Higher Education Administration Commons^™

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 …

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 …

A Study Investigating Undergraduate Student Leader Perceptions Of Involvement And Intentionality Of Out-Of-Class Learning, Lauren M. Ackermann

Theses and Dissertations

This study was designed to determine why students get involved in student organizations, the perceived benefits of being involved, and the role of student affairs professionals in enhancing out-of-class learning. Fifty-two undergraduate students from Rowan University participated in the study by completing a survey that asked about involvement in a Student Government Association (SGA) chartered organization, perceived learning outcomes associated with involvement, and the student's perceptions about current services offered to student organizations. A follow-up interview was conducted with six students who completed the initial survey in order to more fully answer the question of what student affairs professionals can …

A Study Investigating The Health Care Support Service Training Needs For Gloucester County And Workforce Development Demand, Maureen D'Andrea

Theses and Dissertations

The Division of Lifelong Learning at Gloucester County College conducted a survey of medical offices in the county to determine what occupations they employed and what their projected employment need for those occupations was in the next three years. The purpose of the study was to determine if GCC should develop training programs for those occupations. GCC also wanted to provide training for occupations that would qualify for workforce development funding. Over 500 surveys were mailed to medical offices in the county and responses were received from 72 offices. The research data indicated there was a need for training by …

A Study Investigating The College Choice Process Of Selected Freshmen Minority Undergraduate Students At Rowan University, Philip K. Oware

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to investigate the college choice process of selected freshmen minority undergraduate students at Rowan University. Convenience sampling was used to select 66 minority freshmen undergraduate students. Data were collected using a questionnaire consisting of 29 items. Descriptive analysis employed included frequency distribution and calculation of mean and the corresponding dispersion (standard deviation) where applicable. The relationship between each item/statement and the attitude dimension variable according to the responses of all the students was established using Spearman Correlation. Eighty-four percent of the subjects strongly agreed or agreed that the financial aid they received was opportunity …

Career Development Of The Golden Generation: Elite Phds In The Humanities Recruited As Faculty At Comprehensive Universities (1972-1982), Leah Wilkinson

Theses and Dissertations

The academic labor market in humanities has suffered from severe imbalances for over 30 years. Consequently, many faculty hopefuls have had to alter their career aspirations to fit the limited employment options available to them (Finnegan, 1993). This qualitative study examined the career socialization of 19 senior humanities faculty, who as newly-minted PhD s at leading research universities sought full-time tenure- track positions during the hiring recession in higher ed u cation from 1972 to 1982. At the same time, public teaching-oriented universities in the Heartland began to capitalize on a buyer’s market for outstanding new faculty. After a highly …

A Study Investigating The Feasibility Of A Co-Curricular Leadership Program At Rowan University, Christopher A. Farrell

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research project was to investigate the feasibility of implementing a co-curricular student leadership program at Rowan University. The project included both a content analysis of transcripts from focus group sessions held with faculty members, administrators and student leaders, as well as analyses of existing co-curricular student leadership programs on several college campuses. Results from the focus group sessions included a strong interest for a co-curricular student leadership program at Rowan University, as well as recommendations for the proper implementation of such a program. Analyses of existing programs from several college campuses provided a methodology for program …

The Relationship Between Administrators' Learning Patterns And Leadership Competencies, Mark Hendricks

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between selected administrators' learning patterns and attendant leadership competencies. Thirty-nine upper-level administrators at Rowan University completed the Leadership Assessment Instrument and Learning Combination Inventory to evaluate this relationship. Results showed a statistically significant relationship between a confluent learning pattern and conceptual thinking leadership components. Administrators demonstrated a wide variability in leadership competencies and learning patterns on descriptive tests. Findings suggest administrators at Rowan University use a wide degree of flexibility between learning patterns and leadership skills.

