Postsecondary education (PE) is vital to meet the needs of the changing economy. The cost to attend PE continues to increase, which has elevated student loans. The ratio of debt to potential future income should be a factor considered when choosing to pursue PE. Bakersfield College (BC) and California State University, Bakersfield (CSUB) are both…

The problem studied was an inefficient hiring process at Special School District (SSD). This study examined the impact of utilizing three new screening criteria to improve the hiring process. The research was valuable for SSD and other school districts because teacher attrition negatively impacts student's achievement and increases district…

Recent evidence indicates that distance learning programs are becoming increasingly popular alternatives to traditional brick-and-mortar classrooms for several reasons, creating a challenge for university educators to develop optimal delivery strategies. However, online students to have less retention, a higher failure rate, and more trouble…

This exploratory quantitative study investigated nurse educator beliefs and perceptions regarding giving feedback in online RN-BSN programs. The survey was developed to discover trends among nurse educators (N=76) in attitudes towards feedback and students, use of feedback strategies for learning, and perceived characteristics of feedback used in…

Research examining the relationship between teachers' beliefs and classroom practice has been on the rise. While several researchers (Buehl & Beck, 2015; Fang, 1996; Pajares, 1992) have examined the relationship between teachers' beliefs and practice, there is not one agreed upon conclusion. This dissertation, presented as two studies, seeks…

This study examines the mathematical questioning of undergraduate Calculus I instructors for the purpose of detailing the ways in which instructors are using their questions. The emphasis is on verbal questions because of their in-the-moment value and ability to get students engaged in discourse. Calculus I is of particular interest because of its…

My dissertation research investigated an adult learner's experience in an online competency-based education (CBE) bachelor's degree program. The purpose of my study was to understand how CBE was transforming the practices of traditional post-secondary education and how CBE was serving the needs of students, particularly nontraditional adult…

The United States is in the midst of a nursing faculty shortage, particularly those that provide clinical instruction. Clinical instructors play an integral role in undergraduate nursing education by bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and nursing practice; this position is also the most difficult to recruit for and retain. The factors…

As an instructor of international agricultural development, I view my job as helping students navigate the ethical and controversial landscape of international development as they prepare for employment. Previously, in many of my courses, I taught as many postsecondary instructors do. My classes were lecture-style where students were expected to…

In this exploratory case study, the ultimate goal was to examine how effective electronic portfolios (e-portfolios) are from the perspectives of former undergraduate graphic design students in terms of developing career readiness by graduation with the intent of finding employment in their studied fields. The study also aimed to explore what…

Issues of instruction and assessment at community colleges are influenced by the high percentage of classes taught by adjunct faculty. In 2014 for the Virginia Community College System, part-time instructors comprised 70.3% of instructional faculty. This dissertation describes the instruction and assessment technique choices of adjunct instructors…

This case study depicted the development and implementation of the Holistic Undergraduate Growth Experience (HUGE) student success and retention program that spans the second year of undergraduate study to graduation. This study set out to expand student development theory and practice to include an international perspective, specifically one from…

The purpose of this study is to examine how knowledge of astronomy can enhance college-level learning situations involving mathematics. The fundamental symbiosis between mathematics and astronomy was established early in the 17th century when Johannes Kepler deduced the 3 basic laws of planetary motion. This mutually harmonious relationship…

In 2011, the U.S. Secretary of Education launched a national campaign urging black males to choose teaching as a career with the ambitious goal of adding 80,000 black male public school teachers by 2015 (Teach Campaign, 2011). This campaign, coupled with recent reports, suggests students should encounter a wide diversity of teachers (Boser, 2011;…

The purpose of this study was to explore the effectiveness of undergraduate academic and clinical training programs for music therapy in addressing the subject of personal growth, as it relates to the development of critical self-awareness and self-care strategies. The study further attempted to identify which self-care strategies are being used…