Education Commons^™

Elements Of Early Warning Systems: Identifying Students Who Need Support Early Enough To Change Their Trajectory Towards Graduation, Samantha Mayse

Culminating Experience Projects

Student success initiatives have been a focus at many institutions of higher education to help with retention rates but identifying the students who need the student success resources most can be challenging. Scholarships increase access to higher education but do not necessarily contribute to student success. Thus, this research project sought to analyze early alert systems used by mid-sized universities in the U.S. Midwest to help similar institutions in developing their own early alert system. Using mixed methods, this study included a qualitative analysis of institution’s policies and procedures for early warning systems and a quantitative analysis of GVSU institutional …

Exploring Graduate Student Mental Health And Service Utilization By Gender, Race, And Year In School, Mikhila N. Wildey, Meghan E. Fox, Kelly A. Machnik, Deborah Ronk

Peer Reviewed Articles

Objective: The current study explored differences in mental health problems, services utilization, and support of graduate students by gender, race/ethnicity, and year in school.

Participants: Participants consisted of 734 graduate students from a large, Midwestern university.

Methods: Graduate students answered a series of questionnaires in fall 2021 assessing their mental health, services utilization, and perception of services.

Results: Women (vs men) and participants in their second year and beyond (vs first year) reported greater mental health problems, negative impact of the pandemic, and more services utilization. White (vs non-White) participants reported greater negative impact of the pandemic, greater services utilization, …

Teaching With The Genius In Mind: Enacting Literacy As A Civil Right, Katie Glupker, Pam Gower, Angela Knight

Language Arts Journal of Michigan

Because literacy is a civil right, educators are responsible for designing and implementing literacy education that is designed with the excellence of all students in mind. In order to learn about ways to ensure that literary practices are equitable for all students, the authors joined an educators’ book club to read Cultivating Genius: An Equity Framework for Culturally and Historically Responsive Literacy by Gholdy Muhammad. Muhammad describes the Black literary societies of the past and challenges educators of today to enhance classrooms by upholding equity and excellence through a five-layered framework: Identity, Skills, Intellect, Criticality, and Joy.

We studied Muhammad’s …

Resiliency In The Shadows Of The Ivory Tower: Examining The Strategies Utilized By Undocumented Students To Succeed In Higher Education, Estefany Paniagua-Pardo M.Ed

Masters Theses

Undocumented students experience uniquely distinctive barriers in their pursuit of postsecondary education. The purpose of this study was to explore the ways in which undocumented students make meaning of their lived experiences by examining the various dimensions of their educational journey outside of the broader legal and political context. The study specifically highlighted undocumented student stories to investigate the strategies used by individuals to survive, persevere, and navigate institutions of higher education. Rooted in Yosso’s (2005) Community Cultural Wealth Model, this qualitative study used semi-structured interview methodology to unveil the ways in which undocumented students utilize numerous and intersecting forms …

The Case For Oer As The Advancement Of Knowledge/Creative Expression, Amber Dierking, Matt Ruen, Steven Schlicker

Library Reports and Communication

The nature of scholarly and creative activity, at Grand Valley State University and across the higher education sector, is rapidly evolving. Amidst this ongoing transformation, the characteristics of OER – free access plus permission for adaptation – empower Grand Valley’s teacher-scholars to share their expertise with a global audience and simultaneously remove barriers to education for Lakers.

