Digital Commons Network^™

Along For The Journey: Graduate Student Perceptions Of Research, Alissa A. Droog, Kari D. Weaver, Frances Brady

Faculty Articles, Papers, and Other Scholarship

Graduate students’ identities and personal lives are heavily tied to their experiences of research, and many struggle to find, understand, and use information for research purposes. Using a drawing exercise rooted in visual research methods combined with semi-structured interviews, a research team in the United States and Canada explored graduate student perceptions of research with nineteen participants. Thematic analysis identified six themes: research is abstract; research is an odyssey; social support makes or breaks the student experience; research is an emotional continuum; interplay between identity/values; information is problematic. The study has implications for how librarians support graduate student research.

Radical Co-Teaching: How Building Relationships Creates Radical Co-Teaching Partnerships, Meagan L. Serrano

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This study analyzes the development of co-teaching relationships in K-12 classrooms in New York City. More than half of all teachers in New York City will be placed in co-taught classrooms, but they are not directly instructed on how to co-teach–and the relational aspects of co-teaching are largely ignored. This study uses New York public school teacher insights and experiences to understand what really goes into building strong co-teaching partnerships. Using a grounded theory framework for analysis, the research project examines the aspects of successful co-teacher relationships from the co-teacher perspective. The goal of this project is to understand how …

The Perception And Lived Experiences Of African International Students During Their Studies In The United States Colleges And Universities: A Phenomenological Study, Ebere V. Chukwuezi

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore the lived experience and perceptions adapting to the process of college-level education for African international students at a four-year college in the southeastern United States. The theory that guided this study was Berry’s acculturation theory, which categorizes individual adaptation strategies into two dimensions. This study was guided by acculturation theory aligned with the central research question and sub-questions. Participants who completed their studies or were current students at the university were selected through purposeful and snowball sampling. Data was collected through individual interviews, online surveys, and focus groups and analyzed …

Incorporating Aaron Copland's Philosophy Of Inclusion In Midwest Rural Band Programs: A Qualitative Study Of Attracting And Retaining Students Of Low Socioeconomic Status, Jonathan, S. Laflamme

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The field of music education has established the value of instrumental band music instruction as congruent with students’ intellectual, kinesthetic, psychological, and academic success. However, one should scrutinize the validity of the above data, as it addresses issues concerning access to instrumental music education that persist within underserved populations, particularly those characterized by low socioeconomic status (SES) in rural Midwest America. Researchers have synthesized very little data specifically to address the needs of Midwest rural schools and underserved student populations. This qualitative study explores the effects of applying Aaron Copland’s philosophy of inclusion, specifically regarding students of low SES, in …

The Effects Of Social Media Presence On Historically Black College And University (Hbcu) College Student Band Selection, Kuronde Washington

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This research reveals the effects of social media presence on Historically Black College and University (HBCU) college student band selection. This quantitative correlational research study investigates the impact of social media presence and engagement on how HBCU band students select the college band they wish to attend. Variables in the digital space are the students’ influence of choice and social media. The researcher surveyed 75 HBCU band students from various athletic conferences to determine what social media content factors influence how college and university band students perceive and rank band programs. Participants were selected based on active college or university …

Teacher Candidates’ Engagement In Practitioner Inquiry Within An Equity-Centered Initial Teacher Preparation Program: Illuminating Equity’S Presence And Pitfalls, Lauren Weisberg, Blake Beckett, Nancy Fichtman Dana, Michelle Commeret, Rachel Silva

Journal of Practitioner Research

Growing numbers of initial teacher preparation programs are incorporating practitioner inquiry into clinical field experiences due to its proven capacity to empower educators and learners. To uphold practitioner inquiry’s tradition of interrogating the current culture of pedagogy, scholars advocate for an equity-centered approach to inquiry in these programs. We investigated the efficacy of such an approach by exploring how equity manifested, and was threatened, in teacher candidates' inquiries in an equity-centered program rooted in the cross-pollination of Universal Design for Learning and culturally sustaining pedagogy. Our findings indicate that while equity-centered teacher preparation programs have potential in nurturing teacher candidates’ …

The Exhibit And Beyond: Attendees, Collaborating Organizations, And Decision Makers Responding To A Photovoice Project, Cara Dienno, Corey Martz, Lauren Collins, Mimiko Watanabe

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

Photovoice aims to impact those who view photographs and stories in culminating exhibits. This multi-phase research project, completed in partnership with city government and community partners, explored photovoice impacts on exhibit attendees, collaborating organizations, and decision-makers. Results show increased levels of awareness, concern, and willingness to take action among exhibit attendees. Additionally, collaborating organizations and decision-makers saw the power of “thicker” public engagement processes, like photovoice, to provide useful data to aid decision-making.

