Facing A New Normal: Uncovering The Psychological Effects Of Loneliness On Student Mental Health, Courtney Thoreson

Counselor Education Capstones

In anticipation of the burden loneliness will have in combination with distressing psychological and emotional burdens carried over from the COVID-19 prevention strategies i.e., social distancing, quarantine measures, and lockdowns, colleges and universities are facing a broad spectrum of challenges as they shift to adapt to a new normal. Besides the physical health impact of COVID-19, this global pandemic has unleashed a psychological toll on society that has yet to be fully realized for its potential long-lasting effects. As campuses navigate the broader impacts of COVID-19, understanding the psychological effects of loneliness will be a primary focus in understanding it’s …

What Factors Impact First-Generation Latinx Students' Bachelor's Degree Attainment?, Heriberto Jose Garcia

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Latinxs are one of the fastest-growing minority populations in the United States. The population faces serious challenges in education. There is a considerable shortfall in their educational attainment. As the American economy continues to become more knowledge-based, a college degree becomes more essential in order to be competitive in the workforce. By 2050, Latinxs will account for almost one-third of the U.S. workforce. The Latinx low educational attainment highlights the importance of supporting students while pursuing a bachelor's degrees. By supporting Latinxs in higher education, one supports the development of the countryâ??s workforce.

Knowing that Latinxs are not completing bachelor's …

Social Media Preferences Of Individuals Seeking Graduate Business Degrees, Peyton N. Boxberger, Hannah C. Lee

Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to provide actionable insight to the Walton MBA Programs Office for a cohesive social media strategy that is inclusive of all audiences. This research hopes to help the Walton MBA program better understand potential and current students based on their social media behavior and learn how social media use has changed due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. This report will analyze the results of a survey crafted to better understand the social media preferences of individuals seeking graduate business degrees. From these, a social media marketing strategy can be created to tailor content to …

The Four Transactional Distances Of The Apocalypse: A Critical Realist Case Study Of Higher Education During Covid-19, Lee Ann Dickerson

Doctorate in Education

The purpose of this comparative, longitudinal case study was to explore the distance operations system implemented in U.S. colleges and universities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Embedded in a larger two-year study of distance education in the U.S. before and after the health crisis, this study combined a grounded theory methodology with a critical realist approach to identify the components of the distance operations system and illuminate the generative mechanisms that promote or inhibit effective distance education. Primary data for this study consisted of interviews of faculty, staff, and administration of four higher education institutions at two collection points: first during …

Maybe, Maybe Not: Examining Factors That Influence Adjunct Faculty Members’ Instructional Technology Usage, Mia Naseth-Phillips

Culminating Projects in Higher Education Administration

This quantitative predictive study examines the influence of attitude, subjective norm (peer pressure) and perceived behavioral control on whether adjunct faculty will or will not utilize instructional technology in their classroom. Based on the Decomposed theory of planned behavior (Taylor & Todd, 1995) a survey of 286 adjunct faculty was conducted in a mid-western state-wide university and college system. The study also explored the working conditions of adjunct faculty which hinder their teaching withing the classroom. The finding shows the while attitude and subjective norm are statistically significant predictors of user’s intention, perceived behavioral control is the strongest predictor of …

Understanding The Relationship Between Academic Burnout And Field Practicum Satisfaction, Maria Luisa Ramirez, Victoria Jakaub

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Burnout is a topic of significant consideration in social work. The present study intended to generate findings to address the student burnout phenomenon and offer suggestive means for advancing social work practice through mediating factors. The research followed a descriptive quantitative study design that focused on investigating the relationship between academic burnout among MSW and BASW students and field practicum satisfaction. Self-administered surveys were administered using the Qualtrics system, and the statistical analysis was conducted using SPPS version 21. Findings indicated a moderate-high burnout effect among MSW and BASW students with a positive association with age and a decreased satisfaction …

The Use Of Team-Based Learning To Improve Unit Test Scores Of Adult Learners In Introduction To Programming Courses In A Small Southwest Georgia University, Karen Streetman Cook

Theses and Dissertations

Low success rates in the introduction to programming course at a small southwest Georgia state university have led to a low retention rate in the computer science degree program. The instructional strategy used to teach the course could contribute to the low success rates of the students in the course. Andragogy, the adult learning theory, was used as the theoretical framework for this study. The purpose of this quantitative causal-comparative study was to determine if differences existed in the numerical unit test scores between students who took introduction to programming using a traditional lecture and lab-based class format and students …

Systemic Functional Linguistics In The Community College Composition Class: A Multimodal Approach To Teaching Composition Using The Metalanguage Of Sfl, Jennifer James

