Higher Education Commons^™

Student Study Abroad Goals And Change In Intercultural Competence, Tammera R. Maloney

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

University study abroad facilitators must maximize the benefits of a semester away from the home campus for students seeking to realize a transformational experience. Among the documented benefits of study abroad for students is the development of intercultural competence. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between student goals (excluding foreign language goals) for study abroad and change in intercultural competence. Data for this study was collected over four semesters from students (N = 78) who applied and were accepted to attend a study abroad program in a western European country. The study abroad program was hosted …

Athletics And Faith: A Quantitative Analysis On The Relationship Of Athletic Participation And Spiritual Development, Griffin O. Gardner

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between athletic involvement and spiritual development. Historically, athletics has been examined as an outlet of spirituality, but previous studies have not examined spirituality as a product of athletic involvement. The following question guided this study: “To what extent, if any, does college athletic involvement impact spiritual development?” This study took a longitudinal quantitative approach, leveraging archival survey data to conduct a means comparison study of the responses to particular survey items for athletic and non-athletic students. Though no statistical significance existed between the results of the two populations, the study …

Seeking Balance: How The Practice Of Spiritual Disciplines Impacts The Health Of Residence Hall Directors, Caylan Delucia

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

Residence hall directors often fulfill an instrumental role in a student’s college experience. As residence hall directors facilitate programs and intentionally interact with students, a unique connection is formed between the student and his or her residence hall director. Residence hall directors experience unique work-related stress through flexible workhours each day of the week. Thus, it is crucial for residence hall directors to establish healthy rhythms of rest and rejuvenation as they integrate living where they work. Research suggests spirituality as an effective stress management tool. This study specifically focuses on how various spiritual disciplines of Christianity impact stress experienced …

Involvement: Assessing Factors Contributing To 'Inactive Athletes' Persistence, Alec Devries

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

The purpose of the study was to discover why students remain enrolled at an institution after departing from their athletic team. This study was conducted at small private, faith-based liberal arts institutions within the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Forty respondents participated in a quantitative analysis inquiring about their experiences and satisfaction into their persistence at their institution of enrollment. Findings include the lack of support ‘inactive athletes’ received during their athletic experience, as well as the high value participants placed on their academic experience. Implications for future practice include, a continuous emphasis on student development and academic affairs …

Remember When: Alumni Involvement And Meaning Making Impacted By Perceptions Of Traditions Culture In Higher Education, Christina R. Brandsma

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of traditions culture on alumni involvement and meaning making. Through a transcendental phenomenological design, his study investigated traditions at a small, faith-based, liberal arts institution in the Midwest from the perspective of alumni. This exploratory research was guided by the following questions: How have traditions impacted the meaning alumni made of their college experience and their personal identity? How do traditions influence the current involvement of alumni with their institution? Key findings from this study include an understanding of traditions defined from an alumni perspective, the benefits alumni perceive from …

"I Finally Found A Place Where I Feel Like Home": Understanding The Relationship Between A Sense Of Belonging And The Transfer Student Experience, Ashley Smith

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

The rate at which college students transfer from one higher education institution to another is steadily increasing. The purpose of the study was to develop a greater understanding of the relationship between a sense of belonging and the transfer student experience. The study implemented a mixed-methods embedded design. A survey adapted from the Basic Human Needs Scale was administered to participants to produce a Belonging composite score. The survey questions were followed by three open-response questions that allowed participants to explain further the relationship between their sense of belonging and transfer student experiences. Quantitative data revealed an above-average sense of …

The Extra Mile: How Collegiate Coaches Can Better Prepare Student-Athletes For Retirement, Kayla Hunter

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

The power of high athletic identity coupled with the unfamiliar process of athletic retirement presents a unique crossroads for individuals approaching the end of their intercollegiate athletic careers. Despite the presence of several resources to aid student-athletes, the literature reports a range of both positive and negative experiences for retiring student-athletes. Collegiate coaches serve a prominent role in the lives of student-athletes and therefore present a valuable avenue through which mentorship, identity development, and preparation for retirement can occur. Therefore, the purpose of the research was to explore the impact, if any, of collegiate coaches on the retirement process of …

"I Don't Have To Fit What I Thought A Leader Was, It Can Be So Many Things": The Relationship Between The Enneagram And Self-Authorship Development Of Student Leaders, Shelby Delay

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

The Enneagram is a personality typing tool that has existed for thousands of years yet recently has gained popularity within higher education. The purpose of the study was to develop an understanding of the relationship between a college student’s dominant Enneagram type and a student leader’s self-authorship development. The study implemented a qualitative, phenomenological design through the use of both individual interviews and focus group settings. The interview protocol was adapted from the four phases of self-authorship development, as explained by Baxter Magolda. The interview settings were organized by dominant Enneagram type of student leaders, which allowed the participants to …

