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2024-06-20 Non-Tenure Track Ad Hoc Committee Report, Morehead State University. Faculty Senate.

Faculty Senate Records

A report from the Non-Tenure Track Ad Hoc Committee submitted to the Faculty Senate on June 20, 2024.

The Persistence Of African American Doctoral Students And Graduates From Or In Stem Programs: A Transcendental Phenomenology Study, Tanisha Johnson Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the persistence efforts for African American doctoral science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) students or graduates. The theory guiding this study is Tinto's theory of student departure with a focus on the model of student persistence as it lays the foundation for how students persist to degree completion. The following questions guided this study: What lived experiences have helped African American current doctoral students or graduates persist in a STEM program? What challenges have African American graduate or current doctoral students experienced while completing a STEM degree program? What strategies …

A Phenomenological Study On The Experiences Of Secondary Teachers And Teacher Retention In Low-Income Schools, Kaila Morris Segres

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative, hermeneutic phenomenological study aimed to understand retention for secondary teachers at high-needs schools. Drawing upon Bandura's cognitive theory, this study examined how self-efficacy and motivation are crucial to secondary teacher retention. Through in-depth interviews with teachers, the research aimed to understand their perspectives and experiences regarding the factors influencing their decision to stay or leave. The study took place at Black River High School. It consisted of purposive sampling, which is a concise approach to generating suitable and practical information from specific kinds of people with minimal resources. The findings shed light on the dynamics between organizational and …

Perceived Influence Of Artificial Intelligence On Educational Leadership's Decision-Making, Teaching, And Learning Outcomes: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Mousa Fayiz Abduljaber

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand and describe the perceived influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on educational leadership's decision-making, teaching, and learning outcomes as revealed by educational leaders at a group of secondary public schools in the Middle East. The theory guiding this study was the distributed cognition theory, as it shows the dynamics of human cognition and AI cognition, making it possible to understand the perceived influence of AI. As the study reflected on AI’s past, present and, future, the central question that focused on this study is: How do educational leaders perceive the influence …

2024-06-14 Faculty Regent Report, Morehead State University. Faculty Senate.

Faculty Senate Records

A report submitted by the Faculty Board of Regent member to the Faculty Senate on June 20, 2024.

2024-06-13 Emails From The Non-Tenure Track Ad Hoc Committee, Morehead State University. Faculty Senate.

Faculty Senate Records

Emails from the Non-Tenure Track Ad Hoc Committee and Faculty Senate President from June 6 to June 13, 2024.

2024-06-06 Email From The President On Non-Tenured Faculty, Morehead State University. Office Of The President.

Faculty Senate Records

An e-mail message sent by the President to the Ad Hoc Committee of Non-Tenured Faculty in regard to proposed changes to policies with faculty instructors on June 6, 2024.

June 2024 Bulldog Alumni And Friends News, Kari Jones, Garrett King

Bulldog Alumni & Friends News

August 1 SWOSU Near You: Eischen’s in Okarche, OK

August 9 SWOSU Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet

August 10 18th Annual SWOSU Athletic Auction

September 13 SWOSU Charitable Hunt

October 26 SWOSU Homecoming

Weathering The Storm: A Phenomenological Study Of K-12 Special Educator Resilience And Retention, Kimberly M. Wisinski

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to interpret the lived experiences of K-12 special education teachers (N = 16) from large, suburban districts in Illinois who have persisted in their positions beyond four years. Understanding factors that contribute to the longevity of special education teachers is not only vital for enhancing the educational landscape for students with disabilities but also for informing district-level strategies aimed at fostering teacher retention. This study was guided by Bronfenbrenner's Process-Person-Context-Time (PPCT) bioecological systems theory, which provided a framework for exploring the various systems that influence special education teacher retention. To achieve triangulation …

