Higher Education Commons^™

Community Ramgagement: Vcu Festival Of The Arts, Stephen Bar, Paula Coates, Laxmikant Deshpande, Faika Zanjani

GEHLI - 2026 VCUL Team Project Publications

The proposed project aims to align with VCU's Quest 2028 vision to seek community partnerships and opportunities to elevate awareness and collaborative action between VCU and communities. The VCU Festival of the Arts (VFOTA) is envisioned to embody community engagement and collaborative excellence. Drawing inspiration from established and successful art fairs, VFOTA fosters direct artist-audience interaction, promotes enrichment, and can highlight student accomplishments and education. Celebrating diverse artistic expression, the VFOTA can support regional talent and the local arts ecosystem that can enhance community well-being. Through initiatives like the VFOTA, VCU can demonstrate its UNwavering dedication to fostering thriving communities.

The Impact Of Online Course Enrollment Of First-Year Student Engagement And Campus Life, Ruth Y. Lopez

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative study is to examine the impact online classes have on first-year student engagement and campus life at the University of North Florida. By using Alexander Astin’s theory of student involvement, this study examines the pattern of student engagement over time for first-year students enrolled in four quartiles of online classes. The study will focus on the level of engagement around (1) the utilization of five selected on-campus facilities and (2) student participation in six selected on-campus signature events and activities. The study also explores the meaningful ways these four student groups enrolled in online classes …

Rhetorical (Re)Inscription Practices Among Black Intercollegiate Football Participants In The Era Of Name, Image And Likeness, Mikayla Beaudrie

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

When intercollegiate athletic participants were permitted the right to profit off of their name, image and likeness (NIL), the landscape of college sports was fundamentally changed. This qualitative explanatory case study investigated one consequence of that change: the discourse of amateurism. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has historically identified participants in the athletic programs it oversees with the word “student-athlete.” In the years since the word was first introduced, its meaning has generally been static. In short, the linguistic sign “student-athlete” has been signified in and by the discourse to reflect the amateur status of collegiate sport participants, emphasizing …

Self-Authorship Among First-Generation Learners: A Qualitative Study, Issac C. Taylor

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

In the realm of higher education, an increasingly important concern is the intellectual capacity of first-generation learners. To improve their cognitive, intrapersonal, and interpersonal development in contemporary society, it is essential for institutions to gain a comprehensive understanding of these students' unique challenges. The existing body of literature on first-generation students has predominantly centered on the personal challenges and institutional barriers that impede their pursuit of higher education. However, promoting self-authorship among this student population presents a unique opportunity for faculty, staff, and administrators to facilitate and reinforce the developmental needs of students who are the first in their families …

Investigating Division Quest: A Text-Based Adventure Narrative Game For Overcoming Difficulties Of Mitosis Learning, Amanda G. Conner

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Mitosis learning is a source of struggle for many introductory biology students. Much of this difficulty stems from an overwhelming amount of terminology and moving pieces as well as the abstract nature of cellular processes. Game-based learning (GBL) has been used in other contexts to reduce cognitive load and provide relatable experiences upon which students can construct their mental models. However, commercial GBL is often expensive and difficult to align with individual instructor teaching preferences and learning objectives. In this study, we use a mixed methods approach to explore the use of a GBL tool made in Twine to overcome …

Living The American Dream? College Experiences Of Undocumented Students In An Era Of Rising Xenophobia And Political Turmoil, Sandra Y. Ting Ph.D.

Theses and Dissertations

This research study sought to deepen the understanding of the journeys of undocumented and DACAmented college students in an era of escalated xenophobia and political unrest. Three noteworthy themes emerged from the sentiments expressed by participants. The experiences they described included: 1) the turmoil of undocumented status eliciting unique and empowering demonstrations of resourcefulness, creativity, and self-advocacy, 2) motivation and stress from their respective citizenship statuses existing as two mutually dependent facets of a unified whole, 3) a community of support from other undocumented and/or DACAmented peers as a necessity for wellbeing. These critical outcomes culminate in the conditioning to …

The Impact Of Covid-19 On Perceptions Of Traditional And Online Degrees: Implications For Hiring Decisions And Higher Education, Heather E. Millar

Theses and Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic’s disruption to educational delivery across the country opened the doors to a more extensive conversation regarding employers’ perceptions of online degrees and the institution of higher education and its societal role. This is the first study, to my knowledge, to quantitatively analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on perceptions of traditional vs. online degrees during the hiring process and the implications of such on the institution of higher education. This study used a cross-sectional, non-experimental, closed-ended electronic survey of human resource professionals and those with influence during the hiring process.

