Digital Commons Network^™

Beyond The Classroom: Influence Of A Sustainability Intervention On University Students’ Environmental Knowledge And Behaviors, Dawn Christina Null, Kristin Hurst, Leslie A. Duram

Publications

On college campuses, environmental science education largely takes place in classrooms, thereby limiting impact on the full student body. By implementing an educational intervention in an informal campus setting, this study tested an approach aimed at expanding the reach of environmental learning. Students at a mid-size Midwestern university were exposed to a food-focused environmental and climate education intervention consisting of sustainability trivia and marketing materials displayed in dining halls. Prior to exposure, students completed a pre-test, followed by a 5-week intervention, then a post-test. Comparing correct responses between pre-test and post-test, we found a significant increase in environmental and climate …

Drop-Out Rates Among First-Generation Undergraduate Students In The United States, Rachel Alger

Ballard Brief

For first-generation college students, receiving an acceptance letter to an institution of higher education is a milestone: a means to secure economic and social opportunities not afforded to their family members. However, for many first-generation students, college acceptance does not equate to a college credential or degree, with only 27.4% graduating within 4 years. These lower attrition rates stem from a lack of familial financial resources and inadequate academic preparation in high school. Additionally, a different set of rules, jargon, and expectations between home life and institutions of higher education create a 'hidden curriculum' for first-generation students, making college completion …

Optimizing Preference Satisfaction With Genetic Algorithm In Matching Students To Supervisors, Azamat Serek, Meirambek Zhaparov

Applied Mathematics & Information Sciences

The allocation of students to supervisors is a crucial aspect of higher education, impacting the quality of guidance and support students receive for their academic projects. This paper explores the application of a genetic algorithm to optimize the matching process. The algorithm considers considers psychological compatibility between student and supervisor, and aims for maximization of preference satisfaction of students and supervisors regarding the match. Experimental results demonstrate high preference satisfaction (0.91), indicating effective alignment with students’ preferences. The algorithm’s time and space complexities show scalability, making it a promising solution for large-scale applications. Additionally, the workload distribution results highlight the …

Nsu Health Professions Division 2023-2024 Course Catalog, Nova Southeastern University

HPD Course Catalogs

Nova Southeastern University Health Professions Division:

• Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine
• College of Pharmacy
• College of Optometry
• Dr. Pallavi Patel College of Health Care Sciences
• College of Dental Medicine
• Ron and Kathy Assaf College of Nursing
• Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine

Women In Leadership Positions In Higher Education: Challenges, Opportunities, And Strategies For Success, Maria Bowen

M.S. in Leadership

This research project is aimed to identify the challenges and barriers women face in higher education while striving to obtain leadership positions and provide possible solutions to resolve the gender gaps found in higher education’s leadership. A literature review was conducted, which informed questions that were asked in an interview setting. Interviews were conducted with leaders that identify as women in higher education and sought to provide personalized accounts of the researched trends. Ultimately, despite higher education being perceived as a progressive industry and having legislature in place to combat gender disparities, leadership positions are not reflective of gender distribution …

Impact Of Implicit Racial Bias On Students Of African Descent In Predominately White Institutions, Edwin Mathieu

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated how implicit racial bias influences the perceptions of students of African descent in predominately White colleges (PWIs) in the United States (U.S.). The theoretical framework for the study is critical race theory (CRT). CRT challenges racial indifference by exposing how racial advances often come at the cost of promoting or feeding into White self-interests (Patton et al., 2007). This non-experimental quantitative study examined how GPA, the number of credits earned, gender, race, and campus culture impact students of African descent’s perceptions of culturally implicit racial bias. It used Asian, Hispanic, and White students as a comparison group. …

Elara Conference - Techniques & Technologies To Support Sustainable Education In The Academic Sphere Year Ii Book 2 Vol 1, European Common Laboratory For Pedagogical Action-Research And Student-Centred Learning (Elara)

