Using Curated Co-Teaching Tools To Elicit Tacit Experiences Related To Collaboration, Innovation, And Satisfaction Between Co-Teaching Pairs, Lisa Caputo Love

Theses and Dissertations

This is a qualitative, phenomenological study that documents the lived experiences of co-teaching pairs while they engage with a curated co-teaching “toolkit.” The toolkit, which comprises high-leverage practices and related resources, helps to elicit emotions and descriptions of the pairs’ experiences. A mosaic of data was gathered and analyzed for evidence of collaboration and innovation sparked by the toolkit and to assess participants’ perception of feeling valued and satisfied in the co-teaching role. The findings outline that the participants reported that access to the tools and time for their implementation could be helpful, but that more consistency in work pairings …

Entry Requirements As Predictors Of Early Academic Success And Student Performance In Undergraduate Occupational Therapy Education, Eileen Du Plooy, Daleen Casteleijn, Denise Franzsen, Gopika Ramkilawon

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

The selection process for health sciences programs such as occupational therapy is complex, involving a combination of academic and non-academic selection criteria as entry requirements. This study aimed to investigate the predictive value of entry requirement variables on academic performance during the first and second year of an undergraduate occupational therapy program in South Africa. A quantitative, cross-sectional design was utilized, and the sample included 129 first- and second- year occupational therapy students. Data was collected retrospectively through educational data mining of university records and institutional dashboards. The variables analyzed included National Senior Certificate Grade12 (NSC12) grades (Mathematics, Life Sciences, …

Cross-National Longitudinal Insights Into College Alcohol Beliefs And Consequences: The Role Of Food And Alcohol Disturbance, Javiera A. Hernandez Puelma, Katherine A. Berry, Luke Herchenroeder, Alison Looby, Adrian J. Bravo, Christopher C. Conway, Fermín Fernández-Calderón, James M. Henson, Lee Horgarth, Manuel I. Ibáñez, Debra Kaminer, Matthew Keough, Oleg Medvedev, Laura Mezquita, Yanina Michelini, Generós Ortet, Ricardo Pautassi, Matthew R. Pearson, Angelina Pilatti, Mark A. Prince, Jennifer P. Read, Verónica Vidal Arenas, Cross-Cultural Addictions Study Team

Psychology Faculty Publications

The present study examined the mediational role of FAD-intoxication (i.e., restricting calories to increase or quicken alcohol intoxication) in the relationship between college alcohol beliefs (CABs) and negative alcohol-related consequences. A sample of 2543 student drinkers from six countries completed the baseline survey, and 505 drinkers completed at least one follow-up. Two models examined whether frequency of FAD-intoxication mediated the relationship between CABs and alcohol-related problems, and structural invariance testing was conducted across sex and countries. FAD-intoxication was concurrently and prospectively associated with greater endorsement of alcohol-related consequences and significantly mediated the effects of CABs on alcohol-related consequences. The relationship …

Emotional Labor, Well-Being, And Community Care In Student Conduct Administration, Tiffany Shierling, Kelly Burlison

Journal of Higher Education & Student Affairs

This explanatory sequential mixed-methods study examined emotional labor, stress, and coping among student conduct administrators (SCAs). SCAs work in emotionally intensive, high-stakes environments that require balancing student development, institutional risk management, and legal compliance. Despite clear parallels to other helping professions, the emotional toll of student conduct work remains underexamined. Grounded in self-compassion theory and resilience theory, this explanatory sequential mixed-methods study examined the emotional labor demands, stressors, and coping strategies experienced by SCAs in higher education. Quantitative (n = 101) findings revealed strong relationships among stress, burnout, and anxiety, while individual self-care practices offered limited protection without institutional support. …

Negotiating Disability Stigma In Undergraduate Students With Academic Accommodations, Demetruis Leonard, Pietro A. Sasso

Journal of Higher Education & Student Affairs

To understand how undergraduate students diagnosed with a disability who receive academic accommodations negotiate stigma, this phenomenological qualitative study was conducted at a midwestern private university using Gibson's (2006) Disability Identity Development Model. Findings from this study of six undergraduates receiving academic accommodations suggest they qualified for reasonable accommodations to guarantee equal access and mitigate the impact of their diagnosed ADHD, depression, and/or anxiety and were granted academic accommodations such as extended time for testing and assignments. These students also used family, friends, and peers to support the navigation of the negative stigma of being perceived as “lazy” or “taking …

