Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Education Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Articles 1 - 30 of 32

Full-Text Articles in Education

Pedagogical Development For Non-Degreed Career And Technical Education Adjunct Faculty: A Phenomenological Study, Robert M. Huffman Mar 2024

Pedagogical Development For Non-Degreed Career And Technical Education Adjunct Faculty: A Phenomenological Study, Robert M. Huffman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative transcendental phenomenological study is to explore how non-degreed career and technical adjunct faculty members nourish their pedagogical skillsets so that they can teach at the community college level. Throughout this research study, nourishment of pedagogical skillsets is generally defined as professional development. The theories guiding this study are Mezirow’s transformational learning theory as it focuses on transitioning into a new role, and Tinto’s theory of dropout, as it focuses on persistence and success. This qualitative study employs Moustakas’ transcendental phenomenology research design. The qualitative research design was chosen due to the nature of the purpose …


Interactive Textbooks: A Study On The Effects On Learning Gains And Course Grades Among Community College Minority Students, Victoria C. Brower Aug 2022

Interactive Textbooks: A Study On The Effects On Learning Gains And Course Grades Among Community College Minority Students, Victoria C. Brower

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative quasi-experimental study is to examine whether the use of interactive e-textbooks by community college minority students makes a difference in academic outcomes (as measured by final course test grades) and if the use of interactive textbooks could lead to course completion and terminal degrees. This study adds to the existing literature insight into alternative methods of increasing learning and developing positive attitudes among minorities in the community college setting. The sample population included minority students enrolled in a government class attending a community college in an urban area in South Florida. There were N = …


The Difference In Self-Efficacy Scores Among Students Who Participate In Work-Based Learning And Those Who Do Not Based On Their Disability Status In Community College, Kimberly Elaine Bowen Jul 2022

The Difference In Self-Efficacy Scores Among Students Who Participate In Work-Based Learning And Those Who Do Not Based On Their Disability Status In Community College, Kimberly Elaine Bowen

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Students with disabilities are attending higher education institutes at an increasing rate due to the programs and retention practices developed in k-12 classrooms. A concern for community colleges is the student’s ability to transition into the workforce after graduation. A high percentage of students with disabilities are unemployed. It is essential to study factors that can contribute to a student’s ability or inability to successfully transition into employment after matriculation. Self-efficacy has been associated with academic success and could be a determinate for employment status. The purpose of this study was to determine if self-efficacy levels differ between students with …


Burnout In Virginia's Community College Adjuncts With Relation To Gender, Age, And Number Of Jobs Held, Justin Barrett Stowe Apr 2022

Burnout In Virginia's Community College Adjuncts With Relation To Gender, Age, And Number Of Jobs Held, Justin Barrett Stowe

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Burnout is a psychological condition that affects individuals in high stress careers. Higher education faculty are prone to burnout, with studies showing women experienced burnout at different ages than their male counterparts. Few studies have been conducted to test if age and gender could predict a high level of burnout amongst adjunct faculty in community colleges. In addition, community college adjunct faculty are known to work more than one job to meet economic needs, and the research demonstrates such a condition creates anxiety, but little discussion is present on whether the variables of age, gender, and additional jobs held may …


Examining The Experiences That Promoted Completion: A Phenomenological Study Of Single-Parent Community College Students In Noncredit Programs, Esther Campbell Nov 2021

Examining The Experiences That Promoted Completion: A Phenomenological Study Of Single-Parent Community College Students In Noncredit Programs, Esther Campbell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the experiences that promoted completion among single-parent students who completed a noncredit program at a community college in East Texas named Pine Tree College (PTC). The theory guiding this study was Tinto’s (1975) theory of student departure as it explains experiences that lead a student to dropout of higher education and not persist to completion. The student departure theory (Tinto, 1975) provided the theoretical framework for the study to answer the central research question and sub-questions: (a) What are the experiences that support noncredit program completion among single-parents in the …


The Effects Of Embedded Orientation On Online Developmental Mathematics Students' Performance In Community College: A Causal-Comparative Study, William Randal Swenson Nov 2021

The Effects Of Embedded Orientation On Online Developmental Mathematics Students' Performance In Community College: A Causal-Comparative Study, William Randal Swenson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Students in developmental mathematics courses exhibit poor pass rates. This problem is exaggerated for traditionally aged online community college learners, who frequently demonstrate few self-regulatory skills. Self-regulated learners are intrinsically motivated, plan for success, monitor their progress, and reflect on their learning. These learners are significantly more likely to pass and eventually graduate. Self-regulatory skills can be taught through direct instruction and reflection over a protracted learning experience. This form of instruction was attempted using an embedded orientation in online developmental mathematics courses at a community college. Embedded orientations provide consistent training, opportunities for socialization, and increased instructor-to-learner interaction within …


