Leadership Characteristics And Teacher Self-Efficacy From The Perspective Of Teachers, Carolyn Hayward

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this explanatory sequential mixed methods study was to investigate how elementary teachers in Clay County, Florida rate their level of self-efficacy, while examining the specific leadership characteristics influencing self-efficacy from the perspective of teachers. Additionally, this study sought to identify characteristics and actions of principals that teachers consider to be important to their self-efficacy in teaching from home on a virtual platform during the global pandemic. Using the Teacher Self-Efficacy Survey (TSES) and the Principal Rating and Ranking Scale (PRRS), teachers assessed their own self-efficacy and the characteristics of principals that they believe influence their self-efficacy. On …

Factors Associated With Overall Experience In Advanced-Practice Doctoral Programs, Kristi Chipman

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Advanced-Practice Doctoral (APD) students are working professionals who are often returning to school after several years of practice. Multiple areas and concerns may affect overall experience as well as retention rates in doctoral programs.

This mixed-methods research study utilized both qualitative (interview) and quantitative (survey) methods. Students from three different APD programs (Doctorate in Clinical Nutrition, Doctor of Education, and Doctor of Nursing) were asked to participate in a semi-structured interview. The interview was used to help guide the development of a survey. Students from the three groups (n=65) were asked to participate in a one-time, non-incentivized, survey. The survey …

Postsecondary Writing Program Collegiality, Job Satisfaction, And Self-Efficacy Teaching Writing: A Quantitative Analysis Using Self-Determination Theory, David A. Mackinnon Ii

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Calling on Ryan & Deci’s (2000) Self-Determination Theory framework, the author sought to explore the relations among writing program faculty collegiality in their work (i.e., teaching, research/scholarship, and service), their job satisfaction in teaching writing courses in postsecondary settings, and their sense of self-efficacy for that teaching. The author surveyed writing program faculty across the State University System of Florida and analyzed collect evidence towards addressing if faculty collegiality behaviors and beliefs relate to faculty job satisfaction in teaching writing or faculty self-efficacy around the teaching of writing. Using exploratory factor analysis and linear regression modeling, the author analyzed the …

Evaluating Individualism As A Predictor Of Workplace E-Learning Training Transfer, Allison Kendall Archer

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Organizations have long invested in employee training as a means for development. Returns on these investments are limited, however, when, as commonly observed by practioners and researchers, knowledge or skills acquired from training fails to be implemented. This is referred to as the training transfer phenomenon. Workplace training has historically been designed by and for individuals accustomed to Western learning culture, yet increased globalization has reshaped the workforce of the 21st century. Further, there has been a recent shift in workplace training methods from instructor-led/classroom training to online/e-learning. The purpose of this study is to evaluate individualism (a dimension of …

Policy Considerations Regarding Student Loan Debt And Higher Education, Todd R. Niemczyk Esq.

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Within the last 30 years, the policy considerations regarding student loan debt and higher education have become a series of strong opinions, heated debate, and partisan politics. Key stakeholders including the United States Government, both for-profit and traditional higher- educations institutions, financial organizations, special interest groups, and students all have interests. More so, all branches of Government, the Legislative, Judicial, and Executive, are areas where policy is both born and challenged. Some are aligned, and some are competing such that crafting sound policy regarding the lending and management of student loan debt has created a difficult situation that may well …

Student Retention In Higher Education: Effect Of The Campus Fitness Center On Women, Leslie Marie Gordon

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Of the 3.5 million first-time in college, full time students who began college in fall 2017, 74% returned for fall 2018, with 61.7% retained at their starting institution. Covid-19 has negatively impacted retention; in addition to normal attrition, one of every five students did not return to campus in fall 2020. Researchers have gauged both academic and social factors that positively influence retention and note the use of the campus fitness center (CFC) as one social factor; however, women are less likely to use the CFC, are one third as likely to exercise, and experience more numerous fitness obstacles and …

College Choice And College Match Among High-Achieving Pell-Eligible Students: An Instrumental Case Study Exploring Social Actor Influence, Jennifer A. Perkins

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

College undermatch, the pattern of well-qualified students applying to and attending less selective colleges than their academic qualifications would permit, disproportionally affects low-SES students, a particular concern since attending a match college increases the likelihood that a student will graduate and reduces the amount of time to degree. The number of college-going individuals in one’s social network (including parents, peers, teachers, mentors, etc.) has a strong influence on whether a student attends a good academic match college, but little is known about the nature of the interactions between students and these college-going influencers. This instrumental case study sought to fill …

Women Cios In Higher Education Pursuing Work-Life Balance/Integration, Self-Care, And The Influence Of Covid-19, Candice Jo Veilleux-Mesa