Education (PhD) Dissertations

This qualitative research study sought to understand the affordances and limitations of a systemic functional linguistics (SFL) approach to teaching composition at the community college level. The study took place over the course of a semester in two developmental college composition classes using the language of SFL to teach writing through multimodal assignments. The study was developed in response to the increasing diversity in writing skills and educational goals of students in the community college composition class. The increase in diversity is a result of legislation in California that restructures developmental class offerings and affects placement in the transfer-level composition …

The Perceived English Writing Needs Of Non-Primary English International Doctoral Students At R1 Universities Across The United States, Brenna M. Butler

Doctoral Dissertations

Despite United States higher education institutions experiencing a 7.4% increase and a 3.1% increase in enrollment of international doctoral students (IDSs) during the 2018-19 and 2019-20 school years, there are aspects of graduate education that are lacking for IDSs, including training specifically on writing (Sidman-Taveau & Karathanos-Aguilar, 2015). Without adequate writing assistance provided to IDSs, there is a potential that they may be less likely to persist and succeed in their doctoral programs (Sowell et al., 2009), which may dampen international graduate students’ contribution to the intellectual life (Smith & Khawaja, 2011) and diversity on campus (Williams & Johnson, 2011). …

Into The College Classroom, Another Tour Of Duty: A Guide For Instructors Of Veteran Students In Higher Education, Steven Dewalden

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Concepts found in organizational socialization and culturally responsive pedagogy, were used in this project. The focus was on the veteran population who are leaving the unique organizations of the military to transition into higher education. Differences in socialization techniques used by the military and higher education are vastly different and contribute to unique outcomes for the new members. In this project, veterans were represented as a unique culture to consider in the classrooms of higher education as instructors prepare to use a culturally responsive approach to teaching. This project was created using an autoethnographic process using self-reflection through a narrative …

A Comparative Case Study Exploring The Experiences Of Women Leaders In Academic Affairs And Administration In Higher Education Through The Lens Of Intersectionality, Johniqua S. Williams

Theses and Dissertations

There is an increasing concern about the absence of women in senior positions in academia and administration within institutions (Johnson, 2016). There is limited research to compare the journeys of women leaders in academics and administration. This study is an examination of women’s experiences of perceived barriers to leadership roles in faculty and administration. Using comprehensive interviews, this study explores personal accounts to emphasize apparent barriers to career advancement. The goal of the study is to explore women in senior positions in academia and administrative paths to leadership. The male dominated society has made it challenging for women to grow …

Perceived Obstacles By Esl Instructors And Required Support For The Integration Of Educational Technology, Xiaotian Zhang

Doctoral Dissertations

Nowadays, the use of technology has become a significant part of the language learning process inside and outside of the classroom. Many previous studies and surveys, most language educators hold a relatively positive attitude to the usage of technology in language teaching and learning. But many other studies also found that language teachers were not really using technology in their classrooms, or only for very low-level learning and teaching. The integration of technology in second language learning and teaching is still a problem that has not been fully researched.This descriptive study was designed to explore the obstacles that prevent ESL …

Confronting And Dismantling Whiteness In Higher Education: A Grassroots Approach, Winnie Needham

Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative research study was to investigate how an Educational Studies department in a small, Midwestern liberal arts college might confront and dismantle whiteness in curricular, pedagogical, and policy choices. Utilizing a critical participatory action research design, five higher education faculty engaged in a critical conversation inquiry group (Schieble et al., 2020) to develop their critical literacy (Rogers and Mosley, 2014). This study was designed to answer the following questions: How do faculty within an Educational Studies department think about their racial identities and the relevance of racial identity to the program, the institution, and higher education? …

Effective Advising Practices: Undergraduate Students' Perspective On The Impact Of Academic Advising At Rowan University In The Health And Exercise Science Department, Meghan Michele Mcgahey

Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this study was to analyze current undergraduate students' perceptions of academic advising practices within the Health and Exercise Science Department (HES) at Rowan University. The department provides a rigorous and enlightening intellectual environment for the professional development, achievement and distinction of leaders in Education, Athletic Training, Public Health and Health Promotion and Fitness Management. Although there has been much research on student perceptions of academic advising, there has not been any done specific to Health and Exercise Science majors at Rowan University. Rowan University is currently undergoing massive changes during the COVID-19 crisis. With the transition to …

The Experiences Of Black Women Pursuing Advanced Degrees In Stem, Denaja Haygood

Honors Projects

Black women are severely underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. While the underrepresentation of professional Black women in STEM has been well-researched, the pipeline problem of the education of Black women in STEM has been overlooked. The number of Black women pursuing STEM degrees dramatically decreases as the level of education increases. This gap in the literature is problematic, because Black women are still severely underrepresented in STEM-focused advanced degree programs. A small but growing literature indicates that Black women tend to experience frequent forms of discrimination, feelings of isolation and less satisfaction with their graduate programs, …

