Digital Commons Network^™

Why Not Community College As A Pathway To A Degree, Gretchen Jorndt Reyes

Dissertations

This qualitative phenomenological study aimed to understand if Gen X parents are motivating their Gen Z students' college choice not to attend community college. The few studies that focused on parent involvement in choosing a community college did not focus on the generational differences between parents and their children when it came to college choice, they also did not focus on whether parents influenced their children to attend community college or not (Bers, 2005; Bers & Galowich, 2002).

The study explored Ajzen’s Theory of Planned Behavior and how his theory and the college choice process are intertwined during the college …

Who’S Next: Elementary Principals’ Process For Identifying Future School Leaders In Washtenaw County, Michigan, Jennifer Bookout

All NMU Master's Theses

This qualitative study investigated how six experienced elementary school principals in Washtenaw County identify internal candidates for future principal positions, aiming to enhance understanding of educational leadership and succession planning. The research addresses two primary questions: (1) How do principals identify prospective internal candidates for school leadership? and (2) What competencies or characteristics do principals use to determine candidates' suitability for school leadership? Three themes emerged for the first question: informal recognition of leadership potential through daily interactions; providing leadership opportunities such as leading committees or mentoring teachers; and engaging in direct conversations about career goals. For the second question, …

Nursing Students’ Attitudes Regarding Technical Standards For Entrance Into A Bachelor Of Science In Nursing Program, Jordyn Leigh Cook

Institute for Disability Studies

Admission into a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program requires students to meet specific criteria including a non-negotiable set of technical standards. Technical standards encompass physical abilities including twisting, bending, and handling objects of varying weights (Good Samaritan College of Nursing and Health Science, n.d.). While physical capabilities may hold significance in bedside nursing, the American Nurses Association does not establish specific physical qualifications (American Nurses Association, 2010). Due to admission criteria and technical standards, individuals with disabilities are rarely found among career nurses and nursing students (Leslie & Miller, 2020). This study aims to determine nursing students’ attitudes towards …

1 A Phenomenological Study Of The Lived Experiences Of Hospital-Based Physical Therapy Department Leaders’ Most Successful Change Management Initiative, Joseph Patanella

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

ABSTRACT

A phenomenological study of the lived experiences of hospital-based physical therapy department leaders’ most successful change management initiative

Problem: Change management initiatives are consistently employed in healthcare to promote quality care. Of concern is that not all initiatives are successful. Individuals involved in successful change management can offer insight to those approaching initiatives.

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study is to describe the lived experiences of hospital-based physical therapy department leaders’ most successful change management initiative.

Methods: The research design was a qualitative approach. A phenomenological research design was employed, using the voice of a group that has …

Black School Leader Truth: How Black School Leader Epistemology Influences Liberatory Mindset Development In Their Staff, Orpheus Williams

Dissertations

Black students in the United States have consistently been denied access to empowering, culturally affirming, and responsive learning experiences in the traditional public system. The epistemological and pedagogical beliefs embedded in a liberatory mindset can subvert this pattern of disempowerment (Shujaa, 1998). Black school leaders (BSLs) who understand the systemic and institutional pressures Black children may face and have to overcome, having undergone similarly racialized experiences in school, are uniquely placed to create liberatory spaces for Black students by recruiting and developing these liberatory mindsets in their staff. This instrumental case study used qualitative research methods of front-porch pedagogy (McTighe …

The Exodus Of Filipino Teachers To Uzbekistan: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study, Frank Angelo Pacala

Makara Human Behavior Studies in Asia

Filipino teachers drawn to Uzbekistan were attracted by the prestige and mission of its government schools, bringing world-class teaching experience from numerous countries. This departure of Filipino teachers to Uzbekistan is the focus of a hermeneutic phenomenological study that discloses a valuable tapestry of themes that capture the intricate quality of the educators’ journey. The Filipino teachers who joined this study were employed for a minimum of two years. This study was performed through semi structured interviews, and the data went through structural, thematic analysis, exposing a narrative covering distinct themes. First, the resilience and adaptability of the international educators …

