Digital Commons Network^™

Exploring How Catholic School Leaders Use The National Standards And Benchmarks For Effective Catholic Schools As A Framework For Accreditation: A Single Case Study, Andrew Michael Kremer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore how Catholic school leaders in a Catholic diocese in the Midwestern United States use the National Standards and Benchmarks for Effective Catholic Schools (NSBECS) to inform their school improvement processes through accreditation. Through the theoretical lens of routinized action theory, the uses of the NSBECS for accreditation and the perceptions of the influence of the NSBECS on school improvement were studied. This study was guided by the central research question: How do Catholic school leaders in the Midwestern United States use the NSBECS to inform their school improvement processes …

A Comparison Of Core Competencies Of Women And Men Leaders In The Manufacturing Industry, Daniel R. Tomal, Kevin J. Jones Jr.

The Coastal Business Journal

This study compared the rankings of fourteen leadership core competencies for women and men managers in middle management and women and men in first-line supervisory positions in five manufacturing companies in the Midwest. Surveys were completed by the respondents and follow-up interviews were conducted. Results indicated that there were no significant differences in the rankings of core competencies between women and men supervisors or women and men managers. However, all supervisors (women and men combined) ranked mentoring and coaching employees higher than all managers (p<.05), and all managers ranked managing finances and employing strategic leadership higher than the supervisors (p<.05). It appears that the role of the leader position may be a more determinant factor in selecting core competencies than the gender of the leader. Including these core competencies in leadership professional development is recommended.

Human Resource Management In Microenterprises: Gateway For Success, Martha Mattare, Amit J. Shah, Michael Monahan

The Coastal Business Journal

Micro enterprises, businesses with five or fewer employees, represent about 75% of all small business, and are often the starting point for successful firms. Why then is there a paucity of research on human resource practices in small businesses? Micro businesses are almost ignored in studies regarding human resources in business. Researchers have assumed that all small firms have the same human resource practices; however, we know this is not the case. What impact does Human Resources Management have on small businesses? Human resource shortages can negatively impact business growth in the areas of high tech employees, sales staff, and …

Having The Right Tools: The Leadership Frames Of University Presidents, Michael L. Monahan, Amit J. Shah

The Coastal Business Journal

The presidency at an institution of higher education demands a person with a multiplicity of skills in order to deal with a multitude of internal and external stakeholders. They must be able to multitask and seek competitive advantage to deal with a myriad of stakeholders. Bolman and Deal postulated that leaders who analyze problems from a variety of perspectives were able to solve more complex problems. This study examined the leadership frames of University presidents. The findings show these frames presented in descending order: human resources, structural, political, symbolic and the absence of the any particular frame. By viewing problems …

Micro Businesses: Where Do They Turn For Help?, Martha Mattare, Amit J. Shah, Michael Monahan

The Coastal Business Journal

Research consistently shows those entrepreneurs who obtain business assistance from various service providers are more likely to be in business over time and are more likely to experience success. Micro business, enterprises with less than five employees, have not been specifically studied in terms of how, or whether, outside business assistance was used or if it produced results. This study examined micro businesses to determine what service providers were used for business assistance and how they differ by demographics. The paper offers the implications and possible strategies for these service providers.

A Revised Feedback Model For Task And Self-Regulated Learning, Thomas F. Hawk, Amit J. Shah

The Coastal Business Journal

Feedback plays a central role in a wide range of learning models and theories. When students engage in active learning processes, such as written case analyses and projects, presentations, and discussions, instructors have the opportunity to provide them with constructive developmental feedback on their progress toward achieving course learning goals. Instructors also have the opportunity to give them feedback on the way they learn, or self-regulated learning. This article presents an integrated model of feedback for both course content and self-regulated learning, showing where difficulties occur in the progress toward achieving the learning goals through the feedback.

Economic Calculation And Managerial Decisions: A Misesian Examination Of The Successes And Failures Of Total Quality Management, William Anderson, Amit J. Shah, Thomas Hawk, Jaquelynne Mclellan

The Coastal Business Journal

While the Total Quality Management programs that were extremely popular a decade ago had many successes, there also were a large number of failures. This paper lays out some theoretical reasons for why these failures might have occurred. Our methodology is the application of the theories of the "Austrian" economists, including Ludwig von Mises, F.A. Hayek, and Murray N. Rothbard. We apply both the Austrian theory of the firm, as well as the economic calculation theories that Mises and Hayek developed, in order to explain why some TQM failures might have occurred.

