Higher Education Commons^™

Beyond The Brochure: Exploring The Reality Of Belonging In South Florida Private Schools, Jennifer Vigille

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to explore Black parents’ perceptions of teachers and leadership in predominantly White private schools. The research drew on a rich body of literature on race, education, and social dynamics in diverse school settings. The study addressed the ongoing challenges Black families faced in navigating these environments, particularly in terms of communication and cultural competence. The central research questions investigated how Black parents experienced and interpreted teacher and leadership relationships and support in predominately White private schools.

The study hypothesized that Black parents perceived significant gaps in communication and cultural competence among educators and leaders, affecting …

Lived Experience Of Middle School Science Teachers During The Covid-19 Pandemic, David E. Abbott Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted education worldwide, compelling schools to adopt remote teaching and learning. This phenomenological study examined the lived experiences of six middle school science teachers in an Alabama school district during this period. Data were collected through interviews and reflective journals maintained for 2 weeks following the interview. The research investigated how teachers navigated shifting instruction to remote settings, engaged students, assessed and monitored their progress, and managed challenges. Guided by the technological pedagogical and content knowledge (TPACK) framework, findings revealed that teachers leveraged a combination of technological, pedagogical, and content knowledge to adapt their instruction. Despite …

Factors Contributing To Teacher Attrition From The Perspectives Of Teachers Who Left The Profession, Malik Padgett

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation examined teacher attrition, a persistent challenge in K–12 education. Nearly 20% of teachers leave by their third year, with up to 50% departing by the fifth year. High turnover disrupts learning, strains resources, and diminishes educational quality, particularly in under-resourced communities. Addressing these issues is crucial for improving retention and fostering stability.

The study explored key factors driving attrition, including inadequate compensation, excessive workload, insufficient professional development, and limited administrative support, especially in the post-COVID era. Grounded in transformational leadership theory, the research highlighted the role of leadership in fostering morale and ethics rather than merely transactional …

A Qualitative Study For Parental Involvement In Middle School: Perspectives Of Parents And Teachers, Twana Ivory

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to examine the barriers contributing to low parental involvement in a selected middle school. Parental engagement has been widely linked to student academic success and positive behavior outcomes; however, involvement tends to decline as students enter middle school. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences and perceptions of educators and parents regarding parental involvement, identify the challenges families face, and discover opportunities to strengthen school-family collaboration.

The researcher employed a qualitative research design using a phenomenological approach. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eleven participants, including six middle school teachers and five parents. …

Parent Social Validity Ratings Of Receiving Functional Communication Training, Shani Davies

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to provide greater insight on parent and caregiver views and perceptions on participating in functional communication training. While extensive research exists regarding the effectiveness of functional communication training and parent training in general for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, evidence on the social validity with respect to caregivers is lacking.

The researcher utilized evidenced-based social validity scales to explore parent/caregiver perceptions of receiving caregiver functional communication training, their perceived effectiveness of the treatment modality, and overall acceptance of the approach.

An analysis of the data revealed that parents’ overall perception was neutral regarding general views …

La Retroalimentación Bidireccional En El Proceso De La Enseñanza Y Aprendizaje Con Modalidad Hibrida En Una Institución Secundaria De Puerto Rico, Annette Muñiz Andújar

Theses and Dissertations

El objetivo del estudio fue determinar la percepción de los docentes sobre la importancia de la Retroalimentación Bidireccional en el Proceso de la Enseñanza-Aprendizaje con Modalidad Hibrida en una Institución Secundaria en Puerto Rico. Este estudio se realizó utilizando un diseño fenomenológico, con enfoque cualitativo. La población y la muestra del estudio estuvieron compuestas de docentes de una escuela Pública del área Norte de Puerto Rico. Los datos fueron recopilados mediante la entrevista semiestructurada. Durante este proceso, la investigadora utilizó un cuestionario guía, con el cual procedió a recolectar los datos, utilizando la entrevista semiestructurada.

Los datos cualitativos obtenidos de …

La Percepción Del Docente Sobre La Efectividad Del Liderazgo Del Director En La Gestión De Conflictos En Una Escuela Pública Secundaria En Puerto Rico Con Diversidad Generacional, José Pérez Rivera

Theses and Dissertations

El propósito de esta investigación fue explorar la percepción del docente en cuanto al liderazgo del director escolar y la gestión de conflictos en un entorno educativo caracterizado por la diversidad generacional. Se realizó un estudio exploratorio con enfoque cualitativo, llevado a cabo en una escuela pública de Puerto Rico. La muestra se conformó con ocho docentes de cuatro generaciones diferentes. Para la realización de las entrevistas semiestructuradas, se utilizó un protocolo que incluyó un cuestionario guía diseñado por el investigador. Luego de concluido el ciclo de entrevistas, los audios se transcribieron textualmente. Para analizar las evidencias que aportaron los …

