Education Commons^™

"I Don't Fit Into The Identity You Expect Me To Have": Development Of Self-Authorship In Lgb Students At A Faith-Based Institution, Sara Bretz

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

The purpose of the study was to build an understanding of how lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) students grow in their self-authorship development at faith-based, small, private, liberal arts institutions. Self-authorship is one’s ability to define one’s own internally held beliefs, values, relationships, and identities. Five sexual minority students participated in qualitative, semi-structured interviews inquiring about their experiences at an eastern U.S. faith-based institution with an established educational group focusing on issues of sexuality and gender. Findings included the importance of faith-related development and experience, clarity in communication, support systems, perspective weighing, and leadership experiences. Implications for future practice include …

Ways Of Knowing: An Exploration Of The Epistemological Development Of Undergraduates, Eli Casteel

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

Today, the United States is polarized; people cannot agree on facts or how they know their facts. This study was aimed at researching how people know and the development of an epistemic lens, that is, how they know what they know. Literature suggests many undergraduates understand the world as either black and white or relativistic (King & Kitchener, 1994). However, through educational experiences some students move beyond relativistic thinking. The purpose of this study was to explore and understand the significance of an undergraduate course on ways of knowing. The study investigated the experience of undergraduates and how a course …

An Exploration Of The Educational Experiences Of Bahamian Students At Taylor University, Dominic Justin Cartwright

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of Bahamian alumni during their undergraduate years at Taylor University. Thirteen participants who graduated between the years 1980 and 2016 were interviewed. All responses were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed to discover varies themes. Participants shared how they experienced Taylor as a Bahamian during their time. The results of this research provide clarity to what Bahamian students have experienced and what Bahamian students may continue to experience in the future.

The Relationship Of Tuition Discounting And Student Loan Debt At Faith-Based Institutions, Alana Marie Dean

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

Tuition discounting and student loan debt are two topics in United States higher education of growing concern among practitioners. Both of these financial constructs affect the overall cost of college and how students pay for their education. Bringing both concepts together, the purpose of the study was to explore quantitatively a relationship between tuition discounting and student loan debt at faith-based institutions. Specifically, the study examined the relationship of these two financial constructs at member institutions of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU). The definition of tuition discounting employed is the practice of providing non-repayable institutional grants and …

Supporting Student-Parents: A Qualitative Exploration Of The Online Presence Of Support At Postsecondary Institutions, Paige L. Mccourt

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

Increasing numbers of nontraditional students, including student-parents, are enrolling in postsecondary education. These students are raising dependent children while pursuing a degree and often require specialized support services, such as childcare, flexible course schedules, family housing, and financial assistance. Qualitative document analysis of the online resources at 50 postsecondary institutions’ revealed the presence and absence of student support services at these campuses. An initial analysis of the documents generated five themes regarding support for student-parents: (1) structured support services and offices; (2) family housing options or assistance; (3) specific financial aid options for student-parents; (4) the availability of parenting resources …

Designing Community: Residence Halls, Shower Facilities, And Experiences Of Community Amongst Male Students, Eric Christopher Moore

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

This study explored the impact of shower facility design on traditional men's residence hall floors. This research drew upon previous research in proxemics and residence hall design by looking at three shared shower facility designs in traditional residence halls at a small, liberal-arts, faith-based institution located in the Midwest. The selected shower designs were open showers with no dividers, partially-open showers with chest-high dividers, and divided showers with complete coverage. An online survey with both quantitative and qualitative questions was sent out to male students living in traditional residence halls, and the results were analyzed. This study looked for connections, …

Habits Of Mind And The Impactful Uses Of Time Of College Seniors, David Scott Gebby

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

College students spend their time in a variety of activities outside of the typical classroom setting. These activities range from academic, such as spending time discussing opinions with peers, to more non-academic, such as spending time on social media. The purpose of the study was to examine free time as it relates to Habits of Mind or habits that lay a foundation for lifelong learning (HERI, 2017d). The study utilized archival data from a small, private, liberal arts university in the American Midwest. Using the results from the 2015 College Senior Survey, the research examined the relationship between how students …

Paradigm Or Paradox? Student Consumerism And Learning At A Liberal Arts Institution, Jessica L. Martin

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

Existing literature widely asserts the increasing prevalence of consumer-minded students, often presenting consumerism and learning as opposed. The purpose of the study is to better understand the relationship between consumer and learner orientations and explore aspects of a liberal arts education affecting each. To this end, the study employed a mixed methods embedded sequential design. A survey—utilizing both quantitative learner and consumer scales along with qualitative open-ended items—was administered to students. A subsequent focus group further clarified and explored survey results. Quantitative data revealed students identify more strongly as learners than consumers but still identify positively as consumers. Furthermore, a …

Taste And See That The Lord Is Good: A Christian Liberal Arts Education And The Development Of Students' Theology Of Nutrition, Lauren Nicole Miles

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of a Christian liberal arts (CLA) university on students’ development of a theology of nutrition. Through phenomenological research, this study explored the experience students had with food and the education they received regarding nutrition at the CLA university. The study was guided by the following research questions:

• How do students’ experiences at a CLA university impact their theology of nutrition?
• Does a theology of food change eating habits?
• Does taking part in a nutrition course change an individual’s food choices compared to those who do not take a nutrition course? …

Impact Of A Student Leadership Experience On The Development Of Creativity In Undergraduate Students, Austin Taylor Smith

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of a leadership experience on the development of creativity in undergraduate students in order to help student affairs professionals, faculty, and administrators better understand how they can develop creativity in their students. A phenomenological study was conducted on students who held a leadership position as a Resident Assistant or cabinet member of a student organization on the campus of a small institution in the Midwestern United States. The study consisted of an open-ended survey and semi-structured interviews. Key findings from this study include insight into various aspects of students’ experiences …

We Are All Humans: The Impact Of The Integration Of Old Miss In 1962 On The White Racial Identity Development Of The Campus Newspaper Staff, Kelsey Ann Snyder

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

The Integration of Ole Miss in 1962 was an incredibly impactful event in the Civil Rights Movement. A contributing member to the impact of integration was James Meredith, a student determined to go to Ole Miss. The institution was forever changed by this event, as were the students who experienced the integration first hand. The students at the campus newspaper, known at the time as The Mississippian, had a unique experience of the integration due to their reporting of the events. The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of the Integration of Ole Miss on the White …

A College Favorite: Students' Perceptions Of Traditions And Culture In Higher Education, Danielle M. Spoutz

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of a college tradition on a university’s culture. Through a hermeneutical phenomenological design, this study explored two college traditions at two separate campuses: Taylor University’s Airband and Westmont College’s Spring Sing. The research was guided by the following questions:

1. What are students’ perceptions of the impact a college tradition has on a university culture?
2. Is there mutual shaping—does a tradition shape institutional culture as much as institutional culture shapes a tradition?

Three findings emerged from this study. The first finding demonstrated the importance of traditions in building community, as it …

What Type Of Village Does It Take? The Impact Of Campus Housing On The Freshmen Experience, Britney Ann Wallbaum

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

The purpose of this study was to explore the impact that type of residence has on a freshman’s experience, specifically comparing all-freshmen residence halls to comprehensive residence halls. Through phenomenological research, this study explored the common meaning for seventeen students at two universities of their experiences living in a residence hall as freshmen. The following research questions guided this study:

• Is there an impact a student’s first year experience based on type of on-campus residence?
  • How does an all-freshmen residence hall impact a student’s freshmen year?
  • How does a comprehensive residence hall impact a student’s freshmen year?

Major findings include …

Kizuna Model Of Learning: Inviting Space For Authenticity, Empathy, And Learning With Humility Across And Through Differences, Manabu Taketani

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

The field of education is becoming increasingly diverse with more emphasis on experiential learning and a return to a communal model of learning. Scholars note the importance of the virtues of authenticity, empathy, and humility within the learning experience. In order to explore the relationship between the trends of education and the virtues that drive the experience of learning, a study on the experiences of Japan-America Student Conference participants was conducted. Representing diverse educational institutions, participants responded to surveys regarding their experience of the conference. Strong themes emerged resulting in the development of the Kizuna Model of Learning (KML), a …

Experience, Perception, And Purpose For The Chapel Program At Taylor University, Wynn Coggin

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

Research concerning student experience and perception of chapel programs at Christian colleges is severely lacking (Morrison, 2014). However, relevant literature on secularization and the rising impact of spirituality on today’s students reveals chapel programs to be a critical intersection for the spiritual life of a Christian institution and its students. This study sought to explore and describe student perceptions and experience of the chapel program at Taylor University for the 2016-2017 academic year. The study implemented an embedded mixed methods design consisting of two surveys administered to the entire campus community; one survey administered at regular intervals to a group …

Same-Sex Attracted Students Experiences With Sexual-Orientation-Based Hiring Policies At Goshen College, Steven Zantingh

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

At a Christian institution, same-sex attracted individuals’ experiences and relationships may be vastly different, depending on the institution’s campus climate surrounding the LGBT+ community. This study was conducted to understand the role institutional hiring policies regarding same-sex attracted faculty play in informing campus climate and sexual minority students’ experiences. Referencing a recent non-discrimination policy change at Goshen College, this study sought to answer the following question: How did a change in a Christian institution’s non-discrimination policy regarding sexual minority faculty affect the experiences of same-sex attracted students? Utilizing a narrative qualitative research design, the researcher conducted interviews with seven past …

Understanding The Relationship Between Study Abroad And Integrity Development, Lauren Drogo

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

This study explored the relationship between study abroad and integrity development. Past research has indicated that a participant’s experience studying abroad impacts their values, personal and global awareness, and ways of developing as a person. While research looking specifically at the development of integrity through study abroad has yet to be explored, current research surrounding integrity holds similar themes aligning with the developmental outcomes of study abroad. Using the Integrity Scale developed by Schlenker, Miller, and Johnson (2009), 419 students were surveyed at a small, private, religiously affiliated institution in the Midwest region of the United States. Using both independent …