Digital Commons Network^™

The Perceptions That Um First-Generation College Students Have Regarding The Impact Of Campus Engagement On Their Success At The Institution, Martin B. Fisher

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

First-generation students are often underprepared for college and have lower persistence rates (Balemian & Feng, 2013), and they face a unique set of challenges in their transition to college that many of their peers do not (Pelco, Bell, & Lockeman, 2014). Consistent with national statistics, data obtained from UM’s Office of Institutional Research, Effectiveness, and Planning indicate first-generation students at UM persist and graduate at lower rates than their peers whose parents have a bachelor’s degree.

There are many reasons why first-generation students have lower success rates, and, for some students, a lack of engagement is one of them (Pascarella, …

Institutional Responses To The Covid-19 Pandemic: Faculty And Administrator Experiences, Narketta Sparkman-Key, Tammi F. Dice, Alexandra C. Gantt

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic required shifts in operations for institutions of higher education everywhere. Faculty and administrators were asked to adapt to meet the needs of students. We conducted a qualitative content analysis to understand institutional responses and examine the experiences of faculty and administrators during the COVID-19 pandemic through the lens of chaos theory. Institutional responses to the pandemic varied. Participants identified supports and resources deemed helpful, as well as those found to be inadequate or unwanted. We also found that the pandemic resulted in some positive outcomes for faculty and administrators, which led to growth in …

The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Catalyst For Creativity And Collaboration For Online Learning And Work-Based Higher Education Systems And Processes, Tashmin Khamis, Azra Naseem, Anil Khamis, Pammla Petrucka

Office of the Provost

The purpose of this research is to focus on work-based problems catalysed by the COVID-19 global pandemic, based on a case study of a multi-continental, multi-campus university distributed across Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Pakistan. Higher education institutions (HEIs) in developing countries lacked pre-existing infrastructure to support online education and/or policy and regulatory frameworks during the pandemic. The university's programmes in Pakistan and East Africa provide lessons to other developing countries' HEIs. The university's focus on teaching and learning and staff development has had a transformational organisational effect.

2021-2022 Course Catalog, University Of Montana--Missoula. Office Of The Registrar

University of Montana Course Catalogs, 1895-2024

An annual catalog of courses and course descriptions offered at the University of Montana.

The Effects Of Higher Education On Socioeconomic Mobility: A Comparative Analysis Of Outcomes At Bucknell University, Katrien Weemaes

Honors Theses

Income inequality and the lack of higher-education opportunities across the United States often correlate with families' socioeconomic status. In this honors thesis, the following questions will be examined: How does the social mobility of Bucknell Students compare with students from other national universities? How do a student’s race and financial aid status affect their ability to achieve social mobility? How has the rate of social mobility through Bucknell changed in recent years? How does a student’s current family socioeconomic status affect their ability to achieve high-income success upon graduation? Does the level of accessibility to Bucknell change when socioeconomic status …

Why Do People Donate? Motivation Of Major Donors In Higher Education, Karin Hsuan Chao-Bushoven

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Higher education has relied on private philanthropy since the establishment of the first universities in the U.S. This reliance has increased over the decades as a result of rising costs and decreased government investment. As such, it has become more critical to better understand what factors motivate philanthropists to increase their support of higher education; including direct support for teaching and research and increasing financial support for those students otherwise not able to pursue secondary education. However, much of the existing data focuses only on point-of-philanthropic-act, and neglects to examine motivational factors of long-term donors that have progressively increased their …

Lessons Learned In Pursuit Of Lifelong Learning In Science, Technology, And Society, Genejane Adarlo, Abigail Marie T. Favis, Charlotte Kendra Z. Gotangco, Armando M. Guidote Jr

Environmental Science Faculty Publications

This case study aims to assess whether the course, Science, Technology, and Society, as part of the recent science education reforms in Philippine higher education, can foster science literacy and bring about lifelong learning in science, technology, and society. Five students, who were enrolled in Science, Technology, and Society during the first semester of the academic year 2018 to 2019 in an institution of Jesuit higher education in the Philippines, participated in a focus group discussion about their class experiences. Thematic analysis of verbatim transcript revealed that students were not confident in considering themselves literate about science after a semester …

Online Teaching Self-Efficacy And Faculty Ict And Computer Attitudes In Higher Education, Sharifa Jomoke Simmons

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The digital age is reshaping learning and instruction and encouraging educational technology advances within higher education institutions. However, online faculty are not integrating technology into their classes despite the technology related professional development they receive. The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine if a relationship exists between online teaching self-efficacy and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and computer attitudes and faculty participation in technology professional development activities, gender, and age within the context of institutions of higher education. Alfred Bandura’s social learning theory and Roger’s diffusion of innovations theory framed the study. Using Qualtrics, survey data were collected …