Teacher Retention In The Wake Of The Inclusion Movement: A Mixed Methods Study On Teachers’ Perceptions Of Self-Efficacy, Tessa Vasquez

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation studied the problem of the national teacher shortage by considering the impact of the inclusion movement on general education teachers’ self efficacy. This mixed-methods study sought to contribute to the body of literature examining factors responsible for poor teacher retention and factors responsible for low teacher self-efficacy. Nine participants were interviewed and administered the Teacher Effective Inclusion Self-Efficacy, Knowledge, and Attitudes Measure. The researcher conducted coding and thematic analysis of the interview transcripts and six themes emerged. The researcher scored the questionnaires and compared the scores to the responses provided in the interviews.

Themes revealed that the …

Perceptions Of Mental Health School-Based Team Members On Addressing Suicidal And Non-Suicidal Self-Injurious Behaviors: A Qualitative Inquiry Into Policy Implementation And Practice In School Settings, Ashlande Smith

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of mental health school-based team members regarding the effectiveness of current prevention and intervention practices for addressing suicidal and non-suicidal self-harming behaviors among school-age children in a large suburban school district in the southern United States. Despite the alarming increase in self-injurious behaviors, with crisis calls rising from 144 incidents in the 2022 school year to 736 incidents in the 2025 school year, the district lacked comprehensive prevention and intervention strategies to effectively address this critical issue.

The researcher used a qualitative phenomenological approach to capture the lived experiences and …

Factors That Contribute To Employment Success For Young Adults With Disabilities Completing A Postsecondary Education Program, Leatha Pfanmiller

Theses and Dissertations

The problem addressed in this research was low employment rates for young adults with disabilities. Young adults with disabilities are employed at a much lower rate than their neurotypical peers. The factors identified in this study could be beneficial to other college and postsecondary education (PSE) programs with employment components, to promote higher rates of employment for students with disabilities who attend those institutions.

The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify factors that contribute to employment success for young adults with disabilities completing a PSE program. The study was conducted at a medium-sized, 4-year, public university in the …

Legislative Impacts On K-12 Social Studies Teacher Identity, Curricular Decision-Making, And Receptiveness To Professional Development, Staci Fisher

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation examines how K-12 public school social studies teachers are navigating their instructional decision-making regarding content about marginalized groups in response to state legislation. Quantitative data were collected through an online Likert-scale survey to measure teachers’ reported agreement on how state legislation has impacted their instructional decision-making, job satisfaction connected to their professional and personal identities, inclusion of instructional materials, and receptiveness to professional development.

Following data collection, the researchers analyzed whether factors of district political context and teachers’ personal and professional identity characteristics predicted their responses. Survey results showed most teachers reported feeling that state legislation has …

Percepción De La Policía De Puerto Rico Sobre La Utilización De Las Cámaras Corporales, Vicente Villegas Laboy

Theses and Dissertations

En Puerto Rico, según la literatura revisada, la investigación sobre el tema de las cámaras corporales policiacas apenas está comenzando. A pesar de esto, en lugares como en los Estados Unidos de América y Europa, si hay estudios relacionados con las cámaras corporales. Estas investigaciones, en su mayoría, se han concentrado en el efecto que causa esta tecnología en los policías que las utilizan, así como, en los ciudadanos que interactúan con estos policías. Este estudio de disertación doctoral explora este tema, pero, desde la percepción del policía que utiliza la cámara corporal, día a día, como parte de su …

Georgia Southern University Commencement Programs, Zach S. Henderson Library Special Collections

Finding Aids

This collection consists of programs related to Georgia Southern University’s commencement ceremonies, with coverage from 1910 to 2025. Materials include official commencement programs as well as ancillary materials concerning commencement exercises and related events including student graduate lists.

Eagle Scouts And The Contributing Factors To Civic Engagement On The College Campus, Blaise Lukasiewicz

All Capstone Projects

The qualitative study followed a general inductive method to determine the influence the rank of Eagle Scout has on civic engagement among students in four-year public higher education institutions. The identified population for this research study was college-aged students who are currently enrolled or have attended public four-year higher education institutions. By exploring the experiences of Eagle Scouts in higher education settings, this research aimed to contribute to our understanding of how participation in the Scouting program and attainment of the Eagle Scout rank shape individuals’ engagement in civic engagement activities during their college years. Previous research suggests that participation …

Perceptions Of Implementation From Higher Education Participants In Online Course Design Professional Development, Scott B. Thesen

