Digital Commons Network^™

Empowering Black Women Professors Teaching Within Predominantly White Institutions: Exploring Success Strategies And Best Practices Amidst Challenges, Wendy Perkinson

Theses and Dissertations

Throughout the historical journey of Black women in America, spanning from enslavement (Best, 2015) to activism as abolitionists, advocates for women's suffrage (Sesko & Biernat, 2010), and leadership in civil rights (Rushing, 2021), Black women's resilience shines through amid challenges. This study investigates the phenomenological experiences of Black women professors teaching in predominantly white institutions (PWIs) who are often marginalized because of racial and gender intersectional bias (K.W. Crenshaw, 2017). It explores the challenges these professors endure and examines the success methods they employ to overcome their challenges while discovering their needs for personal and professional success. The study's framework …

Implementing A Stepped Care Model: A Case Study Of Two College Counseling Centers, Stephanie L Johnson-Kane

Dissertations and Theses

The demand for mental health counseling services has surged, but the capacity of college counseling centers to meet this demand has not kept pace. The effects of COVID-19 have exacerbated this already fragile system of care. College students are enrolling in college with increased levels of anxiety, depression, disordered eating, suicidal ideation, and substance use. College counseling center staff are facing burnout. The waitlist to receive mental health services is at critical capacity. This multi-site case study was designed to foster an understanding of two college counseling centers' implementation of the stepped care approach as a mental health service delivery …

Internal Funding Newsletter, Academic Year 2023-2024, Uno Office Of Research And Creative Activity

Internal Funding Newsletters

The University of Nebraska at Omaha is committed to providing students and faculty unique, hands-on opportunities, internships, service learning, applied research, and other collaborative activities that enhance time in and out of the classroom. The 2023-2024 Academic Year saw many exciting opportunities for us to invest into even more programs promoting research and creative activity. This year's programs provided over $800,000, more than double the funding in 2022-2023, for student and faculty projects.

Effective Strategies For International Phd Applications, Srinivas Sulugodu Ramachandra, Shelly Arora, Vijay Kumar

Health Professions Education

Introduction: This article introduces a fresh perspective on the digital and communication challenges faced by international PhD applicants. This article focuses on issues such as digital literacy, email etiquette, and communication barriers, offering practical strategies to help applicants effectively navigate online applications and remote interactions with supervisors and Graduate Research Schools. This article provides insights for international doctoral applicants in navigating the complex process of approaching potential supervisors and applying to PhD programs at top-ranking international universities.

Methods: The availability of limited number of positions, supervisors and funding opportunities compared to the number of applicants makes the competition …

Introducing Business School Research And Positive Impact, Howard Thomas

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Typically, there are three main priorities, and dimensions, which interact with each other as business schools frame their visions and missions of enhancing management knowledge and producing distinctive management theories and insights. First, the processes of knowledge generation and development to produce high quality, often multi-disciplinary research outputs involving academic faculty, doctoral students and ‘tri-sector’ participants. Second, knowledge dissemination in teaching and learning activities enabling the growth of quality education at undergraduate and postgraduate levels and thus contributing to student intellectual growth and societal socio-economic development and advancement. Third, knowledge transfer through ‘tri-sector’ collaboration, engagement and practice enhancements that is …

Andragogy In The Age Of Ai: Transformative Pathways For Adult Education, Valerie A. Storey, Amiee Wagner

All Faculty and Staff Scholarship

This chapter explores the transformative impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on adult education, drawing on the foundational work of Malcolm Knowles, who emphasized the necessity for adaptive and self-directed learning practices. It examines the rapid technological advancements since Knowles' time, highlighting how modern AI technologies, particularly Generative AI, are reshaping the landscape of adult education. By aligning AI with andragogical principles, educators can enhance the learning experience while addressing potential challenges such as algorithmic bias and inequity. The chapter is structured into three sections: the first explores AI-based learning science and its congruence with Knowles' principles; the second assesses the …

