Digital Commons Network^™

Academic Voices: Continuing Professional Development For Teaching In Internationalized Classrooms, Lucie Weissova, Jeanine Gregersen-Hermans, Darko Pantelic

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

No abstract provided.

University ‘Pay-For-Grades’: The Bait And Switch Search Engine Optimization Strategies Of Contract Cheating Websites In The United States, Timothy M. Daly, James C. Ryan

All Works

This paper presents the first systematic investigation into the search engine optimization practices of major contract cheating websites in the United States. From a business perspective, visibility in organic search engine results is considered one of the top client recruitment tools. The current understanding of student recruitment strategies by these companies remains largely unexplored in both academic literature and popular press. Replicating the business research practices used in the search engine optimization industry, comprehensive search engine ranking and traffic data was obtained for the 38 largest contract cheating websites in the US. The overall objective was to illuminate the strategies …

Collaborative Development Of Machine Learning Algorithms For Student Success At John Jay College, John Harnisher, Sumaya Villanueva, Dana Prieto, Ricardo Anzaldua, Katie Beem

Journal of Access, Retention, and Inclusion in Higher Education

Improving graduation rates is a crucial goal in higher education, but understanding who is at risk of dropping out is resource intensive, creating barriers to effective retention interventions. Thus, identifying factors that predict drop out risk is increasingly of interest, yet current approaches often lack transparency and accessibility. To aid in this effort, DataKind collaborated with John Jay College of Criminal Justice (JJC) to co-create a data-assisted student success tool, utilizing machine learning to identify students at risk of drop out and centering the role of advisors in supporting students. The insights from this tool are used by JJC to …

Gc Minutes Nov 21, 2024, Graduate Council

Graduate Council Minutes

No abstract provided.

A Phenomenological Study To Understand Student Perceptions Of Classroom Integration Strategies In Online Class Environments, Tanya Monique Balderrama

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of online college students. Reviewed research includes finding that online students perform lower academically than their in-person counterparts and online students suffer a lack of engagement in online learning environments. The theories guiding this study were educational engagement theory and social learning theory. Sociologists and education experts suggest that learning is as social as it is academic in nature. Research data were obtained from current online students on their feelings about instructor interventions to increase engagement. Interviews were conducted with students and research also used focus groups to …

Exploring The Lived Experiences Of Women Students With Mobility Disabilities Accessing Higher Education In Oman, Zalikha Al-Marzouqi, Aida Al-Dhoani

Journal of International Women's Studies

The higher education system in Oman offers various services to support disabled students to create a positive relationship between students with disabilities, their families, and the community. Both the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Social Development share the responsibility of educating students with disabilities. However, women students with disabilities, particularly those with mobility disabilities, still face challenges within higher education institutions. While Omani law allows women with disabilities to pursue higher education, it is uncertain whether women students with mobility disabilities encounter difficulties in accessing education at higher education institutions. Notably, there have been no studies specifically exploring …

Assessing The Effectiveness Of Chatbots In Providing Personalized Academic Advising And Support To Higher Education Students: A Narrative Literature Review, Manal Dawood

All Works

Academic advising is essential for university and college students to achieve success since it provides guidance in many aspects of their academic journey. According to Drake (2011), having a solid relationship with an academic advisor is necessary for students to succeed in university settings. Students often have questions about university policies, processes, and resources, and they seek assistance from their academic advisors, who may be lecturers or other staff members. However, these demands can sometimes overwhelm the advisors. Although modern technology has reduced these demands (Ghonmein et al., 2023), advisors continue to face challenging tasks. Artificial Intelligence (AI) conversational agents …

Gc Minutes Oct 17, 2024, Graduate Council

Graduate Council Minutes

No abstract provided.