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

There is a gender gap within higher education (HE) administration, and specifically the Chief Information Officer (CIO) position. This is a problem because men and women administrators provide diverse perceptions and advantages to HE institutions. The CIO perspective is important because they perform a critical role in the IT management and organization of HE institutions. Additionally, women in leadership positions often face additional pressures and barriers as compared to their men counterparts when seeking to integrate their work, family, and personal self-care. Thus, to further understand and take action to improve representation of women HE CIOs, the purpose of this …

Value-Added Model (Vam) Component Of Teacher Evaluation And Job Satisfaction, Efficacy, And Retention: Perspectives Of Secondary Teachers Of Historically Low-Scoring Students And Recommendations For Alternative Student Performance Measurements, Maureen A. Martin

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study aimed to research the perspectives of four teachers who teach low-scoring populations of students traditionally. The research questions focused on job satisfaction, self-efficacy, and retention in education about Value-Added Model scores in their evaluations. The secondary purpose was for the teachers to recommend authentic assessment of student growth which is weighted 33% of teacher evaluations. I conducted a series of three open-ended interviews with each of the four participants. The interviews were designed to allow rich data to be collected. The significant findings have been discovered using the constant comparative method. The analysis revealed that the teacher’s …

Social Emotional Competence In School Leaders, Melanie Sanders

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

School principals are responsible for the recruitment and retention of effective teachers, leading the instructional program, maintaining the climate and culture of the building, ensuring school safety, and improving student achievement, among other things. Social emotional learning (SEL) has become an important part of K-12 education and has been found to improve climate and culture, student achievement, long term student outcomes, and many other benefits. Research has been conducted on many of the student outcomes associated with SEL but there is limited literature in the area of the social emotional competence (SEC) of adults who work in schools, particularly school …

An Assessment Study Of Student Experiences In A University Conduct Process, Lucas Jay Morrill

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study implements a quantitative assessment survey to explore how experiences of students who participated in a conduct hearing process during the 2020 fall academic semester align with the conduct process learning outcomes of a private liberal arts institution located in northeast Florida (Northeast University). Survey descriptive statistics indicate Northeast University’s conduct process facilitated student understanding of university policies, understanding of their impact on the campus community, and facilitated a process that resulted in a student’s intention to no longer violate university policy again in the future. Data collected also presents trends for students held responsible for COVID-19 related policy …

Pre-College Expectations Of First-Generation College Students: A National Study Based On Institutional Characteristics, Justin Michael Sipes

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Much of the research on first-generation college students (FGS) tends to focus on comparing this population of students to its continuing-generation peers and focuses on in-college experiences. This research looks to answer: (1) are there demographic and pre-college characteristic differences between full-time, FGS at different institutional types; (2) are there differences between institutional types across five cognitive and non-cognitive expectations for FGS; and, (3) do these differences remain after introducing moderating variables. The data are a random sample of participating institutions from the Beginning College Survey of Student Engagement, implemented by the Center for Postsecondary Research at Indiana University, …

Measuring Employee Engagement And Adaptive Leadership During Higher Education’S Accountability And Performance Era, Karine Sandra Stukes

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Back in 2015, the Board of Governors for the state of Florida implemented new funding policy within its public state university system, as a mechanism to hold institutions accountable to their performance. According to the performance-funding policy, lower performing institutions were at risk of losing state funding if university metrics were not met. This challenging accountability and performance environment can cause much strife within lower-performing institutions, where it is relevant to explore positive workforce strategies that keep university employees engaged in the work that is needed to get the job done while keeping employees adaptive to challenges presented to them. …

Person-Centered Physical Training Programs For Individuals With Intellectual Disabilities: Stimulating Motivation And Participation As Essential Components Of Program Development, Monica Bolaños-Boudreau

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative case study explored the perceptions of two individuals with intellectual disabilities who participated in a person-centered physical training program that identified factors of motivation and influences on self-determined physical choices. The findings of this study revealed five factors that seemed to motivate participants to exercise; (a) enjoyable activities, (b) personalized program, (c) exercises that promoted health and positive self-images, (d) exercise routines that were familiar and safe, and (e) an exercise partnership with the trainer. Considering these factors of motivation, community leaders, administrators, and practitioners may promote self-determination and ultimately, impact participation by individuals with intellectual disabilities. Additionally, …

Perspectives Of Overage Graduates: Issues That Affected Their Schooling, Dione R. Thomas Webber

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study is to examine the perspectives of overage graduates who completed years of schooling as an overage student. The following research question guided this inquiry: From the perspective of graduates who were two-or-three years overage for grade, what social, emotional, academic or other issues affected their schooling? Sequential qualitative interviewing of four participants that completed school overage for grade provided data for this study. The data was analyzed with the use of the constant comparative method and synthesized into emergent themes.

