Digital Commons Network^™

What Multiple Theories Can Illuminate In Qualitative Research, Sherry Marx, Rachel Billings, Taylor Dexter, Mark T. Lewis, Patrick Ocran, Douglas Weber

The Qualitative Report

Our aim in this paper is to help scholars better understand theory’s purpose in qualitative research, how it is employed in data analysis, and the strengths and limitations of the insights it can reveal. We do this by sharing our practice using multiple theories to make sense of a common data set in an advanced doctoral class focused on theory in qualitative research. For the class final project, students chose different theories to analyze one common data set: A brief historical article on the Los Angeles Zoot Suit Riots. Student-chosen theories included constructivism, actor-network theory, symbolic interactionism, critical race theory, …

Open Education On Social Entrepreneurship: A Comparative Study Between Mexico And Bolivia To Scale Up Complex Thinking, Inés Alvarez-Icaza, Benito Javier Martinez-Briones, Liz Katherine Marco-Torrez, Evelyn Rondon-Jara

Higher Learning Research Communications

Objectives: This study examined the effectiveness of an open digital educational platform for developing complex thinking competencies through social entrepreneurship education among higher education students in Mexico and Bolivia. Specifically, it assessed changes in perceived systemic, scientific, critical, and innovative thinking and compared learning outcomes across both contexts.

Method: A quasi-experimental pre-post design was implemented with 601 participants (Mexico, n = 509; Bolivia, n = 92). Participants completed a validated 25-item, Likert-scale instrument assessing systemic, scientific, critical, and innovative thinking before and after engaging with the digital platform. Within- and between-group differences were analyzed using permutation-based statistical tests, complemented by …

Numeracy-Based Civic Education Model: Needs Analysis Through An Explanatory Sequential Design, Sulkipani Sulkipani, Kokom Komalasari, Sapriya Sapriya, Susan Fitriasari, Vina Amilia Suganda Makenun

Numeracy

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals emphasize numeracy as essential for quality education, and require its integration across the curriculum, including into civic education (CE). However, the integration of numeracy in CE in Indonesian universities has not yet been clearly mapped out. This study aims to analyze the need for numeracy integration in CE as a basis for developing a numeracy-based CE learning model. Using a mixed method with an explanatory sequential design, the study involved a convenience sample of 225 students and 10 lecturers from various universities through surveys, interviews, observations, and documentation studies. Quantitative findings show that numeracy …

2026-04-26 Faculty Senate Meeting Minutes, Morehead State University. Faculty Senate.

Faculty Senate Records

Faculty Senate meeting minutes from April 26, 2026.

The Big Five Personality Traits And Perceptions Of Generative Ai In Higher Education: A Canonical Correlation Analysis For Sustainable Digital Education, Mei Jiang, Shifang Tang, Qingwei Wang

Faculty Publications

The purpose of this study was to examine the multivariate relationship between college students’ Big Five personality traits and their perceptions of generative artificial intelligence (AI). Guided by sustainable digital education and expectancy-value theory, this study investigated whether personality profiles were associated with students’ knowledge of AI, attainment value, intrinsic value, utility value, perceived cost, and intention to use AI. Using a cross-sectional survey design, data were collected from 375 students enrolled at a Southwestern doctoral-granting public university. Participants completed an adapted measure of generative AI perceptions and the Big Five Inventory, and canonical correlation analysis (CCA) was conducted to …

The Minutes Of The Marshall University Graduate Council Meeting, April 24, 2026, Marshall University Graduate Council

Graduate Council Minutes

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of The Accelerated Model Pathways For Information Technology (Amp-It) Initiative, Meagan Mitchell Phd

Reports, Analyses, and other Publications

This report from Education Systems Center details the impact and strategic outcomes of the Accelerated Model Pathways for Information Technology (AMP-IT) initiative. Launched to strengthen Illinois' IT talent pipeline, the initiative focuses on expanding dual credit coursework, work-based learning, and strategic partnerships between school districts, higher education, and industry.

April 24, 2026 Ereporter, University Of Alabama At Birmingham

eReporter (campus newsletter)

No abstract provided.

Unf Student Research Symposium Conference Program Spring 2026, Office Of Undergraduate Research, Graduate School, Digital Humanities Institute, Hicks Honors College

UNF Student Research Symposium

Formerly known as SOARS, ARISE and U-GLIDE, the Student Research Symposium is a multi-disciplinary conference series at the University of North Florida (UNF) in which undergraduate and graduate students showcase their research projects during the fall, spring and summer semesters. Research at UNF includes inquiry and investigation in all forms. Communication of knowledge produced through student research can be presented in poster format or as an oral presentation at the Student Research Symposium in a welcoming environment. This is an excellent opportunity for students to refine their presentation skills through interaction with peers and faculty as they explain their projects, …

April 24, 2026 Minutes, Swosu Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Minutes

No abstract provided.

