Higher Education Commons^™

Going The Extra Mile To Increase The Wilder School’S Student Enrollment, Xueming (Jimmy) Chen

GEHLI - 2026 VCUL Team Project Publications

To align with the themes and goals of VCU Quest 2028: One VCU Together We Transform, the Wilder School has prepared and will implement a schoolwide strategic plan to guide its development to 2028. In this strategic plan, one of the metrics of student success is student enrollment, which is of paramount importance.

After the background introduction, this report gives an overview of the student enrollment data of the five academic programs within the Wilder School during the past 5 years and takes a snapshot of the 2022 MURP student demographic data. Afterward, it briefly introduces the enrollment management strategies …

Unveiling Undergraduate Research Opportunities For All, Justin Fedoryk, Laniece Jones, Timothy Luckritz, Tracy Mcmullin, Teresa Salgado, Meredith Sisson

GEHLI - 2026 VCUL Team Project Publications

VCU is experiencing unprecedented levels of growth in its research operations, having secured more than $460 million in sponsored research funding in fiscal year 2023 and becoming one of the top 50 public universities in the country for sponsored research. Between FY18 and FY22, sponsored research funding at VCU increased by 49% (Crawford et al., 2022). Nonetheless, many faculty members are leaving a key resource untapped: VCU’s undergraduate students. According to Dr. Srirama Rao, Vice President of Research and Innovation, in a recent State of the Research address, only about 600 undergraduate students participate in sponsored research annually. Even faculty …

Vcu Job Shadowing, Austin Adam, Nora Bloch, Sue Kurgatt, Ezrah Medina, Erin Pacelli, Rebecca Segal, Stephanie Thulin

GEHLI - 2026 VCUL Team Project Publications

Job shadowing is an initiative aimed at bolstering students' career preparedness through an immersive exploration of the multifaceted landscape of career opportunities within higher education. By facilitating these experiential learning opportunities, this program endeavors to achieve a twofold objective. Firstly, it seeks to enhance the student experience at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) by cultivating meaningful interactions between students and VCU's typically non-student-facing staff and faculty members. Secondly, by facilitating direct engagement with our students, it is our aspiration that every member of the VCU community, regardless of their traditional roles, will have the opportunity to support our students' personal and …

Vcu Day Of Service Toolkit (Vcu-Dst), Christie Atkins, Jeff D'Ambrosio, Ann Deppmann, Keith C. Ellis, Alex Fisher, Javeria Kazi, Emilie Raymond, Lachelle Waller

GEHLI - 2026 VCUL Team Project Publications

This team designed and developed a digital Day of Service Toolkit (VCU-DST) to help facilitate the planning and execution of community service projects by VCU students, faculty and staff. The VCU-DST includes guidance and relevant procedures for all the aspects of planning needed to execute both large-scale and small-scale projects, including resources for strategic partnerships, financial planning and event logistics and evaluation. The VCU-DST is designed to be utilized for day-of-service projects planned and initiated by VCU students, student leaders, and organizations at all levels (undergraduate, graduate, and professional). The VCU-DST is designed to be flexible and adaptable, assisting in …

Meta-Analysis Of The Effectiveness Of Project-Based Learning Approach On Academic Achievement In Higher Education Worldwide, Ziyu Meng

Doctoral Dissertations

This research study conducted a meta-analysis to integrate the studies that investigated the effectiveness of project-based learning on academic achievement based on a worldwide higher-education population. The researcher explored the variables that previous meta-analysis studies used to evaluate academic achievements, such as student grade point average (GPA), course grades, and test scores, to explore the use of these variables in project-based learning. There were 17 studies in total included in the meta-analysis evaluating the effect size of academic achievement, which was influenced in moderator variable by subject-matter areas, school location, hours of instruction, technology support, and group size. The researcher …

Activism As Leadership: Supporting Progressive Activists Within Our Work, S. Gavin Weiser

Faculty Publications - College of Education

This empirical work is driven by a study on the experiences and motivation of a group of college-aged student activists. Using a cohort of 14 millennial-aged activists who organized their work in response to a rise of right-wing authoritarianism in national and state politics, this paper presents recommendations for how student affairs professionals working in activities-oriented functional areas can leverage these experiences to build capacity around engagement, leadership development, sense of belonging, and work in partnership with these communities to challenge unjust practices within the academy. Further, I argue that in order to do our work of supporting students in …

The Relationship Between Academic Advising And Students' Completion Of Corequisite Gateway Courses, Michael P. Moran

