Digital Commons Network^™

Two Years Of Iqts: Its Current State, And Implications For English Itt By Distance Learning, Oliver C S Au Yeung

Plymouth Interdisciplinary Education Open Journal

International qualified teacher status (iQTS), a new programme which enables candidates to qualify while teaching overseas, marks one of the latest major developments in England’s teacher training system. This study endeavours to survey its current state and make an assessment of the nature of its training. The literature review situates the programme in the historical trajectory of English initial teacher training (ITT) and, in turn, the higher education and socio-economic contexts. As an analytic framework, Furlong’s fourfold categorisation of teachers’ knowledge is used to represent competing approaches to teacher training. It is argued that the liberal approach, emphasising a broad, …

Final Master's Portfolio, Annie Seboe

Master of Arts in English Plan II Graduate Projects

This portfolio showcases scholarly research into technical and professional writing, exploring themes like binaries in the feminist writing classroom, New Rhetoric theory vs. traditional technical communication theory, and genre pedagogy as a solution for the dichotomies in technical communication.

A Transcendental Phenomenological Research Study Of Empathy In Education And Its Defining Influences, Patricia Cuffe

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of showing empathy to students for college professors at a private evangelical Christian university in the southeastern region of the United States. The theory guiding this study was Hoffman’s empathy theory, which describes the concepts and ideologies of empathy and explains the factors influencing professors' empathy towards their students. The Central Research Question was: What are the lived experiences of college professors showing empathy to their students? The study employed a transcendental-phenomenological research approach to describe participants' lived experiences. The participants in the study were ten professors …

When Prayers Aren’T Enough: The Need For Mission Formation And Professional Development For Lay Faculty At Catholic Colleges And Universities, Lucy A. Pesce

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Current literature suggests that administration and faculty must make a more intentional effort within Catholic higher education to articulate the mission of these religiously-affiliated institutions in response to two current issues: dwindling numbers of clergy and vowed religious faculty and administrators, and fewer students nationwide who self-identify with any form of organized religion. However, few studies have examined the experience of lay faculty at Catholic institutions who are entrusted with advancing the mission, regardless of their religious affiliation, and their professional development needs.

Using the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities’ Catholic Identity and Mission Assessment (CIMA) as a framework …

Deaf College Students’ Lived Experiences In Pk-16 Education: A Deaf Crit-Informed Qualitative Study, Bridget Catherine Taylor

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This qualitative study focused on Deaf, Hard-of-Hearing, and orally Deaf college students, examining Deaf education from the perspective of linguistic and cultural minority students. The study offers theoretical perspectives for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers by examining the lived experiences of students who took part in Deaf education in the United States from PK–16. Deaf Critical Theory (DeafCrit) was the theoretical framework used to analyze the qualitative data.

A Phenomenological Study: The Self-Efficacious Experiences Of Mid-Level Black Female Administrators At Public Colleges And Universities In Virginia, Alexis Bacote Archer Alarcón

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the self-efficacious experiences for mid-level Black female administrators at public colleges and universities in Virginia. Self-efficacious experiences were generally defined as a person’s belief in their ability to perform well in their role as a leader. The theory guiding this study was Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy. Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy served as the theoretical framework for answering the study's central question: What are the self-efficacious experiences of mid-level Black female administrators at public colleges and universities in Virginia? A transcendental phenomenological design using three core processes, epoche ́, transcendental-phenomenological reduction, …

A Predictive Correlational Study Of The Relationship Between Faculty Leadership Styles And Teacher Communication Orientation In Jamaica’S Higher Education System, Zandy Uriel Elliott

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative study examined the extent to which faculty leadership styles, gender, and years of experience predict teacher communication orientation, specifically assertiveness (TCO-A) and responsiveness (TCO-R), among higher educational institutions in Jamaica. Grounded in communication theory and leadership frameworks, the study explored how faculty leadership express themselves and respond to others. Data were collected from 216 faculty members using the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) and the Sociocommunicative Orientation Scale (SCO). Descriptive analyses indicated that participants’ mean responsiveness scores were slightly higher than assertiveness scores across all years-of-experience categories, with many displaying traits consistent with an “Amiable” to “Expressive” communication profile …

Preparing Educational Leaders: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study, Alexander William Barber Ii

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the business training conducted in succession planning for executive leaders at community colleges. The central research question for this study is: What are the experiences of executive leaders at community colleges in business training conducted in succession planning? I conducted a hermeneutic phenomenological study at a nationally recognized community college that is implementing new higher education programs. The theoretical framework guiding this study was Smith’s institutional theory. Purposeful sampling was used to interview personnel working at the executive level in positions of vice presidents and presidents on-site. Individual interviews and …