Continuous Enrollment Experiences Of Nontraditional Career And Technical Education Students At The Community College, Natunya Johnson Apr 2021

Continuous Enrollment Experiences Of Nontraditional Career And Technical Education Students At The Community College, Natunya Johnson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This transcendental phenomenological study described the continuous enrollment experiences of nontraditional career and technical education (CTE) students at the community college. The focus was on understanding the collegiate experience to decrease students' chances of dropping out of college and contribute to the retention scholarship in higher education. The theory guiding this study was Bean and Metzner’s (1985) conceptual model of nontraditional undergraduate student attrition. It explains how background, academic, environmental, psychological outcomes, and social integration affect student retention. The design of this study was grounded in transcendental phenomenological research that explored the continuous enrollment phenomenon from the personal lived experiences …


A Phenomenological Study Of Instructors’ Experiences With Receiving And Utilizing Student Feedback In Online Course, Stanley T. Triplett Apr 2021

A Phenomenological Study Of Instructors’ Experiences With Receiving And Utilizing Student Feedback In Online Course, Stanley T. Triplett

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative transcendental phenomenological study was to explore how community college online course instructors at a large community college in the Deep South experience students’ feedback to reevaluate course quality and instruction. The central question of the study regarded how community college online instructors experience receiving and engaging with student evaluations. The theory guiding this study was Knowles’s theory of andragogy as it provides a framework for understanding adult learning, including those of adult learners in community college contexts as well as those instructors receiving and responding to student evaluations of teaching. A total of 11 instructors …


The Relationships Between Student Veterans' Marital Status, Parental Status, Military Service, Program Of Study And Their Perceived Levels Of Academic Self-Efficacy, Tyler Ray Nelson Mar 2021

The Relationships Between Student Veterans' Marital Status, Parental Status, Military Service, Program Of Study And Their Perceived Levels Of Academic Self-Efficacy, Tyler Ray Nelson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative predictive correlational study is to identify predictive indicators of perceived levels of academic self-efficacy for student veterans enrolled in Alabama community colleges and seeks to determine if the predictor variables of marital status, parental status, military service, and program of study have any relationship to their perceived levels of academic self-efficacy. It is noted by several studies that having low levels of academic self-efficacy is a significant contributing factor leading to student attrition. One way to mitigate this growing problem is to identify key elements that may predict a student's level of academic self-efficacy. This …


A Predictive Correlation Study Examining Persistence In A Virginia Community College Based On Veteran Status, Demographics, And Completion Of Developmental Coursework, Takesha A. Holt-Mcmiller Mar 2021

A Predictive Correlation Study Examining Persistence In A Virginia Community College Based On Veteran Status, Demographics, And Completion Of Developmental Coursework, Takesha A. Holt-Mcmiller

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite the significant scope and documented challenges facing veterans, few studies have addressed student veteran graduation persistence. A predictive correlation research design was used to analyze the persistence of veteran and non-veteran students in an associate degree program. In this study, community college students’ veteran status (i.e. veteran or non-veteran), enrollment status (part-time or full-time), success in remedial/developmental English (Yes/No pass), and demographic variables, such as gender (male, female, other), race (minority, non-minority), and age, were examined to determine their ability to predict persistence to graduation from associate degree programs. A logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine how persistence …


Mission To Persist: A Phenomenological Study Of The Academic And Social Experiences Of Active Duty Military Students At A Virginia Community College, La Toya Nicole Sivells Mar 2021

Mission To Persist: A Phenomenological Study Of The Academic And Social Experiences Of Active Duty Military Students At A Virginia Community College, La Toya Nicole Sivells

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental, phenomenological study was to examine the academic and social experiences of active duty military students at a Virginia community college. The theory that guided this study was Tinto’s student integration theory because it examines the academic and social experiences of active duty military students and how they are key to successful integration into college community and persistence. The central research question that guided this study was: What are the academic and social experiences of active duty military students at Virginia community colleges. Additionally, to answer the central question, four sub-questions were developed using Tinto’s Integration …


Student Success Of Online Vs. In-Person Biology Courses At Virginia Community Colleges, Jennifer Claire Scott Dec 2020