Social Theories And Service Learning: Towards Building An Integrated Service-Learning Sociological Framework, Mark Anthony D. Abenir, Carol Ma Hok Ka

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

This theoretical paper anchors service learning (S-L) in three broad sociological theories. From there, discussions on the actual implementation of S-L based on these theories are explained to build an integrated S-L sociological framework. Four S-L modalities of community engagement are identified—namely transactional, transitional, transformational, and transcendental—with their corresponding respective levels of community participation—namely consultative tokenism, placation, partnerships, and citizen control. The application of such a coherent framework is discussed in the context of contemporary service-learning practices and community impact.

Subversive Service Learning: Shifting The Locus Of The Problem, Neriko Musha Doerr

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

This article introduces subversive service learning, a new type of critical service learning that shifts the locus of the “problem” from the marginalized group to the mainstream society, subverting both mainstream perspectives and the deficit model of a community being “helped.” Inspired by Whiteness studies, it pursues social change through service learning. This article illustrates how this subversive service learning works in three cases from the author’s college 200-level class in Fall 2016.

Institutionalizing Community Engagement: A Quantitative Approach To Identifying Patterns Of Engagement Based On Institutional Characteristics, Natasha Hutson, Travis York, Daesang Kim, Jamie L. Workman

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

Community engagement is recognized as a high-impact practice in higher education. However, while best practices in engagement have been broadly accepted, standard metrics for engagement across institutions have not yet been established. The purpose of this research study was to explore the relationship between community engagement and a variety of institutional characteristics among higher education institutions in a Southeastern state. Findings indicated that a pattern of engagement existed among the 48 participating institutions.

The Family Story Project: Narrative, Ethics, And Community Collaboration Between Ronald Mcdonald House Of Durham Families And Pre-Health Undergraduates, Denise K. Comer

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

The Family Story Project (FSP) brought together families at the Ronald McDonald House of Durham (RMHD) and pre-health undergraduates to co-construct narratives and visual portraits about family experiences. FSP shows that narratives can be rewarding for families and offer formative, skill-building experiences for pre-health undergraduates. FSP also demonstrates the ethical complexities surrounding community-university partnerships in health contexts, particularly with vulnerable populations such as children.

Translating Encounters: Connecting Indigenous Young People With Higher Education Through A Transmedia Project, Kristine Alexander, Hudson Eagle Bear, Tesla Heavy Runner, Ashley Henrickson, Taylor Little

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

This piece draws on multiple voices to reflect on a collaborative project between universitybased researchers and a local community organization devoted to Indigenous Blackfoot children and their families. The evolution of the project from one based on photoelicitation to one devoted to building a digital storytelling library meant a methodological shift to acknowledge the role of translation in encounters between university researchers and community practitioners, between Elders and youth, and between settlers and Indigenous people. Our experience provides lessons on the importance of taking seriously the moments when difference is encountered and translated during the research and community-building process.

A Decade Of Publishing: On Reflection And Our Future, Catherine Stemmans Paterson

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

This article reflects on the tenth anniversary of publishing The Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education. It also describes an upcoming special edition in partnership with Indiana Campus Compact.

Principal Agency 50 Years After The Lau Decision: Building And Sustaining Bilingual Education Programs For Asian Languages, Kevin M. Wong, Zhongfeng Tian

Education Division Scholarship

This study examined how three champion principals of Asian language dual language bilingual education (DLBE) programs—Cantonese, Korean, and Mandarin—in California have navigated the oscillating language-in-education policies after the Lau decision. We explored principals' various roles through a lens of agency in a social justice leadership framework, specifically considering the opportunities and challenges for agentive leadership from three different phases: foregrounding and engaging, planning and implementing, and evaluating and sustaining. Findings demonstrate that the success of DLBE programs goes beyond the overarching language policies that supposedly enable bilingual education; rather it hinges on the bottom-up commitment, collaboration and resilience of principals, …

Social Experiences, Life Satisfaction, And Social Support Of Immigrant Families With Young Children In A Highly Urban City, Zeynep Isik-Ercan, Huan-Tang Lu, Nicole Edwards, Madji Fall, Latifa Sebti

College of Education Departmental Research

Grounding this study in Bronfenbrenner’s ecological framework, the authors used a survey that includes psychometrically sound measures, to investigate the social experiences of 54 immigrant families with young children and the factors that shape their perceptions of life satisfaction and social support in a highly urban city. Results show persistent challenges related to discrimination and access to resources. Despite these challenges, participants’ overall satisfaction with life was rated high and positively correlated with their comfort with practicing their culture and with their perceived social support. Implications involve the need to design evidence-based policies and programmes that promote immigrant families’ wellbeing.

