Educational Administration and Supervision Commons^™

Leadership Issues, Concerns, And Competencies Of Senior Level Student Affairs Professionals: A Study Of A 4 Year Public University, Todd C. Brelsford

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to analyze the leadership competencies commonly exhibited by selected student affairs professionals at a 4-year public university in the northeast. To have a deeper understanding of leadership within the field of student affairs, issues and concerns were investigated using relevant leadership theories (Eddy & VanDerLinden, 2006). The study sought to close the gap in the literature base by examining a division of student affairs from the director (or equivalent positions) up to the vice president of the division.

Twenty one participants were selected because of their rank of senior level student affairs professionals at …

Planning An Employee Spanish Training Program At The Community College Level, Melissa A. Wright

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to research the process of planning and creating an employee Spanish training program. The researcher determined employees' previous knowledge of the language and culture as well as training preferences utilizing two surveys (n = 120) and a personal interview (n = 15). Surveys were statistically analyzed using SPSS software to determine frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviations and the interviews were analyzed using a content analysis procedure. Research on adult learning theories, program planning theories and exemplary Spanish training programs complemented the quantitative and qualitative data collected.

The study revealed that CCC employees had …

Communication Theory Vs. Performance Skills: How Do Rowan Public Speaking Professors Weave Both Into Class Lectures?, Renai Ellison

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to understand how Rowan University public speaking professors blend the teaching of communication theory and performance skills in their classroom lectures. The researcher conducted one-on-one interviews and classroom observations of public speaking professors at Rowan. Five professors participated in the process. Each professor was asked open-ended questions which were created by the researcher to determine the specific methods used to impart knowledge about communication theory and performance skills. A classroom observation was conducted to provide confirmation and further elaboration of the information gathered from the interviews.

The study uncovered each professor's feelings and attitudes …

Evidence Of Heterarchical Planning Within Higher Education Institutions: Learning Garden Planning And Development At Rowan University, Sheri K. Barnes

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine attitudes during the early stages of planning for an educational garden at Rowan University. This study also attempted to fill the gap in the literature that exists between garden planning and development and planning at higher education institutions. The investigator surveyed 20 committee members involved in this large-scale project, in addition to interviewing six committee members who were considered key stakeholders and have displayed high levels of involvement during the initial stages of the project. Participants were administered a Likert-scale survey that looked for the emergence of heterarchical practices during the development …

Attitudes Towards Accommodations For Students With Learning Disabilities: A Study Of Rowan University Faculty, Sean C. Smith

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the attitudes of Rowan University faculty regarding accommodations for students with learning disabilities. A survey was sent to 350 full-time assistant, associate, and full professors from Rowan University's six colleges. The study aimed to discover what instructional, exam, policy, as well as university accommodations faculty members were willing to make for students with learning disabilities. The demographic data of age, gender, college, years teaching experience were correlated with the attitudinal statements included in the survey. The study revealed that, overall, faculty were willing to make accommodations for students with learning disabilities.

A Study Of Selected Student Attitudes Toward Factors That Influence Academic Achievement, Marquis L. Bennett

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the attitudes of selected African-American male college students and the impact of financing, role-modeling, high school preparation, college/community acceptance, and family support on academic achievement at Rowan University. The study sought to determine if any of these factors had a significant relationship with academic achievement.

Academic achievement was measured by a self-reported GPA of 2.76 or higher, which was higher than Rowan University's minimum requirement (2.5) for graduation, and honors achievements (awards, certificates, honor societies). Responses were measured using a Likert scale of 1-Strongly Agree to 5-Strongly Disagree.

Respondents reported that financial …

Perceived Benefits Of Involvement In Student Government, Kristen Diorio

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceived benefits of being involved in student government at Rowan University. Thirty-five undergraduate students involved in the Student Government Association (SGA) at Rowan University completed a survey to determine their perceived benefits, discover why they decided to become involved, and to determine whether there was a pattern of involvement.

The findings showed that involved students saw positive benefits in the areas of: personal development, educational, and developing social skills. Rowan University students who were involved in SGA saw positive values from their experience. The higher level of involvement a student had …

A Study Investigating Academic Advising Support For Student Athletes At Rutgers University-Camden, Thomas Thomasson Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a need for an academic advising support program for student athletes at Rutgers University-Camden. Rutgers University-Camden is currently in the process of developing such a program. The sample studied consisted of 122 student-athletes at Rutgers University-Camden.