A Case Study: Changing Human Resource Management Education To Fit The Field, Michael Bedell, Gary H. Kritz

The Coastal Business Journal

The field of Human Resource Management has embarked upon a process of significant change. To keep up with changes to the field, Barksdale (1998) argued that so too must HR education change. This article presents an effort that changed the HR educational model from a functional silos focused model to an integrated outcome-based model. The logic for the change, what changes were made, and comments about the outcomes are presented.

An Overview Of Recent Trends In Incentive Pay Programs, Mike Schraeder, J. Bret Becton

The Coastal Business Journal

This article examines recent trends and developments in an increasingly popular HR practice--incentive pay programs. In addition to highlighting major developments in recent empirical studies, this article also synthesizes recent research pertaining to general guidelines or strategies for design, implementation, and the utilization of incentive pay programs. Counter arguments pointing out potential pitfalls and precautions will also be discussed. The article concludes by offering some recommendations for future research.

A Phenomenological Study Of Exemplary Corporate Learning And Development Leaders Leading From The Heart, Randa Jad-Moussa

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe how corporate learning and development leaders lead from the heart using Mark Crowley’s (2011) 4 principles (building a highly engaged team, connecting on a personal level, maximizing employee potential, and valuing and honoring achievements) to accomplish extraordinary results in their organizations.

Methodology: This study followed a qualitative phenomenological research study to describe the lived experiences of exemplary corporate learning and development leaders. Eight corporate learning and development leaders were selected from the target population in publicly traded technology companies in the state of California. Each of the corporate learning and …

Race, Repair, And Youth Participatory Action Research In One Rural School, Carol Thompson, Felicia Crockett

The Rural Educator

This qualitative study examines the progress of a rural New Jersey school in addressing longstanding racial conflict after implementing a Youth Participatory Action Research project two years prior. Here we take up the thread as students continued to develop activities meant to increase awareness of ongoing issues, and as adults used professional development time to model best practices in managing racialized interactions. Eight teachers and staff not originally involved and nine students who had been directly involved were interviewed and a student focus group conducted. All participants agreed that progress had been made though issues around curriculum and discipline remained. …

Educational Leadership Preparation And Professional Roles: Are We Serving The Needs Of Leadership Roles Along The Leadership Continuum?, Daniel W. Eadens, Marjorie Ceballos

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

As the complexity of school and district contexts continue to evolve, there is a need to prepare leaders at various points along the leadership continuum. Through this survey research, we analyzed student perceptions of program effectiveness (N = 408) from 2013 to 2020 in one educational leadership program through the lens of student professional roles (e.g., teachers, instructional coaches, central office personnel). Results varied with instructional coaches demonstrating higher perceptions of effectiveness and central office personnel lower perceptions. Findings from this study could serve as the impetus for further research as educational leadership programs serve diverse educational leadership roles.

A Quantitative Study Examining Intentional Teaching Of Social Emotional Skills, Christina Scrivner Huse

Dissertations

In a world where children are likely to experience early-life trauma, relationships matter, and trust is a key in forming healthy working relationships. Intentionally teaching adults and teachers how to evoke calmness in ourselves and breathe to handle negative situations, trusted educators can then teach children to do the same. It is important that educational leaders, and other stakeholders, explore what works best to help children overcome trauma and become resilient and productive adults. This study examined the relationship between social, emotional, and behavioral skills of students entering kindergarten who have been intentionally taught skills needed for resiliency by highly …

Midwest University Coach Perspectives On Student-Athlete Recruitment During Unprecedented Disruption, Jonah Bradley

Leadership Education Capstones

One significant result of the pandemic was the cancellation of athletic events, games, and tournaments across various sports. This disruption forced coaches to develop new ways to communicate with recruits, attract student-athletes to campuses, and started a new era in athletic recruitment. The significant importance of recruitment on college athletic operations, especially in building competitive programs, is one of the most overwhelming challenges. Understanding coach responses to student-athlete recruitment during a crisis may offer tactics for improvement in recruitment practices.