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This bivariate correlational quantitative study sought to determine how variables predicted students’ course outcomes in first-year English and mathematics courses within a corequisite learning support model. Course outcomes were defined dichotomously on a successful completion or unsuccessful completion basis. The participants of this study included those who initially attempted first-year English (n = 2,055) and mathematics (n = 2,843) course(s) in a corequisite learning support model for the first time between Fall 2018 and Spring 2022 and were assigned as advisees to the professional academic advisors in the centralized advising model. The examined predictors were students’ frequency of sessions, length …

The Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences And Resilience Through The Eyes Of Transition, Andrew J. Dies

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This study focuses on the role that Adverse Childhood Experiences play in the lives of today’s college students and how Protective Factors can be integrated and enhanced to increase a student’s level of Resilience. This descriptive, causal-comparative quantitative study looked at participants’ levels of Resilience, what Adverse Childhood Experiences they entered college with, and what role Protective Factors played in mitigating the impacts of those Adverse Childhood Experiences on the levels of Resilience. Results indicated older students scored a higher Resilience score than their younger counterparts. Goal efficacy had the strongest effect on Resilience levels, while planning and goal efficacy …

Sense Of Belonging On A Consolidated Campus: A Mixed Methods Exploration Of Student Perceptions, Amy D. Smith

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This study explored the extent to which a subset of students who matriculated post-consolidation at the Armstrong Campus of Georgia Southern University felt they belong at their institution. Using an explanatory sequential mixed methods design, this study used a survey to examine general feelings of belonging and the influencing factors for belonging while presenting individual narratives collected from semi-structured interviews for eight students’ experiences. The data collected in this study revealed that significant differences exist in critical factors of sense of belonging based on race, gender, and LGBTQ+ identity. Additionally, data showed the importance of academic, social, and campus-community belonging …

Predicting Online Course Success From Usage Of An Online Tutoring System, Brett Miles

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

As online learning continues to grow in higher education, quality online support services must also be offered in order to meet the needs of online students. This study sought to investigate the relationship between the use of an outsourced online tutoring system and course success in select University System of Georgia eCore introductory online gateway courses to determine the extent of the relationship between tutoring usage and course success. The researcher employed logistic regression analysis to determine if using online tutoring increased the students’ probability for course success. Further, the researcher also studied the amount of usage to understand if …

Sense Of Belonging As Behaviorist Construct: “Doing Belonging” And Its Application For College Students With Disabilities, Chris Parthemos Phd

Theses and Dissertations

Sense of Belonging has been widely linked to academic performance, retention and persistence for college students. Students with disabilities are less likely to enroll than peers, and are more likely to drop out. Similar to other historically-marginalized groups, these students report lower sense of belonging than peers. Research with this population suggests that they may be seeking ways of building community and belonging at their universities which are self-driven. This notion of “doing belonging”, as it is described in the sociological literature, appears at first glance to be compatible with behaviorist approaches to student support. Although not without controversy, behavior …

2023 Jan Term Course Catalog, Saint Mary's College Of California

Jan Term Course Catalog

No abstract provided.

Light & Faith: January 2023, Taylor University

Light & Faith

No abstract provided.

Competencies Acquired In The Psychology Major, Jake Harrington

Honors Program Theses

The psychology undergraduate degree is not linked to any specific occupation in the same sense as other degrees, such as accounting or education. The lack of a clear connection between the psychology degree and distinct employment opportunities can make it difficult for stakeholders, such as prospective students, their parents, and even faculty, to develop a clear understanding of which careers psychology students are prepared for after graduation. Until these stakeholders are given a framework to conceptualize the degree's benefits better, the psychology department may fail to optimize its recruitment of valuable young minds into its ranks; furthermore, prospective students may …

The Effect Of Social Stratification On College Students' Academic Performance & Progress, Detrenyona Nekebra Chester

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative correlational research study is to understand the variables of social stratification, academic performance, and academic progress and how those variables affect a student’s decision to drop out of college. The researcher selected participants for this study from the database at a 4-year private HBCU located in the northern part of Jacksonville Florida. Many students enrolled in college encounter outstanding tuition balances that threaten their ability to obtain adequate housing and remain actively enrolled in college. The researcher explored social stratification as measured by high school Title I status, academic performance as measured by overall institutional …

We’Ve Crossed A Line: A Philosophical Examination Of Systemic Implications Surrounding Sbae Teachers’ Attempts At Boundary Setting, Becky Haddad, Haley Q. Traini, Aaron Mckim