Data were collected through an 18 item survey designed to obtain background information on the student athletes and their attitudes toward academic-advising at Rutgers University-Camden. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) computer program to calculate the descriptive statistics of frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations for responses …

The Relationship Between Grade Span Configuration And Academic Achievement, Mary Jane Dove

Theses and Dissertations

NCLB demands academic achievement in return for federal funding. Many Arkansas schools are having difficulty meeting these academic achievement goals. The purpose of the study was to explore the relationship between grade span configuration and academic achievement as measured by the Arkansas Benchmark Examination, which is the approved NCLB criterion-referenced annual assessment. The population identified was all schools in Arkansas containing grade 6. A purposive sample was drawn containing three different grade span groups according to the year of transition of 6th grade students ( N = 281). Data collection involved gathering results of the Benchmark Exam in mathematics and …

A Study Of The Attitudes Of Selected Campus Leaders Toward The Role Of Student Trustees At New Jersey State Colleges And Universities, Matthew S. Minnella

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the attitudes of college and university presidents, board chairpersons, student trustees and student government presidents at eight member institutions of the New Jersey Association of State Colleges and Universities (NJASCU) concerning the role of student trustees. The major areas of interest included voting rights, compensation, roles, training, and conflicts of interest. Seventeen campus leaders from NJASCU institutions participated in the study. The subjects were mailed a survey to complete to document their attitudes toward the roles of student trustees. The study found that the majority of selected campus leaders agreed that student …

Division Iii Athletic Trainers' Attitudes Toward Issues And Concerns Of The Athletic Training Profession, Kristin Sacerdote

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the specific issues and concerns that athletic trainers face in the college and university setting. A secondary purpose was to solicit recommendations in addressing the issues and concerns that are present in the profession. Seventy-two certified athletic trainers in the Eastern Athletic Trainers Association (EATA) completed a survey to evaluate their attitudes on the issues and concerns facing athletic trainers in higher education institutions. Those surveyed were asked to identify what were the top issues and concerns facing athletic trainers and what recommendations that they had for addressing these issues. The findings …

Issues, Challenges, And Leadership Qualities Of Participating Njac Head Soccer Coaches At The Division Iii Level, Thomas E. Eichhorn

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify the issues, challenges, and leadership qualities of NCAA Division III head soccer coaches in a highly competitive and diverse area of the United States. Fifteen head soccer coaches from the New Jersey Athletic Conference completed the Leadership Assessment Instrument and the Issues and Challenges survey to identify similarities amongst state institutions of higher education in New Jersey and to compare similarities between head coaches of male and female soccer programs. Findings suggest there are no distinct differences amongst these institutions or between head coaches of male and female soccer programs. The leadership …

Ncaa Division Iii Student-Athletes' Attitudes And Knowledge Of Anabolic Steroids, Keith Smicklo

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to provide data on the attitudes, knowledge, and deterrents of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III student-athletes related to illegal steroid abuse. One hundred and two student-athletes from Rowan University completed a survey to evaluate their knowledge of anabolic steroids and the NCAA Division III Drug-testing policy. The student-athletes also responded to statements regarding their current attitudes towards anabolic steroids and some deterrents to the use of steroids. Results indicated that NCAA Division III student-athletes do possess general knowledge of anabolic steroids and feel the use of anabolic steroids during athletic competition is …

Perspectives Of Administrators At Select Art Institutions On Student Involvement And Development Theories And Their Relation To Campus Extracurricular Activities, Mary Ellen Wade

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research study was to examine extracurricular offerings at art institutions focusing on a few areas, including: (a) the amount of extracurricular offerings, (b) the types of extracurricular offerings, (c) how student affairs administrators viewed overall student participation in the extracurricular offerings, and (d) how demographics of the institution including size of the student population, commuter or residential campus, and the amount of funding received related to the amount of extracurricular activities offered by a particular institution.

This study examined two art institutions. Findings suggested student affairs administrators mostly have knowledge of and apply student development theories …

An Impact Evaluation Of The Dr. Harley E. Flack Male Mentoring Program At Rowan University, Eliezer Marcellus

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to conduct an impact evaluation of the Dr. Harley E. Flack Male Mentoring Program on selected students at Rowan University. The study involved 94 subjects, divided into two groups. Group one consisted of 90 students enrolled in the Dr. Harley E. Flack Male Mentoring Program. Group two consisted of four past and current directors/coordinators of the program.

