Digital Commons Network^™

Application Of Artificial Intelligence In Case-Based Teaching: A Qualitative Study In Mba Education, Tianjiao Xu, Mohd Nazir Bin Zabit

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

This study examines the incorporation of artificial intelligence (AI) into case-based teaching (CBT) within Master of Business Administration (MBA) programs in China, amidst the rapid digital transition in higher education. Guided by the Context–Input–Process–Product (CIPP) evaluation framework, the study adopted a qualitative design and conducted semi-structured interviews with five instructors from three core MBA courses. The findings indicate that AI enhanced classroom interaction and reduced teachers’ workload by supporting real-time feedback and dynamic discussion processes. Institutional support, including teacher training, digital infrastructure, and technical assistance, was recognized as a vital facilitator of effective implementation. Despite its various benefits, the study …

Who, What, When, Where And Why? Breaking Down The Creation And Adoption Of New College Programs And Their Impact On Higher Education: A Quantitative Study, Chandler Thomas-Scott Sagal

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Institutions of higher education have historically been designed as engines of innovation and knowledge dissemination in the United States and across the world. Whether this comes by way of short-term credentialing programs at community colleges or through R1 research programs at prestigious universities, all institutions deliver value and knowledge through their academic programs. Over the past decade, colleges across the country have been adding new programs at a frantic pace. While some of these programs seem to provide a clear path forward to gainful employment, some have fallen flat and proven to be bad investments by both the institution and, …

Unveiling The Shadows: An Exploratory Study On Ghostwriting, Gray Markets, And The Ethics Of Contract Cheating, Micah Crawford

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation

Contract cheating has become an increasingly complex challenge for higher education, particularly as digital platforms, global academic labor markets, and generative artificial intelligence reshape the production and detection of academic work. While much of the existing literature examines contract cheating from the perspectives of students, faculty, and institutions, less attention has been given to the individuals who produce ghostwritten academic work. This dissertation addresses that gap by exploring how shadow scholars understand their roles, ethical boundaries, and participation within the academic integrity ecosystem.

Using an exploratory qualitative design, this study draws on twelve semi-structured narrative interviews with six freelance academic …

Ai-Resistant Activities For Online And Large Enrollment Courses, Jason Bock, Eric Lemley

2026 Scholarly Teaching Conference: Concurrent Session Papers

The rapid adoption of generative AI tools has fundamentally challenged traditional assessments in higher education, particularly in large-enrollment and fully asynchronous online courses where instructor presence and grading time are constrained. While many instructors have responded by restricting AI use or adopting detection tools, research increasingly shows that detection-based approaches are unreliable and labor-intensive. We propose a design-centered alternative: reshaping assessments so that AI use becomes insufficient, rather than prohibited.

Drawing on a systematic process of testing proposed and original assessment ideas directly against multiple generative AI models (using both simple and advanced prompting strategies), we present a curated playbook …

Guidebook For Artificial Intelligence Integration Into The University Environment, Mark J. Uline, Tarek Shazly, Grace Cosby

Reports

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not a peripheral or speculative technology in the university setting, it is rather a rapidly evolving transformational force that will reshape research, teaching, and administrative operations. Recent systematic reviews conclude that generative AI tools are already being widely used by students and instructors and can positively affect learning outcomes and academic performance when thoughtfully integrated into instruction (Hon, 2025; Qian, 2025).

At the same time, case studies warn that unmanaged or poorly governed AI use can undermine academic integrity, exacerbate inequities, and create new institutional risks (Mangundu, 2025; Şen et al., 2026). AI adoption brings unparalleled …

Values-Based Behavioral Frameworks As Contributors To Organizational Culture In Higher Education: A Literature Review, David J. Park Do

Posters

Colleges and universities almost universally publish statements of institutional values, yet a gap often persists between those stated values and the regularly observed behaviors. This review examines how that gap relates to culture in higher education institutions and specifically explores how translating values into observable behaviors contributes to organizational culture. This literature review used a structured, criteria-guided approach to source identification, selecting sources against three constructs: 1) institutional adoption of values-based behavioral frameworks, 2) organizational culture in higher-education settings, and 3) the perceptions through which organizational members perceive culture. The resulting corpus of 40 sources spans organizational culture scholarship, virtue …

