Digital Commons Network^™

Jmu Campus Inclusivity Video Project, Meredith Grace Browder

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

After experiencing a general lack of knowledge at James Madison University (JMU) regarding inclusivity of students with varying abilities, I decided to find the best way to educate the JMU community on how to be more accommodating on campus. I surveyed students served by the Office of Disability Services in order to assess their concerns and needs. My survey data indicated that the students on campus with disabilities have felt isolated at JMU because of multiple factors including both student and faculty ignorance. After researching the significant role played by videos and social media in shaping public opinion, I used …

The Perception Of Career Readiness Skill Development In College Seniors, Venus Miller

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

As universities and colleges around the world strive to provide rigorous academic instruction, they are also preparing their students to enter into the world of work. According to research conducted by American College Test (ACT), Americans value education because they believe it will provide economic benefit to those that participate in the system. By the year 2018, the majority of newly created jobs in the United States of America (U.S.) are likely to require a college degree (Matter, Burrus, Camara, O’Connor, Hansen, Gambrell, Casillas, & Bobek, 2014). This fact suggests that in order for students to be prepared to enter …

The Credentialed Workforce: Examining Success Rates Across Short-Term Noncredit Training Programs Aligned With Industry Credentials, Rochelle Fisher

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

A new grant program implemented to provide subsidized training costs for students enrolling in short-term noncredit programs aligned with high-demand industry credentials leading to middle-skill jobs was implemented in July 2016. The grant program follows a pay-for-performance model where students are given a two-thirds discount on tuition but required to pay back an additional one-third if they do not successfully complete their short-term noncredit training. An exploratory study was conducted to provide training program completion and credential attainment rates for the overall program and by student demographic groups (age, race, and gender). Results showed little variation among training program completion …

The Ties That Bind: Identifying Connections That Facilitate Students’ Successful Re-Entry To Higher Education, Toni Asay

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The ubiquitous roadblocks to university graduation have been investigated, identified, and interrogated for 7 decades, yet the mystery of retaining students to graduation continues to elude even the most prestigious universities. This researcher’s approach to increasing graduation began with the concession that increasingly, students may leave school at some point due to one or more of the retention issues that we recognize all too well—finances, illness, family problems, pregnancies, and other educational obstacles. However, leaving school does not mean that there is no going back. Student’s dropout status changes when they re-enroll in school; they take on new identities as …

Women Student Veterans’ Experiences In A College Setting: A Phenomenological Case Study, Rebecca Atkinson

All Dissertations

This phenomenological case study explored lived experiences of women student veterans in a college setting. Through in-depth interviews, women student veterans described their transition from their military experience to enrollment. Further, participants discussed their experiences and perceptions of campus veteran support (e.g. student veteran center and campus support staff). The case, bounded in this research design, was a large, public, research-intensive institution in the Southeastern United States. Six participants were recruited to participate in face-to-face interviews.

Eight coded themes were identified in support of the research questions. The primary research question was, what are women student veterans’ experiences in a …

The Influence Of Mobile Technologies On Students In Higher Education: A Qualitative Descriptive Case Study, Donna Avery

CUP Ed.D. Dissertations

Mobile devices have become a ubiquitous tool for academics by tertiary students. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive case study was to explore college students’ perception of the influences mobile technology has had on their education. Koole’s FRAME model provided the conceptual framework for this study, which focused on the inter-relationship of the mobile device, the learner, and social aspects of the mobile learning process. Data collection included information obtained from 13 graduate students, with the use of a demographic questionnaire, personal interviews, and focus groups conducted via an online web conference site. The research questions that guided this study …

Using The Technology Acceptance Model To Determine Student Perception Of Elearning Readiness In Kazakhstan, Anthony Ray Hetrick

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Researchers widely accept the technology acceptance model (TAM) to determine behavioral intention that leads to actual technology use. However, researchers are advised to exercise caution when applying TAM to different cultural contexts. This study used TAM to assess the readiness of students to engage in elearning in Kazakhstan, which is classified as a developing nation. This project then compared the results of the TAM analysis of student perceptions of a learning management system (LMS) to elearning studies in developed countries to ascertain if the determinants are the same. This study determined that TAM was unpredictable, and that perceived ease of …