The data collection instruments included a 23-item survey and an interview schedule. The survey obtained background information, the attitudes of the subjects toward the academic support services provided by the program, and the impact on academic achievement …

The Roles And Responsibilities Of Academic Chairs In Strategic Planning At Rowan University, William F. O'Brien

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to better understand the attitudes of department chairs in strategic planning at Rowan University. The researcher surveyed the department chairs within the six academic colleges. A total of 22 department chairs participated in the survey while 20 of these subjects were also interviewed. Participants were administered a Likert-scale survey that measured the attitudinal factors of role, knowledge-experience, and involvement in strategic planning. The survey also measured the attitudes towards the current strategic planning process at Rowan and their recommendations for improvement. Surveys were statistically analyzed to determine means, standard deviations on the attitudinal factors, …

A Study Of The Changing Complexion Of Academic Governance In New Jersey Community Colleges, George J. Hakun

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the forces of change that will affect community colleges in New Jersey and to capture the attitudes of stakeholders towards the impact of these forces as they relate to the future of the structure of academic governance. The target population of this study was community college administrators and faculty in five community colleges in southern New Jersey (n=90). The study included a random sample of administrators and faculty members, with an overall response rate of 43.5%. In addition to the survey, 12 stakeholders were randomly chosen to participate in interviews, representing a …

Piloting The Implementation And Assessment Of A New First Year Experience At Rowan University, Stephen A. Bonora

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the attitudes of freshmen residents of Evergreen Hall at Rowan University during the 2005/2006 school year. The purpose of the FYI program in Evergreen Hall was to increase student retention. Half of the residents in Evergreen Hall were full participants (FP) in the program, meaning that they had a connected experience where their orientation leader for the summer before the freshmen year was also the RA the student had in the fall semester. The other half involved were non-full participants (NFP) the students had a different orientation leader and RA. This study …

Evaluating Support Services For African American Females At A Historically Black College, Sabrina Ferguson Edwards

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the effectiveness of the Women’s Resources Assistance Program (WRAP), a support service for African American females attending a historically black college or university (HBCU). The study included 230 participants. The purpose of the study was to gauge, through the use of surveys, each participant’s knowledge and level of participation in the WRAP.

The participants were issued questionnaires and interview forms to complete during the study. The questionnaires contained 11 closed-ended questions that were designed to determine the participating students’ attitude towards WRAP as well as their level of participation. Similarly, oral interviews were conducted to ascertain the …

Two-Year College Faculty And Administrator Perceptions Of The Transition To A Learning-Centered College, John Michael Brackin

Theses and Dissertations

A single qualitative case study design was used to determine the perceptions of administrators and faculty from a community college that is considered to be transitioning to a learning-centered college. The researcher conducted the case study to describe, explain and evaluate the phenomenon, and also recorded facilitators or roadblocks identified during the process. A conceptual framework model was used to produce an auditing procedure that identified the progress, perceptions and status of the community college as it transitioned to become a learning-centered college. Interviews of administrators and faculty, a survey of full-time faculty, and document reviews were the primary means …

A Study Of Head Coaches' Attitudes Regarding Academic Support Services For Student Athletes In The New Jersey Athletic Conference, Kenneth M. Dickson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the attitudes of head coaches in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) regarding the academic support services provided to student athletes. Of related interest was whether the coaches found a need for these services to be provided by the athletic department. Seventy-five head coaches in the NJAC completed the survey to evaluate the attitudes and academic support services. Results showed a statistically significant relationship between years in coaching and attitudes of academic support services. The findings suggested that the head coaches in the NJAC believe that there is a need for academic …

An Evaluation Of The Honor Code At Cherry Hill High School East, John Edward Burns

Theses and Dissertations

The purposes of this evaluation were to (a) ascertain the present status of the Honor Code at Cherry Hill High School East by conducting surveys and focus groups; and (b) make recommendations for improvement of the Code, after an analysis of the feedback. Students, staff, and parents were surveyed using an open-ended question survey technique. Focus groups of these same constituents allowed for a more in-depth analysis of perceptions, feelings, and ideas about the Code. Many of the original aspects of the Code had been lost over the past five years of its existence. Students felt that in its present …