All Things Equal: Uncovering The Extent Sexism Influences Higher Education Through Faculty Perceptions Of The Inner Workings Of The Academy, Jonathan Yorkowitz

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The history of critical systemic issues in higher education has been well documented in recent literature (Delgado & Stefancic, 2017, Freire, 2018, and Wilder, 2013). Among the critical issues noted, sexism has remained a significant influence suppressing opportunities for women within higher education in the United States. bell hooks (1981, 2003, 2014) shared research about the specific systemic challenges encountered by Black women in the academy, providing a key connection between sexism and racism. The lack of significant proposed solutions to address sexism in higher education scholarship, along with the need for an updated and more comprehensive understanding of faculty …

‘The Weight That We Carry’: Using Photovoice To Uncover Student Parents’ Experiences In Higher Education, Maria Fatima Rodriguez Velasquez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Caregiving students carry identities that have historically been marginalized within academia and continue to face limited institutional awareness and support (Lovell, 2020; McCourt, 2018; Yates, 2022). This study analyzes the experiences of student parents at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) to understand how they balance their family and academic responsibilities, the challenges they face, and the communities of support they find within their university experience. Using Photovoice as a method, 22 student parents shared photographs and the narratives behind each image that represented their daily lives inside and outside the classroom. The data analysis, guided by grounded …

Experiences Of Title Ix Hearing Panel Members., Amanda Gage Stonecipher

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The number of allegations of sexual misconduct on college campuses has been increasing over the past decade and higher education institutions are charged with addressing the misconduct. Addressing student behavior on college campuses through a conduct process is woven into the fabric of higher education, and many institutions use a hearing panel model to determine if institutional policies were violated. My research aims to explore how student conduct hearing panel members process the tension between the emotional management required when hearing intimate and traumatic details of a sexual misconduct case. The data for this research were collected via semi structured …

Bridging The Gap: Enhancing Institutional Support For Adjunct Faculty In Rural Community Colleges, Emily Joleen Mason

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Adjunct faculty constitute approximately 70% of the academic workforce in U.S. higher education, yet they often face challenges related to professional isolation, limited institutional support, and insufficient onboarding. This qualitative study explores how institutional connectedness influences adjunct faculty retention at a rural community college in the Midwest. Using a phenomenological approach, the research investigates the lived experiences of adjunct faculty, focusing on onboarding processes, professional development opportunities, and institutional culture. Findings highlight the critical role of structured onboarding, mentorship, and continuous professional development in fostering engagement and retention among adjunct faculty. The study underscores the importance of inclusive institutional practices …

Hispanic Academic Leadership In The Health And Human Services, Gabriela Elizabeth Rangel

Theses and Dissertations

In the United States, there are 63.7 million Hispanics (U.S. Census Bureau, 2023), making them the largest racial or ethnic minority in the country. National data from 2019 indicates that only 6% of tenured faculty in the U.S. were Hispanic, highlighting a significant underrepresentation of leaders in academia (NCES, 2024). This study employed a phenomenological approach with purposeful sampling, utilizing semi-structured interviews with ten participants who had leadership experience in academia within Health and Human Services (H&HS). The interviews served to explore various aspects, such as what were their aspirations to become leaders, their perceptions of the characteristics and qualities …

Borderlines Of Becoming: Transfronterizx College Students Navigating Surveillance, Hybridity And Belonging Along The Us-México Border, Aylin Garcia

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This narrative literature review examines the educational experiences of transfronterizx college students along the U.S.– México border, a population largely absent from higher education scholarship. Drawing on Borderlands Theory, Anzaldúa’s frameworks, and critical perspectives on neoliberalism and militarization, this thesis highlights the border as a site of both constraint and possibility. Structural violence, surveillance, and militarization intersect with linguistic, racial, and class hierarchies to shape students’ mobility, identities, and sense of belonging. At the same time, students mobilize hybrid identities, cultural wealth, and transborder networks to assert agency, cultivate belonging, and resist deficit narratives. It also identifies persistent gaps, particularly …

Exploring The Impact Of Statistics Course Modality On Student Learning: A Mixed Methods Approach, Becky Kelleman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The importance of statistical literacy has become increasingly evident, as individuals grapple with interpreting statistics to inform critical decisions. Despite the recognized significance of statistical literacy, challenges persist in both educators’ and students’ efforts to navigate the complexities of statistics education. The purpose of this study is to explore the impact of different course modalities on undergraduate students’ academic performance in introductory statistics courses. Using Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) as a theoretical framework, this research aims to shed light on the complex dynamics influencing statistical literacy attainment. By addressing gaps and inconsistencies in the current literature, this study seeks to …

An Investigation Of International Students’ Satisfaction With Their University Experience Using An Expectation Confirmation Theory Lens, Mehraz Sarker, Jonathan Worae, Jason D. Edgerton