Results from this study indicate that …

Stereotypes Of A Black Man Misunderstood: The Experiences And Development Of Black Men With Bipolar Disorder On College Campuses, Gerron Scott

Theses and Dissertations

Black men graduate from universities at a lower rate compared to other groups. Students with disabilities also graduate at a lower rate. When the two groups intersect, the results can be disastrous. Black men with bipolar disorder face a host of problems on college campuses. From a lack of sense of belonging to trouble in class, they struggle to stay afloat in college. The purpose of this study was to document the experiences and development of Black men with bipolar disorder on college campuses. A grounded theory approach was used in this study. Grounded theory was chosen because it leads …

Improving Dental Students' Knowledge And Confidence In Treating Tobacco Use, Victoria Pierce

DNP Projects

Background: Tobacco use can lead to numerous chronic health conditions. Healthcare professionals in the dental field are in a unique position to broach this issue with patients. Research shows that dental students do not feel equipped to provide tobacco cessation care, citing lack of education on the subject among their top reasons for this.

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to evaluate changes in dental students’ knowledge and confidence related to treating tobacco use after participation in an educational intervention about the 5A’s, behavioral counseling, and first-line prescription medications.

Methods: This quality improvement initiative utilized a quasi-experimental survey design …

2024 Jan Term Course Catalog, Saint Mary's College Of California

Jan Term Course Catalog

No abstract provided.

กลวิธีการออกแบบกิจกรรมเสริมสร้างจิตสำนึกพลเมืองบัณฑิตในวิถีชีวิตใหม่สำหรับนิสิตนักศึกษาหอพักมหาวิทยาลัย, ธิภาดา สารปรัง

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

งานวิจัยเรื่องกลวิธีการออกแบบกิจกรรมเสริมสร้างจิตสำนึกพลเมืองบัณฑิตในวิถีชีวิตใหม่สำหรับนิสิต นักศึกษาหอพักมหาวิทยาลัย มีวัตถุประสงค์คือ (1) เพื่อศึกษาและวิเคราะห์สภาพปัจจุบันและผลลัพธ์ที่คาดหวังของกลวิธีการจัดกิจกรรมนิสิตนักศึกษาของหอพักมหาวิทยาลัย (2) เพื่อพัฒนากลวิธีต่างๆสำหรับการทำกิจกรรมนิสิตนักศึกษาของหอพักมหาวิทยาลัยที่รองรับการทำกิจกรรมในวิถีชีวิตใหม่ (3) เพื่อประเมินกลวิธีต่างๆ สำหรับการทำกิจกรรมนิสิตนักศึกษาของหอพักมหาวิทยาลัยเพื่อเสริมสร้างจิตสำนึกพลเมืองบัณฑิตในวิถีชีวิตใหม่ กลุ่มตัวอย่างจำนวน 315 คน ประกอบด้วย (1) ตัวแทนผู้จัดกิจกรรมหรือผู้รับผิดชอบกิจกรรมโดยเลือกกลุ่มตัวอย่างแบบเจาะจง (purposive sampling) จาก 15 สถาบัน รวมจำนวน 15 คน (2) นิสิตนักศึกษาผู้เคยเข้าร่วมกิจกรรมโดยใช้วิธีการสุ่มตัวอย่างแบบกลุ่ม (Cluster Sampling) รวมจำนวน 300 คน เครื่องมือที่ใช่ในการวิจัยได้แก่ แบบสอบถาม แบบสัมภาษณ์ แบบบันทึกข้อมูลการสัมภาษณ์ และแบบบันทึกการสนทนากลุ่ม วิเคราะห์ข้อมูลด้วยวิธีวิเคราะห์เนื้อหา สถิติเชิงบรรยายคือค่าร้อยละ ค่าเฉลี่ย ส่วนเบี่ยงเบนมาตรฐาน ผลการวิจัยสรุปได้ดังนี้1. กลวิธีการออกแบบกิจกรรมเสริมสร้างจิตสำนึกพลเมืองบัณฑิตในวิถีชีวิตใหม่สำหรับนิสิต นักศึกษาหอพักมหาวิทยาลัยนั้น ประกอบด้วย เอกลักษณ์ (Identity) ในการจัดกิจกรรมหอพักสามารถเชื่อมโยงกับกิจกรรมย่อย 2 กลุ่ม คือ กิจกรรมย่อยทั่วไป (Generic) คือ กิจกรรมย่อยที่ทุกโครงการมีการจัดกิจกรรมคล้าย ๆ กัน มีกลวิธีการจัดกิจกรรมในลักษณะเดียวกัน ประกอบด้วย 4 กิจกรรมย่อย คือ การประชาสัมพันธ์ การลงทะเบียน การรับประทานอาหาร และการสรุปโครงการ กิจกรรมย่อยเฉพาะ (Specific/ Core) คือ กิจกรรมย่อยซึ่งเป็นกิจกรรมหลักที่เกิดขึ้นในวันจัดกิจกรรม กิจกรรมย่อยเฉพาะจะเป็นอีกหนึ่งตัวกำหนดชื่อโครงการหรือกิจกรรม โดยผู้วิจัยแบ่งกลุ่มกิจกรรมย่อยเฉพาะตามลักษณะการจัดกิจกรรมได้ 4 กลุ่มดังนี้ การให้ข้อมูล การสร้างทักษะการอยู่ร่วมกับผู้อื่น การสร้างนิสัย/การเอาตัวรอดจากสถานการณ์คับขัน กิจกรรมเพื่อความบันเทิง ประสบการณ์การจัดกิจกรรม (Activities Experiences) สามารถแบ่งกลวิธีในการจัดกิจกรรมได้ 2 รูปแบบคือ กลวิธีแบบออนไซต์และออนไลน์ ประสบการณ์พลเมือง (Civic Experience) คือการหาค่าความเสี่ยงจากกลวิธีในการจัดกิจกรรมเพื่อให้สามารถวางแผนและจัดการความเสี่ยงในจัดกิจกรรมในหอพักนิสิตนักศึกษาได้2. กลวิธีการออกแบบกิจกรรมหอพักนิสิตนักศึกษาตามองค์ประกอบที่กล่าวมาข้างต้น ได้นำไปสร้างแบบจำลองการจัดกิจกรรมโดยใช้ ซอฟต์แวร์สนับสนุนการสร้างโครงการหรือกิจกรรมหอพัก เพื่อใช้เป็นฐานข้อมูลและวิธีการส่งต่อการทำกิจกรรมหอพักต่อไป