Mismatch And Burnout: An Exploration Of Burnout And Work Passion Amongst Academic Affairs Professionals Through An Organizational Lens, Alexa Elizabeth Cecil

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Though the concept of burnout is well developed, there is less research on burnout in higher education, especially on specific staff populations, and loss of work passion. The current study aimed to understand burnout and work passion for academic affairs professionals who work with undergraduate students on academic probation and students conditionally admitted to the institution, including impacts, how these experiences have been navigated, and organizational supports that help alleviate these outcomes. Utilizing a sequential mixed methods research design, the study collected survey responses from identified professionals working with these student populations at a specific institution type. Demographic and t-test …

Support For Students With Disabilities: How Awareness And Accommodations Differ Across Faculty Members Within The Postsecondary Context, Toby Tomlinson Baker

Theses and Dissertations

This case study sought to determine the most salient needs of higher education faculty who instruct and accommodate students with disabilities (SWDs). Therefore, the faculty were analyzed as a community in a university setting. Currently, the accommodations that faculty provide for SWDs vary from institution to institution. Additionally, certain variables, such as faculty’s years with the university, budget, size, and location of the institution impact the level of support provided and what specific accommodations SWDs receive.The purpose of this qualitative case study was to develop an in-depth understanding of the current level of knowledge that faculty obtain for accommodating SWDs. …

Cura Personalis: Institutionalizing Compassion During Emergency Remote Teaching, Ma. Monica L. Moreno, Ma. Mercedes T. Rodrigo, Johanna Marion R. Torres, Timothy Jireh Gaspar, Jenilyn L. Agapito

Department of Information Systems & Computer Science Faculty Publications

Faced with the fears and anxieties brought on by the COVID-19 crisis, educational institutions had to devise new compassion-based teaching and learning policies and approaches that recognized and provided for the pandemic’s psychological and emotional toll. This paper describes how the Ateneo de Manila University in the Philippines enacted its core value of cura personalis, care for the entire person, in the context of emergency remote teaching. We describe the circumstances that prompted the greater emphasis on compassion and the adjustments to classroom management, course content, class interactions, and assessment. Finally we describe the tradeoffs or costs of this …

Transactional Distances During Emergency Remote Teaching Experiences, Ma. Monica L. Moreno, Ma. Mercedes T. Rodrigo, Johanna Marion R. Torres, Timothy Jireh Gaspar, Jenilyn L. Agapito

Department of Information Systems & Computer Science Faculty Publications

The Transactional Distance Theory posits that successful remote learning occurs when teachers decrease psychological or transactional gaps. Narrowing the transactional distance can be achieved through a balance of appropriate course structure and dialogue, fostering healthy student autonomy in the process. This paper describes the Emergency Remote Teaching experiences of faculty and students of the Ateneo de Manila University in the Philippines. It examines these experiences in the context of the transactional distance framework. Findings show that a sudden shift to remote learning mandates greater student autonomy, which increases transactional distance. Because of this, efforts by faculty to increase student-teacher dialogue …

Transforming Campus Climate For Diversity: Accreditation Liaison Officer Perceptions And Beliefs Regarding The Impact Of Regional Accreditation On Institutional Change, David H. Sundby

LMU Theses and Dissertations

Despite attention given to the increasing diversity in higher education, greater barriers to college access and degree attainment exist for many minoritized groups in comparison to dominant groups. Research illustrates that campus climate for diversity, a systemic concept, plays a critical role in the success of minoritized groups. Additionally, institutional accreditation is a critical process, and it may be a catalyst for systemic change. However, there is little research on the relationship between the regional accreditation process and institutional change, with even less research on the impact of accreditation on campus climate for diversity.

To address this gap in literature, …

Engaging Feminism, Transforming Institutions: How Community Engagement Professionals Employ Critical Feminist Praxis To Re-Imagine And Re-Shape The Public Purpose Of Higher Education, Patricia Star Plaxton-Moore

Doctoral Dissertations

Most higher education institutions have mission statements articulating a commitment to serve the public good, and venerate the broader historical project of higher education as a force that improves the lives of individuals and communities. However, the public purpose of higher education is perpetually embattled by intersecting forces of neoliberalism, positivism, and settler colonialism that emphasize priorities like generating revenue, chasing prestige, developing real estate, and connecting students with high paying careers. As our society continues to grapple with pervasive social and environmental injustices, it is imperative that we clarify and strengthen higher education’s civic role in shaping a more …

The Experiences Of Nontraditional Students At Public Post-Secondary Institutions In Florida- A Qualitative Study, Michael Deneus