Stereotypes Of A Black Man Misunderstood: The Experiences And Development Of Black Men With Bipolar Disorder On College Campuses, Gerron Scott

Theses and Dissertations

Black men graduate from universities at a lower rate compared to other groups. Students with disabilities also graduate at a lower rate. When the two groups intersect, the results can be disastrous. Black men with bipolar disorder face a host of problems on college campuses. From a lack of sense of belonging to trouble in class, they struggle to stay afloat in college. The purpose of this study was to document the experiences and development of Black men with bipolar disorder on college campuses. A grounded theory approach was used in this study. Grounded theory was chosen because it leads …

How Saudi Undergraduate Students Perceive Teacher Support, Basic Psychological Needs, And Academic Motivation, Anas M. Alhudib

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation examines the Saudi undergraduate educational environment, exploring relationships among teacher support, basic psychological needs satisfaction and frustration, academic motivation, and GPA. The study investigates whether basic psychological needs mediate the relationship between teacher support and academic motivation, utilizing a structural equation model with 312 Saudi undergraduate students. The findings reveal a positive relationship between teacher support and basic psychological need satisfaction, influencing academic motivation. Interestingly, GPA did not correlate with other variables. Various models were tested, resulting in two sets of models that underscore the significant role of basic psychological needs as mediators in shaping the relationship between …

Assessing The Relationship Between Neighborhood Inequality And Stem Employment For Underrepresented Minorities With Stem Degrees, Brian P. Hurley

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to assess whether there is a relationship between neighborhood inequality in which underrepresented minorities (URMs) with STEM degrees reside and their employment in STEM fields. The current study deploys an Intersectional Theory (IT) research framework and Bourdieu’s Theory of Practice to identify the influence of neighborhood capital on successful matriculation through the STEM pipeline as well as variables that elucidate latent inequities in the STEM pipeline which lead to unequal outcomes for URMs. Generalized Linear Multilevel Models (GLMMs) are used to answer the research questions where the individual variables of gender, race, and age …

An Exploration Of The Sense Of Belonging For African American Women Licensed Clinicians In A Voluntary Professional Counseling Organization, Raushanah Jackson

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Due to historical oppression in academe, the voices of African American women have been excluded, or unjustifiably limited, in academic research and from mainstream psychological thought. This study was one aim at understanding the experiences of belonging of women of African American ancestry who were clinically licensed professional members in a volunteer member counseling organization. Centering African American women’s voices was used through a lens of critical race theory and Black Feminist Thought to illuminate the structural, representational, and sociopolitical barriers that African American women face. An Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis approach was used to center the voices of five licensed …

Clinical Reasoning Development: Exploring The Role Of Instructor Feedback During Health Professions Clinical Education Experiences, Ryan T. Orrison

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

The growing complexity of the healthcare environment and the need to equitably address the health and well-being of a diverse patient population has increased the requirement for practical instruction and assessment of clinical reasoning in the training of health professionals. Formative assessment, in the form of feedback, is recognized as an essential instructional component in teaching clinical reasoning. This study aimed to investigate the role of feedback in developing clinical reasoning during clinical education.

This investigation consisted of three unique studies completed in phases. The scoping review methodology in phase one revealed six themes from the included articles (n = …

Incarcerated To Educated: The On-Campus Experiences Of College Students Post Incarceration, Taylor Comer

Masters Theses

As reentry rates continue to climb in the United States, more individuals with felony convictions on their criminal records will be looking to obtain post-secondary education to make themselves more marketable in the workforce. The purpose of this narrative study was to examine the experiences of three individuals that pursued higher education after being released from prison. It was determined that the criminality of these individuals had minimal impact on their experiences in higher education, and that there are other components of their identity that have a heavier influence on their likelihood of success. The other components of their identities …

Social Gender Norms And Depression In College Students, Derek Deeney

Masters Theses

The primary purpose of this quantitative study was to determine if there was a relationship between the conformity to social gender norms (masculine and feminine) and depression among male and female college students at a mid-sized, four-year public institution in the Midwest. A secondary purpose was to investigate if there was a difference in depression between males and females, and if a there was a difference in conformity to social gender norms (masculine and feminine) between males and females. Understanding the trends in social norm conformity and depression can lead to changes in how faculty and staff in higher education …

