Digital Commons Network^™

Culture Shock: Exploring The Truths & Benefits Of Remote Work In Higher Education, Teresa M. Stephens, Kristen Poston, Sarah Miller, Catherine O. Durham, Amy Williams

International Journal of Transformative Teaching and Learning in Higher Education

In “Culture Shock,” Gallup’s 2023 publication, the authors explore the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on work and life, urging a reevaluation of leadership strategies, especially for remote work. They highlight a significant shift, with many U.S. employees hesitant to return to traditional offices, favoring new remote work environments that integrate work and life. This shift is also evident in higher education, where faculty see benefits in productivity and well-being, despite some pressure to revert to old norms. Clifton and Harter (2023) argue that the focus should be on how organizations build and maintain relationships in this evolving landscape. Their thesis emphasizes …

The Full Range Leadership Model (Frlm): Department Head Perceptions Of Leadership Style And Development, Stephanie Elaine Heroman

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to discover the perceived leadership styles of department heads as categorized by the Full Range Leadership Model (FRLM), developed by Avolio and Bass (1991). The FRLM categorizes leadership style along a continuum, from laissez-faire leadership, to transactional leadership, and ultimately transformational leadership. Even though department heads occupy a pivotal leadership role, many do not have formal leadership training, and instead rise to power through disciplinary expertise. This study will collect data on the experiences contributing to the development of leadership style in department heads. Understanding the leadership styles and experiences of department heads will …

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 …

Science Identity Development Among Minoritized Students In Professional Stem Student Organizations: A Basic Qualitative Study, Michaela Friedrichova Holtz

Dissertations of Practice

Despite national efforts to broaden participation in STEM, underrepresented minoritized (URM) students continue to face systemic barriers to persistence and degree completion. While many intervention programs focus on academic preparedness, less is known about the role of co-curricular experiences—specifically professional STEM student organizations—in shaping science identity, a key predictor of persistence and success. This qualitative study explored how involvement in race- and gender-based STEM student organizations at a public research university in the Midwest influenced URM students’ science identity development, persistence in STEM majors, and career aspirations. Using the science identity framework developed in 2007 by Carlone and Johnson, semi-structured …

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 …

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, …

Private Religious Schools And Disability Discrimination, Kevin Timpe

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

In the lead-up to the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), religious institutions and organizations lobbied to be exempt. Because they were successful in securing an exemption to most of the ADA’s requirements, religious private schools maintain the legal right to refuse admission to disabled students or to fail to give them various legal protections. After considering the arguments given in its favor, the paper critiques this exemption on moral grounds. It then suggests that these considerations should lead to a reexamination of the legal right such schools have to discriminate against disabled individuals, especially in those cases …

Reframing Leadership: The Role Of Gender, Race, And Identity In Shaping Women’S Leadership Journeys In Higher Education, Tania Carlson Reis, Kaitlyn A. Kaesebier

Teacher Education Faculty Publications

This chapter outlines the history of women in higher education. It begins with a description of the disproportional entrance of female students in higher education and how delayed access led to gender imbalance in current college and university leadership. It outlines the intersection of social role theory and barriers that impede the progress of female leaders, and the challenges of women's choice as an explanation for the low number of women university presidents. Barriers experienced by women leaders is also discussed. The chapter closes with solutions to current higher education practices that could improve gender balance in leadership.

2025 Shepard Broad College Of Law Admissions Viewbook, Nova Southeastern University

Shepard Broad College of Law Viewbook

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Mentoring In Combating Racism And Sexism In Higher Education As A Blueprint For Other Historical Institutions In The United States, Michelle R. Gherardi

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

Racism and sexism create a bottleneck to advancement for women in higher education.

This qualitative study and dissertation investigate the role of mentoring in combating racism and sexism in higher education in the United States as a blueprint for other historical institutions. Twenty-six women of color in four categories (presidents/provosts/chancellors, deans of law and medical schools, vice presidents of diversity, equity, and inclusion/student affairs, and graduate students) of higher education were interviewed to explore their experiences with racism, sexism, and mentor relationships. Findings demonstrate all but one participant (96%) disclosed racial victimization in higher education, all participants (100%) disclosed sexist …

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 …

Cultivating Mindsets Of Persistence: Experiences Of Undergraduate Women Students In Stem Programs At A Public Research University, Etina Qirjo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

In the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), women's representation is disproportionately low across high school, higher education, and professional sectors. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine the factors influencing the persistence of undergraduate women STEM students at a public university by identifying available resources, uncovering obstacles and investigating their personal experiences. Data collection involved semi-structured interviews with a sample of 12 female participants enrolled as undergraduates in STEM majors at a public university. The research design chosen for the study was qualitative, focusing on stories from women’s experiences that provide an understanding of what …

Framing Large Language Models: Teaching Foundational Concepts Of Generative Ai And Information Literacy For Critical Student Engagement, Isaac Wink, Jennifer Hootman

Library Faculty and Staff Publications

This chapter situates the emerging scholarly conversation around AI literacy within the established Association for College and Research Libraries (ACRL) Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education. We apply three frames in particular: 1) Authority Is Constructed and Contextual, 2) Information Creation as a Process, and 3) Research as Inquiry, considering competencies relevant to students encountering generative AI applications in educational contexts and addressing ways that both students and instructors may seek to engage productively with such tools.

