Digital Commons Network^™

Solo Faculty Program Coordinators In Student Affairs-Related Graduate Programs, Phillip A. Olt, Mitch Nasser, Louise Michelle Vital, Steven Tolman, James G. Archibald, Mary Ann Bodine Al-Sharif, Blue Brazelton, Rozana Carducci, Michael Houdyshell, Tryan Mcmickens, Cara Meixner, Molly Mistretta, Amy Paciej-Woodruff, Richie Stevens, Ann Wendle, Claude E.P. Mayo

The Qualitative Report

Many graduate programs in student affairs-related subfields employ just one full-time faculty member, who then also functions as the program coordinator. Program coordinator duties and compensation vary widely, but they are generally the person who ensures all aspects of the program function. Research shows that fulfilling these responsibilities in addition to teaching, research, and service is difficult; however, this study sought to expand on that literature to understand what it was like to coordinate a HESA program as the only full-time faculty member isolated in that subfield at the institution. We utilized the hybrid qualitative methodology of phenomenological polyethnography, wherein …

“No (My Parents Can’T Know I’M Trans)…For Now:" Resisting Anti-Transgender Backlash In Schools Through A Policy Experiment, Lee Airton, Mik Turje

Journal of Queer and Trans Studies in Education

This From the Field account describes an intervention we and our colleagues offered in the Canadian culture war surrounding transgender children and youth, as clinical and research experts on K-12 education policy and supports for transgender youth and their parents. In 2023, following comprehensive review by K-12 school administrators, lawyers and experts in child welfare, we released No For Now (NFN). NFN responded to the impending passage of laws which directly harm transgender youth by essentially forcing them to be outed to potentially unsupportive parents. We suggest that NFN enacts an experimental kind of policy-based resistance to these laws and …

Transforming Education With Ai, Kenna C. Lorenzini

SPARK Symposium Presentations

Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming more common in college classrooms, especially when students are completing papers and assignments. This project explores how college students can use AI responsibly while still learning and developing their own ideas. The goal of this project is to compare the perspectives of both professors and students in order to better understand how AI can support learning while still maintaining academic honesty. This research highlights the importance of clear expectations, responsible use of technology, and open conversations between students and educators about AI in academic work.

The Bridge Between Home And School: Assessing The Impacts Of No-Homework Policies On Primary School Students, Kate Castillo Galeote

Undergraduate Research Symposium Podium Presentations

The subject of having homework in primary school education has been an ongoing debate sparking interests amongst school administration, parents, and students. Homework serves as the foundation of learning to many children and the skills they develop. It has also been known to be an extension to the school day, providing at home practice to further develop skills. Primary school institutions are now shifting towards a no homework environment, disrupting many skills and habits during a child's development. Through analyzing academic works related to the effectiveness of homework in primary school institutions, I find a consensus among works that demonstrate …

Rural Vs. Non-Rural Higher Education Degree Attainment: A Study Of Higher Education In Nevada, Yiselle Olivas Ruiz

Undergraduate Research Symposium Podium Presentations

Historically, rural students attend four-year higher education institutions at lower rates than their urban peers. Similarly, they also obtain post-secondary degrees at lower rates. This paper examines the state of rural education in Nevada to illuminate disparities in academic outcomes between rural and non-rural students, particularly college degree attainment. The results show that, despite virtually equal high school graduation rates for rural and urban students, rural students face more obstacles to obtaining a college degree. The findings highlight the implications of Nevada’s recent K-12 funding formula change to a Pupil-Centered Funding Plan (PCFP) on college preparedness. Rural students’ academic experiences …

National E-Criteria In Finnish Higher Education: A Tpack-Informed Policy Analysis, Ejike Okonkwo

Essays in Education

Responding to calls for a deeper understanding of contextual factors shaping learning, this paper examines the Digivisio 2030 e-criteria, a recently introduced national higher education quality framework designed to enhance digital pedagogy. Document analysis was used to examine five key features of the e-criteria: research-based, modularity, diversity, accessibility, and availability. The findings reveal that the e-criteria function as structural enablers, offering non-prescriptive guidelines that support reliable and user-friendly digital environments, flexible course design, inclusive teaching practices, equitable access to learning resources, and ongoing reflection on pedagogical processes. These findings are interpreted through a deductive approach using the Technological, Pedagogical, and …

A Study Of Students’ Use And Perspectives On Generative Ai Tools, Nicholas Di Meo, Emanuele Polizzi, Weihui Fu

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Generative AI is reshaping higher education, making the study of student

behavior essential for university policy. This research analyzes AI integration

among 100 students from FHSU (US) and Italy. Findings reveal a 91%

adoption rate for ChatGPT, primarily used as a "digital tutor" for research

(63%). Despite 57% reporting performance gains, 53% worry about

accuracy and 49% fear losing critical thinking skills. Furthermore, a

communication gap persists, as only 44% have discussed AI with faculty.