"All I Remember Is Everybody Started Singing": A Qualitative Exploration Of The Intended Learning Outcomes Of General Music Courses, Geoffrey Nelson

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

Music is one of the most fundamentally human forms of art and communication in existence. Since Ancient Greece, music has served as a central component of a liberal arts education, a practice that continues today. In the modern higher education context, students are often required to take an art or music course as part of the liberal arts curriculum. Despite the importance of the study of music, general music courses face many challenges in regard to student learning. Some of the most prominent challenges include increased musical illiteracy and the increasingly saturated and diverse musical preferences of the modern student. …

Thinking Deeply In College: An Inquiry Into Contemplation Amongst Undergraduate Students, Dan R. Read

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

In student development theory, a crisis is considered the impetus for development. For undergraduate students, contemplation is one of the ways students resolve their crises. This study was an inquiry into those contemplative practices and was guided by the following research question: What are the contemplative practices of undergraduate students, and what are the outcomes of those practices? After eleven students were interviewed, findings revealed 1) an enrichment of the meaning of the word space to include space in time; 2) contemplation is perceived by students as deep thinking; 3) contemplation is often connected to spiritual practices; and 4) students’ …

Not-So-Neutral: An Exploration Of The Relationship Between Smartphones And Student Quality Of Life, Talis Rudzitis

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

As smartphones grow in purpose and function, they become more pervasive in the average college student’s life. Consequently, the more students integrate smartphones into their lives, the more consideration must be taken to understand the impact smartphones have on human life. This correlation study explored the relationship between smartphones and student quality of life. For the purpose of the study, “smartphone consumption” best communicated the variable “smartphones” and was measured by the average number of minutes participants spent on their smartphones per day. Moreover, the variable “quality of life” was measured by students’ self-perception and satisfaction of their own health …

How International Students' View Of Their Perseverance Affects Their Experience In Higher Education In The United States, Jana Soto

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

Regardless of place of origin, students entering colleges or universities undergo transition. Focusing on the added adjustments international students endure, the existing literature on these students highlights the negative effect such adaptions have. The purpose of this study was to understand the perseverance and pinpoint the strategies of international students’ success in an effort to develop a strength-based approach to international student services. This research was conducted using a mixed-methods explanatory approach that began with a survey measuring international students’ personal views of their perseverance, followed by phenomenological interviews. This research revealed an essence of perception of situation, self, and …

The Relationship Between The Christian College Experience And Women's Feminist Identity Development, Cynthia L. Moberly

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

The purpose of the study was to explore how women at a faith-based institution score on the Feminist Identity Development Scale, the perceptions and attitudes those women have toward their personal feminist identity development, and the factors in the college experience that may influence such attitudes. Feminist identity is the conception of feminism or of the self as feminist. This study explored the scores of freshmen and seniors on the Feminist Identity Development Scale (Bargad & Hyde, 1991) and considered open-ended reflections from seniors concerning their college experience. Findings included the following: (1) students’ perspectives are polarized concerning gender roles …

On-Campus Living: A Quantitative Exploration Of Engagement In Coeducational And Single-Sex Residence Halls, Jason Katsma

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

This study investigates residential living arrangements as they relate to engagement using the National Survey of Student Engagement. It examines any difference in men and women in engagement with living in coeducational or single-sex residence halls on a small, faith-based, liberal arts college in the Midwest. Engagement continues to show value in helping students get the most out of their college experience. This study found no significant difference between coeducational and single-sex residence halls. Also, no difference emerged between men and women populations of both living arrangements. This finding adds to research pertaining to the relationships between place of residence …

Thriving In Students Of Color At A Predominantly White Institution, Travis J. Trotman

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

Every year, students of color across the United States diversify their university campuses; in return, many of them fail to engage with their peers or succeed in their class work due to feelings of neglect or fear that contribute to a lack of engagement and success. To begin to explore the challenges students of color face when enrolled at a predominantly white institution, one must look into how their experiences help or hinder their thriving.

Beyond surviving in a college environment, thriving conveys a student’s full engagement in his or her intellectual, social, and emotional experiences. A sense of psychological …

Partnering With College Students In Need Of Change: A Case Study Analysis Of Motivational Interviewing In A Residence Hall, Brett Borland

Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

This study explores the use of motivational interviewing by a resident director in his residence hall at a faith-based, liberal arts institution in the Midwest. The purpose of this study was to determine if the practice of motivational interviewing led students to enact meaningful change in their lives. A secondary purpose was to observe how the practice of motivational interviewing affected the relationship between the resident director and his students. Data was collected through a questionnaire sent to students after meeting with the resident director who used motivational interviewing in an academic support meeting, as well as two interviews with …