The experiences of Latinx youth are well-studied in U.S. schools, yet, few studies have focused on their experiences in Community Based Educational Spaces (CBES). CBES continue to be on the periphery of Education research despite the potential affordances of youth-led work in such out-of-school spaces (Baldridge, 2020). At the same...
This thesis examines the experiences of international Latin American graduate students when taking on the role of graduate assistants while completing their academic program. Using phenomenology, a qualitative research approach, and relying on two main theories, Challenge and Support by Sanford (1966) and the Community Cultural Wealth Model, this study...
This dissertation examines college students' reflections on gender-related topics within a social justice course of a teacher preparation program. Using critical and feminist approaches, this study explores how a strategically designed curriculum focused on the study of gender enhances students' understanding of sexism, gender oppression, and masculinity. The curriculum employs...
The law commonly referred to as Title IX, which was passed in 1972, called for an end to sex-based discrimination in educational and federally-funded settings. Before long, it became particularly associated with the quest for equality for women’s sports. As Title IX was a major catalyst in advancing and even...
Despite ongoing initiatives and research efforts, the persistent underrepresentation of marginalized groups in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) disciplines in the U.S. has seen little improvement. This study posits that a fundamental change in teacher preparation can lead to more inclusive STEM learning environments. It centers on the development...
The Malawi public education system uses Chichewa as a language of instruction and content, with English as an independent subject for the first four years of primary school (Malawi Institute of Education, 2017). From fifth grade, English becomes a language of instruction and content in all subjects except for Chichewa,...
University supervisors are critical to improvement in K-12 teaching and learning due to their roles in designing field experiences, managing relationships, mentoring, and supervising teacher candidates. The encouragement, support, and feedback shared by university supervisors in respect to the teaching performance of teacher candidates is especially powerful, and is a...
Co-teaching and collaboration are an increasingly popular service model for English as a second language (ESL). In this model, the language specialist, sometimes called the ESL teacher, works together with a content teacher, each using their respective expertise to meet the needs of students who are identified as English learners...
The purpose of this study was to explore and describe how the orientations and knowledge of linguistically responsive teaching, as well as personal characteristics of school-based agriculture education (SBAE) teachers, influence the frequency of their implementation of linguistically responsive practices. Grounded in the Linguistically Responsive Teaching framework by Lucas and...
For many young bilingual students in school settings, demands of curricula and standardized assessments take precedence over writing pedagogies that invite and welcome students’ identities and languages into their writing. Pedagogies of voice are a means of providing culturally and linguistically responsive instruction that support bilingual students learning to write...
Persistent reading difficulties are prevalent in U.S. schools and can lead to lower student performance across all subjects as well as distress, anxiety, and depression. In 2022, only 32% of fourth graders in the United States tested as proficient in reading. While there are many factors which affect reading progress...
The dominant narrative of U.S. Muslims in higher education is associated with violent rhetoric, anti-American values, and terrorism. After terrorist attacks took place on September 11th, 2001, this narrative expanded to include a depiction of U.S. Muslims as being oppressed and submissive. Hate crimes, discrimination, and Islamophobic attacks towards Muslims...
Research overwhelmingly suggests that Black and Brown students face unjust and inequitable environments in K-12 schools in the United States (Bradshaw et al., 2010; Carter et al., 2017; Coles & Powell, 2020). These injustices often occur as a result of systemic racism and are replicated because of embedded racist policies...
Entrepreneurship is regarded as a viable way for women to enter the economy and improve their quality of life (Morris et al., 2018). However, little attention has been paid to understanding how women, and specifically women of color, utilize their ways of knowing to learn entrepreneurship. Grounded in Chicana/Latina feminism...
Community engaged scholarship has gained attention as public universities begin to answer calls to return to their roots of serving the public good. The scholars at the heart of community engagement play an important role in this mission, but their experiences in the academy are not well understood. As institutional...
The dominant narrative of Asian Americans in higher education is one of high achievement, success, and wellness. Dominant voices of white supremacy have primarily constructed this narrative. Asian Americans are regarded as the model minority or the dichotomous “model” while simultaneously maintaining “minority” status. This study centers on seven Asian...
The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of school-based agriculture education (SBAE) teachers who self-identified as blended pedagogues. This study specifically focused on SBAE teachers' beliefs and how those beliefs influence their blended teaching classroom practice. Teacher beliefs are personal, subjective, and temporally and contextually stable....
The Common Core State Standards for Mathematical Practice (SMPs) describe ways of thinking and doing mathematics that parallels how mathematicians engage with mathematics (National Governors Association for Best Practices, 2010). These standards reflect a broader goal in K-12 mathematics education focused on moving beyond K-12 learners acquiring knowledge of mathematical...
