the skills gap has been a national concern as workforce demand has outpaced supply. As a means of connecting individuals to the workforce, Mississippi adopted ACT WorkKeys and the National Career Ready Certificate (NCRC). As a result, programs such as Smart Start have been developed and deployed to support success in achievement in ACT WorkKeys and NCRC.

This causal comparative study was conducted utilizing a convenience sample of 1,001 participants …

First-Year Seminar Delivery Method Effect On Student Success At An Appalachian Open-Enrollment Institution, Anthony Michael Underwood

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

First-year seminars (FYS) have been identified as one of the most effective high impact practices in supporting student success as measured in this study by GPA, semester-to-semester persistence, and second semester student course load. However, those students who would most need this support, students at public open-enrollment institutions in the Appalachian region, have often either not been required to participate or have not been given the chance to do so due to limits on academic program length or a perceived lack of resources at such institutions. This research measured the effectiveness of an FYS program in the above defined environment …

Effectiveness Of Essentials For College Math As A High School Transitional Course, Jennifer S. Riggleman

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Statistics on the number of students who leave high school underprepared for postsecondary education, and have to take remedial coursework upon entrance to college vary, but, unfortunately, for at least the last 10 years, these statistics have remained high. This study examined the effectiveness of one transitional high school math curriculum called Essentials for College Math and its impact on 887 students in the state of North Carolina for the 2014-2015 academic year. The results of the study showed that there was a statistically significant improvement seen in pre- and post-test scores of students that completed the course. There was …

A Study Of Outcomes Based Educational Interventions And Moral Development Of Undergraduate College Students, Jay Christopher Robert Wildt

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Discussions regarding moral development and subsequent behavior are common in political and philosophical arenas. The consensus is that resolutions of moral dilemmas are best accomplished through careful deliberation and the use of principled moral reasoning. The purpose of this study was to examine changes in moral development in undergraduate college students who participated in an outcomes based education program. The study also investigated the influence of certain demographic and attribute variables on moral development within the same population.

This study examined extant data from 295 University of Charleston (UC) students who took the Defining Issues Test as freshmen and then …

Levels Of A College-Going Culture In Selected West Virginia High Schools As Perceived By Teachers And Counselors, Keri Ferro

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This study examined the level of school college-going culture as perceived by teachers and counselors in selected West Virginia high schools. This study also investigated the differences in the level of implementation of a school’s college-going culture based on selected independent variables. Finally, the study investigated the relationship between the level of college going culture and the school college enrollment rate as reported by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission. A quantitative research design was used to study a population of high school teachers and counselors from 36 West Virginia high schools. The high schools with 18 highest and …

Perceptions Of Nursing Education Administrators Regarding The Relationship Of Admission Criteria To Student Graduation, Joy F. Cline

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This research investigated admission criteria of baccalaureate nursing students related to their success in a multi-state sample of peer universities in the United States. The researcher used mixed methods to collect data that were analyzed using descriptive and phenomenological approaches. The sample of the study was chairpersons from peer institutions of nursing. Data were collected based on the lived experiences of the chairpersons. The purpose of the study was to identify admission criteria that the schools in the study were using and to identify the criteria that predicted success as defined by graduation. The premise of the study was that …

Analysis Of Factors Influencing West Virginia Secondary Biology And Science Teacher Attrition Rates, Seth Perry

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The high rate of attrition for beginning teachers has been blamed on many factors. Nationally these include low pay, urban versus rural school settings, age, with younger teachers leaving sooner, and other variables making a complex problem with no clear component responsible for the loss of teachers. This study examined the self reported variables that contribute to high school teachers in West Virginia leaving their profession. An electronic survey instrument was distributed to current secondary teachers across the state. Teachers were asked to respond to questions related to professional satisfaction, perceived value from students and parents, administrative support, content versus …

Factors That Influence The Academic Performance Of Ncaa Division I Athletes, B. David Ridpath Edd, John Kiger Red, Jennifer Y. Mak Phd, Teresa R. Eagle Edd, Greg Letter Phd

Management Faculty Research

Several academic and non-academic factors can influence the academic performance of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I athletes. Researchers have attempted to determine what non-academic variables might help to explain the college academic performance of college athletes. The non-cognitive variables of a strong support person or role model, involvement in the community, and positive self-concept positively predicted college academic performance. If influential role models do not care how the college athlete performs academically, the college athlete’s academics will suffer.

