Digital Commons Network^™

Making A Case For A Digital Marketing Concentration: An Analysis Of Traditionally Generalized Online Mba Programs, Paige Gardiner, Maureen Andrade

Atlantic Marketing Journal

Over the last decade, business schools have added online MBA programs to meet student demand for access, price, and geographic convenience while trying to ensure a solid tuition revenue base. Online MBA programs have been forced to waive the GMAT and reduce the number of credits required for graduation while seeking ways to bring additional value to their online programs. This research examines whether offering online MBA students a specialized marketing concentration in digital marketing will make students marketable to businesses. The research examines this conjecture and provides a recommendation for MBA stakeholders. Study 1 shows the industry demand for …

An Examination Of The Predictors Of Vocational Calling In First-Generation College Students, Rodney Palmer

Dissertations

Problem

Several studies have examined the prediction of calling in college students, but no known study has focused primarily on the development of vocational calling among the vulnerable population of first-generation college students who have a higher drop-out rate than their peers. Examining the composition of vocational calling in first-generation college students, will assist faculty and student development personnel in better understanding the factors that predict a sense of calling for these students, which will improve their overall performance. This study will examine to what extent a sense of vocational calling is predicted by student mentoring, social support, faith/spirituality, civic …

The Relationship Between Internet Addiction Test Scores And Academic Achievement, Michael L. Houston, John Foubert

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) score and academic performance in college students. The IAT measured the students’ addiction to the internet based upon their use. Academic performance was measured by grade point average (GPA). A sample of 692 traditional-aged college students from both public and private institutions was used to examine if IAT scores were related to and predictive of GPA. This study found a negative relationship between students’ IAT scores and GPAs. As IAT scores increased, students’ GPAs decreased. A better understanding of how internet addiction is related …

The Elephant In The Room: The Intersection Of Religion And Pornography Among Young Christian Men, Ryan Hewitt

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

Pornography presents a unique paradox for young Christians —a culturally normative phenomenon among younger generations, yet one that most Christians morally oppose. These conflicting trends make pornography an “elephant in the room” among young Christians today—an ever-present reality, yet one often not discussed due to its sensitive nature. This work presents a recent quantitative study exploring pornography use patterns and its impact on Evangelical Christian men from both Christian academic institutions and other social and religious contexts. Results revealed high levels of religiosity and porn use, and significant correlations between religiosity, porn use, potentially problematic use, and perceived problems due …

Full Issue

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

The full issue of the twenty-third edition of Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development.

The Racial Attitudes Of White Students At A Christian Institution, Jarad Russell

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

This phenomenological study used semi-structured interviews to understand the lived experiences and racial attitudes of White students at a Council for Christian Colleges and Universities institution as they related to Black people. The participants were asked about their past experiences with Black people, their discussions with family about race, their present understanding of terminology related to race and racism, and their desire to support racial justice in the future. Through this study, three categories of students emerged: those that had taken steps to educate themselves on matters related to race and racism, those that were just beginning to understand issues …

Digital Restlessness: Student Social Media Misuse As A Problem Of Worship, Scott Busby

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

No abstract provided.

Older And Wiser? Relative Age And College Course Failure, P. Wesley Routon, Jay K. Walker

Economics Faculty Publications

A student's relative age in their schooling cohort has been shown related to several measures of academic and labor market success. Here, we focus on a singular outcome: the probability of college course failure. Even within a sample constrained to students with traditional academic progression and who completed their college degree program, we find evidence relatively younger students were more likely to fail courses. The estimated impact is larger for males, minorities, and those with less academic success before college. Statistical significance remains constant across the parental income distribution. Students within the sample represent over 600 colleges and universities across …

The Personal Is Political: School Board Members’ Motivation For School Governance, Andrew Lobdell

Dissertations of Practice

Understanding the motivation behind school board members' governance is crucial for ensuring the effectiveness of public schools. This research aims to analyze the motivations of five newly elected board members and compare them with past research on governance and motivation. The leadership qualities of school superintendents also impact governance and can influence board members' motivations for running and serving their communities. Similarly, board members' motivations can affect how superintendents lead their districts and prioritize different topics. The research is divided into three papers. Paper 1 reviews existing literature and is organized into three distinct sections that explore school board governance, …

Being A Leader: Exploring Generation Z Students’ Conceptualizations Of And Engagement In Leadership In College, Zachary G. Birch