All Capstone Projects

Many higher education instructors treat online teaching as a modern form of correspondence, believing students learn on their own when content is placed in a learning management system, but learning also takes place through other forms of interaction beyond solely with content. To show best practices for the online modality, instructors at a Midwest regional mid-sized higher education institution participated in professional development using the Improving Your Online Course (IYOC) workshop from Quality Matters™ (QM), a globally recognized authority in best practices for online course design. Level 3 of Kirkpatrick’s Four Levels of Training Evaluation was used to evaluate the …

Exploring College Students’ Motivation For Physical Activity: Applications Of Self-Determination Theory And The Role Of Health And Wellness Education, Anne Russell Blevins

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

This dissertation includes three pieces of writing that aim to show the importance of physical activity for all ages but specifically college-aged students. The first piece of writing (Chapter 2) includes a teaching tip written for the Journal of Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance. Research has shown that dance was a subject of the past and many teachers did not feel comfortable teaching it. This practical piece was written to help show K-12 physical education teachers effective ways to involve students in physical activity specifically through teaching dance, mainly through using the “Teaching Dance for Understanding” model.

The second section …

Finding The Diaspora: Understanding U.S. Central American Students’ Narratives Of Social Justice And Resistance At Four-Year Higher Education Institutions In Illinois, Sandy C. González Rivas

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study aimed to explore the experiences of U.S. Central American students at four-year higher education institutions in Illinois. It focused specifically on how these students navigated notions of cultural, ethnic, and racial identity on campus and resisted imposed concepts of Latinidad. The study used Latino Critical Race Theory, the Community Cultural Wealth Model, and testimonio and plática methodologies to center students’ voices and experiences. Data were collected through individual narratives from eight self-identified U.S. Central American students using semi-structured interviews. The data highlighted how U.S. Central American students perceive dominant narratives of Latinidad in higher education, what aspects …

The Experiences Of Black Male Dei Administrators At Historically White Institutions, Kwame R. Patterson Jr

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the lived experiences of Black male Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) administrators at Historically White Institutions (HWIs) in higher education. Drawing from Critical Race Theory (CRT) and the Campus Racial Climate Model, this research utilized a qualitative narrative inquiry to understand how Black male DEI administrators experience and navigate their roles, as well as the support systems they rely on to overcome barriers encountered at HWIs. I conducted interviews with 11 Black male DEI administrators from various HWIs. Three major themes emerged from the analysis: (1) Limited Legacy: What am I here for?, which highlights the unique …

Do You Hear It?: Perceptions Of A Vocational Calling And Retention Considerations For Student Affairs Professionals, Tim Holbrook

Theses and Dissertations

This phenomenological study examines the perceptions of student affairs professionals of their work as a job, career, or calling and how that perception corresponds to their feelings about the course of their future professional endeavors. The research subject pool included student affairs professionals employed by large research institutions who graduated from master’s degree programs between the years of 2017 and 2020.

The study suggests that while these early-career student affairs professionals exhibited a pro-social orientation that attracted them to community-oriented work and they find personal meaning in their employment, there is a risk that individuals in student affairs may be …

Utilizing Information Technology And Hands-On Learning Practices To Improve Student Learning Outcomes In A High Failure Rate Introductory Programming Course, Todd Edward Thomas

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to introduce and examine the impact that two interventions have on a high failure rate introductory programing course: a pedagogical approach of introducing Live Coding instruction technique to the in-person lecture portion, and a technological approach of introducing remote collaboration software (VS Code Liveshare) to the online lab portion. This study used convergent parallel mixed methods approach for both data collection and analysis; utilizing four data collection methods: 1) online survey questionnaires 2) in-depth interviews 3) in class observations and 4) quantifiable data collection (ie., student demographic, IT experience, GPA data). The Live Coding …

From Columbia To Usc, Palestine Will Be Free: Capturing The Palestinian Student Narrative, Deena Ata

Theses and Dissertations

In 2024, student groups across colleges organized encampments demanding their institutions cut financial and academic ties with Israel and the Israeli military, a call rooted in resistance to the ongoing occupation and violence against Palestinians. These student-led actions were met with harsh retaliation from university administrations and state authorities, including graduation deferments, suspensions, censorship, and arrests. Clear attempts to silence dissent and suppress Palestinian solidarity. This study centers the voices of Palestinian college students by examining their lived experiences and counter-narratives in the face of backlash, anti-Palestinian rhetoric, and institutionalized acts of disenfranchisement. Their stories reveal how repression of pro-Palestine …

Savior To Ally: Exploring White Students' Decisions To Major In Social Work Through The Lens Of White Saviorism, Amy S. Dennison