Exploring Culturally Responsive Faculty Practices That Support Student Success In Community College Classrooms, Mary Catherine Flynn

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study explored the culturally responsive teaching practices used by six community college faculty and instructors in their in-person courses. Faculty and instructors taught courses included in certificate and degree programs related to early childhood education, human services, and criminal justice at one midwestern community college. Specific content areas included sociology, political science, and child development. Data collection for this study included comprehensive interviews with each instructor, an analysis of documents including syllabi, student assignments, and assessments, and multiple classroom observations. This study was anchored in a theoretical framework based on the constructs of culturally responsive teaching practices. Each …

Data Utilization In Facilities’ Performance Management Decision- Making At U.S. Four-Year Public Institutions: A Cross-Sectional Exploratory Study, Tanaporn Supanichrattana

Theses and Dissertations

The growing complexity of higher education finance, aging infrastructure, and rising accountability expectations has intensified demands on facilities organizations to manage institutional assets strategically. As colleges and universities face sustained fiscal constraints and expanding operational pressures, the ability of facilities leaders to use data to inform performance management has become increasingly critical. Despite this importance, limited empirical research has examined how facilities leaders integrate data into decision-making within public higher education contexts.

The quantitative study employed a cross-sectional, exploratory survey design to investigate data utilization practices among facilities leaders at U.S. public four-year institutions. Guided by the Data–Information–Knowledge–Wisdom hierarchy and …

Burnout Among Licensed Central Office Administrators In Illinois School Districts: A Quantitative Study, Ivone De Jesus

Dissertations of Practice

Burnout among educational leaders is well documented; however, limited empirical research has focused on central office administrators. This study examined burnout among licensed central office administrators in Illinois school districts, focusing on self-reported levels of burnout and associated organizational stressors. Guided by the Job Demands-Resources model, burnout was conceptualized as a systemic organizational phenomenon shaped by workplace conditions. A cross-sectional survey was administered to licensed central office administrators across Illinois public school districts. Descriptive analyses assessed burnout prevalence, while correlational analyses examined relationships among burnout, organizational stressors, and coping strategies. Results indicated that burnout was common and multidimensional, with organizational …

Measuring Academic Momentum: A Quantitative Study Of Supplemental Instruction As A Community College Student Support Strategy, Cornelia Slater

Dissertations of Practice

ABSTRACT

MEASURING ACADEMIC MOMENTUM: A QUANTITATIVE STUDY OF SUPPLEMENTAL INSTRUCTION AS A COMMUNITY COLLEGE

STUDENT SUPPORT STRATEGY

Cornelia Vanessa Slater, Ed.D.

Department of Counseling and Higher Education

Northern Illinois University, 2026

Quortne R. Hutchings, Director

Community colleges serve as critical access points to higher education for diverse populations of students where completion rates are an ongoing challenge. Supplemental Instruction have been used as an academic intervention to improve success largely in four-year institutions. This quantitative study, guided by Xueli Wang’s momentum theory analyzed two research questions: (1) how supplemental instruction (SI) participation is associated with student academic success, course retention …

We See You! Mentorship Matters: Female Superintendents' Experiences In Illinois, Nicole Maxwell-Aldred

Dissertations of Practice

The purpose of the study was to examine female superintendents' lived experiences with mentoring and the impact it had on their trajectory to the position. Thirteen semi-structured qualitative interviews from a phenomenological lens who are currently women superintendents in the northern portion of Illinois. The results of this study shows the impact of mentorship along the way to the superintendency, once in the role, and the need to pay it forward. Gender dynamics had an impact on women across time. Additionally this research amplified women’s voices, provided deeper understanding of women's experience with mentorship, and added to the body of …

Educator Understanding Of Mtss: A Quantitative Descriptive Study, Danielle Valiente

Dissertations of Practice

Multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) require coordinated implementation across the full educator workforce. This study examined MTSS knowledge and self-reported understanding across the Illinois educator workforce to identify the specific knowledge gaps a targeted professional learning solution would need to address. Using a quantitative descriptive design, 208 Illinois public school educators across 16 job roles and four experience bands completed an online survey consisting of an eleven-item true/false knowledge assessment, a ten-item multiple-choice knowledge assessment, and a 10-item Likert self-report inventory. Data were disaggregated by job role and by years of professional experience. Educators demonstrated strong understanding of MTSS structural …