In this dissertation I explore the Arms representation and activities for teaching quantum mechanics invented at Oregon State University. In the Arms representation students embody quantum states. The Arms activities are presented as an exemplar of the unique physics classroom culture of the upper-division Paradigms in Physics program. In the...
Issues of injustice in society (e.g. racism, classism, sexism, ableism) are perpetuated in and through educational opportunities, including mathematics learning (Freire, 1970/2000). Those that are committed to disrupting the interlocking systems that create disparities and oppression in mathematics education are considered to be “pursuing justice.” Pursuit of justice can involve...
Homosexual men in Nazi Germany experienced legal and social oppression that was rooted in both the cultural homophobia of Twentieth Century Germany and the existential homophobia of high-ranking Nazi officials. However, the Nazi Regime’s enforcement of homonegative policy was not unilateral, often ignoring the actions of members of Nazi-affiliated groups....
K-12 teacher retention is an enduring concern in the United States as teachers are vital for educational achievement and change. National trends demonstrate how widespread an issue teacher retention is, yet teacher labor markets remain highly localized and highlight the complexity of teacher retention decisions. We need an improved understanding...
There is a national interest in improving the quality of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education in institutions of higher education in the face of mounting difficulties. Reports by the National Academy of Sciences in 2018 and 2020 found that the dissemination and adoption of effective, timely change initiatives...
Agriculture teachers, in comparison to other high school teachers, work in more varied and demanding work environments (Terry & Briers, 2010; Torres, Ulmer, & Aschenbrener, 2008). The body of literature studying the impacts of more varied and demanding work environment on early career agriculture teachers (ECATs) is commonly limited to...
With a growing diversity in U.S. universities, departments of World Language Education (WLE) welcome more students from a wide range of linguistic and cultural backgrounds every year. However, research shows that traditional approaches to the teaching of Spanish as a world language (WL) focus primarily on the educational needs of...
Higher education literature lacks frameworks and models that consider women of color mentoring and fewer that discuss virtual mentorship among women of color. This work examined a successful and productive virtual mentorship and explored the key features of the mentorship, how the mentorship was maintained virtually, and the benefits and...
This qualitative study explored the role of leadership in implementing co-teaching for English language development in K-12 settings, specifically, the role of leadership of administrators and teacher-leaders. Research has confirmed that school leaders substantially impact student outcomes and teacher effectiveness (Cheung et al., 2018; Leithwood et al., 2004; Liebowitz &...
Mental health among student athletes has gotten much more attention in the world of sport today. However, there has been a lack of research focusing on how the socioeconomic backgrounds of Division 1 student athletes can play a role in their mental health and their desire to seek out help...
Faculty-led short-term programs are the most popular type of study abroad experience for undergraduate students in the United States. The rise of the FLST model has created new challenges for institutions and faculty. This study undertakes a critical analysis of the practice of faculty-led short-term (FLST) study abroad at U.S....
The persistent underrepresentation and marginalization of women of color in the disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) are well-documented. However, much of the existing literature takes an “either/or” approach, focusing solely on the experiences of either “women” or “minorities” in STEM, without adequately examining the unique experiences of...
Academic advising is an integral step in a community college students higher education journey, and as such must be supported with any tools available to increase student success. Technology is becoming more highly integrated into the academic advising process as are online tools which provide access to student records, course...
Research has confirmed a lack of diversity and persistence of underrepresented populations in the STEM fields. Recruiting and retaining more women and people of color into STEM fields has long been a goal of higher education, per a notable lack of women and people of color who enter and complete...
The number of Latinx students enrolling in higher education has grown significantly over the past two decades (Jabbar et al., 2019). This study explores a portion of that population by focusing on the experiences of Latinx transfer students at a 4-year institution within the Pacific Northwest of the United States....
The purpose of this quantitative study was to identify the combination of factors, both individual and programmatic, that contributed most significantly to the persistence and progression of students enrolled in a public comprehensive community college. As open-access institutions, community colleges cater to students from a broad range of socioeconomic, cultural,...
For more than a decade a “community college leadership crisis” has been forecasted and discussed in the professional literature related to community colleges as well as the scholarly literature focused on the study of higher education. The role, perceptions and, to a lesser extent, the effectiveness of community college leadership...
Background: As the number of multiracial individuals in the United States continues to grow, institutions of higher education have also seen an increase in enrollment of multiracial students. Subsequently, there has also been an increase in studies on multiracial identity and the effects of campus climate on multiracial students. Although...
