Digital Commons Network^™

Digital Access, Digital Skills, And Academic Success: Rethinking Digital Capital In Higher Education, Nicholas Boon

Honors Thesis

Recent scholarship has suggested that “digital capital” (DC), encompassing digital access and competency, may play a critical role in processes of social reproduction. However, there has been limited scholarship exploring this concept’s empirical utility. Especially within higher education, where increasing digitalization may exacerbate inequality by disadvantaging students with low DC. Using a survey of 239 students at two institutions of higher education in the Midwest, this study examines the usefulness of the DC concept for understanding unequal educational outcomes in the contemporary university context. This study is among the first to empirically investigate the relationship between sociodemographic factors, DC accumulation, …

The Impact Of Artificial Intelligence On Quality Of Higher Education, Pragati K. Rouniyar

Honors Thesis

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is redefining higher education, captivating scholars with its promise to personalize learning and streamline institutions. However, underneath this assurance exists a network of ethical challenges, disparities in equity, and inquiries regarding academic integrity that require our focus. In pursuit of this goal, this research employs a mixed-methods strategy—through the implementation of surveys and semi-structured interviews—to investigate the transformative effects of AI on higher education, concentrating on its repercussions for teaching techniques, learning results, and institutional processes. This study’s findings indicate that AI can personalize educational experiences to meet individual needs, ease course administrative workload, and assist with …

Every Grain Of Sand: 2024 Changes To The Scope Of Higher Education Unionization, William A. Herbert, Joseph Van Der Naald, Jacob Apkarian

Journal of Collective Bargaining in the Academy

In this research note, we supplement the findings presented in the National Center’s 2024 Directory of Bargaining Agents and Contracts in Institutions of Higher Education. We aggregate and analyze data on changes in academic collective bargaining relationships for faculty, postdoctoral scholars, and graduate and undergraduate student employees in the year 2024. Our findings demonstrate that the growth in academic collective bargaining over the past decade that we documented in the 2024 Directory has continued. However, we find some significant contractions in faculty unionization through institutional closures and the revocation of bargaining units in the state of Florida. The research …

Every Grain Of Sand: 2024 Changes To The Scope Of Higher Education Unionization, William A. Herbert, Joseph Van Der Naald, Jacob Apkarian

Publications and Research

In this research note, we supplement the findings presented in the National Center’s 2024 Directory of Bargaining Agents and Contracts in Institutions of Higher Education. We aggregate and analyze data on changes in academic collective bargaining relationships for faculty, postdoctoral scholars, and graduate and undergraduate student employees in the year 2024. Our findings demonstrate that the growth in academic collective bargaining over the past decade that we documented in the 2024 Directory has continued. However, we find some significant contractions in faculty unionization through institutional closures and the revocation of bargaining units in the state of Florida. The research …

Exploring Social Exchange Theory (Set): The Effects Of Internal Communication Between Select Staff And Managers At Yale University, Lalani Perry

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative study explores the impact of internal communication on employee engagement and productivity between a select group of non-academic staff and managers at Yale University, using Social Exchange Theory (SET) as a theoretical framework. SET posits that interpersonal relationships are shaped by the exchange of resources, both tangible and intangible. While SET has been widely applied in organizational studies, there is limited research on its application within higher education, particularly concerning how communication dynamics influence employee engagement and productivity. This study seeks to contribute to the academic literature by examining the communication practices between a select group of non-academic …

Cultivating Advanced Education For Christian Faculty In Higher Education Institutions: A Phenomenological Study, Gary D. Hyrne

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the experiences of cultivating advanced education for Christian faculty at higher education institutions in the United States. The central research question guiding this study asked: What are the experiences of Christian faculty cultivating advanced education in higher education institutions? The Christian faculty participants' research was guided by data on their lived experiences at private Christian institutions, state universities, or other secular institutions of higher education. Secular relates to the worldly or temporal, not overtly or specifically religious. Bandura’s social cognitive theory guided the study. The research design followed the recommendations of …