This chapter primarily focuses on tools such as ChatGPT that are built atop large language models (LLMs)—systems trained on massive text corpora—rather …

Impact Of Academic Advising On Student Satisfaction And Persistence, Michelle Pickett

Dissertations of Practice

Enhancing college student success is a critical challenge for higher education. Traditionally measured by retention and graduation rates, student success is now viewed through a more holistic lens. This dissertation of practice examines the impact of developmental academic advising on student satisfaction and persistence at a four-year regional public university in the Midwest, focusing on first-year students. Using a quantitative approach, this study addresses gaps in the literature by examining the impact of developmental advising on student satisfaction and persistence.

Findings indicate that while developmental academic advising positively impacts student satisfaction with their advising experience, it does not significantly influence …

Analysis Of Dual Roles: Work-Life Balance Experiences Of Female Professors And Mothers In California, Lu Liang

Theses and Dissertations

The study aims to discover and understand the work-life balance experience of mothers who are also professors working in higher education institutions in California. The research reveals the unique challenges, needs, and motivations to manage work and family responsibilities. The literature review indicates that mother professors encounter conflicts of roles and responsibilities from academic work and domestic duties. Moreover, mother professors experience persistent gender disparity and systemic barriers as an underrepresented group in academia, hindering their personal and professional advancements. This qualitative study utilizes quantitative ethnography (QE), an incorporated research methodology to examine mother professors’ work-life balance experience. Additionally, the …

Navigating Complexity In Sustainability And Climate Action: Comparing Participatory Action Research And Developmental Evaluation In Higher Education, Elizabeth J. Cook, Fiona Boyle

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: This paper aims to investigate how sustainability and climate action are integrated in higher education through collaborative researchmethodologies. Specifically, it addresses the challenges encountered by those using participatory action research (PAR) and suggests developmental evaluation (DE) as a potentially suitable alternative participatorymethodology in certain contexts.

Design/methodology/approach: A comparative analysis of PAR and DE is conducted, highlighting their strengths and limitations in sustainability and climate action initiatives within higher education. Philosophically grounded in pragmatism, the study draws on existing literature to clarify the theoretical foundations and practical implications of both methodologies, focusing on their application in complex, dynamic environments.

Findings: …

Understanding The Identity Work And Aspirations Of Indigenous Males Navigating Elite Australian Higher Education, James A. Smith, Garth Stahl, Andrew Harvey, Braden Hill, Himanshu Gupta, Sam Moore, Jianing Wang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

In Australia, there has been increased attention to attracting Indigenous peoples into higher education but, despite a recent growth in enrolment numbers, they remain severely underrepresented. This underrepresentation is particularly notable among Indigenous males, who are the least likely to attend. In this paper, we investigate the experiences of four Indigenous young men who attended an elite higher education institution. Aligned with other research on the experiences of Black and Minority Ethnic males in higher education, the article captures how their experience in privileged institutions compels them to reflect on their own positionality and the cultural interface between Indigenous and …

Artful Approaches For The Study Of Multiracial Student Experiences: Not Artifact, But Aperture, Orkideh Mohajeri, Victoria Malaney-Brown

Educational Leadership & Higher Education Administration Faculty Publications

Within higher education, various methodologies are used to collect data on student experiences, including both quantitative and qualitative approaches. This paper highlights the importance of attending to artful methodologies particularly when learning with/from mixed and multiracial postsecondary students. We share three artful productions generated by multiracial undergraduate and graduate students from three separate studies, conducted over a range of time from 2017 to 2020. We argue that in each case, the art itself goes far beyond an artifact or "thick description" and instead serves as an aperture to new possibilities for inquiry and analysis. Not only are artful methods a …

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 …

Perceptions Of Partnership: How Instructional Designers And Faculty Collaborate To Design Online Courses In Higher Education, Robin Zahrndt

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

This ethnographic study examines the collaboration between faculty members and instructional designers during the development of online courses at a large, research-intensive university. As institutions expand their digital learning initiatives, effective partnerships between faculty and instructional designers have become increasingly important; however, they are often constrained by hierarchical norms, disciplinary differences, and time pressures. Using a framework for interdisciplinary collaboration in healthcare settings, this study analyzed recorded meetings and post-participation interviews to examine how collaboration unfolded and how participants perceived its influence on course quality. Findings indicate that faculty maintained clear ownership of instructional decisions, often viewing designers as supportive …

Digitized Asic (Adaptation, Standardization, Integration, And Compliance) Framework: An Innovation For Optimizing Technologies And Innovations For Medical And Higher Education., Joshua Owolabi