The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to explore the lived experience of alternatively certified agriculture teachers, acquire the practices of agriculture teachers, and participate in the agriculture teacher community of practice. The study was grounded in an interpretivist approach, which provided an alterantive perspective to the positistic-like research...
Community colleges are changing to meet the needs and demands of the 21st century and these changes are also a driving force behind the shifts that are happening to the essential functions of the presidents who lead the community colleges. In order to navigate the complex systems and lead colleges...
The purpose of this study was to unfold positions of migrating SBAE teachers to understand support and challenge to retain teachers in migratory contexts. Previous literature discusses problems related to teacher mobility as functions of teacher-student matching, teacher skill and effort, school environments, and advancing student learning. In an effort...
Background: Latina students are underrepresented and undereducated in rural community colleges. There are gaps in rural community college research specifically focusing on Latina retention. This research identified the factors detracting from and/or enhancing the college experience for Latinas in rural community colleges.
Purpose: The purpose of the study was to...
This qualitative study on the experiences of English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) educators in the process of reclassifying English Learner Students with Disabilities (ELSWDs) from English Language Development (ELD) services in Oregon sought the answers to two questions: (1) Who is making reclassification decisions? and (2) How are reclassification decisions made on behalf of ELSWDs?...
The role of community colleges as open-access institutions that bring racial diversity to careers in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields is essential (Musante, 2012; Reyes, 2011). Yet, the opportunity to attend postsecondary institutions is not enough to guarantee the success of People of Color as they navigate...
A utilitarian approach, “greatest good for the greatest number”, in higher education has been common practice for a very long time (Alexander, 2000). This approach, while effective for many, is incomplete when exploring solutions to shifting demographics and larger achievement gaps based on these factors. Customized educational programming and less...
Retention literature has shown that student retention is impacted when economic factors are considered when selecting a college. Students who are low income typically choose colleges that are closer to home and rely on financial aid to pay for college. Further, financial aid is generally a positive indicator of retention...
Developmental mathematics and the completion of degrees have been at the forefront of community colleges in recent years. Positive psychology has given rise to the Broaden-and-Build Theory of Positive Emotions. The purpose of this study is to study the relationship between positive emotions and developmental mathematics achievement at the community...
According to the World Health Organization (2019), every 40 seconds, approximately one person from around the world dies from suicide. The highest percentage of adults with major depression and serious thoughts of suicide are between 18 to 25 years of age (Shen & Millet 2003-2012, p. 31). Studies have indicated...
In response to concern over a lack of diversity in STEM postsecondary programs, institutions of higher education across the nation have promoted opportunities for undergraduate research. Such opportunities have been shown to enrich student experiences and success, especially for students from historically underrepresented groups. While these benefits have been fairly...
The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of secondary agriculture teachers as they reconcile the competing demands of the profession in the social landscape of School-Based Agricultural Education. Previous literature about the agriculture teacher shortage problem revealed opportunities for research to utilize qualitative approaches and alternative...
On top of time demanding athletic and academic constraints, Division I student-athletes must balance many social identities, that include their race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, social class, religious affiliation, etc. This study attempts to fill the gap by providing student-athletes with marginalized identities a platform to (1) offer their own...
This investigation examines The Jetsons’ vision of the future and tracks to what extent the content of the show is relevant to the modern era, both technologically and socially. Much of the dazzling technology in the show feels familiar, and most of it is either already available or is in...
More than half of students in Washington state community colleges enroll in developmental mathematics, but a relatively small percentage of these students persist to the second year. Many students place into these courses and never enroll; others enroll at some point after the first academic term, even when faced with...
This exploratory, narrative study investigated two research questions. One, how do executive leaders at community colleges describe how their cognitive schema and sensemaking approach informed their understanding of a crisis that their organization faced. Two, how do executive leaders at community colleges describe what leadership traits, behaviors, and competencies they...
Understanding the relationship between motivation, academic achievement, and persistence may help higher education administrators develop plans for increasing student engagement and student success. Prior research on higher education indicated connections between motivation, academic achievement, and persistence, but there has been limited research that relates these concepts to the rural community...
It has been established that intercollegiate sport is an important social institution for student athletes of color in the United States (Coakley, 2012). White intercollegiate coaches have a prominent influence on the academic, athletic, social and emotional development of student athletes and therefore must be tuned into variation in cultural...
In this thesis, I examine Johan Galtung’s theory of violence and discuss how his concepts of cultural and structural violence helps explain the problem of direct violence among Mexican American youth. I argue that cultural violence, mainly dominant narratives of colonialism and masculinity, cause some Mexican American youth to act...