Leadership Advancement: A Phenomenological Study Of Non-Faculty Black Male Leadership In Higher Education, Lerone Joseph

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This transcendental phenomenological study examined the lived experiences of non-faculty Black male administrators and leadership advancement at predominantly White institutions (PWI) in Virginia. A transcendental phenomenological approach was used to address the central research question of what the leadership advancement experiences of non-faculty Black male administrators at predominately White institutions in Virginia. Critical race theory as it relates to education was used as the theoretical framework to guide the study. Purposeful and snowball sampling was used to select non-faculty Black male administrators from predominantly White institutions (PWI). Data collected through questionnaires, interviews, and focus groups revealed five major themes: cultural …

Seeking Equity, Agility, And Sustainability In The Provision Of Emergency Remote Teaching During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Center For Teaching And Learning Takes An Expanded Role, Henry Trotter, Cheng-Wen Huang, Laura Czerniewicz

Higher Learning Research Communications

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to illuminate and assess the experiences and feelings of the staff of a center for teaching and learning at one South African university during the early months (April–June 2020) of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns when it switched from face-to-face teaching to emergency remote teaching (ERT). It explores the practical, operational, ethical, cultural, and emotional questions that the staff of this center dealt with as they supported the university in ERT provision.

Method: This paper draws on in-depth interviews with 23 staff members of the Centre for Innovation in Learning and Teaching (CILT) who …

The Experiences Of Undergraduate Black Gay Men Who Use Hookup And Dating Apps While Attending A Predominantly White Institution, Tevis Denzell Bryant

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of undergraduate Black gay men who use hook up and dating apps while attending predominantly White colleges and universities. In using intersectionality as my theoretical framework, I was able to discover the essence of the experiences that Black gay men face while using these platforms. Intersectionality assisted the study in identifying the systems of privilege and oppression that are present for Black gay men, specifically when attempting to date within the LGBTQ+ community (Cho et al., 2013; Collins, 2015; Garcia & Ortiz, 2013). Through this framework I additionally began to …

Vickers Assumes Role Of Ceo Of The Uab Health System And Ceo Of The Uab/Ascension St. Vincent's Alliance, Continues To Serve As Dean, Mary Ashley Canevaro

Browse All News

No abstract provided.

Holding Space: Developing Strategies To Center Education, Belonging, And Inclusion In A Black Cultural Center At A Large Research-Intensive University, Lorenzo Jameco Mckenzie

Education Projects

The story of Sankofa teaches us to look back to move forward. Concerning this consultancy project, it means that by gathering information from the past, experiences, joys, challenges, and insights, we would be able to reflect, synthesize the information, and chart a course of action for the prosperity and future of the African American Cultural Center at NC State University. As college campuses become more diverse and the need for robust diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in colleges and universities increases, this project seeks to provide a community engagement plan outlining comprehensive ways to build a significant Black cultural community …

The Effects And Impact Of Interdisciplinary Teaming On Teacher Practices And Efficacy, Lisa Depaola

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the effects and impact of interdisciplinary teaming on teacher practices and efficacy. This study revealed the perspectives of eight 7th and 8th grade teachers, who teach one of the core disciplines (English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies) and the school principal by interviewing them for this case study in an Essential Elements School-to-Watch in Nassau County, New York. It included perceptions from the other 7th and 8th grade teachers on interdisciplinary teams through focus groups and observations during team meetings. Document analysis was performed on artifacts that were collected during …

Cracking The Code To Effective Marketing In Higher Education: A Case Study Of Recruitment And Retention Of First-Generation, Latinx Community College Students, Manuel L. Romero

Theses and Dissertations

Marketing strategy involves selecting a target market and determining the desired product positioning to attract the desired customers (Silk, 2006). Recently, community colleges have seen a decrease in student enrollment. In some cases, this was brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic; in other cases budget constraints have posed challenges to community colleges and their recruitment marketing efforts. Successful advertising involves a marketing strategy where the student is considered the customer (Guilbault, 2017) and creative “edvertising” (DiMartino & Jessen, 2018) campaigns entice students to select one college above other competitors. With a growing Latinx population in the United States, college recruitment …

Middle School Principals’ Perceptions On The Inclusion Of The Arts In New York Schools: A Qualitative Study, John Barnes

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify the perceptions of middle school principals regarding the implementation of the arts. Although the New York State Education Department (2015) has mandated arts curriculum into all grade levels within a middle school environment, not all schools comply. The purpose of this qualitative exploratory case study was to explore the perceptions of middle school principals and to gain a better understanding of why their schools may not be fully following the specific learning requirements of the arts, the challenges principals face when implementing arts education into their curricula, and the social issue where …

The Principal Effect: Examining Administrators’ Influences On Behavioral Outcomes For African American Male Students, Michelle Soussoudis-Mathis

Theses and Dissertations

For more than forty years, the United States’ public education system’s “zero-tolerance” policies, and disciplinary practices rooted in those policies, have negatively impacted and marginalized minority students far greater than the general student body population. Over the years, nationwide studies have identified complex multifaceted predictors of negative disciplinary practices, such as: race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, teacher-student matches, gender, student behaviors and attitudes. Studies indicated clear and undeniable correlations between exclusionary practices, “zero-tolerance” policies and its disproportionate use toward minority students, particularly African American males who can be identified as a specific minority group within a larger minority and racial group. This …

