Digital Commons Network^™

Finding Their Way: The Experiences Of Students Enrolled In A Career Pathways Program, Laura March-Retenski

Theses and Dissertations

Due to many sociopolitical factors such as an inequitable public-school education, many students do not graduate from high school in the United States. In 2018 “approximately 2.3 million 16- to 24-year-olds were not enrolled in high school and had not earned a high school diploma or alternative credential” (McFarland et al., 2018, p. 12). There is inequity in school funding and resource allocation. Barker and Weber (2016), Cascio and Reber (2013), and Kim and Taylor (2008) have found that the inequitable resource allocation in public schools is a causal factor of dropout. This is problematic because “college graduates find better …

Reinstated But Not Forgotten: Examining The Academic Recovery Of Community College Students After Dismissal, Nelson Izquierdo

Theses and Dissertations

Student retention and success are critical challenges in higher education, particularly for community colleges that serve diverse and at-risk student populations. While research has explored student persistence and academic probation, little is known about the factors influencing the academic recovery of reinstated students after academic dismissal. This study examines how demographic characteristics (age, gender, and ethnicity) and major program choice (STEM, Social Sciences, Humanities, Health Sciences, Education, and Business) impact GPA improvement and credit completion post-reinstatement. Guided by Schlossberg’s Transition Theory (1995), this quantitative, ex post facto study analyzed archival data from 2,112 reinstated students at a large, urban community …

Barriers To Success In Higher Education For Second-Generation Caribbean American Men, Leonard S. Breton

Theses and Dissertations

While the United States may be progressing, second-generation Caribbean American men, those with at least one foreign-born parent (US Census Bureau, 2016), are a population that, despite literature addressing benefits and detriments of their cultural experiences, still warrants continued examination through empirical testing (Lyttle et al., 2011). These students have a range of factors that make them nontraditional students. Challenges such as racism, sexual and ethnic identity, and generational status in this country can be compounded when cultural perspectives of immigrant families are factored in. Caribbean American men are guided by learned behaviors and cultural traditions that influence training and …

Diamond In The Rough: A Century Of Education And Democracy At Deep Springs College, L. Jackson Newell

Eastern Sierra History Journal

Deep Springs College, one of the great innovations in American higher education, is the subject of this close reading of its history, educational philosophy, and present state. Situated in the rugged eastern California high desert, the college has managed to survive, even thrive, despite innumerable challenges.

Who Drops Back In? An Investigation Into Non-Traditional Post-Secondary Students Who Return After Time Away, David Comolli Jr

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Non-traditional students are adult learners that begin working on an undergraduate degree after their 25th birthday, many of whom enroll in a flexible baccalaureate program. These are programs that involve some component of learning outside of a traditional classroom (i.e., online, a job-site, etc.). The purpose of this research study was to investigate the like-experiences that exist among non-traditional students that left education and later returned, and to investigate desirable alternatives for students considering dropping out (taking time away). Three research questions guided this study, they were as follows:

1. To what extent do personal events contribute to students choosing to …

2025 Graduate Scholar, Graduate School Of Eastern Illinois University

Graduate Scholar

No abstract provided.

From Transactions To Transformation: Rethinking Business Management Education Through Service-Learning, Genejane M. Adarlo, Sabrina Kate Paner-Montiel, Ma Lourdes Oliveros, Eduardo Victor Valdez, Mark Anthony D. Abenir

Health Sciences Faculty Publications

This study examined the effectiveness of service-learning as a pedagogical approach in a course offered to business management students. Employing a quasi-experimental design, the research compared student outcomes between an experimental group that incorporated service-learning and a control group that underwent traditional teaching methods. These student outcomes included knowledge application, personal and professional skills, civic orientation and engagement, and self-awareness. The results revealed that students participating in service-learning significantly gained self-reflection skills, self-efficacy, and a sense of social responsibility compared to their peers undergoing traditional teaching approaches. However, no statistically significant differences were observed in the other areas. These results …

This Needs More Time!: Considerations For Improving Partnerships Between Communities And Institutions In Folklore, Sarah M. Gordon, Jasper Waugh-Quasebarth, Junious Lee Brickhouse, Ashley Minner Jones, Naomi Sturm-Wijesinghe

Art Faculty Publications

From 2021 to 2023, the authors convened a series of discussion forums at the annual meetings of the American Folklore Society to discuss the challenges of community-institutional partnerships in the field of folklore. This perspectives piece presents the outcomes of that series of panels with the goal of advancing adaptability in institutional practices to better support community-engaged work. We seek to promote practices that better respond to community needs in collaborative partnerships through disciplinary norms and institutional bureaucratic mechanisms.