The Role Of Study Abroad Directors In The Internationalization Of Higher Education, Alexandra Tserenova

Masters Theses

This study looks at the preparation and job description for those serving as directors of study abroad on the college campus. For this study three professionals who work in director positions were interviewed as well as their job descriptions were analyzed to determine what the expectations are for those in these positions. Study abroad professionals engage with students, faculty, external agencies, and other educational institutions worldwide. They are required to collaborate with many different constituents in the areas of program development, recruitment, risk management, program implementation, as well as pre- and post-departure orientations.

Centering Linguistic Justice In The First Year Writing Classroom: An Argument For The Incorporation Of Code-Meshing And Narrative In Academic Writing, Traci Salazar

Masters Theses

The author addresses several questions across three chapters in relation to linguistic identity and standard language ideology in academic writing, particularly as it pertains to the First Year Writing classroom. Firstly, what is standard language ideology, and what are the detriments of its effects on students in the writing classroom? This answer is considered with an emphasis on the implications for students whose home languages are not in close proximity to Standard English (SE) and boils down to a homogenous language that is deemed ideal and is imposed upon others by dominant institutions, such as academic institutions. Within a literature …

English 890: Advanced Research Methods, A First Benchmark Portfolio, Janel Simons

UNL Faculty Course Portfolios

In this benchmark portfolio, I reflect on course design and student learning in a course I teach for incoming Master's students in the English department, ENGL 890: Advanced Research Methods. ENGL 890 is a mini-session course intended to introduce students to various aspects of managing graduate-level research within the discipline of English studies. In this portfolio, I discuss the learning outcomes and goals for the course, highlight some of the assessments I use, reflect on student learning throughout the course, and articulate changes that might improve student learning in future iterations of the course. Given the overarching goals of this …

First Course Portfolio For Tmfd 213: Merchandising I: Textile And Apparel Industry, Na Young Jung

UNL Faculty Course Portfolios

This portfolio presents a comprehensive overview of TMFD 213: Merchandising I, a foundational course in the Department of Textiles, Merchandising, and Fashion Design at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The course is designed to equip students with critical thinking, analytical skills, and industry-specific knowledge necessary for professional success in the textile and apparel industry. The portfolio outlines the course’s objectives, teaching methodologies, and the impact of instructional strategies on student learning outcomes. It includes detailed analyses of quantitative and qualitative data collected through pre- and post-test surveys, assignments, and reflections. Quantitative results demonstrate significant improvements in key areas such as familiarity …

A Reflexive Interrogation Of Teaching A Course On Administrative Theory To First-Semester Ma Students, Milad Mohebali

UNL Faculty Course Portfolios

This portfolio captures the product of a year-long reflexive process on the teaching of a course on administrative theory in educational organizations (EDAD 830) to first year MA students. This class is offered Online and is delivered asynchronously, to students who are largely full-time professionals. Section one focuses on the use of backward design strategy for designing this course, while also highlighting the tensions and dilemmas for designing the course, particularly around theory and context, as well as the need to teach students how to engage in class. Section two highlights the pedagogical, instructional, and evaluative design of the course. …

The Potential Of Humor To Joyously Dismantle Ableism+: Considerations For Social Workers, Mia Ocean

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Social workers are often well-positioned but not adequately equipped to disrupt, unsettle, or counteract ableism. Humor is one approach to disability justice work that can move the social work profession forward in a novel way. Within this practice brief, I use first-person narrative to illustrate the potential and limitations of humor to dismantle ableism+ in everyday interactions between social workers, clinical social work practice, and policy transformation. First, I share an example of how to use humor as a direct, call-in strategy to confront social worker-initiated ableist interactions. Second, I describe how a mixed disabled/abled couple can laugh together at …