Reframing Latine & Indigenous Newcomer Students As Policymakers: Addressing Barriers To Attendance Through Ypar, Amanda Monique Vivanco

Master's Theses

This youth participatory action research investigates the barriers to attendance that recently immigrated Latine/Indigenous-identifying emergent multilingual high school students aged 18- 21 face. This action research aims to restore power to this population by providing the opportunity to participate as co-researchers, sharing their perspectives, opinions, and solutions to the issues that directly affect them. A group of six students from a small continuation school participated as co-researchers in a single session student-led focus group designed to elicit student perspectives, including their attitudes towards school attendance policies, experiences with attendance, and ideas for improvement. The first chapter explains the problem, demonstrating …

The "Essence" From Within: A Phenomenological Study Examining The Lived Experiences Of Racial And Ethnic Minoritized Women (Raemw) Senior Level Administrators At 4-Year Predominately White Institutions (Pwis) In The United States (U.S.), Felicia Crockett

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of senior level RAEMW administrators who work at 4-year PWIs in the U.S. and analyze the impact of institutional environments on their success. The theories that guided this study were: Crenshaw’s (1994; 1989; 2015) intersectionality framework and four tenets of CRT which include counter-storytelling, the permanence of racism, interest convergence, and intersectionality (Hiraldo, 2010, 2019). This study was guided by the three research questions: 1) How do RAEMW senior level administrators describe their experiences navigating higher education, 2) How do senior level RAEMW administrators describe the impact of institutional environments …

The Lived Experiences Of High-Performing Black Male Students With Advanced Placement Courses, Griselda Almonte-Delgado

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Black male students are underrepresented in Advanced Placement (AP) courses. Studies on the perspective and experiences of high performing Black male students with Advanced Placement (AP) is limited. Available research indicates that high performing Black students are enrolled at half the rate of White students both nationally and locally in Advanced Placement (AP) courses (Dept. Of Civil Rights, 2021). Research uncovers multifaceted factors influencing enrollment, ranging from personal motivation to systemic barriers. To qualitatively address this dissonance, this research used Attribution Theory as its framework to examine the lived experiences and perceptions of eight high performing Black male students from …

Representation Matters: A Critical Discourse Analysis Of Media Texts About Eight Black Women College Presidents At 4-Year Institutions, Laura Hazel Jack

Dissertations - ALL

Research has found that diversity has a positive impact on innovation, but the profile of higher education leaders has not become drastically more diverse. Although there have been modest changes, they have not been consistent with the changing demographics of college students. The few high-profile presidential appointments of Black women that have received media attention have been the exception rather than the norm. This dissertation used critical discourse analysis and content analysis to examine how eight Black women college presidents were written about in the media. The research questions explored the discourse about Black women college presidents and their leadership …

Women Doctoral Students In Computer Science: Nevertheless, They Persist, Shannon L. Mccoy-Hayes Edd

Teacher Education, Educational Leadership & Policy ETDs

Throughout millennia systemic restrictions have prevented women from full participation in science. Even now, with science ubiquitous to life as we know it, double standards impact women’s access and equal participation in STEM. Computer science (CS) is one STEM field where women remain significantly underrepresented in both academia and the workforce, yet despite decades worth of semi-annual reporting, there is still no consensus as to why. A survey was deployed to twenty-nine institutions inviting women doctoral students in CS to participate in personal interviews. Six women from different institutions at different stages of their programs responded. Qualitative interviews using phenomenological …

Understanding The Relationship Between How The Availability Of Vaping Devices And Student Use Are Related: A Quantitative Study, Felicia L. Owen

ATU Theses and Dissertations 2021 - Present

The number of teens in Arkansas who are vaping continues to increase despite state and national laws and regulations. The availability of vaping devices to teens continues to occur; but limited research is available that explores if the availability is accessible through peers, families, or community members, or is self-sought. It is crucial to gain a better understanding of why vaping continues to increase among high school students in Arkansas. The purpose of this study is to understand the relationship between how the availability of vaping devices and student use are related. The analysis of exposure and student use varies …