PCOM Scholarly Works

This article serves several specific purposes: Presenting transferable information on transforming innovative ideas into educational products with practical applications; showcasing a digitized version of a leading innovation aimed at optimizing technologies and innovations in medical education, health professions education, and higher education; advancing an evidence-based approach to integrating innovations into educational ecosystems and promoting education through innovations and technologies. A 10-step approach to developing the ASIC framework (ASIC stands for Adaptation, Standardization, Integration, and Compliance) is presented, with explanations and illustrations of the processes and activities involved. Empirical evidence and sound principles are provided in support of activities to assure …

Experiences Of Exemplary Supervisors Promoting Workplace Dignity Across Social Identity Differences, Emily Joy Aiken

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Imagine a workplace where supervisors centered the dignity of each unique individual and sought to honor each person in their wholeness. This type of work environment moves beyond a toxic culture to a space that fosters flourishing, growth, and inclusion. Given that supervisors play an integral role in the experiences of staff members, this study explored the experiences of supervisors in promoting workplace dignity across cultural differences within higher education. With a focus on relational practices and a positive framing, this research sought to develop a nuanced understanding of dignified leadership across social identity differences. Leveraging a constructivist grounded theory …

Are We On The Same Page? A Look At Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion At A Small Liberal Arts College, Lisa Johnson

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Efforts to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in higher education have gained momentum in recent years, yet struggle to achieve meaningful, lasting change. This dissertation critically examines whether institutional structures at a small liberal arts college are effectively supporting DEI initiatives, questioning whether institutional efforts align with the lived experiences of students, faculty, and staff. It challenges the notion that mission statements or policy reforms alone are sufficient to drive systemic change. Using an action research framework, students were engaged as coresearchers to explore the disconnect between institutional rhetoric and the realities of DEI implementation. A mixed-methods approach, incorporating …

Black Women Found: Higher Education Leadership Experiences And Lifespan Identity Development Through Hip-Hop Feminism, James Antone Perry Jr.

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This qualitative study investigates the leadership experiences and lifespan identity development of Black women in predominantly White institutions (PWIs) of higher education at the dean level and above. Black women have typically been excluded from positions of leadership at colleges and universities nationwide throughout history. Additionally, the experiences of Black women in higher education leadership roles have not been extensively studied in scholarly research. The literature review clearly demonstrates that a sizeable portion of the analyses on leadership identity and experiences have been shaped by homogeneous viewpoints. Hip-Hop feminism is the theoretical framework utilized within this study. The methodology is …

Exploring Institutional Stratification: Minority-Serving Institutional Pathways To Medical School Acceptance In The United States, Amanda K. Burbage, Eushekia Y. Hewitt

EVMS School of Health Professions Faculty Publications

Introduction

Recruiting and training a diverse pool of physicians from historically excluded groups is vital to solving complex scientific problems and increasing access to patient care. Disparate educational and health outcomes of COVID-19 amplified this need. In stratified higher education systems, underfunded institutions that serve greater numbers of underrepresented in medicine (URM) students face unique barriers to entering physician training. However, pathways from historically underfunded minority-serving institutions (MSIs) in the United States to medical school (MD) are not well understood.

Method

A hierarchical logistic regression analysis of 328 488 de-identified applicants to US MD-granting medical schools for academic years 2017-2018 …

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 …

Cracking The Quotas: The 1948 New York Fair Educational Practices Act And The Jewish Quest For Color-Blindness, Miyuki Kita

FIU Law Review

This article explores how vigorously Jews pushed to enact the 1948 New York Fair Educational Practices Act to fight anti-Jewish quotas in higher education. The Act was the first state-level legislation to prohibit higher educational institutions from excluding, limiting or otherwise discriminating against persons seeking admission as students because of race, religion, creed, color, or national origin. Seeking a way to overcome discrimination in university admissions, Jews sought to combat it by promoting racially and religiously neutral admission procedures within the broad context of the expansion of opportunities in higher education after World War II instead of directly attacking antisemitism. …

Importance Of Library Metrics And Effective Methods Of Communication With Provosts, Katy Zane

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Provosts and librarians share a common goal of needing to measure library activity in such a way that appropriately conveys how it contributes to the institution’s campus initiatives and strategic planning. The goal of this research was to determine how best to analyze these activities through agreed upon metrics and preferred communication styles. By combining the two aspects of analytical metrics and communication methods, this research would provide a common ground that both provosts and librarians could build upon for the future growth and development of the library.

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 …

A Critical Examination Of First-Generation Faculty Scholarship: Demonstrating The Need For Intersectional, Empirical Analysis, Derria Byrd, Noreen Siddiqui

College of Education Faculty Research and Publications

The triumphs, tribulations, and trials associated with first-generation status during the undergraduate years are well-established in educational research; however, limited scholarship systematically investigates the dispositions, experiences, and practices of first-generation faculty (FGF)—that is, former first-generation college students who have joined the professoriate. In this critical review of literature, the authors identified and analyzed 173 sources, uncovering five dominant themes—(a) negotiating a discordant culture, (b) reframing success, (c) relating to family, (d) seeking social networks, and (e) leveraging identity—that provide insights into how FGF navigate the social, cultural, and professional norms of the academy. Despite recent expansions that center FGF of …