Dissertations of Practice

Colleges and universities have always helped students learn leadership skills. As Generation Z college students began to enter institutions of higher education, there had been a noted shift in how they were engaging in traditional leadership organizations. This phenomenological research examines the essence of how Generation Z thinks about and gets involved with leadership on campuses. This study interviewed eight participants from across the United States, talking about how they think about the concept of leadership and why they choose to engage. What was discovered in this research as a phenomenon noted as the “Four Commitments to Student Leadership.” These …

Sel Walkthroughs: Promoting Practices That Foster Social And Emotional Learning, Garrett Podgorski

Dissertations of Practice

The concept of social and emotional learning (SEL) has been around Illinois since the early 2000s and a part of legislation for schools to implement since 2003. This dissertation focuses on the extant data of 483 observations from the Municipal Nashville Public School (MNPS) SEL walkthrough tool, which was utilized to investigate SEL implementation in select Illinois schools. Data were collected in the South Cook County area of Illinois.

This dissertation provides a review of literature in the areas of SEL that should be taught in K-12 schools and provides an in-depth review of best practices for utilizing walkthrough observations …

School District Budgeting: How School Principals’ Lack Of Budget Knowledge Can Lead To Negative Impact On Funding, Maria Treto-French

Dissertations of Practice

ABSTRACT

SCHOOL DISTRICT BUDGETING: HOW SCHOOL PRINCIPALS’ LACK OF BUDGET

KNOWLEDGE CAN LEAD TO NEGATIVE IMPACT ON FUNDING

Maria Treto-French, Ed.D.

Department of Educational Leadership, Educational Psychology and Foundations

Northern Illinois University, 2024

Kelly Summers, Director

Effective decision-making by school administrators is crucial for enhancing student

learning outcomes. However, many non-finance administrators need a comprehensive

understanding of school funding and allocation, which can hinder their ability to make informed decisions that positively impact student learning. This paper explored the importance of preparing non-finance administrators specifically those at the “Participating Community Consolidated School District” (PCCSD)to navigate the complexities of school funding …

Building Effective Communicative Relationships: Understanding Superintendent And School Board Member Perceptions Of Trust And Role Responsibilities, Jason Blume

Dissertations of Practice

Effective superintendent and school board leadership teams are positioned to create learning conditions that promote student success. Research emphasizes that effective district leadership teams and school board relations directly correlate with improved student outcomes. Understanding the communicative relationships between school board members and superintendents as well as their perceptions of trust and role responsibilities will support leadership teams’ ability to effectively lead their school districts. Communication and mutual trust amongst team members is essential to fostering a strong collaborative environment.

The purpose of this research is to better understand how communicative relationships, trust, and role responsibilities support effective leadership. Following …

Is Involvement The Key To Students' Post-Graduate Success? A Study Of Undergraduate University Exit Survey Results And Co-Curricular Activity Participation, Kari Harris

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

The connection between co-curricular activities and student’s undergraduate university experience was explored in this study. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze existing university exit survey data from the Arkansas State University Leaving the Den survey. The survey was designed to gather feedback on students’ university experiences. This study explored the feasibility of using an existing exit survey to gather data on students’ co-curricular experiences, perceived and real return on investment in their education, and post-graduate plans. Co-curricular experiences identified in the survey were connected to NACE Career Competencies. The outcomes of the descriptive analysis indicate strong connections between student participation …

Honors Online: Teaching, Learning, And Building Community Virtually In Honors Education, Victoria M. Bryan, Cat Stanfield

National Collegiate Honors Council Monographs

Contents

Introduction, Victoria M. Bryan and Cat Stanfield

Part I: Harnessing Virtual Connection in Program and Course Design

1. Through the Looking Glass: Honors in Virtual Reality, Betsy Greenleaf Yarrison

2. Exploring Incoming Honors Students’ Beliefs About Online Courses, Kristy Spear and Pavlo D. Antonenko

3. Reimagining Honors Curriculum—Delivered Through Technology Utilizing Our Alumni Community, Mollie Hartup, Amy Cossentino, and Lexi Rager

4. Online Faculty Professional Development and Community as Nexus, John Zubizarreta, Beata M. Jones, and Marca V. C. Wolfensberger

5. Building a Pipeline for Transfer and Scholarship Through (Virtual) Honors Research Partnerships, …

Building And Fostering Honors Communities: Lessons From Social Distancing, Anne Dotter, Kathleen King

