Education Commons^™

Induction Programming For Novice Special Education Directors: The Significance Of Informal Supports In The Absence Of Formal Structures, Julie E. Rottier-Lukens

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The role and responsibilities of a special education director are unique and highly complex when compared to other district-level leadership roles. Since the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) passed in 1975, states gradually increased requirements for certification of these administrative roles, more clearly defining the criteria and standards to incorporate within preparation programs. Despite improvements in preparation programs for special education directors, there continues to be variation in preparation and certification requirements across states and persistent challenges with shortages of special education directors. After completing a preparation program, what support exists for novice special education directors to help them …

2026-06-12 Agenda Booklet, Morehead State University. Board Of Regents.

Morehead State Board of Regents Agenda Books and Meeting Minutes

Agenda booklet for the Board of Regents meeting of June 12, 2026, held in Prestonsburg, which includes the meeting minutes of the meeting held on March 27, 2026.

Higher Education Institutions In U.S. Blockchain Innovation Governance Documents, Clarissa Terracciano

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Blockchain technologies have attracted growing attention as an evolution of digital recordkeeping, prompting interest in higher education governance, credentialing, and data management. Yet, no systematic analysis exists on how U.S. government blockchain documents define institutional roles and governance authority within higher education institutions. As the national blockchain innovation system expands through governance infrastructure, the inclusion of higher education institutions as governing actors is imperative for coherent and equitable deployment. This qualitative study examines what roles the U.S. government blockchain documents assign to higher education institutions within the national blockchain innovation system.

Using innovation systems theory, particularly the triple-helix model of …

20260612: School Service Bureau & List Of School Plays, 1897-1925, President's Office

Guides to University Archives

These items include materials from the office of the President at Marshall University from 1897-1925. Items were received in the 1980s sometime but were not processed until 2026. Items in this collection include notable materials including 14 brochures and handouts of "school plays." Although unsure why they were with the president's papers, they do document the events taking place at Marshall in an early era. Also included is the Marshall College School Service Bureau (brochures and pamphlets from 1924-1925) and a list of community speakers. Please download the inventory for a complete list of the contents.

20260611: Institutional Advisory Board, 1971-1983, President's Office

Guides to University Archives

These items include materials from the office of the President at Marshall University from 1971-1983. Items were received in the 1980s at some point and include notable materials including notes from the Presidential Advisory Board in 1971 and 1983 respectively, and from the Presidential search in 1983. Please download the inventory for a complete list of the contents.

20260610: Academic Affairs, 1995-1996, Academic Affairs

Guides to University Archives

These items include materials from the office of Academic Affairs at Marshall University from the 1995-1996 Academic Year. Items were received in 1997 and were processed in 2026. Materials from the Accreditation self-study from the 1995-1996 school year are present in this collection. There are two copies of this report.

Resource Utilisation And Quality Of Education In Secondary Schools In Lagos State, Nigeria, Jacob A. Adeyanju

International Journal for Research in Education

The need for the education sector to deliver on its goals has always been a major expectation of all stakeholders in the system. For this expectation to be met, the major resources in the school system must be combined in a reasonable proportion. On this premise, this study investigated the relationship between resource utilisation and quality of education in Lagos State. The study was conducted using descriptive survey research design with a population of 664 public secondary schools in Lagos State, Nigeria. These schools had a total population of 23,793 teachers. A self-developed instrument titled “Education Resource Utilisation and Quality …

Intersectional Inequalities In College Savings And Educational Outcomes Across Race/Ethnicity, Immigrant Status, And Gender: A Quant-Crit Analysis, Jason Jabbari, Ibrahim Habiba, Mat Despard, Somalis Chy

Journal of Student Financial Aid

As families use savings to further their children’s education, education serves as both a key driver of wealth and an artifact of wealth itself. Despite these cyclical relationships and the ways in which education and wealth are stratified across gender, race/ethnicity, and immigration, there is little intersectional research exploring these relationships. We employ a quantitative critical approach and leverage the first nationally representative longitudinal survey that includes information on high school achievement, college savings, borrowing, college enrollment, and major of study. We first demonstrate how race-gender and immigrant-gender intersectional groups experience disadvantages in college savings and in educational outcomes. We …

Called To Accuracy, Brick By Brick: Recordkeeping And Reporting Amid Cultural Pressures And Training Gaps, Amber L. Wilson, Sarah J. Boettger, Janet K. Brown, Kjell Fenn, Jessica E. Kuehne, David L. Ream

Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

This research investigates how faculty at Christian higher education interpret the impact of expected recordkeeping and reporting. The purpose of this study is to explore the perceptions and expectations of recordkeeping and reporting that impact job satisfaction. By examining recordkeeping and reporting and the influence of culture as key factors affecting job satisfaction in Christian higher education, insights were gathered through six faculty member interviews. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews, journals, and discussion board posts. This transcendental phenomenological study sought to explore the lived experiences of six faculty members at a large private Christian university in the southeastern …

Defining Success Differently: The Clear Model For Allied Health Admissions, Ladarius Woods

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

This opinion paper argues that threshold-based lottery admissions offer a strategically necessary response to equity challenges, enrollment pressures, and evolving definitions of merit in allied health education. Current admissions models, whether traditional or holistic, often reflect underlying tensions between academic metrics and institutional missions and may unintentionally privilege certain applicant groups. As demographic shifts and the looming enrollment cliff intensify these pressures, allied health programs must reconsider how they define and identify admissions excellence. Drawing on examples from other sectors and recent literature, this opinion piece argues that a threshold-based lottery system, applied to applicants who meet baseline academic criteria, …

Provost’S Scholarly Dissemination Report: Une Authored Publications February 1, 2026, Through May 1, 2026, Une Office Of The Provost

UNE Provost's Reports

Scholarly dissemination report of UNE-authored publications during the period of February 1, 2026, through May 1, 2026. Prepared for the Academic, Student, and Research Affairs Committee Provost’s Report, June 2026.

Provost’S Media Report February 16 – May 12, 2026, Une Office Of The Provost

UNE Provost's Reports

Report of UNE media appearances during the period of February 16, 2026 through May 12, 2026. Prepared for the Academic, Student, and Research Affairs Committee Provost’s Report, June 2026.

Balancing Act: How Graduate Student Mothers Navigate Dual Roles, Jessica Seymour

ETDs from 2020-2029

Graduate student mothers represent a growing but often overlooked population within higher education. While research has examined the experiences of undergraduate student parents, significantly less attention has been given to graduate students who balance academic responsibilities with motherhood. This study explores the experiences of graduate student mothers enrolled at public four-year institutions, focusing on the institutional, financial, and social barriers that shape their academic success and participation in campus life. Using a phenomenological approach, this research seeks to understand how graduate student mothers navigate the dual roles of parenting and pursuing advanced degrees. The study employs a Borderland Theoretical Framework …

Stories Of Social Transformation And Resistance: A Narrative Inquiry Into The Culturally Sustaining Practices Of Teachers Of Color, Daniel E. Hernandez

Theses and Dissertations

In the United States, persistent inequities in schooling have intensified the need for asset-based  frameworks, such as culturally sustaining pedagogies (CSP), to support students from  communities that have been historically racialized and minoritized. At the same time, growing  political and social resistance to practices of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) has created  barriers for schools and teachers seeking to implement culturally responsive approaches to  teaching and learning. Using narrative inquiry, this dissertation explores the stories of three culturally  sustaining teachers of color to understand how they enact resistance and pursue social  transformation in their classrooms and schools. Through an examination …

Centering Well-Being And Wholeness: Exploring Racial Battle Fatigue Among Black 3-K To Twelfth-Grade Teachers, Olubunmi Fashusi

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative case study, with some descriptive statistics, examined Black 3-K through 12th- grade teachers’ experiences with racial battle fatigue (RBF), the psychological and behavioral stress responses they perceived most accurately convey how RBF manifests for them, and the strategies they used to disrupt RBF’s impact. Participants experienced compounded RBF due to advocating for students (i.e., speaking out, supporting, or intervening). Participants’ most perceived psychological stress response to RBF was racism awareness, and most perceived behavioral stress response was spirituality or religion. Participants disrupted the impact of RBF through intrinsic care (i.e., purpose or why, managing emotions, and self-care) and …

New York State Excelsior Scholarship Program: A Post-Implementation Analysis Of Student Success, Eligibility, And Indebtedness – An Intersectional Study Of Black And White Female Students, Marcus I. Richardson

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The New York State (NYS) Excelsior Scholarship Program, introduced in 2017, was designed as a “first-in-the-nation” tuition-free initiative intended to expand college affordability for undergraduate students attending public institutions in New York State. While the program aims to increase access to higher education, its eligibility requirements, particularly the expectation that students complete 30 credits annually through continuous full-time enrollment, may disadvantage students whose academic pathways diverge from traditional enrollment patterns. This study examined the relationship between structural, financial, and academic factors and students’ ability to retain Excelsior Scholarship eligibility at the City University of New York (CUNY). Using institutional data …