These results highlight the need for institutional "AI Literacy" to bridge the

gap between student innovation and academic guidance.

KEY FINDING: 91% of …

Exploring Teachers’ Perceptions Of School Counselor-Principal-Teacher Collaboration, Collective Teacher Efficacy, And Leadership, Rachel Louise Geesa, Sherri Barrow, Rochelle Maynard, Derien D. Kunce

Mid-Western Educational Researcher

Efforts to support students' academic, social/emotional, personal, and future professional well-being often rely on the collaboration among educational leaders, educators, and community partners. In this study, we examine teachers' perceptions of collaboration among school counselors, principals, and teachers to enhance school culture, with a focus on collective teacher efficacy. We also provide insights for school leaders (e.g., principals, school counselors, and teachers) to implement systemic changes that promote collaboration and student success. This study is framed through the social cognitive theory, where self-efficacy shapes how educators perceive their ability to impact the learning environment and engage students. Using a mixed-methods …

The Hypocrisy Of The Wizards—A Proposal To Correct Incentives In Higher Education Loan Financing, Caden Benedict

School of Public Policy Capstones

This paper explores the origins of the student loan debt crisis and proposes tying university incentives to graduates' repayment plans and disclosing median earnings for degrees before students apply. Specifically, while there are numerous factors explaining why the price of education has increased dramatically since the 1970s, this paper proposes solutions that will specifically target university moral hazards by requiring universities fund: (1) the current subsidies to federal student loan repayments under income-driven plans as the House of Representatives intended before the Senate removed "risk-sharing," and (2) bankruptcy law discharge amounts. Moreover, requiring universities to disclose the median earnings of …

A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study Exploring Inclusion Of Latinos In Higher Education In Bilingual Programs, Carmem Charette

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of promoting the inclusion of Latino/a students through bilingual programs at higher education institutions in the United States. To include Latinos in higher education administrators redesigned courses originally taught in English into Spanish and Portuguese at several colleges and universities nationwide. This qualitative research was designed as a hermeneutic phenomenological study, and three data collection methods were used: journal prompts, individual interviews, and focus group interviews. Data were collected from educational leaders, including administrators, deans, faculty coordinators, advisers, and professors, who shared their perspectives and experiences as …

Toward Aligning Incentives To Improve Business Research And Education Outcomes: A Supply Chain Perspective, Benjamin T. Hazen, John Dickens, Douglas Lambert, Michael Gorman, Matthew Roberts, Timothy Hawkins

Atlantic Marketing Association Proceedings

No abstract provided.

Leveraging Artificial Intelligence For Transformative Education: Challenges And Recommendations, Papia Bawa

Journal of Research Initiatives

The sheer force with which GPT models are inundating business, education and economic fields speaks to its ability to not only transform the ways in which we interact and act but also disrupt these ways. This systematic literature review applies the PSALSAR method to synthesize findings from 72 articles on AI applications in education, emphasizing its transformative potential across various domains. AI is transforming personalized learning by customizing content and feedback to individual needs, addressing challenges like data privacy and ethical concerns. It enhances administrative efficiency through automation and data-driven decision-making, improving institutional performance while managing biases and maintaining human …

Exploring The Impact Of Mental Health On Academic Performance And Engagement: An Interpretative Phenomenological Study Of Title I High School Upperclassmen In Northeast Alabama, Nataysia A. Holloway

Dissertations

This dissertation explores the intersection of student mental health and academic success within a Title I school context, particularly the lived experiences of students navigating mental health challenges while facing psychological, social, and educational barriers. Drawing on qualitative data, the study explores how mental health challenges influence student academic performance, engagement, and overall educational outcomes. Chapter one introduces mental health as a prevalent concern for adolescence, and chapter two examines existing research and details the methodological approach and supporting frameworks for this study. Subsequent chapters are devoted to the lived experiences of students and their perception of support and resources …

