Student Counseling and Personnel Services Commons^™

A Qualitatively Grounded Curriculum For Western International Student Orientation To Chinese Higher Education, Lin Yi

Masters Theses

More and more U.S. students are seeking university study abroad in China. Information about how to prepare for overseas study in China, and what challenges need to be overcome, is limited. To develop the proposed orientation curriculum, Chinese professors teaching international students, international student affairs professionals serving international students, English-speaking international students studying in Chinese universities, and U.S. citizens visiting and working in China contributed their insights and experiences of culture shock, culture surprises, and cultural differences. The themes emerging from the interviews were organized into the content of the proposed orientation curriculum. When U.S. international students experience this Chinese …

Graduate Recruitment At A Midsized Midwestern University, Sharese N. Shannon

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to dialogue with several graduate programs at Eastern Illinois University to better examine their admissions requirements and philosophy on recruitment. Graduate recruitment at a midsized public institution, such as Eastern lllinois University, has strengths and weakness in regards to attracting students. Location, class size, reputation and preparing students for doctoral programs were reported as factors associated with attracting perspective graduate students. Many graduate programs did not actively recruit students because of heavy reliance on representatives from the graduate school.

The researcher discovered how departments defined their responsibility towards recruitment, how they defined a recruitment …

A Study Of An Online Adaptation Of An Off Campus Adult Student Survey, Benjamin J. Stenson

Masters Theses

The School of Continuing Education (SCE) at Eastern Illinois University offers evening and weekend courses for returning adult students at a variety of off campus locations. Program assessment conducted in 1988, 1993, 1997, and 2002 used an off campus adult student survey administered by traditional means. Since these program assessment administrations, the proportion of classes offered through traditional off campus classroom instruction has lowered in relation to classes that are technology delivered.

It has become important to assess technology delivered instructional programs as well. The original adult student survey (Schrock, 1988) was adapted into an on-line version in order to …

Career Vs. Marriage: Perceptions Of Professional Black Women Employed In Higher Education, Temetria D. Hargett

Masters Theses

Age of first marriage for American women has been on the rise and Black women possessing higher education seem to top the charts of this growing trend. The review of recent literature articulates an increase in marriage ages for Black women that seem to correspond to educational attainment. Through interviewing, the researcher found that the issue of career/marriage balance for professional Black women employed in higher education was relevant; findings from the present study specified obstacles to balancing career and fostering relationships that may end in marriage. An analysis of barriers to marriage for six professional Black women employed in …

The Role Of Men In Nontraditional Roles: Male Sorority Advisors, Brian Thomas Clarke

Masters Theses

The researcher's experience as a male sorority advisor served as the impetus for the present study, specifically relating to the struggles and difficulties experienced by male chapter advisors in gaining respect, trust, and acceptance from undergraduate and alumnae sorority members.

The purpose of the study was to explore the phenomenon of men as sorority advisors of historically white sororities. Naturalistic methodology (McMillan & Schumacher, 2001) was used to collect the data for the present study. All data were collected through one-on-one qualitative interviews. Participants in the current study were males who have and/or currently serve in an advisory role for …

Gender, Race, And Membership Status: Perceptions Of Hazing On A University Campus, Robyn Bethany Paige

Masters Theses

This thesis addressed the issue of hazing and specifically the potential relationship of three demographic factors, race, gender, and membership status, on student attitudes about hazing. This research to improve the understanding about what motivates individuals to engage in such behavior is designed to provide help to practitioners in creating better prevention and education about hazing.

An on-line survey was used to collect data from students at a large, public, Research I institution in the Mid-west. The survey was based on Sedlacek and Brook's (1970) Situational Attitudes Scale. The original instrument was modified to fit the topic of hazing. It …

Assessing Levels Of Hope And Motivation In Two Groups Of At-Risk Undergraduate College Students, Victoria M. Zeter

Masters Theses

Among the many prominent motivational theories addressed in this study, one was central to the research - hope theory. Hope is a goal directed cognitive process that involves three components: goals, pathway thinking, and agency thinking (Snyder, Feldman, Shorey, & Rand, 2002). The focus of this study was to assess the levels of hope and motivation of two at-risk undergraduate student populations attending Eastern Illinois University (EIU). All of the subjects were participants in one of two student support programs: a) Gateway, an alternative admissions program designed to provide access to higher education to underrepresented and disadvantaged students; and b) …