An Ethnographic Study Of First-Generation Alumni At Dartmouth College: Perspectives From Alumni, Faculty, Staff, And Administrators, Brittney A. Roden

Dartmouth College Master’s Theses

First- generation college students (FGCS) often face challenges adapting to the academic and social environments of elite institutions like Dartmouth College. Lacking familial experience in higher education, they must decode unspoken institutional norms, contributing to stress, social isolation, and barriers to accessing institutional support. This study examines how FGCS experience academic pressure, social belonging, and engagement with campus systems, and how these shape their personal and professional trajectories. Drawing on participant-generated audio diary journals with alumni, qualitative interviews with faculty and staff, and a review of existing literature, this research highlights the interplay of academic stress, coping strategies, cultural capital, …

Investigating The Potential For First Year Residential Field Courses To Facilitate The Establishment Of Teacher-Student Relationships In Biological Sciences Undergraduate Degrees, Anne Plessis, Alison Stokes

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Teacher-student relationships (TSRs) in higher education impact many aspects of the student experience, including engagement and performance. However, relatively little is known about the mechanisms of establishment of TSRs, and in particular how these are influenced by specific learning environments and contexts. Here, we undertake an exploratory investigation using first year biological sciences undergraduate residential field courses to examine how this teaching context affected the frequency and nature of teacher student interactions, and consequently the development of TSRs. Data were collected from teacher and student participants using questionnaires and focus groups. We found that interactions during fieldwork took place frequently …

Planting The Seeds Of Well-Being: Cultivating Student Wellness Through Occupation-Based Environmental Design, Alexis Selena Feliciano

OT Doctoral Capstones

The Rehabilitation Sciences Complex (RSC) at The University of Texas at El Paso provides limited opportunities for students to access outdoor wellness spaces despite the high academic demands experienced by Occupational Therapy and Doctor of Physical Therapy students. A needs assessment of 128 students identified strong interest in a Student Wellness Garden to support stress management, relaxation, studying, and meaningful engagement with nature. The purpose of this doctoral capstone project was to develop an occupation-based Student Wellness Garden while creating the resources needed to support its future implementation. Although the garden was not physically installed during the capstone experience due …

Graduate Student Retention: Examining Why Master’S Students Leave And What Motivates Their Return In A Large Public University System, Sonja Prophete

Theses and Dissertations

Graduate student persistence is a relatively unexplored area in the literature of higher education studies; specifically, at a multi-institutional scale at the master's level. This research study examines the factors which cause students to discontinue their master's degrees, and what conditions could possibly support them returning to their program at a large urban public university system. The current study was guided by Hoyt and Winn's (2004) distinction between non-returning students, and Bean & Metzner's (1985) theoretical model of student attrition. A sequential mixed-methods study was conducted to examine the institutional and environmental influences on students' decision-making processes.

The quantitative data …

Between Self, Family, And Becoming: Mindfulness And The Transition Experiences Of Latinx Clinical Counseling Graduate Students, Orlando R. Alvarez

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Latinx graduate students transitioning into their first semester of clinical counseling master’s programs often navigate substantial challenges as they embark on their academic journeys. While transitions into any new role can be difficult, the changes that accompany the beginning of a graduate program have been associated with increased role and identity strain, anxiety, depression, and feelings of fraudulence and imposterism, negatively impacting student success, performance, and attrition rates (Halladay et al., 2019; Murphy, 2021; Vidic & Cherup, 2019). Although mindfulness practices provide benefits for graduate student wellbeing, there is no current scholarship that has examined how mindfulness practices support Latinx …

Guidelines For Automatic Grading Of Student Essays Using Large Language Models, Diwakar Yalpi, Sruta Keerti Kasula, Ravi Mukkamala

Computer Science Faculty Publications

Automated essay evaluation using large language models (LLMs) has emerged as a promising approach to support scalable and consistent educational assessment. However, the effectiveness of LLM-based grading varies significantly across evaluation dimensions and is highly influenced by prompt design and model selection. In this study, we evaluate five state-of-the-art LLMs across five rubric-based categories: Relevance to Question, Reasoning and Critical Thinking, Evidence and Examples, Organization, and Clarity and Writing Quality. We systematically investigate the impact of three prompting strategies, including rubric-only prompting, exemplar-based prompting (with and without rubric guidance)(Original and Refined prompt designs) incorporating structured instructions. Additionally, a prompt ablation …

Science Sojourners: The (Un)Making Of Women Scientists From China To America, Jane Jia-Yin Wang

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Science is often imagined as a borderless profession in which knowledge, careers, and talent circulate freely across national boundaries. Yet scientific careers remain embedded within institutions that correspond to immigration regimes, geopolitical tensions, and unequal social structures. Drawing on 32 in-depth interviews with early-career Chinese women scientists trained in the U.S., this dissertation examines how globally mobile scientists navigate decisions about careers, migration, and everyday life between China and the U.S.