Evaluating Equity In 9th And 10th Grade Ela Instruction, Alana Brown

Dissertations

Persistent racial disparities in English Language Arts (ELA) achievement remain a critical challenge in secondary education, particularly for Black students. This mixed-methods study examined the reading proficiency gap between Black and White students in Grades 9 and 10 on the state under study’s reading assessment. The purpose was to identify effective instructional strategies, necessary resources, and implementation processes to reduce the gap and ensure sustainability. Findings indicated that culturally responsive instruction, targeted intervention, and data-informed instructional coaching improved student engagement and reading performance. However, inconsistent implementation and limited early literacy foundations remained significant barriers. Recommendations include strengthening professional learning communities, …

The Impact Of Wicor Strategies On Academic Achievement In Secondary Classrooms, Neketa G. Watson

Dissertations

This mixed-methods study examined the impact of Writing, Inquiry, Collaboration, Organization, and Reading (WICOR) instructional strategies on academic achievement and student learning in secondary schools. Conducted within a large, diverse school district, the study explored teacher and administrator perceptions of WICOR implementation and examined student achievement data across three secondary schools. Data were collected through Likert-scale surveys from 29 teachers and five administrators, semi-structured interviews with five administrators, and three years of extant state assessment data. Findings revealed strong positive perceptions of WICOR’s effectiveness in promoting student engagement, critical thinking, instructional consistency, and academic success. Participants also identified implementation challenges …

Leading With Emotional Intelligence: Strengthening Leadership Effectiveness In Early Childhood Education, Christy L. Martin

Dissertations

This study examined the role of emotional intelligence (EI) in leadership effectiveness within early childhood education settings. Leadership in these contexts involves navigating complex relationships, staff stress, and organizational demands, yet leadership preparation often emphasizes technical skills over emotional competencies. The study explored how EI influences leadership effectiveness and how reflective practices support leadership development. Guided by the question How does emotional intelligence impact leadership effectiveness?, the study used a mixed-methods design. Quantitative data were collected through an EI Inventory of Practices self-assessment measuring four EI domains, and qualitative data were gathered through semi-structured interviews. Findings suggest emotionally intelligent …

20260601: Dr. John Deaver Drinko Academy Records, 1892-2020, John Deaver Drinko Academy

Guides to University Archives

These items include materials from the office of the John Deaver Drinko Academy at Marshall University from 1892-2020. Items were received in 2026 from Dr. Montserrat Miller, the Executive Director of the Drinko Academy from 2018-2026. Included in this collection are historic documents from her time as faculty but primarily from her time in the Drinko Academy and the departments earlier records. There are lots of photographs, honors college receptions, assorted media like VHS and DVDs regarding various events, among a host of other content from former Drinko Academy EDs. Please download the finding aid for a full list of …

Invisible Students, Visible Consequences: Leadership Under Fte Funding, Derek Bryant

Inquiry: The Journal of the Virginia Community Colleges

The full-time equivalent (FTE) funding model used by the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) serves as a structural constraint that misaligns financial incentives with the missions of the 23 member institutions within it. This qualitative, descriptive phenomenological study, through interviews with system- and college-level leaders, found that this model underserves part-time, adult, and workforce students while simultaneously contributing to a resource instability that prioritizes enrollment over student success. The study concludes that any reform must require a redesigned funding model that first makes institutions whole, with a stable operational baseline of funding, by incorporating broader enrollment measures that better align …

Beyond Shutdown: Why Punitive Policies Fail Students With Oppositional Defiant Behaviors And What Alternative Schools Should Do Instead, Mark Barrett

Critical and Creative Thinking Capstones Collection

Punitive shutdown policies at therapeutic alternative schools often do not reduce class avoidance among students with oppositional defiant behaviors. This synthesis examines why these policies do not work and proposes evidence-based alternatives. I draw on research in exclusionary discipline, Collaborative and Proactive Solutions, Self-Determination Theory, and function-based intervention, as well as my daily experience as a behavioral teacher. I argue that punitive approaches fail because they misunderstand what drives oppositional behavior. Deterrence assumes students avoid class to escape work and will return if the consequences are harsh enough. In reality, students with oppositional defiant disorder are mainly motivated by resisting …

Should I Stay Or Should I Go?: A Phenomenological Case Study Of Teacher Turnover In An Urban School Merger, Haven Jones

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

School mergers are becoming a more common occurrence in urban school districts within the U.S., as an attempt to address student enrollment declines and resulting budgetary concerns. Yet very little research has been conducted to understand how the context of a school merger influences known K-12 education phenomena, such as the teacher turnover decision-making process. This study utilized a phenomenological case study approach to explore the impact of a school merger on teacher turnover within a specific middle school-high school merger in a Northeastern city. Fifteen teacher participants were interviewed and three primary source documents were analyzed to determine what …

20260529: Geography Materials, 1938-1982, College Of Liberal Arts

Guides to University Archives

These items include materials from the Geography Department at Marshall University from 1938-1982. Items were received in 1982 and include notable materials from professor Frances C. Burgess, Professor Sam Clagg, Mack Gillenwater, GEO 206 Geography of WV; some student papers, and geography department brochures and promotional materials.This is not an exhaustive list. Please download the finding aid for a full list of contents.