Publications

The Fourth Industrial Revolution was and s till is focused on digitalising processes and using AI to increase productivity. Industry 5.0, on the other hand, focuses on the human factor and the human as the centre of the production process. According to the new paradigm, technology should benefit humans, and human s, in turn, should actively collaborate with machines. In other words, while Industry 4.0 wa s based on the relationship between machines and IT systems, Industry 5.0 brings together the strengths of humans and machines. Following this train of thought, we have come up with the idea to initiate …

Lived Experiences Of Latino/A/X Students At Emerging Hispanic Serving Institutions In The Midwestern United States, Elizabeth Depew

Dissertations of Practice

LIVED EXPERIENCES OF LATINO/A/X STUDENTS AT EMERGING HISPANIC SERVING INSTITUTIONS IN THE MIDWESTERN UNITED STATES

There are a growing number of Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI) and emerging Hispanic Serving Institutions (eHSI) across the United States (Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, 2013a, 2013b, 2022). Because many HSIs and eHSIs are either formerly or still also Predominantly White Institutions (PWI), historical policies and practices within institutions of higher education do not routinely consider the lives of Latino/a/x students. In addition, HSIs are not required to have any portion of their mission dedicated to the advancement of Latino/a/x students as part of …

A Qualitative Case Study Of Disabled Students’ Experiences With Online Course Accessibility During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Jason Altmann

Dissertations of Practice

ABSTRACT

A QUALITATIVE CASE STUDY OF DISABLED STUDENTS’

EXPERIENCES WITH ONLINE COURSE ACCESSIBILITY

DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Jason Altmann, Ed.D.

Department of Counseling and Higher Education

Northern Illinois University, 2024

Xiaodan Hu, Director

This dissertation presents a qualitative case study exploring the experiences of disabled students with online course accessibility during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study investigates how the abrupt shift to online learning impacted the accessibility of educational materials and support services for disabled students in a large, suburban community college.

Critical Disability Theory (CDT) framework was utilized to guide interview questions and explore the connection between the initial …

Community College Library Technical Assistant Students’ Experiences With Student-To-Student Engagement In Asynchronous Online Courses: A Qualitative Case Study, Amanda Musacchio

Dissertations of Practice

COMMUNITY COLLEGE LIBRARY TECHNICAL ASSISTANT STUDENTS’

EXPERIENCES WITH STUDENT-TO-STUDENT ENGAGEMENT IN

ASYNCHRONOUS ONLINE COURSES:

A QUALITATIVE CASE STUDY

This dissertation examined how community college students connect and engage with their peers via discussion forums in online asynchronous courses. Asynchronous online student interaction and knowing each other as more than a name on their screen is an important part of online learning. Examining how students can form peer connections in asynchronous online courses can help them to have a more meaningful learning experience. Using a case study approach and the Community of Inquiry model framework, the purpose of this study was …

"It’S Hard To Be An Enemy Of Student Success”: A Qualitative Case Study Of A Cultural Shift Towards Student Success, Lisa R. Lawless

Dissertations of Practice

Literature on how colleges change is limited and theoretical in nature. The purpose of this qualitative case student was to explore how Retention University changed their culture and norms to increase student persistence and retention. Data was collected with semi-structured interviews with 16 participants at a large, public university in the southeast. Four primary themes emerged from data: (1) leaders play an important role in fostering organizational change; (2) leaders need to be strategic about how they foster change; (3) leaders need to consider how organizational contexts might hinder change; (4) and value the people and process. Implications for further …

Supporting Underprepared Writers In An Academic Success Program, Alison Ersheid

Theses and Dissertations

For decades, colleges and universities have been grappling with the task of closing the readiness gap for underprepared writers entering the higher education system. Traditional developmental education models are costly and inefficient at best, and detrimental to the matriculation of students at worst. Bridge programs have had moderate success, but at a high price tag. Within the last decade, alternate approaches to developmental education, such as accelerated and corequisite models, have emerged. While these approaches have demonstrated success in improving overall student proficiency and confidence, little is known about the specific mechanisms and environments that promote success and improve writing …

