Higher Education Commons^™

Academic Faculty Perceptions Of Student-Athletes, Jacob M. Mueller

Masters Theses

The purpose of this qualitative study was to find what perceptions did academic faculty have of student-athletes, if any, at a midsized Midwestern Division-I institution. The study addressed a gap in literature that existed of researched perceptions academic faculty members had of the student-athlete population as there was a lack of literature related to student-athletes through that lens. Using the Theory of Planned Behavior and Social Identity Theory for theoretical conceptualization of the data, the study was able to find tangible evidence for the existence of perceptions of student-athletes from academic faculty and what behaviors, exposure, and experiences related to …

Fraternal New Member Processes: An Alumni Perspective, C J. Gibson

Masters Theses

Hazing has always been an issue in fraternities and sororities. Even though there has been a push to reduce the amount of hazing through research and trainings, it continues to cause harm to the community. The purpose of this study is to gain incite from fraternity alums toward understanding the use of hazing activities while orienting fraternity men to the organization. This study examined the issue from the individuals experience, to their role in inducting new members, and now as alums to gain insight in to why chapters continue to that cycle. Results showed that individuals in groups social construct …

The Role Of Time Perspective In The College Major Selection Process, Anders C. Voss

Masters Theses

This phenomenological study examined the experiences of formerly undeclared college sophomores as they navigated major selection and how their time perspective influenced their decision-making process. This study applied time perspective theory to the issue of major selection for college students, an undertaking that offers a new perspective on the professional practices of academic advising and career services on college campuses. This study utilized semi-structured interviews of four female-identifying formerly undeclared students. Participant responses revealed that negative future time attitudes and a lack of future orientation can both contribute to behaviors that defer career decision-making. In contrast, professional staff and faculty …

Assessing The Knowledge On Sustainability And Barriers To Daily Sustainable Practices Among Faculty And Students In Higher Education: The Case Of Eastern Illinois University, Joel Edem Holison

Masters Theses

The concept of sustainable development gained prominence with the publication of the Brundtland Report, which emphasized economic progress without jeopardizing future generations' well-being. Following that, the Education for Sustainability (EfS) program was created by the United Nations to raise sustainability awareness. However, the transition to sustainable living is fraught with difficulties, including a lack of knowledge, financial constraints, infrastructure gaps, and political ideologies. This study focuses on sustainable practices among Eastern Illinois University (EIU) students and faculty, as well as the barriers to daily sustainable behaviors. As independent variables influencing sustainable practices, the study evaluates sustainability knowledge/awareness, personal financial situation, …

Compassion Fatigue Among Resident Assistants At Five Illinois Public Institutions : A Mixed Methods Approach, Téa E. Wheat

Masters Theses

Compassion fatigue, a stress response caused by helping those who have experienced trauma, is a rapidly rising problem for student affairs professionals (Carter, 2019). Among student affairs professionals and paraprofessionals, the resident assistant (RA) is potentially one of the most susceptible populations to compassion fatigue, due to working where they live, which creates a constant need to be on. In addition, they are expected to support students who are increasingly presenting with mental health challenges. This explanatory mixed methods method study sought to first determine the prevalence of compassion fatigue, including its components burnout and secondary trauma, among RAs at …

The Power Of Healing From Educational Trauma: Transformative Experiences In An Adult Higher Education Degree Completion Cohort Program Through Circles Of Engagement, Participation, Self-Efficacy, And Nurturing, Wytress Richardson, Craig Mealman

Together We RISE (Making Excellence Inclusive)

Many adult students arrive at the doors of higher education institutions with an assortment of prior successes and failures in the educational systems. They have individual and family histories that can be both a strength and a source of trauma. Students report finding a home or place where they confront or challenge prior perceptions about their educational strengths and barriers. When students recognize their potential via successes in an adult-focused cohort learning, they frequently report experiencing a renewal or resurgence of personal power and self-efficacy.