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study explored how white students chose social work as a major and how white savior ideology reinforced or challenged students’ choices. The study contributes to a gap in the literature regarding white saviorism and social work education. Using a phenomenological approach, data were collected through semi-structured interviews from five undergraduate social work students at one Midwestern state university. Transcripts were analyzed thematically using Moustakas’ data analysis for phenomenology framework. The findings revealed that participants chose social work because of an intent to help others, as well as a desire for their work to have a meaningful impact. White …

Embracing Ai In Higher Education: Redefining Teaching And Learning In The Digital Era, Najem Tala, Leila Halawi

Publications

This research explores the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education, focusing on its ability to address emerging challenges and revolutionize teaching practices. We critically assess the current educational landscape, evaluate AI's role as a catalyst for educational reform, and examine implementation challenges. Our analysis emphasizes the evolving impact of AI on personalized learning, student engagement, and administrative efficiency and contributes to the growing body of literature on educational technology. The discussion highlights both the opportunities and limitations of AI in education, pointing to critical areas that remain underexplored.

Addressing Food Security In Cameroon, Stacy A. Adams, Ruth Abunaw Besong

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Cameroon Africa has experience a period of nearly a decade of unrest as militants fight for independence for two Anglophone regions within a predominantly Francophone country. The English-speaking minority have felt aggrieved for continued erosion of rights by the central government. Protests have rapidly spread since 2016, causing closure of schools, businesses, and medical facilities. People have lost homes and been displaced, negatively affecting food production and crop availability. The United States Department of State leads an effort of diplomacy beyond emergency food relief through the Mandela Washington Fellowship that connects American professionals to innovative and impactful young African leaders. …

Current Higher Education Legal Issues And The Roles Of Legal Leadership On Campus, Louis H. Guard, Joyce P. Jacobsen, Patricia E. Salkin

Scholarly Works

No abstract provided.

Examining Strategies For The Recruitment And Retention Of Students Of Color In Health Service Psychology Doctoral Programs, Melissa Sital

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Students of color are significantly underrepresented in the field of health service psychology, including at the doctoral level. Doctoral programs in health service psychology utilize various strategies to foster the recruitment and retention of students of color, though limited research has investigated which strategies are used most frequently. As part of the present study, 18 APA-accredited doctoral programs in health service psychology submitted narrative sections from their APA accreditation self-study report describing their efforts to recruit and retain students of color and evaluate the effectiveness of their efforts, as well as the racial/ethnic breakdown of their students. Qualitative analysis of …

2025 Engage For Change Awards Program, Bonner Center For Civic Engagement

Engage for Change Awards

2025 Award Print: Alfonso Pérez Acosta

Keynote Address: Taylor Scott, Founder, RVA Community Fridges

“We’Re Here, We’Re Queer, And We’Re Not Going Away” Student Policies And Lgbtq+ Students’ Experiences On Canadian Christian Campuses, Angela E. Gallo

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Research highlights that Christian campuses are often unwelcoming and hostile spaces for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other gender and sexually diverse (LGBTQ+) students. Yet, research, including emerging Canadian research, often overlooks how institutional policies shape LGBTQ+ students’ experiences. Further, little attention is given to the affirming experiences LGBTQ+ students encounter on Christian campuses. Through a collective case study of two Canadian Christian universities involving document analysis and interviews, I explored the discourses that school policies constructed concerning gender and sexuality, LGBTQ+ students’ experiences of exclusion and affirmation, and how policy, alongside other factors, shapes their experiences and well-being. …

Enhancing Customer Service In Higher Education, Donna Crouch

Journal of Excellence in College Teaching and Learning

In the realm of higher education, the provision of quality customer service emerges as a critical component in nurturing both student success and institutional effectiveness. As educational institutions attempt to cater to the diverse needs of their student populations, the imperative of prioritizing customer service within academia becomes increasingly evident. Notably, empirical research consistently underscores a positive correlation between quality customer service and pivotal outcomes such as student achievement and retention. Through the cultivation of a culture centered on service excellence and responsiveness, higher education institutions stand to enhance student engagement, satisfaction, and retention rates. This article endeavors to explore …

Values In Academe: Examining Productivity For Faculty Of Color, Emi Kamei, Young K. Kim, David Edens

Journal of Excellence in College Teaching and Learning

Using a quantitative research design, this study examined two productivity-related outcomes, scholarly productivity and community-minded engagement practices, and how these vary for faculty of color in U.S. higher education institutions among different racial/ethnic subgroups. This study utilized data collected from the 2016-2017 Faculty Survey administered by the Higher Education Research Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles, and a sample of 26,410 faculty members nationwide. The findings suggest that scholarly productivity tends to increase when faculty have spent time writing research grants or have protected time available for research scholarship, and tends to decrease when higher teaching loads are …