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Persistence Redefined: Why Men Stay, Karie A. Coffman

ETD Archive

The research addressed factors affecting degree completion for adult male students. This qualitative case study explored factors that contributed to the persistence of undergraduate adult male students and their perception of their role within the campus community. The research considered: 1) how adult male undergraduate students described their ability to persist until degree completion; 2) what factors contributed to persistence; 3) what types of social interactions enabled participants to persist; and 4) how adult male undergraduate students described their relationship to the campus community. Data were collected through interviews with nine nontraditional male graduates who earned a baccalaureate degree within …

2016 Nsu Fact Book, Nova Southeastern University

NSU Fact Book

This 24th edition of the Nova Southeastern University Fact Book reflects an expanding body of data and information that provides perspective on the university’s character, growth, and accomplishments.

The 2016 Fact Book includes narrative, numeric, and graphic representation of the university, including history, characteristics, and development of the institution. Data are presented in both tabular and graphic formats to provide pertinent detail, and general trends are highlighted.

Participation In The Virtual Environment Of Blended College Courses: An Activity Study Of Student Performance, Cathy Cavanaugh, Jace Hargis, John Mayberry

College of the Pacific Faculty Articles

This paper describes a study of success factors in the introductory semester of liberal studies blended courses offered at the bachelor of science level. The influence of student participation in the online course environment was examined, as measured by the number of times students logged into the learning management system (LMS) and average session length. These measures were correlated with final course grades to increase understanding of the participation patterns of successful students. The resulting patterns and their implications are identified. We observe that students with an intermediate number of logins and average session length tended to exhibit the optimal …

First Year Experience: How We Can Better Assist First-Year International Students In Higher Education?, Zi Yan, Patricia Sendall

Management Faculty Publications

While many American colleges and universities are providing a First Year Experience (FYE) course or program for their first year students, those programs are not often customized to take into account international students’ (IS) unique challenges. Using quantitative and qualitative methods, this study evaluated a FYE course that was customized for IS in a college setting. Nineteen IS and eight domestic students (DS) who attended FYE classes completed a survey; 18 of the 19 IS were interviewed. Overall, the FYE class was successful in terms of helping IS to familiarize themselves with academic resources and expectations, understanding American culture, making …

Liberation Through Listening: Learning From Student Veterans In The Composition Classroom, Sarah Beth Franco

Doctoral Dissertations

In this dissertation, I employ a qualitative study to explore experiences of student veterans in introductory writing classrooms. Drawing on the theories of feminist standpoint (Harding, 1986) and rhetorical listening (Ratcliffe, 2005), I describe the current cultural divide between members of the military and civilians (Pew Research Center, 2011) and identify several ways teachers of college level introductory writing classes can bridge this gap to more effectively connect with student veterans at the classroom level and raise awareness about the unique situations of student veterans at the institutional level. Survey data inquiring into student veterans’ experiences in writing classrooms was …

Designing An Evaluation Of Instructional Consultation In A Higher Education Context, Karen Elizabeth Brinkley Etzkorn, David Schumann, Beth White, Tiffany Smith

To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development

Individual instructor consultation is a common service provided by centers focused on educational development in higher education. The importance of this service has been reflected in its history, increasing demand, and strong anecdotal evidence to its effectiveness. However, the extant literature reveals that comprehensive assessment of consultation effectiveness has proved challenging. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to (a) provide an overview of consultation and summarize the relevant work evaluating this service, and (b) propose a comprehensive process for evaluating consultation services that was piloted at one large research intense university. The goal is to provide a systematic method …

A Holistic Practice: The Art Of Facilitation In International Service-Learning, Jenny M. Clark

MA IDS Thesis Projects

International service-learning (ISL) continues to evolve its academic presence in higher education to encompass a more holistic, transformative experience for students and community partners. One way in which this pedagogy can increase the likelihood of growth and development in its students is through a richer understanding of facilitative techniques involved with reflection and transformative learning. This study aims to help guide those who design courses or programs that use reflection as a means of integrating student learning within ISL and related programs. The following research project investigated the ways in which seven facilitators understood and described their practice in relation …

An Investigation Into Mentoring Practices Of Faculty Who Mentor Undergraduate Researchers At A Hispanic Serving Institution, Christopher M. Estepp, Joseph G. Velasco, Avery L. Culbertson, Nathan W. Conner

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication: Faculty Publications

Research has shown the benefits of undergraduate research; however, few studies have examined mentors of undergraduate researchers. The purpose of this study was to investigate the practices of mentors who have successfully mentored Hispanic undergraduate researchers. Findings from this study suggested that mentors should focus on interacting with students, listen to and understand students’ interests, be organized, require students to be responsible, and monitor students’ work. Recommendations for practice and research have been provided.