A Correlational Study Of Culturally Responsive Christian School Leadership And Its Impact On Culturally Marginalized Students, Denecia B. Anderson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (2022), the Private School Universe Survey (PSS) was given and disclosed that 4.7 million students were served in private elementary and secondary schools in the fall of 2019. Approximately twenty-five percent of private schools in the United States of America are considered conservative Christian schools (National Center for Education Statistics, 2022). Within the conservative Christian schools, 0.7% of the students were American Indian, 5.3% were Asian, 68.6% were white, 11.2% were Black, 9.2% were Hispanic, 0.8% were Pacific Islander, and 4.3% were two or more races. Diversity in conservative Christian schools is …

Christian Graduates' Lived Experiences With Professional Moral Courage: A Transcendental Phenomenology, Jeffrey W. Moreira

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of demonstrating moral courage in the workplace when confronted with an ethical dilemma for post-graduate students of Christian-based educational institutions on the East Coast. The moral foundations theory by Haidt and Craig guided this study to find the innate responses that frame these graduates' lived experiences to understand better external influences, intrapersonal conflict, and rationale for the willingness to demonstrate moral courage when confronted with a moral dilemma. A sample of 10 graduates from Christian-based institutions completed the Moral Foundations Questionnaire, participated in one-to-one interviews, and attended …

The Relationship Between Administrators' Use Of Shared Leadership Practices And Teacher Efficacy During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Cheryl Turner Cavanaugh

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Shared leadership is a valuable phenomenon in education that has been studied for the past 100 years. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between Christian school administrators’ shared leadership practices and teacher efficacy during the COVID-19 pandemic. The researcher had a unique opportunity to study shared leadership in Christian schools during a world-wide crisis. The participants were chosen from a convenience sample of high school teachers and administrators employed at Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) member schools in the southeast region of the United States (Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia) …

A Phenomenological Study: Experiences Of The Church Of God In Christ Women And The Power Of Resilience, Debra Wylene Martin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological study explored the perceived experiences of Black women in the Church of God In Christ (COGIC), who hold senior leadership missionary roles, and the power of resilience they appear to possess. Previous studies (Starr-Parker, 2012) regarding women in the COGIC discuss barriers for women in leadership; however, there is a gap in the literature that explores the perceived tenacity of women who hold senior leadership missionary roles. The researcher did not aim to criticize the Church of God In Christ doctrine but to examine the perceived experiences of Black women in that church who hold senior leadership missionary …

Pressured To Conform: The Qualitative Paradigm In Counselor Education And Supervision, Bridger Dale Falkenstien

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Using Charmaz’s (2014) grounded theory (GT) and Clarke’s (2003; 2005; Clarke et al., 2018) situational analysis (SA), this study explores the experience of counselor educators and their pressure to conform throughout their professional identity development process. As counselor educators, these individuals are thought and practice leaders in the field of professional counseling, training up future counselors and advancing the field in scholarship and advocacy as a social science (Aubrey, 1980; Hansen et al., 2014). As a social science, the integrity and investigative power of counseling are tethered to empirical discovery through quantitative and qualitative methods and philosophy – while inherently …

Multiple Perspectives Examining How A High School Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (Jrotc) Program Affects Student Development: A Case Study, Kurt Duane Barry

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study was to examine how a high school’s Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) program affects student development of their personal responsibility and a sense of accomplishment by fusing the perspectives of the school administrators, JROTC instructors, and school guidance counselors for a more holistic view. The theories guiding this study are Abraham Maslow’s theory of motivation and Albert Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy, which relate to secondary student development for cadets in the JROTC program. The central research question focused on the benefits of a school’s JROTC program to the cadets enrolled. The research setting …

Representation Matters: The Importance Of Black, Indigenous, And People Of Color (Bipoc) Students Identifying With Academic Advisors, Temeshia N. Lemons