A Phenomenological Study Of Persistence For Black Women In Mathematics Doctoral Programs, Shushannah Marie Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the doctoral persistence experiences of Black women mathematicians. Guided by McGee’s fragile and robust mathematical identity framework, the research design followed Moustakas’ qualitative transcendental phenomenological approach. The researcher explored the contributing factors to the phenomenon guided by the central research question, “What are the doctoral persistence experiences of Black women mathematicians?” The study involved 11 Black women participants who hold or were within one year of holding a doctoral degree in mathematics and were selected to ensure diversity and representativeness. Data collection encompassed three methods: a mathematical identity development timeline, one-on-one …

Core Operating Manual, 2025-26, Butler University

Policy Documents

This Core Operating Manual is intended to 1) provide students, faculty, and advisors an overview of Butler University’s core curriculum requirements and the value of the core, 2) provide faculty teaching in the core information about what is expected in core courses in terms of content, activities, and assignments, and 3) provide guidance on how the core is and should be administered. It is primarily a practical document; those seeking to learn about the original philosophical undergirding of the core should consult the Appendix, which is taken from our core curriculum’s original guiding document.

Global Synthesis Report. Methodology, Australia Awards Global Tracer Facility

Australia Awards Global Tracer Facility

This is a Methodology Report that provides background and detail of the approach taken by the Australia Awards Global Tracer Facility in developing a synthesis of its eight years of research work for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Detail about the Australia Awards Global Tracer Facility can be found here.

Understanding And Enhancing Sustainability Literacy In Cal Poly's College Of Engineering, Kenna Toohill

College of Engineering Summer Undergraduate Research Program

This study uses survey data collected from Cal Poly students to analyze engineering students' sustainability knowledge and their perspectives on Cal Poly's efficacy in teaching concepts in sustainability. It also compares the College of Engineering to other colleges to determine if, and how, CENG is behind in environmental education at Cal Poly.

Nsu Kpcom Link - Fall 2024 - Volume 3.3, Nova Southeastern University

NSU Florida Link Newsletter

No abstract provided.

The Disconnect Between Student And Educator Perspectives On Effective Technology Usage In Higher Education, Matt Marino

Journal of Research Initiatives

This article explores the disconnect between student and educator perspectives regarding practical technology usage in higher education. As technology continues to play an increasingly prominent role in the educational landscape, understanding the differing viewpoints of students and educators is crucial for designing impactful technology integration strategies. Through a comprehensive literature review, this article examines the factors contributing to the disconnect and its implications for teaching and learning in higher education. Additionally, recommendations are provided to bridge this gap and promote a more aligned understanding of effective technology usage between students and educators.

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Understanding International And Regional Partnerships For Sustainable Development Goals In Higher Education: A Focus On The Asia Pacific Region, Ella Joy A. Ponce, Catherine Joy T. Escuadra

Asia-Pacific Social Science Review

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are universal, indivisible, and transformative objectives set by the United Nations to guide global development. Achieving these goals requires collaboration between industry, government, and academia. Higher education institutions (HEIs) play a crucial role in this process due to their contributions to research, innovation, and knowledge dissemination. Previous reviews have underscored the need for more publications and collaborations among HEIs related to SDGs both globally and regionally. However, no comprehensive review exists for the Asia Pacific region. This review aims to analyze the status and evolution of higher education for sustainable development research in the Asia …

How State Universities Are Addressing The Shortage Of Cybersecurity Professionals In The United States, Gary Harris

Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice

Cybersecurity threats have been a serious and growing problem for decades. In addition, a severe shortage of cybersecurity professionals has been proliferating for nearly as long. These problems exist in the United States and globally and are well documented in literature. This study examined what state universities are doing to help address the shortage of cybersecurity professionals since higher education institutions are a primary source to the workforce pipeline. It is suggested that the number of cybersecurity professionals entering the workforce is related to the number of available programs. Thus increasing the number of programs will increase the number of …

Faculty Senate Meeting Minutes Sept 20, 2024, A-State Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Minutes

Meeting minutes for the Faculty Senate held on September 20, 2024.

