Digital Commons Network^™

A Higher Calling: How Christian Student Affairs Administrators Integrate Their Faith While Working At Public Community Colleges, Danielle J. Ward

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

The cornerstone of the student affairs field was the intentional focus on holistic student development, their mind and spirit. The problem addressed was that many student affairs professionals felt ill-equipped and uncomfortable discussing and expressing their personal faith at some institutions of higher education. As a result, some were hesitant about integrating faith at work, personally and professionally. The study sought to identify faith's role in Christian student affairs administrators who worked at public open-admission community colleges and the administrators’ perceptions of how their personal faith integration at work impacted their relationships with students and colleagues. The paradigm for …

A Comparison Of College Readiness Among Adult And Traditional-Age College Students, Oxana Rosca

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

This dissertation examines age-based differences in college readiness by comparing newly enrolled adult undergraduates (age 24 and older) with traditional-age undergraduates at two public institutions: a large online university serving primarily working adults and a residential research university serving primarily younger students. The study uses secondary data from 5,447 incoming students who completed the Diagnostic Assessment and Achievement of College Skills (DAACS) Reading and Mathematics assessments between May 2022 and May 2023. The primary goal was to test whether adult and traditional-age students differ in reading and mathematics readiness after adjusting for background characteristics.

Multistage bifactor and unidimensional two-parameter logistic …

Navigating Stress In Higher Education Leadership: The Role Of Mindful Meditation For Women Administrators, Christine T. Harper

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Leadership Studies

Women higher education administrators encounter distinct stressors which can significantly impact wellbeing and lead to burnout. These challenges include implicit bias, difficulty achieving work-life balance, and increasing institutional expectations. This study utilizes a Mixed Methods Action Research (MMAR) framework to assess stress levels, trait mindfulness, coping mechanisms, and the effectiveness of a structured mindfulness-based intervention. While the quantitative analysis revealed only a slight increase in trait mindfulness and no notable reduction in stress levels, the qualitative findings showcased meaningful personal benefits to the participants. They reported heightened awareness of stress triggers, improved emotion regulation, and an ability to apply the …

Implementation Of Project-Based Instruction In Statistics Higher Education Courses, Jennifer A. Daddysman

Theses and Dissertations--Education Sciences

Project-based instruction is an instructional methodology based in constructivism that aligns with recommendations from the American Statistical Association for teaching statistics, including incorporating real-world data and examples, collaboration, and scaffolding (GAISE College Report ASA Revision Committee, 2016; GAISE Steering Committee, 2024; Krajcik & Blumenfeld, 2005; Tishkovskaya & Lancaster, 2012). This study examined current use of project-based instruction in United States higher education courses in statistics and the supports for and challenges to implementing this type of instruction.

This study used qualitative research methodology in the integrative pedagogy and diffusion of innovation frameworks. Voluntary response surveys were distributed via two sections …

You Are Safe Here: A Phenomenological Exploration Of Psychological Safety And Organizational Ombuds In Higher Education, Angella J. Wint

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

This qualitative phenomenological study aimed to better understand the nature of ombuds’ psychological safety experiences in higher education by exploring how ombuds make meaning of their lived experiences with psychological safety and how it informs their roles with the constituencies they serve in higher education. Relying on data gathered related to the lived experiences of 12 organizational ombuds working at institutions of higher education, this study utilized one-on-one, open-ended, semi-structured interviews to collect data. The Four Stages of Psychological Safety was the conceptual framework used to study participants’ lived experiences. This study will contribute to the limited published empirical research …

How Latine College Students Experience, Maneuver, And Navigate Within The Colonizing Notion Of Smartness, Jasmine Jetton-Gonzales

Theses and Dissertations

This study explores how Latine college students, particularly those who are the first in their family to attend college, navigate and maneuver within the dominating colonizing notion of smartness in academia. Rooted in an Anglo-centric educational framework, the American education system often marginalizes Latine students by devaluing their cultural and linguistic knowledge while upholding Eurocentric standards of intelligence. Using a qualitative critical research approach, this study employs testimonios to examine the lived experiences of Latine college graduates in Illinois. Findings reveal that Latine students frequently encounter systemic barriers that challenge their academic identity, including racialized perceptions of intelligence, institutionalized deficit …

Manifesting A Shift In The "Overton Window": The Threat Of Project 2025 On The Lgbtq+ Community In Higher Education, Athena M. King, Sara Sanatkar