Exploring The Experiences Of Faculty Members Educating Students Virtually Post-Covid-19, Raven Ashley Richardson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted higher education, requiring institutions to rapidly transition to virtual learning environments and leaving faculty to manage increased workloads, stress, and challenges related to instructional quality and student engagement. The problem in this study is traditional faculty continue to experience these challenges in the post pandemic academic landscape, with implications for faculty wellbeing and student success. The purpose of this qualitative generic study was to explore experiences of traditional college faculty members educating students while transitioning from in-person to virtual learning environments post-COVID-19. Guided by the ecological systems theory, multilevel influences on faculty experiences were examined. …

2026 Urs Abstract Booket, Undergraduate Research Center, Minnesota State University, Mankato

Undergraduate Research Symposium

Complete Schedule of Events for the 28th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium at Minnesota State University, Mankato.

Beyond Measurable Success: An Autoethnographic And Phenomenological Study Of Resilience And Educational Transformation After Incarceration, Robert L. Hudson

Graduate Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine how formerly incarcerated students make meaning of their higher education experiences as a means of navigating systemic barriers, fostering resilience, and reconstructing identity during post-incarceration reintegration. Existing scholarship on formerly incarcerated students in higher education emphasizes barriers, recidivism, and completion outcomes while paying limited attention to the subjective meaning making processes through which students interpret their educational experiences (Abeyta, 2022; Bozick et al., 2018; Donaldson & Viera, 2021). Formerly incarcerated learners have largely been positioned as subjects of inquiry rather than as knowledge producers about their own educational lives. This qualitative study …

Factors That Affect African American Representation In Cybersecurity Academic Programs In The United States, Damon Walker

Dissertations

The U.S. cybersecurity workforce continues to experience a critical talent shortage alongside persistent inequities in racial representation, particularly at the faculty level within higher education. This mixed-methods dissertation examines African American representation among faculty in cybersecurity academic programs designated by the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C) and investigates the factors that influence recruitment, retention, and advancement. Grounded in a transformative research framework, the study integrates quantitative analysis of national institutional data with qualitative interviews to illuminate structural patterns and lived experiences shaping representation.

Quantitative findings revealed pronounced underrepresentation: African American faculty comprise 2.57% (130 of 5,051) of …

Exploring The Dual Advising System For Students’ Success: A Developmental Advising Model, Louisa Godwyll, Eugene Kwarteng-Nantwi, Pious Jojo Adu-Akoh

Mid-Western Educational Researcher

This qualitative study explored the dual advising system for student success at a U.S. higher education institution. Research has indicated that approximately 40–60% of students enrolled in doctoral programs do not complete their doctoral degrees. High attrition rates have led some institutions to adopt a dual advising system, a form of developmental advising, to support doctoral students’ success. Creamer and Creamer’s (1994) developmental advising model served as the conceptual framework of the study. The model defines the first stage of advising as defining task, where advisors engage in teaching and utilize strategies to help students attain educational, career, and individual …

Transgender And Gender Diverse Alumni Sense Of Belonging In Christian Higher Education: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, Kara Elizabeth Martin

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) study explored how nine transgender and gender diverse (TGD) alumni from member institutions of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) interpreted their undergraduate experiences with belonging and exclusion. Given the unique religious climates of CCCU schools, these alumni navigated complex tensions between their personal faith, gender identity, and institutional expectations. Through in-depth, semi-structured interviews, participants reflected retrospectively on their collegiate journeys, emphasizing the evolving meaning they ascribed to these experiences both during and after their enrollment. Analysis revealed a distinct temporal movement across three primary phases: entering college with idealized expectations of spiritual …

Spectrum, Volume 56, Issue 10, Sacred Heart University

Newspapers (Obelisk & Spectrum)

Highlights include: Daybreake Making Breakthroughs, Women in Sports Symposium Preview, Automatic Selective Service System, Pickleball Springing Excitement Onto Campus, Commuting to Their “Home Away From Home”, Painting a Picture of Talent at SHU, Men’s Lacrosse Gearing Up For MAAC Playoffs

April 22, 2026 Blazer Weekly, University Of Alabama At Birmingham

Blazer Weekly (student newsletter)

No abstract provided.

The Higher Education Classroom And The Digital Native: Are We Prepared?, Marc Wharton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Among the challenges facing higher education (HE) today is the entrance of digital native students into the HE classroom. At the turn of the 21st century, the term “digital native” was popularized, along with the claim that the immersion of digital natives in the digital universe, through mobile phones and social media, would determinately alter the manner in which these students learned. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to understand the learning experiences of nine digital native students attending a southeastern public research university, as well as the perspectives and/or teaching methods of five of their faculty. This …

2026 Undergraduate Research Symposium Program, Coastal Carolina University

Undergraduate Research Symposium Programs

17th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium, April 21-22, 2026.

The 2026 CCU Undergraduate Research Symposium included 72 oral presentations, 127 poster presentations, and 22 team pitch presentations comprising 50 students who participated in the Wall College’s Chant’s Tank Pitch Competition.

Presentations at the Undergraduate Research Symposium were judged by almost 90 faculty and staff, and prizes were awarded in three categories: Best Oral Presentation, Best Poster Presentation, and Best Chant’s Tank Pitch Presentation. Here are the following award winners and their mentors in their respective categories:

Best Oral Presentation:

• 1st Place: Ryan Ryan Avallone, Applied Mathematics. Faculty Mentor: Bong Jeong (Management …

April 21, 2026 Ereporter, University Of Alabama At Birmingham

eReporter (campus newsletter)

No abstract provided.

