Teacher Education and Professional Development Commons^™

English Language Competence: Why English Matters In Higher Education In Kenya, Ukaiko A. Bitrus-Ojiambo, Iddah Wayumba Mwaura, Annette Lutivini Majanja

English is an international language, used in many countries for business, tourism, and education (Roy-Campbell, 2014; Crystal, 2003). In Kenya, it is the official language and language of instruction. The country boasts high youth literacy rates 93% (UNESCO, 2012). As university instructors, we have observed that although students have been in the formal educational system for a minimum of 9 years, their output does not match university expectations (KICD, 2016, p. 44; Jayasundara & Premarathna, 2011; Njoroge, 2008). This study assesses English language use in a Kenyan institution of higher education, identifies emergent linguistic patterns, and suggests some solutions to …

Navigating The Waters Of Accreditation: Best Practices, Challenges, And Lessons Learned From One Institution, Tracey Covington Hasbun, Amanda M. Rudolph

Faculty Publications

In higher education, as many as 50% of educator preparation programs (EPPs) look to a national accreditation agency as one way to provide evidence of the rigor and quality of their programs. Although a large number of EPPs find value in the self-study and external review that come with the national accreditation process, the process itself can be daunting and time-consuming. Many look to the literature or to the accreditation experiences provided by other institutions as a means to assist their own accreditation journey. The purpose of this article is to discuss one regional, comprehensive EPP’s experiences with national accreditation, …

Dear Officer Bogash: Policing Black Bodies On College Campuses, Jordan S. West

Journal of Critical Scholarship on Higher Education and Student Affairs

Students' Critical Reflections on Racial (in)justice

The Role Of Black Colleges In The Development Of Mathematicians, Viveka Borum, Adriel Adon Hilton, Erica Walker

Journal of Research Initiatives

Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are home to almost 400,000 of the nation’s college and university population and account for nearly 25% of degrees conferred to African Americans, according to Hale (2006). They have been the launching pads for three-fourths of African Americans who hold doctorate degrees, three-fourths of Black officers in the military, and four-fifths of African American federal judges (Hale, 2006). In addition, fifty percent of African American faculty in predominantly White research universities received their bachelor’s degrees at an HBCU (Hale, 2006). These are significant percentages given the relatively small number of Black colleges and universities …

What Can Jesus Teach Us About Student Engagement?, Glenn James, Elda Martinez, Sherry Herbers

Journal of Catholic Education

This article examines Jesus’s teaching methods as described in the four Gospels, highlighting the ways in which He led listeners to participate actively in their learning. We identify similarities between many of Jesus’s techniques and current practices in the field of student engagement, with a focus on applications for instructors in higher education. Several of His approaches, most notably storytelling and the use of analogies, point to recommendations for improving teaching practice by increasing student engagement in the learning process.

Qu'est-ce que Jésus peut nous apprendre sur l'engagement des élèves?

Cet article examine la manière dont les méthodes d'enseignement de …

Journey Into Shame: Implications For Justice Pedagogies, Roger C. Bergman

Engaging Pedagogies in Catholic Higher Education (EPiCHE)

Being formed for justice can be a painful experience. Sometimes that pain takes the form of shame and contributes to the formation and exercise of conscience. But shame in other forms can be opposed to human flourishing and social justice. Psychologist James Fowler provides a spectrum of two forms of healthy shame and four forms of unhealthy shame, to which the author adds four other varieties, strategic shame and spiritual shame, at one end of the spectrum, and murderous shame and genocidal shame, at the other. Various experiences of shame are dramatically illustrated in Black Like Me, John Howard …

Obtaining Cultural Competency Skills: Perceptions From Supervisors In Higher Education, Veronica Gomez Vilchis

All Master's Theses

A program evaluation was done on the supervisor training at Central Washington University to obtain the perceptions of supervisors on cultural competency. Eighteen supervisors were interviewed. The results demonstrated supervisors’ support of incorporating cultural competency as part of their professional development. However, supervisors indicated the current supervisor training does not give them tools to interact effectively with diverse populations. Implications for including cultural competency skills for supervisors in higher education are discussed.

