Digital Commons Network^™

Hire And Hope: An Exploration Of Principal Turnover, Jessica D. True

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study is designed to investigate the possible relationships between principal turnover within K-12 public schools in the State of Texas, and demographic characteristics of school location, principal’s ethnicity, principal’s gender, and principal’s level of post-secondary degree. Data for participating schools was gathered from state-reported educator information specifically for the 2018/2019, 2019/2020, 2020/2021, 2021/2022, 2022/2023, and 2023/2024 school years. The longitudinal study reviewed K-12 non-charter public schools in Education Service Center (ESC) 11, which encompasses all public schools in the Fort Worth metroplex of North Texas, allowing this study to analyze a robust and inclusive dataset. The Chi-Square Test of …

Professor Perspectives: Inclusion Of Students With An Intellectual Disability In Transition Programming On A College Campus, Melissa Jane Massey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Students with intellectual disabilities (ID) are often unemployed or underemployed compared to students who do not have ID. Transition or postsecondary programming for students with ID has increased in recent years in response to the U.S. federal requirement for special education professionals to complete transition plans before students turn 16. The requirement for transition planning in Texas is age 14, and the ARD committee including the student and parent come together to develop goals for future planning. Transition plans include information on future employment, future independent living skills, and agency connections that students with ID may need to access to …

Collaborative Reflections On A Practical Journey Through Transcendental Phenomenology Data Analysis, Tyler Kulp, Hissah Alzahrani, Michele Parker

The Qualitative Report

Although transcendental phenomenology is widely recognized in qualitative research, there is limited discussion of how researchers come to understand and apply its methods in practice. This paper examines how reflective collaboration enhances the understanding and use of transcendental phenomenological analysis. It involves the first author, a recent doctoral graduate, the second author, a current doctoral student, and the third author, the doctoral advisor, using a collaborative approach. We draw upon the first author’s dissertation, providing clear, actionable guidance for simplifying the analysis process. The discussion highlights the value of collaborative reflection in making the methodology more accessible and enriching understanding …

Effective Engagement In Online Asynchronous Graduate Courses: How Students Perceive Engagement In Their Graduate Programs, Matthew A. Galeota, Robert M. Mangione, Stephanie M. Foote

New York Journal of Student Affairs

An increase in online learning has created a set of new challenges for higher education institutions. Institutions seek to retain students and ensure they are engaged in their courses. This paper examines forms of engagement that traditional and nontraditional students perceive in their online asynchronous graduate courses at a public flagship university. The authors examined relevant literature and surveyed students across several online graduate education programs. The survey shows that collaborative engagement, specifically the indicator of connecting to institutional opportunities, is the lowest tallied. This suggests that online graduate programs should seek to implement more collaborative engagement indicators. The survey …

Cultivating Commitment Within Educational Ecosystems: Improving Teacher Satisfaction Through Autonomy And Expertise, Jane Mcintosh Cooper, Leslie Gauna, John Decman, Sheila Baker

School Leadership Review

This study explores the experiences of Texas educators’ job satisfaction, focusing on their ability to enact curriculum and pedagogy within their school ecosystems. Reporting of partial qualitative results of a larger mixed-methods survey of teachers in Texas, the research examines how administrative and contextual stances impact teachers’ professional and personal goals. Findings reveal that dismissive attitudes toward teachers’ content expertise and micromanagement by evaluation-focused leadership lead to dissatisfaction and potential attrition. Conversely, growth-oriented leadership that values autonomy and respects teachers’ practical knowledge enhances job satisfaction and commitment. The study, grounded in self-determination theory, highlights the critical role of intrinsic motivators—such …

Case Managers As A Compass: A Strategy For Influencing First-Generation College Student Success, James Riley

Student Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of case managers who use case management as a strategy for improving first-generation student retention at higher education institutions in the United States. Case managers are college or university staff members who provide non-clinical one-on-one student support, including interventions, advocacy, referrals and follow-up services for students who are experiencing significant difficulties. Guided by Tinto’s Theory of Student Departure (1975) and Pascarella’s Model for Assessing Student Change (1980), this study involved interviews with 11 case managers from institutions across the United States and a subsequent review of 24 …

2025 September 12 - Academic, Research And Student Success Committee Agenda And Minutes, Board Of Trustees, East Tennessee State University

Board of Trustees Agendas and Minutes

No abstract provided.