Rather than treating migration as a series of discrete decisions driven by labor markets or state policies, this dissertation argues that career and life orientations are fundamentally intertwined through …

Sexisms And Gender-Washing In Australian Academia: Public Front, Private Realities, Jacqueline Ullman, Emily Gray, Mindy Blaise, Lucy Hobby

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This paper offers an analysis of selected survey findings from a mixed methods research project, entitled Understanding and Addressing Everyday Sexisms in Australian Universities. The project is situated within the context of the negative impact of gender-based discrimination upon the higher education sector in Australia and internationally. The findings discussed in this paper relate to quantitative analyses of selected items from a national survey of over 1200 Australian academics, recruited through 12 public universities. In this paper, the ways in which different participant groups responded to items designed to explore their attitudes towards sexism in the academic workplace, both broadly …

Influences On Student College-Major Decision And Satisfaction Rate Among Students In The School Of Agriculture, Danielle Shafer

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the factors that influence students to choose agriculture majors and agriculture careers and measure the level of satisfaction with their major based on these influences. There are many factors that influence students to choose a major in college and college-major satisfaction. These influences and satisfaction with major may have an impact on a student’s decision to choose a college career path. Some of the influences mentioned in studies are family, friends, educators, extension programs, clubs, financial, and recruitment efforts. The degree to which each of these influence students may depend on the …

From Deference To Dialogue: How International Gtas From High Power Distance Cultures Adapt To U.S. Classroom Dynamics, Deborah Akua Afi Appiah

Theses and Dissertations

International graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) from high power distance cultures play a significant role in undergraduate education at U.S. universities, yet they face challenges that go well beyond language proficiency. Coming from educational backgrounds where teacher authority is unquestioned and hierarchical, these GTAs must navigate American classrooms that operate on fundamentally different assumptions, where authority is earned rather than assumed, informality is the norm, and students expect to question, negotiate, and be personally known by their instructors. The present study examined how eighteen (18) international GTAs from seven (7) high power distance countries perceived and adapted to these differences while …

Staff Attitudes Toward Ai Adoption At A Private Research University, Ashley C. Smith

Theses and Dissertations

This study addresses the limited research on university staff attitudes toward artificial intelligence use and adoption. Using the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) research framework, the General Attitudes towards Artificial Intelligence Scale (GAAIS), and quantitative survey methodology, the study examines the attitudes of higher education staff toward AI, specifically examining whether demographic or professional characteristics are factors. The findings indicate that staff had moderately negative attitudes toward AI while also expressing some concerns. The results suggest that more resources and support for AI are needed for staff to address concerns. It also suggests that construct-level analysis …

Where’S My Tweed Jacket With Leather Elbow Patches? The Challenges Of Aging Gracefully In Higher Education, John A. O’Rourke, Christina Gray

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This paper presents an examination of one veteran academics’ experience in higher education. Via an autoethnographic reflection of a two-decade career, the work-related situations that impact on job enjoyment and challenge motivation to bring enthusiasm year-after-year are discussed. Veteran academics have seen higher education transform dramatically during their tenure and the pressure points that impact on wellbeing are discussed and aligned to contemporary research. In response to the challenges associated with aging in higher education, this paper examines how veteran academics need to prioritize self-care and explores ways that universities can maximize the accumulated knowledge and pedagogical skillset of these …

Students’ Perspectives On Authentic Assessment: An Experiential Learning Framework For Work-Readiness And Employability, Claire Lambert, Madeleine Ogilvie, Stephanie Meek

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Universities are increasingly pressured to enhance graduate employability by embedding career readiness into curricula. Authentic, industry-based assessments offer a means to link theory with practice, yet little is known about their impact from the student perspective. Purpose: This study explored how an industry-based authentic assessment supports students’ transition to work through the lens of Experiential Learning Theory (ELT). Method: Using a qualitative design, guided-introspection questionnaires were completed by 20 marketing graduates 2 years after completing an industry-based social marketing project. Directed content analysis identified themes aligned with ELT stages and mechanisms of confidence, networks, and professional enculturation. Findings: Authentic …