Resumen
La investigación ha demostrado los beneficios de investigación de pregrado, sin embargo, pocos estudios han examinado mentores de investigación de pregrado. El propósito de este …

Ally Development: Preparing Student Affairs Professionals To Work With American Indian Students, Corynna B. Nelson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Previous literature on ally identity development for higher education professionals has been focused mostly on White identity development, with little to no suggestions for those working with American Indian student populations (Broido, 2000; Edwards, 2006; Evans & Wall, 1991; Reason, Millar, A, & Scales, 2005). A conceptual model written by Keith E. Edwards (2006) focused on three stages of aspiring ally identity development with each identity attached to frequently experienced behaviors and viewpoints. This relatable model created a way to offer autoethnographical examples of an aspiring ally’s development to suggest adaptations for non-Native student affairs professionals working with Native student …

Bryant University Undergraduate Course Catalog 2016-2017

Bryant University Undergraduate Course Catalog

No abstract provided.

Institutional Drivers And Barriers To Faculty Adoption Of Blended Learning In Higher Education, Wendy W. Porter, Charles R. Graham

Faculty Publications

Relatively little research on blended learning (BL) addresses institutional adoption, although such research would benefit institutions of higher education in strategically adopting and implementing BL. In a prior study, the authors proposed a framework for institutional BL adoption, identifying three stages: (1) awareness/exploration, (2) adoption/early implementation, and (3) mature implementation/growth. The framework also identified key strategy, structure and support issues universities may address at each stage. The current study applies that framework as well as Rogers’ diffusion of innovations theory to determine the degree to which institutional strategy, structure and support decisions facilitate or impede BL adoption among higher education …

Diversity Without Integration, Kevin Woodson

Law Faculty Publications

The de facto racial segregation pervasive at colleges and universities across the country undermines a necessary precondition for the diversity benefits embraced by the Court in Grutter — the requirement that students partake in high-quality interracial interactions and social relationships with one another. This disjuncture between Grutter’s vision of universities as sites of robust cross-racial exchange and the reality of racial separation should be of great concern, not just because of its potential constitutional implications for affirmative action but also because it reifies racial hierarchy and reinforces inequality. Drawing from an extensive body of social science research, this article explains …

The Effects Of Guided Notes On Pre-Lecture Quiz Scores In Introductory Psychology, Kathryn Glodowski

Doctoral Dissertations - College of Arts and Sciences

"Guided notes covering lectures have been shown to improve note quality and increase scores on quizzes covering lecture material. We sought to determine whether guided notes would also be beneficial in helping students prepare for quizzes covering assigned readings. We evaluated the efficacy of guided notes for reading assignments on undergraduates’ scores on quizzes covering reading material during three academic semesters (in Study 1 and Study 2). Guided notes produced a statistically significant improvement in quiz scores during two of three semesters."

The Role Of The Standards For Educational And Psychological Testing In The Development Of Student Evaluations Of Teaching Effectiveness In Higher Education, Anna Valentinova Valcheva

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The purposes of this study were to 1) investigate the extent to which the standards for instrument development, as articulated by the Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing (AERA/APA/NCME, 2014) are applied during the process of creating student evaluations of teaching (SETs) in order to ensure their reliability and validity, and 2) the factors affecting the application of the standards. The results were analyzed in terms of the percentage of reported standards followed, as well as in terms of the three relevant sections of the Standards. Eighty-nine professionals involved in the process of developing and/or using SETs at their institutions …

The Prevailing Practices And Challenges Of Curriculum Reform In Ethiopian Higher Education: Views And Responses From Within, Tefera Tadesse, Wudu Melese