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

This study examines how various challenges and support systems influence international students’ satisfaction, as reflected in their intention to recommend their university. Using the Expectation Confirmation Theory (ECT), it examines whether students’ initial expectations moderate the relationships between challenges and satisfaction, and between institutional support and satisfaction. Analysis of survey data (N = 712) indicates that the majority of international students report satisfaction with their university experience. Ordinal logistic regression analyses reveal that perceived institutional support and higher initial expectations are associated with increased likelihood of recommending the university. Conversely, academic and discrimination challenges are associated with decreased likelihood of …

Approaches To Enhancing University Rankings, Mustafa Bulut, Servet Özdemi̇r

i.e.: inquiry in education

Owing to the intense globalization of higher education, competition between universities in national and international settings has increased in speed, and in parallel with this development, a demand for tools has emerged to meet the information needs of stakeholders of higher education institutions. Currently, a large part of this need is met by university ranking systems. Today, there are several types of these systems, which have been subjected to intense criticism with their popularity and wide audience. In this study, which was designed as a qualitative research; in-depth interviews were conducted with local and foreign researchers, policy makers, system administrators …

Joint Action (In)Action: A Communicatively Constituted Examination Of Shared Governance, Organizational Sustainability, And The Future Of Liberal Arts In Institutions Of Higher Education, Rebecca R. Todd

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

There are at least two versions of higher education today. One is that universities and curriculum need to be reformed to suit contemporary exigencies, particularly market-driven logics and direct paths to desirable job and career outcomes. The other is the story in this dissertation, namely, that the liberal arts hold value for the creation of new knowledge, critical thinking, and empowerment. With this admittedly one-sided corrective to the dominant narrative of higher education, this abstract and dissertation begin.

In the contemporary landscape of American higher education, the liberal arts are under siege. Once heralded as the cornerstone of democratic citizenship …

Navigating Institutional Logics: How University Leaders Align Mission And Market In Tuition-Driven Academic Programs, Iselgis Garcia

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Universities face mounting fiscal pressures from declining state appropriations, enrollment volatility, and growing competition. In response, many have turned to tuition-driven revenue programs to sustain operations, revealing enduring tensions between academic and market logics - the competing value systems that shape legitimacy, financial sustainability, and mission fulfillment. While institutional theory has examined these dynamics at macro levels, less is known about how leaders interpret and reconcile them in practice.

This qualitative study, grounded in the institutional logics perspective, explores how higher education administrators navigate academic and market logics when developing and managing tuition-driven academic programs. Using a grounded theory design, …

Breaking Barriers: Mentorship Pathways For Hispanic Women In Leadership Roles, Ana Paola Gonzalez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study aimed to understand the unique lived experiences of 10 Hispanic Latinas serving in leadership roles in 2-year community colleges in Texas. As the graduation rate of Hispanic women increases, institutions must identify mentorship programs that motivate women who continue to graduate to seek leadership positions within their institutions. Through life stories and lived experiences, the study's findings illustrate that mentorship is essential to creating, but that self-determination and self-advocacy also make it possible to find paths to leadership. Through thematic analysis, three themes emerged from the data: identity and representation, mentorship and support structures, and resilience and advocacy. …

Faculty Touchpoint Survey 2025: Key Findings And Recommendations, Lisa A. Marchiondo, Naila V. Decruz-Dixon, Julia Fulghum

ADVANCE Reports

A Spring 2025 climate survey finds that UNM faculty remain committed to their teaching, scholarship, and collegial relationships, despite concerns about research funding, academic freedom, and graduate student recruitment and well-being. The survey also found that faculty have higher levels of stress than in a previous ADVANCE survey, worse psychological well-being, more difficulty concentrating, and more concern about tenure and promotion. A set of recommendations for academic leaders are provided.

Introduction: Building Space For Gathering In Hostile Times, Roberta Hurtado

Gatherings

This introduction serves as a means to share with you, the reader, about an upstate New York symposium that occurred in March of 2025. The event aimed to create a space where we could explore the trials, tribulations, and jubilations that women of color in New York higher education experience. Speakers and attendees gathered from all over the state—and, indeed, country—on a cold wintery day in a spirit of togetherness and awareness of where we find ourselves in this moment. We were there to learn and grow, and to find community.

Gatherings 2.1 (Complete Volume), Roberta Hurtado

Gatherings

Proceedings from The State of Women of Color in New York Higher Education.

Roberta Hurtado, "Acknowledgement" -- Table of Contents -- p. vi: Editorial Board.

