Leading While Black: An Examination Of The Black Supervisor Experience Overseeing White Subordinates In Higher Education, Colette Marie Tobias

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

This study examines how systemic racism and social capital hierarchies shape the supervisory experiences of Black supervisors. While existing literature has explored leadership and race, it has not fully examined how systemic racism shape Black supervisors’ experiences or how social capital hierarchies play into the behavioral responses of white subordinates. This study addresses that gap by centering the lived experiences of Black supervisors within higher education.

Grounded in narrative inquiry, this research focuses on how participants make meaning of their experiences through their stories. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and reflective journals with 19 Black supervisors who had at …

The Transformational Role Of Perceived Self-Efficacy In Combating Online Exam Anxiety, Ana Pereles, Carmen Romero-García

Higher Learning Research Communications

Objective:This study investigates how university students’ perceived self-efficacy influences anxiety levels during online examinations, a pressing issue amplified by disruptions caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the rise of artificial intelligence (AI)–driven assessment concerns. The aim is to analyze the relationship between self-efficacy and online test anxiety, identifying effective strategies to mitigate its effects.

Method: A systematic review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology was conducted. Searches in Scielo, Web of Science, Scopus, ProQuest Education, Google Scholar, and Dialnet databases included peer-reviewed articles in education, psychology, social sciences, and computer sciences, published …

Developing Self-Determination Through Physical Activity Courses In Inclusive Post-Secondary Education Programs, Shannon P. Zimmerman, Samantha Ross-Cypcar, Peter R. Giacobbi, Lesley Cottrell, Emily Murphy, Andrea Taliaferro, Jeanette Garcia

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) often experience low physical activity levels, with only 23% meeting recommended guidelines, increasing their risk for secondary health conditions. Inclusive Post-Secondary Education (IPSE) programs in the U.S. present an opportunity for physical activity promotion. This study examined physical activity strategies across a national sample of IPSE programs (n = 27) using a sequential mixed-method approach, including surveys and follow-up interviews, focusing on alignment with Self-Determination Theory (SDT). While 70.37% of programs offered formalized physical activity courses, all promoted physical activity informally. Common practices included peer mentorship (96.3% of programs), goal setting (100%), and …

Equity, Diversity, And Inclusion Infrastructures And Faculty Composition: Associations With Undergraduate Student Outcomes At R1 Universities 2011-2021, Niyonta Nahia Chowdhury

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

This study explores how the structure and composition of research universities relate to student outcomes. Specifically, it asks whether having visible Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) infrastructures and diverse faculty representation is associated with who enrolls, who graduates, and how graduation rates differ within racial groups at R1 universities in the United States. Using national data from 2011 to 2021, the project analyzes enrollment and graduation patterns across institutions while accounting for differences in geography, governance, and state political context.

Rather than focusing on individual students, the study looks at institutional patterns. It examines how the racial and gender makeup …

Generative Ai In Higher Education: A Survey Analysis Of Ethics And Adoption Patterns Across University Faculty, Staff, And Students, Michele Gibney, Sinky Zheng, Cory Davia, Lindsay Gietzen, Karen M. Sarafian, Jennifer Helgren, Rajvinder Bains, Jonas Bianchi, Andrew Lloyd, Bhavana Raja

University Libraries Librarian and Staff Articles and Papers

As generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) emerges as a provocative new innovation in higher education, institutions require practical, evidence-based strategies for its integration. This study provides a comprehensive evaluation of GenAI adoption, usage patterns, and attitudes by surveying the complete range of campus constituents – students, faculty, and staff – at one United States university (N=355). Moving beyond prior research that has focused predominantly on student or faculty perspectives, this multi-constituent approach reveals a more holistic view of institutional AI dynamics and uncovers a notable "ethics asymmetry," where individuals trust their own AI use more than others'. The findings offer actionable …

A Case Study Of Doctoral Students' Perspectives Of The Drastic Move From An In-Person To Virtual Environment During Covid-19, Martha Patricia Cias

Theses & Dissertations

This qualitative case research study investigated the students’ perspectives during the drastic transition from an in-person to a virtual environment during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2021) at the doctoral level. The findings were grouped into six themes and revealed (a) the loss of structure and increased isolation, (b) development of online literacy and increased flexibility, (c) social movements stress and peer/professor support, (d) emotional resilience and resource use, (e) recognition of hybrid and mentorship models, and (f) the need for institutional preparedness considering students as stakeholders/customers. Concluding with the acknowledgement of the capacity of doctoral students to adapt in an unforeseen …