Re-Imagining Neoliberal Ideologies In Social Work Education Using Critical Feminist And Disability Theories: A Phenomenological Autoethnographic Account, Stephanie L. Baird, Ami Goulden

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This brief commentary paper provides a phenomenological autoethnographic account of our personal and reflexive experiences of re-imagining dominant neoliberal ideologies in social work education. We draw upon our involvement as instructors of an individual and families social work practice course to illustrate how we problematized and disrupted traditional bio-medicalized and ableist practice approaches by adopting an intersectional crip lens. Our reflections are organized into four areas of consideration: 1) the theorization of an intersectional crip lens, 2) re-envisioning course content and traditional frameworks of practice, 3) examining and disrupting ableism within social work education, and 4) centering the voices of …

Exploring Belonging And Success In First Generation College Students With Disabilities, Cael Sinclair, Molly Taylor, Sharon Zumbrunn

UROP Posters

As colleges create initiatives to admit and accommodate marginalized students, the struggles of those marginalized students are becoming increasingly impactful and present. Research suggests that students’ sense of social belonging is often connected to student academic success (Connell & Wellborn 1991). However, marginalized students often experience a lower sense of belonging, particularly students who are the first in their families to go to college (Stebleton et al. 2014), and those who identify as disabled (Leake & Stodden 2014). The present study evaluated how the strengths and experiences of first-generation college students with disabilities impacted their belonging and academic success in …

Host Organizations' Perceptions To Providing Safe And Inclusive Work-Integrated Learning Programs For Students With Disability, Tanya Lawlis, Tamieka Mawer, Thomas Bevitt, Tom Arthur, Lesley Andrew, Ruth Wallace, Ros Sambell, Amanda Devine

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Inclusive work-integrated learning (WIL) requires collaboration between universities, host organizations and students, particularly, when designing and delivering WIL for students with disabilities. Host organizations, however, are not often included in the collaborations. This study explored host organization knowledge, capacity and challenges to providing WIL experiences for students with disability. A case study multi-method approach comprising an online survey and focus groups was undertaken. Host organizations, represented by supervisors, providing WIL to students enrolled in health courses at two Australian higher education institutions participated. The perceived need for student disclosure, office building limitations, and host organization limited knowledge of WIL expectations, …

Perceived Skill Outcomes Among Coursework And Research Graduates And Evolution Over Time, Denise Jackson, Ian Li

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This study explores perceived skill outcomes among graduates of 39 Australian higher education institutions in the short- to medium-term after course completion. While acknowledging important dimensions of graduate employability beyond the skills-based approach, we investigated graduate perspectives on their industry-relevant skill outcomes from university, in preparation for employment. Using national data, we build on earlier research by examining the viewpoints of 24,044 research and coursework graduates, at all levels, at six months and three years post-graduation. We found that as graduates progressed in their careers, perceived skill outcomes from university became less favourable, particularly among coursework graduates. Further, we observed …

Student Employability-Building Activities: Participation And Contribution To Graduate Outcomes, Denise Jackson, Claire Lambert, Ruth Sibson, Ruth Bridgstock, Matalena Tofa

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Employability development has become a central concern of higher education, with many students attending university to enhance their employability and career development. Universities offer a range of curricular, co-curricular and extracurricular employability-building activities, including work-integrated learning, mentoring and career counselling. However, participation in these activities, barriers to engagement and their impact on employability are unclear. This paper examines student engagement in diverse employability-building activities, barriers impeding participation and their perspectives on how activities develop aspects of employability. The methodological approach encompassed an online survey of recent bachelor graduates (n = 324) from two Australian universities and focus groups to further …

The Living Room Peer Support Training: Leading The Way In Unlocking Mental Health Benefits For University Students In Peer-Led Service Models In Higher Education, Amanda L. Cole, Dawn Reid