Growing Identity Over A Decade: Asl-English Interpreter Education, Kimberly Hale

International Journal of Interpreter Education

The employment context of ASL-English Interpretation programs (ASLIPs) has not been analyzed in a decade. In this study, I compared the institutional type and disciplinary category of 38 ASLIPs operating in 2011 and 57 programs operating in 2021 to determine whether there had been a standardization of academic profile. Over half of the programs in 2021 are in doctoral/research granting institutions (52.6%) compared to only 31.6% in 2011. While the number of programs classified under Schools/Colleges of Education has nearly doubled (11 and 20, respectively), the proportion has remained steady (45.8% and 45.5%, respectively). The proportion of language and/or culturally-related …

On The Lower Levels Of The Ivory Tower: What Color Collars Do Adjunct Faculty Wear?, Frederick Tucker

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Institutional reliance on tenure-line faculty reached a historic low after the Great Recession in 2009, remaining at approximately a third of all faculty through 2022. Postsecondary institutions have steadily increased their reliance on full-time adjunct faculty over the last two decades. Part-time adjuncts, meanwhile, were hired in great numbers before and during the Great Recession, as student enrollment increased, but have steadily declined since 2012, as college enrollment waned. Almost all evidence suggests that tenure expansion would benefit both the recipients of tenure and their students, but would come at a cost. There are few studies, however, that distinguish between …

Current Insights On Using Social Robots To Support Second Language (L2) International Students In Higher Education

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

No abstract provided.

A Delphi Study Defining Catholic Identity In American Diocesan Catholic Higher Education, Katherine E. Grooms

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Over the past 60 years, there have been general comments and outcry that Catholic higher education schools simply are not Catholic enough anymore. The concern about the lack of identity started with the decline in ordained leadership and mounting pressures to compete with secular institutions. To measure if Catholic identity has declined, a working definition of Catholic identity is needed. This study employed the Delphi methodology to define Catholic identity among a subset of Catholic higher education institutions—diocesan-sponsored schools. The primary research question was how the identified schools defined Catholic identity, with subquestions that included who was responsible for the …

Faculty Perspectives On Research Mentoring Across A Multi-Level Statewide Lsamp Alliance, Tokesha Warner, Shaniqua Nixon, Terrance Mcneil, Denise Green, John T. Robinson

The Journal of the Research Association of Minority Professors

In this, mixed-method exploratory sequential design study, we examined a multi-level state-wide mentoring program for underrepresented students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). This study examined faculty perspectives on the factors involved in, and the impact of, mentoring minoritized students at the critical retention-to-graduation stage. Between 2020 and 2022, an online survey and two rounds of focus group interviews were conducted with faculty members at participating institutions. Data were analyzed using an iterative, thematic coding method. Analysis of the comments from faculty focus groups and a faculty survey revealed eleven themes that codified the faculty member’s perspectives on mentoring. …

Investigating Mixed Effects Random Forest Models In Predicting Satisfaction With Online Learning In Higher Education, Jiaqi (Jackie) Shi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

One of the many impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic has been the increasing prevalence and accessibility of online education. This trend has also introduced challenges for students, instructors, and institutions. This study examines factors affecting online course satisfaction, focusing on individual, instructor, and institutional level characteristics with clustered, separated train and test datasets across two terms. This study compares Hierarchical Linear Model (HLM), Non-clustered and Clustered Random Forest (RF & MERF) models to understand these impacts. This intention is to provide a comprehensive framework comparing traditional HLM with the latest developed MERF models while delving into the effectiveness of RF …

Pursuing Reciprocity In Engaged Scholarship Partnerships Using Community Sustainability Certification Programs, Elyzabeth W. Engle, Michele W. Halsell

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

In recent years, there has been a proliferation of sustainability certification programs at the local, state, and national level to highlight the use of policies, programs, and infrastructure to achieve sustainable development outcomes within communities. In this paper, we use examples from Penn State’s Sustainable Communities Collaborative to demonstrate how institutions with community-engaged scholarship programs can use these certification programs to enhance program operation and reciprocity by identifying projects, engaging new disciplines, and improving relevance.