Enhancing The Efficacy Of Task-Based Grammar Teaching: A Study Through Error Analysis Of Esl Learners At The Tertiary Level, Dhivya P

Theses and Dissertations

This study aims to determine the effectiveness of modern methods of teaching grammar and to test the student's learning through activities and games. The objective is to identify the students' grammatical errors regarding prepositions, articles, concord, tenses, and redundancy by practical methods and task-based activities. The study employed Corder’s Error Analysis method to understand the students' language learning process, indicate errors, and identify opportunities to develop learners' language awareness.

A pilot study was conducted involving both pre test and posttest for the students. The primary research involved pre test, posttest and retention tests for the students to evaluate the error …

Archetypal Energies And Global Mental Health, Carroy U. Ferguson

Psychology Faculty Publication Series

As a keynote speaker at the Global Mental Health Conference 2024, held at Sophia University, Costa Mesa, CA, in-person and virtually, August 16-18, 2024, my topic was "Archetypal Energies As A Framework for Self-Empowerment and Well Being". The theme of this 2024 global conference was: Enlightened Minds, Compassionate Hearts, and Embodied Wisdom. To supplement my keynote address, I wrote this blog article titled "Archetypal Energies and Global Mental Health".

Black Mph Internship Experiences In Racialized Organizations: Critical Counter-Narratives For A More Racially Just Public Health Workforce, Zach Jenkins

Theses and Dissertations

Internships are a vital component of Master of Public Health (MPH) programs. Despite 14% of MPH students identifying as Black, limited research has examined their internship experiences. This is particularly troubling given the racial demographics of the public health workforce and the racialized nature of most public health organizations. Using critical race theory (CRT) as a theoretical framework and critical counter-narrative as a methodology, this study sought to answer the following research questions: 1) How do Black MPH students describe their racialized experiences in their internships? and 2) What are the implications of Black MPH students’ narratives for policies and …

Therapy Use And Self-Stigma Of Seeking Help Among College Students Of Color, Rawle David Sookwah Ragoonath

Theses and Dissertations

Amidst rapid diversification of higher education student bodies, discrepancies in help-seeking relative to endorsed psychological distress have been noted among college students of color. The treatment utilization disparity exhibited by minoritized racial and ethnic groups attending college necessitates analysis of factors that impact help-seeking. Colleges have increasingly implemented multi-systemic interventions to address rising mental illness prevalence rates across college student demographics. Addressing treatment use disparities and implementing culturally competent services are foci of updated college mental health models. Empowering help-seeking is vital to promoting campus community health. Saint Arnault’s (2009) cultural determinants of help-seeking model (CDHS) posits the interplay of …

Phenomenology Via A Narrative Inquiry In Action: A Study Identifying Themes Of Persistence And Barriers Faced By African American Male Students In Their Pursuits Of Higher Education, Jeremiah Rotich

The Interactive Journal of Global Leadership and Learning

The use of phenomenology via a narrative inquiry is increasingly becoming popular in qualitative research study as it provides an unparalleled approach in sharing lived experiences. This article employs a narrative inquiry study to improve the understanding as to why Black male students (also known as African American male students) graduate from college at a lower rate than their Latino, White, and Asian counterparts in the United States. These narratives helped describe the barriers that have frustrated African American male students from persisting in higher education. Participants identified the lack of financial support, lack of cultural competency, lack of identity, …

Cultural Competence To Meet Students' Transcultural Learning Goals, Taijohnea Haywood

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Researchers have noted that some primary grade teachers do not have the cultural competence to meet transcultural learning goals for primary grade students in diverse schools. This qualitative study explored perspectives of kindergarten through second grade teachers on their cultural competence to meet transcultural learning goals for primary-grade students in diverse schools. Mishra and Metha’s 21st century learning model and Vernon’s six principles of culturally competent practice were used as the framework for this study. This study addressed two research questions focusing on primary grade teachers’ perspectives of their cultural competence to meet the transcultural learning goals for their students …

The Qualitative Ethnographic Research Of The Relationship Related To Parental Involvement, Community Support, And School Administrative Substructure Amid To Inner-City Title-I High School Band Programs In Memphis, Tennessee, Thomas Akil Perry

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative ethnographic research investigated the fundamental unsubstantiated relationship related to parental involvement, community support, and school administrative substructure amid two inner-city Title-I high school band programs. This qualitative research embraced an ethnographic process managed by anthropology and sociology approached framework geared to study cultural responses over some time based on similar analytical cultural statistics. This study depicts the socioeconomic domain of a high school band community, highlighting key factors that add to the success and decline of the inner-city and Title-I high school band programs. It was conducted within Memphis, TN, within the North Memphis region, outlining the Raleigh, …