The participants reported their perceptions in the context of four specific areas: Interactions with …

Making Meaning Of Supplier Diversity In Florida's Public Universities: A Narrative Inquiry Of Educational Connoisseurship And Criticism, Cheryl S. Mobley-Gonzalez

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Researchers contend that higher education organizations and systems, no matter their description (public, private, two-year, or four-year), build society. Nationally, many higher education leaders discuss metrics and measures such as graduation rates, class sizes, intercollegiate athletics, famous alumni, and the extent of community engagement, as important elements of societal influence. However, within public higher education scholarship in Florida, supplier diversity is an under-recognized area. Contrary to the better-known student, faculty, and staff diversity initiatives in Florida’s colleges and universities, diversification of vendor participation for procurement and contracting lacks a systematic focus. Little scholarly knowledge exists regarding the extent to which …

Q Methodology As A Formative Tool For Facilitating Professional Development School Partnership Development, Catherine E. Wade

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

In the mid-1980s, through the work of the Holmes Group (now the Holmes Partnership) and the National Network for Educational Renewal (NNER), the term “Professional Development School” emerged as a part of the nation’s educational discourse (Brindley, Field & Lessen, 2008). The success of these PDS have been widely reported within the literature presented. However, missing from our PDS literature are studies which focus on the formative implementation and progression of the partnerships as seen through the collective perspectives of PDS stakeholders. The purpose of this study was to develop and explore a participatory process for collecting, organizing and …

Lift Ev’Ry Voice: Using Q Methodology To Understand The Shared Perspectives Of African American Undergraduate Students Regarding Strategies That Predominantly White Institutions Can Use To Support Their Persistence In Stem, Dawn Washington, Dawn Felicia Washington

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

In this study the researcher used Q methodology to understand the shared perspectives of African American undergraduate students attending predominantly White institutions regarding strategies and supports that would help them persist in their STEM majors. Q methodology involved two phases. In phase 1, the researcher recruited 13 participants (n =10, female; n = 3, male) to respond to an open-ended questionnaire using the following directions: “List and briefly describe up to 8 strategies that predominantly White institutions can use to support African American undergraduate students’ persistence in STEM.” There were 57 opinion statements generated from this questionnaire along with …

Inside Collaborative Communities: Teachers' Perceptions Of The Collaborative Process, Pamela Ann Evors

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand teachers’ perceptions of the collaborative process and how it affected their classroom practices. The research question was “What are the perceptions held by experienced public elementary-school teachers in a large urban school district in the southeastern United States regarding the collaborative process in their school settings?”

The research design used semi-structured, in-depth interviews with a specific group of public elementary-school teachers who had extensive professional development and experience with the collaborative process, either in co-teaching settings or in frequent collaboration with colleagues. Using the process of educational criticism (Eisner, 1998) …

What Makes Collaborative Evaluation Approaches Collaborative? A Q Methodology Study On Program Evaluators’ Perceptions, Dax M. Weaver

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore program evaluators’ perceptions about what they consider to be the essential practices, elements, or attributes of collaborative evaluation approaches (CEAs). This topic was investigated because of the increasing use of CEAs within the field and the ambiguity about what does and does not constitute a CEA. Several researchers have proposed frameworks that attempt to define the essential elements that distinguish CEAs from other evaluation approaches; however, the literature still lacks consensus on their exact nature. It was through an examination of evaluators’ viewpoints on the subject using Q Methodology that this study …

Examining The Role Of Dispositions In Adult Basic Education Matriculation, Deana M. Waite

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Adult Education and pre-service teacher programs have the same goals of program completion, and gainful employment for students who possess the dispositional capacity to be successful in the workplace. However, students enrolled in adult education programs experience dispositional barriers (i.e., a lack of confidence, academic unpreparedness, and a lack of motivation or personal desire) that contributes to the low completion rate of adult education programs. This study used a quasi-experimental design to examine the role of dispositions in adult basic education matriculation. This study used the teacher education program’s survey instrument on student disposition (Abbreviated Rubric for Self-Assessment) …

Descriptive Case Study Of The Perceptions Of International Students In An Intensive English Program Featuring Mandated Interactions With Fluent English Speakers, Sonia R. Velazquez

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this descriptive case study is to inform educational leaders working in Intensive English Programs (IEPs) and in Higher Education about the perspectives of international students enrolled in English as an Additional Language (EAL) classes at the English Language Institute (ELI) at the University of Florida (UF). The ELI at UF offers a unique language program that incorporates interactions between the enrolled EAL students and local fluent English speaking university students, hired as Language Assistants (LAs), as a required part of the curricular structure of the ELI’s Listening and Speaking courses for enrolled students at all proficiency levels …

Staying Alive: A Content Analysis Of The School Board Minutes Of The Governor Baxter School For The Deaf And The Decision-Making Processes Of The School Board For Redesigning The School, Rebecca Falbo

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand the decision-making processes of the school board of the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf as they worked to keep their school alive. Thus, the research question was “What decision-making processes did the school board of the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf adopt while redesigning and restructuring the school to be a viable educational option for Maine’s deaf and hard of hearing children?”