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to describe the underdeveloped identifiable relationships with assigned academic advisors for students who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) at a public higher education institution. The theory guiding this study was the relational cultural theory (RCT), as it assisted with understanding the importance of BIPOC students developing identifiable relationships with assigned academic advisors. This study's central research question asked, "What are the experiences of BIPOC students building positive relationships with assigned academic advisors?" A qualitative research design was chosen for this study to explore further the experiences shared among …

Empowerment And Advocacy Culture Within Higher Education For Adults With Intellectual Disabilities: A Qualitative Case Study, Rachel R. Kovach

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study was to understand the impact that advocacy and empowerment practices have on the intellectual disabilities community in academic and social constructs for students within community colleges and disability programs on the West Coast of California. The theories that served as the foundation of this study are intergroup contact theory and empowerment theory. Intergroup contact theory assures that the acceptance of societal norms and expectations must be agreed upon and embraced by all within a subpopulation for cultures to adapt and advance. Empowerment theory states that a fundamental goal during moments of progress and struggle …

Virtual Coaching, Self-Directed Learning, And The Implementation Of Evidence-Based Practices: A Single Qualitative Case Study, Elisabeth Myers

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this single instrumental case study was to understand how a virtual coaching program provides opportunities for self-directed learning during the implementation of evidence-based practices for adults at Navigator Coaching. The theory guiding this study was Deci and Ryan’s self-determination theory as conceptualizations of self-directed learning described in the literature mirror descriptions of self-determination. The central research question was: How does a virtual coaching program provide opportunities for self-directed learning during the implementation of evidence-based practices? As a single instrumental case, the setting for this study was one virtual life-coaching program in North America. The sample of participants …

Predictive Correlation Between Leader Self-Efficacy, Emotional Intelligence, Years Of Experience, And Transformational Leadership Of Physician Assistant Program Directors, Violet A. Kulo

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, predictive correlational study was to investigate the relationship between leader self-efficacy, emotional intelligence, years of experience, and transformational leadership practices of physician assistant (PA) program directors. This study is important in providing a greater understanding of the internal determinants and factors that influence the program directors’ beliefs in their success and effectiveness as leaders. Participants for this study included a sample of 86 PA program directors across the United States. Data were collected using the Leader Efficacy Questionnaire, Wong and Law Emotional Intelligence Scale, Leadership Practices Inventory, and a demographic questionnaire administered via a survey. …

2024-05-02 Non-Tenure Track Faculty Concerns Committee Meeting Minutes, Morehead State University. Faculty Senate.

Faculty Senate Records

Meeting minutes of the Non-Tenure Track Faculty Concerns Committee from May 2, 2024.

2024-05-02 Faculty Senate Meeting Minutes, Morehead State University. Faculty Senate.

Faculty Senate Records

Faculty Senate meeting minutes from May 2, 2024.

Conditions Affecting Adjunct Teaching Performance: A Descriptive Study, Terry Baggett

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Colleges and universities have been undergoing long-term structural changes and among these is the ever-increasing reliance on adjunct faculty. The most important goal of higher education is student success and faculty are one of the biggest influencers of student learning success. As a result, factors affecting faculty can also have secondary effects on students. The purpose of the study is to describe various conditions within selected institutions that are affecting adjunct faculty instructional performance as perceived by adjunct faculty themselves.

This study used a survey methodology with a descriptive design. Results from four community colleges and one university were collected …

Top Of The C.L.A.S.S. Connecting Leadership And Student Success, Natasha N. Johnson, Thaddeus Johnson

CJC Publications

This chapter highlights the direct correlation between effective leadership and student achievement. The development – and execution – of a concrete leadership framework is necessary for organizational structure and serves as a standard of excellence that surpasses any potentially harmful influences (such as race, socioeconomic status, family structure, gender, culture, and disability, among others). The establishment of this agenda occurs as individuals continually strive for self-fulfillment. Through this process, one can effectively guide others while working towards their own personal and professional objectives. Ultimately, this distinguishes successful leaders from the rest and represents the goal to which leaders should aspire: …

Teacher Background And Underrepresented Students In Gifted Education, Kayla Berg

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The underrepresentation of Black and Hispanic students in gifted education programs is a longstanding concern involving equity and access in educational systems. This qualitative research explores the complex factors influencing this disparity, focusing on the role of teacher perceptions in the identification process. Elementary and middle school teacher participants (N = 14) from a single school district provided interview data. Data collection focused on interviews with classroom and gifted teachers related to the three research questions. The research design was a multiple embedded case study.