A Study On Support From A Distant Learning Department At A Hispanic-Serving Institution, Bobbie Myatt, Alejandro Garcia, Velma D. Menchaca

Organization and School Leadership Faculty Publications

Online programs have made a lasting impact on institutions of higher learning for several decades. This ethnographic qualitative study focused on the development and support of a distance learning department at a Hispanic-serving institution. The study aimed to identify unique organizational elements specific to this Hispanic-serving institution. The findings were significant, revealing that the Distance Learning department, operating under an “academic umbrella”, functioned as a comprehensive hub for both faculty and student support, offering a wide range of services including technical and instructional technology support. Furthermore, the study found that the department's placement under the “academic umbrella” not only centralized …

Reflections And Revelations In Autoethnography: A Review Of Meaningful Journeys Of Quest And Identity Transformation, Niroj Dahal

The Qualitative Report

In this review of—Meaningful Journeys: Autoethnographies of Quest and Identity Transformation, edited by Alec Grant, Ph.D., and Elizabeth (Lizzie) Lloyd-Parkes, Ph.D., I have made an effort to offer my evaluation that explores the autoethnographies of quest and identity transformation (Grant & Lloyd-Parkes, 2024). The book presents a curated anthology of personal ethnographic narratives, each grounded in the foundational concepts, philosophical insights, and linguistic roots of “journeying,” “questing,” and both ancient and contemporary interpretations of “pilgrimage.” As an autoethnographer, even during the different phases of life—personal and professional—I have been through the different roots of transformation, and now, at …

Generative Ai And The Role Of Educators In The Creative Arts, Leah Howd

Tradition Innovations in Arts, Design, and Media Higher Education

Educators have always had a hand in our future; influencing and nurturing those who will make that future. There is no doubt that AI will also have an influence, but AI is still in its formative years. These early years are precious because they allow experimentation before AI becomes entrenched in our society. The three projects in this second part of the AI issue of Tradition-Innovations in Art, Design, and Media Higher Education, Generative Algorithm for Art and Architecture: A collaborative interdisciplinary course structure nurturing transdisciplinary GenAI-supported design, Teaching Creatives to be Provocateurs: Establishing a Digital Humanist Approach for …

2024 Annual Report Of The Nominating Committee, University Of Northern Iowa. Faculty Senate.

Documents - Faculty Senate

University Nominating Committee report including committee memberships, produced by the Faculty Senate of the University of Northern Iowa.

Effects Of The Russia-Ukraine Conflict On The Internationalization Of Higher Education In Kyrgyzstan, Martha Merrill

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

No abstract provided.

Women In Credit Union Leadership: A Grounded Theory Study Of Chief Executive Officers, Paige Elizabeth-Rose Watkins

Education Doctoral

U.S. credit unions hold a unique opportunity to improve the negative relationship between increasing asset size and female representation in the role of president and CEO. Credit unions under $20 million in assets have a 72.3% representation of women in the CEO role, while credit unions over $1 billion in assets have a 19.6% representation of women in the CEO role. This study gathered perceptions of credit union leadership and gender from six participants who were women holding CEO roles at U.S. credit unions over $500 million in assets. This study focused on the representation of women in the CEO …

Project-Based Learning And Its Impact On Student Engagement, Well-Being, And Learning Outcomes: A Study Of Teachers’ Perspectives., Stefania Rubino

Student Theses and Dissertations

In recent years, the field of education has experienced major shifts characterized by a significant increase in the research of innovative instructional approaches. Project-based learning (PBL) is an educational approach that prioritizes collaborative projects and experiential learning activities, offering a unique framework for exploring the factors that influence student engagement, academic achievement, and overall well-being. Project-based learning (PBL) places emphasis on inquiry-based and student-centered learning through the successful completion of meaningful projects. The present study explored the impact of project-based learning (PBL) on student engagement, well-being, and learning outcomes as perceived by educators. This qualitative research was conducted, featuring interviews …

Exploring Early Childhood Teachers’ Experiences In Teaching Multilingual Children In Public Mainstream Schools In Tennessee, Maria Dias

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study, grounded in a phenomenological perspective, delves into the lived experiences of early childhood teachers who teach multilingual children in mainstream classrooms in Tennessee. Amidst the rising number of multilingual learners in mainstream educational settings and the dearth of adequate teacher training to address their needs, this research illuminates the experiences of these teachers. Furthermore, it seeks to advocate for the integration of translanguaging pedagogy into teacher training programs and state policies. This study employed a qualitative study using the three-in-depth-interview series from a phenomenological perspective (Seidman, 2019). The first interview focused on participants’ overall teaching experiences and …