Jill Hunsberger, Oral History Interview, 2025, Kat Hacanyan

Oral Histories

Jill Hunsberger is Associate Vice President for Advancement at EMU and a long time supporter and advisory board member of the Center for Jewish Studies. Since making her way here in 1999, Hunsberger has established herself as a dynamic and engaged community leader through her work with the EMU Foundation and the EMU Chapter of Women in Philanthropy. She became involved with the Center for Jewish Studies early on and helped to advance its initial growth and development. In this interview, Hunsberger talks about her deep rooted background in community service, developing university programs from start to finish, and how …

Artificial Intelligence And Communication Technologies In Academia: Faculty Perceptions And The Adoption Of Generative Ai, Aya Shata, Kendall Hartley

Hank Greenspun School of Journalism and Media Studies Faculty Research

Artificial intelligence (AI) is ushering in an era of potential transformation in various fields, especially in educational communication technologies, with tools like ChatGPT and other generative AI (GenAI) applications. This rapid proliferation and adoption of GenAI tools have sparked significant interest and concern among college professors, who are dealing with evolving dynamics in digital communication within the class-room. Yet, the effect and implications of GenAI in education remain understudied. Therefore, this study employs the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) as theoretical frameworks to explore higher education faculty’s perceptions, attitudes, usage, and motivations, as the underlying …

Measuring Perceived Stress Levels And Physiological Variables In Undergraduate College Students: A Quasi-Experimental Study, Sarah J. Milner

The Interactive Journal of Global Leadership and Learning

This study aimed to analyze changes in perceived stress and physiological variables in undergraduate students over one semester. A quasi-experimental study was conducted using non-random convenience sampling with 30 undergraduate students enrolled in an Introduction to Stress Management class at a small, regional institution in the upper Midwest in the fall of 2022.

Data collection included the use of the Perceived Stress Scale (i.e., PSS-10) and stress physiological variables (e.g., heart rate, breathing pattern, respiration rate). Participants were surveyed three times using pre-, mid-, and post-treatment assessments but ultimately, participants’ pre- and post-treatment surveys were compared. Both descriptive statistics and …

The Heart Of Higher Education: Rediscovering Meditation From The Margins Of Learning To A Liberatory Pedagogy In The Post-Pandemic University, Jinting Wu, Yuejia Wang, Yu Wu, Qi Zhang

Journal of Contemplative and Holistic Education

On May 14^th, 2022, a racially motivated mass shooting occurred in a predominantly Black neighborhood in Western New York. The trauma brought fresh anguish to a fraught social landscape already shaken by COVID-19 and resurgent racism. This paper explores the formation of a campus meditation group that emerged in light of the shooting tragedy and prolonged pandemic suffering, and its members’ journeys of healing, self-discovery, and transformation. While scholars have critiqued the neoliberal higher education for producing self-enterprising individuals motivated by economic rationality, this paper offers our humble attempt to re-center meditation as a liberatory pedagogy in fostering …

Enhancing University Retention Through Faculty/Staff Mentor-Mentee Relationships: An Interpersonal Communication Approach, Emma Catherine Richardson

Master's Theses

This study investigates the role of interpersonal communication in faculty and staff mentorship and its impact on undergraduate student retention, focusing on struggling students at Louisiana Tech University. With a national retention rate of 68.2% and persistent disparities among underrepresented groups, improving student retention remains a critical issue in higher education. The research addresses a gap in understanding how communication practices, such as active listening, empathy, and constructive feedback, influence mentorship effectiveness. Guided by Interpersonal Communication Theory and Social Support Theory, this qualitative study utilized semi-structured interviews with 12 undergraduate students. Thematic analysis revealed key findings: mentors who demonstrated empathy, …

Artificial Intelligence In Higher Education Accreditation: Advancing Quality, Accessibility, And Special Education Inclusion, Jacques D. Singleton