Journal contents follow: p. 1: Roberta Hurtado (Ed.), "Introduction" -- p. 7: Liz Gil, "Community, Reflection, Wisdom" -- p. 9: Luisa Arroyo Cruzado (narrative) and Julie Fogden (image), "Guerrillera Blesson Interlude I" -- p. 11: Heather Hathaway Miranda, "Round Tables" -- p. 13: Estela López, "Guerrilleras: Speaking Truths and Strategizing Futures" -- p. 17: María Luisa Arroyo Cruzado (narrative) and Julie Fogden (image), "Guerrillera Blesson Interlude II" -- p. 19: Jeanine Irons, "No More Hester …

The Influence Of Gender-Based Violence On Women’S Career Development: Perspectives From Higher Education Career Guidance Practitioners In Ireland, Lianne Rooney

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

Women and girls are disproportionately subjected to GBV and the effects for victim-survivors are multiple and long-lasting. An under-considered dimension is the profound influence GBV has on the careers of the women who experience it.This qualitative study aimed to explore this issue from the perspective of career practitioners. The research set out to understand how career practitioners working in Irish Higher Education institutions understand GBV, how they identify this in a career context and the professional competencies they require to support female clients who may be affected by it.

Gamification And Collaborative Learning In Physical Geography: Teaching Geological History In Higher Education, Pablo Fraile-Jurado

The Geographical Bulletin

This paper evaluates the impact of a collaborative gamification approach designed to help university students better understand and retain abstract content in geological and climatic history. Inspired by the board game Timeline, the activity required students to physically organize themselves to represent a chronological sequence of key geological and climatic events. Conducted within a first-year physical geography course, the intervention was tested by comparing learning outcomes between an experimental group engaging in this gamified activity and a control group receiving traditional lecture-based instruction. Results show that students in the gamified group performed significantly better on assessments administered one week and …

Promising The First Amendment: (De)Regulating Speech In Higher Education, Max M. Schanzenbach, Kimberly A. Yuracko

Northwestern University Law Review

The war between Hamas and Israel has caused havoc in higher education. Amid student unrest, alumni pressure, congressional hearings, civil rights investigations, and student lawsuits, universities stand at a crossroads. The current situation, in which most private universities unevenly regulate student speech under ambiguous student codes, is not sustainable politically or legally. A tsunami of litigation and regulatory actions has already begun. One increasingly favored response is for private universities to more vigorously enforce existing codes or expand their scope. An alternative is for private universities to deregulate student expression and commit by contract to the First Amendment. This Article …

Clark Magazine, Fall/Winter 2025, Clark University

Clark Magazine

The Fall/Winter 2025 edition of Clark Magazine. Clark Magazine is a twice-yearly publication primarily geared towards Clark University Alumni.

The cover story is 'Our Planet. Our Clark. A Special Issue', celebrating the new School of Climate, Environment, and Society.

Exploring Student Thriving: A Comparative Analysis Of First-Generation And Continuing-Generation Undergraduate College Students At A Private, Faith-Based University, Melissa A. Maisenbacher

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

This quantitative study explored the thriving of first-generation undergraduate students enrolled full-time at a mid-sized, private, faith-based, open-enrollment university in the southeastern United States. Using the validated Thriving Quotient™ instrument, this research measured thriving across five domains: engaged learning, academic determination, positive perspective, social connectedness, and diverse citizenship, along with three subscales: spirituality, sense of community, and institutional integrity. The study compared thriving perceptions of first-generation college students (FGCSs) and continuing-generation college students (CGCSs) to determine if generational status influenced students’ experiences of thriving. Despite documented challenges faced by FGCSs—including financial stress, limited familial guidance, and lower academic preparedness—this study …

Predictive Model Of School Dropout In Higher Education Through Learning Analytics With Neutrosophic Plithogenic Hypotheses, David Núñez, Purificación Galindo-Villardón

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

Higher education dropout rates are an international problem, as many people abandon their studies, especially in the early years. This problem affects institutions, causing significant losses. In this context, it is essential to consider methods that allow for predicting dropout rates and taking rapid and effective measures. Objective: The main objective is to analyze prediction models using Learning Analytics, integrating neutrosophic plithogenic hypotheses, to identify early the risk of dropout in higher education. This provides institutions with useful tools to implement actions that help retain more students, considering uncertainty and complex interactions between academic and non-academic factors. Methodology: The method …

Music And The Journey Of Black Male Phd Graduates In Counseling, Vincent Sears

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This transcendental phenomenological qualitative study explored the lived experiences of Black male PhD graduates from CACREP- accredited counseling education programs who are now professors within the academy. It examined the integration of music as a coping mechanism to address the psychological impact of isolation, tokenism, and hypervisibility connected to attending predominantly white institutions (PWIs/ HWIs). Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and participants shared bespoke musical playlists. The results of this study revealed three overarching themes and associated sub-themes: the impact of racism and systemic barriers (structural barriers and racial inequities); navigating predominantly or historically white institutions; and music as …