The Impact Of Dual Credit On Student Success: A Mixed Methods Study At A Texas University, Jennifer D. Coker Goddard

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In 2015, the number of students enrolled in dual credit coursework in United States (U.S.) schools had reached over 1.4 million, a 68% increase over the previous few years (Field, 2021). By this year, 88% of U.S. high schools offered dual credit programs, and 34% of students enrolled in dual credit coursework, indicating a steady growth in dual credit programming (Rhine, 2022). Furthermore, 27% of public high school students in Texas earned credit for dual credit coursework (Villarreal, 2017). Despite significant growth in dual credit coursework offerings, limited knowledge of the effectiveness of these programs in preparing students for post-secondary …

Indigenous Land Acknowledgement, Learning Spaces, And Sacred Places As Factors For Native American First-Year Students In Higher Education, Danielle E. Yepa Gunderson

Teacher Education, Educational Leadership & Policy ETDs

Native American undergraduate students have the lowest college degree completion rates, between 0.7% and 1%, of those earning an undergraduate degree (National Center for Education Statistics, 2017). The purpose of this study was to contribute to the research literature to improve college success by answering this research question: What are the experiences of first-year Native American college students when Indigenous land acknowledgement, dedicated learning spaces, and sacred spaces are present on their campus? This research was a baseline exploratory study that utilized a quantitative approach to survey first year, Native American students at nine public higher education institutions in the …

Indigenous Leadership: Leading The Journey So Others Follow, Ophelia M. Sanchez

Teacher Education, Educational Leadership & Policy ETDs

Leadership is a ceremony. All leaders need to envision a sense of purpose as the journey begins. I examined interactions among attitudes, perceptions, and decisions through Indigenous female leaders’ personally identified leadership styles and how to integrate Indigeneity for positive change in their environment. The purpose of this study was to help guide school leaders through initiating educational change and to give courage to Indigenous female leaders to continue to lead or step into leadership. In exploring these interactions, I examined Indigenous women’s leadership experiences, values, and beliefs. This study provided valuable insight to women of all ages, educators, school …

Co-Teaching In The Classroom: Students’, The Clinical Teacher’S, And The Classroom Teacher’S Perceptions, Allison Nicole Dale

Masters of Education in Teaching and Learning

Co-teaching, where the clinical teacher and classroom teacher teach using different models, has become widely used in clinical teaching placements. This action research study, conducted in a second-grade classroom, had two purposes: to learn teachers’ and students’ perceptions towards co-teaching, and how different co-teaching models were used in different content areas. Through collecting surveys, interviewing students and the classroom teacher, and composing journal entries, qualitative data was analyzed to find common themes that emerged, while quantitative data from the surveys was calculated to find the mean and mode. The study found that co-teaching enriched the learning experience and provided more …

A Phenomenological Study On The Impact Of The Experience Of A College Merger On Employee Engagement, Satisfaction, And Burnout In Faculty, Staff, And Administrators At Minnesota North College, Molly Elise Franz

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Higher education institutions were becoming more competitive due to meeting the needs of changing demographics of prospective students, increasing costs of tuition, fees, and operations, meeting workforce demands, providing access to high quality technology tools, and more. A merger process impacted employee engagement, satisfaction and burnout. It was important for administrators in higher education to create and maintain a supportive and inclusive culture for employees, especially during each stage of the merger process. It was also important to clearly communicate the purpose of the merger, and to provide employees an opportunity to engage with the planning and implementation stages of …

The Relationship Between Mentorship, Career Pathways, And Success In The Superintendency: A Comparative Study Of Men And Women Educational Leaders In Minnesota, Kristin Dehmer

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The superintendent position is the most visible and influential in K-12 Education, responsible for regional, state, and sometimes national educational policy. Despite the majority of teaching positions being held by women, approximately 75% of superintendent positions are held by men (Glass, 2022). In Minnesota, only 22% of women hold superintendent positions (Men=77%) (MASA, 2023). This study examined career pathways and access to mentorship of men and women in Minnesota, analyzed through a theoretical framework of critical feminist theory and a secondary framework of social capital theory. All participants held a current Minnesota Superintendent license, and included current superintendents, retirees, aspiring …