Authoring Culture: The Foundations Of Twenty-First Century Writing, The Authoring Culture Collective

Authoring Culture: Foundations of Twenty-First Century Writing

"Authoring Culture: Foundations of Twenty-First Century Writing is an open educational resource (OER) designed for use in college-level first-year writing courses, but is also useful in college courses that assign writing projects, and in a wide array of other writing situations outside of class.

Authoring Culture is distributed under a Creative Commons license, so it is freely available for you to use and you are free to modify it. Just make sure you provide attribution to the original project authors in accordance with the Creative Commons license. Our aim in releasing Authoring Culture as an OER is to make it …

A Multiple Case Study On Racial Equity Plan Implementation At Illinois Community Colleges, Jennifer Jennings

Dissertations of Practice

ABSTRACT

A MULTIPLE CASE STUDY ON RACIAL EQUITY PLAN IMPLEMENTATION AT ILLINOIS COMMUNITY COLLEGES

Jennifer R. Jennings, Ed.D.

Department of Counseling and Higher Education

Northern Illinois University, 2025

Jacqueline Mac, Director

Implementing racial equity plans in institutions of higher education requires institutional commitment and a shift in the organization processes, policies, and practices. Implementing organizational change in institutions of higher education is complicated and rife with opportunities for missteps. The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to understand two community colleges implemented Illinois Equity in Attainment (ILEA) racial equity plans. Findings revealed that the colleges practiced “racial reticence” …

"This College Is Run By Women": The Narratives Of Overburdened And Burnt-Out Community College Women Faculty, Lindsay Spence Carson

Dissertations of Practice

At community colleges, a noticeable gender divide exists among faculty who participate in college operations, such as committee and service work, department chair and other leadership positions, as well as unpaid labor. This narrative inquiry explored how tenured community college women faculty experience the gendered division of labor and privilege. I was particularly interested in the ways in which their experiences influence burnout and how community college structures, policies, practices, and social norms perpetuate gender differences in labor distribution. Ten participants who represent three midwestern community colleges, a variety of academic divisions and departments, and who are in different stages …

Science Identity Development Among Minoritized Students In Professional Stem Student Organizations: A Basic Qualitative Study, Michaela Friedrichova Holtz

Dissertations of Practice

Despite national efforts to broaden participation in STEM, underrepresented minoritized (URM) students continue to face systemic barriers to persistence and degree completion. While many intervention programs focus on academic preparedness, less is known about the role of co-curricular experiences—specifically professional STEM student organizations—in shaping science identity, a key predictor of persistence and success. This qualitative study explored how involvement in race- and gender-based STEM student organizations at a public research university in the Midwest influenced URM students’ science identity development, persistence in STEM majors, and career aspirations. Using the science identity framework developed in 2007 by Carlone and Johnson, semi-structured …

Roadmap To Developing Clinical Competency For Novice Nursing Students, Meredith Deegan, Lauren Goeke

School of Nursing Publications

No abstract provided.

Nsu Outreach, Nova Southeastern University

NSU Digital: Communiversity

No abstract provided.

Nsu Communiversity Outreach, Nova Southeastern University

NSU Digital: Communiversity

No abstract provided.

The Unsurprising Lack Of Deia In Nasa’S Pathways Program Hiring Patterns, Shelita Augustus, Tiasia Saunders

Division of Strategic Enrollment Management and Student Success Publications

Working for NASA, a symbol of exploration and scientific advancement, is a dream for many, sparking aspirations of becoming an astronaut and contributing to humanity's understanding of the unknown universe. However, the path to a NASA career is often filled with unfair challenges and barriers, particularly for talented individuals from underrepresented groups who have no control over systemic bias. NASA's Pathways Program is an entry point for undergraduate and graduate students seeking opportunities within the agency with a highly competitive hiring rate of only 1.4% between the fiscal years (FY) of 2021 to 2024. While NASA publicly affirmed its commitment …

“Science Belongs Everywhere”: Outlooks On Post-Secondary Stem Education For Correctional Centers In Virginia, Shelita R. Augustus

Division of Strategic Enrollment Management and Student Success Publications

Virginia has an incarceration rate of 679 per 100,000 residents, the highest among independent democratic nations. This scoping review examines perspectives on post-secondary STEM education to promote STEM education within Virginia's correctional facilities, assesses programs to improve rehabilitation, reduce recidivism, and address systemic inequalities by developing the scientific potential of incarcerated individuals. The review finds that while STEM education in correctional facilities faces limitations, its potential benefits are being realized nationwide. Virginia has made strides through initiatives like House Bill 2158, which aims to expand higher education access for incarcerated individuals. Examples such as the programs at J. Sargeant Reynolds …

2024-2025 Library & Learning Annual Review, Library & Learning, Minnesota State University, Mankato

Library & Learning Annual Reviews

Digital version of the 2024-2025 Annual Review for Library & Learning at Minnesota State University, Mankato.