Gateway Program: Perceptions Of The Second Year Student, Makesha Harris

Masters Theses

This study was designed to understand the perception of sophomore students who were successfully released from the Gateway Program and are now progressing through their college careers at Eastern Illinois University. They are doing so without the extra resources and intrusive assistance of first year Gateway advisors and support services during their sophomore year. The primary investigator conducted one on one interviews with a selected sample of former Gateway students using qualitative methods (Lincoln & Guba 1985) regarding their relationship with their Gateway advisor and their second year academic advisor and campus resources. Interview findings were triangulated and themes and …

An Assessment Of The Crawl Program: A Brief Alcohol Intervention For First Time Alcohol Offenders At Eastern Illinois University, Catherine T. Passananti

Masters Theses

The purpose of the present study was to examine the effectiveness of an alcohol intervention program instituted at Eastern Illinois University. More specifically, the purpose was to assess how much knowledge student participants gained about their personal drinking behavior and how it affected other individuals. Results from the study include that the program had a positive educational effect on some, while other participants were in need of more individual and intensive alcohol education and counseling.

A Formative Evaluation Of The 2005-2006 Eastern Illinois University Resident Assistant Selection Process, Brian O'Neal Johnson

Masters Theses

The present study was conducted as a formative evaluation of the 2005-2006 Eastern Illinois University Resident Assistant Selection Process. The purpose of the present project was two-fold: 1) to assess participates' perceptions, candidates and instructors, of the five-week Resident Assistant workshop course; and, 2) to generate potential recommendations from research participants for future resident assistant selection processes.

The Relationship Between Parental Divorce And First-Year College Student Adjustment, Jennifer A. Copes

Masters Theses

This study was conducted to investigate the potential relationship between incoming freshmen parental marital status and students' first-year adjustment to college. The PI saw a need for this study because of the lack of previous research directly connecting the two above variables. Numerous researchers have investigated the negative effects of parental divorce; the importance of one's parents during the transition to college has also been well documented. For the purpose of this study, the PI sought to examine a potential link between the two, assuming children of divorce would experience more difficulties adjusting to college life than children from intact …

Undergraduate Adult Children Of Alcoholics And Choosing A College Major, Sara L. Schaller

Masters Theses

This study examined the career decision-making experiences of undergraduate students who were classified as "undecided" in their majors and who qualified as adult children of alcoholics using the Children of Alcoholic Screening Test (Pilat & Jones, 1984). Through basic interpretative qualitative research, this study examined the decision-making experiences of adult children of alcoholics as they choose a major.

Results of this study were limited based on participation; however, three undergraduate females did share their experiences regarding family alcoholism and choosing a major. Only one participant discussed the impact of her family alcoholism on her decision of choosing a college major. …

Critical Pedagogy As A Practice In Student Affairs: A Trio Media Literacy Program, Bettina T. Becker

Masters Theses

This study discusses the impact a critical pedagogy approach may provide for Student Affairs programming. On the one hand, pedagogical theories are often relegated to the classroom proper. On the other hand, despite the fact that Student Affairs programming is often seen froma developmental perspective, the intricacies of a pedagogy are just as often neglected. Critical pedagogy with its focus on valuing student experiences, critical readings of popular texts, and the deconstruction of pervasive public discourses may provide a valuable foundation for Student Affairs programming, thus integrating theory and practice and bridging the gap between Academic and Student Affairs.

