What Factors Keep Late-Career Agriculture Teachers In Georgia Motivated To Continue In The Profession?, Catherine I. Davis

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Most agriculture teachers leave the profession by the time they reach their mid-career phase. While there is significant research indicating factors why agriculture teachers choose to leave the career there is a void in the knowledge as to why late career agriculture teachers have persevered and are still choosing to stay in the classroom. This qualitative study identifies factors as to why agriculture teachers have chosen to stay in the profession. The researcher interviewed late career agriculture teachers in Georgia with 20 or more years in the classroom and are currently still teaching today. These interviews lead to common themes …

The Impact Of Socioeconomic Status On The Development Of Stem Identity, Choice, And Persistence, Shawna Adams

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

This mixed-methods study seeks to investigate the direct effect that socioeconomic status (SES) has on a student's identity, choice, and persistence in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). There is a diversity and wage gap among the STEM workforce, which is comprised largely of White males with higher salaries than their counterparts. Underrepresented minority groups (URMs) are more likely to come from low SES and typically have fewer educational resources. Identifying the relationship of SES across student groups can yield insights about how to address inequitable practices and increase STEM diversity. Quantitative data was collected via a STEM survey, …

Effectiveness Of The Two Plus Two Online Program In Agriscience Education: A Case Study Of Students’ Experiences And Persistence, Ronald M. Howell Jr

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Higher education is changing, and more community colleges find themselves helping to increase the number of students who receive a bachelor’s credential from a 4-year post-secondary institution. This qualitative study was designed to determine the effectiveness of the online two plus two Agriscience Education program at a university in North Carolina. Twelve current and former students provided feedback about their perspectives and lived experiences through semi-structured interviews.

Preliminary findings suggest that both current and former students find the two plus two program very cost-affordable, flexible, and convenient for transferring two years’ worth of credit and courses to earn a bachelor’s …

Persistence To Graduation Of Students In The Teacher Preparation Program At Murray State University, David Meinschein

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

This study focused on persistence, and graduation rates of traditional students attending four-year public institutions. The study highlighted the complexity of persistence and degree completion by examining risk factors that impact persistence and degree completion. The purpose of this study was two-fold. First, the study sought consensus from a group of stakeholders, graduates from Murray State University’s (MSU) Teacher Education Program (TEP), to determine a list of specific expectations of a postsecondary institution in persisting to degree completion. Secondly, the study gathered data from the stakeholder of how each expectation was met while enrolled in the TEP at MSU.

This …