An Overview Of Recreation And Parks Professional Preparation Programs In Higher Education, Jennifer Y. Mak

Management Faculty Research

The purpose of this paper is to give an overview of recreation and parks professional preparation programs in higher education. This paper will (a) help to understand the framework of recreation and parks professional preparation programs, (b) discuss the factors which influence the professional preparation outcomes, and (c) help to identify future research needs. The discussion is based on the framework for studying professional preparation programs by Stack, et al. (1986). The key element of the framework for studying recreation and parks professional preparation programs is the recreation and parks professional preparation environment which was the product of external, internal …

The Perceived Effectiveness Of Teachers When Humor And Profanity Are Present In Lectures, Jo Lynn Blankenship

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The present study examined the effects of the use of humor and/or profanity on students’ perception of a male or female Psychology instructor. Groups of subjects (N=389; 203=females, 186=males) in a classroom viewed a taped lecture and then completed a questionnaire assessing the instructor and lecture. Each subject viewed one of eight video-taped lecture conditions: (1) non-humorous, non-profane male, (2) non-humorous, profane male, (3) humorous, non-profane male, (4) humorous, profane male, (5) non-humorous, profane female, (6) non-humorous, profane female, (7) humorous, non-profane female or (8) humorous, profane female. It was found that the combination of humor and profanity was seen …

Self-Perceived Leader Behavior And Characteristics Of Black And White Chief Administrators Of Colleges And Universities: A Comparative Study, Gregory D. Epps

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This study was designed to examine and compare self-perceived leader behavior and characteristics of black and white chief administrators of colleges and universities. The population for this study included chief administrators of the 538 four year colleges and universities, both public and private, within the 15 Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) states. A randomly selected sample of 18 black and 12 white (total n=150) chief administrators was used for this study.

Data collected by the LBDQ-S focuses on two types of self-perceived leader behavior, initiating structure and consideration. The demographic questionnaire collected data which included respondents, race, gender, age, years …

Predictors Of College Choice For First-Time College Students At American Colleges And Universities Associated With The Church Of Christ, Robert W. Stephens Jr.

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to rate the significance of selected factors that influence college choice for first-year students who chose to attend, during fall, 1994, 1 of 10 American liberal arts colleges and universities associated with the Churches of Christ. This study further evaluated the relationship of the rating of these factors with specific student demographic data and the timing of the college choice decision.

Completed surveys were received from 2,677 respondents representing 76% rate of return. According to the results, the most influential college choice factors were the college's religious affiliation, academic reputation, job placement reputation, offer …

A History Of The West Virginia Board Of Regents As The Governing Board For Higher Education, 1969-1989, Joseph Wayne Corder Jr.

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This study examined the history of the West Virginia Board of Regents from its inception in 1969 until its termination in 1989. The history was developed around a social systems theory concept and the identification of internal factors and forces that had an impact as the Board attempted to deal with the higher education issues that came before it. The specific purpose of this study was to identify, chronicle, and interpret the key issues faced by the Board of Regents, and the related perceptions of the key personnel.

Data for the study came from minutes of the meetings of the …

Planning For Changes: A Study Of Satellite Distance Learning Administrative Policy Development In Higher Education, H. Keith Spears

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The problem investigated was the process by which policy is formulated for satellite distance learning systems in higher education. Effects of reporting levels, areas of origination, political pressure, discipline interest administrator characteristics, and type of positions were measured on the methods used by institutions create policies for satellite delivery of courses. The influences that other variables have on the decision makers were part of the study.

The population studied was made up of all administrators of higher education satellite distance learning systems in the United States. The population was the sample. The research instrument was a nominal survey developed by …

Predicting Student Success In College Using Stepwise Multiple Regression, Richard Edward Cerullo

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The problem was to determine the feasibility of predicting a student's success specific college, on the basis of data available at the time of the student's admission to the college. In addition to considering the development of a regression equation which could be applied to the data of any undergraduate entering the college, the feasibility of developing a statistically significant prediction equation at the school and major level was also examined.

The study was carried out in the following manner. Stepwise multiple regression was used on the admissions data of the graduating class of the 1978-1979 academic year. The cumulative …

19800617: Academic Affairs, 1968-1980, Academic Affairs

Guides to University Archives

These items include materials from the office of Academic Affairs at Marshall University from 1968-1980. Items were received in 1980 and include notable materials from Faculty Personnel Committee, Commencement and Honorary Degrees Committee, Physical Facilities & Planning Committee, Student Conduct and Welfare Committee, University Council, and Public Relations and Publications Committee. This is not an exhaustive list. Please download the finding aid for a full list of contents.