ERIC Number: ED641802
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2021
Pages: 210
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: 979-8-7621-8684-1
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Enhancing the Spiritual Well-Being of Adjunct Faculty in Online Accelerated Higher Education
Mark Scot Sooy
ProQuest LLC, D.Min. Dissertation, Lancaster Bible College
Online adjunct faculty in Christian higher education have an important role in training students for church and ministry leadership. While their role is critical to many programs, online faculty often feel a sense of isolation from the university community. The purpose of this research was to examine whether a faculty cohort with a focus on spiritual health and relationships could affect this sense of isolation and open doors for potential relationships, seeking to enhance their spiritual well-being. The methods for this research were centered around implementing a virtual cohort for online adjunct faculty members in a small Christian university in the upper Midwest. By using the Blackboard Learning Management System, a course was developed that included interactive elements in which faculty participated in self-evaluations, asynchronous discussion forums, synchronous virtual meetings, a "PrayerConnect" app, and a focus group. Analysis for this concurrent embedded mixed-methods research was viewed through the lens of the social presence element of the Community of Inquiry framework. Findings confirmed that activities seemed to help participants make connections and develop relationships that led to a diminished sense of isolation. However, the intervention methods did not appear to enhance the spiritual well-being of participants as part of the university community because participants identified other factors (personal disciplines, family, and church) that filled this role. It appears that virtual activities can be introduced to help affect a sense of isolation among online adjunct faculty and provide opportunities for relationships with one another. The study concludes by both recognizing successful elements of the intervention and proposing possible solutions for future support of online adjunct faculty. [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: College Faculty, Acceleration (Education), Adjunct Faculty, Christianity, Religious Colleges, Learning Management Systems, Computer Mediated Communication, Self Evaluation (Individuals), Teacher Evaluation, Group Discussion, Meetings, Computer Software, Communities of Practice, Social Isolation, Peer Relationship, Professional Isolation, Intervention, Spiritual Development, Well Being, Distance Education
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Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses - Doctoral Dissertations
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A