Teacher Education Faculty Publications

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming higher education accreditation by enhancing quality assurance, accessibility, and inclusion. Traditional accreditation relies on manual evaluation, but AI- driven tools improve efficiency through realtime data analysis, predictive insights, and automation. This chapter explores AI’s role in adaptive learning, automated accessibility tools, and predictive analytics for student success, with a focus on supporting students with disabilities and ensuring compliance with accessibility standards. Ethical concerns, including bias, privacy, and transparency, are addressed to ensure AI complements human judgment. Through case studies and policy recommendations, this chapter provides a roadmap for institutions and accrediting bodies to integrate AI …

Factors Associated With Student Engagement In Online Learning During Covid-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review, Yam B. Limbu, Christopher Mckinley

College of Communication and Media Scholarship and Creative Works

While extant literature reveals various factors associated with student engagement in online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, the findings are inconsistent. A systematic review of the factors influencing student engagement in online learning during the pandemic will provide state-of-the-art knowledge of existing literature and offer future research directions. This study systematically reviews factors driving college student engagement in online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Performed in accordance with the guidelines of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses, a systematic search of four databases identified 50 eligible studies. The most prevalent factors associated with student engagement were student-related factors …

Gc Minutes Feb 20, 2025, Graduate Council

Graduate Council Minutes

No abstract provided.

Navigating Artificial Intelligence Governance: Insights From South African Higher Education It Decision-Makers, John Mangundu

The African Journal of Information Systems

Academics and students alike can benefit from the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in education. AI governance lowers AI risks while ensuring that anticipated AI use objectives are achieved. However, research on AI governance has been lacking, especially in higher education in emerging economies such as South Africa. In light of this serious research gap, the current study presents the findings of a qualitative exploratory investigation of the maturity and preparedness of AI governance in South African higher education institutions. Informed by a combination of the TOE framework, the traditional IT governance model and the adapted IT governance maturity assessment …

Martin "Marty" Shichtman, Oral History Interview, 2025, Kat Hacanyan

Oral Histories

Martin "Marty" Shichtman is professor emeritus and the Founding Director of the Center for Jewish Studies at EMU. A professor of English and Literature for nearly four decades, Shichtman taught both graduate and undergraduate level courses in subjects like Arthurian literature and Jewish-American literature. During his tenure at EMU he introduced the first Jewish Studies class, which soon led to the creation of a Jewish Studies minor, and eventually the Center for Jewish Studies. Shichtman served as the center's director from its opening in 2012 to his retirement in 2022 and continues to be involved as a member of the …

The Effect Of The Druze Education Reform In Israel And Druze Students’ Achievements In Higher Education, Aml Amer, Nitza Davidovitch

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

No abstract provided.

Introduction 17(1) 2025, Rosalind Latiner Raby

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

No abstract provided.

Full Issue 17(1) 2025

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

No abstract provided.

Introduction: 2024 State Of The Field Report, Rosalind Latiner Raby

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

No abstract provided.

It Was Mainly My Own Choice: Examining The Decision-Making Process Of Chinese Undergraduates And Their Parents On Study In The United States, Shizhu Liu, Desiree Baolian Qin, Adam Grimm, Mingjun Xie, Yemo Duan, Chi-Fang Tseng, Mikiko Sato

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

No abstract provided.

Factors Influencing Jordanian College Understudies' Impressions Of Learning Through Emergency Distance Learning (Edl), Abdelnaser Sanad Alakayleh

Journal of Research Initiatives

In this study, which used a quantitative and correlational approach, the variables influencing Jordanian university students' perceptions of their education under emergency remote learning scenarios were investigated. An online survey was administered to a sample of 765 male and female education stage students. Jordan offers higher education for both genders and at different levels in different regions. Many criteria connected to perceived learning were taken into consideration when administering the study questionnaire. It was discovered that the economics students had a more positive perception of learning than the education and science students, followed by deep learning, avoiding superficial learning factors, …