A Comparative Study Of Undergraduate Upperclassmen Students' Perceptions Of Student And Faculty Incivility In Three Academic Disciplines: Nursing, Education, And Business, Rebecca Wagner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Incivility, defined as rude, discourteous, and disrespectful behavior, in higher education and in nursing education, is a growing problem and concern as it affects the college learning environment and professional preparation for the workplace. Healthcare institutions and accreditation bodies require interventional actions to address the prevalence of incivility in healthcare, nursing practice specifically, and in nursing education as a precursor to the professional workplace. The purpose of this causal comparative study was to explore Heider's attribution theory using the Incivility in Higher Education (IHE) survey to compare undergraduate upperclassmen students' perceptions of student and faculty incivility among the three academic …

A Content Analysis Of Implicit Legislator Discourses Within The Passage Of The South Carolina Illegal Immigration Reform Act (2008): Implications For Opportunity And Access To Higher Education, Katie Smith

All Dissertations

On June 4, 2008, South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford signed the South Carolina Illegal Immigration Reform Act into law. According to the Act (Section 59-101-430), 'an alien unlawfully present in the United States is not eligible to attend a public institution of higher learning in [South Carolina]'. After the passage of this legislation, public colleges and universities in South Carolina were prohibited from enrolling (or reenrolling) undocumented immigrants as students, and are now required to verify the legal status of all students, through the federal e-verify system. This legislation represents a true limiting of higher education opportunities, as well as …

A Reflective Conversation: Community And Hei Perspectives On Community-Based Research., Niamh O'Reilly, Catherine Bates

Staff Articles and Research Papers

This paper is a reflective correspondence between a community partner and a community-based research coordinator in a higher education institute (HEI). We asked each other questions about our experience of collaborating on two community-based research (CBR) projects, in order to share our learning from our collaboration, and to relate this to the wider context in order to develop recommendations for others – community partners and HEI staff – who would like to initiate CBR projects in the future.

Teachers’ Perceptions Of The Leadership Styles Of Middle School Principals And Instructional Leaders, Jessica Devine, Gary Alger

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal

Grade inflation has been a “hot topic” in the higher education literature for some time now, due primarily to conflicting interpretations of grade-change data. While definitions of grade inflation vary, most seem to indicate that inflation has occurred if a higher grade is awarded without a co-occurring increase in student achievement, and is the outcome of decreased rigor in the assessment of student learning (see Boretz 2004; Young and ERIC Clearinghouse on Higher Education 2003). Thus, the controversy is in regard to whether or not reported changes in GPA and grade distributions reflect instructor leniency.

Differentiation . . . But To What Degree? The Ed.D. And Ph.D. In Higher Education Programs, Jay Leist, Joyce Scott

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal

Research into higher education as a field of study is impeded by the lack of an authoritative database of all graduate programs in the United States. One resource used frequently is the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE) database, which is self-reported by the host institutions. In 2008, this database indicated that approximately 77 higher education (HIED) programs awarded the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), 91 offered the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), and 35 awarded both degrees. This distribution recalls questions that have marked research in the field for 80 years: how do HIED programs differentiate between the two …

Driving Policy Of Higher Education In Nigeria Towards Relevance, Kayode Ijaduola

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal

The educational system of a country remains the main source of human resources that when combined in the right quantity and quality would bring about the development of a nation (Nelson, 2002; Saint, 2002; Tettey, 2002; Nunn, 2005; Mouton, Boshoff, Kulati & Teng-Zeng, 2007). The implication of this is that the level of national development depends upon the quantity and quality of its human resources which in turn depend on the type of the educational system in operation.

Ethical Issues In Higher Education And Scientific Research: Erosion Of Academic Integrity, A. Singh, Bharathi Purohit

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal

Ethics is the cornerstone of dental research or for that matter any research. Authorship in a scientific research is an important issue which requires considerable debate. The pressure to publish is well-established in the university community. Faculty member’s performance and promotion are judged by the number of published articles in academic scholarly journals. If survival means publish or perish, any and every effort to see one’s name in print becomes important. In such a situation, we should not be surprised to see the operation of the cliché, “You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours” (Lazar, 1995).

Getting The Right Scope: How To Equip Online Faculty Of The 21st Century With Perfected Knowledge And Skills, Derrick Davis

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal

Technology consumes us and has become so intimately connected in our lives that now, to a large degree, it is dictating its use (in educational settings throughout the globe). It’s like a lion that never stops roaring-it’s demanding our attention, and its’ breathe and impact are so far reaching; it can be best described as inescapable. Thus, universities and colleges alike no longer can sit by and speculate whether or not this is a trend that will eventually disappear (as other educational trends have done so in the past). Rather, institutions need to understand that online education is more like …

Institutional Variations And Management Problems Of Postgraduate Studies In Nigerian Universities That Delay Graduation., Chinelo Duze

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal

Since Nigeria’s Independence in 1960, the social demand for education at the secondary level has been so great that the rapid expansions at this level yawned for corresponding expansions at the tertiary level. To cater for the teaming products of the secondary level academically, the Nigerian government began to expand places at the tertiary level so much that by today, Nigeria has about ninety-four accredited universities owned by the Federal government, State governments, and Private people.