National Collegiate Honors Council Monographs: Chapters

While scholars of online education have been developing ways to foster a sense of belonging in online spaces for years, many of us in honors were thrown into the deep end for the first time in March 2020. As a result, we are now able to see the potential of online practices in a way we could not previously. This chapter tells the story of how we came to see the value of virtual community made possible by digital technology as an invaluable complement to the in-person work of a twenty-first-century honors program. Before the Work from Home (WFH) era, …

University Of Nebraska-Lincoln Fact Book 2024, University Of Nebraska-Lincoln

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Administration: Reports, Papers, Publications, and Presentations

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Fact Book 2024

Also available at https://iea.unl.edu/publication/fact-book/

Includes charts and a map regarding

Enrollment, page 1

Enrollment map, page 2

Degrees, page 3

Student credit hours, page 4

Human resource, page 5

Graduation and rentention, page 6

The Narrative Journeys Of Women Of Color High-Level Educational Leaders, Alyda R. Mir

CGU Theses & Dissertations

Although their numbers are growing in the field of education, women of color are highly underrepresented in high-level leadership positions such as superintendent of schools. The purpose of this narrative research study was to explore the experiences, facilitators, and barriers of 20 women of color high-level educational leaders, including district superintendents and assistant/associate superintendents in California. Framed by the concepts of the Leadership Labyrinth, Critical Race Theory, and Intersectionality Theory, this study aimed to elevate the voices of a marginalized group of educators who earned high-level leadership positions in public educational organizations. This study shed light on the experiences, trajectories, …

White Girl Wasted: Gender Performativity Of Sexuality With Alcohol In National Panhellenic Conference Sorority Women, Pietro A. Sasso, Amber Manning-Ouellette, Kim E. Bullington, Shelley Price-Williams

Journal of Higher Education & Student Affairs

This narrative qualitative study explored how sorority members negotiated their identities within systems of hegemony with their student communities. Sorority members used women’s empowerment discourse to rationalize how they consumed alcohol, engaged in frequent consensual sexual relationships, and navigated relationships with fraternity men and across their campus sorority/fraternity communities. Implications for practice included harm reduction, sex education, and supportive policies.

Technology Integration In Student Affairs Practice: The Remarkable 2 Tablet, Steven Tolman

Journal of Higher Education & Student Affairs

N/A --- Technology Review

When Education And Qualifications Are Not Enough, Carla Hamilton-Yates

Theses and Dissertations

African-American women face substantial career barriers when seeking ascension to educational leadership. Numerous factors contribute to career advancement barriers, such as systemic, institutional challenges, organizational factors, personality, and individual contributors. Various systemic and managerial aspects, directly and indirectly, were considered barriers for African-American women when attempting to gain equity in the ascension process to leadership. Microaggressions, racism, and overt harassment in the workplace inhibit African-American women from advancing to leadership positions. The percentage of African-American principals is proportionately low compared to White principals. African-American employees are less likely to be promoted, wait longer for promotion, or are passed over for …

Environmental Scan Of Instructional Technology Used To Develop And Deliver Virtual Training, Jane Peterson Phd, Rdn, Beverly Girard Phd, Mba, Rdn, Heontae Kim Phd

Institute of Child Nutrition, Applied Research Division

Virtual training has become an important method for delivering professional development to child nutrition program (CNP) professionals. This study examined the instructional technologies used by industry organizations, universities, State agencies, and consultants to develop and deliver virtual training for CNP professionals. The study also explored the benefits, challenges, emerging trends, and best practices associated with virtual training.

Using qualitative research methods, researchers conducted an environmental scan and semi-structured interviews with 26 key informants representing State agencies, allied organizations, higher education institutions, and CNP consultant trainers. Participants provided information regarding the instructional technologies they use, training delivery methods, challenges, and effective …

Child Nutrition Programs, Fall 2023: Challenges And Support Systems, Kymberle Gordon Phd

Institute of Child Nutrition, Applied Research Division

Child nutrition programs (CNPs) continue to face challenges related to rising food costs, labor shortages, product shortages, supply chain disruptions, and mental health stressors following the COVID-19 pandemic. This study examined the persistence of these challenges during the Fall 2023 school year, assessed the usefulness of support systems, and explored child nutrition professionals’ perceptions of their work and program support.

A national rapid-response survey was conducted among school nutrition and Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) professionals. Findings revealed that increased food costs, labor shortages, and product shortages remained the most significant challenges. Communication and collaboration with coworkers, industry …

The Department Chair’S Role In Fostering Equity: Faculty Evaluation, Susan Morgan, Lynn Bartels

SIUE Faculty Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity

No abstract provided.