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication: Faculty Publications

This philosophical paper situates the system of School-Based Agricultural Education (SBAE) in light of teachers’ attempts at boundary work. We define the system of SBAE through a Social Ecological Resilience approach, particularly by examining publications in the Journal of Agricultural Education (JAE) from 2021 to explore what SBAE demands of its teachers. Having worked with SBAE teachers over the last three years as they have struggled with attempts at boundary ownership, we question what this personal struggle indicates about a broader system. We argue for a bounded system by which respect for boundary ownership is reciprocated as an expected norm. …

Rethinking ‘Responsibility’ In Precision Agriculture Innovation: Lessons From An Interdisciplinary Research Team, Edward Prutzer, Maaz Gardezi, Donna M. Rizzo, Mary Emery, Scott Merrill, Benjamin E.K. Ryan, Panagiotis D. Oikonomou, Juan P. Alvez, Damilola T. Adereti, Rubaina Anjum, Appala R. Badireddy, Dwarika Bhattarai, Skye Brugler, Nicholas Cheney, David Clay, Sharon Clay, Ali Dadkhah, Joshua W. Faulkner, Deepak R. Joshi, Christopher Koliba, John Mcmaine, Semhar Michael, Sardorbek Musayev, Jarlath O’Neil-Dunne, George Pinder, Taylor Ricketts, Andrew W. Schroth, Scott Turnbull, Asim Zia

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication: Faculty Publications

We examine the interactions, decisions, and evaluations of an interdisciplinary team of researchers tasked with developing an artificial intelligence-based agricultural decision support system that can provide farmers site-specific information about managing nutrients on their land. We answer the following research questions: (1) How does a relational perspective help an interdisciplinary team conceptualize ‘responsibility’ in a project that develops precision agriculture (PA)? and (2) What are some lessons for a research team embarking on a similar interdisciplinary technology development project? We show that how RI is materialized in practice within an interdisciplinary research team can produce different understandings of responsibility, notions …

Generativity Development Among College Students Who Mentor: A Sequential Multi-Method Quantitative Study., Hannah Sunderman, Lindsay J. Hastings

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication: Faculty Publications

Purpose Generativity, defined as care for the next generation, is a hallmark of developmental theory (Erikson, 1950). Mentoring is an antecedent to generativity (Doerwald et al., 2021), with college students who mentor demonstrating higher generativity than their peers (Hastings et al., 2015). Yet, no research has studied generativity development longitudinally among college students who mentor.

Design/methodology/approach Using MANCOVA analyses, Study One (N = 91) cross-sectionally examined the influence of years spent mentoring on generativity levels among college students who mentor in the United States. Study Two (N = 44) employed growth curve analyses (GCA) in multilevel modeling (MLM) …

How I See Myself, Lindsay J. Hastings

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication: Faculty Publications

The way we see ourselves is critical to our development as leaders. The more we know about ourselves, the more strategic we can pursue leadership roles that fit our talents and values. The more we understand ourselves, the more easily we can understand others. The more mindful we can be of our feelings and state of mind, the more intentionally positive our actions can be. In short, our self-awareness as leaders is foundational and serves as an essential starting block for leadership development.

Assessing And Measuring Leadership Identity, Lindsay J. Hastings, Hannah Sunderman

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication: Faculty Publications

This article explores numerous complexities involved in assessing and measuring leadership identity development. It also reviews leader and leadership identity as well as prior attempts to assess leader and leadership identity development. Recommendations for effective assessment andmeasurement practices when diagnosing development in leader and leadership identity are offered.

Resident Assistants And Title Ix: Perceptions, Beliefs, And Experiences Impacting Ra Help-Seeking Behavior, Beth Paris

Theses and Dissertations

Resident Assistants (RAs) are student employees on campus with significant responsibility for the safety and success of their peers. While studies are beginning to evaluate the effects of this complex peer leader role on the wellbeing of student staff, there is little discussion about their role in Title IX compliance or how they feel about the resources they are trained to provide to their peers following an incident of prohibited sexual harassment or assault. Tangential references to the impact of sexual violence response on student staff wellness, and evaluations of student perceptions of Title IX policy are frequent in the …

A Lifelong Network: Perceptions And Experiences Of First-Generation Alums After Graduation, Allison Toney