An Investigation Of The Impact Of Early Intervention And The C.H.A.M.P./Gear-Up Program At Rowan University, Thomas A. Cruz-Soto Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of early intervention / pre-college programs. The study sought to determine if there was any significant information regarding the impacts of early intervention / pre-college programs on target populations. The study involved 92 conveniently selected students from Cooper's Poynt Family School and Woodrow Wilson High School, located in Camden, New Jersey. The primary focus of the study was the C.H.A.M.P./GEAR-UP Program and its effectiveness on selected youth. The data collection instruments included a 15-question survey and scores from a Pineland ecology pre & post-test. This self designed survey was based …

A Study Of The Issues And Challenges In Athletic Administration From The Perspective Of Division Iii Athletic Directors, Jason Robert Crews

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify the issues and challenges facing selected Division III athletic directors. The study sought to determine if there were any differences in the available literature and the opinions of selected Division III athletic directors. The study involved 80 Division III schools throughout the Tri-State area of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York. The primary focus of the study included the colleges and universities within the New Jersey Athletic Conference. The research instrument used in the study was a 12-question survey. This self-designed survey was based upon the current issues and challenges in Division …

A Descriptive History Of The Discipline Of Athletic Training Education, Scott M. Lisher

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research is to trace the history of athletic training education as an athletic discipline. Through careful study and research, the author presents how formal education has evolved for professionals in the field of athletic training. The roots of athletic training education can be traced to the mid-1950's. From that period, athletic training education has changed immensely and is still changing today. This research explores the relationship between the development of higher education and the way athletic training evolved as a discipline within higher education. Much of the focus is on change, not only including changes made …

The Perceptions Of Tenure And Alternatives To Tenure Among Faculty At A Mid-Sized Regional University In A Large Northeastern State, Patricia Mcgrath

Theses and Dissertations

This study sought to gauge the perceptions of both tenured faculty and tenure-track faculty regarding academic freedom and tenure. With this information, professors will be able to engage in discussions about tenure and its future. In this study, professors across all colleges and professorial ranks were asked to rate the degree to which they either agreed or disagreed with statements pertaining to academic freedom, tenure, and possible alternatives to tenure. In addition to this, there was a space given for comments or concerns.

The overall format of this study was an anonymous survey questionnaire. Most importantly, the survey attempted to …

Program To Program Articulation: Progress, Perceptions, And Procedures For Articulation From Two-Year Programs To Four-Year Programs, Brenda L. Sullivan

Theses and Dissertations

The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions of two-year and four-year students, faculty, and chief academic officers related to articulation practices in existence. Additionally, this study was designed to determine the desired components for a successful articulation and transfer system and identify any significant differences that exist between current and ideal articulation practices. Furthermore, this study investigated the feasibility for an articulation officer to oversee transfer procedures and a statewide course numbering system. To accomplish the goals of this study, after review of literature on articulation and transfer practices, six research questions were developed. Survey instruments, …

Factors Influencing Academic Achievement And Graduation Rates Of Transfer Student Athletes At National Collegiate Athletic Association Division Ii Institutions, Michael E. Reynolds

Theses and Dissertations

This study was designed in two parts: (1) to discover the graduation rates of transfer student athletes at National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II institutions in Arkansas from 1994-1997 and (2) to determine which cognitive and noncognitive variables might predict academic achievement for first semester transfer student athletes. The graduation rates were determined and analyzed by ethnicity, gender, and sports teams. Cognitive and noncognitive data were collected from a sample of 57 fall 2001 transfer student athletes. The information collected from the study group was analyzed using multiple regression and logistic regression techniques. There were five major findings of this …

Exploring Aspects Of Effectiveness Of The Department Chair In Metropolitan Universities, Kathy Cooper Trawick

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the roles and competencies of the effective department chair based on the perceptions of faculty, chairs, and deans at three selected metropolitan universities. A brief look at 54 competencies and tasks taken from eight basic categories were rank-ordered by the participants. Data were obtained via electronic survey and an Internet web site at the researcher's home institution. Results were analyzed using Kendall's W Coefficient of Concordance to determine agreement among the groups in prioritizing the eight basic categories of department chair competencies. Results from the study of 130 total participants indicated there …

Development Of A Freshman And Transfer Student Athlete Orientation Program At Rowan University, Michael D. Jefferson

Theses and Dissertations

Many college student athletes fail to attain degrees. Academically, students struggle to maintain the minimum academic requirements to remain enrolled in their college or university. The purpose of this thesis project was to determine the feasibility of developing a freshman and transfer student athlete orientation program at Rowan University. An action research design was used to collect qualitative data on student athletes regarding their attitudes and perceptions towards the development and possible implementation of an orientation program for freshman and transfer student athletes. Student athletes and university administrators supported the development of an orientation program for student athletes at Rowan …