Hehanyela Istogmuzapi S’E Unk’Unpi Sni (Blind No More): Storying Transgenerational Healing And Relational Indigenous Leadership Through Practitioner Research, Dowan Wasté Win Tamera Miyasato

Dissertations and Theses

This dissertation, Hehanyela Istogmuzapi S’e Unk’unpi Sni (Blind No More), examines how Indigenous leadership emerges through transgenerational healing, story, and relational accountability. Grounded in Indigenous methodologies and guided by Absolon’s (2022) Kaandossiwin framework, this practitioner research positions story not as data to be analyzed, but as method, theory, and ceremony. It asks how healing inherited wounds through story, memory, and land shapes Indigenous approaches to leadership and restores relational responsibility within educational and community spaces. The work unfolds through intergenerational and transgenerational dialogue between the author and her mother, whose stories carry the teachings of her father, the author’s grandfather. …

Retention In A Community College In A Rural State In The Midwest: Factors Associated With Persistence And Withdrawal, Samantha Reeves Grady

Dissertations and Theses

This qualitative case study examined the factors associated with students’ persistence or withdrawals from courses during the Fall 2025 semester at a community college in the Midwest. Guided by research questions exploring what factors supported students in completing their courses and what prompts course withdrawals. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and focus groups with students who had withdrawn from one or more courses during the Fall 2025 semester. Using thematic analysis, several key themes emerged. Findings indicated that academic difficulties contributed significantly to student withdrawals. Additionally, course load intensity and competing external factors further hindered student persistence. Students, in …

Accessing Campus Mental Health Services In A Nigerian Southwestern University: Barriers To Academic Success, Caroline Dada

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Mental health disorders are a significant health concern among higher education institutions in sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria. A substantial treatment gap exists in the Nigerian healthcare system, and this gap is further worsened by cultural and religious barriers, which reinforce stigma that discourages students from seeking professional help. This qualitative narrative inquiry explored the barriers students encountered when accessing mental health services at a university in Southwestern Nigeria, to increase service access. Qualitative semistructured interviews were conducted with seven professional mental health providers at a university counseling center between March and April 2025. Inductive thematic analysis was used to identify …

Autonomy Without Alignment: Professional Development And The Fragmented Ai Landscape In Higher Education, Kelly D. Muller

Essays in Education

Higher education’s strong commitment to autonomy and academic freedom has produced a fragmented and ethically inconsistent approach to artificial intelligence (AI) professional development. As AI reshapes teaching, assessment, authorship, and academic integrity, faculty responses range from prohibition to enthusiastic adoption, often without shared institutional guidance. Current professional development efforts are largely optional, tool-focused, and reactive, leaving instructors to construct individual ethical frameworks while students encounter inconsistent expectations across courses. This variability raises concerns about equity, accountability, and institutional risk. Drawing on scholarship related to academic freedom, AI governance, and diffusion of innovation, the article proposes a three-layer model that reframes …

Ucf Center For Community Schools Research Citations, Ucf Center For Community Schools

Community Schools Research

This scholarship examines community school implementation, partnerships, student and family outcomes, organizational conditions, and the broader systems that support community-centered approaches to education. By connecting research with practice, UCF CCS seeks to deepen the evidence base and advance knowledge that can inform educators, practitioners, researchers, policymakers, and community leaders.

This collection provides an evolving resource for exploring the research behind community schools and the lessons emerging from their implementation across Florida and beyond.

Student Codes Of Conduct, Institutional Isomorphism, And Restorative Justice: Practice And Implementation In The State University Of New York (Suny) System, Alexandra Athens

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

The student conduct field constantly must balance the legal requirements of the federal and state governments with providing an educational environment for students to learn and develop valuable skills in conflict management, problem solving, and communication. Each higher education institution has a student code of conduct detailing the policies and procedures by which students are expected to abide. These codes of conduct carefully combine the legal requirements and educational goals of each institution’s conduct office. This study analyzed the prevalence of restorative justice practices and other common practices in the codes of conduct at 4-year institutions in the State University …

Negotiating Quality: A Critical Discourse Analysis Of American Higher Education Policy, John A. Foisy

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

This qualitative study examined how institutional quality is constructed, communicated, and negotiated through the accreditation process in U.S. higher education. Drawing on a multiple case study design, the research analyzed accreditation-related documents from eight institutions undergoing reaffirmation, including self-study reports, peer review team reports, Commission action letters, and institutional responses. The study was guided by three research questions: (a) What institutional signals of quality are evidenced in self-studies? (b) In what ways does the accreditation process represent a negotiation between accreditors and institutions? (c) What implied views of institutional quality emerge from accreditation discourse?

