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Front Matter & Table Of Contents, Oracle

Journal of Sorority and Fraternity Life Research and Practice

No abstract provided.

Lessons From Team Science, James P. Barber Ph.D.

Journal of Sorority and Fraternity Life Research and Practice

No abstract provided.

Perceptions Of Race And Fit In The Recruitment Process Of Traditionally, Predominantly White Fraternities, S. Brian Joyce

Journal of Sorority and Fraternity Life Research and Practice

This study was constructed as a qualitative case study to explore racialized definitions of fit and how those perpetuate White supremacy within fraternity systems through a critical examination of participants’ lived experiences on race. Lived experiences from seven participants were presented to identify two major themes for analysis: (a) the minimization of race and racism and (b) normalizing Whiteness. This study used a social identity theoretical framework to deconstruct the ways in which Whiteness is perpetuated in hegemonic White spaces.

Tweeting In Greek: How National Fraternities And Sororities Use Twitter, Zachary Taylor, Arianne Mcardle

Journal of Sorority and Fraternity Life Research and Practice

No extant research examines fraternity and sorority use of social media. This study examines official Twitter accounts of national fraternities and sororities (n=135) and their Twitter usage from July 2016 - July 2017 (n=47,705 tweets). Findings reveal fraternities are less likely to use hashtags, user tags, and URLs to engage their followers than sororities, while both fraternities and sororities rarely release official statements promoting positive behavior of their members or condemning negative behavior of their members, potentially contributing to a sense of “constant media scrutiny” suffered by Greek organizations (Kingkade, 2015). Implications for advisors and future research are addressed.

Increasing Survey Data Quality Using Screening Validity Questions, Lucas Schalewski, Jamie Utt, Bryant Valant

Journal of Sorority and Fraternity Life Research and Practice

Self-report surveys are used frequently in fraternity organizations to collect information from students. A lack of thoughtful or truthful answers on survey instruments threatens the validity of results. The current study evaluates if identifying and omitting invalid responders using screening validity questions improves data quality on two scales among fraternity men: the Illinois Rape Myth Acceptance and the Conformity to Masculinity Norms Inventory. Results indicate invalid responders bias results suggesting using screen validity questions improves data quality. This strategy can help fraternity professionals ensure their programming responds more closely to their member perceptions, attitudes, and experiences.

Sorority And Fraternity Attitudes Towards Initiation And Hazing, Keith Tingley, Loni Crumb, Shelly Hoover-Plonk, Wes Hill, Crystal R. Chambers

Journal of Sorority and Fraternity Life Research and Practice

This study assessed students’ attitudes towards fraternity and sorority intake processes at a regional Mid-Atlantic University (MU) to gain an understanding of overall attitudes and discern whether students distinguish differences between hazing and initiation procedures. Study results indicated that students understand the general purpose of initiation and the dangers of hazing; however, a general understanding may not translate to an understanding of the specifics activities involved in new member initiation processes. Study results specified differences in understanding initiation and hazing are greatest by gender and fraternity/ sorority council. Implications for higher education research and student affairs practice are discussed.

Progress For Low Income Students, Johann Ducharme

The William & Mary Educational Review

This essay argues in favor of Mike Rose's assertion that funding cuts to education have a detrimental effect on numerous factors, including stunted job growth in America, not remaining innovative and competitive in global markets, as well as attaining the college graduation goals set by Department of Education. In agreeing with Rose, the author provides comprehensive reasoning and data from numerous national centers: Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce, American Council on Education (ACE), The College Board, and American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). The author also examines the weaknesses of Rose’s arguments as he neglects to define …

Hark Upon The Gayle: A Depiction Of The Experiences Of The First Women Students At William & Mary, Yi Hao, Lisa Milne

The William & Mary Educational Review

As William & Mary celebrates the 100th anniversary of admitting women students as the first public college in Virginia to institute a co-educational system, this paper explores the life and times of the women who have shaped the College’s legacy for future women students. In researching the first women at William & Mary, we have found historical documentation, such as personal papers (letters and surveys) from both women students of the class of 1918 and a prior researcher; the Flat Hat, a student-run newspaper at the College; meeting minutes from the College Board of Visitors; William & Mary President Lyon …

Using Research To Defy Expectations, James P. Barber Ph.D.