First, the study investigated how teachers' perceptions of gifted characteristics vary based on personal experiences, …

Building Bridges: An Improvement Science Approach To Fostering Cross-Group Connections And Friendships Among Elementary School Students, Cody Russelburg

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The persistent issue of limited cross-group connections and friendships among diverse elementary school students is addressed, specifically in a district with five elementary schools that converge into a single middle and high school. The tendency for students to maintain selfsegregated social circles from their zoned elementary schools into middle and high school highlights the need for an intervention designed to foster cross-group connections. Utilizing the Improvement Science framework, this research incorporates two intervention cycles to refine and enhance outcomes related to cross-group connections. Fifth-grade students from two distinct elementary schools had intentional and direct intergroup contact utilizing an adapted version …

May 2024 Bulldog Alumni And Friends News, Kari Jones, Garrett King

Bulldog Alumni & Friends News

May 10 Distinguished Alumni Reception and Dinner

May 11 Spring Graduation

June 7-8 SWOSU Football Alumni Weekend

August 1 SWOSU Near You: Eischen’s in Okarche, OK

August 9 SWOSU Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet

August 10 18th Annual SWOSU Athletic Auction

A Phenomenological Study On Teachers' Perspectives On Experiencing Burnout In Title I Rural Appalachian Schools Grades 4–9, Kara J. Howard

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe and explore the burnout experiences of teachers in Title I rural Appalachian schools Grades 4–9 in southern Ohio. The theoretical framework guiding this study is Maslach’s burnout theory. The central research question was “What are the burnout experiences of teachers in Title I rural Appalachian schools Grades 4–9?” Convenience sampling was employed to select the 12 participants, all of whom are teachers teaching in Grades 4–9 within Sunshine County, a rural Appalachia-based school qualifying as a Title I institution in southern Ohio. The data presented in this study were collected …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Teacher Leader Experience, Leslie Magnanti

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of teachers in leadership roles in a rural, secondary school setting. The theory guiding this study was the theory of distributed leadership created by Spillane and developed by Groff, as it explained the power of teacher leadership as a method of distributing leadership to promote teacher retention and motivation alleviating some principal stress and burnout. Data was collected using interviews of the ten participants to better understand how teachers experience leadership and how administrators can promote it, focus groups to understand the phenomenon in more depth, and …

A Phenomenological Study Examining The Lived Experiences Of Middle School Students Who Have Demonstrated Challenges In Math And Their Expectations To Improve Their Performance, Steven Duane Fencl

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of middle school students who have challenges in math and their expectations of opportunities provided to improve their performance at a middle school in the Spring Valley School District. The theory that guided this study was Vroom’s expectancy theory, which argues that the tendency of a person to act in a certain way depends on what the person expects to happen, that it will be favorable to the person, and that the person feels the result will provide a potential gain. The central research question was, “How do …

The Relationship Between Leadership Styles Of A Principal And African-American Student Achievement In Elementary Reading, Joel James Abe

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine whether a relationship exists between the self-assessed leadership style of a building principal and the achievement of elementary African-American students on a state level reading assessment. The results of this study could have an impact on principal training and preparation, impacting decisions made by central office personnel, as well as improving the performance of the identified group of students in reading. The relationship between a principal’s self-assessed style of leadership and the combined pass rate of third through fifth grade African-American students in their school on the end-of-year state assessments. Principal leadership …