This …

The Effectiveness Of An Intrusive Advising Program On Students On Academic Probation, Christie Ann Cruise

Masters Theses

The effectiveness of an intrusive advising program in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences - General Curriculum Center at the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign was investigated to determine whether students who chose to participate in such a program had higher grade point averages and cleared academic probation at higher rates than did students who chose not to participate. An independent-samples t test was used to assess the relationship between participation in an intrusive advising program and grade point averages. In addition, this statistical analysis was used to assess the relationship between participation in the program and clearance rates …

African American Male Faculty And Student Affairs Professionals At Eastern Illinois University: Motivations To Work In The Academy, Jahquan Clayton Hawkins

Masters Theses

The purpose of the current study was to identify factors that both motivate and deter African American male faculty and administrative staff members of Eastern Illinois University to be both recruited and retained at the institution. Subsequently, the attrition and retention of these individuals was the focal point of the research. A naturalistic, qualitative research designed was used during the current study. Specifically, a selected sample of African American male faculty and staff members from the institution under study were interviewed, soliciting responses that addressed issues such as the university's perception of the participants, the participants' views on the campus …

Male Greek Fraternity Members And Their Self-Perceptions On Muscularity, Kevin Malburg

Masters Theses

The quantitative study examined the body image issues of fraternity men at a midsize Midwestern university and their level of concerned with the muscular physique of their bodies. The participants were all undergraduate fraternity men between the ages of 18 and 25. The sample population (N=256) was surveyed using the Drive for Muscularity scale (McCreary & Sasse, 2000) to answer the following research questions: 1) Do fraternity members desire a more muscular physique than the one they already have? 2) What percentage of fraternity members use supplements to enhance their body image? 3) Do fraternity members perceive the opposite sex …

Components Of Academic Motivation: A Multidimensional Overview Of Millennial Female Students At Eastern Illinois University, Karen Huseman

Masters Theses

The purpose of the present study was to examine the components of academic motivation among millennial female college students. More specifically, the purpose was to assess multiple factors that contribute to academic motivation among African American and European American millennial college women. The participants for the present study were selected from the female population at a mid-sized state-supported institution located in the Midwest.

Results from the study include that both intrinsic and extrinsic rewards helped to jump-start academic motivation. The role of family support was highly valued in the women's desire to achieve and personal self-confidence and support from others …

Student Perceptions Of Intrusive And Non-Intrusive Advising Approaches, Josephine Robinson

Masters Theses

The primary purpose of the present study was to assess students' perceptions of intrusive advisement approaches used by Gateway Program staff at Eastern Illinois University in comparison to non-intrusive advisement approaches utilized by faculty advisors in academic departments. To date, no research has been conducted in this area at this institution. A secondary purpose of the present study was to ascertain the perceptions of students regarding their student/advisor relationships and the knowledge levels of advisors regarding the university and degree requirements. A third purpose for the present study was to assess students' perceptions of the effects academic advisement had on …

A Comparative Study Of The Perceptions And Roles Of Male And Female Sweethearts Of Greek Letter Organizations, Jenesha Lynn Penn

Masters Theses

This present study was designed to explore the phenomenon of Sweethearts in contemporary Greek Letter Organizations. Due to the paucity of scholarly literature on the topic of Sweethearts, the present study may be the first to capture the stories of these men and women and illustrate their experiences for those inside and outside Greek organizations.

The Experiences Of African American Males On A Predominantly White Campus, Dannie Earl Moore Ii

Masters Theses

The purposes of this qualitative study were to evaluate teacher/student relationships between African American male college students and white male professors to ascertain to perceptions of college among African American males on a predominantly white campus. To be considered for participation, each student met the following criteria: (1) in their final year of college, (2) had at least one white male instructor, and (3) African American male. Characteristics such as age, academic degree program, extracurricular involvement, and prior enrollment at another institution were not considered among the selection criteria to protect confidentiality. Results from the present study include the perceptions …

The Effectiveness Of The Alcohol Response-Ability Judicial Sanction At A Mid-Sized Comprehensive University, Nancy Ann Betzel Mathewson

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of the Alcohol ResponseAbility Program (ARP) that is currently used by the Health Education Resource Center at a mid-sized comprehensive university of 11,500 students. A review of literature revealed that individualized feedback and motivational interviewing seem to be more effective than other alcohol prevention methods. Literature also suggested that challenging students' perceptions of campus drinking norms could effectively reduce binge drinking rates on campus. The Alcohol Response-Ability Program, a combination of motivational interviewing and an online educational program including online feedback, incorporates a challenge to students perceptions of campus drinking …

On Campus Non-Traditional Student Use Of And Satisfaction With Support Services At Eastern Illinois University, Nancy J. Crone

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of student support services by the on-campus non-traditional student population at Eastern Illinois University and to determine the students' satisfaction with the services they received. This study attempted to increase university awareness of the needs of this particular student population.