Faculty Perceptions Of Smartphones And Smartphone Integration In Faculty Development And The Classroom: A Case Study, Jeanna R. Cronk

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

This research examined the perceptions of university faculty on the integration of smartphones in faculty development programs. The literature on higher education smartphone integrations has focused almost exclusively on individual courses or mobile learning implementations limited to pre-service teacher education departments. Current practice indicates that faculty are electing to use smartphones for their own professional learning. This study advances our understanding of faculty perceptions, outside of education departments, to provide insight for faculty developers designing programs that incorporate smartphones by addressing the following research questions: (1) What are faculty perceptions of smartphones? (2) How are faculty using smartphone technologies for …

Full Issue Fall 11(2) 2019

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

No abstract provided.

Women Faculty Of Color, Higher Education, And Sociocultural Change, Luz Areli Medina

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

This capstone will focus on women faculty of color who are underrepresented in faculty positions in predominantly white institutions. Although not all women faculty of color experience discriminatory treatment we can not ignore the lived experiences of these women who are in a disadvantage within academia. The lack of diversification, unequal representation, and socio-cultural understanding prompts society to take a closer insight to determine the necessary steps in facilitating institutional change within higher education. In order to promote equality for women faculty of color I recommend changing the institutionalized policies, developing quality support and mentoring groups in order to hinder …

Greek Affiliation As A Contributing Factor To College Academic Success: A Case Study, Michaela Reuben

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

This study explores how an individual’s college academic success can be impacted by affiliation with a Greek organization. This research analyzes how Greek-affiliated students compare academically to non-Greek students, how the bonds between an individual and their Greek organization impact the academic success of the average individual, and the methods of academic support that Greek organizations provide to its members. Henri Tajfel’s Social Identity Theory is utilized as a framework of analysis. According to this theory, individuals who identify as being a member of a group adopt the behaviors and values of the group. Because Greek organizations implement some form …

Governance Practices Of A Private Non-Profit System Of Higher Education, Taylor Hough

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

System Governance in higher education has long referred to state level administration of multiple diverse public campuses under the public’s authority. Recent years have shown the development of similar multi-campus systems that remain under private control. Contrary to the for-profit trend seen in American higher education, these new private systems are categorized as non-profit entities that theoretically emphasize the public good of higher education. Furthermore, the growth and expansion of these private non-profit systems transcend state boundaries while pursuing diverse goals. The proposed line of research will seek to answer the following research questions: How does the Touro College and …

Peer Vs. Professional: Assessing The Communicative Experience Of Student Orientation Leaders, Casey M. Ford

Honors Theses

Current literature reveals that peer-leadership is valuable and integral within institutions of higher learning. While extensive research reveals how peer-leaders benefit the overall student experience and contribute to institutional recruitment and retention, (Tinto, 2012) little research has considered the actual experience of student peer-leaders. The current study considers the communicative challenges and triumphs student orientation leaders encounter in their roles as students and university ambassadors. During a university’s new student orientation, student orientation leaders function as both student leaders and university professionals; they serve as liaisons between students, their parents and families, and the university they represent, often working as …

Evaluating The Efficacy Of Programs For Veteran Students, Jonathan Paul Lopez

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Veteran students are increasingly prominent in U.S. colleges and universities. The transition from military to civilian life is already challenging, and the transition to the academic realm can be even more so, especially when most veteran students are also first-generation college students, transfer students from community colleges to 4-year universities, or both. The specific problem is that the transition from military to student life requires significant adjustment on the part of both veterans and schools, and it was not known how these students’ school leaders could best help these veteran students adjust. The purpose for conducting this quantitative, historical, non-experimental …

Gec Meeting Minutes For Apr 29, 2019, General Education Committee

General Education Committee Minutes

No abstract provided.

