Education Commons^™

Off The Rez: Witnessing Indigenous Knowledges Through Social Media, Deborah Hales

Ed.D. Dissertations in Practice

The term “Off the Rez” is used, in the title, to mean research that is not done on a reservation or in urban areas. This study aims to discover if social media can be used as an innovative option for non-Indigenous allies to conduct respectful research. The study research questions were, (1) can social media be used as a research tool, to witness Indigenous Knowledges? (2) Can social media be used as research, by non-Indigenous research allies, to have the least impact on Indigenous communities?

This research was conducted using social media, with selected Indigenous participants who were 18, identified …

Preparing The Future, Healing The Past, & Being In The Moment With Teachers As They Indigenize The Way They Teach, Ramona Halcomb

Ed.D. Dissertations in Practice

This research study will interview participants from the first cohort of the Indigenizing Pedagogy Institute at the University of Washington Tacoma. The current educational system is failing to adequately serve American Indian/Alaska Native Students' Educational needs. Education creates knowledge, develops our political and civic goals, and systemically influences socialization and how we see ourselves and others; it determines our economic future and well-being. We must modify our pedagogy if we are to meet the needs of American Indian/Alaska Native Students.

We Are Stronger Together: Faculty Reflections On Competency-Based High School Completion For Adults In Washington State, Elizabeth J. Flanagan

Ed.D. Dissertations in Practice

Situated in Washington State during the height of the global Covid-19 pandemic, this qualitative, insider-practitioner study examined the instructional context of four instructors engaged in a competency-based, high school completion for adults faculty praxis on community and technical college campuses through a state-supported program called High School+ (HS+). Guided by three areas of inquiry, this research sought to (1) explore how HS+ faculty describe their instructional praxis in the context of personal identity; (2) probe the cultural, structural, and administrative challenges HS+ faculty face when enacting competency-based instruction on community and technical college campuses oriented toward seat-time models of instruction; …

Women With Student Loans: Relational Impacts On Self, Family, And Work, Annie Pocklington

Ed.D. Dissertations in Practice

Abstract

This qualitative study explores the relational impact that student loans have on the lives of women across Washington state, with specific attention to their parents, partners, children, and workplaces. This research utilizes Feminist Relational Work as a theoretical framework, which combines feminist theory and Zelizer’s notion of relational work to attend to the gendered dynamic that Zelizer’s relational work does not specifically name. Participants in this study named sexism as a constant in their lives, whether within family dynamics growing up, throughout the college going process, or in professional post-college spaces that a degree granted them access to. The …

“Tienes Que Ser Bien Educada”: A Call For Art, Reconciliation, And Justice In Education, Eileen Jimenez

Ed.D. Dissertations in Practice

Settler colonialism and colonized methodologies have created systems and power dynamics that continue to allow the holders of power and decision makers to deem what is ethical and what is appropriate as it concerns research of others, but in particular, Indigenous peoples. The voices that are given the most visibility in research are those who conduct and produce research through the paradigm of Western education and with standards of Western research. Settler colonialism has warped the purpose and the responsibility of educators. This study created space for understanding about our collective responsibility in teaching, learning and education for the community …

Fostering Communities For Bipoc Students In Higher Education Spaces: The Impacts Of Targeted Student Supports Services On Racially Hostile Campuses, Kenderick Wilson

Ed.D. Dissertations in Practice

Racially hostile campuses often have significantly different retention rates based on students’ race and ethnicity. Existing literature suggests that a better understanding of the negative impacts of a racially hostile campus climate at public universities can help to improve college outcomes for BIPOC students. BIPOC students may benefit from well-designed systems of support to bolster their retention rates, including a focus on targeting specific populations of students. This study was designed to improve understanding of the impacts of such targeted student supports within a racially hostile campus climate, examining the impact on first year retention rates of BIPOC students at …

Examining Social Capital And Whiteness In A University Community Engagement Network, Bonnie Nelson

Ed.D. Dissertations in Practice

University place-based community engagement initiatives often draw upon diverse stakeholders and organizations. However, these initiatives often uphold systems and structures rooted in Whiteness and oppression. Drawing from Critical Race Theory and social capital theory, this study examined Whiteness, network structure, value, and trust within the Seattle University Youth Initiative (SUYI) Network. The results suggested that the SUYI network had a moderate to high degree of value, where institutional partners were perceived as having significantly more value than nonprofit partners in the network. Additionally, the SUYI network was found to have a high degree of trust, where nonprofits were viewed as …

Still Just White-Framed: Continued Coloniality, Hispanic Serving Institutions, And Latin@/X Students, Ilda Guzman

Ed.D. Dissertations in Practice

Abstract

Throughout the Pacific Northwest there are a total of 12 Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) with an average Latin@/x undergraduate full-time enrollment rate of 33.7 percent. In order to be designated as HSIs, institutions of higher education must have an enrollment rate of 25 percent or more students who identify as Latin@/x. HSIs became recognized in the late 1980s when a small number of higher education institutions enrolled a large number of Latin@/x students, yet did not have the resources to successfully educate the students (Excelencia, 2019). Since then, HSIs have consistently and continuously risen in Latin@/x enrollments. To date, …