The Development And Implementation Of A Co-Curricular Transcript Program At Rowan University, Catherine R. Ragan

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this action research project was to study the process of change while developing and implementing a Co-Curricular Transcript Program at Rowan University. The action research project included a content analysis of available literature, a case study with an existing co-curricular transcript program, program proposals to Rowan administration, focus group interviews and a survey of employers regarding the effectiveness of the co-curricular transcript in evaluating entry-level candidates. The result of this action research project is an online co-curricular transcript program at Rowan University. The results of the employer survey indicated strong support for the program. This project also …

College Choice: An Analysis Of The Factors That Influence A Student's Decision To Enroll In A Two-Year College, Timothy S. Stokes

Theses and Dissertations

As the number of students choosing to begin their postsecondary education in a two-year college increases, a careful analysis of the factors influencing the college choice process is needed. While a significant amount of research has addressed the college choice phenomenon and models describing the process have been developed, no attempt to apply these models to the two-year college choice process has been attempted. This study examines the factors that influence the college choice process of two-year college students and determines the variance these variables have on the two-year/four-year college choice dichotomy. Using the National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS) …

Picture This: Images Of First-Year Experience At A Metropolitan University, Jan Linda Austin

Theses and Dissertations

This study explores what influences year-to-year persistence of students and provides decision-makers at Metropolitan University and similar institutions with information on students who attend nonresidential campuses. In particular, this study investigates how the quality of the student experience, including student/institutional fit, impression of environment, social interaction, faculty/student interaction, prior perception of their fit with the institution, as well as background, college experiences, and financial aid affect student persistence at a metropolitan university in the southeastern part of the United States. In a descriptive, qualitative study, information was gathered from writing assignments, focus group sessions, and individual photo-elicitation interviews. In addition, …

The Study Of The Perceived Effectiveness Of Resident Assistant Training At Rowan University, April Adams

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of training design, format and length in preparing RA's for their positions. The participants for this study included residence life professional staff, hall directors and resident assistants. Because the population was small, all members were sampled.

This study consisted of a survey that was administered to all current and eight former RA's as well as a similar survey that was administered to the professional staff and hall directors. This survey addressed the effectiveness of the current training designs, as well as training formats and length. Additional archival data came from …

The Effect Of A Student Orientation Program Upon Transfer Student Retention, And An Investigation Into The Causation Of And Potential Remedies For Transfer Student Attrition, Rebecca Norton Helm

Theses and Dissertations

This study focuses on the effect of orientation upon the retention of transfer students at a metropolitan university in the mid-south. The study was longitudinal in nature and utilized both a chi-square test to evaluate the difference in retention between transfer students who did and did not attend a new student orientation program, and a logistic regression to control for the effects of other well known influences of retention. The predictive model developed accurately identified 81.69% of persisters and nonpersisters. New student orientation, age, previous college GPA, and declaring a major were found to be significant predictors of retention; however …

Introduction To The Fundamentals Of Chemistry, Rose C. Knowles

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis designs a curriculum to fulfill the charter of the Community college in providing an opportunity for an individual student whether traditional or non-traditional to prepare to become more proficient in chemical understanding and be able to apply the concepts and knowledge taught to a career or advanced study. The curriculum should benefit those individuals who either lack or have a poor background in chemistry and strengthen their reasoning ability. This paper presents a comprehensive comparison of textbooks currently being published for introductory chemistry. Texts reviewed were readily found on library shelves and supplied through major distributors; chemical journals …

Characteristics Of Students Who Seek Admission And Registration After The Beginning Of The Academic Term, Janet Vaughan Danley

Theses and Dissertations

Colleges and universities which permit students to apply for admission and/or register for classes after the beginning of the academic term may be adhering to an institutional policy which encourages unrestricted access to all qualified applicants. However, by permitting such students late entry, the late enrolling students, the students who were admitted and registered in a timely manner, the faculty, and the institution may suffer as a result. This study explored one institution's experience with late enrolling students. The students themselves were the primary focus of the study. Faculty and academic advisors who came into contact with the late enrolling …