Embedding Career Development Into Curriculum: A Model For Dei Education, Lisa Malvin

Together We RISE (Making Excellence Inclusive)

Dominican University, a Hispanic Serving Institution located just outside of Chicago, launched its successful career development program in the fall of 2017 in the Brennan School of Business. The program, composed of four required career development courses, a required internship, and built-in mentorship with Executives in Residence, was embedded into the curriculum for all undergraduate business students with faculty, administrative and staff support. Since the launch of the program, graduate outcomes have increased exponentially, with 77% of 2021 Brennan graduates employed or attending graduate programs three months post-graduation. Due to the success of the program, Dominican is currently working to …

Disability In Chicagoland: An Undergraduate General Education Course, Sara Baillie Gorman, Taylor Martin

Together We RISE (Making Excellence Inclusive)

The general education curriculum at liberal arts colleges aim to teach students about a variety of topics to create a well-rounded education. Undergraduate students often come to these general education courses expecting to learn about marginalized populations. However, these conversations often exclude individuals with disabilities. This presentation will discuss one example of how a course about disability was fit into the general education curriculum at a college. An explanation of the course proposal will be reviewed. Then a summary of the course and objectives will be discussed. An undergraduate student that just completed the course will then share their experience …

Culturally Responsive Teaching: Inclusive, Engaging, And Effective Instructional Strategies, Alexis Jones, Amy Davis

Together We RISE (Making Excellence Inclusive)

Illinois’ Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading Standards, approved by the Illinois State Board of Education in March 2021, will be part of teacher education programs throughout the state by the end of the 2022-2023 school year. To this end, we want to provide practical strategies for reflecting on teacher preparation coursework and incorporating the CRTLS in our work with preservice teachers. We will provide a quick review of the content within the standards, but most of the time will be spent on specific examples of what teacher education classrooms might look like with the CRTLS embedded.

Prior Learning: Diversity And Practice, Nicholas Hayes, Christopher Martinuzzi, Barbara Lewis, Marie Ann Donovan

Together We RISE (Making Excellence Inclusive)

Students bring vital learning from their life experiences to their campus classrooms. This learning is not always recognized in course activities or assignments. When it is, students persist and complete their degrees. These benefits are especially evident for adult and non-traditional students. Our proposed presentation on prior learning has three movements. The first will be an overview of how prior learning is presently recognized in higher education. The second will be a discussion of the promise and limitations of recognizing prior learning to promote traditionally excluded voices. The third will be a discussion of strategies for applying principles of prior …

Growing Up Healthy: A Study On Young Adults And Their Readiness To Transition To Independent Healthcare, Annabelle Heddell

2022 Awards for Excellence in Student Research and Creative Activity - Documents

Healthcare is a lifelong journey that involves changes, decision making, and awareness of health needs and concerns. As children grow up and age out of the pediatric system, transitioning occurs. Healthcare transitioning (HCT) is a process that assists individuals with the different stages of their health journey. Transition readiness is derived from the concept of health care transitioning, which is generally defined as “the process of shifting from pediatric to adultfocused care” (Kelemen et al., 2014, p. 1062). A more in-depth definition describes health care transitioning as the “process of purposeful, planned movement of adolescents with chronic medical conditions from …

Asymmetries In The Bargaining Process, Margaret E. Winters

Journal of Collective Bargaining in the Academy

Although both sides in academic collective bargaining state that they are interested in the best interests of the institution, there are, of course, differences as to what these interests are and how they are to be achieved. Some of the divergences are differences of degree (the union may look for much larger raises for the economic good of their members and the administration team may look to maintain economic viability for the institution), while others are differences of kind, asymmetries in the process. The present paper considers the latter kind of difference, considering the teams, their planning processes, and their …

Retrenchment Clauses And The Problem Of Force Majeure: Evidence From Aaup Chapter Collective Bargaining Agreements In Ohio, Dominic Wells, Trey Peters

Journal of Collective Bargaining in the Academy

In May of 2020, the University of Akron administration invoked the force majeure clause in their collective bargaining agreement with faculty, which they used to justify bypassing the negotiated retrenchment procedures. The AAUP-Akron challenged the decision by administration, but ultimately lost in arbitration. Faculty at the university were laid off without consideration of rank or tenure status. The arbitrators decision in favor of the administration underscores the need for clear retrenchment language in contracts. This article analyzes the retrenchment language in AAUP chapter contracts in Ohio. Contracts are coded for language on financial exigency, conditions, consultation, order, alternatives, notice, and …

Pandemic Responses: What They Reveal About Crisis Management, Decision-Making, And Shared Governance, Daniel J. Julius

Journal of Collective Bargaining in the Academy

Colleges and universities have, by and large, responded well, one might say, very effectively as organizations, to the pandemic. This observation may come as a surprise because some would vehemently disagree. Surprising also because in many academic environments, decision-making around managing crises, let alone implementation of solutions, is slow, politicized, and often driven by personal or constituent agendas. Responding to internal or external challenges, implementing strategic plans or effectuating decisions proactively, particularly at the system or institutional level, is difficult. I believe this less than sanguine view is commonly held, and research on decision making in academic organizations over the …

Graduate Scholar 2022: Journal Of Scholarship And Recognition, Graduate School Of Eastern Illinois University

Graduate Scholar

No abstract provided.