Journal of Sorority and Fraternity Life Research and Practice

No abstract provided.

Deconflating Buffoonery And Hazing: A Two-Factor Model Of Understanding Maladaptive New Member Activities, Rodney W. Roosevelt

Journal of Sorority and Fraternity Life Research and Practice

The current conceptual model of hazing is based on an assumption that low-grade hazing (buffoonery) serves as a gateway to severe acts of hazing. Consequently, the range of acts regarded as hazing is broad in scope and estimates of the rates and nature of hazing may be inflated. In the present study, the gateway assumption was tested and not supported. Further, in this study students clearly differentiate between buffoonery and hazing. The data supports reframing hazing reduction efforts, emphasizing potential for harm and educational efficacy in new member education. This approach aligns with student understanding and promotes internal regulation while …

On Greek Row: Diversity, Socially Responsible Leadership And Fraternity And Sorority Membership, Eugene T. Parker, Ernest Pascarella

Journal of Sorority and Fraternity Life Research and Practice

This study uses the Wabash National Study of Liberal Arts Education to examine the relationship between diversity experiences and socially responsible leadership among college fraternity and sorority members. Results suggest that college diversity experiences are positively associated with socially responsible leadership for these student groups.

A Document Analysis Of Anti-Hazing Policy, Cristobal Salinas Jr., Michelle Boettcher, Jennifer Plagman-Galvin

Journal of Sorority and Fraternity Life Research and Practice

Every year students are physically, mentally, and/or emotionally injured due to hazing. Some injuries are so significant they result in student deaths, yet “hazing is an issue that has been largely overlooked and under studied” (Allan & Madden, 2008, p. 5). Hazing is institutionalized by organizations, clubs, and groups, as well as within campus policy. Student hazing experiences are different for the individual(s) involved, and institutional experiences vary as institutions have their own hazing definitions and policies. Through document analysis, we examined and critically analyzed the ambiguous anti-hazing policy at the state and federal levels.

A Positive Spin On A Negative Narrative: How The Media Portrays Fraternities And What Fraternities Can Do About It, Zachary Taylor, Jennifer Zamora, Arianne Mcardle, Mario Villa

Journal of Sorority and Fraternity Life Research and Practice

As research on fraternity men largely focuses on misbehavior and criminal activity, no research examines the types of stories reported on by media outlets and whether these stories include fraternity voices or statements. Employing quantitative content analysis, this study examines 100 fraternity-related stories published by the ten newspaper websites most frequently visited by people in the United States. Findings suggest 12% of fraternity-related publications are positive in nature and tone, 36% of publications include official fraternity-issued statements, and 69% of all publications include official university-issued statements. Implications for practitioners and future research is addressed.

Start With Self-Determination: Advancing Postsecondary Outcomes Of Youth With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Tara E. Regan

The William & Mary Educational Review

Youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have the poorest post-high school, or postsecondary, outcomes in comparison to their peers with and without disabilities. They experience low levels of engagement or even lack of engagement in employment, education, independent living, and community activities. As a result, these outcomes place a heavier load on families, professionals, and communities that support the ASD population throughout their lifespan. Therefore, the cost of taking care of this population is rising, with a current estimate of over $40 billion per year. In disability literature, self-determination (i.e., autonomy and empowerment) has been identified as a predictor of …

Toward More Student-Centered Instruction: The Advent Of Teacher Noticing And Responsiveness In Mathematics And Science Education Research, Benjamin K. Campbell

The William & Mary Educational Review

The topic of teacher noticing has been refined in the mathematics education literature over the last 15 years. Researchers who study noticing have established a complex definition of this process, which encompasses how a teach- er identifies, evaluates, and considers responding to a student’s classroom contribution. They have also developed a variety of techniques to measure a teacher’s capacity to engage in noticing and have documented how this capacity can change over time with certain interventions or experiences. Science education researchers have more recently begun studying noticing. Among other results, their efforts have yielded the concept of responsiveness to further …

College Didn’T Prepare Me For This: The Realities Of The Student Debt Crisis And The Effect It Is Having On College Graduates, April Perry, Cassandra Spencer