Long-Term Impact Of A Semester-Long Multidisciplinary Service-Learning Assignment In A Fluid Mechanics Course, Orlando M. Ayala, Kristie Gutierrez, Isaac Koduah Kumi, Francisco Cima, Stacie I. Ringleb, Krishnanand Kaipa, Danielle M. Rhemer, Pilar Pazos, Jennifer Jill Kidd

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

Seventy-three students who enrolled in a senior-year level fluid mechanics course during spring semesters from 2019-2023 were asked about their perceptions on the impact in their professional preparation of a semester-long multidisciplinary service-learning assignment. This paper aims to evaluate their current perceived impact of the assignment (long-term impact) and whether it might have changed from when they took the course (short-term impact). The project tested their creativity, knowledge of fluid mechanics concepts, and skills to work with people from other disciplines. They were told that they were working for a hypothetical company, “Engineering is for all,” and were assigned to …

That’S Not In My Position Description: A Discourse Analysis Of Sbae Migratory Context, Becky Haddad, Jonathan Velez, Josh Stewart, Haden Botkin

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

While the choice to move to a new school is personal, many play a role in justifying that choice for the mobile teacher. These justifiers—or influencers—make up the socializing network for teachers (in this case, SBAE teachers) in new settings. Our study outlined how mobile SBAE teachers rationalize the choice to change schools and validate career moves. We used a positioning theory approach to discourse to give migrators (teachers who change schools) and influencers a voice. Positioning theory allowed us to situate migrators as they reflected on their choice to change school districts, and influencers as they recounted their …

A Phenomenological Study Of Online Physical Education On Former Students’ Activity Levels And Fitness Concepts Knowledge, Jerry Veshio

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to provide an understanding of the perspectives of former online physical education high school students and how participation in the course affected their ability to be active post-high school and their knowledge of fitness concepts. A phenomenological design was used to guide the study’s investigation. Participants in the study were interviewed about their experiences in online physical education while in high school and how that experience currently influences their physical activity levels. Additionally, respondents described the positives and negatives of their experience in the course, specifically as it relates to the course materials, assessments, instructor …

Implementing A Stepped Care Model: A Case Study Of Two College Counseling Centers, Stephanie L Johnson-Kane

Dissertations and Theses

The demand for mental health counseling services has surged, but the capacity of college counseling centers to meet this demand has not kept pace. The effects of COVID-19 have exacerbated this already fragile system of care. College students are enrolling in college with increased levels of anxiety, depression, disordered eating, suicidal ideation, and substance use. College counseling center staff are facing burnout. The waitlist to receive mental health services is at critical capacity. This multi-site case study was designed to foster an understanding of two college counseling centers' implementation of the stepped care approach as a mental health service delivery …

Internal Funding Newsletter, Academic Year 2023-2024, Uno Office Of Research And Creative Activity

Internal Funding Newsletters

The University of Nebraska at Omaha is committed to providing students and faculty unique, hands-on opportunities, internships, service learning, applied research, and other collaborative activities that enhance time in and out of the classroom. The 2023-2024 Academic Year saw many exciting opportunities for us to invest into even more programs promoting research and creative activity. This year's programs provided over $800,000, more than double the funding in 2022-2023, for student and faculty projects.