Students’ Reflection Of Cross-Cultural Experiences: A Study Abroad Narrative, Alexandra Dudley

Masters Theses

This study sought to explore the cross-cultural experiences of students who had studied abroad during their undergraduate college years. Previous research has shown the importance and impact of study abroad and cultural experiences on student development. A qualitative approach, specifically a narrative method, was utilized to best understand students’ stories and how they made meaning of their study abroad experiences. Four participants were interviewed one-on-one, and their stories or narratives are provided here. This study revealed that students studying abroad with adequate support will experience an array of cross-cultural influences that leave lasting impacts on their personal and professional lives.

Hazing Prevention: The Advisor Perspective, Gabby Hiller

Masters Theses

There has been extensive research conducted on students’ perceptions and understanding of hazing in fraternities and sororities (Allen & Madden, 2008; Allen & Madden, 2012; Alexander, 2018; Cokley et al., 2020). Despite preventative efforts and existing research, hazing continues to occur and continues to threaten the future of fraternity and sorority life. There is little to no research on chapter advisors’ understanding of hazing and hazing prevention in their roles. The purpose of this qualitative study is to examine the role that fraternity advisors play in the education and prevention of hazing, through interview with the advisors. The study looks …

Undocumented Students’ Barriers To Completing Higher Education, Yesenia Muruato

Masters Theses

This study sought to examine the circumstances that influence DACA recipients in the United States to withdraw from their undergraduate institutions. This qualitative study on undocumented/DACA students who have left higher education prior to degree completion. It identifies the impact of immigration status on enrollment decisions, reasons for leaving higher education, obstacles students faced, and what programs or services might have successfully intervened and given them the opportunity to continue enrollment.

The Experiences Of Professionals Of Color At A Predominantly White Institution, Brandy Matthews

Masters Theses

This qualitative study looks at the experiences professionals of color face in a Predominately White institution. More specifically, this study showed that professionals of color still face many challenges due to the barriers they face on, and off-campus compared to their White counterparts. This study utilized semi-structured interviews to help explore professionals of color experiences at a rural mid-sized university in the Midwest.

Quarantine And Isolation Experiences Of College Students: A Narrative, Brooke Gibson

Masters Theses

The COVID-19 pandemic was an unanticipated phenomenon, with a lack of information surrounding quarantine and isolation experiences in college students and how this impacts their sense of belonging. This qualitative narrative study utilized semi-structured interviews to understand the participants’ experience of isolation at a rural mid-sized university in the Midwest. The research shared the students experiences and showed that participants lacked some sense of belonging whether it was with friends, family, or their institution.

The Influence Of Institutional Social Media And College Students' Choice, Anna Fishbein

Masters Theses

Social media has become a way of personal communication as well as a way for brands and businesses to connect with consumers. In the past twenty years, the expansion of technology into everyday life has impacted the way we interact and communication. There is a lack of information surrounding how social media is influencing prospective students’ college choice. There are studies focused on student college choice, and studies focused on how social media impacts consumers, but there is limited research focused on bridging the two concepts. This quantitative study utilized a causal-comparative survey to explore the influence of institutional social …

Faculty Perceptions On Working With Students With Learning Disabilities, Ashley Jezik

Masters Theses

Students with specific learning disabilities in higher education have been rapidly increasing. Legislation has been a large factor in the equality in education for individuals with disabilities making it easier to attend higher education. College students with disabilities have the hard and important choice of self-disclosing their disability, with many choosing not to. A main role for faculty is to support their students. This qualitative study aims to identify the knowledge faculty have about this student population and how they work with their disability services office. The research shows that faculty's knowledge on students with disabilities are solely based on …

Conduct Professionals' Experiences With Student Misconduct And Mental Health, Robyn Bauer

Masters Theses

Over the years, mental health concerns have continued to rise in college students and is compounded by the natural stressors associated with navigating unfamiliar territory, increased social and academic pressures, as well as added responsibilities and obligations (Pedrelli et al., 2015). Mental illnesses have been linked to misconduct, disruptive behavior, or violent behavior among students (Center for Parent Information and Resources, 2017; Johnson et al., 2018; Semenza & Grosholz, 2019; Taylor & Smith, 2019). There is limited research focused on the intersection of mental health and misconduct. This qualitative study utilized semi-structured questions to explore how conduct professionals manage mental …