Equity By Design And Delivery Model In Online Learning: Educator And Student Perceptions And Behaviors As Leading Indicators Of Systemic Change, Miebeth Bustillo-Booth

Ed.D. Dissertations in Practice

The purpose of this study is to explore educator and student perceptions of and behaviors in the Equity by Design and Delivery (EDD) model and its online courses as leading indicators of systemic change. The EDD model is a pilot intervention to eliminate opportunity to learn gaps at the program level in a mid-sized northwestern college in the United States. It shifts instructional behavior from individual efforts to collective approaches to limit quality variances in online courses, theorized to be a major contributor of missed opportunities to learn at high levels, by developing and delivering reliable quality courses based on …

Institutional Accreditation: Making The Process More Efficient, Effective, And Meaningful To Colleges And Universities, Cynthia J. Requa

Ed.D. Dissertations in Practice

Institutional accreditation is a voluntary, peer-review process that is overseen through the seven institutional accreditors governed by the U.S. Department of Education. The purpose of accreditation is to ensure institutional quality standards are being met by colleges and universities. The purpose of this study was to identify how the accreditation process could be improved with foci on efficiency, effectiveness, and more meaningful impact to the institutions. Drawing on Heifetz et al.’s (2009) theory of adaptive leadership, Kotter’s (2012) accelerators and the integrated planning principles of Stephens (2017) and Immordino et al., (2016), this study employed grounded theory to discover the …

Reflections On Reentry: A Qualitative Study Of Cross-Cultural Reentry Experiences Of International Cultural Exchange Students, Christina Lynn Cox

Ed.D. Dissertations in Practice

This qualitative study explores the reentry experiences of eight J-1 cultural exchange scholars from Bangladesh, Colombia, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, South Africa, and Pakistan. Participants had spent 10 months in the United States as part of a college program designed to promote diplomatic relationships with developing countries. The theoretical framework draws from three major categories in reentry literature: affective, cognitive, and behavioral adjustments. The findings show how changes in habits and behaviors, the expectations of self and others, and changes in worldviews impact perceptions of self and cultural belonging. Also, the findings include a case study of reentry trauma as a …

Asian American Community College Presidents: An Asiancrit Analysis Of Their Approaches To Leadership, Johnny Hu

Ed.D. Dissertations in Practice

This study explores the experiences of five current and former Asian American community college presidents including their career transitions into executive leadership using an AsianCrit analysis for framing their narrative experiences. The literature review situates the experiences of Asian American community college presidents in various contexts by providing a brief summary of several historical moments and political movements that have shaped the realities they currently confront as higher education leaders. This study employed a Critical Race Theory (CRT) approach to counter storytelling to analyze the participants’ narratives both individually and thematically based on their social identities as Asian Americans and …

Reframing Internationalization: Faculty Beliefs And Teaching Practices, Marco Tulluck

Ed.D. Dissertations in Practice

This study applies Critical Race Theory as a critical lens to gain a clearer understanding of highly racialized policies and teaching practices around international student engagement in US higher education. The findings help to inform higher education leaders of how to support faculty to foster more inclusive and affirming learning environments for international students of color and other diverse student populations.

This mixed methods study employed a modified version of the Colorblind and Multicultural Ideology of STEM Faculty Measure as well as focus group interviews to gain a more complex understanding of how university faculty members’ beliefs align with colorblind …

Experiences Of African American Women In Washington State’S Applied Baccalaureate Programs: A Mixed Methods Study, Stefanie Mcirvin

Ed.D. Dissertations in Practice

As the nation continues to strive for excellence in higher education at home and abroad, baccalaureate degree attainment remains a steady and consistent goal. Public community and technical colleges play a vital role in achieving this goal by offering applied baccalaureate programs at two-year institutions. Despite Washington State being a national leader in applied baccalaureate programs, disparities in enrollment and completion for minoritized women exist. These disparities are particularly prominent for African American women. The purpose of this mixed methods study was to explore the enrollment considerations, challenges faced, and student support services utilized by African American women in applied …

Let's Be Blunt: Substance Use Among Black Male Student-Athletes, Elizabeth Griffin

Ed.D. Dissertations in Practice

Extensive research has been conducted on substance use within college athletics. However, a gap in the literature exists that does not specifically explore substance use among Black male student-athletes. This qualitative study seeks to answer the following research questions: (a) What do Black male student-athletes identify as reasons for engaging in substance use? (b) Do Black male student-athletes see substance use as a problem? If so, what supports would they envision needing to change their behavior? (c) Is there a perceived and/or experienced relationship between substance use and exploitation of Black male student-athletes? Ten Division I current and former Black …

Social Constructivism: An Andragogical Praxis For Critical Thinking Instruction And Evaluation With Graduate Social Work Students, Luella Loudenback