Centering Equity Within Principal Preparation And Development: An Integrative Review Of The Literature, Meagan S. Richard, Shelby Cosner

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Faculty Publications

Throughout the globe, there is growing attention being paid to issues of equity and efforts to produce more equitable student learning outcomes in schools, and much of the scholarship internationally has begun to center school leaders as key drivers of more equitable conditions. Indeed, in the United States, persistent inequities in education have highlighted the need for K-12 principals who can effectively support diverse students. Effective leader preparation and development, particularly with a focus on equity, is crucial, as it equips school leaders with the knowledge and skills to create inclusive and equitable learning environments. U.S.-based research highlights that high-quality, …

Navigating Virtual Halls: Stories Of Online Transfer, Working Adult Learners' Journeys With Student Services, Lashica Davis Waters, Michelle Bartlett

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Faculty Publications

This qualitative narrative inquiry study explores lived experiences of seven working adult part-time online students, mostly community college transfers, in a Research 1 institution's online degree-completion program. Using in-depth interviews, four key themes are identified: access, engagement, inclusion, and university pride in students' interactions with student services. Access covers service availability, engagement the interaction quality, inclusion the feeling of being valued, and university pride the over-all perception of their educational journey. Engagement further divides into positive connections and negative disconnections. Findings suggest positive experiences with student services, recommending enhanced service provisions for similar students to foster accessibility, engagement, inclusivity, and …

Ngo Navigators, Information Support, And Parental Assistance With Pk-12 School Decisions, Jason E. Saltmarsh

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Faculty Publications

This study provides empirical insights into the perceptions and agency of navigators who provide school selection assistance and this NGO’s unique insider–outsider status. As semi-private actors, navigators offer an important bridge between two kinds of social capital: the informal types of trust and legitimacy that families rely on, and the skills, knowledge, and networks necessary to access higher-quality schools in choice policy contexts. Data for this study are derived from an exploratory case study, including 13 in-depth interviews, documentary and social media analysis, and informal conversations. The findings illustrate the benefits and shortcomings of NGO information support in choice policy …

Becoming Transfer Friendly: Evaluating Four-Year Higher Education Institution Strategies To Support Community College Transfer Student Success, Aarti V. Dhupelia

Dissertations

Four-year higher education institutions (HEIs) nationwide must become more transfer friendly so that more community college transfer (CCT) students persist and complete their bachelor’s degrees, as a path to more students’ economic mobility and to equity across communities. This study aims to provide learnings to support achievement of this imperative. The research question studied here is: What is the relationship between community college transfer (CCT) student support strategies at a four-year higher education institution (HEI) and the first-to-second-year retention of CCT students at their four-year HEI? Through quantitative analysis of a broad set of variables’ ability to predict student retention …

Families And Educators Co-Designing: Critical Education Research As Participatory Public Scholarship, Laura Hernández, University Neighborhood Partners, Salt Lake City, Ut, Gerardo R. López, Jennifer Mayer-Glenn, Leticia Alvarez Gutiérrez, Taeyeon Kim, Amadou Niang, Sonny Partola, Alma Yanagui

Department of Educational Administration: Faculty Publications

For the past six years, we—members of the Family-School Collaboration Design Research Project—have been working to understand and transform family-school relationships in Salt Lake City, Utah. Our group includes an evolving cast of scholars, family leaders, professional educators, graduate students, and organizers. We are trying to create spaces where culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) families-families whose language and culture differ from the dominant school culture-have real voice in schools and can partner equitably with educators.

We are a part of a national network of scholars, practitioners, and family and community leaders called the Family Leadership Design Collaborative (FLDC). Since 2016, …

Implementing A Holistic Review Toolkit For Faculty Recruitment And Retention, Toi Blakley Harris, Michelle Shader, Patrick O. Smith, Amelia Challender, Cleveland Piggott, Norma I. Poll, Ryan Henyard, Jeffrey M. Lyness, Erika D. Malmberg, Eva K. Pressman, Alicia D. Monroe, Negar N. Jacobs

University Administration Publications

Introduction: A diverse workforce improves health care, educational outcomes, and research agendas. Currently, faculty from historically excluded groups remain underrepresented in academic medicine. Resources are needed in academic medical centers for those charged with recruiting and retaining a diverse and talented workforce. Methods: Informed by the successful use of holistic review in medical student admissions, the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) developed and piloted a toolkit for use in faculty recruitment and retention at five academic medical centers. Institutions led toolkit-guided holistic review workshops ranging from 2.5 to 3 hours in duration for leaders and faculty to identify and …