Role Of Ethical Principles And Ai Characteristics In Shaping Generative Ai Use In Higher Education And Its Impact On Academic Performance, Mostafa Al-Emran, Mohammed A. Al-Sharafi, Behzad Foroughi, Noor Al-Qaysi, Nelson K.Y. Leung, Zaher Mundher Yaseen, Nor’Ashikin Ali

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The rapid integration of Generative AI in higher education has transformed teaching and learning, yet limited research explores the factors driving its adoption and impact on academic performance. This study addresses the gap in understanding how ethical principles (fairness, accountability, transparency, accuracy, autonomy) and AI characteristics (perceived anthropomorphism, perceived intelligence) influence students’ use of Generative AI tools and their subsequent academic outcomes. The research aims to develop and test a theoretical model that integrates these factors to explain Generative AI adoption and its effect on perceived academic performance among university students. Data were collected through surveys from 318 students and …

Artificial Intelligence In Higher Education: A Bibliometric And Science-Mapping Analysis From An Institutional And Management Perspective, Kürşat Taştan, Nalan Sabır Taştan

Khazar Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

This article maps the field of artificial intelligence in higher education (HEI-AI) from an institutional and management perspective. We draw on 52,270 peer-reviewed articles and reviews indexed in Web of Science and Scopus between 1959 and 2025. Using the bibliometrix package and its biblioshiny interface in R, we combine descriptive indicators with science-mapping techniques, including co-authorship and co-citation networks, keyword co-occurrence, thematic mapping and thematic evolution. The initial corpus of 94,845 records was cleaned by merging the two databases, removing duplicates and restricting the sample to full-length journal articles and reviews that explicitly address AI in higher education.

The results …

Navigating The Role Of Ai In Research In The Global South: A Collective Autoethnography From Researchers In The Philippines, Iraq, And Malaysia, Louie Giray, Ahmed Alkhaqani, Nurliana Kamaruddin

Khazar Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

This paper investigates the transformative impact and ethical dilemmas of integrating artificial intelligence into the workflows of researchers from the Global South, specifically the Philippines, Iraq, and Malaysia. Through collective autoethnography, the authors analyze how AI tools function as both equalizers and disruptors in resource-constrained academic environments. The findings reveal that AI significantly enhances productivity by dismantling language barriers for non-native English speakers, streamlining literature searches, and democratizing access to global scholarship. However, these benefits are accompanied by profound challenges, including the risk of over-reliance, the proliferation of AI hallucinations, and the potential erosion of critical thinking skills. The authors …

From Gap To Growth? Examining Institutional And Legal Efforts To Bridge Gender Disparities In Higher Learning: The Case Of University Of Dar Es Salaam, Hadija K. Mwendah, Bernadeta Killian

Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

Tanzania has adopted several institutional and legal frameworks to advance gender equality in higher learning. These include, national gender policies, affirmative action provisions and establishment of gender mainstreaming structures at universities. This paper examines how these frameworks have been implemented at the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) and the extent to which they have bridged gender disparities in academia. Using secondary data and drawing from feminist institutionalism, the study explores how formal rules and informal practices interact to influence gender outcomes. Findings reveal that while institutional mechanisms such as the UDSM Gender Policy, Institute for Gender Studies, Gender Desks …

Bridging Cultures Through Cross-Border Collaboration: A Pathway To Cultural Sustainability Between The Uae And Italy, Mai Zaki, Bruno Grazioli

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

International education is of critical importance in the creation and distribution of the knowledge required to address the complex global challenges faced by society today. Seen through the lens of the United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs), internationalisation of higher education can bring new perspectives through collaborative projects. This paper reports on a year-long virtual collaboration between the American University of Sharjah (AUS) in the UAE and the Italy-based program of Dickinson College (USA) as part of the Transformative Sustainability Project. This collaboration involved two courses, on digital and environmental humanities, as students learned about the SDGs, analysed problems, discussed …

Academic Dishonesty In Higher Education, Nitza Davidovitch, Aleksandra Gerkerovaa, Ruth Dorota

