Digital Commons Network^™

Internationalization And Its Challenges At U.S. Regional Comprehensive Universities: The Transformational Leadership Role Of Senior International Officers, Ibrahima F. Yaro Ed.D., Aaron W. Hughey Ed.D.

Leadership Faculty Publications

This interpretive phenomenological analysis investigated the role of transformational leadership and the challenges that senior international officers (SIOs) face in internationalizing regional comprehensive universities (RCUs) in the United States. Twelve in- depth interviews were conducted with SIOs from five regions: the West, Midwest, South, Southeast, and Northwest. The findings indicate that the transformational leadership approach is the primary leadership style utilized by senior international officers for the effective and successful internationalization of their institutions. The findings highlight a wide range of challenges that a senior international officer may encounter at a regional comprehensive university in the United States. The study …

Enhancing Self-Efficacy For Engagement With Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion Initiatives: Evaluation Of A Seven-Day Immersive Pilot Program In A College Of Education, Health, And Human Sciences, Jennifer M. Jabson Tree, Stefanie Benjamin, Dorian L. Mccoy Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

Colleges of health, human sciences, and education are often administratively organized to include a diverse array of human sciences departments that share roots in social justice and a commitment to advancing equity and inclusion. Despite espoused commitments to equity and inclusion, they frequently struggle to achieve the changes necessary for advancing equity, and inclusion principles across policies, practices, procedures, and units. We implemented and evaluated a 7-day, total immersion, 56-h, educational program entitled the “Social Justice Institute” (SJI) for two cohorts of faculty, staff, and administrators to develop self-efficacy to intervene in systemic oppression in their academic units. SJI delivered …

Cole Nelson, Oral History Interview, 2025, Kat Hacanyan

Oral Histories

Cole Nelson is an EMU alum who earned a degree in political Science in 2022. During his time at Eastern he worked in the Center for Jewish Studies with founding director, Marty Shichtman. Nelson worked closely with Shichtman, helping with things like event planning and updating the website. In this interview, he talks about his experiences at EMU, being hired as Shichtman's assistant, and how the center stayed afloat at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

How College Affordability Has Changed For Different Families, Peter Hinrichs

Upjohn Institute Policy and Research Briefs

No abstract provided.

How Much Can Families Afford To Pay For College?, Peter Hinrichs

Upjohn Institute Working Papers

This paper studies families’ capacity to pay for college in the United States, focusing on changes over time and differences by race and socioeconomic status. I use data from the National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS) to document changes over time in the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The results suggest that the EFC has been rising over time, and that this has been driven primarily by families in the upper quartile of the income distribution. I then use data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID) to calculate alternative measures …

Gec Meeting Minutes For Apr 21, 2025, General Education Committee

General Education Committee Minutes

No abstract provided.

Ged Meeting Minutes For April 21, 2025, A-State General Education Committee

General Education Committee Minutes

No abstract provided.

Faculty Senate Meeting Minutes Apr 18, 2025, A-State Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Minutes

No abstract provided.

At-Risk Students' Perceptions Of Holistic Advising: A Phenomenological Study, Jonathan David Broyles

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand at-risk students’ perceptions of success after having received holistic advising practices at public, four-year universities located in the Southeast United States. The theory that guided this study was Maslow’s Theory of Human Motivation, which emphasizes the importance of addressing students’ academic, social, personal, physiological, safety, and emotional needs to support their academic success better. The Central Research Question was: what are at-risk students’ perceptions of success after receiving holistic advising practices? The transcendental phenomenological approach allowed the researcher to explore the phenomenon with others who have experienced the same phenomenon through …

Gc Minutes Apr 17, 2025, Graduate Council

Graduate Council Minutes

No abstract provided.

Dismantling Inequities In The Faculty Evaluation System, Mary Petron, William Blackwell, Abbie Strunc

School Leadership Review

Qualifying for merit is a competitive and contentious process in higher education. Many merit structures are based upon traditional faculty evaluation systems which do not reflect the changing nature of higher education and thus, yield inequitable results. This article presents the case of a large department at a mid-size regional university that revised the system for merit and faculty evaluation to recognize undergraduate contributions and more equitably score the scholarship, service, and teaching of faculty members in the department. The case describes the relevant literature, the university and departmental context, the process for designing the new evaluation system, and lessons …

A Survey-Based Quantification Of Imposter Phenomenon In Occupational Therapy, Dina Prisco, Siobhan Walsh

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Imposter phenomenon is a professional issue that negatively affects health professionals’ performance and well-being. This study examined imposter phenomenon’s prevalence in occupational therapy (OT). Researchers hypothesized that imposter phenomenon is prevalent in OT, more so in underrepresented groups. The rate of imposter phenomenon throughout OT was quantified and rates between demographic groups compared.