What's Their Story? To Help Save The Humanities, Let's Listen To English Majors, Kevin T. Caffrey

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

Amid declining enrollment in humanities programs throughout the United States, the English major has been hit the hardest. This article gives voice to current English majors about why they choose to enroll in a program that often receives criticism pertaining to its value and worth. This study provides a literature review of the history of higher education in the United States, an examination of the humanities backlash that has evolved over the past half-century, and an exploration of the value of a degree in English. In addition, it provides survey results from a small group of English majors currently enrolled …

Internationalization And Its Challenges At U.S. Regional Comprehensive Universities: The Transformational Leadership Role Of Senior International Officers, Ibrahma F. Yaro, Aaron W. Hughey

Counseling & Student Affairs Faculty Publications

This interpretive phenomenological analysis investigated the role of transformational leadership and the challenges that senior international officers (SIOs) face in internationalizing regional comprehensive universities (RCUs) in the United States. Twelve in-depth interviews were conducted with SIOs from five regions: the West, Midwest, South, Southeast, and Northwest. The findings indicate that the transformational leadership approach is the primary leadership style utilized by senior international officers for the effective and successful internationalization of their institutions. The findings highlight a wide range of challenges that a senior international officer may encounter at a regional comprehensive university in the United States. The study outlines …

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 …

Nsu Communiversity Outreach, Nova Southeastern University

NSU Digital: Communiversity

No abstract provided.

Taking It To The Limit: Curricular Responses To Credit Hour Caps In Music Teacher Education Programs, Phillip D. Payne, Edward C. Hoffman Iii, Aaron T. Wacker, Ashley D. Allen

Research & Issues in Music Education

As tuition rates continue to rise, credit hours required for degree completion emerges as a primary topic of concern. Undergraduate music education programs (or degrees) typically require a high number of credit hours which may also necessitate student class overloads, summer coursework, and/or program completion that could exceed the expected term of four years. To better understand the extent of current degree requirements and offerings, we examined credit allocation practices at 100 randomly selected NASM institutions. Specifically, we focused on emerging trends, commonalities, and potential insights to better guide policymakers when addressing legislative mandates focused on credit hour caps. Findings …

Saa 6153: Advising Student Groups, Dana J. Tribble

ATU Faculty OER Books and Materials

Course Description

This course is designed for student affairs and higher education professionals to gain an understanding of advising student groups and organizations on a college campus. The course will highlight student development theories introducing group dynamics and student leadership. In addition, the course will review the role of the advisor, risk management, leadership development of students, practical skills and techniques that will assist in forming new student groups, and provide valuable resources to help future college administrators with their role as a leader of a student group/organization.

Faculty Accountability In Higher Education: Navigating Complexity And Equity, Mary Margaret Cunningham

Teacher Education Faculty Publications

This chapter examines the complex landscape of faculty accountability in modern higher education institutions. It analyzes the traditional supervisory structures and evaluation systems while highlighting emerging challenges and tensions in faculty assessment. Additionally, it explores the multiple dimensions of faculty accountability, including the tenure and promotion process, the role of student evaluations, and peer review systems. Particular attention is given to how these systems impact faculty of underrepresented identities and the increasing prevalence of non- tenure track positions. This chapter also explores how mission creep and shifting facultystudent dynamics affect accountability standards. Through an analysis of current practices and limitations, …

Exploring Stress Management Spaces Using Sensory Engagement On College Campuses: A Scoping Review, Karen R. Puckett

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

Background: College students experience high levels of stress, with associated negative outcomes such as poor mental and physical health. In response, colleges and universities have explored the use of stress management spaces designed to address and promote improved mental health and wellbeing, but evidence regarding the most effective design and impact of these spaces is limited.

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to conduct a scoping review of the available literature related to stress management in higher education settings. The research questions are: What are the characteristics and design features of these spaces, and how do stress management spaces …