Ssa-25-004 - Sga Legislation, Student Government Association, East Tennessee State University

Student Government Association Agendas and Minutes

No abstract provided.

2025 Election Results - Student Government Association, Student Government Association, East Tennessee State University

Student Government Association Agendas and Minutes

No abstract provided.

Ssa-25-001 - Sga Legislation, Student Government Association, East Tennessee State University

Student Government Association Agendas and Minutes

No abstract provided.

Navigating Artificial Intelligence: How Traditional Midwestern Four-Year Higher Education Institution Distance Learning Programs Are Addressing Artificial Intelligence, Eric Samaritoni

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

AI's rapid evolution and integration into society has had and will continue to influence how distance education programs teach their students profoundly. This study aimed to explore the opinions of higher education distance education Provost administrators, program managers, directors, department chairs, and other subject matter experts on the perceived impact of AI in the classroom. This study used a qualitative, phenomenological approach to examine how AI impacts students, faculty, program delivery, institutional policies, and university budgets. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 13 faculty members meeting the criteria to answer research questions based on their experience or observations. The study used …

An Adapted Social And Emotional Learning Curriculum For Middle School Students With Emotional Disturbances, Jacob Houston

Masters Theses/Capstone Projects

This project addresses how an adapted Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) curriculum, grounded in the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) framework and aligned with a personalized Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) model, can more effectively support the social and emotional learning development of students with Emotional Disturbances (ED). The project culminated in the design of a four-week SEL curriculum unit focused on building relationship skills—one of the five core CASEL competencies. The curriculum is delivered using the SOAR model (Scholarship, Ownership, Awareness, Respect), a personalized PBIS framework that integrates the existing Character Strong SEL program with …

Moving Goalposts: Unknowables, And Anxiety In Tenure And Promotion, Mark Diacopoulos, Ruth Monnier

Open Educational Resources - Teaching and Learning

In this study, two tenure-track colleagues (Mark and Ruth) examined their process of seeking tenure and promotion. They sought to answer the following question: To what extent do the unknowables in the tenure and promotion process lead to unnecessary anxiety?

Recovery Capital Among Students In Collegiate Recovery Programs At Two-Year And Four-Year Higher Education Institutions In West Virginia, Amy M. Saunders

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Collegiate Recovery Programs (CRPs) have been around for decades, supporting higher education students by offering supports, resources, and a community. However, most existing research focuses on four-year institutions, and there is limited data on recovery supports at twoyear institutions, as well as limited research on recovery capital among this population. This study explores differences in recovery capital, a measure of internal and external resources supporting recovery, among students in CRPs at two-year versus four-year institutions in West Virginia by answering the following questions: 1.) Are there differences between students’ reported recovery capital index (RCI) scores based on institution type? 2.) …

Effective Learning Practices For Rural And First Generation College Students, Maureen Kraus Gildein

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This study examined the use and perceived effectiveness of instructional strategies among college students, with attention to differences based on GPA, class year, gender, and first-generation status. Four families of strategies—Information Processing, Personal, Behavioral, and Social/Family—were evaluated to understand how students engage with and benefit from various learning approaches. Findings indicate that students employ a multi-faceted set of strategies across all domains, with moderate to high levels of use and effectiveness. Information Processing strategies, particularly logically organized content, were reported as most frequently used and highly effective. Personal and Behavioral strategies, including self-monitoring, goalsetting, and active engagement, were widely applied …

Etsu At-A-Glance - 2023-2024, University Marketing And Communications, East Tennessee State University

ETSU At-a-Glance

No abstract provided.

Siguiendo El Camino/Following The Path: Exploring The Experiences Of Latin* Second-Generation College Students, Libby Lee Curiel

CGU Theses & Dissertations

With degrees linked to upward mobility and, thus, a robust economy, college completion has become a central focus of the national higher education agenda. As the largest ethnic population in the United States, Latin* college students are at the center of the completion conversation. While enrolling in more significant numbers, they also have some of the lowest degree attainment rates. Most of these students also enter and exit higher education at the community college level. With research and policy focused on low-income first-generation college students in conversations about completion and upward mobility, second-generation college Latin* students and their first-generation parents …

Winter 2025, Augustana College, Rock Island Illinois

Augustana Magazine

No abstract provided.

Ram-Amazing Care: Making Mental Health A Priority, Together, Matthew Pawlowicz, Chelsea Gary, Sara Barton, Matthew Majid

The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute Publications

Maintaining student mental health is a significant and growing challenge for universities. Difficulties with mental health decrease students’ overall well-being and can contribute to students performing poorly in classes, entering academic probation, and failing to complete their degree on time, or at all, among other negative consequences for the university community generally. To help meet the need for mental health care, VCU partnered with TimelyCare in 2020 to provide a variety of online mental health care resources. The partnership has enrolled more than 3,000 student users, though that is less than 15% of the student population. And so, our project …