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

Academic dishonesty has become a pervasive issue among students, often driven by environmental and social pressures and facilitated by opportunities such as the use of digital devices (e.g., smartwatches) that enable misconduct. The aim of the current study was to examine the associations between academic dishonesty and variables including class attendance, self-efficacy, and the use of digital learning methods. It was hypothesized that academic dishonesty would increase with higher absenteeism, lower self-efficacy, and greater reliance on Zoom lectures and exams. This study was conducted at a single academic institution in Israel, based on an anonymous structured survey completed by 121 …

Navigating The Digital Divide: A Quantitative Analysis Of The Digital Literacy Skills Of College Students Through The Lens Of Technological Self-Efficacy, Robert M. Spisak Jr

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative dissertation addresses the digital literacy skills gap among college students and their ability to effectively use digital technologies in higher education. While many students arrive with technical skills, gaps exist in their ability to critically assess information, ethically engage with digital content, and apply these competencies across academic and professional contexts. Grounded in the framework of technological self-efficacy, which emphasizes the belief in one’s ability to perform digital tasks, this study examines both the digital literacy skills student bring from high school and their self-perceptions of those skills during college. This study was guided by the following research …

Studying Causal Inferences For Student Success In Higher Education, Prabesh Shrestha

Theses and Dissertations

Higher education institutions strive to support students in achieving their academic goals through targeted interventions and data-driven strategies. This study analyzed 19 variables, spanning student demographics, enrollment patterns, and institutional interventions, to identify predictors of students completing all enrolled courses in a semester. Using random forest, logistic regression, and bootstrap forest models, we assessed variable importance and derived causal estimates to determine their impact. Results from causal analysis indicate positive effects from session type, term load, referrals, kudos, flags, and scholarships, while negative impacts were associated with location, course delivery method, enrollment status, advisor contact, and registration interval. These findings …

Intellectual Capital And Organizational Climate As Predictors Of Scientific Production In A Peruvian University: An Analysis Based On The Neutrosophic 2-Tuple Linguistic Model And Pls-Sem, Vitelio Asencios Tarazona, Jessica Miluska Ríos Salas, Elizabeth Pacheco Davila, Llesica Soria Ramírez, Liliana Huaranga Rivera, Roberth Lozano Tacuri Toribio, Miriam Esther Campos Llana, Giuliana Sherly Cabello Flores

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

Scientific production is a key performance indicator in higher education, which has motivated the search for factors that may influence its development. This study aims to analyze the impact of intellectual capital and organizational climate on scientific production at the National Intercultural University of the Amazon in Peru. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) is used, with a sample consisting of 90 professors. Professors were surveyed using the neutrosophic 2-tuple linguistics model. The neutrosophic 2-tuple linguistic method allows teachers to express their opinions linguistically, which is more appropriate in complex decision-making situations. This method maintains accuracy in aggregations. Furthermore, …

Artificial Intelligence In Higher Education: Opportunities And Challenges, Maytha Al-Ali, Adam Marks, Jasur Umirzokov, Noura Metawa

Iraqi Journal for Computer Science and Mathematics

While AI is often presented as a panacea for the challenges facing higher education, there is limited empirical evidence supporting its effectiveness in improving student learning and institutional performance. This gap between expectation and reality emphasizes the need for rigorous research, realistic goal-setting, and careful planning to ensure that AI technologies deliver on their promises in higher education. This study contrasts the potential utilization of AI technologies in Higher Education from the literature, against actual utilization in universities. The study also investigates the key barriers of AI implementation in higher education. This study uses a mixed-research methods approach, including case …

Teaching Leadership In The Context Of Crisis: Connecting Organizational Leadership And Crisis Competencies In A Faculty Leadership Education Program, Caitlin Lunzmann, Nicole Lamee Perez Stedman, Matthew Sowcik

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

This research focused on enhancing leadership instruction in colleges of agriculture. A multi-institutional research team initiated a program to teach agricultural and natural resource faculty how to create leadership-oriented case studies for undergraduates. Forty faculty members participated in an online training academy centered on Bolman and Deal’s Organizational Frames and case study writing. Following the academy, these faculty members participated in field experiences in the southeastern U.S. to gather data on natural disasters, which they used to write case studies about leadership in agriculture. Though the program focused on organizational leadership, it also discussed leadership in the context of natural …