Mapping And Evaluating Butler University's Dining And Accommodation Messaging For Students With Dietary Restrictions, Cassia Belle Campbell

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Food-centered traditions are central to campus belonging, yet for students with medical dietary restrictions (e.g., celiac disease, severe food allergies), shared meals can become sites of stigma, exclusion, and heightened self-monitoring. Prior research frames these conditions as “invisible disabilities” (Davis, 2005) and highlights dynamics such as hypervigilance and disclosure fatigue (Schelly et al., 2022), which can be intensified when institutional processes are unclear or inconsistently communicated. This project examines how institutional messaging shapes the navigational burden students may experience when seeking safe participation in dining and campus life.

This study uses an artifact-based analysis of existing Butler University communication materials …

More Than A Destination: The Transformative Power Of A Place-Based Study Abroad Experience For First-Year College Students, Steph N. Dean, Augustine Owusu Achiaw

Publications

Background: Traditional study abroad programs often overlook the importance of place, missing opportunities for deeper, context-driven learning. Despite the transformative potential of place-based education, existing research has not consistently examined or explicitly conceptualized its integration into global learning experiences.

Purpose: This study explores the impact of a place-based study abroad program on first-year college students at a U.S. university.

Method: Using a qualitative design, researchers analyzed reflective learning journals from nine students who participated in a short-term, place-based study abroad program in Scotland. The study was grounded in Experiential Learning Theory and utilized open coding and dyadic analysis to identify …

A Phenomenological Study Of Black College Students’ Belonging Built Through Meaningful Interactions With Black Staff At Predominantly White Institutions, Katelyn A. Hanley Semelbauer

Dissertations

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to explore how Black students at Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs) describe meaningful interactions with Black staff and how they make meaning of those interactions as it relates to building a sense of belonging. The conceptual framework for this study incorporates Strayhorn’s (2019) college students’ sense of belonging theoretical model as a foundation with Museus’s (2014) culturally engaging campus environment model as a lens for analysis of the findings.

Using a hermeneutical phenomenological approach, 12 Black undergraduate students were recruited to participate. Each of the students attended a public 4-year PWI in the Great …

Unromanticizing Careers: Redesigning Students’ Beliefs About Success, Camila Bolsoni

Theses & ETDs

Contemporary higher education culture transmits a set of deeply internalized beliefs about career success that shape students' decisions, constrain their identities, and fuel anxiety, burnout, and rigidity, often without their awareness. This qualitative study examines how undergraduate students at a small public liberal arts college experience and narrate these beliefs through the lens of the Career Illusions Framework (CIF), a seven-dimension conceptual model, built from the ground up for this study, comprising the Straight Path, Identity Lock-In, Status Script, Hustle Loop, Dream Job Illusion, Risk Ceiling, and Quitting Stigma. Using Braun and Clarke's (2006) reflexive thematic analysis alongside systematic spreadsheet-based …

“Sometimes I Feel That Going To College Was A Waste Of Time”: Latinas’ Lived Experiences Navigating Culture, Gender, And Marriage Post-College Degree, Nancy Peña

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative critical narrative study explores how Latinas navigate and make meaning of gender roles within their heterosexual marriages post-college graduation. Data are collected via semi-structured interviews with 10 Latina participants: an initial plática focus group, followed by individual interviews, and a final plática focus group for member checking. Key findings reveal that despite Latinas acquiring autonomy, stability, negotiated power, personal growth, and social development as a result of attaining a degree in higher education, overall development is limited due to heightened responsibilities, persistent gender hierarchies, continuous religious norms, and constant gender role guilt. The evidence suggests that although attaining …

Assessing Trauma Competence Among Title Ix Practitioners: Analyzing Self-Perceived Capability And Associated Factors, Aliena Hansen

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Sexual assault remains a persistent issue on college and university campuses, and the way institutions respond to survivors can significantly influence their well-being and willingness to seek support. Title IX Practitioners are often responsible for responding to reports of sexual misconduct, making trauma-informed approaches essential in their work. However, relatively little research has examined how practitioners perceive their own trauma-related capabilities. The present study examined self-perceived trauma competence among Title IX Practitioners and explored factors associated with differences in perceived competence. Participants completed a survey assessing their confidence in applying trauma-informed principles when working with complainants. Results indicated variability in …