To Be Heard And Seen: Students Of Color Call For A Sense Of Belonging And Support In Higher Education, Daisha Dukes

Community Engagement Student Work

This research delves into the policies, procedures, and resources that higher institutions carry to best support their students of color. The support systems in this research centers on academic performance, cultural belonging, financial and mental health support of students of color. Many institutions concentrate on a general one-size-fits-all system that can be counterproductive because not all students are the same and their needs differ. This issue is important because students of color do not feel seen or heard at predominantly white institutions. This case study was created to find the weaknesses, strengths, and improvements on how higher institutions are best …

Empowering Students Of Color To Study Abroad: Effective Approaches For Predominantly White Institutions, A'Mari Bing-Way

Community Engagement Student Work

Traditionally studying abroad is an opportunity afforded to college students. For many, it is perceived as a desirable and essential component to the college experience. Initially developed by a white professor for white students at a predominantly white institution (PWI) to immerse themselves in European culture. The study abroad model in higher education was not designed with inclusivity in mind. However, research suggests that access to such opportunities depends on a student’s network to include: social, cultural, and financial capital as well as the university’s investment in empowering students to participate in study abroad programs. Historically, government funded initiatives have …

The Domino Effect: Discussing The Future Implications Of Students For Fair Admissions, Inc. V. Harvard, Marissa C. Meredith

Duquesne Law Review

Since 1978, the United States Supreme Court has grappled with creating fair policies and just parameters to enable institutions of higher education to incorporate race -conscious admission policies to diversify students' educational experience.¹ The Court began this vital discussion with its landmark ruling in Regents of the University of California v. Bakke, where it determined not just that diversity in education was a compelling state interest that could survive strict scrutiny,² but also that it could not be achieved through the use of a quota system or a specialized track.3 The Court continued shaping the parameters of …

Rethinking Core Curriculum Design In An Undergraduate Business And Management Programme In A Technological University In Ireland, Pat Kenny, Joe Fitzgerald, Eoghan Fitzgerald, Roisin Donnelly

Presentations

This presentation will share current design thinking on a longstanding, highly regarded undergraduate programme in Business and Management in a Technological University in Ireland. Technological universities offer programmes that are vocationally and professionally oriented. The 4-year programme has remained consistently popular with students throughout the life cycle of recruitment, orientation, delivery and performance. There is a strong legacy in case teaching and inquiry learning in this programme. This is evidenced through group discussion and solving of complex problems, and current case studies facilitate development of the higher levels of cognitive, interdisciplinary learning. They are used to highlight connections between specific …

Evaluating Fourth-Grader’S Perception Of Engineering Through A Community-Engaged Project (Evaluation), Olivia Ryan, Maija A. Benitz

Engineering, Computing & Construction Management Faculty Publications

To meet the complex challenges of the future, there needs to be an increase in the number of students pursuing , STEM and engineering. To grow those numbers, students must have an understanding and interest in engineering in order to pursue it as a career option. However, literature has shown that children hold misconceptions about the engineering profession, which can deter potential future engineers from the field. This underscores the importance of introducing engineering concepts at a young age. Over the past ten years, the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) have been integrated into state school curricula, increasing the emphasis …

Singapore Management University Report To Stakeholders 2023/24, Singapore Management University

Report to Stakeholders

The past year has been one of significant growth and achievement for Singapore Management University. As we navigated an increasingly complex and challenging world, SMU remained committed to doing the best by our students, harnessing the collective brain trust that our faculty represent, and the professional expertise of our staff, to deliver impact on our community, country, and region. Our focus on nurturing the next generation of leaders, thinkers, and change-makers continues to be at the heart of our educational mission, and our dedication to the highest quality research for academic and societal impact remains our commitment.