Reimagining Arabic As A Foreign Language Learning Through Place: Teachers’ And Students’ Perspectives On Pbl, Hebatalla Salem

Faculty Journal Articles

This one-cycle design-based research study aims to explore the perceptions of both teachers and students toward place-based learning. To achieve this, interviews were conducted with teachers, and questionnaires were administered to students who were directly engaged in place-based learning. The findings indicated positive outcomes, demonstrating that place-based learning offers multiple benefits, particularly in engaging learners in authentic experiences that enable them to apply what they learn in class within meaningful, community-based contexts. This study contributes to the body of knowledge on place-based learning by providing design principles that can support teachers in the design, development, and implementation of place-based learning …

Transforming Patient Safety And Care Practices Through Interprofessional Education, Kaleena Ramirez, Claudia C. Tamara, Jennifer Sells, Karen Clatt, Banan Abuharb, Mary Coolbaugh-Murphy, Iris Culwell, Anca Fumurescu, Mary Gust, Lori Simmons, Delores Whiteing, Annie Koenig, Sara Martinez, Wilton Muriithi, Shaun T. Caldwell, Susan Lee, Mary Sizemore, Kimberly Ann H. Krumwiede

Advances in Cancer Education and Quality Improvement

As healthcare increasingly relies on interdisciplinary teams to deliver safe and effective care, the development of interprofessional collaboration competencies among students in health care professions has become an educational priority. In response, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center School of Health Professions integrated a longitudinal interprofessional education curriculum to foster collaborative practice readiness and prepare students for team-based interdisciplinary environments that ensure safe and patient-centered care. The curriculum was guided by the Interprofessional Education Collaborative 2016 and 2023 core competencies for interprofessional collaborative practice, reinforced with the Real Colors® Personality Instrument and Team Strategies and Tools to Enhance …

Ink (2026)

Ink, 2008-

The student-run features magazine covering the fashion, art, music and culture worlds at VCU and in Richmond. Published annually in print and updated regularly online.

Capital Projects As Catalysts For Strategic Change And Transformation In Higher Education, Lora Strigens

Dissertations (1934 -)

University campuses and their physical environments are a visible and symbolic representation of institutions. As the higher education landscape continues to shift and faces ongoing disruption, many institutions are considering significant strategic changes or broad transformation to remain competitive and thrive. As campuses around the country contend with aging buildings and infrastructure, they also have strategic priorities related to the changing needs and expectations of students, and the nature of teaching, learning, and research. Among these complex challenges, there is an opportunity to consider how institutions can leverage investment in the physical campus as a catalyst to support the strategic …

Ink (2026)

Rabble, 2014-

The student-run features magazine covering the fashion, art, music and culture worlds at VCU and in Richmond. Published annually in print and updated regularly online.

Monopsony In Academia And The Gender Pay Gap: Evidence From California, Zhanhan Yu, Alfonso Flores-Lagunes

Upjohn Institute Working Papers

We investigate monopsony power in a highly skilled labor market made up of tenure-ranked faculty in the University of California system, and analyze differential monopsony power exposure by gender. We infer the campus-level labor supply elasticity by estimating the elasticity of separations utilizing individual-level faculty data and two instruments based on campus revenues and salary scales. We find that the “exploitation rate,” a common measure of monopsony power, is about 7% for tenure-ranked faculty. There is a statistically significant difference in the monopsony power experienced by male and female faculty that appears to account for a relatively small percentage of …

Building Understanding: Developing A Mental Health Literacy Scale For Teacher Preparation Faculty, Jesse Mossholder

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

This study aimed to create a valid and reliable Teacher Preparation Faculty Mental Health Literacy Scale. Current literature consistently indicates that traditional undergraduate college students experience high rates of stress, anxiety, depression, and burnout. Teacher preparation programs often lack systematic approaches to supporting student mental health or to preparing faculty to respond effectively. While the literature, resources, and institutional support regarding college student mental health have increased, a significant gap remains in understanding faculty mental health literacy within the context of teacher preparation programs. This mixed-methods sequential exploratory study utilized non-discriminative snowball sampling to recruit preservice educators and teacher preparation …

Traditionally Certified, Second-Career Teachers’ Perceptions Of Intent To Stay In The Classroom, Tara L. Wells

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem that was addressed through this study was the high teacher turnover, including traditionally certified, second-career teachers (TCSCTs), in United States classrooms, despite support and additional resources provided. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine TCSCTs’ perceptions on the reasons and their recommendations to remain in the classroom. Ingersoll's teacher turnover and retention framework was used to conceptually frame this study. Using a basic qualitative design, semistructured interviews were conducted with 12 TCSCTs. Data were analyzed through thematic analysis. The following themes emerged: TCSCTs remain in the profession primarily due to a sense of purpose in their …

Publication And Social Value, J.-C. Chiao

LEAP Conference Speaker Slides

No abstract provided.