Strategic Leadership Decision-Making At Power Four Aau Schools, Arthur Kraft, John Kraft

Business Faculty Articles and Research

Exogenous events have disrupted higher education and impacted the decision-making skills of university presidents. While all university presidents are affected, the problem is most acute at the thirty-six AAU members of the power four conferences. The exogenous events were the precipitous cancellation of federal research grants, the on again and off again restrictions on both new and current foreign students studying at US universities, the proposed 15% limit on indirect costs, the tax on university endowments, the changes in student loan programs, the annual $20.5 million NIL revenue sharing settlement for Division I (DI) athletes, and their share of the …

Women Leading In Higher Education: Exploring The Experiences Of Women Leaders In Student Affairs, Amelia Lindsay

Honors Theses

Student affairs is a field within higher education that works to support students’ out-of-classroom needs and provide them with a college experience that promotes holistic growth. This study examines the experiences of women leaders in student affairs at a mid-sized university in the southeastern United States and the opportunities and barriers they encountered in their pathways to their careers. Through in-depth, qualitative interviews, clear themes emerged regarding both facilitators of and challenges to their progression to leadership. Data show that their early life characteristics, self-perceptions, collegiate involvement, and mentorship were the largest catalysts in their career trajectories while the challenge …

Available Space… The Final Frontier An Empirical Analysis Of The Heterogeneous Regulatory Burdens That Oversee Private Schools Within States With School Choice Policies, Patrick J. Wolf, Colyn Ritter, Misty Gallo

Education Reform Faculty and Graduate Students Publications

Using administrative data available from a variety of public sources, our research team examined the ways in which state and local regulatory burdens along with state political and economic factors work to encourage or depress the supply response of private school providers in the years following the adoption of school choice policies. We tracked counts of private schools using NCES and state departments of education at baseline year 1 of program implementation and a second outcome variable measuring the change from baseline to the current year (2024). We estimate the effect of state political and socioeconomic controls, two regulatory and …

The Impact Of Sense Of Belonging And Christian Identity On Retention Intentions At Evangelical Christian Colleges And Universities, Corey R. Ross

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

No abstract provided.

Navigating Faith, Race, And Belonging: A Qualitative Study Of Students Of Color At A Private Christian University, Eunice Hong

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

No abstract provided.

From Discipline To Discipleship: Reframing Student Conduct As Spiritual Formation In Christian Higher Education, Andrew Degroot

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

No abstract provided.

Full Issue, Corey Ross, Eunice Hong, Steve Beers, Andrew Degroot, Rebecca Crowder, William Buhrow, Aundrea Paxton, Hannah Acquaye, Jacob Banks

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

No abstract provided.

An Exploration Of Spiritual Loneliness And Spiritual Well-Being And Friendship In Christian College Students, Rebecca Crowder, William Buhrow, Aundrea Paxton, Hannah Acquaye

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

No abstract provided.

Staying Power: A Case Study Of Teacher Retention In A Rural District, Amanda F. Mclellan, Amanda F. Mclellan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Teacher attrition continues to be a significant challenge in K-12 education, particularly in rural school districts where limited resources and geographic isolation can intensify staffing instability. While much research has focused on teacher attrition, little research examines why tenured teachers choose to remain in rural districts. The purpose of this qualitative, single-case study was to examine the experiences and insights of tenured teachers regarding their decision to continue teaching in a small, rural Texas school district. Guided by Mason and Matas’s fourcapital framework for teacher retention, this study examined how human, social, structural, and positive psychological capital influenced teachers’ decisions …

The Implications Of The Midyear Departure Of Residence Directors In Housing And Residential Life, Chelsea Titus

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

High attrition rates among entry-level student affairs professionals have been documented for decades, yet little research has examined the implications of midyear departures within housing and residential life. Residence directors serve as live-in professionals responsible for crisis response, student conduct, staff supervision, and community development. When a midyear departure occurs, the disruption extends beyond the vacancy and affects supervisors, colleagues, and residential communities. The problem addressed in this study was the organizational and supervisory impact of midyear residence director departures. The purpose of this qualitative narrative inquiry was to examine the factors contributing to midyear departures and to explore how …

It’S Not A Hierarchy Of Needs; It’S A Maze. A Case Study Of The Challenges And Supports For Former Foster Youth Transitioning To The Community College In Virginia, Lee Hemmrich Hunt

Theses and Dissertations

Despite decades of policy reform and targeted support, today’s former foster youth (FFY) face disproportionate challenges to higher education completion. This qualitative case study explored the lived experiences of six former foster youth as they transitioned from the foster care system to a community college in Virginia. Guided by a conceptual framework integrating Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, Bridges’ Transition Theory, and Zimbardo’s Time Perspective Theory, this study sought to understand the barriers FFY encounter, the supports they find most meaningful, how they define successful independence, and the role higher education plays in that definition.