Introducing The Engineering Design Process To First-Year Students With A Project Focused On Offshore Wind Energy, Gordon Stewart, Maija A. Benitz, Lillian C. Jeznach, Charles R. Thomas

Engineering, Computing & Construction Management Faculty Publications

This is a complete evidence-based practice paper. In 2019, a new semester-long course project was developed for our university’s first-year engineering program that aimed to introduce students to the engineering design process (EDP) in an engaging and relevant way. Students in our small undergraduate-only engineering program earn Bachelors of Science degrees in Engineering, with a specialization in civil, computer, electrical, environmental, mechanical, or a custom area. Offshore wind energy was chosen as the project topic both for its relevance to the university’s coastal location and because it touches upon many of the subareas of engineering that students can specialize in. …

Simplifying The Hecvat: A Supplier Risk Assessment For Higher Education Institutions, Melissa Lopez-Barbosa

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The internet revolutionized global communication, enabling rapid messaging to thousands. This also means that malicious communication can happen quickly as well. In higher education, cyber risk has reached unprecedented levels due to the increased interconnectivity facilitated by the internet—it is one of the most cyber-attacked industries worldwide. Establishing robust preventative practices to safeguard sensitive data and maintain trust within the educational community is crucial. Preventative practices must be in place to ensure that suppliers and businesses follow specific security and privacy rules to warrant secure communication. Ensuring supplier compliance with security and privacy rules is critical to safeguarding student data, …

Technology Affordances And Curriculum Flexibility In Higher Education Blended Learning, Clement Chimezie Aladi

CGU Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation explores technological affordances in blended learning, their influence on the flexibility of statistics and data science curricula, and students' satisfaction with learning. While blended learning is often perceived as a flexible learning approach, its correlation with flexibility lacks substantial evidence in existing literature. This study contends that technological affordances significantly impact curriculum flexibility in blended learning, an aspect currently underrepresented in blended learning educational literature. Drawing on the theoretical frameworks of Technology Affordance and Constraint Theory (TACT) and Technological, Pedagogical, and Content Knowledge (TPACK), this research investigated six hypotheses to elucidate how technological affordances and the teacher's technology …

The High Maintenance Black Girl: Black Female College Students’ Experiences With Intraracial Stereotypes, Alexis Thrower

CGU Theses & Dissertations

While existing literature has extensively documented interracial stereotypes faced by Black individuals, this study delved into the lesser-explored realm of stereotypes emanating from within the Black community itself. This dissertation explored the experiences of Black female college students in predominantly white educational environments, focusing on the pervasive influence of intraracial stereotypes. Grounded in phenomenological inquiry and guided by Black Feminist Critique, the research investigated the impact of these intraracial stereotypes on relationships, sense of belonging, and coping strategies among Black female college students. Four research questions guided this dissertation: What are the intraracial stereotypes experienced by Black female college students? …

A Comparative Case Of The Sense Of Belonging Of Students And Black Neighborhood Stakeholders Utilizing Public Recreational Space Near An Urban College Campus, Briyanna N. Jenkins

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

At a time when regulation impacting colleges and universities has steadily increased, institutional leaders have explored ways to maximize their educational effectiveness, impact, and public contribution to their surrounding communities. Public colleges and universities often use public-private partnerships to develop institutionally owned or managed spaces on and surrounding their campuses. As a result, institutional stakeholders are infused with existing community neighborhoods, cultures and structures, which often results in permanent change imposed on these neighbors and neighborhoods. Using a comparative case study approach, this exploratory research explored the relationship between campus stakeholders utilizing campus and private recreational spaces and their sense …

Open Educational Resources In Higher Education, Teisha Robertson

Levi Watkins Learning Center

Open Educational Resources (OERs) are materials such as books, articles, videos of lectures, and other resources provided to students free of charge. The increase in textbook costs has caused students to depend upon OERs. OERs are excellent teaching resources for students and instructors because they are free or low-cost and easy to adapt to instructor curricula. Furthermore, they can help students from low-income families save money. This paper will discuss the importance, challenges, and benefits of open educational resources in higher education institutions.