Wmu Board Of Trustee Board Meeting, Thursday September 11, 2025, Wmu Board Of Trustees

WMU Board of Trustees Meetings

Acceptance of the Agenda

Approval of the Minutes (June 26, 2025 and August 13, 2025

Remarks by the Chair of the Board

Remarks by the President

Updates by the Faculty Senate President

Updates by the Western Student Association President

Updates by the Graduate Student Association President

Western Michigan University Employee Graduates

Presentation: A History of Teaching and Learning; Zhang Legacy Collections Center

Public Comments Regarding Action Items

Action Items

Professional Instructors Organization (PIO) 2025-2029 Agreement

Remarks following vote by PIO Contract Enforcement Officer

Delegated Board of Trustees Authority to Confer Degrees

Consent Items

• Personnel Report
• Amendment to the Brian Schott …

The Sacrifice Gap: Examining The Influence Of Family Expectations And Institutional Barriers Impacting Women's Leadership In Higher Education, Tara K. Shollenberger

Journal of Organizational & Educational Leadership

Despite constituting the majority of mid-level academic professionals and outpacing men in educational attainment, women remain significantly underrepresented in senior leadership roles across higher education. This mixed-methods (n=20) study explores the “sacrifice gap”-the disproportionate personal, professional, and economic costs women bear to reach leadership positions-by centering the lived experiences of women leaders navigating the intersection of family expectations, institutional barriers, and identity-based discrimination. Quantitative survey data from women in higher education leadership reveal that caregiving roles such as motherhood, partnership, and household management are perceived as moderate but persistent hindrances to career advancement, with these roles functioning as interconnected, systemic …

A Tale Of Two Schools: A Comparative Case Study Demonstrating Organizational Pathways To Educator Collaborations, Michael W. Valenti Ph.D., Duhita Mahatmya, Elizabeth Levine-Brown, Karen Celedonia, Tracy Sweet

Mid-Western Educational Researcher

Effective staff collaboration in schools maximizes educators’ collective capacity, improves educator and student outcomes, and facilitates school-wide improvement efforts. Yet, many school team members struggle to collaborate effectively. Previous studies have demonstrated individual and school-level factors that influence school-based collaborations. This study expands former research by comparing the varying administrative and environmental tools employed by two schools to shape relational networks and foster interpersonal capital. Specifically, this case study explores how school-level factors shape the development of school social networks and staff collaborative behavior. We use comparative case study analysis to explore how differences in individual-level and system-level factors influence …

Students From Low-Income Backgrounds: Characteristics, Common Barriers, And Initiatives To Better Support Student Success, Michael Sparrow

New York Journal of Student Affairs

Students from low-income backgrounds comprise almost a third of undergraduate enrollment, but most colleges are designed poorly to support these students. This misalignment between the characteristics and needs of students from low-income backgrounds and the typical college environment leads to disproportionately low matriculation, persistence, and graduation rates for this population. This literature review provides an overview of common challenges faced by students from low-income backgrounds and characteristics of these students (including strengths). This literature review concludes by providing an overview of some student-focused initiatives from orientation, first-year seminars, peer mentoring, and others that can help mitigate these challenges and improve …

Student Exploration Of Self And Identity Within The Context Of On-Campus Employment, Jason Foster, Hermen Díaz Iii

New York Journal of Student Affairs

Utilizing constructivist interpretive inquiry, this study examined the role of student employment in the Division of Student Affairs for four current undergraduate students. Findings indicate that student employment provided an important space for student employees to develop an identity-centric sense of self, a sense of belonging, and benefit from culturally competent supervision. Implications for practice are discussed to better facilitate student affairs employment as a place of intentionality and development.

How Graduates Of Color Developed Marketable Skills As On-Campus Student Employees, Christopher A. Burnett, Z.W. Taylor

Journal of Research Initiatives

Research on how students of color are employed in on-campus student affairs positions and the development of their marketable skills for post-graduation employment is limited. To address this gap, this study examined the experiences of 12 students of color in student affairs roles. The goal was to understand how these students benefitted from their on-campus employment, developed valuable skills, and secured job opportunities after graduation.

The findings indicate that students of color were able to readily identify and communicate the marketable skills they acquired during their time as students. These skills include management, teamwork facilitation, digital literacy, and the ability …

"I Probably Wouldn't Be As Happy": Childhood Parental Separation And Posttraumatic Growth Narratives From Eight College Students, Meagan C. Arrastia-Chisholm, Hoa Nguyen, Africa Pippin, Heather M. Kelley Ph.D.