An Examination Of Single Mothers' Psychological Capital In Seeking Higher Education, Jennifer L. Stuart

Theses & Dissertations

AN EXAMINATION OF SINGLE MOTHER’S PSYCHOLOGICAL CAPITAL IN SEEKING HIGHER EDUCATION

Jennifer Stuart

University of the Incarnate Word, 2025

Research Focus. In the United States, single mothers head nearly 80 percent of single-parent households, representing one of the most educationally vulnerable yet motivated populations. Despite increased visibility of single-parent families, limited research has examined the internal psychological factors that influence single mothers’ determination to pursue higher education. Much of the literature has emphasized external barriers—financial hardship, childcare demands, and social stigma—while overlooking internal strengths such as self-efficacy, resilience, optimism, and hope. These traits, conceptualized collectively as psychological capital (Luthans et …

Culture Shock Among International Students In U.S. Higher Education, Pablo A. Gutierrez Cervantes

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

International students continue to represent a vital and growing population within U.S. higher education; however, many encounter significant cultural, academic, and emotional challenges during their transition to American institutions. This qualitative thematic analysis study explored the lived experiences of international students navigating culture shock in U.S. higher education and examined how these experiences influenced their academic adjustment, social integration, and psychological well-being. Grounded in Kim’s Integrative Theory of Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Schlossberg’s Transition Theory, this study sought to understand how students made meaning of their cultural transition and what personal and institutional factors facilitated or hindered their adaptation.

Nine international …

University Student Mental Health: Service Utilization, Equity Gaps, And Strategies To Improve Access, Richard Mutua Kilonzo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Student mental health and access to care are pressing concerns in higher education. This study assesses mental health outcomes and access to campus mental health services at East Tennessee State University. Survey data from the 2023–2024 Healthy Minds Study were analyzed to report the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation across the student population. The study evaluates disparities in these outcomes and barriers to care across student groups, with particular attention to equity-impacted students, especially sexual and gender minority students.

Findings indicate widespread psychological distress alongside persistent barriers, including long wait times, limited-service availability, and stigma-related concerns. These barriers …

Intersectionality And Belonging: Higher Education Mathematics, Ashley Natalie

Mathematics and Statistics

Students with intersecting marginalized identities (such as race, gender, socioeconomic status, disability, or first-generation background) often face unique challenges in advanced mathematics that affect confidence, participation, amounting to a sense of belonging. These experiences remain underrepresented in mathematics education research. This qualitative, narrative-based study examines how these students experience classroom dynamics and belonging in upper-level mathematics courses. Semi-structured interviews will be analyzed thematically to identify patterns related to identity, classroom culture, instructor behavior, and peer interactions. Findings aim to highlight barriers and supportive practices, informing more inclusive teaching strategies and equitable learning environments in advanced mathematics.

Intersectionality And Belonging: Higher Education Mathematics, Ashley Williams

Mathematics and Statistics

Students with intersecting marginalized identities (such as race, gender, socioeconomic status, disability, or first-generation background) often face unique challenges in advanced mathematics that affect confidence, participation, amounting to a sense of belonging. These experiences remain underrepresented in mathematics education research. This qualitative, narrative-based study examines how these students experience classroom dynamics and belonging in upper-level mathematics courses. Semi-structured interviews will be analyzed thematically to identify patterns related to identity, classroom culture, instructor behavior, and peer interactions. Findings aim to highlight barriers and supportive practices, informing more inclusive teaching strategies and equitable learning environments in advanced mathematics.

Predicting Well-Being Outcomes With Job Demands And Resources In A Higher Education Setting, Makinzy D. Hoxsey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Faculty in higher education face growing pressures that impact well-being and engagement. Guided by the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) framework, the present study examined how perceptions of institutional changes, job demands, job resources, and personal resources such as grit and tolerance for ambiguity related to perceptions of well-being outcomes among teaching faculty at Stephen F. Austin State University. Job demands encompass dimensions of workload, emotional labor, work-life conflict, and role conflict, while job resources include elements of autonomy and social support. A multivariate multiple regression (MVMR) analysis was conducted using survey data from faculty members (n = 98). Results indicated that …