Special Education Remediation Programs Promote Hspa Success, Diane L. Garrison

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to analyze the results of New Jersey's March 2004 High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA) and the 2001 Grade Eight Proficiency Assessment (GEPA) to recommend remediation opportunities for high school students with special needs. Student demographics and content area scores on the GEPA and HSPA were collected. The population included: special education students who took the March 2004 HSPA test, five mathematics and language arts special education teachers, and five Child Study Team members. An analysis of the test scores and student demographics resulted in extensive correlations and percentages used for comparison. The research revealed …

Roles And Expectations In Inclusion, Maryellen Lomurno

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to increase middle school teachers' awareness and knowledge of the inclusion model. This study will include research, professional development workshops on inclusion, and evaluation surveys. Through the research and teacher input, further workshops will be designed to help both general and special education teachers involved in team-teaching. The subject sample used in this study was 80 middle school teachers from Evesham Township who were involved in inclusion. The procedures used were informal interviews in August 2004, staff development workshops based on the teachers needs, and evaluations and data from workshops. This study concluded that …

Mentoring Of At-Risk Students In An Elementary Setting, Emily Withstandley

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of mentoring at-risk students in grades 1-5 (n=19) using action research. Students were partnered with teachers who volunteered for the study. Data regarding frequency and duration of contact, changes in academic, social, and behavioral skills, in student perceptions of school, and reactions of the mentors was collected for five months. Mentors and mentees defined their experiences of working together. The experiences for the mentors ranged from positive to negative. All mentees reported positive feelings. Mentors, mentees, and classroom teachers provided input into the strengths and weaknesses of the mentoring program. …

Why Do African American And Latino Undergraduate Students Choose To Attend Rowan University?, Jose A. Aviles

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the factors that influence African American and Latino undergraduate students to attend Rowan University. Sixty four African American and 56 Latino undergraduate freshmen were used in this study. Each student was given The Rowan Freshman Survey (2004), to obtain the quantitative data for this study about why African American and Latino students choose Rowan University. The analysis of the data calculated the frequency, percentage, mean as well as the standard deviation for each item. An Independent Samples T Test with a .05 level of significance compared the means of the African American …

Disproportionate Representation Of Minority Students In The Special Education Program At The Kingsway Regional School District, Anthony J. Fitzpatrick

Theses and Dissertations

The purposes of this study were to (a) determine the proportion of representation of minority students in special education programs on a federal, state, and district-wide level; and (b) determine the needs of the Kingsway Regional School District in addressing any disproportionate representation that exists. The subject sample was the special education population in the United States as determined by IDEA. The sample population would be studied to ascertain the proportion of representation and the determination standards used to classify them. It was concluded that Kingsway did not have a problem with disproportionate representation but rather an issue with consistent …

Effective Parental Communication Enhances Parental Perception Of School, Courtney P. Monillas

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study is to investigate whether mediums that become primary communications between the school district and the families within the middle school that focus on major events, educational practices, mission, goals, individual teacher communication and policies and procedures will affect a parent's perception of the school. The study focused on the impact of a monthly parental newsletter sent home to Brigantine North Middle School parents and if, in fact, it was beneficial as suggested by the New Jersey Indicators. The newsletter was distributed to students to bring home in addition to placement on the district website for …

The Aftermath Of Implementing A Standards-Based Curriculum In A K-8 District: Is There A Correlation Between Hands-On Instruction And Math Scores?, Lynne M. Triantos

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Upper Deerfield Township School District's new math programs to determine if the standards-based curriculum purchased three years ago has had an impact on standardized test scores. The district's ESPA/NJ ASK and GEPA standardized test scores in math from 2002, 2003, and 2004 were analyzed and six teachers were interviewed to determine if there was a correlation between hands-on instruction and higher student achievement on standardized tests. While the number of students who were proficient/advanced proficient in mathematics gradually increased for both grade levels during the specified testing years …

The Effects Of Professional Development On The Staff's Increased Awareness Of Program Changes At The Warren E. Sooy, Jr. Elementary School, Renee' C. Clark, Jennifer Peeke

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of professional development on elementary school teachers at the Warren E. Sooy, Jr. Elementary School. The study did not result in an increased awareness about program changes at the school in order to inform educators. The study's findings were reported to the teachers, staff members, and administration.

Before the study, staff members completed a Needs Assessment which recorded the attitudes of staff members concerning the most important areas of need referable to professional development. After the study, a final survey was utilized to determine if the school's professional development opportunities …