Developing A Rubric To Assess Critical Thinking In A Multidisciplinary Context In Higher Education, Sadia Muzaffar Bhutta, Sahreen Chauhan, Syeda Kauser Ali, Raisa B. Gul, Shanaz Hussein Cassum, Tashmin Khamis

School of Nursing & Midwifery

Critical thinking (CT) is a generic attribute that is greatly valued across academic disciplines in higher education, and around the globe. It is also defined as one of the graduate attributes of higher education for the sample private university where this research was conducted, as it is perceived that CT helps the graduate to become ‘engaged citizens’ in the twenty-first century. Despite the well-documented importance of CT, its assessment remains a challenge. This study addresses this challenge through the systematic development and field-testing of a rubric for assessing critical thinking in a multidisciplinary context in higher education. A multidisciplinary group …

The Pacifican April 25, 2019, University Of The Pacific

All Issues - Student Newspaper, The Pacifican, Pacific Weekly

No abstract provided.

Gc Minutes Apr 18, 2019, Graduate Council

Graduate Council Minutes

No abstract provided.

How Professional Physical Therapist Education Programs Develop Cultural Competence Within Their Students: An Exploratory Concurrent Mixed Methods Study, Dustin E. Domingo

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this exploratory concurrent mixed methods study was to describe experiences that shape the factors of cultural intelligence (CQ) as perceived by students of professional physical therapist education programs. In addition, it was the purpose of this study to determine whether any particular factor of cultural intelligence influenced one’s overall cultural competence according to the cultural competence continuum by Cross et al. (1989).

Methodology: Students in a professional physical therapist education program completed a questionnaire, which included Likert scale questions, open ended questions, and a 37-item self-assessment based on the expanded cultural intelligence scale by Van Dyne …

Chinese International Learners’ Acculturation At An American University, Zhuofeng Shen

Graduate Theses & Dissertations

In order to investigate the current status and challenges of Chinese international students studying and living in higher education institutions in the United States, and to explore strategies for integrating into the campus life in the United States, this study investigates the current status and challenges of Chinese students studying at a small, private, internationally focused university in the United States, in relation to cultural, linguistic, and academic adaptation. Data was collected through one-on-one interviews with students, faculty, and administrators, as well as observations both in daily courses and university-held social activities.

This study seeks to uncover the current perspectives …

Information Sources And Factors Influencing Enrolment In Ict And Stem University Study Programmes, Dunja Meštrović, Lidija Bagarić, Nataša Jakominić Marot

Economic and Business Review

In a demanding and increasingly competitive higher education marketplace, the awareness of the reasons why prospective students choose a certain study programme and information sources they use during their decision-making process is essential to develop institutional positioning, thus requiring deeper understanding. This paper aims to explore students’ decision-making processes, focusing on the information sources and factors influencing their decisions. The results contribute to the understanding of factors influencing students’ decision-making and provide the evidence about the factors and information sources influencing Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) students’ choice, which can serve as implications …

Toward An Innovative Civic Engagement Pedagogy, Nicholas D. Hartlep, Danielle Lake, Jennifer W. Purcell, Adam Bush, Lane Graves Perry Iii, Bethany Fleck, Brandon W. Kliewer, Emily M. Janke, Paul N. Markham, Cecilia M. Orphan, John A. Saltmarsh

eJournal of Public Affairs

This article shares the thoughts of recipients of the John Saltmarsh Award for Emerging Leaders in Civic Engagement. The contributions appear in the order in which authors received the award (from most recent to earliest): Hartlep (2018 award recipient), “Critical Storytelling: Publishing as a Vehicle for Increasing Civic Engagement”; Lake (2017), “Activating a Community-Campus Read”; Purcell (2017), “Beyond Pedagogy: Community and Civic Engagement Leader Identity and Its Broader Educative Role”; Bush (2016), “What You Can Learn From Campus Tours”; Perry (2016), “Ripples Have to Start Somewhere: Social Entrepreneurship and Social Justice for Teaching Civic Engagement”; Fleck (2015), “Civic Engagement Enhanced …