This memo, submitted for consideration by the University Academic Senate at GVSU, argues that the creation of OER can demonstrate several of the forms of scholarly activity described by Boyer (1990) as well as the criteria established for the Advancement of Knowledge or …

Invisible, Yet Criminal: Best Practices For Supporting Student Sex Workers Throughout Higher Education, Anthony Alan Ruegsegger

Culminating Experience Projects

While it is not new information that college students may engage in sex work throughout their academic careers, it still remains a somewhat taboo topic throughout academia and higher education in the United States. Student sex workers face institutional and societal barriers typically associated with minoritized identities, and post-secondary institutions rarely have resources in place to support these students. This project aims to help bridge this gap by utilizing the polymorphous paradigm and an anti-savior lens to create a list of best practices for higher education faculty, staff, and administrators to better support students that are engaging in sex work. …

How Sense Of Belonging Impacts Student Retention: Examining The Experience Of First-Generation Latino/A/X Students Attending Pwis, Maria R. Raab

Culminating Experience Projects

Latinx students’ admission rates have increased in most recent years however, Latinx

students still have the lowest degree attainment compared to other ethnic/racial groups (Rodriguez et al., 2021). Research reveals sense of belonging has an impact on retention for first- generation Latino/a/x students attending Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs). Latinx students gain sense of belonging through the support of their peers, faculty, and the institution’s commitment to providing safe campus spaces. The primary purpose of this project is to understand the challenges first-generation Latinx students face and where institutions can provide resources like peer mentor programs to close the degree attainment …

Addressing First-Generation College Students’ Gap In Financial Literacy Through The First-Year Seminar, Mary G. Wright

Culminating Experience Projects

There is a gap in the financial literacy of first-generation college students. Research on first-generation college students and their unique barriers to financial resources, financial literacy, financial aid, and first-year seminars is reviewed. Research indicates that higher education funding, first-generation students’ intersecting identities, and the unique barriers related to their identities impact first-generation college students’ ability to succeed in higher education. A first-year seminar is proposed with financial literacy topics threaded throughout the entirety of the course and a financial literacy unit to address the gap in financial literacy. First-generation college students graduate at disproportionately low rates in comparison to …

Supporting Transitions: Success Interventions For Transfer Students, Jessica C. Fillmore

Culminating Experience Projects

The purpose of this project was to explore the barriers associated with transferring to a four year institution, and offer potential solutions to better support transfer student success. When students transfer to a new institution, they face a multitude of potential barriers in the pursuit of a degree. These challenges can range from difficulty adjusting to a new environment to issues with credit transfers and efficient degree completion. Through a review of literature addressing this transition I have suggested a Transfer Experience Course that can serve as a success intervention to better improve transfer student success at a new institution.

The Transfer Equity Program A Plan To Increase Baccalaureate Attainment For Students Of Color, Olivia M. Knodel

Masters Theses

The primary goal of a higher education institution is to provide students with a quality education and help them obtain a bachelor’s degree. By earning a bachelor’s degree this provide an opportunity of a social mobility. The racial institutional stratification in higher education continues to be problematic for underrepresented students and their baccalaureate attainment goals. This issue is important to address, for students of color who start at a community college and transfer to a degree granting institution. The project will explain institutional barriers that students of color face in their post-secondary transition. The project will offer specific services and …

The Transfer Equity Program A Plan To Increase Baccalaureate Attainment For Students Of Color, Knodel M. Knodel

Culminating Experience Projects

The primary goal of a higher education institution is to provide students with a quality education and help them obtain a bachelor’s degree. By earning a bachelor’s degree this provide an opportunity of a social mobility. The racial institutional stratification in higher education continues to be problematic for underrepresented students and their baccalaureate attainment goals. This issue is important to address, for students of color who start at a community college and transfer to a degree granting institution. The project will explain institutional barriers that students of color face in their post- secondary transition. The project will offer specific services …

Promoting Transfer Student Success Through Comprehensive Orientation Programming At Gvsu, Berkley E. Bretschneider

Culminating Experience Projects

Research has shown that transfer students have lower retention and graduation rates than students who stay at the same institution for the duration of their college enrollment. Transfer students are a diverse group of students that face unique challenges when transitioning to a new institution, particularly when coming from a two-year school to a four-year college or university. This project examines common issues experienced in transition and explores best practices to set transfer students up for success at receiving institutions. Focusing on early academic advising, peer mentoring, and exposure to campus resources, this project restructures the current Transfer Advising and …

