Education Commons^™

Engagement Of Faith-Based Institutions In Diverse Communities: A Phenomenological Study, Michael Miller

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

Diverse community engagement in faith-based institutions is potentially lacking faith-based intentions. Though community engagement is a well talked about topic within Christian higher education and conversations on diversity are rapidly growing, there was no previous research on the intersection between faith-based institutions, diversity and community engagement. Thus, the purpose of this phenomenological study was to find how faith-based institutions implement diverse community engagement within US communities and then show the implications that engagement has on increasing diversity on campuses. Results revealed many shared themes through the institutions and how they are working to increase racial and cultural awareness. However, the …

An Internet-Connected Community: How College Students Experience Residential Living In The Age Of New Media, Jared Hobson

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

Higher education professionals, particularly those in the realm of Residence Life, are working with outdated knowledge. Emerging research is showing that the incoming cohorts of college students are fundamentally different than their predecessors because of new media technology's prevalence in our society. This study aims to determine if the usage and presence of internet-connected technology impacts how students experience community within their residence halls. In this context, students' sense of community is defined as the extent to which these individuals develop senses of attachment, belonging, and involvement.

Success And Retention Of 21st Century Scholars: A Phenomenological Study, Stanley Duncan

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

Since 1990, access to a college education in Indiana has become more accessible, and a significant contributor to this has been the 21st Century Scholarship. This research explores what factors affect success and retention of 21st Century Scholars at a private institution. A phenomenological design was used along with semi-structured interviews to gain insights from nine participants from a faith-based liberal arts university located in the Midwest. These participants expressed themes that recognized the factors that were contributing and hindering their success and the institution’s ability to retain them. Despite this insight, these participants lacked a true understanding of what …

Promoting Persistence: Female Stem Professors And Graduation Rates Of Female Stem Students, Madison Miyakawa

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

In higher education there have been notably more men than women pursuing areas of study in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). This quantitative mixed method study investigated pre-existing data including faculty male to female ratios and female graduation rates within the STEM fields. This study also surveyed current male and female students studying STEM in their final undergraduate year at a Midwest, faith-based, liberal arts college, with the intention of analyzing the impact of the role of female professors on the retention and graduation rates of female students studying in the STEM fields. The discussion unpacks the responses of …

Understanding Integration Post-Study Abroad: A Case Study Of A Semester In France, Emma Hagan

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

This study sought to understand the experience of college students with integration post-study abroad. Integration refers to the process by which students continue learning from their experiences and make meaning from time spent abroad.

A Burning Issue: A Quantitative Correlation Study On Students’ Overinvolvement In Cocurricular Activities Contributing To Burnout, Shelby Robbins

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

Cocurricular involvement plays a large part in the holistic college experience. However, too much involvement in cocurricular activities may lead students to experience burnout over the course of their four years in college. The quantitative correlation study investigated students’ overinvolvement in cocurricular activities through the Cocurricular Involvement and Burnout Survey. Participants were students who were involved in said activities at a private, faith-based, liberal arts institution located in the Midwest. The research question that guided the study was: To what extent, if any, does overinvolvement in cocurricular activities contribute to burnout for college students at a four-year institution? The results …

Parent Involvement: A Quantitative Study On Parent Involvement Within Residence Life, Kimberlie Kline

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

The purpose of this study is to explore college students' parents and their perspective on involvement when it comes to contacting residence life professionals on behalf of their student. In this quantitative study, the researcher collected survey responses from fifty parent participants. The study explored the research questions: What causes parents to become involved with residence life personnel on the behalf of their student? What does this involvement look like, as well as, what type of involvement is it? The study found that parents of freshman and sophomore students are most likely to reach out about housing and health concerns …

Perceptions Of Classrooms Physical Environments And Nature On College Students, Benjamin Williams

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

The purpose of this study is to discover how students are affected by the physical environment they learn in and if the restorative benefits of nature adds to the positive experience of learning. The physical environment or the classroom, can complement the learning experience alongside with the curriculum that is being taught, but the physical environment is often overlooked. This study asks how students perceive the physical environment of college classrooms, if they see it affecting their classroom learning, and if students perceive the elements of nature to affect classroom learning. A convergent parallel mixed methods approach is used to …

Administrative Leadership During Crisis In Higher Education: Absorbing Chaos, Giving Calm, And Providing Hope - A Phenomenological Case Study, Eryn Marburger

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

Encountering crises is inevitable when working with people, and while higher education institutions tend to operate in systems, unique circumstances call for unique responses. This study sought to understand the experiences of a university president and the surrounding community after experiencing a campus crisis.

This study utilized the 2006 van accident at Taylor University as a case study. The researcher used a phenomenological case study approach and design to interview thirteen people who were directly involved as administrators, senior level leaders, student development faculty, academic faculty, staff, students, or members of the board of trustees. The findings of this study …

Understanding Forgiveness During College: A Phenomenological Study, Ethan Mcneil

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

College students see their understanding of many different topics and ideas change during their time in college. One such topic is forgiveness. This phenomenological study looks to gauge an understanding of how students’ understanding of forgiveness changes during college at a small, private, Christian, liberal arts institution located in the rural Midwest. The results of the study showed that students’ understanding deepens, even if they still struggle to practice different aspects of forgiveness. The discussion explains the results of the study and introduces opportunities for educators to engage students about forgiveness, teaching, and mentoring them as their understanding grows and …