Intentional Undergraduate Leadership Development Through The Establishment Of A Center Of Excellence For Leadership At Gardner-Webb University, James Rennie

Education Projects

Similar to most universities in the United States, Gardner-Webb University lists leadership development in their students as a high priority. The first two sentences in the Gardner-Webb University strategic plan state,

The mission of Gardner-Webb University is to prepare graduates for leadership and service in their professional careers and in their personal lives. Rigorous and innovative degree programs, combined with distinctive experiential learning opportunities, shape students into thinkers, doers, and world-changers. (Gardner-Webb University, 2021a, p. 1)

There are several key words in these sentences that warrant further discussion. First, leadership development is an instrumental aspect of the core mission of …

Building Leaders In Policing: Using Leadership Characteristics And Attributes To Develop First-Line Supervisors And Line Officers, Brad Stewart

Education Projects

Organizational effectiveness and legitimacy in policing are largely based on public perception witnessed predominantly through interactions with line officers and first-line supervisors. The demand for highly effective first-line supervisors falls short as agencies are ill-equipped to provide leader development. This mixed methods study examined the characteristics and attributes of first-line supervisors as perceived by line officers in the Asheboro, North Carolina Police Department. Specifically, it sought to answer the following questions: (a) Which dominant characteristics and attributes are perceived by police officers to be associated with leader efficacy; (b) Which of the perceived characteristics and attributes contribute to the development …

Designing A Literacy Program For A Better Chance, Better Community (Abc2), James E. Pittman

Education Projects

ABC2 is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that connects rural communities with resources in order to trigger youth power and advocate for practical solutions and healthier lifestyles. This project concentrated on the planning stage of developing a literacy program for students in rural Halifax County. The proposal was written to take use of both sides' current strengths while also looking for ways for the organization, community, and me to expand. Its assessment entailed three steps, including evaluation of whether the project met base criteria, assessment of the project’s impact, and evaluation of the project’s complexity. The primary focus of this project …

Hickory Nut Gap Farm Culture Change, Stacia Harris

Education Projects

Organizational culture is crucial to success yet incredibly difficult to thoroughly understand and, when needed, change. This mixed methods study examined the specific culture at Hickory Nut Gap Farm to better define challenges and opportunities for growth and improvement. Using data and published research on organizational culture, this consultancy yielded custom strategies to help Hickory Nut Gap Farm create a consistent culture and also address other specific challenges revealed through research.

The Arduous Pursuit Of Ratification: A Community Effort And Benefit Towards Adoption Of Countywide Zoning For Anson County, North Carolina To Aid In Economic Development, David L. Williams

Education Projects

This consultancy project was designed to assist Anson County, North Carolina with understanding the impacts of enacting countywide zoning and how to develop a zoning ordinance. While a vast majority of cities and counties in North Carolina have zoning throughout their jurisdiction, Anson County does not. This project revealed the economic impacts of countywide zoning by assessing both qualitative and quantitative data, including a review of the literature. The literature review concluded counties that enact zoning increase economic or job opportunities. As evidence, a Georgia study concluded the average employment for counties with a zoning ordinance was more than double …

Enhancing Overall Communication And Onboarding Procedures At Case Management Of The Carolina, Loren Mcneal

Education Projects

Case Management of the Carolina, a young case management organization, serves patients who qualify for community long-term care services. The organization employs less than 10 people but is struggling to retain qualified case managers. Onboarding, communication, and rebranding were some of the surface issues the owner was facing. Tammy Gordon, a previous and experienced case manager, partnered with me to help remedy some of those problems. Survey research and interview research were used to assist in diagnosing the true cause of turnover. Recommendations for new orientation documents were provided to assist with onboarding. Several virtual platforms were recommended to support …

Restructuring The Role Of Faculty In The Advising Process At A Community College, Michael Wayne Mabe

Education Projects

My goal in this project was to restructure the faculty’s role in student advising by developing a faculty-student mentorship program. I focused on three areas within the study: determining the role of faculty as mentors, describing how students would be assigned to faculty, and determining how to train faculty in the new role. I conducted a mixed methods study to gauge faculty views on advising and mentoring. Results showed that faculty supported mentoring of students, which has been shown to improve student academic performance. I recommended that faculty meet with their mentees three times throughout the academic year. Faculty and …