Female Medical Students’ Lived Experiences Of Financial Stress And Coping, Untara Shaikh, Dr. Kimberlee Bonura

Georgia Public Health Association Annual Meeting & Conference

Financial stress is a pervasive concern among medical students, with documented associations with adverse physical health, psychological morbidity, and ineffective coping. This study focuses on understanding the financial stressors female medical students face and the coping strategies they employ. While financial stress and coping mechanisms have been explored in the literature, a notable gap exists in understanding these dynamics among female students.

The study employed a phenomenological research approach to obtain data from the respondents, where data collection involved face-to-face semi-structured interviews. The Adaptation Model of Nursing, complemented by Lazarus and Folkman's Coping Theory, was a comprehensive framework for analyzing …

Why Not The School-To-Scholar Pipeline? Changing The Narrative Through School Leadership, Marne Renee Foster

Dissertations

The overrepresentation of Black students in exclusionary practices in public K–12 education, such as detention, suspension, expulsion, and misplacement into special education, contributes to the school-to-prison pipeline (STPP). This phenomenon leads to truancy, academic failure, and involvement in the juvenile justice system. In contrast, the school-to-scholar pipeline (STSP) has an inverse relationship with the STPP and views students as scholars in training, ultimately linking them to careers or college. Research has indicated that school administrators’ mindsets, along with teacher bias, play a significant role in perpetuating exclusionary practices and racial disparities (Gullo & Beechum, 2020; Skiba, Chung et al., 2014). …

Shaping Tomorrow’S Ethical Leaders, Christina M. Secrist

Masters Theses, 2020-current

This qualitative research study sought to explore the essences of ethical leadership by reviewing existing theories and frameworks, the characteristics and behaviors of ethical leaders, the leadership styles that portray an ethical component, the motivations of ethical leaders, and the self-efficacy of emerging leaders when faced with challenging decisions of an ethical nature. A thorough literature review was completed in an effort to gain a better understanding of how research studies have defined ethical leadership over the last couple of decades. Transcendental phenomenological interviews were conducted with four self-identified ethical leaders across the industries of agricultural manufacturing, a global non-profit …

“It’S Not You, It’S Me”: Understanding The Relationship Between Students Academic Advising, Xavier Grier

Masters Theses, 2020-current

Understanding what students need should be at the forefront of every higher education institution’s design or plan for impact. From an academic advising standpoint, listening to the voices of students should be of utmost importance when determining how advisors can effectively influence student success. The purpose of higher education is to promote the success of students. Providing assistance towards individual, professional, and career development is the main focus of educational institutions when regarding their ability to help their respective students succeed. One avenue of this assistance is through their academic advising departments. Academic advising is a vital part of how …

Ua12/2/1 College Heights Herald: Ways Of The Future, Wku Student Affairs

WKU Administration Documents

Magazine edition of the College Heights Herald for the period April 8 - May 5, 2024.

• Anderson, Alexandria. Letter from the Editor – Science, Technology & Business
• Anderson, Alexandria. Women in STEM Make Advances
• Novoselia, Mariia. Turnover on Fountain Square: Local Businesses Share Concerns & Success Stories
• SOKY Rentals Offers New Apartments
• Walk2Campus: Where Home Meets Community
• Bush, Camden. Can a Baseball Team Reduce Their Goals to a Math Problem?
• Hawkins, Kaylee. Student Business Owners Share Experiences – Gatara Townsend, Andrew Garrett, Brittiny Sadler
• Ivory, Larkin. Bikewalk BG, WKU CHHS Offer Chances for Healthy Lifestyle – Health & Human Services

The Matthew Effect Within South Side Chicago Public Schools, Jazmin S. Hollingsworth