Journal of Higher Education & Student Affairs

Parental separation during childhood leads to long-lasting psychological and socioemotional impact on the lives of emerging adults as they transition into higher education. The long-term effects of childhood parental separation on college students' academic performance, physical health, and overall mental wellbeing are well-documented. However, students can develop resilience to cope with challenging family and life experiences and even demonstrate post-traumatic growth. Post-traumatic growth refers to the positive changes and experiences college students discover after enduring life disruptions, such as being separated from their parents at an early age. To better understand the connection between parental separation and posttraumatic growth, a …

School Leaders’ Perceptions Of Restorative Practices On Student Behavior, Jennifer Mary Herold Fontenot

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

United States public schools turned to a zero-tolerance approach to school discipline with hopes of improving school safety and climate in the 1990s. Administrators dispensed consequences such as suspension and expulsion without considering the whole student, regardless of the student’s conditions, motivations, or background. Many schools today focus on punitive measures rather than a holistic approach that considers the root causes of behavior, such as socioeconomic factors, mental health issues, or the student’s home life. Such actions can lead to disproportionately harsh punishments for marginalized students, particularly those from low-income backgrounds or communities of color, exacerbating existing inequalities. Thus, the …

Stand For Support, Shatter The Silence: Administrative Approaches To Eradicate Bullying In Higher Education, Elaine M. Mora, Shawn P. Saladin

Journal of Research Initiatives

Bullying in higher education has become a widespread and complex issue that affects staff, faculty, and students worldwide, causing a detrimental impact on both psychological health and academic achievement. This paper provides a comprehensive examination of the phenomenon, encompassing all its manifestations, underlying causes, and significant consequences. The study, which draws on academic literature, outlines the various forms of bullying, including cyberbullying, mobbing, microaggressions, and social exclusion, and highlights the adverse effects these behaviors have on both individuals and academic communities. The research emphasizes how critical it is to comprehend the power relationships that exist in higher education settings and …

Multi-Generational Biases Perceived By Women To Senior Leadership Positions In Non-Profit Higher Education, Regina Watkins, Deanna R. Davis

Journal of Research Initiatives

Women remain underrepresented in senior leadership in both public and private industry and in non-profit postsecondary education. One reason that has been identified for the gender disparity in senior leadership positions is second-generation or implicit biases. The problem addressed in this study was the existence and persistence of second-generation biases that contribute to the lack of active senior women mentors, potentially inhibiting junior women from Generation X and millennials from achieving senior leadership status in non-profit higher education. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive case study was to gain a deeper understanding of the significance of perceptions of second-generation biases, …

Me, Myself, And Others: Emphasizing Identity Through Social-Emotional Learning As A Contributor To Adolescent Development, Marie Hall

Journal of Research Initiatives

Adolescence is a remarkable developmental period where figuring out who you are can feel essential. Relationships and sense of self are at the forefront during this period, as establishing a sense of connection can lead to positive social experiences that contribute to a myriad of benefits, ultimately facilitating positive life outcomes. School is often a central location for engagement, where relationships and a sense of self are explored, thereby serving as a primary social structure for youth. While adverse outcomes have been identified through this developmental period, school-based interventions that promote positive identity development and social connection have begun to …

Engaging Students And Stakeholders In Times Of Crisis: Hbcus Bridging Social Capital On Facebook While Navigating Physical Distancing, Pamela Peters

Journal of Research Initiatives

COVID-19 placed a strain on colleges that tend to rely on tuition, especially small HBCUs, which traditionally serve a high percentage of underrepresented students. Being away from campus, many stakeholders were experiencing higher levels of stress and anxiety. Social media offers an outlet for schools and stakeholders to stay connected during a crisis. Using social capital, this study examined how small HBCUs bridged social capital on Facebook during the year before and the first two years of the pandemic. A comparative analysis of Facebook posts of 30 HBCUs with a student population of under 2000 was conducted to determine post …

Bridging The Gap: Harnessing Emerging Technology To Narrow The Academic Achievement Gaps Of Minority Students, Dionne Williams, Terence Vinson, Kristi Young, Danielle Williams, James R. Mixon

The Journal of the Research Association of Minority Professors

The academic achievement gap of Black, Hispanic, and Native American students has historically lagged as it relates to Caucasian students. This work defines academic achievement as standardized test scores, graduation rates, and college completion rates. The persistent educational disparities faced by minority students remain a significant challenge for school systems. The integration of technology offers a promising solution to help narrow these academic achievement gaps and provide equitable learning opportunities. Technology offers educators the ability to utilize self-paced instructional programming, ensuring that the educational needs and deficiencies of minority students are addressed. This work explores how innovative technological tools, ranging …

Transforming Education Through The Cohort Model In Graduate Schools Of Education, Kristi Young, James R. Mixon, Dionne Williams, Danielle Williams

The Journal of the Research Association of Minority Professors

The cohort model has emerged as a transformative approach in graduate schools of education for fostering a collaborative learning environment, providing professional networking opportunities, increasing community, and fostering a sense of belonging. This analysis is framed within Mead, Vygotsky’s, and Wenger’s theoretical framework on the interconnectedness of social interaction and cognitive development. Increased engagement, learning opportunities, promoting student success, enhanced leadership development, and improved program components are noted benefits of utilizing the cohort model in graduate schools of education. These authors noted some challenges to the cohort model, such as group dynamics and cohesion, diversity and inclusion, rigid structure, pressure …