Ed.D. Dissertations in Practice

Critical thinking skills are requisite for graduate social work students to transition competently into professional practice. This mixed methods study was conducted to explore current instruction and evaluation methods for critical thinking skill development. The extent to which faculty perceived changes in student outcomes since the 2015 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards change related to critical thinking skills, was also studied. This study was designed to link critical thinking and social work education in the context of social constructivism as an andragogical praxis for the development of critical thinking skills. The quantitative findings were interpreted to identify multiple approaches for …

Beyond Bathrooms: Exploring The Negative Impact Of Hostile Campus Climates On Queer Students, Deaglan An

Global Honors Theses

Anti-Queer violence is a form of systemic oppression that exists on a global level. This paper focuses on anti-Queer violence in higher education, how hostile campus climates impact Queer students, and what communities can do to reduce anti-Queer violence at their institutions. Queer students who deal with hostile campus climates, experience anti-Queer violence from their fellow students, staff and faculty, and their institutions. Students who experience anti-Queer violence can experience emotional distress. This emotional distress can result in students preforming poorly academically, silencing their Queer identities to feel safer on campus, and can result in students leaving their academic institutions. …

Harnessing Emotions: The Critical Role Of Emotional Intelligence For Community College Leaders, Lauren Hibbs, Valerie M. Sundby-Thorp

Ed.D. Dissertations in Practice

More than ten million students are enrolled each year in public two-year colleges in the United States. Community colleges are faced with unprecedented accountability for student progression and completion. In Washington State, the work of academic and student services deans is critical to the success of public two-year colleges. Mayer and Salovey’s (1997) ability model of emotional intelligence and the related work of Goleman (1998), and Mayer, Salovey, and Caruso (2008) suggest that the development of emotional intelligence has the potential to positively impact the effectiveness of these community college leaders. This study asks broadly, what are the perceptions, beliefs, …

Responding To Their Voice: The Needs Of Postsecondary Students With Intellectual And/Or Developmental Disability, Lucretia A. Berg

Ed.D. Dissertations in Practice

Young adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD) enter postsecondary education (PSE) at increasing rates. Many continue to demonstrate persisting adaptive behavior needs that impede academic and employment outcomes. This qualitative case study explored one Northwest PSE program educating students with IDD regarding persisting adaptive behavior needs and whether the needs fell under the purview of occupational therapy (OT). It was the researcher’s assumption that gaining an understanding of student needs would provide cognizance of potential OT services. Thirty-two participants were recruited through both purposive and snowball sampling including: administrators; instructors; related services providers; parents or guardians; and students. In …

Race Matters: Occupational Therapy As A Career Choice By High School Students Of Color, Kirsten L. Wilbur

Ed.D. Dissertations in Practice

Abstract

This critical ethnographic study examined occupational therapy as a field that has maintained the historic exclusion of students of color through mainstream professional academic practice. In particular this paper explores systemic barriers that influence secondary to post-secondary pipeline decisions for urban, high school students of color. The tenets of critical race and Freirean critical theory guided analysis of the data collected from field notes, individual interviews and focus group discussions. Three categories representing student experiences with making post-secondary decisions emerged from the study: (a) navigating the system, (b) making choices, and (c) no interest in healthcare. Additional findings including …

Uncovering Inequalities: Addressing The (Re)Production Of Power Relations Within Financial Aid Processes Utilizing Institutional Ethnography, Victoria A. Hill

MAIS Projects and Theses

The purpose of this research project is to critically map the University of Washington’s institutional practices concerning financial aid and related administrative policies and procedures related to the FAFSA application. This research was conducted by using institutional ethnography as a method to analyze the difficulty of carrying out organizational duties under complex federal, state and institutional policies. It also considers how the process of carrying out these duties creates tensions for staff, and how the unintended consequences of power relations are produced and reproduced between the process of staff carrying out their duties and students receiving aid. Information obtained from …

Black Student Union Demands: A Response To Racially Hostile Campus Climates, Beleqsa Tamaami

Global Honors Theses

This paper looks at how college campuses across the globe foster racially hostile climates that negatively impact Black students’ college experience both in and outside the classroom. I use Critical Race Theory (CRT) as an analytical framework to examine Black college students demands in response to their experiences with racism on campus. For this thesis, colleges include community colleges, four-year institutions, and universities. In my findings I break down my analysis of the list of Black Student Union (BSU) Demands by looking at how Black college students challenge and respond to a racial climate in both Academic and Student Affairs. …

Multiculturalism And Student Retention: Designing The Identity, Culture, And Inclusion Leadership Certificate Program To Ignite Critical Engagement, Sonja C. Morgan

MAIS Projects and Theses

The purpose of this project is to design, propose, and receive funding to establish a critical multicultural leadership program for students at Pierce College Puyallup that will promote campus-wide diversity and social justice engagement. Named the Identity, Culture, and Inclusion Leadership Certificate, this extracurricular program is intentionally grounded in critical race, student retention, student development, and engagement theories to facilitate the integration of academic multicultural content with practical leadership application. This project was conducted by a student services professional working at a predominately white suburban community college in Washington State.