Student Success Of Online Vs. In-Person Biology Courses At Virginia Community Colleges, Jennifer Claire Scott

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Community colleges have a significant role in preparing students for STEM-related careers through certificates, degrees, and transfers to four-year institutions. In addition, online education is a growing mode of higher education, particularly for community college students. However, community college and online students are both at a high risk of attrition and show a lower success rate for degree completion. The purpose of this study was to identify differences in attrition and success between students in online and in-person biology courses at Virginia community colleges. Also, this study addressed downstream effects of online education by examining course completion of second-semester biology …


Students’ Experiences Of College Professor Communication In Online Instruction: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, William E. Carpenter Oct 2020

Students’ Experiences Of College Professor Communication In Online Instruction: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, William E. Carpenter

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe 13 students’ experiences of college professor communication in asynchronous online courses at a large urban community college in central North Carolina. The focus was to answer the central research question of how online students describe communication experiences in an online college learning environment. The theories guiding this study were Knowles’ (1980) theory of adult learning- andragogy, and Short, Williams, and Christie’s (1976) social presence theory, as they correlated the need for professor communication with adult learning and social presence since communication can impact academic success for adult learners. To collect …


Community College Academic Advising: A Study Of Effects On Gpa, Retention, And Engagement, Christy Lynn Genova Jun 2020

Community College Academic Advising: A Study Of Effects On Gpa, Retention, And Engagement, Christy Lynn Genova

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Although research shows the utilization of advising services can impact academic performance and provide students with a point of connection to postsecondary institutions, the effect of advising services in the experiences of traditional-aged college student attending community colleges has only recently been explored. This causal-comparative research study was designed to address the gap in literature concerning the use and effectiveness of academic advising services in community colleges. The study included a convenience sample of 99 community college students, between the ages of 18 and 24 years, from a small community college. Participants completed an online version of the Community College …


Understanding The Relationship Between Student Engagement And Persistence Among Community College Students, Thomas E. Chatman Jr May 2020

Understanding The Relationship Between Student Engagement And Persistence Among Community College Students, Thomas E. Chatman Jr

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Community colleges enroll large numbers of students each year. However, their retention rates are dismal and have remained stagnant for more than 30 years. The low retention rates have serious implications for community colleges and the community at large. Low retention rates impact such things as individual health and well-being as well as funding for colleges to operate. As such, this correlational study was designed to understand the relationship between student engagement and specific student characteristics and persistence in college. The specific student engagement variables examined were student-faculty interaction, college GPA, academic self-efficacy, late registration, and sense of belonging. Moderation …


A Transcendental Phenomenological Inquiry Of First-Generation Community College Students’ Experiences, Jean Marky Leandre Apr 2020

A Transcendental Phenomenological Inquiry Of First-Generation Community College Students’ Experiences, Jean Marky Leandre

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In the United States, 36% of community college enrollments are comprised of first-generation students (FGCS); however, little is known about FGCS as a cohort. Various initiatives have been formulated to encourage success among students with constraints related to social capital, bandwidth recovery, and the education system. The purpose of this phenomenological study aimed to understand the experiences of FGCS in community colleges in the Northeast region of the United States. FGCS are defined as students whose parents did not graduate from college with at least a bachelor’s degree. This study addressed student experiences—including social interactions—that impacted academic achievement positively or …


A Phenomenology Examining The Lived Experiences Of Student Mothers At Community College, Christine Renee Simon Apr 2020

A Phenomenology Examining The Lived Experiences Of Student Mothers At Community College, Christine Renee Simon

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of student mothers in the community college learning environment. Nationally, there are almost five million college students who are parenting a child under age 18, and in Texas, the number is one in four (Galasso, Harris & Sasser-Bray, 2018; Institute for Women’s Policy Research [IWPR], 2017; Noll, Reichlin, & Gault, 2017). Self-determination theory (SDT) by Deci and Ryan (2000, 2008) guided this inquiry by providing the lens to examine the lived experiences of student mothers. The central research question was: What is the lived experience of student …


A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Of Persistence Among National Junior College Athletic Association Division Iii Student Athletes, Carlton Hartsell Bryan Jr May 2019

A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Of Persistence Among National Junior College Athletic Association Division Iii Student Athletes, Carlton Hartsell Bryan Jr

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the experiences of Division III National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) student athletes in central North Carolina who successfully persist to a four-year institution. The theory that guided this study was Vincent Tinto’s Theory of Student Integration (1975) as it established the principle that student’s personal commitment or determination to earn a degree and their commitment to their college or university determines whether they will complete their educational goals. The central research question guiding this study is: What are the experiences of the Division III NJCAA student-athlete in central North …