Political Science & Geography Faculty Publications

Since the first Trump administration, historically marginalized groups in the United States have been subjected to greater instances of bigotry and discrimination due to conservative influence on sociopolitical institutions. These actions suggest a shift in the "Overton Window," whereby policy preferences previously deemed "unacceptable" are given consideration in the mainstream, especially by conservative policy actors. "Project 2025" is a comprehensive plan to restructure the federal government according to conservative dictates in the second Trump administration. This article is an examination of how higher education may be impacted by this plan, especially as it relates to LGBTQ+ faculty, administration, staff, and …

Lived Experiences Of Student-Parents In Higher Education Who Utilize The Childcare Subsidy Program, Kindra Moore-Smith

Montview Journal of Research & Scholarship

This paper examines a phenomenological study describing the experiences of student-parents who use the Parents for Higher Education program at Eastern Community College. The theory that guided this study was McClusky’s theory of margin, which addresses the support and services adults need to accomplish their goals in life. This framework provided a connection that explained the importance of childcare subsidies and the needs met while attending classes for community college students—the transcendental phenomenology approach used. The setting for this study was the virtual platform Zoom. The study was conducted using 10 participants, all student-parents who participated in the childcare grant …

Approaches In Preparing Transfer Degree Students For University Study: A Case Study Of A Community College In Rural Southwest Virginia, Melissa Suzanne Mckinney

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study was to understand approaches for preparing students for their transition to a four-year university following completion of a transfer-focused associate degree at a community college. The theory guiding this study was Albert Bandura’s social cognitive theory. The study followed an embedded, single case study design and included faculty members, staff, administrators, and students within the transfer division, along with general college staff at a rural community college in southwest Virginia. The study used surveys, interviews, and focus groups to gather data which was analyzed to identify relevant themes and unique approaches to preparing transfer …

Understanding Perceptions Of Lived Transition Experiences Of Supplemental Instruction Leaders At A Historically Black University, Cecil Wayne Mayhall

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand perceptions of lived transition experiences for supplemental instruction (SI) leaders at a large public historically Black research university in the Southeastern United States. Using the transition theory of Schlossberg et al. as a theoretical framework, this study attempted to answer the central research question: How do supplemental instruction (SI) leaders at a large public historically black research university in the Southeastern United States perceive their lived transition experiences? Sub-questions attempted to address participants' perception of the situation, self, support, and strategies when moving in, through, and out of, the SI …

Full Issue: Journal On Empowering Teaching Excellence, Volume 8, Issue 2, Fall 2024

Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence

The full-length Spring 2024 issue (Volume 8, Issue 1) of the Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence

Access the online Pressbooks version (with downloadable EPUB format) here.

The Fall 2024 issue presents practical ideas and prompts for those who teach at colleges and universities in a variety of disciplines. Articles ways to use popular culture (in this case, reality TV) to teach higher-level concepts; strategies for adapting Lesson Study techniques for preservice teachers; and a review of McNair et al.'s 2022 book on creating student ready colleges.

Faculty And Staff Pay Satisfaction And The Impact On Organizational Commitment And Retention, Jennifer Hennings

Dissertations

This mixed-method study explored the relationships between pay satisfaction, organizational commitment, retention, and seniority among faculty and staff at a private, four-year institution in the Midwest. The research investigated how satisfaction with a compensation program influences organizational commitment and turnover intentions. The researcher used a quantitative method to study the impact of pay satisfaction on organizational commitment and turnover intention. Additionally, a quantitative method explored relationships between seniority and turnover intention. Findings revealed positive relationships between pay satisfaction and organizational commitment, along with pay satisfaction and turnover intention. Findings also revealed positive relationships between seniority, measured as years of service, …

Sel For Well-Being And Equity In Higher Education, Colleen Conley, Deborah Donahue-Keegan

Psychology: Faculty Publications and Other Works

The understood overarching purpose of higher education is to prepare students, typically young adults, with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate, thrive in, and be contributing members of society (Hurtado, 2019). In this time of unprecedented cross-sectoral complexity and volatility on a global scale, institutions of higher education must consider a more expansive set of learning and competency outcomes (Gopalan et al., 2022). This paradigm shift is essential given the alarming rise in mental health challenges on college and university campuses, deep polarization, and an increased demand for prosocial skills in workplaces across sectors (Dermody et al., 2022; Padurean …

Modalities And Meaning: Instructor Adaptation And Student Spiritual Formation Across Higher Education Learning Environments, Stephanie D. Sorensen

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores the dynamic instructor and student experiences inherent in the evolving modalities of higher education. The first article synthesizes qualitative research about the challenges and successes faced by instructors transitioning to online learning environments, especially in their interactions with content and learners. Emphasizing the importance of support for instructors and institutions, it sets the stage for understanding the nuanced experience of online teaching. The second article presents an exploratory case study of a religious education professor teaching across four modalities. His experience emphasized adaptive strategies and underscored the pivotal role of instructor preparation. Findings revealed the instructor's proactive …