Honors Capstones

The Matthew Effect was first developed by sociologist Robert Merton (1968) to describe a phenomenon they observed whereby wealth and credit is distributed to individuals based on the wealth or credit they already possess. Keith Stanovich further developed this theory around poverty and effects on students, their learning, and in particular reading (1986). The name Matthew Effect comes from the Bible book of Matthew chapter 25: verse 29. "For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath." The dynamics of poverty …

Prioritizing Belonging For Pk-12 Families On Financial Assistance In Private Schools, Deana Clapp

Doctorate in Education

This dissertation examined the experiences of 10 families of students in PK-12 private schools leveraging financial assistance (FA) to afford tuition and seven school FA staff who worked with families. Current literature is prominent in higher education but scant in the PK-12 milieu. Moreover, qualitative studies examining student experience in higher education have only recently begun unfolding. Drawing from a qualitative phenomenological study with an interpretivist, critical approach, this study discloses school belonging and marginalization sentiments vis a vis the power of school practices and policies to shape student and family experience. This study shares the vulnerability of private PK-12 …

Refining The Goals Of Public Education In The United States: An Exploratory Single-Case Embedded Study Of A Student-Centered Path-Goals Setting, Tuan Pham

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The public higher education system in the United States has inherited a multitude of aims and missions in order to fulfill its social and educational objectives. As a result, many higher education institutions suffer from unclear goals. Nevertheless, the researcher identified the student's goal-oriented process as the fundamental aspect of this educational system from its inception until the present. The exploratory single-case embedded study conducted at a regional comprehensive institution highlighted the differences, difficulties, and issues faced by students, administrators, and the institution itself in its pursuit of specific goals in higher education. Indepth interviews were employed to investigate the …

A Systematic Review Of Practices Utilized By Administrators To Support Teachers With Classroom Management, Ciara Waggoner

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

An administrator’s role in supporting teachers has been a topic often discussed in literature. A less mentioned administrative function is their role in supporting teachers in classroom management strategies related to teaching and setting expectations. Problem behaviors in the classroom have a negative impact on student outcomes. Administrators can help address problem behaviors through the use of four effective administrator practices areas identified by Grissom et. al. (2021): (a) instructionally focused interactions (b) building a productive school climate (b) facilitating collaboration, and (c) managing personnel and resources. The purpose of this systematic review was to identify: (1) Which of the …

The Experiences Of Postsecondary Students With Disabilities Utilizing One Stop Student Services: A Grounded Theory Approach, Ivan Noe

Education (PhD) Dissertations

The number of students with disabilities attending postsecondary institutions of higher education continues to rise. With it, it is necessary to understand better how they experience their institution beyond curricular spaces. Presently, there exists a gap in the knowledge of how these students experience co-curricular support, including assistance with enrollment services through one stops. This study sought to understand the multiple ways in which this population of students experiences the one stop at one of three four-year public research universities in California. This qualitative research study utilized the constructivist grounded theory methodology and methods to aid in the emergence of …

A Little Loud And A Little Alone: A Phenomenology Of Leadership Identity Construction Among Women In Higher Education Technology, Amy Barry

Department of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Theses and Other Student Research

This qualitative study is an exploration of how women in higher education information technology (IT) positions navigate constructing their leadership identities. This includes the messy, personal, internal identity work that occurs prior to claiming their leadership identities on the public stage, followed by an examination of what the experience of attempting to claim and negotiate a leadership identity is like in the social context of their organizations. This educational and sociological study employs an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis approach with a series of three interviews per participant that allowed the researcher to deeply explore the personal identity experiences of participants. Findings …

Organization Of Change: The Journey From Probation To A Successful Accreditation Review, Erin Dail

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Regional accreditation, seen as a necessary hurdle by many in higher education, is required to participate in Title IV funding. However, several studies indicate that the current accreditation process is broken. Institutions with more resources, both in staffing and funding, and more academically ready students are at an advantage for favorable accreditation outcomes. Those institutions serving the most at-risk students rely on Title IV funding the most and may be participating in a process in which they are less likely to succeed. This study seeks to explore the experiences of Accreditation Liaison Officers (ALOs) at Higher Learning Commission (HLC)-accredited community …