Method: This study used an exploratory, survey-based research design. Survey sections included informed consent, demographics, and the Clance Imposter Phenomenon Scale (CIPS). The CIPS measured rates of imposterism. Analyses of variances and independent group t-tests were performed to identify significant differences between groups. Inclusion criteria …

Rewriting The Map: How First-Generation Students Navigate Capital And Construct Place Identity In Higher Education, Joseph Rory Weinstein

Theses & Dissertations

First-generation (FG) college students navigate higher education as both participants and disruptors in an institutional system that privileges dominant forms of cultural capital. This study explores how FG students develop place identity at a private university in the northeastern United States, examining how they interpret and negotiate the campus environment and the capital exchanges inherent to the space. Using Bourdieu’s theory of cultural capital and Yosso’s Community Cultural Wealth model, this research critically interrogates how students leverage, preserve, and redefine capital within an academic landscape shaped by neoliberal values. Through participant-generated photo elicitation and semi-structured interviews with five FG students, …

The Challenges Facing Academic Freedom And Free Speech, Keith E. Whittington

Catholic University Law Review

There are growing challenges to free speech and academic freedom on American college campuses. There is pressure from both the political left and the political right to suppress controversial speech on campus, and there are calls to restrict speech that come both from members of the campus community and from those beyond the campus gates. In this difficult environment, it is essential that academics both understand the principles of academic freedom and campus free speech and work to advocate for them.

Transforming Education With Ai: An Exploratory Study Of Faculty Insights On Chatgpt's Opportunities And Risks, Sobaih Abu Elnasr E., Mohamed Naceur Mahjoubi, Riadh Brini, Amer A. N. A. N. Al-Qutaish

An-Najah University Journal for Research - B (Humanities)

Objective: This study explores ChatGPT adoption in higher education, highlighting both its benefits and perceived risks. Method: This research adopts an exploratory and qualitative approach to deeply analyse instructors’ perceptions regarding ChatGPT adoption in higher education. This approach is implemented via semi-structured interviews with 25 faculty members from different nationalities. Result: The findings reveal that ChatGPT improves academic performance, research activities, and training, but also raises concerns about technology dependency, ethical implications, and diminished human interaction. Conclusion: Faculty members emphasize the need for thoughtful and balanced integration of this technology to maximize its benefits while minimizing its potential risks.

Faculty Senate Meeting Minutes Apr 4, 2025, A-State Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Minutes

Meeting minutes for the Faculty Senate held on April 4, 2025.

Jessica "Decky" Alexander, Oral History Interview, 2025, Kat Hacanyan

Oral Histories

Decky Alexander is a professor of drama and theater education and the Director of Engage@EMU. Alexander has become a well known community member across Washtenaw County through her theater education programs and work with organizations like the Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor. She is the founder of CloseUp theater troupe and has been another long time supporter and board member of the Center for Jewish Studies at EMU. In this interview, Alexander talks about her Jewish upbringing in Chicago, the strengths of a good community network, and why having a center like this is especially important at EMU.

Grounding Ai Use In Learning Science: A Conversation With Steven Miller, Steven Miller, Lieven Demeester

CASTLe: Collection of Articles on Scholarship for Teaching and Learning

In this insightful interview, SMU Associate Provost (Teaching and Learning Innovation) Lieven Demeester and Professor Emeritus of Information Systems Steven Miller discuss the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in teaching and learning, emphasising the importance of grounding AI use in the fundamentals of learning science. They explore the evolving role of education in the context of AI advancements, highlighting the need for educators to focus on the cognitive aspects of learning, such as goal-directed practice and feedback. They also address the potential of AI as a collaborative agent in group projects and the importance of maintaining accountability and quality control …

Effectively Advising Students Transitioning Majors, Layna Holk

Higher Education Student Work

Students often feel unprepared for the academic demands of their chosen majors and can experience a lack of sufficient support from advisory practices, in turn feeling overwhelmed in their academic journey (Cody, 2024). Guided by extrinsic and intrinsic motivations alongside their personal orientations, major changes can affect a student’s retention to a school or the higher education institution as a whole (Soria & Stebleton, 2013; Gillis & Ryberg, 2021). To address this challenge, I developed a training program for faculty advisors in Effectively Advising Students Transitioning (EAST) majors. In doing so, I will train faculty to appropriately navigate and effectively …