The study employed a multilayered analytical …

Understanding Support And Success: A Cross-Group Analysis Of Student Support Services And Nontraditional Graduate Student Experience, Erica Shudt

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

This study explored how nontraditional graduate students perceive their experiences with student support services within a Research 1, public university. The purpose of this study was to understand how these services impact their overall academic experience. Findings from semi-structured interviews with nontraditional graduate students and student support staff using a qualitative approach revealed four themes. These themes included (1) a shared emphasis on connection and belonging, (2) flexibility as a foundation for support and success, (3) individualized student-centered support, and (4) the acknowledgement of nontraditional student support identity. Both groups identify that meaningful support is within relationships with faculty and …

Gender Inequality In Afghanistan's Public Schools: Provincial Disparities Amid Historical And Political Change, 2002-2021, Enayatullah Nasir

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

This dissertation examines the persistence and spatial concentration of gender-based educational inequality in Afghanistan's public school system from 2002 to 2021–– a period spanning post-2001 reconstruction, the expansion of the Republic era, and the reversal under the second Taliban regime. Despite substantial international investment and two decades of repeated commitments to gender parity, access to and progression through public schooling remained profoundly uneven across the country’s thirty-four provinces. The Gender Parity Index values differ sharply between provinces, and those with the lowest overall enrollment tend to exhibit the widest gender gaps. Existing scholarship has concentrated on the national level, obscuring …

The Un-Bridged Pipeline: Leading And Preparing Women Of Color To Senior-Level Higher Education Administration, Jacqueline D. Slater

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Despite increased educational attainment among Black women, representation in senior‑level leadership positions within higher education remains limited. This qualitative study examines the experiences of Black women who serve or have served in senior‑level academic administrative roles and explores how those experiences inform guidance, preparation, and decision‑making for future Black women leaders. The study focuses on practical barriers, workplace realities, and strategies that shape leadership entry, advancement, and retention.

Using a descriptive case study design, five Black women with professional experience as presidents, provosts, vice provosts, and academic deans participated in semi‑structured interviews lasting 45 to 75 minutes. Purposeful sampling ensured …

From Preparation To Practice: A Study Of Assistant Principals After Completion Of An Aspiring Assistant Principal Preparation Program, Mallory L. Mcconnell

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Leadership programs and readiness in schools, particularly those in Florida, is well studied. However, few studies have investigated how current assistant principals who have completed Clay County District School’s Aspiring Assistant Principal Program describe their experiences, believe the program has prepared them for the realities of school leadership, or identify the most impactful elements that have supported their leadership development. This case study seeks to collect foundational research knowledge by analyzing data from the program, participants, and key facilitators. Using a sampling of current assistant principals who have completed the Aspiring Assistant Principal Program, this research examines the results in …

Impact Of Instagram Flyers In Higher Education: Within Resident Assistant Program Attendance Marketing, Mary J. Mcdonald

Liberal Studies (MA) Final Essays

This exploratory pilot study examines whether posting Instagram digital flyers affects Resident Assistant (RA) program attendance in the higher-education Housing and Residence Life (HRL) context. Instagram has emerged as a dominant channel of communication among Generation Z (1997-2012). As a result, higher education institutions have increasingly used social media to prompt student engagement and foster belonging, in hopes of strengthening retention. Using a quasi-experimental matched comparison design, attendance data from the 2024 academic year without Instagram flyers were compared to the 2025 academic year with Instagram flyers. The independent variable was the implementation of Instagram digital flyers, and the dependent …

A Phenomenological Analysis Of Sense Of Belonging Among Community College Educators, Muhammad Owais Aziz