The William & Mary Educational Review

Student loans are like a dark cloud looming above 41 million Americans (Perna, Kvall, & Ruiz, 2017). Through young adults’ personal accounts and relevant literature, we aimed to explore how student debt has altered the lives of college graduates and what can be done to educate students before they graduate with tens of thousands of dollars in debt. To provide context, we first discuss a brief history of student loans and address what we know from the literature about the burden of student debt. Next, we address the factors that contribute to the student debt crisis and the effects of …

Integration Of Learning In Counselor Education, Sean Newhart

The William & Mary Educational Review

Integration of learning (IOL) has been defined as an essential learning out- come in higher education. The IOL model describes the process of learning through three types of integration: connection, application, and synthesis. This manuscript applies the IOL model to counselor education in order to examine how counselor education programs implement the model. Andragogic approaches in counselor education programs are highlighted utilizing the three types of integration, illustrating how these programs exemplify integration. Implications for future research are also discussed.

Public/Private Partnership Schools In New Zealand: Justifications And Context, Mark Olofson

The William & Mary Educational Review

Recent policy changes in the New Zealand educational context have introduced privatization into the system through partnership schools. Parties on all sides of the issue use a framework of economic values consisting of efficiency, equity, and liberty to frame themselves and their opposition. This holistic case study uses interviews, observations, and field evidence to explore how partnership and public schools align themselves with these values, and how public discourse frames both types of schools. Cross analysis of the different voices revealed differences in constructions concerning innovation, how best to serve struggling learners, school funding, and school evaluation. These differences fuel …

Teaching Kids To Care: A Needs-Based Intervention To Increase Ethical Sensitivity In Schools, Rebecca Friedman

The William & Mary Educational Review

Character education programming is gaining popularity in America’s schools as a way to raise an intelligent and caring generation of students. However, many schools fail to allocate time, money, and resources to such initiatives. The present study examined the impact of an ethical sensitivity intervention in a religiously affiliated independent school. A self-report Likert scale and analytic rubric were used to measure development of different sub-skills of ethical sensitivity in fourth and fifth grade students (N = 25) before and after the intervention over a two-month period. Results suggest that the degree of ethical sensitivity increased over the course of …

Raising The Charter School Cap In Massachusetts: The Consequence Of An Uncapped Neoliberal Rationality, Nicole L. Semas-Schneeweis

The William & Mary Educational Review

In September 2015, Governor Charlie Baker announced his support for raising the charter school cap in Massachusetts. This announcement has sparked a heated debate about funding for public education that problematically ignores neoliberal ideology. The Massachusetts Education Reform Act of 1993 began a reign of neoliberalism impacting education policies. An Act Relative to the Achievement Gap in 2010 saw an intensification of this privatization and free market ideology with its explicit support of charter alternatives. Achievement has become based on standardized assessments that presume a static, ethnocentric view of knowledge. Neoliberal ideology reinforces white Eurocentrism and a meritocratic rationale, disregarding …

Critical Education & New Teachers’ Beliefs: A New Niche For Educational Research, Kate Rollert French

The William & Mary Educational Review

Beliefs about teaching influence practice and can play a powerful role in the day-to-day decision-making of teachers. Pre-service teachers commonly accrue their original set of beliefs about teaching from teacher preparation programs or personal experiences, but unlike teachers with more experience, new teachers are most susceptible to changing their beliefs about teaching once they become official teachers of record. If these beliefs change in a negative way, such as by adopting a set of beliefs that views students and communities through a deficit lens, or only capable of achieving less than their privileged counterparts, then schools will continue to foster …

Conceptual Model Of Educational Planning And Program Evaluation: Addressing Deficit Thinking At The Top, Melanie Lichtenstein

The William & Mary Educational Review

Deficit thinking has been attributed to on-going academic and social inequities in school districts. Scholars have discussed addressing deficit thinking before educators enter the classroom through pre-service teacher programs. However, there is a gap in the literature regarding educational leaders’ perceptions and belief systems of culturally, linguistically, and economically diverse students. The impact of deficit thinking at the leadership level can influence program, policy, and planning decisions that can negatively impact any educational change efforts. This conceptual model of educational planning and evaluation will suggest an approach to change the deficit thinking of school district leaders such as superintendents, school …

The Influence Of Teacher Unionization On Educational Outcomes: A Summarization Of The Research, Popular Methodologies And Gaps In The Literature, Sarah Guthery

The William & Mary Educational Review

This paper summarizes the research on the relationship between teacher unionization and educational outcomes at the state, district, school, and individual (student) levels. Although teachers are the largest organized professionals in the United States, much of educational policy literature has ignored unionization as a subject of study. An emerging consensus from the literature believes that collective bargaining raises teacher pay, increases district expenditure and reduces class size; however, union influence on student outcomes has not yet been established. The literature is unclear as to whether or not teacher unionization is associated with student graduation rates or standardized test scores.