20260527: Buildings And Grounds, 1965-2001, Buildings And Grounds

Guides to University Archives

These items include materials from what is now known as Physical Plant and Facilities at Marshall University from 1965-2001. Items were received in the early 2000s and include notable materials about the architectural and structural specifications of buildings in 1967 as well as the specifications for the addition to the Morrow Library building in 1965. Further, the MU Office of Public Safety Annual report is contained therewithin this collection from 1995. Additional materials included some Faculty and Staff Directories.This is not an exhaustive list, but the attached inventory will give a broad overview of what is contained in each of …

20260526: Office Of Personnel, 1958-2001, Human Resources

Guides to University Archives

These items include materials from the office of Human Resources at Marshall University from 1958-2001. Items were received in the early 2000s and processed in 2026. Items in this collection include Office of Placement Bulletins; Office of Placement Annual Reports; Employment Opportunities Bulletins; The Job Place Newsletter; Career Link and The Career Source; Faculty and Staff Directories; Job Opportunity Bulletins; and Staff Council Minutes. Please download inventory for full list of contents.

Dreams Intervention Program: A Web-Based Classroom For Universal Human Values (Uhv), Roseline Florence Gomes, Lijo Thomas, Preethi Nanjundan

Northeast Journal of Complex Systems (NEJCS)

The study investigated the implementation and processes of the DREAMS Intervention Program (DIP) web-based classroom model for understanding Universal Human Values (UHV) among college-going youth mentors. The DREAMS (Desire, Readiness, Empowerment, Action, Mastery for Success) Intervention Program (DIP) is a transformative five-stage model that fosters psychosocial development and leadership skills among children and adolescents. This evidence-based three-year After-School-Program (ASP) was guided through the theoretical lens of motivation, goal-setting, and self-determination that pairs middle school underperformers with college-going youth mentors and senior adults from local communities. Universal Human Values (UHV) are deep-rooted values that are needed in the contemporary educational system …

Part-Time Faculty In Art And Design Higher Education: Support & Challenges, Katherine Ye Jin Lee

Masters Theses

This thesis investigates the challenge part-time faculty in art and design higher education face and the institutional support they receive through a case study conducted at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). Through an extensive, anonymous and voluntary part-time faculty survey across different departments at RISD, it examines: 1) current perceptions of available institutional & departmental teaching support, 2) teaching approach & practice, and 3) student-faculty engagement. The research aimed to gather data on challenges that are unique to part-time faculty in art and design fields, especially in relation to faculty-student engagement to understand areas where they can be better …

Critical Connections: An Evaluation And Envisioning Of Partnership Between Art Museums, Schools, & Central Offices, Bennett R. Portillo

Masters Theses

This thesis investigates systemic impediments to implementing partnerships between schools, art museums, and school districts’ central offices. This research suggests cross-sector connection and worker solidarity as strategies for resisting extremists efforts to de-coordinate the U.S. education system. Research methods include a review of existing literature and interviews with practitioners for the purpose of identifying shared values, challenges, and misconceptions in partnerships. From an anti-deficit perspective, the data analysis critically evaluates educational non-profits’ corporate values and re-centers practitioners' interpersonal investments.

Rainbow Promises, Uneven Promises: Framing Lgbtqia+ Educational Policy And Possibility In Education, Gerardo Lorenzo-Saucedo

Dissertations

Despite the expansion of LGBTQIA+ inclusive policies in K-12 education, disparities in students’ experiences with safety and belonging persist. This qualitative case study examines how such policies are interpreted and enacted within a high school and district in Southern California, and how these processes shape LGBTQIA+ students’ experiences.

Guided by ecological systems theory, queer theory, and multiple streams theory, this study conceptualizes policy implementation as a dynamic and socially constructed process influenced by power, ideology, and institutional context. Data were collected through interviews, document and artifact analysis, and observations, with analysis that used a multi-phased coding procedure.

Findings revealed that …