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

This phenomenological study explored the complex phenomenon of sense of belonging (SB) among diverse health professions educators (HPEs) and non-health professions educators (non-HPEs) at a Canadian community college. SB, as a dynamic construct shaped by an individual's perception of being valued and respected, is influenced by personal preferences and by complex interactions with the individual's surroundings. To better understand SB and foster a more inclusive environment for diverse educators, it is necessary to investigate SB among these educators. This qualitative study used eleven semi-structured interviews and seven steps of data analysis. The results of this study can inform strategies, policies, …

Assistant Principals’ Perspectives And Experiences Concerning Their Influence As Instructional Leaders On Student Achievement In Title I Schools, Courtney J. Charles

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

This qualitative descriptive study explored the perspectives and experiences of assistant principals in Title I schools in the context of their instructional leadership responsibilities. The study examined the relationship between assistant principals as instructional leaders in Title I schools and student achievement by addressing research questions related to curriculum implementation, data-driven decisions, school culture, instructional support, and professional development. Moreover, this study used purposeful sampling to select 13 assistant principals from Title I schools, and data were collected through semistructured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis. Marzano’s focused school leader evaluation model served as the framework for interview questions. …

The Role Of Growth Mindset As A Mitigating Factor On Teacher Burnout In The Secondary Math Classroom, Grant Butler

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

This mixed methods sequential explanatory study examined how secondary mathematics teachers’ mindsets relate to burnout tendencies, and how schools can support staff mindset to prevent burnout. Using a two-phase design, Phase 1 gathered survey data from 94 secondary math teachers, measuring mindset and burnout with descriptive statistics, correlations, chi-square tests, and regression analysis to quantify associations between mindset orientation and burnout risk. Phase 2 employed semi-structured interviews with a subsample of teachers and open and axial coding to explain and contextualize the quantitative patterns. Quantitative analyses revealed that teachers with more fixed mindset tendencies reported significantly higher burnout scores across …

Factors That Impact K-6th Grade Teachers’ Sense Of Self-Efficacy: A Mixed Methods Study, Becky A. Eckburg

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

Although there have been efforts to narrow the "achievement gap," research shows that the academic achievement levels of students in low socioeconomic school settings are likely to be significantly lower than the academic achievement levels of students in higher socioeconomic school settings (Babayiğit et al., 2021; Rahman et al., 2024). Studies also show that teachers have a significant impact on their students' growth, no matter what their academic setting may be (Petek & Pope, 2023), and that collective teacher self-efficacy is a significant factor in positive student achievement (Hattie, 2008). If targeted professional development could support teachers' self-efficacy, student achievement …

The Impact Of Strategic Planning On Teachers' Perceptions Of Their Practice: A Mixed-Methods Study, Vivian Robert

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

Strategic planning is a vital endeavor for school districts across New York State. Often, however, significant human and financial capital is invested in these processes without investigating their impact beyond immediate student outcomes. While student success is the ultimate priority, little attention has been paid to the effect strategic planning has on the practitioners charged with implementing it, specifically teachers. This phenomenological mixed-method case study investigates how strategic planning influences teachers’ perceptions of their practice and identifies how districts can better engage educators to ensure the successful realization of district goals. In this study, district leaders participated in semi-structured interviews, …

How Directors Of E-Learning Contribute To New Expectations Of Privacy, William R. Jones

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This qualitative research study used semi-structured interviews to ask directors of elearning at regional public universities about decision-making concerning new information technologies that affected the data privacy and security of students and staff. The institutional setting and target population were chosen to standardize the inquiry and allow focus on how privacy decisions were made. The conceptual framework drew on Helen Nissenbaum’s theory of contextual integrity for privacy and contributions of behavioral economists on expert decision-making including studies of heuristics and biases, naturalistic decision-making, and the failures of deliberative groups. Data collection involved a first interview and then a second follow-up …

Motivational Factors Influencing Military Service: A Structural Equation Model Of Rotc Students And Service Members’ Motivation-Confidence To Serve, Brian J. Vansingel

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Amid declining college enrollment across the United States, academic institutions with United States Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) programs must consider underrecruited populations, such as military-bound young adults, in their recruiting strategies. To support this effort, this study examined the motivational factors associated with individuals’ decisions to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces. This study utilized a quantitative, correlational research design with a survey comprising multiple sections: sociodemographic variables, items across six motivational factors for military service, and a Motivation-Confidence to Serve scale. The study used data from a convenience sample of 709 respondents, including college military science students …