Leadership In Tunisian Higher Education From The Perspective Of The Efqm Excellence Model, Raoudha Kammoun, Omar Ben-Ayed

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal

Since the early 1980s, the concept of quality has been a central focus of attention in the debate of higher education (HE). Over time, many developed countries have experienced a growing concern for quality in HE such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Norway, and the United States of America, amongst others (Anyamele 2004, Becket and Brookes 2005). The focus on quality leads many developed countries to acknowledge the benefits of the implementation of Total Quality Management (TQM) within their institutions (Kanji and Tambi, 1999). However, quality movement is rather slow in the HE of developing countries. Indeed, some HEIs have …

Outcomes Assessment, Michele Langbein

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal

Outcomes assessment is an intense topic that has been debated and discussed on university campuses around the world. Educational accountability is a very important topic. There is tremendous pressure from accreditation agencies to comply with outcomes assessment requirements to maintain accreditation. In addition, to be competitive in a market of many choices, students, employers, and legislators are seeking trustworthy programs. This has raised many questions for Provosts, Deans, and Department Chairs. What are the purposes of outcomes assessment? What should we assess? What methods should we use? How do we overcome faculty objections? Do we need to hire additional administrators …

The Evolution And Management Of Higher Education In Nigeria: A Review Of Private Initiatives, Olabanji Odabara

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal

Nigeria possesses the largest university system in Sub-Saharan Africa. Although South Africa’s tertiary enrollments are higher, Nigeria boasts more institutions. Nigeria has over 75 universities as at 2005 (Adedipe, 2005), about 41 polytechnics and 62 colleges of education as at 1998 (UNESCO, 2000a). In less than 50 years of tertiary education in Nigeria, the enrolment which was 210 in 1948 increased to 392,683 in 1996 (UNESCO, 2000a:87). As at 2005 Nigeria had 23 private universities. As the Federal Universities grew in number and students enrolment, State Universities started emerging in 1979 with the Rivers State University of Science and Technology …

The Tesol Arabia Conference And Its Role In The Professional Development Of Teachers At Institutions Of Higher Education In The United Arab Emirates., Jonathan Aubrey, Christine Coombe

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal

There are many reasons to pursue professional development, but perhaps one of the most important may be to narrow the wide chasm left behind by many teacher education programs. Freeman (1989) and Holliday (1994) have pointed out many of the difficulties associated with the transfer of knowledge into classroom practices, while others have directed attention to the vast kaleidoscope of cultural diversity involved in ELT (see Larsen-Freeman, 1983; Colabucci, 2007; Govardhan, Nayar and Sheorey, 1999). Consider, for a moment, what happens to a cohort of MA TESOL students upon completion of their teacher education programs. They scatter off to various …

Towards Improving The Status Of Higher Education In Nigeria, Adesoji Oni, Alade Abiodun

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal

It is rewarding to begin this discussion by first of all reflecting on the concept of education. The term education is quite elusive and very difficult to pin down to a single definition. This is because numerous authorities in different fields define and describe education as it appeals to them and their background. In any case, education is what help us to acquire suitable appreciation of our cultural heritage and to live a fully more satisfying life. This includes the acquisition of desirable knowledge, skills, habits, values for productive living in the society. It equips the members of any human …

Differing Administrator, Faculty, And Staff Perceptions Of Organizational Culture As Related To External Accreditation, Claire Procopio

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal

There is an inherent tension in the U.S. system of accreditation. Historically, the system has been one of self-regulation (Brittingham, 2009). As access to higher education has grown, however, and the concomitant flow of federal money to colleges and universities has increased, the federal government and the taxpayers it represents have called for more and more external reporting of measures of college quality. Critics of the current system would like more external oversight to create what they have termed variously a “culture of quality” or a “culture of evidence” (Bardo, 2009; Crow, 2009; Kelderman, 2009; Understanding, 2001). The most dissatisfied …

