ERIC Number: ED575218
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2016
Pages: 161
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: 978-1-3694-8273-7
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Understanding Utilization of Disability Services among Undergraduates at Minority Serving Institutions (MSISs)
Wilson, Tiffany
ProQuest LLC, Ph.D. Dissertation, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
With the passing of disability legislation, more individuals with disabilities are attending postsecondary institutions (Hall & Belch, 2000). Across the postsecondary landscape, Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) enroll 14% of all students enrolled in postsecondary institutions (Harmon, 2012). As more students with disabilities enroll in postsecondary institutions, it is imperative to understand how MSIs provide disability services and help students with disabilities achieve academic success. This research examined the characteristics of disability services departments at MSIs and the phenomenological lived experiences of disability services administrators utilizing a mixed method sequential explanatory design. In phase one of the research design, a survey was emailed to disability services administrators at MSIs designated by the U.S. government. The results of the survey detailed various characteristics including the characteristics of survey respondents, characteristics of MSIs, characteristics of students with disabilities who attend MSIs, and the characteristics of disability services departments located at MSIs. In phase 2 of the research design, four disability services administrators were interviewed to capture the lived experiences of disability services administrators from MSIs. Phase 2 of the research yielded seven themes: (a) challenges of students with disabilities, (b) financial challenges; (c) collaborative efforts; (d) characteristics of disability services departments; (e) minority serving institution designation; (f) legal issues; and (g) the role of disability services administrators. The data gathered from this research provided invaluable information that can be utilized to help improve the all-around experiences of students with disabilities who attend MSIs and to those who provide services to students with disabilities. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
Descriptors: Disabilities, Access to Education, Postsecondary Education, Academic Support Services, Student Personnel Services, Minority Group Students, Racial Composition, Mixed Methods Research, Phenomenology, Administrator Attitudes, Administrator Surveys, Student Characteristics, Interviews, Administrator Characteristics, Barriers, Educational Finance, Cooperation, Legal Responsibility, Administrator Role
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Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses - Doctoral Dissertations
Education Level: Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A