The Relationship Of Community College Staff's Job Satisfaction To Administration's Leadership Style: A Correlational Study, Darla Sue Harwell Oct 2018

The Relationship Of Community College Staff's Job Satisfaction To Administration's Leadership Style: A Correlational Study, Darla Sue Harwell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Today, higher education faces more social, cultural, accreditation, and funding opportunities than they have faced in the past and it is important for staff to have job satisfaction to assist the colleges to meet these opportunities. Higher education leaders are increasingly recognizing that to keep the institutions doors open financially, they must have staff that are satisfied with their jobs and thus are placing a greater emphasis on meeting the staffs’ expectations and needs. This will allow for the staff to assist with the opportunities that those in higher education are facing today. The purpose of this study was to …


Community College Completion: The Predictive Relationship Between Placement Scores And Graduation, Lisa Martin Sep 2018

Community College Completion: The Predictive Relationship Between Placement Scores And Graduation, Lisa Martin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This predictive correlative study was designed to investigate the relationship between the entry placement-test scores of community college students as measured by the ACT® COMPASS® placement exams and the students’ successful completion of a degree or certificate program at a technical (community) college in South Carolina. The study was of importance, for it was designed to determine if ACT® COMPASS® placement test scores can predict graduation from a degree or certificate program in the subject college’s programs of study. The study will utilize archival data available in the college’s retention-management system. The selected college is a mid-sized institution that enrolls …


Employee Perceptions Of Succession Planning Within Higher Education: A Qualitative Case Study, Matthew Swanson Jun 2018

Employee Perceptions Of Succession Planning Within Higher Education: A Qualitative Case Study, Matthew Swanson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Higher education institutions provide programs and services in support of personal, professional, and community development. The positive impact of higher education is threatened by the imminent departures of experienced employees responsible for implementing institutional programs and services. Research suggests succession planning assists organizations in responding to the potential departures of experienced employees while successfully serving stakeholders, yet a majority of higher education institutions do not possess adequate succession planning programs. Employee perceptions are essential to developing and evaluating programs, however, there is currently a lack of available insight into employee perceptions pertaining to succession planning within the field of higher …


Undocumented Hispanic Students In Higher Education: A Phenomenology Of Students Struggling To Obtain Educational And Career Goals, Marvin Rondon May 2018

Undocumented Hispanic Students In Higher Education: A Phenomenology Of Students Struggling To Obtain Educational And Career Goals, Marvin Rondon

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative transcendental phenomenological study is to describe the experiences of undocumented Hispanic students paying out-of-state tuition while enrolled at selected community colleges in Eastern North Carolina. This study is guided by Arnett’s emerging adulthood theory, a stage of life linking adolescence and young adulthood marked by self-identity issues, exploration, planning for the future, instability, crisis, commitment, family expectations, new relationships, and new roles. The central research question focuses on the educational experiences of undocumented Hispanic students paying out-of-state tuition enrolled in rural North Carolina community colleges with restrictive in-state tuition laws. A purposeful sample of 12 …


The Impact Of Financial Aid On Graduation Rates For First-Year Developmental Community College Students In North Carolina, Eric Douglas Barnes Dec 2017

The Impact Of Financial Aid On Graduation Rates For First-Year Developmental Community College Students In North Carolina, Eric Douglas Barnes

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

One of the most significant issues in post-secondary education is persistence. In community colleges, retention and graduation rates are very low. This is especially true for students enrolled in developmental English, reading, and/or math courses. The low cost of community college tuition and fees combined with financial need-based programs in the form of Pell Grants, give all students, including students academically unprepared who require developmental courses, access to a college education and the means to persist and complete a degree program. However, despite the financial resources, these students are not persisting and completing a degree program. This study will be …


A Phenomenological Study Of Military Veteran Student Attrition At Western Virginia Community Colleges, Gordon Cavendish Sep 2017

A Phenomenological Study Of Military Veteran Student Attrition At Western Virginia Community Colleges, Gordon Cavendish

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the experience of “discontinued enrollment” for military veteran students at western Virginia community colleges. The theory guiding this study was Schlossberg’s (1981) transition theory, as the military veteran students were in transition from the military to the community college. The research questions were, how did military veterans describe their experiences at the community college, and what factors did military veterans identify as influencing their decision to discontinue enrollment? The methodology chosen was transcendental phenomenology which followed a focused structure and data collection methods including interviews, a questionnaire, member checks, and collection …