Theses and Dissertations

This phenomenological study was designed to provide an understanding of the lived experiences of nontraditional students who utilized support services at a public post-secondary institution in the State of Florida. From this study, findings identified the specific resources that these participants are using or have used during their time of enrollment, the obstacles and challenges they faced, and some recommendations that could potentially alleviate some issues nontraditional students face at postsecondary institutions. The sample population consisted of six participants, four of which are currently enrolled at a post-secondary institution and the other two graduated from a post-secondary institution within the …

How Trans Students Encounter Cisgenderism In Higher Education At The Intersection Of Location And Region: A Critical Discourse Analysis Of Trans Students' Experiences In Understudied Cities In The Southeast, Cortney Johnson

All ETDs from UAB

Despite evidence showing the resilience and success of many Transgender students in higher education and the increasing prevalence of supportive campus policies, this is an emergent population with growing, varying, and diverse needs that are often not met by institutions and practitioners. The Southeast is a unique place for the LGBTQ+ community that has been understudied, and although the experiences of Trans students and how cisgenderism impacts them has been captured more broadly, this study is focused on the experiences of Trans students at urban institutions in the Southeast. Using Critical Discourse Analysis as a methodology and Critical Trans Politics …

Decision-Making Of Unionized Men Toward Work And Post-Secondary Education: A Qualitative Study, Angela Pesce

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

High school graduates who opt for labor-based unionized positions, versus matriculating, are typically viewed as unable to matriculate, less intelligent and a myriad of other less desirable qualities. Current literature fails to showcase the decision-making experiences of unionized men who did not matriculate. There is also a gap regarding unionized mens’ perceptions on matriculation, including their reasons for not. This general qualitative study explored the career decision-making experiences of unionized men and their perceptions on postsecondary education through semi-structured interviews with 10 unionized men in Delaware and Pennsylvania. Purposeful and convenience sampling were used for recruitment through posted flyers within …

How The State And Federal Tax Systems Operate To Deny Educational Opportunities To Minorities And Other Lower Income Students, Camilla E. Watson

Scholarly Works

The importance of education cannot be overstated. Education is a core principle of the American Dream, and as such, it is the ticket to a better paying job, homeownership, financial security, and a better way of life. Education is the key factor in reducing poverty and inequality and promoting sustained national economic growth. But while the U.S. Supreme Court has referred to education as "perhaps the most important function of the state and local governments," it has nevertheless stopped short of declaring education a fundamental right guaranteed under the Constitution. As a consequence, because education is not considered a fundamental …

Higher Education's Immunity To Change: Understanding How Leaders Make Meaning Of Their Student Success Landscape, Brittany Motley

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Closing equity gaps in the higher education sector is a long-standing issue. This issue has become exacerbated with the impact of COVID-19 and racial injustices happening across America. Now more than ever it has become imperative to use participatory action research to understand how leaders make meaning of their student success landscape and use that meaning to influence their strategic action for equity. I engaged two student success stakeholders from one university as co-researchers to help identify a problem in practice as it relates to equity gaps in student success. We used a modified approach to immunity to change (ITC) …

Emancipatory And Controlling: Examining The Negotiation Of Masculinity-Centered Practices By Women's And Gender Equity Center Practitioners, Ashley M. Brown

Dissertations

Initiatives to understand and transform masculinity have increasingly emerged in higher education, calling attention to the consequences of dominant, masculine gender expectations that permeate throughout college campuses. These masculinity-centered practices in higher education encompass formalized, departmental initiatives for students, faculty, and/or staff that examine topics related to masculinity through educational workshops, speaker events, professional development sessions, dialogue spaces, and other efforts. While it is often assumed that these practices support the advancement of gender equity, scholars have theorized the ways in which this work can also lead to depoliticized efforts that may, in fact, reify patriarchal and other systems of …

The Impact Of Postmodernism On 21st Century Higher Education, Lia B. Wheatley

Liberal Studies (MA) Final Essays

The American undergraduate higher educational institution was organized and developed well over 100 years ago, and for the most part, it was designed around Eurocentric ideals, experiences, and values—ones that hardly reflect the population and principles of a 21^st century America. The higher education system is undoubtedly a product of modernism; however, as postmodernism has become more widespread through mainstream society, universities must reevaluate their means and their ends in order to meet transitioning standards and expectations especially if academe hopes to remain a pillar of our ever-progressing society.