Theses and Dissertations

As first-generation students transition to college graduates, the question lies in whether institutions of higher education are continuing to provide opportunities for them as alums. As a result of first-generation college students being the first in their family to attend college, students may enter college not knowing what to expect. But institutions have evolved to provide services, resources and opportunities that support their success while enrolled. Upon graduation, the process of transitioning out of college can be a challenging time for students as they seek post-graduation success. Some institutions offer support and resources tailored specifically to first-generation graduates or graduates …

Chatbots En La Motivación Para El Desarrollo De La Comprensión De Lectura En Estudiantes De Una Institución Universitaria Privada En Colombia, Martha Patricia Castellanos Saavedra

Theses and Dissertations

Más del 40% de los estudiantes de una institución universitaria privada en Colombia presentaron un desempeño por debajo de la media nacional en las pruebas estandarizadas de egreso de la educación superior, denominadas Saber Pro, específicamente en las competencias genéricas, como razonamiento cuantitativo, comunicación escrita, inglés, competencias ciudadanas y lectura. Esta última, es ampliamente relevante para generar los pilares del conocimiento y las competencias de orden superior, como crear, analizar y evaluar, que fomentan la autonomía del estudiante y su aprendizaje. Sin embargo, su desarrollo demanda un apoyo personalizado de compleja gestión para los docentes, dada la cantidad de actividades …

Building Community Between High School And College Librarians, Sarah M. Vital

Staff Works

No abstract provided.

A Return To Humanity In Teaching, Stephanie Foote

Pedagogicon Conference Proceedings

In The Courage to Teach, Parker Palmer (1998) writes, “Good teaching cannot be reduced to technique; good teaching comes from the identity and integrity of the teacher” (p. 10). As Palmer (1998) suggests, teaching and identity are interwoven, making teaching an act of vulnerability. Despite this, we often create our courses in ways that protect us, and ultimately, create distance from the students we teach. This piece explores ways to return to the humanity in teaching by understanding ourselves and our students and using these collective understandings to create inclusive and responsive learning environments, regardless of course modality.

Building Relationship-Rich Opportunities Online, Shirley P. O'Brien, Kelli Spayd

Pedagogicon Conference Proceedings

Mentoring is an important process in building rich relationships in learning. The use of e-mentoring as an innovative strategy to promote a relationship rich experience for faculty and students is described. Data collected reinforces learner-centered professional value in the promotion of student engagement.

The Importance Of Relationships In Service-Learning Projects: A Case Study From Eastern Kentucky University, Tara Pulaski, Josiah Coleman, William Mccann, Erin Presley

Pedagogicon Conference Proceedings

A graduate course at Eastern Kentucky University included a significant Service-Learning project that evaluated and made recommendations about the University’s Writing Intensive program in collaboration with University administrators. The project’s goals included making sure that students have quality writing courses, that faculty are supported in teaching Writing Intensive courses, and that students develop the writing skills necessary to be successful in their professional lives. Additionally, the goals of Service-Learning center both on learning outcomes and community engagement, making it an effective method for cultivating this collaboration.

Humanizing Learning: Concepts And Strategies To Design And Implement Now, Melony Shemberger

Pedagogicon Conference Proceedings

Humanizing teaching supports the affective and cognitive dimensions of learning. The concept often is used in online education, but it is necessary for any modality to build a learning environment that is relationship-rich. This article discusses the principles and elements of humanized learning, helpful theoretical frameworks, and strategies that can be implemented and practiced in any instructional setting.

When Love Hurts: Confronting William Styron’S Racial Misery In College Composition Classrooms, Natasha D. Moore

Pedagogicon Conference Proceedings

Acknowledging and attending to how professors feel about their students is an often ignored but fundamental component in creating relationship-rich pedagogy. This paper references William Styron’s “This Quiet Dust” to facilitate a transparent discussion about how we truly feel about Black Language, its role and use in the academy, and how these feelings ultimately shape how our Black students experience our encounters with them.

A Student-Faculty Partnership In Redesigning Renewable Assignments, Cindy Hayden, Haley Rickard, Amanda S. Hansford, Tyler Bush

Pedagogicon Conference Proceedings

This article explores the experiences of OTD students and one faculty who redesigned assignments as a method for students to co-create their own learning. Twenty-two students completed five newly designed renewable assignments in a clinical orthopedic course. Students then provided feedback individually and as a group at midterm and the end of the semester on the assignments including templates, grading rubrics, and assignment instructions. Redesigning course assignments can take more time before and during the semester. The gain is more student involvement and effective engagement with the course materials in the teaching-learning process.