Best Practices For Voter Engagement Within Higher Education, Alyssa Tomins

Honors Projects

It is imperative that higher education institutions learn more about how to recruit members of younger generations to participate in future elections. Young people have historically voted at low rates, but that trend has started to change in recent years as more resources are being devoted to voter engagement among young people. This leads to the interest of understanding what best practices and strategies have academic institutions utilized to advance voter engagement on their campuses. This qualitative study analyzes these best practices and strategies at 84 colleges and universities, all of whom are members of The Andrew Goodman Foundation Vote …

Students’ Perceptions Of Effectiveness And Engagement Of A Performed Culture Approach And Collaborative Online International Learning In Japanese Language Practices In Higher Education, Mayu Okawara

Masters Theses/Capstone Projects

The whole purpose of this project is to examine the Japanese language learners’ reactions to Performed Culture Approach (PCA) and Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL). PCA is a language learning approach based on experiential learning, and students are asked to perform in a class. PCA has ACT classes which students are asked to perform, and FACT classes which have explanations and discussion about the grammar points. COIL can create opportunities for the students to interact with people who are living far away using online platforms. The COIL project can be fitted in PCA nicely as an additional activity during the …

Carolina Consulting Scholars Cohort: Enabling Students To Be Stronger Analytical Thinkers And Problem Solvers, Alexis Mcconomy, Justin Farley

Senior Theses

Undergraduate students at the Moore School currently have limited avenues to pursue management consulting upon graduating from the University of South Carolina. The Darla Moore School of Business has academic excellence initiatives that have led to great success from certain programs and centers; however, there lacks a formalized support system to help students looking for internships or full-time roles in consulting. Our proposed Consulting Scholars cohort seeks to gather top students from all majors and offer them a cohort that will educate and prepare them for success as future consultants. By leveraging existing classes within the Management department and the …

Pine Technical And Community College Policy Alignment Project, Amy Kruse

Leadership Education Capstones

The purpose of this project is to create an easily navigated campus policy and procedure process by aligning these documents with governing standards.

Pedagogic Recontextualization In Health Science Education During A Global Pandemic: Faculty Perspectives On Instructional Adaptations, Kara R. De La Fosse

Education Doctorate Dissertations

This qualitative study explored Health Science faculty navigating learning during a global pandemic. Data collection sources for the study comprised individual interviews, individual online questionnaires, and a focus group. The study produced four emergent themes from data analysis of individual interviews, online questionnaires, and the focus group: Faculty Flexibility with Responding to Virtual Instructional Delivery, Shift from Didactic to Conceptual Contextual Learning, Shift in Assessment of Skills and Competency, and Faculty Creativity in Changing the State of Practice Through Course Design. Conclusions from the study established changing pedagogy from a teacher-focused to student-focused approach and employing creativity were paramount with …

The Role Of The Academic Librarian: A Comparison Of Administrator And Librarian Perspectives, Christina Prucha

Dissertations

Abbott (1988) theorized librarians belonged to a class of professionals whose division of labor required constant negotiate with other stakeholders. Regardless of or perhaps because of constant negotiation, librarians have advocated for and documented roles as educators, faculty, and professionals from the earliest days of the profession (Sawtelle, 1878) to the present (Coker et al., 2010; Cronin, 2001; Gabbay & Shoham, 2019; Galbraith et al., 2016; Garcia & Barbour, 2018; Hicks, 2014; Hill, 1994; Zai, 2015). To a lesser extent, librarians have also documented how others view librarian roles (Christiansen et al., 2004; English, 1984), and Fleming-May and Douglass (2014) …

The Impact Of Supervisory Roles On Employee Engagement At A Private Midwest University, Brittany D. Brown

Dissertations

Previous research has confirmed that high performing employees have higher levels of engagement. This study explored factors influencing employee engagement in the context of higher education with particular emphasis on the potential impact of supervisory behaviors. Participants included faculty, adjunct instructors, staff, and coaches. No significant relationships were found between direct supervisor behaviors and the extent to which the research sample was engaged in their work. In addition to meaningful opportunities, recognition and collaboration with others were found to be important motivators through which engagement at work is heightened.

Emotionally Intelligent Leadership: An Application To Student Affairs, Alexander David Snowden

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to show the prevalence of emotionally intelligent leadership (EIL) that exists among student affairs professionals. The study evaluates the scores among student affairs professionals on the Emotionally Intelligent Leadership for Employees: Inventory (EILE-I) by utilizing information such as educational background, level of experience, gender, and racial identity.