Seeking Ncate Accreditation: Leadership Perspectives And Tips, Michael Ledoux

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal

Accreditation by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) signifies that a variety of licensure programs demonstrate a high level of quality in programs, candidates, faculty and operations. NCATE accreditation depends in part upon national recognition of individual licensure programs by Specialized Professional Associations (SPAs), and on program approval by state departments of education. In order to demonstrate that programs meet benchmarks of NCATE Professional Standard 1 Knowledge, Skills and Dispositions, the unit must provide evidence of candidate proficiencies based on assessments, rubrics and candidate data that are aligned with professional standards (Retrieved October 22, 2009 from …

A Measure Of Students’ Connectedness In Tertiary Institutions In Anambra State Of Nigeria, Ada Omenyi, Ngozi Agu, Christi Odimegwu

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal

The Nigerian higher education has been accused of performing below expectation when judged from both internal and global benchmarks of quality of output, peaceful co-existence on campus, fair conduct of examination, amongst others. The nature of higher education is such that its students are seen by members of campus community as adults who have attained the age of taking full responsibility of their behaviours and students on their part see themselves as those set free from the encumbrances of family control and influences. Indeed the campus environment is one perceived as “everyman to himself”. Students’ relationship with teachers, fellow students, …

Higher Education Consortium Leads To College Students Taking A Fresh Look At Continuing Challenges For Their Region, Joseph Fink Iii

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal

Institutions of higher education have long had teaching, research and service as their primary missions. Emphasis among those three areas of activity can vary substantially from one institution to another. For example, a land grant university may have a greater emphasis on service or outreach to the communities it serves than would, say, a traditional liberal arts college. Society appears to have an increased expectation that the research conducted at research universities will lead to economic development opportunities (Yusuf & Fink, 2007). Fortunately, each type of institution has much to offer society at large and the communities or regions where …

Working Together To Ease The Pressure To Publish In Higher Education, Barbara Burns

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal

Academics are under a great deal of pressure to publish. Decisions on crucial issues of hiring, tenure and promotion are largely determined by publication rates (Boice & Jones, 1984) and faculty scholarly performance has traditionally been assessed by “straight counts” of publications (Braxton & Del Favero, 2002). These publication rates are used by institutions as an indicator of the institution’s performance and are important criteria in securing external funding from government and other sources (McGrail, Rickard & Jones, 2006). Failure to publish within the expected norms established by a college or university can result in a faculty member’s termination.

Coaching Educational Leaders, Jothany Blackwood

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal

As institutions of higher learning respond to the rapidly changing demographics of its administrators, they must continuously find processes that improve the performance and effectiveness of these individuals. They must also begin to understand how the integration of coaching and/or mentoring shapes educational leaders and their institutions. From developing administrator’s potential to work well with others and strengthen communication, coaching also access to mobility, career advancements, promotions and pay increases. Of interest is the presence of female administrators in the California community colleges and the role that coaching plays in their ability to be effective educational leaders.

Quality Assurance In Education Through Quality Circles – Global And Indian Context, Uma Devi, R.S. Mani

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal

Since Independence, the education, particularly the higher education in India has undergone a unique transformation from elitist to egalitarian group. There has been the expansion of higher education facilities in India since independence. We can see the expansion of higher education with increasing speed day by day in the context of globalization, liberalization and privatization. But a big question in front of us is whether the quality is ensured or not. It is saddening to note that 128 universities who got themselves accredited by the NAAC only 32 per cent could get ‘A’ or above level of rating while another …

Rotating-Term Associate Deans: Pathway To Higher Education Administration, Eugenia Gerdes, Christopher Zappe

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal

In a recent article in this journal, Betts, Urias, Chavez, and Betts (2009) argue that higher education faces a leadership shortage—due both to expected turnover in senior administrative positions and to lack of clear pathways into administration. As we have discussed elsewhere (Zappe & Gerdes, 2008), administration is not typically a long-term goal for those whose careers begin with faculty appointments. For the few who switch pathways to become academic administrators, an associate dean position often is the point of transition. Below, we describe the advantages of rotating associate dean positions, in which faculty members from the same institution leave …

Implications And Challenges Of Nigerian Universities As Learning Organizations, E.D. Nakpodia

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal

University education as a learning organization started in Europe in the eleventh century, and one of the first universities in Africa was the one in Timbuktu. Fafunwa (1971) has indicated that the 1945 reports of the Commission on Higher Education in the colonies have shown that since the world wars, Nigerians have always demonstrated an insuppressible desire for higher education because it was seen as an important weapon against the colonial masters in the quest for emancipation and national development. As early as 1944 therefore, there were already about 10 Nigerians who were studying in Sierra Leone at the Fourah …