The three majorly impacted areas of higher education include enrollment …

The Rise In Use Of Emotional Support Animals By College Students: The Impact Of Parenting Styles, Misty G. Smith, Samantha Ballard, Jill Willis

Journal of Higher Education & Student Affairs

As the generational context of higher education shifts, a rise of Emotional Support Animals (ESA) and mental health concerns are present for students on college campuses. While previous studies have aimed to address the relevancy and controversy of ESAs in higher education as well as their effectiveness in supporting individuals, less research has explored underlying factors that contribute to the use of an ESA. The purpose of this study was to explore the parenting behaviors of parents/caregivers of students with ESAs in comparison to parents/caregivers of students without ESAs. An embedded mixed methods design was used. Participants completed the Parenting …

Embracing Universal Design For Transformative Learning, Larry Mcnutt, Ger Craddock

Journal Articles

The purpose of this paper is to introduce participants to our journey of integrating Universal Design as a central part of a new Technological University in addressing the challenge of a consistent quality experience for all learners. Adopting and combining both the principles of universal design and universal design for learning is not to make it easier but to offer a framework of principles and guidelines to make education appropriate and challenging for everyone. Ken Robinson wrote “A vibrant school can nourish an entire community by becoming a source of hope and creative energy……Poor schools can drain the optimism from …

Students' Perceptions Of Persistence In Two-Year Radiologic Technology Programs, Billie Jo Huffstetler

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obtaining a health care degree benefits individuals and society; however, 2-year radiologic technology programs in a metropolitan area of the southern United States continue to struggle with student persistence from enrollment to graduation. Exploring student persistence is important to college administrators, faculty, and students because of the predicted growth in the profession of radiologic technology. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore students' perceptions of their experiences at the local college that encouraged them to persist to graduation or quit attending. Deci and Ryan's self-determination theory and Bean and Metzner's nontraditional undergraduate attrition model served as the …

Imposter Syndrome In Higher Ed: Faculty And Students, Emily Faulconer

Publications

Despite evidence, fears being exposed as not having the expertise expected in your role. o Despite evidence, feels like a fraud. o Attributes success to luck, masking skills, or the work of other people. o Internalizes failure and over-focus on mistakes. o Over-estimates abilities of others, underestimates amount of work those individuals put in.

The Appalachian Medical Student Experience: A Case Study, Jason Scott Hedrick

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The Appalachian region is a rural swath of mountainous terrain home to a historically distinct culture. The region’s population suffers from a multitude of health issues and disparities. Notably, the region also experiences a major healthcare provider shortage despite the fact that states, like West Virginia, produce per capita, a high volume of physicians. Appalachia, and particularly West Virginia, also suffers from a number of educational disparities, which culminates into low numbers of college graduates within the population. There is a plethora of research that has explored the first-generation college student, students from rural and Appalachian backgrounds, first-generation and rural …

Service-Learning To Develop Responsiveness Among Preservice Teachers, Elizabeth S. White

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

The purpose of this study was to examine the benefits, challenges, and limitations of a service-learning project designed to promote responsiveness among PK-12 preservice teachers (N=41). The service-learning included working with children (5- to 12-year-olds) at before- and after-school programs, interviewing site staff, and developing lesson plans for the children at each site. Data sources for this study included students’ reflections and group lesson plans. Qualitative analysis showed that what constituted benefits for some students, such as connecting with children and learning classroom management, were reported as challenges for others. Additionally, students’ ideas about responsiveness in education were focused on …

Aligning Student Affairs Practice With Espoused Commitments To Equity, Diversity, And Inclusion, Crystal Eufemia Garcia, William Walker, Dawn Morgan, Yuwei Shi

Department of Educational Administration: Faculty Publications

Using a critical qualitative approach, we explored ways student affairs professionals at predominantly white institutions within the South made sense of and enacted commitments to equity, diversity, and inclusion. Findings show that participants rarely engaged in direct conversations around diversity, equity, and inclusion with their colleagues and often conflated these terms. Those who engaged in equity work were often driven by their own salient identities, yet they also shared ways their efforts were constrained by institutional policies. The study offers implications for practice for student affairs professionals, professional preparation programs, and higher education institutions.

The Impacts Of Social Capital And Grit On Student Success In Higher Education, Jillian Davidson

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

This study will examine social capital, grit, and student success individually and how these components impact student success in higher education. A correlation test was run to determine a connection between social capital and grit. An ANOVA was assessed to determine the impacts social capital and grit have on student success in higher education based on a survey distributed to undergraduate students at a four-year university. Measuring social capital, grit, and student success in higher education and determining the impacts on student success will encourage educators to provide opportunities for cognitive and non-cognitive prospects for students in higher education.

Keywords …

Supporting Instructors To Promote At-Promise Students’ Success: How Faculty Coordinators Facilitate Tslc’S Ecological Validation, Jonathan Toccoli

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Despite decades of research and billions of dollars spent per annum to promote at-promise student—that is, low-income, first-generation, and/or racially/ethnically minoritized students—college success, at-promise students continue to be retained and graduate at lower rates than their traditionally college-going peers. The purpose of this study is to investigate how faculty coordinators in the Thompson Scholars Learning Community (TSLC) facilitate and integrate instructors into the program’s ecological validation which has been found to promote at-promise student success. This study is framed by the ecological validation model of student success in conjunction with a systems theory perspective of faculty roles to investigate how …