Correlation Of Local Unemployment Rates And North Carolina Community College Enrollments, Scott Mckinney May 2017

Correlation Of Local Unemployment Rates And North Carolina Community College Enrollments, Scott Mckinney

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The effect of business cycles, as evidenced by local unemployment rates, on individual community colleges needs to be understood so that public resources can be used to strategically align the supply and demand of educational opportunities. A countercyclical relationship indicates the ability to serve citizens may be most restricted during economic downturns when demand is highest. A quantitative Pearson product-moment correlation design was used in this study to determine the magnitude and strength of the relationship of local unemployment rates and enrollments from 1990 through 2016 in North Carolina’s 58 community colleges. Total full-time enrollment in three main categories of …


Experiences Of First-Year Online Community College Students On Academic Probation: A Phenomenological Study, Michael Beck Apr 2017

Experiences Of First-Year Online Community College Students On Academic Probation: A Phenomenological Study, Michael Beck

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the experiences of first-year online community college students on academic probation at a small, rural community college in central North Carolina. Four research questions guided the study: (RQ1) How do first-year, online community college students who are on academic probation describe their academic experiences? (RQ2) What do participants identify as reasons for receiving poor grades and being placed on academic probation? (RQ3) How do participants on academic probation describe what they could have done differently to avoid being placed on academic probation? (RQ4) What do participants who are on academic probation …


Comparing The Self-Efficacy Of Dual Enrollment Students Taking Classes At The High School, At The College, And Online, Tyler Wallace Mar 2017

Comparing The Self-Efficacy Of Dual Enrollment Students Taking Classes At The High School, At The College, And Online, Tyler Wallace

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative causal comparative study investigated how the modality of course content delivery impacts the self-efficacy of dual enrollment students. The problem was that it is unclear how the benefits of dual enrollment impact different student groups based on the location of the course. The purpose was to verify existing research linking higher college self-efficacy with participation in dual enrollment programs and to provide an initial understanding of how the benefit of higher levels of self-efficacy regarding college performance is distributed between students who take their dual enrollment courses in various modalities. Using the College Academic Self-Efficacy Scale (CASES), data …


Effects Of Enrollment In College Success Skills Course On Academic Outcomes Of Community College Students, Keith Hill May 2016

Effects Of Enrollment In College Success Skills Course On Academic Outcomes Of Community College Students, Keith Hill

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A nonexperimental, causal-comparative (ex post facto) research design was used in this study to examine the effectiveness and value of a College Success Skills course for students who tested into three developmental courses at the community college. The discussion and debate as to the efficacy of developmental education at community colleges has been continuing for decades. In many states, legislators seem to be prioritizing the issue of developmental education and the cost involved, both in time and money to students and taxpayers. The issue is complex as students arrive at community colleges with a wide variance in basic academic skills …


A Phenomenological Study: Exploring The Needs, Wants, And Desires From The Voices Of African-American Males Desiring To Graduate From Community College, Yvette Harris May 2016

A Phenomenological Study: Exploring The Needs, Wants, And Desires From The Voices Of African-American Males Desiring To Graduate From Community College, Yvette Harris

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore factors that could lead to academic success for African-American males enrolled in community college. By conducting a phenomenological study, those factors leading to graduation will be derived from the particular lens of perception of the participants’ lived experiences. The guiding theories are those of Derrick Bell’s Critical Race Theory (CRT, 1977), Vincent Tinto’s (1975) Theory of Departure, and John Bean’s (1979) Theory of Student Attrition. A convenience participant sample totaling 10 African-American males was comprised of students who were currently enrolled in a community college. The data collected for this …


A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study On The Perception Of Second Language Acquisition And Personality Type By Adult Second Language Learners In A Formal Learning Environment, Rebecca Shisler May 2016

A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study On The Perception Of Second Language Acquisition And Personality Type By Adult Second Language Learners In A Formal Learning Environment, Rebecca Shisler

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to describe the perceived experience of second language acquisition for adult second language learners in a formal learning environment at the Community College of Virginia (a pseudonym) and to describe how these learners perceived that their personality type either enhanced or inhibited their experience of second language acquisition. All students who were enrolled in an introductory-level Spanish course at the Community College of Virginia were invited to complete a preliminary questionnaire to determine their initial eligibility for the study. Prospective participants who met the initial eligibility requirements of the study took the …