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This paper presents the development and execution of a specialised university training program designed to support Peer Support Advisors (PSAs) within The Living Room: a low-barrier peer-led mental health service. The primary objective was to investigate the training program's impact on the knowledge and attitudes of PSAs. Two questionnaires were administered: a pre-training questionnaire to establish participants' initial attitudes and knowledge levels, and a post-training questionnaire to assess any changes following completion of the program. Additionally, a feedback questionnaire was used to gather qualitative insights on the training experience. The integration of qualitative narrative accounts with quantitative data facilitated a …

An Innovative And Meaningful Scaffolded Curriculum Approach To Environmental Health Education In Western Australia, Jacques Oosthuizen, Edmore Masaka, Sally Anne Doherty, Kerry Staples, Gary Dine, Gerard Vance, Ruth Wallace

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

There has been a critical shortage of qualified Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) both globally and in Australia that has plagued the profession for decades. At Edith Cowan University (ECU), Perth, Western Australia, an undergraduate degree in Environmental Health (EH) was developed in 2006, however, viability was problematic, and the course was under threat of closure. In 2016 both the EH and occupational safety and health (OSH) majors were due for re-accreditation and since there was significant overlap between the two courses both majors were revised and combined into one (Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety). This new qualification has subsequently …

Icts Influence On Knowledge Sharing In Higher Education: A Pre-Ai Systematic Literature Review, Nirved Kumar, Elizabeth J. Cook, Sehkar Fayda-Kinik, Lela Maisuradze

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Digital transformation, through innovation in information and communication technologies (ICTs), impacts higher education (HE) and fosters knowledge sharing (KS). While research explores the implications of digital transformation in HE, its specific influence on KS remains understudied. This systematic literature review investigates the nexus between ICTs and KS in HE by examining peer-reviewed literature prior to the AI boom. Three databases were searched, yielding 473 journal articles, which were screened, eligibility checked and assessed for quality and relevance to predetermined research questions. Eighteen eligible empirical studies were analysed, revealing ICTs influence on KS across university functions: teaching-learning, governance/operations and research. Retrospectively, …

Regional, Rural And Remote Schools As A Career Choice For Australian Pre-Service Teachers: A Decision Tree Analysis, Marnie Harris, Lynette Vernon, David Rhodes, Christina Gray

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Professional experience is crucial in initial teacher education, enabling pre-service teachers to develop their skills in authentic classroom settings. However, with most Australian initial teacher education institutions located in metropolitan areas, few pre-service teachers undertake experiences in regional, rural or remote (RRR) schools, presenting challenges in preparing, attracting, and retaining teachers in these areas. Despite initiatives to address RRR teacher shortages, little progress has been made. Our study aimed to identify enablers and barriers for primary pre-service teachers during RRR professional experiences to address workforce shortages. Data were quantitatively analysed using multi-model classification-decision tree analysis. The analysis revealed professional growth …

Why Students Select Their College Major: An Investigative Study, Kate N. Matthews, Diane R. Edmondson, Lucy Matthews

Atlantic Marketing Journal

With the decline in the number of traditional college-aged students, understanding the degree selection process is important for departments, colleges, and universities alike. For students, selecting the proper major early is also beneficial since it reduces time in school and tuition costs. Therefore, a better understanding of the degree selection process is worthwhile. Survey data was collected from 1,177 undergraduates at a southeastern U.S. university. Survey questions included major selection influences and other attitude and demographic items. The highest ranked reason is interest and passion followed by fit with personality type. This was similar for students who changed majors. External …

Employees' Perception Of The Management Of The Covid-19 Crisis At Najran University, Saudi Arabia, Noora Nasser Alsuhaibani

Dissertations

Problem

During the COVID-19 crisis, particularly in the context of Saudi education, the ability to physically attend schools and colleges was greatly hindered due to the widespread transmission of the virus and the resulting obstacles. The issues necessitated the use of crisis management strategies. Some Saudi universities are capable of implementing an organized plan both before to and during crisis management, whereas others lack this competence. This is a substantial problem. Several universities in Saudi Arabia effectively managed the COVID-19 epidemic, whereas others did not. Furthermore, prior studies on crisis management indicate that administrators exhibit diverse responses. By participating in …