Predicting Students At Risk Of Dropping Out In The College Of Medicine At Mohammed Bin Rashid University Of Medicine And Health Sciences. A Machine Learning Approach To Understand Attrition Factors Over The Past Seven Years, Moza Sulaiman Al-Zaabi

Theses

This master’s thesis investigates student attrition within the College of Medicine at Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU) by applying the CRISP-DM methodology to analyse a dataset of 19 variables and around 2,000 records from Student Admission and Academic Performance sources. Although the dataset was relatively small, several machine learning models were developed to predict students at risk of dropping out, including Logistic Regression, Decision Trees, Support Vector Machines (SVM), and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN). Of these models, the ANN model, particularly when combined with Principal Component Analysis (PCA), achieved the highest performance with an accuracy …

Societal Obstacles In Higher Education That Hinder Adulthood Development In Northern Myanmar: A Phenomenological Study, Sau Nam

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of college graduates who faced societal obstacles in higher education in Kachin State, Myanmar. The theory guiding this study was the theory of emerging adulthood in higher education, as it looks at how the psychological environment in which they live influences their psychological characteristics development process. The theory helped to explore the central research question: What are the lived experiences of college graduates who faced societal obstacles in higher education in Kachin State, Myanmar? The study collected data through individual interviews, focus groups, and journal prompts, and the …

Course Registration Practices At A Jesuit University: Practicing Critical Hope To Address Barriers To Access And Belonging, Corey Knadler, Laura Diaz Martinez, Annmarie Caño, Kirk R. Anders, Yolanda Gallardo, Nancy L. Staub

Jesuit Higher Education: A Journal

Solidarity and critical hope support faculty and staff who wish to accompany students, read the current reality of their experience, and imagine new practices that can rectify injustices and promote access and belonging. Here, we describe an example of this praxis by responding to student concerns about injustices in a course registration process. With some exceptions, undergraduates at this institution register for classes according to their earned college credits. At first glance, this meritocratic system shows care to students by recognizing their hard work. However, our analysis shows that it also discriminates against underserved groups of students. Using 10 years …

Mindfulness Matters: Addressing Anxiety And Navigating Toward Wellbeing Through Miea Mindfulness Practices, A Mixed-Methods Study Of Lgbtiq Graduate Writing Students, Kim Westerman

Doctoral Dissertations

ABSTRACT

Mindfulness Matters: Addressing Anxiety and Navigating Toward Wellbeing Through MIEA Mindfulness Practices, a Mixed-Methods Study of LGBTIQ Graduate Writing Students

Anxiety has always been a part of the human experience, even before the phenomenon was conceptualized in the 17^th century and named by Freud in the 19th. And human beings have devised many strategies for addressing anxiety: reducing it, ignoring it, distracting oneself from it, despairing over it, medicating it, engaging with it, moving through it, co-existing with it. The current zeitgeist, more than four years into the COVID-19 global pandemic, situates anxiety as a central facet of …

Pacific Magazine 2024, University Of The Pacific

Pacific Magazine and Pacific Review

No abstract provided.

Book Review Of Lorena Basso, Magdalena Cardoner, Paula De Bonis, Mariana Ferrarelli, Stefanía Martínez León And Pedro Ravela. Aprender En Comunidad: Prácticas Colaborativas Para Transformar La Evaluación (Learning In Community: Collaborative Practices To Transform Assessment), Montevideo: Grupo Magro Editores

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

No abstract provided.

Intentional Unlearning Practices In Postmassified University Systems: Reformation For The Metamodern Era, Mihaela A. Lynn

Journal of Global Education and Research

A crucial aspect of the learning cycle, unlearning has recently received more attention in academic discussions about the future of higher education. In an attempt to improve equality and equity of access to quality educational experiences in the wake of postmassification, the recent literature has highlighted the need to incorporate unlearning practices to transform university learning experiences. This literature review examines the role of the unlearning process in engaging diverse student populations in tertiary learning environments. First, traditional and contemporary conceptualizations of unlearning are explored. Next, specific issues related to unlearning in higher education are discussed before synthesizing current studies …

Reflective Practice Of Early Career Teachers: Identifying And Mitigating Major Instructional Challenges, Saheeh Shafi

Journal of Global Education and Research

This paper employs a qualitative descriptive research design to determine how early career teachers (ECTs) use reflective practices to identify and mitigate major instructional challenges in the context of Bangladeshi higher education. A questionnaire was given to 20 ECTs working in different universities to collect data on their reflective practices related to instructional challenges. Analysis of the responses of the ECTs to the questionnaire via thematic analysis revealed three major challenges: (a) inadequate logistic support, (b) diversity of students and pedagogical context, and (c) inadequate comprehension of the students. Solutions to these challenges include (a) three levels of collaboration, (b) …