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

In reflecting on the recent educational change in Ethiopian higher education (HE), this article explores the nature of undergraduate curriculum reform in relation to student-centered pedagogy and continuous assessment method. To this end, the article uses a qualitative case study design collecting primary data from interviews with 4 senior managers and 4 education quality experts, and a focus-group with 6 teachers, and exploring secondary sources. The result shows that the forces, triggering curriculum reform are mostly external providing little room for internal factors and the development of curriculum from within the institution. The prevailing reform applied a government’s controlled, centralized, …

Student Loan Debt Implications For Hispanic Students Who Have Graduated From College, Eric Rodriguez

Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative correlational non-experimental study examines some major implications of student loan debt that Hispanics face upon graduation from institutions of higher learning. It provides both descriptive and correlational statistics to help view how Hispanics differ from non-Hispanics graduate students in their plight to live the American dream of social mobility. Hispanics now represent over 50 million and are the fastest growing (43% between the 2000 and 2010 U.S. Census) segment of the U.S. population. The belief that gaining a college degree will enhance social mobility may in fact impede it, or at least, delay it for Hispanics. With the …

Preparing Future Leaders In Higher Education: Excellence Practices From Staff To Mid-Level Management Role Transitions, Erica Sherese Little

Theses and Dissertations

Mid-level leadership is key to a functioning university and it is important that mid-level leaders feel they have the tools and resources they need in order to succeed. To be successful in a new mid-level leadership position, entering supervisors must clearly communicate a strong sense of vision, values, and principles to their staff and establish positive relationships to encourage inclusivity, support, and effectiveness. The purpose of this study was to determine what higher education institutions can do to prepare staff for a successful transition into mid-level management and leadership roles successfully. This purpose was achieved by identifying successes and challenges …

Campus Mental Health Practices And The Stigma Of Mental Illness: A Quantitative Analysis Of Student Affairs Professionals, Megan Krone

Dissertations

Around half of undergraduate college students will experience mental illness to some extent during their academic careers, yet a low percentage of students experiencing signs and symptoms of mental illness will seek help despite the availability of proven, effective treatments. The field of higher education has demonstrated a genuine concern for individuals with mental illnesses and mental health care on campuses, yet implementation of practices that connect students to treatment is inconsistent and effectiveness is uncertain.

This study searched for associations between campus practices and campus culture regarding mental illness. While institutions of higher education are using both traditional and …

Uno Strategic Planning Steering Committee 2016-2017, Strategic Planning Steering Committee

Steering Committee

UNO Strategic Planning Steering Committee Membership 2016-2017.

Threat Assessment And Management In Higher Education In The United States: A Review Of The 10 Years Since The Mass Casualty Incident At Virginia Tech, Eugene R.D. Deisinger, Mario Scalora

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

Copyright © 2016 American Psychological Association. Used by permission.

Proposal Of A New Method To Classify Higher Education Institutions Instead Of Rankings, Kate D. Elam

Undergraduate Distinction Papers

Purpose – The objective of this paper is to propose a new method for classifying higher education institutions that differs from traditional rankings. The proposed model segments colleges and universities based on like attributes and describes the groups according to their differentiating features.

Research Method – Data from several rankings publications was collected and simplified for analysis. Several observations (i.e. schools) were eliminated because they did not fit the sampling frame and/or did not include a sufficient amount of information. Duplicate variables (i.e. attributes) were also eliminated. First, exploratory factor analysis was applied to reduce the number of variables being …

Students' Perspectives On Online And Face-To-Face Components Of A Blended Course Design In Health And Kinesiology At A South Western Public University In The Usa, Wycliffe W. Njororai Simiyu, Fletcher J. Njororai, Tejaswini Chanumolu

Health & Kinesiology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Introduction: The current higher education environment in the United States of America (USA) and worldwide is focused on providing people an opportunity to access a quality education at a competitive price and one that is flexible enough to meet the needs of a diverse student demographic. It is therefore necessary for course delivery methods to accommodate these diverse needs without sacrificing rigor necessary for accreditation due to the diverse backgrounds, occupations, and time constraints of students in today’s environment Purpose: The purpose of this study was to establish the students’ perception of the online and face-to-face components of a blended …

Defining Quality In Undergraduate Social Work Education, Mary Ruth Weeden

Dissertations

“Quality” is a value-laden term that depends upon variables associated with culture, language and political context. Concluding there is no absolute, single definition of this term Harvey and Green (1993) postulated the meaning of quality as reflective of the differing perspectives of individuals and society as a whole; this includes the interrelated concepts: excellence; perfection; fitness for purpose, value for money; and transformation. This exploratory study attempts to define and operationalize the relevant characteristics that describe quality in undergraduate social work education by applying the five concepts of Harvey and Green (1993). Interviews were conducted with undergraduate social work program …

Cutting The Deficit: An Examination Of Factors Contributing To The Success Of Black Males Seeking Doctoral Degrees At A Predominantly White Institution, Larry Paul Manthei, Jr.