Sustainable Campus Landscapes In The United States And China: A Comparative Analysis, Zhaofang Zhang, Jing Zhou, Deanna Schmidt, Kathleen Garland

The Geographical Bulletin

This paper explores landscapes of sustainability. Universities across the world have incorporated sustainability into their curriculum, research, infrastructure operation, and resource management. However, campus landscapes are relatively unexplored assets to promote university sustainability. As the physical embodiment of university values as well as an enduring legacy, campus landscapes offer the potential to integrate sustainability into the fabric of universities for generations to come. The paper presents findings from an empirical study of two universities: China T hree Gorges University, Yinchang City, Hubei province, China, (CTGU) and the University of Houston, Clear Lake, Texas, United States (UHCL). The research utilizes landscape …

A Multiple Case Study Of Teaching-Focused Professional Development Programs Offered At Three Different Types Of Us Institutions Of Higher Education, Holly Fortener, Leilani A. Arthurs, Patrick Shabram, Ming-Tsan Pierre Lu, Chu-Lin Cheng, Stephanie Plaza-Torres, Carly Flaagan

Teaching and Learning Faculty Publications

Teaching-focused professional development (PD) programs offered at institutions of higher education (IHEs) are uniquely positioned to be levers of change that improve the quality of undergraduate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education in ways that broaden participation in STEM education, workforce development, and career pathways in the United States (US). PD programs and their potential to transform undergraduate STEM education, however, are understudied. This multiple-case study compares suites of PD programs offered at three IHEs in the US: a community college, an emerging research institution, and a research-intensive university. Each suite of PD programs is characterized in terms of …

Institute Of Enslavement: Enslaved Lives At South Carolina College, Jill Found

Theses and Dissertations

“Institute of Enslavement: Enslaved Lives at South Carolina College” argues that enslaved people used the structure of the school, their own knowledge, and connections to other individuals and institutions to negotiate the terms of their enslavement. It examines how enslaved people on campus influenced their daily lives to the best of their abilities, in ways that were similar and different to other forms of enslavement. “Institute of Enslavement” considers how the unique structure of enslavement on a college campus, with multiple potential masters creating inconsistent authority for the school officials over enslaved people, created opportunities as well as moments of …

Acquisitions Unit Annual Report 2023-2024, Andrée J. Rathemacher

Technical Services Reports and Statistics

Annual Report of the Acquisitions Unit, University Libraries, University of Rhode Island for FY2024. Covers personnel, work flow, special projects, and serial, monograph, and e-resource acquisitions. Supplemental files include data on library materials expenditures by a number of variables as well as important working documents from the year.

Exploring The Lived Experiences Of Mentees Involved In A University Transfer Program In A Two-Year Technical College: A Qualitative Case Study, Jason Ray Whiteside

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the lived experiences of mentees involved in a University Transfer program in a two-year technical college. The theory guiding this study is Bandura’s (1986) social cognitive theory. Bandura postulated that learning occurs in the social context through observing and emulating a mentor (model), thus creating the opportunity for the mentee (observer) to acquire new practices and skills. The study consisted of 10 mentees who participated in individual interviews and focus groups and maintained a reflective journal to share their personal experiences with their assigned peer mentor during the mentorship. The …

Treating Higher Education As An Investment, Roger E. Meiners, Andrew P. Morriss

San Diego Law Review

College is one of the costliest investments many people make; yet, prospective students are often not provided accurate information about the cost of college, nor are they provided information about the likely outcomes upon completion of a degree. Rather than address the problem by focusing on ballooning college debt, we propose that the rules that apply to sellers of other services and investments should apply to colleges. Colleges behave much like competitive firms. They engage in costly efforts to lure students. They sometimes produce false or misleading information that gives students the impression of higher payoffs from a degree than …