Disability Rights Are Everyone's Rights, Haley Gould

Development of Western Civilization Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Robin Axelrod, Oral History Interview, 2025, Kat Hacanyan

Oral Histories

Robin Axelrod is CEO of Axelrod Coaching and Consulting and a member of the Center for Jewish Studies advisory board. A licensed social worker and established leader in the Metro-Detroit area, she became part of CJS after first hearing about it while working at the University of Michigan. Axelrod's time with U of M has provided her with a unique insight to the experiences of Jewish college students, which she is able to bring forth into her work in the advisory board here. In this interview, she talks about the things that helped shape her Jewish identity, being one of …

Nsu Kpcom Link - Spring 2025 - Volume 4.1, Nova Southeastern University

NSU Florida Link Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Historic Bedrocks Of Volunteer Recruitment: Collaboration Between The Peace Corps And Higher Education Partners, Melanie Elizabeth Graham

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

In this study I investigate the collaboration between the United States Peace Corps and their higher education partnership institutions, focusing on Peace Corps Prep Programs (PCPP) which aim to recruit, prepare, and retain diverse Peace Corps Volunteers. The inquiry examines the purpose, structure, and process of these collaborations to uncover successes and shortcomings, shedding light on the underlying mechanisms that contribute to effectiveness or hinder progress. A mixed-method, multiple case study methodology, integrating surveys and individual interviews that parallel The Wilder Collaboration Factors Inventory, facilitates an in-depth examination of the intricate dynamics and multifaceted experiences within the collaborative partnerships. By …

Crisis Communication Role In Influencing Student Perceptions Of Safety On Campus, Madison Solomon, Jyanne Guide, Bryce Graham

2025 Honors College Research Symposium

Crisis communication plays a crucial role in shaping student perceptions of safety. Universities across the nation have leveraged new digital communications to alert students in times of emergency, but there are persistent concerns about the timeliness and clarity of these messages, and discrepancies in crime reports. Previous research suggests that delayed and cryptic messages stimulate anxiety, while clear and timely communications foster trust. Building on previous research, we propose a study that inspects the influence of campus safety communication, especially the frequency, channel, and clarity of messages, on students’ perception of safety on North Carolina A&T’s campus. By using archival …

Clark Magazine, Spring/Summer 2025, Clark University

Clark Magazine

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

The cover story is 'A Face Only a Biologist Could Love: The lowly dung beetle and other humble creatures may not be pretty, but to Clark researchers working at the forefront of cancer, climate change, and medicine, they are stars.'

Curriculum Internationalization: Aligned With Equity And Social Justice? Considerations And Perceptions From International Graduate Students In Canada, Siyin Liang

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

No abstract provided.

Perspectives Of Support Services Among Non-Traditional International Students: A Phenomenological Exploration, Christian M. Gallie, Robert A. Griffin

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

No abstract provided.

Book Review Of Empires Of Ideas: Creating The Modern University From Germany To America To China By William C. Kirby (Harvard Up, 2022), Ryan M. Allen

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

No abstract provided.

Institutionalizing Normality: Disability, Productivity, And Higher Education, Ashley Dirzis

Student Theses

This thesis examines how capitalism and neuronormative domination shape the structures and values of academic institutions, affecting faculty, students, and research subjects alike. By privileging productivity, conformity, and efficiency in the pursuit of income, universities often marginalize those who diverge from normative standards of thinking, behavior, and embodiment, particularly disabled individuals. Drawing on Marta Russell’s Disability and Capitalism and the shaping of disability by capitalist systems, Robert Chapman’s notion of the "Empire of Normality" and Jay Dolmage’s concept of the retrofit from Academic Ableism, this paper analyzes how academia reinforces ableist norms. It explores the realities and barriers that …

Deadtime In The Vale Of Soul-Making: Hermeneutics, Humanization, And Higher Education In Prison, Dale Michael Brown

Dissertations

This body of work examines higher education with and for justice-involved people from a descriptive, theoretical, and empirical perspective—pulling together multiple disciplines and employing different methodologies from the humanities and social sciences. The investigation is written from a philosophical perspective via educational foundations and a social science perspective via qualitative research, including an examination of carceral higher education’s connections to teaching and experiential learning. This approach reflects the interdisciplinary nature of both the author’s degree program and the topic itself, which (as a field of academic inquiry) is part theoretical and part empirical (both qualitative and quantitative). The papers in …