Exploring Liberal Arts Education: Unveiling The African Perspective, Eyram Bleboo, Kamilia Kalmoni, Yaw Kwakyi

GHEA21 Open Educational Resources

This is a dynamic magazine which details the African perspective and context of liberal arts education. This magazine captures different community members' stories and experiences across diverse institutions. It also includes quotes, and research articles under core themes.

Honors As Neighborhood: 1995 National Collegiate Honors Council Presidential Address, Ada Long

Journal of the National Collegiate Honors Council Online Archive

1995 National Collegiate Honors Council Presidential Address, published in the National Honors Report, Vol. XVI, No. 4 (winter 1996), 21–24; rpt. in NHR Vol. XX, No. 4 (winter 1999), 9–12. The typographical errors have been silently corrected.

In this address to members of the National Collegiate Honors Council, outgoing president Dr. Ada Long (1945–2024) reflects on the sensibility and characteristics of neighborhood and considers what this means to honors education and its community of learners. Identifying three values of neighborhood—conversation, personal affiliation and belonging, and caring—Long expounds on their relevance to educators and society at large on the cusp …

Honors As A Changing Neighborhood, Betsy Greenleaf Yarrison

Journal of the National Collegiate Honors Council Online Archive

Honors programs were conceived for traditional-age suburban middle-class majority-culture students who live on campus or nearby and do not hold full-time jobs or have family responsibilities. While the college population of this century is much more diverse and just as academically capable, first-generation students from traditionally marginalized populations see honors communities as unfamiliar, scary, and unwelcoming neighborhoods. Honors programs seek diversity but practice assimilation with exclusionary admissions policies, curricular inflexibility, and an emphasis on place-dependent community building that invites students to come into honors space rather than taking their offerings out to meet them where they are. Lack of funds …

Honors, Equity, And The Difference Principle, K. Patrick Fazioli

Journal of the National Collegiate Honors Council Online Archive

While honors programs have made notable advancements in diversity and inclusion, the issue of educational equity remains unresolved. Tensions between providing special opportunities for high-achieving students and adhering to principles of social justice continue to shape the “neighborhood of honors.” This essay seeks to address educational unfairness through Rawls’s “difference principle,” which asserts that inequalities are morally permissible only if they benefit the least advantaged in society. The author suggests that honors programs can adhere to this principle by focusing on service and support for marginalized groups within and beyond the campus community, providing opportunities for talented students from underserved …

From Individuals To Neighbors: Growth Through Embracing Positionality, Joy L. Hart, Andrea Radasanu, Rebecca C. Bott-Kutson, Jonathan D. Kotinek

Journal of the National Collegiate Honors Council Online Archive

Drawing inspiration from Dr. Ada Long’s (1995) presidential address, the authors describe an experience that facilitates neighborhood-building among honors educators and students across the nation as well as a neighborhood approach to understanding social problems. Focusing on food justice in the first year of the Justice Challenge, honors students learn about community needs, develop leadership and partnership skills, and collaborate with community members through an array of opportunities. Throughout the academic year, individual positionality shifts through deeper engagement with multiple viewpoints and facilitates new approaches for collaboration toward effectively addressing thorny problems. Cultivation of such connections is central in revitalizing …

Institutional Neighborhoods And The Stories They Tell, Joyce Olewski Inman

Journal of the National Collegiate Honors Council Online Archive

As part of the National Collegiate Honors Council's (NCHC’s) tribute to Dr. Ada Long (1945–2024), this response to “Honors as Neighborhood” (1995) encourages scholars and practitioners to (re)consider the problems with conceptualizing honors programs as neighborhoods given the systemic inequalities associated with both. Drawing from experience at an R1 regional institution in the South, the author outlines the institutional histories of programming in both basic writing and honors to elucidate the systemic racism leading to the creation of these programs and illuminate the stories these programs tell about the deep stratification evident on college campuses across the nation.