A New Approach To Generate Combinatorial Patterns In Logical Analysis Of Data And Its Application To Predict College Retention, Salihah Ahmed E. Jaafari

Theses and Dissertations

Student retention and degree completion remain central challenges for higher-education institutions, with significant implications for student success, institutional effectiveness, and public accountability. While advances in predictive analytics have enabled earlier identification of students at risk of withdrawal, many commonly used machine learning approaches suffer from limited interpretability, constraining their practical usefulness for advising, intervention, and policy decision making. This dissertation addresses the problem of predicting student persistence by developing and evaluating optimization based, interpretable classification models within the Logical Analysis of Data (LAD) framework. Building on existing LAD formulations, this research introduces two novel pattern generation models, the Best Term …

Empathetic Administration: Leveraging Phenomenological Insights To Enhance Student Mental Health Support In Higher Education, Arlissia Lenton Bradley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe how students at universities in Texas navigated online mental health resources and coping supports while managing mental health challenges. The central research question that guided this study was: What were the lived experiences of students in higher education who were managing mental health issues? Utilizing Bandura's (1986) social cognitive theory as the theoretical framework, the study examined how cognitive appraisals and self-effective beliefs, environmental supports and constraints, and behavioral coping strategies interacted as students interpreted and responded to mental health stressors in academic contexts. Data was collected in a virtual setting …

A Phenomenological Study: Exploring The Lived Experiences Of Veterans During Their Separation Transition, Nereida Valentine

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the phenomenon of the lived experiences of U.S. veterans’ during their transition into civilian life across all military branches. The theory guiding this study was Schlossberg’s 4S theory on adult transitions, this theory identifies what factors influence how veterans adapt to their transition into civilian life. Data analysis was led from this central research question: “What are the lived experiences of veterans’ and their academic readiness during their transition into civilian life?” The methodology used was transcendental phenomenological approach to understand the lived experiences of 12 participants and how they adapt …

Artificial Intelligence Use In Educator Pedagogy In Higher Education Institutes: A Phenomenological Qualitative Study, Rebecca L. Fuller

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological qualitative study was to discover the use of generative artificial intelligence tools in pedagogy as the lived experiences of educators at higher education institutions. The theory guiding this study was the self-determination theory by Ryan and Deci 2017. The central research question is: What are the lived experiences of educators in higher education who use GAI tools in their pedagogy? The participants were 10 educators, at least 25 years old, from four-year higher education institutions in the United States who had used GAI tools in their pedagogy in the last year. The methodology is …

Solo Faculty Program Coordinators In Student Affairs-Related Graduate Programs, Phillip A. Olt, Mitch Nasser, Louise Michelle Vital, Steven Tolman, James G. Archibald, Mary Ann Bodine Al-Sharif, Blue Brazelton, Rozana Carducci, Michael Houdyshell, Tryan Mcmickens, Cara Meixner, Molly Mistretta, Amy Paciej-Woodruff, Richie Stevens, Ann Wendle, Claude E.P. Mayo

The Qualitative Report

Many graduate programs in student affairs-related subfields employ just one full-time faculty member, who then also functions as the program coordinator. Program coordinator duties and compensation vary widely, but they are generally the person who ensures all aspects of the program function. Research shows that fulfilling these responsibilities in addition to teaching, research, and service is difficult; however, this study sought to expand on that literature to understand what it was like to coordinate a HESA program as the only full-time faculty member isolated in that subfield at the institution. We utilized the hybrid qualitative methodology of phenomenological polyethnography, wherein …

The Big Five Personality Traits And Perceptions Of Generative Ai In Higher Education: A Canonical Correlation Analysis For Sustainable Digital Education, Mei Jiang, Shifang Tang, Qingwei Wang

Faculty Publications

The purpose of this study was to examine the multivariate relationship between college students’ Big Five personality traits and their perceptions of generative artificial intelligence (AI). Guided by sustainable digital education and expectancy-value theory, this study investigated whether personality profiles were associated with students’ knowledge of AI, attainment value, intrinsic value, utility value, perceived cost, and intention to use AI. Using a cross-sectional survey design, data were collected from 375 students enrolled at a Southwestern doctoral-granting public university. Participants completed an adapted measure of generative AI perceptions and the Big Five Inventory, and canonical correlation analysis (CCA) was conducted to …