Creating Cohesive Paths To Civic Engagement: Five Approaches To Institutionalizing Civic Engagement, Garret S. Batten, Adrienne Falcón, Jan R. Liss, Arielle Del Rosario

eJournal of Public Affairs

As colleges and universities prioritize civic engagement in the curriculum, there is a need for coherent program design and the diffusion of civic engagement practices throughout the undergraduate experience. The authors suggest that curricular mapping is a powerful catalyst for institutionalizing these practices on campus that can be undertaken with limited resources. Project Pericles launched an initiative to assess and promote the institutionalization of civic engagement and social responsibility in higher education. Analyzing the responses of 26 campuses to an inventory designed by Project Pericles, the authors identify five types of program organization that campuses may consider as they seek …

An Occupational Therapy-Based Supported Education Program For University Students With Various Dsm-5 Diagnoses: Program Description And Academic Outcomes, Victoria Schindler

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: This article describes and provides academic outcomes for an occupational therapy-based supported education program developed to assist undergraduate students with various DSM-5 diagnoses with the academic, social, and psychological skills important for college.

Method: A detailed program description and illustrative example of the intervention is provided. Quantitative designs were used to report retention, graduation, and GPA and to calculate changes in mean cumulative GPA.

Results: Of 83 students who started the program, 80 completed at least one semester (96%). Of these 80, 62 (77.5%) continued at the university for a retention rate of 77.5%, and 43 …

Sulitest®: A Mixed-Method, Pilot Study Of Assessment Impacts On Undergraduate Sustainability-Related Learning And Motivation, Alicia Mason

Faculty Submissions

A United Nations international collaboration between the Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and the Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) resulted in the creation of Sulitest® (aka Sustainability Literacy Test) an open, online training and assessment tool freely available to higher education institutions globally. This study analyzes the effectiveness of the newly developed Sulitest® to not only measure sustainability literacy of higher education student populations, but also act as a catalyst for boosting affective learning outcomes by: (a) generating interest in sustainability-related issues, (b) improving sustainability-related understandings, and (c) enhancing students’ interests in the subject matter. In order to do …

The Incidence And Impact Of Workplace Incivility: A Quantitative Study Comparing Public University Staff Member Experiences In The Northeast, Tracy St. Pierre

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

Workplace Incivility (WI) is a construct similar to sexual harassment or bullying - it is unwanted behavior and can cause negative emotions for those who experience it. However, it lacks a clear definition or legal repercussions that have been established for sexual harassment and bullying. Thus, incivility is able to thrive in the workplace with little intervention and can create adverse consequences for employees and the organization. Several studies demonstrate that up to 96% of employees have experienced WI (Porath & Pearson, 2010, p.64). Employees who experience WI reduce their work effort and decrease productivity by “venting” to co-workers (Cortina …

Administration, Emotional Labor, And Gendered Discourses Of Power: A Feminist Chair’S Mission To Make Service Matter, Michelle Payne

English Literature Faculty Publications and Presentations

Michelle Masse’ and Katie Hogan’s edited collection, Over Ten Million Served (2010), argues that “complaining about service is not the same as critically analyzing service as a significant dimension of academic labor” (15). Nor, as Phillips and Heinert argue, is the admonition to “just say no” an ethical solution to the gendered inequity of academic labor. In this essay, I not only illustrate the consequences of saying yes to service and analyze its significance, but I illustrate the ways that service positioned me to advocate for change at my own institution. More specifically, I focus on the unique administrative role …

Impressions, Nova Southeastern University

Newsletters

No abstract provided.

Gec Meeting Minutes For Apr 1, 2019, General Education Committee

General Education Committee Minutes

No abstract provided.

An Investigation Of The Relationship Between Grades And Learning Modes In An Introductory Research Methods Course, Donna L. Roberts, John C. Griffith, Emily Faulconer, Beverly L. Wood, Soumyadip Acharyya

Publications

Education researchers have conducted studies on the relationship of learning mode to student performance, but few studies have evaluated pass rate, grade distribution and student withdrawal rate in an introductory research methods course. In this study, researchers examined 2,097 student grades from the 2015-2016 academic year to determine if such a relationship existed. In this study, learning mode was significantly related to failure rate, grade distribution and withdraw rate. Synchronous video home students had a significantly higher failure rate than traditional In-Person or online students. Online student grade distributions were significantly different than In-Person classroom, synchronous video home or synchronous …