Effective Strategies For International Phd Applications, Srinivas Sulugodu Ramachandra, Shelly Arora, Vijay Kumar

Health Professions Education

Introduction: This article introduces a fresh perspective on the digital and communication challenges faced by international PhD applicants. This article focuses on issues such as digital literacy, email etiquette, and communication barriers, offering practical strategies to help applicants effectively navigate online applications and remote interactions with supervisors and Graduate Research Schools. This article provides insights for international doctoral applicants in navigating the complex process of approaching potential supervisors and applying to PhD programs at top-ranking international universities.

Methods: The availability of limited number of positions, supervisors and funding opportunities compared to the number of applicants makes the competition …

Andragogy In The Age Of Ai: Transformative Pathways For Adult Education, Valerie A. Storey, Amiee Wagner

All Faculty and Staff Scholarship

This chapter explores the transformative impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on adult education, drawing on the foundational work of Malcolm Knowles, who emphasized the necessity for adaptive and self-directed learning practices. It examines the rapid technological advancements since Knowles' time, highlighting how modern AI technologies, particularly Generative AI, are reshaping the landscape of adult education. By aligning AI with andragogical principles, educators can enhance the learning experience while addressing potential challenges such as algorithmic bias and inequity. The chapter is structured into three sections: the first explores AI-based learning science and its congruence with Knowles' principles; the second assesses the …

Department Chairs’ Impact On The Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion Of Their Departments, Nicholas R. Garcia Ii

Theses and Dissertations

Department chairs serve not only as the leaders of their departments but also as middle managers in their schools, colleges, and universities. While many department chairs see their role as having little authority, they still play an integral role in day-to-day campus operations (Hunt & Jones, 2015). As leaders of their departments, chairs can directly influence the department’s organizational culture (Schein, 2010), including the culture of diversity and inclusiveness. Departments nationwide are being held responsible for increasing the diversity of the faculty and responding to students' calls for diversity. Departmental organizational culture and the role of the chairperson are essential …

Sharing Stories Of Hope And Transformation In U.S. Higher Education: An Ereader By Portland State University Students, Óscar Fernández, David Peterson Del Mar

PDXOpen: Open Educational Resources

This eReader showcases stories of hope and transformation written by diverse students enrolled in University Studies courses at Portland State University. The goal is to motivate first-year and transfer students to see that, in higher education, they are not alone in their personal, familial, and academic struggles—and personal, familial, and educational achievements.

How Saudi Undergraduate Students Perceive Teacher Support, Basic Psychological Needs, And Academic Motivation, Anas M. Alhudib

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation examines the Saudi undergraduate educational environment, exploring relationships among teacher support, basic psychological needs satisfaction and frustration, academic motivation, and GPA. The study investigates whether basic psychological needs mediate the relationship between teacher support and academic motivation, utilizing a structural equation model with 312 Saudi undergraduate students. The findings reveal a positive relationship between teacher support and basic psychological need satisfaction, influencing academic motivation. Interestingly, GPA did not correlate with other variables. Various models were tested, resulting in two sets of models that underscore the significant role of basic psychological needs as mediators in shaping the relationship between …

Assessing The Relationship Between Neighborhood Inequality And Stem Employment For Underrepresented Minorities With Stem Degrees, Brian P. Hurley

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to assess whether there is a relationship between neighborhood inequality in which underrepresented minorities (URMs) with STEM degrees reside and their employment in STEM fields. The current study deploys an Intersectional Theory (IT) research framework and Bourdieu’s Theory of Practice to identify the influence of neighborhood capital on successful matriculation through the STEM pipeline as well as variables that elucidate latent inequities in the STEM pipeline which lead to unequal outcomes for URMs. Generalized Linear Multilevel Models (GLMMs) are used to answer the research questions where the individual variables of gender, race, and age …

An Exploration Of The Sense Of Belonging For African American Women Licensed Clinicians In A Voluntary Professional Counseling Organization, Raushanah Jackson