Understanding The Experience Of Being Food Insecure At An Independent College Or University, Natalie Wagner

Dissertations

Many people struggle to consistently access enough food for an active and healthy life (United States Department of Agriculture, 2020). Research has shown that college students experience food insecurity at rates higher than the general population while also facing negative academic, mental, physical, and social consequences (Baker-Smith et al., 2020; Bruening et al., 2018; Dubick et al., 2016; Henry, 2017; Martinez et al., 2018). Although studies on food insecurity among higher education have increased in the past few years, much of the research has been quantitative in nature and has been conducted at community colleges and state-funded institutions (Baker-Smith et …

Application Of The Hattie And Timperley Power Of Feedback Model With Graduate Teacher Education Students, Judy R. Wilkerson

University of South Florida (USF) M3 Publishing

Student feedback is a crucial part of learning and improvement. The Hattie and Timperly (2007) model have been identified in the literature as the most useful feedback model evolving out of the literature on feedback and formative assessment prompted by the seminal Black and Wiliam (1998) study. The model consists of three questions: Where am I going? (feed-up), How am I going/doing? (feedback), and Where am I going next? (feed-forward). The combination of these three questions establishes a process for preparing the student with an advance organizer (the goal or student learning outcome), an assessment of actual performance, and a …

Conceptualizing Micro-Level Internationalization From Empirical And Conceptual Constructs: Adding The Human Dimension, Omolabake Fakunle, Fiona Hunter

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

No abstract provided.

Faculty Innovativeness In Higher Education: Exploring The Influence Of Demographic And Psychological Factors, Jared M. Pyles

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

This study explored the relationship between innovativeness and various demographic and psychological factors among full-time faculty at a private higher education institution in the Midwest United States. The study focused on understanding how risk aversion, gender, age, years of experience, and leadership roles influence a faculty member's level of innovativeness and examined the interrelated effects of these variables. Employing a quantitative research design, data were collected through a self-administered online survey with 129 full-time faculty members, achieving a response rate of 49%.

The findings revealed no significant direct relationship between innovativeness and risk aversion. However, categorical age emerged as a …

Understanding The Present And Preparing For The Future In Collegiate Esports, Marc C. Dearmond

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

While esports continues to grow as a varsity sport across higher education campuses, new programs are being built focusing on esports as a field of study. However, more research is needed about how esports programs are being administered on college campuses and how these programs are being measured for success. This three-article dissertation focuses on esports at the collegiate and undergraduate levels. The first study is a literature review focused on topics of research available for reading assignments in an online program based on the esports ecosystem as defined by Anderson et al. (2018). It contains an examination of current …

Controlling Anti-Asian Conduct On College Campuses: Can Including Ethnic Studies Programs Help?, Hani Morgan

Faculty Publications

The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered hostile acts against Asian college students. One of the ways to respond to these acts is to increase Asian American ethnic studies programs and courses. Although critics argue that ethnic studies cause divisiveness, research indicates that they are beneficial to students from all groups. University administrators may fear implementing these programs because they sometimes associate them with the violence that occurred during the late 1960s when students demanded ethnic studies to be included in the college curriculum. But this to a great extent by the poor representation of racial minority groups in the curriculum and …

Understanding Social Media As A Communicative Tool To Facilitate Critical Discourse: Using #Blackgirlmagic To Explore How Black Women In Higher Education “Talk Back", Crystal Spruill Carter

Theses and Dissertations

Black women have engaged through social media platforms, as a mechanism to uplift their embodiment, despite being relegated to the margins. The hashtag #BlackGirlMagic (BGM) is linked to narratives of Black women in higher education that are empowering and problematic. The development of the popular social media movement during a time when Black women were being portrayed negatively made engaging in the discourse "talking back" possible. This study explores the lived experiences of Black women college students and recent graduates, using currere as an analytical tool for my own communication journals entries as a data source to structure my reflections …

Exploring The Motivations And Aspirations Of High School Senior Latinas: A Phenomenological Constructivist Study Of Advancement Via Individual Determination And Non-Advancement Via Individual Determination Student Experiences, Marina Rodriguez

Dissertations

While student support programs aim to offer guidance on college information and resources, not all student support programs offer a class curriculum targeted toward college and career readiness. The Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program offers AVID as an elective class in a student’s academic schedule. Similar programs that support students include the Migrant Education Program, TRIO, and Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs. The purpose of this study was to establish a greater understanding of the motives and aspirations to attend a higher education institution of Latina high school seniors who have participated in an AVID program …