From Consumers To Creators: Social Media Information Literacy Of University Students., Thuy Thanh Bui, Quyen Trang Mai Nguyen, Tu Thi Thanh Nguyen, Minh Cao Luu

Journal of Media Literacy Education

Social Media Information Literacy (SMIL) is increasingly important as social media platforms evolve. SMIL includes skills for navigating, evaluating, managing, creating, and engaging with social media content, aimed at effective information use and critical thinking. Using Heiss, Nanz and Matthes (2023) framework, this study surveyed 410 students via a self-assessment on a 5-point Likert scale. Results indicate students rated their SMIL as average, with the highest scores in appraisal and comprehension, and the lowest in digital creation. Female and senior students, as well as those in Education majors, rated themselves higher. Longer internet usage correlated with better SMIL, especially in …

Decolonizing The Academic Library: Examining The Successful Indigenization Of Ubc And Unm’S Library Services, Emily T. Villars

School of Information Student Research Journal

This article examines decolonization and indigenization initiatives at two academic libraries: the University of British Columbia (UBC) and the University of New Mexico (UNM). It asks how these institutions have implemented indigenization in their libraries and what lessons can inform broader reconciliation work across North America. Through a comparative lens, it analyzes how national and organizational frameworks, such as the Canadian Federation of Library Associations (CFLA-FCAB) Truth and Reconciliation Report and Recommendations and the American Indian Library Association’s (AILA) organizational goals, can shape these efforts. The study highlights three core strategies: decolonizing access and classification, transforming library spaces, and expanding …

An Investigation Into The Student And Faculty Knowledge, Perception, And Usage Of Chatgpt, Isabella Burns

Honors Theses

Artificial Intelligence (ChatGPT) has become a significant topic in academia. Professors and university officials have been contemplating an all-out ban on utilizing such tools for undergraduate academic work. Sullivan et al (2023) noted “…student behaviors led some universities to ban the use of ChatGPT…” (p. 32). Instead of teaching students how to leverage ChatGPT as a powerful resource to enhance the learning process, universities have deemed use of ChatGPT unacceptable, equating its use with serious academic dishonesty offenses consistent with plagiarism (Hawdon et al., 2025). Directly copying from ChatGPT can constitute plagiarism and poses a significant issue for college-level studies, …

Protecting Free Speech And Promoting Civility: The Dueling Responsibilities Of American Colleges And Universities, Tara N. Parsons

International Journal on Responsibility

Freedom House estimates that 75% of the world’s population lives in countries that experienced a democratic decline in 2020. Even in long established democracies, liberal democratic values have been shaken. As democracy requires an enlightened citizenry cultivated by a college education, many American universities and colleges adopt civic instruction and engagement as a core responsibility and mission. However, growing anti-intellectualism has drawn increased scrutiny and suspicion towards the programming, curriculum, and core values of universities. Powerful political figures regularly accuse universities of stifling conservative voices and discouraging free speech. The tension between free speech and civic dialogue requires a reframing …

Attention To Their Uniqueness: Differentiation In A University Classroom, Robin Gingerich

MITESOL Journal: An Online Publication of MITESOL

University students come to campus with unique gifts and individual challenges. To meet the needs of diverse learners, one solution is differentiation. Differentiation involves deliberately planning lessons that address the unique learning styles of diverse learners by offering pedagogy informed not only by content, but also by the students themselves. While differentiation in elementary and secondary classrooms is considered best practice, professors in higher education face unique challenges when it comes to implementing differentiation. This paper examines definitions of differentiation, research on differentiation in universities, and, from the author’s personal experience, offers suggestions for university writing instructors.

A Quality Assurance Framework For Maintaining And Enhancing Academic Standards Of Ai-Infused Higher Education: Insights From Gcc Faculty Perspectives, Nina Abdul Razzak

Higher Learning Research Communications

Objectives: This study addresses the gap in research on maintaining and enhancing the quality of artificial intelligence (AI)–infused higher education in a structured and systematized way by proposing a comprehensive quality assurance (QA) framework fit for that purpose.

Methods: The study employs a qualitative research design approach in the form of a constructivist or interpretive investigation, exploring in depth faculty members’ different perspectives and experiences in relation to AI implementation. The study combines a textual analysis of the international literature on the topic, with insights from four focus groups involving faculty members from various disciplines and colleges across the Gulf …