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Due to historical oppression in academe, the voices of African American women have been excluded, or unjustifiably limited, in academic research and from mainstream psychological thought. This study was one aim at understanding the experiences of belonging of women of African American ancestry who were clinically licensed professional members in a volunteer member counseling organization. Centering African American women’s voices was used through a lens of critical race theory and Black Feminist Thought to illuminate the structural, representational, and sociopolitical barriers that African American women face. An Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis approach was used to center the voices of five licensed …

Clinical Reasoning Development: Exploring The Role Of Instructor Feedback During Health Professions Clinical Education Experiences, Ryan T. Orrison

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

The growing complexity of the healthcare environment and the need to equitably address the health and well-being of a diverse patient population has increased the requirement for practical instruction and assessment of clinical reasoning in the training of health professionals. Formative assessment, in the form of feedback, is recognized as an essential instructional component in teaching clinical reasoning. This study aimed to investigate the role of feedback in developing clinical reasoning during clinical education.

This investigation consisted of three unique studies completed in phases. The scoping review methodology in phase one revealed six themes from the included articles (n = …

Incarcerated To Educated: The On-Campus Experiences Of College Students Post Incarceration, Taylor Comer

Masters Theses

As reentry rates continue to climb in the United States, more individuals with felony convictions on their criminal records will be looking to obtain post-secondary education to make themselves more marketable in the workforce. The purpose of this narrative study was to examine the experiences of three individuals that pursued higher education after being released from prison. It was determined that the criminality of these individuals had minimal impact on their experiences in higher education, and that there are other components of their identity that have a heavier influence on their likelihood of success. The other components of their identities …

Social Gender Norms And Depression In College Students, Derek Deeney

Masters Theses

The primary purpose of this quantitative study was to determine if there was a relationship between the conformity to social gender norms (masculine and feminine) and depression among male and female college students at a mid-sized, four-year public institution in the Midwest. A secondary purpose was to investigate if there was a difference in depression between males and females, and if a there was a difference in conformity to social gender norms (masculine and feminine) between males and females. Understanding the trends in social norm conformity and depression can lead to changes in how faculty and staff in higher education …

The Role Of Study Abroad Directors In The Internationalization Of Higher Education, Alexandra Tserenova

Masters Theses

This study looks at the preparation and job description for those serving as directors of study abroad on the college campus. For this study three professionals who work in director positions were interviewed as well as their job descriptions were analyzed to determine what the expectations are for those in these positions. Study abroad professionals engage with students, faculty, external agencies, and other educational institutions worldwide. They are required to collaborate with many different constituents in the areas of program development, recruitment, risk management, program implementation, as well as pre- and post-departure orientations.

Centering Linguistic Justice In The First Year Writing Classroom: An Argument For The Incorporation Of Code-Meshing And Narrative In Academic Writing, Traci Salazar

Masters Theses

The author addresses several questions across three chapters in relation to linguistic identity and standard language ideology in academic writing, particularly as it pertains to the First Year Writing classroom. Firstly, what is standard language ideology, and what are the detriments of its effects on students in the writing classroom? This answer is considered with an emphasis on the implications for students whose home languages are not in close proximity to Standard English (SE) and boils down to a homogenous language that is deemed ideal and is imposed upon others by dominant institutions, such as academic institutions. Within a literature …

English 890: Advanced Research Methods, A First Benchmark Portfolio, Janel Simons

UNL Faculty Course Portfolios

In this benchmark portfolio, I reflect on course design and student learning in a course I teach for incoming Master's students in the English department, ENGL 890: Advanced Research Methods. ENGL 890 is a mini-session course intended to introduce students to various aspects of managing graduate-level research within the discipline of English studies. In this portfolio, I discuss the learning outcomes and goals for the course, highlight some of the assessments I use, reflect on student learning throughout the course, and articulate changes that might improve student learning in future iterations of the course. Given the overarching goals of this …

First Course Portfolio For Tmfd 213: Merchandising I: Textile And Apparel Industry, Na Young Jung

UNL Faculty Course Portfolios

This portfolio presents a comprehensive overview of TMFD 213: Merchandising I, a foundational course in the Department of Textiles, Merchandising, and Fashion Design at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The course is designed to equip students with critical thinking, analytical skills, and industry-specific knowledge necessary for professional success in the textile and apparel industry. The portfolio outlines the course’s objectives, teaching methodologies, and the impact of instructional strategies on student learning outcomes. It includes detailed analyses of quantitative and qualitative data collected through pre- and post-test surveys, assignments, and reflections. Quantitative results demonstrate significant improvements in key areas such as familiarity …