The review of the literature followed key elements of the theoretical framework. The theories that informed the present study were School Board Governance Theory, Institutional Theory, …

Examining The Impacts Of Virtual Mentoring On College Students' Leadership Efficacy A Quantitative Study Of C.A.M.P Osprey, Justin Michael Lerman

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Mentoring involves a collaborative and reciprocal sharing of knowledge for professional development. In leadership, a mentor is an individual who currently serves as a leader while guiding someone who aspires to be a leader in the future. This study evaluated how virtual mentoring compares to face-to-face mentoring on the development of leadership self-efficacy for college students. This study undertook a comparative analysis of face-to-face mentoring sessions and virtual mentoring sessions to explore the research question and hypotheses. The mentoring process involved a dyadic relationship where personalities create a positive and effective learning experience. A comparative analysis permitted the study to …

Pbis Implementation And Sustainability: Primary Educators’ Perspectives Of Success, Melissa S. Ley

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Today the school-wide behavior management program, Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports, or PBIS, follows the Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) framework when addressing students with behavior challenges in general education classrooms. PBIS provides a collaborative framework of problem solving and evidence-based strategies, thus proactively meeting students’ overall needs. The purpose of this study is to fill a gap in the literature pertaining to teacher perspectives of using PBIS practices in their classroom across this framework. This dissertation further details implications for training and professional development concerning school-wide PBIS as well as the organizational structures necessary for success in the classroom. …

Examination Of Athletic Academic Support Services Of Ncaa D-I Hbcus, Clifford Eugene Harrell Ii

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Since 1991, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has mandated academic support services for student-athletes at all Division I institutions. Today, there is a vast difference of athletic academic support units at Power 5 Conferences compared to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The resources at Power 5 Conference institutions are also immensely different at HBCUs although the main services provided are similar. Advising, tutoring, orientation, assessment of study skills, compliance checks, personal counseling, career counseling, student-athlete scheduling/advising, testing of academically at-risk student-athletes are all services that are provided at both Power 5 institutions and HBCUs but there is still …

A North Florida High School Attendance Program Evaluation, Heather Bundshuh

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this program evaluation was to evaluate the attendance program at Creekside High School. Creekside High School is a large suburban high school in St. Johns County School District in Northeastern Florida. This program evaluation used longitudinal data over six years, retrieved from the Florida Department of Education’s website, to show the impact of Creekside High School’s attendance program on rates of absenteeism, specifically the percentage of students that were absent 21 or more days. This program evaluation compared Creekside High School with the other high schools in St. Johns County School District. This program evaluation is not …

The Relation Between Demographics And Art Discipline As They Pertain To Success On Advanced Placement Exams, Terrance Michael Souder

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to examine the relation between the demographics of student and the artistic discipline of which they study at a dedicated magnet school located in the Southeastern United States as it pertains to their success on Advanced Placement (AP) exams. The literature has continually focused on several demographic indicators such as, race, gender, and socioeconomic status to examine the success on AP exams. However, there is very little research on the role that an artistic education plays as in the successful completion of an AP exam. This study examines whether there is an increase in …

Factors Predictive Of Self-Efficacy In First Year Teachers, Jessica Leigh Hamelin

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Research demonstrates that there are increased teacher burnout rates within the first 5 years of entering the field (Darling-Hammond, 2003; Skaalvik & Skaalvik, 2010; Yost, 2006). Consistent with those findings is that teacher preparation matters when conversing about recruitment and retention (Brown, Lee, & Collins, 2014). As more research is conducted in the area of teacher preparation it has become clear that teacher effectiveness is directly related to preparation (Darling-Hammond, 2010). As teachers enter their first-year teaching, philosophical stances can change, inflated beliefs about the teaching profession can be altered, and self-efficacy is influenced. Drawing from Hoy and Spero’s (2005) …

The Digital Transition From Textbooks To Tablets In Saudi Arabia, Nehaya Ali Alhamed

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Technology has greatly impacted education around the world, including in Saudi Arabia. Educational technology supports teaching and learning processes, and its integration into schools supports successful initiatives to improve learning in the classroom. Introducing a new technology resource, such as computer tablets, into learning settings is crucial in the delivery of more varied and more interactive instructional content at all student levels.

This qualitative research study concerns the digital transition from textbooks to tablets in Saudi Arabian schools. The goal of the study was to examine the use of tablets by current teachers and to investigate their perceptions of and …