Participants responded to an online survey that asked about their use of and satisfaction with student support services. The survey also provided the respondents an opportunity to make suggestions regarding current services and recommendations for new services.

The overall findings of this study suggest that the on-campus non-traditional student population …

A Formative Evaluation Of The Alpha Sigma Tau Sorority's National Recruitment Program In Its Inaugural Year, Colleen Elizabeth Coffey

Masters Theses

This study was conducted as a formative evaluation of the Alpha Sigma Tau sorority's national recruitment program. The researcher sought to determine the effectiveness of all aspects of the program over the course of the last year, to discover any perceived needs among undergraduate members and chapters that were not met over the course of the last year, and to create recommendations for the program to be implemented during the 2006-2008 biennial term. Through a mixed method design the study evaluated the program using qualitative and quantitative survey data, focus groups, and existing data on membership intake from the National …

Condom Use And College Students: The Relationship Of Condom Use Between Condom Club Members And Non-Condom Club Members At A Comprehensive Midwestern University, Jerilyn Jean Reed

Masters Theses

Risky sexual behavior is prevalent on campuses across the nation. Due to an increase in sexually transmitted infections among individuals 25 and under, unsafe sex puts the college population at great risk. The purpose of the present study was to examine whether Condom Club Members demonstrated more knowledge regarding condoms, had been tested more for STIs, used condoms more frequently when engaging in sexual activity than Non-Condom Club Members, and whether Condom Club Members selfreported more, the same, or fewer sexual partners or sexual relations than did NonCondom Club Members at a comprehensive state university in the Midwest.

A posttest-only …

Perceptions Of Governance In Higher Education: Comparing Two-Year College Full-Time And Part-Time Faculty, Karissa Kay Patefield

Masters Theses

Community colleges in the United States serve many student populations and purposes. In order to be successful, these institutions of higher education have hired both full-time and part-time faculty members. Between 1970 and 1993, the number of parttime faculty members hired increased by 355 percent (Morphew, 1999). The present study examined the differences in perceptions between full-time and part-time faculty members in regards to their view on shared governance. In order to study these differential perceptions, faculty members at a Midwestern community college were surveyed. A total of 225 full-time faculty members and 395 part-time faculty members were surveyed via …

The Perceptions Of Muslim International Students On The Roles Of Muslim Women, Kevin Vicker

Masters Theses

The purpose of the present study was to examine perspectives of Muslim international students on the roles of Muslim women based upon the length of the students' exposure to Western societal culture and values. Prior research explored varying Muslim perceptions and beliefs regarding Muslim women, American stereotypes of Muslims and Muslim beliefs, and general problems faced by Muslim international students studying in the United States. No research specifically analyzed Muslim international students' perceptions regarding Muslim women. The present study was conducted using in-depth life history interviews with four devout Muslim international students. The sample included two students from Pakistan, one …

Combining Social Norm Prevention Efforts To Reduce High-Risk Drinking And Behaviors Within A Freshman Residence Hall, Amy M. Kuspa

Masters Theses

Social norms marketing and Small Groups Norms-challenging Model (SGNM) intervention are alcohol and other drug prevention efforts that have gained popularity on university and college campuses. The purpose of this study was to determine if the combination of social norms marketing and Small Groups Norms-challenging Model intervention programs was an effective way to reduce high-risk drinking and behaviors among rirst-year college students.

This study took place in a majority first-year residence hall. Students on eight floors participated in a pre- and post-survey. Students on all eight floors received non-traditional social norms marketing materials. Students on four of the floors participated …

Qualitative Study Of The College Admissions Process In Chinese And American Higher Education, Xiaoran Xu

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Exploration Of The Financial Aid Application Errors Committed By Students Diagnosed As Learning Disabled, Norm Bedford

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

The Context Of Alcohol Consumption By Social Fraternity And Sorority Leaders, Sarah Kathleen Glascock

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.