Teachers are opting to exit the profession at an unprecedented rate. This trend has led to hiring shortages and the state department lowering licensure standards in the State of Arkansas. The increase in job demands placed on teachers has led to elevated stress levels among educators, ultimately driving them to abandon the field altogether. The…

The purpose of the study was to examine the job satisfaction levels of adjunct and full-time faculty at community colleges in Arkansas. The study used Herzberg's Motivation/Hygiene theory as a framework for understanding job satisfaction and factors that lead to job satisfaction/dissatisfaction. The study also examined the difference in overall…

Special education teachers play a crucial role in supporting the academic and social development of students with disabilities. However, many states, including Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana (the four states), have been experiencing a shortage of special education teachers in recent years, and retaining experienced teachers has become an…

Online courses have proliferated in higher education, which has provided greater opportunities for institutions and students. However, student attrition from online programs has been a perennial problem. One potential solution to help increase retention is to improve student satisfaction. Instructor characteristics, technology, and self-regulated…

The purpose of this study was to determine the motivators and hygienes that affect the job satisfaction and classroom efficacy of community college faculty in Arkansas. Using Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory, this research found motivating factors, such as the nature of the work, autonomy and independence, and professional relationships to be…

This mixed-methods study sought to determine the effectiveness of advising programs and best practices to use when assisting students. The study reviewed the perspective of advisors pertaining to their preparedness to assist students and the perspective of student satisfaction with the advising received. Both quantitative and qualitative data were…

High school has evolved significantly over the last several decades. What was once a choice between public school and private school is now a decision that includes homeschools, magnet schools, charter schools, and virtual schools, to name a few. This was a mixed-methods case study that investigated students' and families' satisfaction with their…

Social-emotional learning programs and character education models are currently being adopted across the United States as schools understand the importance of supporting the social-emotional development of children and its impact on their overall achievement. This qualitative study centered upon the experiences of elementary teachers who…

I employ ordered probit regression and a new instrumental variable to compare the Fall 2015 parental satisfaction survey results of open-enrollment charters to district-conversion charters. Choice status in Arkansas charter schools is largely beneficial to parental satisfaction. Specifically, parents with children in open-enrollment charters had…

This study sought to identify traits and characteristics of secondary agricultural education programs contributing to success. A three round modified Delphi survey technique was utilized to frame this study. The researchers utilized purposive sampling to select members for the jury comprised of secondary agricultural instructors identified as high…

This study follows the implementation of an iPad Initiative program at a university in the mid-south region of the United States. Freshmen students enrolled in a First Year Experience (FYE) course within the College of Nursing and Health Professions (CNHP) were surveyed regarding iPad use and curriculum implementation. Research questions included…

The purpose of this mixed methods study was to identify factors affecting special education teacher recruitment and retention throughout the Northwest Arkansas/River Valley region. This study contains both quantitative and qualitative survey data from 30 public school districts and 401 special education teachers currently serving in the field. The…

When well-considered and grounded in current knowledge, program evaluations of services to gifted learners can be a powerful tool for increasing practitioners' knowledge and self-efficacy, and for effecting positive programmatic changes. The Arkansas Evaluation Initiative (AEI) in Gifted Education, a Jacob K. Javits-funded project, was implemented…

Data from the 2013 administration of the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) were analyzed to determine the relationship between the 10 NSSE engagement indicators and student satisfaction for seniors (n = 1200) attending a mid-south land grant university. Seniors reported engaging in 7 of 10 indicators often or quite a bit and rated an…

The ability to evaluate and accurately articulate the outcomes associated with leadership development programs is critical to their continued financial and administrative support. With calls for outcome-based accountability, the need for rigorous evaluation is particularly relevant for those programs administered through the Cooperative Extension…