Data was collected through preliminary meetings, …

Being Compassionate Helps Improve College Students’ Perceived Well-Being. The Mediating Role Of Cognitive Flexibility And Perceived Anxiety, Saurabh Singh, Sarath Nonis

AMTP Proceedings 2026

Perceived well-being of college students is crucial to the success of students and institutions of higher education alike. Through this study we assert that promoting compassion among college students can improve their perceived well-being. Furthermore, the effect is mediated by cognitive flexibility and anxiety felt by students. The study has theoretical and managerial implications. The results can guide educators and university personnel to better craft curriculum and university communication.

A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Case Study On Principals’ Attitudes And Practices Toward The Inclusion Of Students With Disabilities, Charlene Marie Briggs

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

Despite decades of federal legislation mandating inclusion, many schools still struggle to serve students with disabilities effectively, resulting in persistent achievement gaps and limited postsecondary success. Research consistently identifies principals’ attitudes and practices as the most influential factor in inclusive school success, yet existing studies have examined these elements in isolation rather than as interconnected parts of a school system. This hermeneutic phenomenological case study explored how ten Virginia elementary school principals understood and enacted their attitudes and leadership practices toward the inclusion of students with disabilities in their schools. The study used van Manen’s (2014) hermeneutic phenomenology to understand …

What Keeps Teachers: A Systematic Review Of Induction And Early-Career Teacher Retention In Rural Schools, Bobbie Jean Mcdonough

Teacher Education, Educational Leadership & Policy ETDs

Teacher retention remains a persistent challenge in United States education, particularly in rural K–12 public schools. This systematic review synthesized empirical research on induction and early-career teacher retention in rural United States settings published between 2000 and 2025. Guided by a postpositivist framework and aligned with PRISMA 2020 standards, 56 studies met inclusion criteria following structured database searches and multi-stage screening. Findings across the included studies indicate that retention was most consistently associated with induction, mentoring, professional learning, responsive leadership, collegial relationships, and teachers’ integration into their school and community, with no single support appearing sufficient in isolation. Across research …

Want To Be A Higher Education President? A Comparative Case Study Of The Traits, Attributes, And Skills Of Four Current Higher Education Presidents, Brian C. Nees

Teacher Education, Educational Leadership & Policy ETDs

This qualitative study is a comparative case study of higher education presidents. It examines how current higher education presidents described the essential traits, attributes, and skills of the position and whether these presidents have always possessed them or acquired them over time and through experience. This topic is essential, as it appears that presidents are leaving their positions sooner, and this research provides incoming presidents with preparation advice and current presidents with advice to help them stay in their positions longer. The data were obtained through resumes, a trait questionnaire, and interviews with current higher education presidents. These three data …

1st Place Contest Entry: "Examining Experiences Of Search Committee Members For Deans Of Colleges Of The Arts", Connor Bogenreif

Eric M. Scandrett Graduate Library Research Prize

This is Connor Bogenreif's submission for the 2026 Eric M. Scandrett Graduate Research Prize, which won first place. It contains their essay on using library resources, a summary of their research project on the experiences of search committee members for deans of colleges of the arts, and their bibliography.

Connor is a student in the Ph.D. in Education program at Chapman University. Their faculty mentor is Dr. Doug Havard.

The Perceived Barriers Of A One-To-One Technology Implementation: A Post-Covid Case Study, Adam Howard Creasy

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative dominant, exploratory sequential case study aimed to identify stakeholder perceptions of technology within a one-to-one technology initiative and outline any possible barriers. The study examined the perceptions of teachers, parents, and administrators within a rural K-12 public school district in Pennsylvania. The study provided school district stakeholders with data they can use to improve existing and future initiatives by early intervention within areas of concern identified by the study. Data were collected using a two round approach which includes focus groups and targeted surveys utilizing research-backed electronic survey tools. The research questions addressed in the study were the …