The Influence Of Black Identity Development On Academic Achievement Of Black College Students At Pwis, Abbey Rae Jerome

Culminating Experience Projects

Past and present literature suggests that racial identity development has a presumably positive influence on Black students’ academic achievement in college settings. The literature also shows that Black students continue to underperform in academic settings when compared to their White counterparts. Throughout this literature and development of an intervention, these issues begin to merge as racial identity development is linked to academic achievement at PWIs. This project explores what exactly it means to develop Black Identity in college, and why this is impacting academic achievement among Black students. Through identification of these issues, a course will be designed in order …

An Examination Of Mental Health In First-Year College Students, Emily Jolin Luettke

Masters Theses

Research shows that first-year college students are likely to struggle with their transition into a higher education institution, which can lead to an influx of various mental health issues. This project explores factors that impact the adjustment to college as well as examines barriers that individuals face that keep them from seeking professional help. As mental health issues are on the rise, especially with the occurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is crucial to have conversations with students on mental health. The goal is to educate students in an effort to reduce mental health stigma and share information about resources …

Managing Mental Health Risks On Short-Term Study Abroad Programs: A Faculty Development Approach, Katherine A. Hoffswell

Culminating Experience Projects

Over the past several decades, the increase in college students participating in study abroad programming has coincided with the increase in students reporting issues with their mental health. Faculty directors who lead short-term study abroad trips are responsible for creating a safe environment that supports student health, wellbeing, and learning while abroad. However, literature suggests that many faculty directors feel unprepared to address issues with student mental health as they facilitate their programs. This project seeks to improve faculty director competency and confidence regarding mental health risk management abroad through the creation and implementation of a virtual professional development series. …

Food Insecurity Of Community College Students: Addressing Barriers To Improve Persistence And Retention, Erin M. Van Egmond

Culminating Experience Projects

Food insecurity is a non-academic barrier that must be considered when determining factors affecting students’ persistence and retention in college. Through the literature reviewed, food insecurity of community college students and the impact and barriers they face is explored in detail. The proposed solution addresses the stigma and lack of awareness regarding food insecurity resources available on campuses. Targeted communication with all students at the start of each semester will allow individuals to assess their level of food security. Depending on the level of food security, a targeted communication plan will follow providing information on resources available. Faculty and staff …

Improving Career Readiness And Employability Of College Graduates, Megan Packer

Culminating Experience Projects

Research shows that current college graduates are lacking in skills related to career readiness and employability upon graduation. Due to this, college students are entering the workforce and are landing in jobs that either do not require a college degree or are not the role that they hoped for upon graduation. In relation, career development as a whole is lacking in the college experience. This project will discuss the current state of employability and career readiness of college graduates. It will dive into potential methods and strategies for improving career readiness and career development of college students within higher education …

Struggling: The Struggles Of Queer And Trans* Students In Higher Edcuation, Giavonna Ward

Culminating Experience Projects

Queer and trans* students tend to struggle during their time at higher education institutions. They face struggles in various areas of their academic experience including their mental health struggles, in their social and academic integration, and in their experiences with housing and residence life. All these areas could lead to the lack of retention for queer and trans* students in higher education. This project aims to mitigate these struggles through the creation of an intentionally built living-learning community. The community, entitled Thrive, is designed specifically to acknowledge, and help diminish the struggles that queer and trans* students face according to …

2021-2022 Michigan Council Of Charter School Authorizers (Mccsa) Annual Report, Bay Mills Community College, Central Michigan University, Detroit Public Schools Community District, Eastern Michigan University, Ferris State University, Grand Valley State University, Lake Superior State University, Northern Michigan University, Oakland University, Saginaw Valley State University

CSO Related Reports

No abstract provided.

2022 Portfolio Performance Report: Innovation In Learning, Grand Valley State University

Portfolio Performance Reports

No abstract provided.