Blackloving: The Culturally Responsive Engagement Practices Of Black Middle School Principals, Deandra L. Williams

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

Black students are highly capable of learning and contributing to society when school communities are built on a foundation of love and there is meaningful school–family engagement. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine how Black middle school principals engaged with Black families using BlackLoving culturally responsive family engagement practices as Black students transitioned from elementary to middle school in Boston Public Schools (BPS). The researcher employed Black Indigenous methodology, in the form of talking circles and memoing, to gather the stories of four former Black Boston public school principals (who were all men) and to explore their …

It's Deeper Than Rap. Exploring The Lived Experiences Of Black Faculty With Hip-Hop Epistemologies Through Counterstory, Austin Ashe

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation study explores the experiences of Black professors who carry Hip-Hop epistemologies and utilize Hip-Hop as a method to navigate the social and structural systems within their predominantly white institutions (PWIs). Grounded in Critical Race Theory, the study utilizes narrative inquiry and counterstorytelling. The analysis involved the development of a composite counterstory featuring the fictional protagonist, Hampton Franklin. The findings highlight common experiences among participants. Findings suggest that Black faculty are insiders whose positions grant them access and influence. Second, they are outsiders that navigate hypervisibility, invisibility, and racial battle fatigue. Third, each participant was a “pedagogue of the …

Preparation, Development, And Refinement Of The Interview Protocol In Qualitative Research, David C. Coker, Adebowale Akande

The Qualitative Report

Interview protocols are by far the most common method utilized in qualitative research data collection. Novice and experienced researchers, from working on dissertations to grant proposals or other publications, often lack detailed interview design methods, as many educational programs do not require specific coursework on interview protocols and question development. To improve qualitative research, we make a proposal to incorporate an interdisciplinary approach that operationalizes three stages: preparation, development, and refinement. Preparation involves mapping the extant literature to define broad, narrow, and focused topics to write actionable standards, goals, and objectives. Development uses instructional design and educational psychology to construct …

Hurricane Katrina Archive: Faculty Publications Bibliography 2015-2019, Lsu Health Sciences Center - New Orleans Libraries, Sharon Duffy, Matthew Folse

LSUHSC Hurricane Katrina Archive: Bibliographies

This bibliography includes 19 articles about Hurricane Katrina written by authors affiliated with LSU Health – New Orleans between January 2015 and December 2019.

Hurricane Katrina Archive: Faculty Publications Bibliography 2020-2025, Lsu Health Sciences Center - New Orleans Libraries, Sharon Duffy, Matthew Folse

LSUHSC Hurricane Katrina Archive: Bibliographies

This bibliography includes 10 articles about Hurricane Katrina written by authors affiliated with LSU Health – New Orleans between January 2020 and August 2025.

Hurricane Katrina Archive: E-Books And E-Journals A To Z Bibliography 2020-2025, Lsu Health Sciences Center - New Orleans Libraries, Elizabeth H. Holt

LSUHSC Hurricane Katrina Archive: Bibliographies

This bibliography includes 43 electronic books and edited collections created on the topic of Hurricane Katrina by authors and others affiliated with LSU Health Sciences Center - New Orleans between September 2005 and August 2025.

Hurricane Katrina Archive: Faculty Publications Bibliography 2010-2014, Lsu Health Sciences Center - New Orleans Libraries, Sharon Duffy, Matthew Folse

LSUHSC Hurricane Katrina Archive: Bibliographies

This bibliography includes 45 articles about Hurricane Katrina written by authors affiliated with LSU Health – New Orleans between January 2010 and December 2014.

Hurricane Katrina Archive: Faculty Publications Bibliography 2005-2009, Lsu Health Sciences Center - New Orleans Libraries, Sharon Duffy, Matthew Folse

LSUHSC Hurricane Katrina Archive: Bibliographies

This bibliography includes 91 articles about Hurricane Katrina written by authors affiliated with LSU Health – New Orleans between January 2005 and December 2009.

Improving Equity For African American Female Educators: An Applied Study, Lakeisha D. Vaughan-Jones

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this applied study was to solve the problem of equitability in the workplace for African American female educators in Athens-Clarke County School District schools and to design a solution to address the problem. The central research question is, “How can the problem of inequity for African American female educators, as identified by the Induction Teacher Survey and CCRPI data, be solved in the Athens-Clarke County School District?” A multimethod design was used consisting of qualitative and quantitative approaches. Data was collected from participants via semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and survey. To gain discernment on equity, data was …