The Experiences And Transition Of Black Former Student Athletes Through And Out Of College, Nyjah Lane

Masters Theses

Using a narrative approach this researcher used a qualitative study to examine the experiences and transitions of former Black student athletes at a Division I institution. The study involved four participants who were three to four years removed from completing college and athletic retirement. Schlossberg’s (1981) transition theory, Astin’s (1999) involvement theory, and Baxter Magolda’s (2008) Self authorship theory was used as the theoretical frameworks for this study. The findings provide insight in to how their experiences as college student athletes impacted their ability to graduate and transition out of college. The participants relied on the support and strategies they …

Latina Lift Off: How Inclusive Innovation Helps Latina Undergraduate Students Rise, Kate Jackson

Together We RISE (Making Excellence Inclusive)

In this workshop, we will discuss how Entrepreneurship & Innovation at Lake Forest College is supporting and encouraging the academic success of our Latina, first-generation students. Our approach includes an Inclusive Innovation class, a rich entrepreneurial mindset curriculum, and real-world, high-impact projects. Year over year, our center has seen an increase in Latinx students choosing our program, rising to nearly 1/5 of total students.

We believe Inclusive Innovation meets the aims of a liberal arts education. And we believe other small liberal arts colleges can replicate our efforts in a way that benefits both their students and their local community. …

Promoting Belonging And Equity Through Course Content., Primrose Igonor

Together We RISE (Making Excellence Inclusive)

As our education systems become increasingly diverse, it is crucial for “diverse” students to see themselves reflected in the course materials they consume as this may lead to higher persistence, retention and overall student success. It is also vital for “non-diverse” students to gain a better understanding of the experiences of others particularly as they navigate a world which is much more diverse and global minded than ever before.

Working In Coalition, And Wall-To-Wall: The New Progressive Normal, Gary Rhoades

Journal of Collective Bargaining in the Academy

As the U.S. starts to come out of the pandemic, public declamations about and private deliberations within colleges and universities are framed in part by negotiating getting back to some form of “normal.” At the center of and delimiting these labor/management negotiations is an all-too-familiar master narrative articulated by management invoking a “new normal,” a time of conditions and challenges borne of, transmitted by, and/or accelerated and amplified due to Covid-19. Yet, I suggest that yet another iteration of disaster/disastrous academic capitalism is neither called for nor does it offer a compelling future for higher education. In addition, there is …

The Gig Academy: Naming The Problem And Identifying Solutions, Daniel T. Scott, Adrianna J. Kezar

Journal of Collective Bargaining in the Academy

Over the past few decades, workers (staff, faculty, postdocs, graduate students) in higher education face working conditions and employer relationships that are increasingly similar and exploitative. Higher education has seen the implementation, spread, and refinement of technologies of labor exploitation that have proliferated in the broader economy often termed the gig economy. In this article, we posit and articulate the features of the Gig Academy – a unique iteration of the gig economy. We first describe the shifts in employment structures that make up the Gig Academy. We then describe how this transformation of the academy has eroded community, shared …

Online Learning, Covid-19, And The Future Of The Academy: Implications For Faculty Governance And Collective Bargaining, Anthony Picciano

Journal of Collective Bargaining in the Academy

The purpose of this article is to speculate on the future of higher education as online technology, including adaptive learning (also referred to as personalized learning) infused by artificial intelligence software, develops and matures. This is a risky undertaking since predicting the future, and in this case the evolution of technology, is difficult. While many try to predict what will happen and sometimes get it right, predicting when something will happen is far more challenging. Online and blended learning have already advanced within education, but the most significant changes are yet to come. Evolving technologies have the potential to change …

Post-Pandemic Collective Bargaining In Higher Education: An Irresistible Force Meeting And Immovable Object?, James Ottavio Castagnera

Journal of Collective Bargaining in the Academy

Rider and the AAUP were last at the table for a full-fledged renegotiation of their contract during the summer of 2017.The bargaining was concessionary, as my university --- like so many small-to-medium sized private colleges --- struggled with a looming deficit. Last year, no doubt, the union and its members looked forward to a return to the table with high hopes of recuperating some of those 2017 concessions. But, as Humphrey Bogart once famously observed, fate took a hand.