The Impact Of Positive Psychology On Higher Education, Noël Williams, Leah Horrell, Dawn Edmiston, Mackenzie Brady

The William & Mary Educational Review

Research identifies the contributions of positive psychology to higher education success through an emphasis on strengths-based education. This paper examines the dynamics of higher education, defines positive psychology, discusses various approaches to student success, and evaluates the benefits of positive psychology on student engagement and institutional effectiveness. By applying strengths-based education within colleges and universities, educators can exercise positive psychology to enhance students’ growth by helping these students to thrive and flourish in their personal and professional lives.

Engagement At A Distance: Reflections On Student Learning And Parent Engagement In A Physics Classroom, Anuraag Sensharma

The William & Mary Educational Review

New technology, including online gradebooks and learning management systems, allow schools to remotely involve families in their children's educations. This "engagement at a distance", as well as its impact on student learning, is examined through the lens of the author's experiences as a student-teacher. It is argued that while a holistic and meaningful form of family engagement is ideal, engagement at a distance is more detrimental to student learning than no engagement at all.

Lessons On Collaboration, Jake Todd

The William & Mary Educational Review

Reflections from a pre-service teacher on the initial experiences of working with students whose home environment affected their ability to fully participate in the classroom. The focus of this reflection is understanding ways to figure out who was the most appropriate person to impact a student's life.

Reflection On A Narrative By Faculty Of Color, Marian Stordahl, Keonghee T. Han

The William & Mary Educational Review

The experience of a woman faculty of color (WFOC) teaching in a traditionally homogenous, rural American community college reveals the presence of racialized attitudes among students, educators, and administrators. Individuals’ orientation to White Identity is revealed in the encounters of a culturally diverse professor and American colleagues working in her institution. In the absence of meaningful reflection, Caucasian American students and faculty – themselves participants in the lives of local communities – reproduce institutional discrimination.

Keywords: academic freedom, discrimination, prejudice, social dominance theory, White Identity development

Rootedness Research: Local Possibility Amid A Cosmopolitan Network, Christopher R. Ongaro, Kelly C. Johnston

The William & Mary Educational Review

For this paper the authors combined Howley, Howley, and Pendarvis’s (2003) concerns about cosmopolitanism with Deleuze and Guattari’s (1987) rhizomatic theory to conduct a threefold historical analysis and, ultimately, describe a tentative research framework, namely rootedness research. Concerns about cosmopolitanism were contextualized through exemplar worldviews. The worldviews served as a backdrop for an analysis of U.S. federal education policy, research on teaching and teacher preparation, and education’s presence in court cases. The analysis supported concerns about cosmopolitanism’s consequences and demonstrated how a network of factors contributed to a centralizing trend in education. The authors’ theory of rootedness research emerged as …

Letter From The Editor, Davis Clement

The William & Mary Educational Review

Letter from the Editor

Improving Mental Health Outcomes For Young Children Through The Implementation Of The Primary Project, Mary Anne Peabody, Kristi L. Perryman, Margaret Hannah, Lynn Smith, Shelley M. Sanyshyn

Journal of School-Based Counseling Policy and Evaluation

Primary Project (formerly known as Primary Mental Health Project) is one of the longest standing and wellestablished school-based preventative mental health interventions for addressing the social, emotional, behavioral, and learning needs of preschool through primary grade children. Existing now for over 60 years and building on its historical antecedents, this article describes the history, current state, and future implications of Primary Project. We discuss children’s mental health needs and the role of the school in addressing these needs. We present Primary Project’s current research efforts with a specific focus on University-community studies in Arkansas and Massachusetts. Implications for future research …