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This qualitative study examined the experiences of eight Black male higher education doctoral students attending a predominantly White institution in the South. Interviews were conducted asking the participants to reflect upon their educational experiences. The primary overarching research question guiding this study was: What factors contribute to the academic success of Black males seeking doctoral degrees in Higher Education at a predominately White institution? Sub-questions assisting in this research were: A) What experiences, educational and otherwise, promote academic success? B) What strategies and resources did Black males utilize in persisting and seeking doctoral degrees at a predominately White institution? Analysis …

The Effect Of True Colors Workshop Participation On Time-To-Degree, Rachel K. Davis

LSU Master's Theses

This study explores the relationship between major changes and time-to-degree at a large, public university in the Southeastern United States. In addition, it analyzes the effects of participation in True Colors workshops (a major decision-making intervention) on major changes and time-to-degree while controlling for competing explanations (i.e., demographic factors, GPA, major). While researchers have often suggested a link between major changes and enrollment beyond four years, they have not often studied this relationship. Moreover, researchers have not studied the effectiveness of True Colors major decision-making workshops on major changes and/or time-to-degree. Existing research establishes the negative effects of extended enrollment …

2016-2017 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.

How University Department Heads Have Encountered And Overcome Adaptive Challenges In Student Persistence: An Application Of Critical Incident Technique, Kevin L. Flora

Theses and Dissertations--Education Sciences

In the United States, the average attrition rate from freshmen to sophomore year for a 4-year university is 21.7%. After freshmen year, the dropout rate raises to 41% before graduation (National Center for Educational Statistics, 2014). As an administrative appointment, the department head is in a unique position to work with the university and college-level executives to lead faculty in better student persistence efforts. However scholarly inquiry on the relation of student persistence and department heads is lacking. Gmelch (2004) says “academic leaders may be the least studied and most misunderstood management position in the world” (p. 74).

The purpose …

Color Me Calm: Adult Coloring And The University Library, Heidi Blackburn, Claire E. Chamley

Criss Library Faculty Proceedings & Presentations

An activity often reserved for children, coloring books for adults rose from hipster trend to global phenomenon beginning in 2013. Adults flocked to the activity for a variety of reasons, including stress relief, socialization, a way to unplug from technology or even as a way to gain social status by appearing trendy. Participants reported enjoying the tactile, interactive nature of the books as a respite from constant screen time. Coloring books became big business for craft suppliers and bookstores by 2015. Coloring books shot to the top of the Best Sellers list on Amazon and were prominently displayed in book …

The Relationships Among Transformational Leadership, Job Satisfaction, And Academic Service Quality At Al-Baha University, Maha Alghamdi

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the relationship between transformational leadership components (idealized influence [attributes], idealized influence [behaviors], inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation and individual consideration), job satisfaction and academic service quality at Al-Baha University. The purposes of this study were to identify the extent to which, if at all, relationships exist between perceived levels of transformational leadership components, job satisfaction, and academic service quality among the faculty members, and to examine to what extent, if at all, are differences in demographic characteristics (gender, age, current position, and years spent at current position) of faculty members associated with the self-perceived levels of transformational leadership …

Deans Of Women In U.S. Higher Education, Kaitlin Schmitt

Research Papers

This paper traces the role of deans of women in institutions of higher education in the United States, spanning from the 1800s until the position’s decline in the 1960s. Deans of women played a pivotal role in advocating for college women, helping them receive access to housing, student organizations, and academic programs originally open only to their male peers. As the position because a staple on campuses across the country, deans of women created organizations, conferences, and journals with the hope of sharing their experiences with other deans, and setting professional standards. After World War II, the role of deans …