The survey instrument, the Emotionally Intelligent Leadership for Employees Inventory, was designed and administered to 1068 student affairs professionals. Statistical tests from the responses included descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis, reliability analysis, and analysis of variance. Results showed that student affairs professionals scored an average of “Somewhat …

Internationalization Of Regional Higher Education In China: A Critical Policy Case Study Of A Transnational Double-Degree Program, Hailiang Zhao

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Abstract

While internationalization is omnipresent in the Chinese universities’ policy rhetoric and internationalization initiatives have been widely carried out, current research of China’s higher education internationalization mainly concentrates on the top research universities. This dissertation shifts the focus to study the internationalization of higher education in regional universities in China. Situated in the critical policy analytical framework, this study used qualitative case study approach to investigate national and institutional level perceptions of higher education internationalization in the Chinese context with a focus on a specific internationalization initiative, a double-degree program (SNZDD), in one regional public university (RU). Bourdieu’s concepts of …

Reviewing The Interdisciplinarity Of Professors At Colleges And Universities Globally Through A Meta-Analysis Of Current Literature, Carson Babich

Major Papers

The lineage of interdisciplinarity throughout history pushes us towards understanding the need for interdisciplinarity more than ever in a modern climate. Through a meta-analysis of current literature, topics and themes will be discussed to find answers on how interdisciplinarity of professors are present within institutes of higher learning on a global scale; in addition, the implications that can be drawn from interdisciplinarity of higher education professors. This global outlook of research will focus on a continental approach to observing the divergent forms of interdisciplinarity in North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Oceania with nineteen different articles across nineteen …

"Stop Giving Up On Us": The Experiences Of First-Generation Latinx Students In Their College Choice Process, Lillianna Shantey Franco Carrera

Dissertations

To improve college access for racially minoritized populations, such as first-generation Latinx students, current practices must be assessed to ensure equitability. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to learn about the experiences of first-generation Latinx students who chose to attend one of two institutions, a private 4-year institution and a private 2-year institution. I collected their reflections on their high school college choice process via interviews to understand their personal experiences and why they led them to the institution they chose. I also considered the support their high school counselors offered them in their college choice process. This study …

Exploring How Faculty Motivations And Professional Development Strategies Influence Digital Literacy Practices In A Study Abroad Program In Italy: A Case Study, Paolo Bartolini

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative case study research was to explore the multifaceted motivations, perceptions and attitudes that influence digital literacy practices in a small group of study abroad faculty and how professional development can help inspire them to act to innovate their digital literacy practices within a study abroad context. The role of study abroad programs in the U.S. has grown significantly in recent decades. As the number of students participating in these programs continues to increase, so have questions about the role of digital literacy practices in foreign education. Digital literacy embodies a way of learning that focuses …

Examining The Benefits Of A Faculty-Run Reading And Writing Lab At A Small, Private University In The Midwest, Dolores Greenawalt

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined if a faculty-run Reading and Writing Lab at a small, private university in the Midwest helped traditionally underserved college freshmen taking developmental English classes increase their levels of self-perceived comprehension and confidence. Students who typically need to take developmental English classes include English as a Second Language (ESL) students, English Language Learners (ELL), immigrants, and first-generation students. Many of these students enter college and face economic and social disparity and may need more support than other students. This mixed methods study examined data from two surveys given to students taking the developmental English class. It also examined …

An Exploration Of American University-Based Tutoring Programs For English Language Learners, Jennifer Melissa Aguilera

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this mixed-methods explanatory sequential design study is to better understand university-level foreign students’ motivations for attending tutoring sessions. Forty-eight university students were selected based on their enrollment in a university's intensive English language learning program. This study involved two phases of data collection including surveying these students, and then following up with a focus group interview (Creswell, 2015). The 19-item questionnaire asked about perceptions of tutoring effectiveness, motivations for tutoring, and overall experiences with tutoring. Interview questions were informed by the results of the survey in order to further elicit student perspectives and enrich the overall description …

Proactive Interventions For Collegiate Success: Using Response To Intervention With College Students Of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, And Psychology, Jenna Cook

Theses and Dissertations

College student attrition can cause a multitude of issues for students and universities. When a student leaves a program, the student may have to take additional credits and thus spend more on tuition, and the program may lose funding due to reduced enrollment. At a small private university in New Jersey, science, technology, engineering, mathematics and psychology (STEM) students were more likely than non-STEM students to change degree programs and be deemed at risk of failing. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a targeted response to intervention program that used academic coaching positively affected retention and persistence …