Learning is lifelong, life-wide and life-deep, meaning it happens anywhere, at any time (Banks, et al., 2007). The implications of learning with intent, is where “free choice learning” began (Falk and Dierking, 2002; 2010). Families play a vital role in developing an integrated curriculum including: rural anthropology (epigenetics, tribalism), Geosciences...
The purpose of this study was to provide exploratory understanding of the nature of academic prestige in the field of sociology, and to provide insights into the history of the discipline. The primary research question was: does academic prestige act as a factor in controlling academic knowledge production in the...
Background. As community colleges are increasingly composed of Millennial-aged professionals, workforce retention of those professionals is now a major priority. The Millennial generation is more diverse and more likely to be impacted by technology than any generation before them and is a generation characterized by dual-income partnerships. These and other...
Background: Legislators, policy-makers, and leaders in higher education and within communities, are increasingly turning to place-based scholarships, or “promise programs”, to encourage college enrollment and address growing public concerns regarding college affordability. One such program, the Oregon Promise, was implemented across the state of Oregon in the fall of 2016....
This literature seeks to broadly examine historical literature and information pertaining to developmental education in the community colleges and its relationship with the college success. Contextually, the review will examine factors that affect student perception to academic success while being required to participate in remedial course work. Although issues surrounding...
Research has shown that African Americans/Blacks, especially those with low socioeconomic status, acknowledge athletics as an avenue for upward mobility (Coakley, 2011). Although the chances of becoming a professional athlete might seem unachievable through sports, athletes develop tangible and intangible abilities that transfer and are useful in the years following...
The nursing profession has long sought more diversity in registered nurses (RNs) to reflect the populations served. One way to enhance RN diversity is through diversity in community college (CC) associate degree in nursing (ADN) programs.
Since ADN programs lead to professional employment with middle-class wages, they form an important...
Literature on U.S. higher education includes a historical and consistent debate over adequate funding in relation to the ever-increasing challenges which require U.S. colleges to embrace change as a constant. As change continues to challenge all aspects of our society scholars and organizational leaders recognize innovation as imperative in addressing...
Background. As part of the nationwide student completion agenda, the Achieving the Dream (ATD) national reform network was established to help community colleges quickly institute sustainable change scaled to impact all students at the institution in a short period of time. Although ATD has been in existence for over a...
Background: Prior research has shown that distance learning courses have higher failure rates at community colleges then equivalent face-to-face to courses. There are a few programs and courses, however, that consistently achieve completion rates as high as or higher than their equivalent face-to-face courses. The research to date has not...
The purpose of the study was to determine if a self-assessment procedure provides data with acceptable accuracy for use in Adult Basic Education placement diagnostic batteries. Several factors descriptive of the population and the treatment were studied: 1. The overall degree of accuracy in computation and word pronunciation. 2. The...
This phenomenological study explores the effects that an interdisciplinary program of study at a community college has on students once they transfer to a four-year institution. Interdisciplinary approaches have been proposed as a way of meeting the complex thinking skills needed for 21st Century learning. Because interdisciplinary learning is complex,...
Student engagement with faculty is positively associated with increases in the retention and graduation rates of students enrolled in institutions of higher education. Although a considerable amount of research has focused on understanding the engagement experiences of students enrolled at four-year colleges and universities, little emphasis has been placed on...
This manuscript-style dissertation explores Diné (Navajo) education and teaching in the context of a research project that negotiated the demands of both Navajo Nation IRB and Oregon State University IRB. In the first manuscript, the researcher examines his journey of using cultural resilience strategies to succeed in the education system...
This dissertation was a qualitative case study focused on part-time faculty teachingdevelopmental mathematics courses in one large Pacific Northwest community college. Thecollege was selected for its size and maturity; the topic was selected for three related reasons:part-time faculty have been widely relied upon to teach these courses nationwide; students indevelopmental...
Background: The United States has been under-producing college graduates since at least 1980, with many challenges suppressing students’ self-efficacy. One approach to improving student outcomes is through mentorship. This dissertation applied Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) and Kram’s Mentor Relationship Development Theory (MRD) to discover whether students’ campus mentorship experiences...
The purposes of this study were to (1) identify major problems
faced by the youth who, in transition from school to work, have resorted
to anti-social behavior and are now inmates of Deuel Vocational
Institution, (2) identify the behavioral patterns of youth having employment
problems that resulted in incarceration within...
The study was a creative endeavor in which researchfindings from the areas of medicine, mental health andeducation concerning effects of background music were combinedinto an experimental musical form designed to promote andfacilitate the relaxation response. This experimental musicwas cormared with Baroque largo musical background, as recommendedin Lozanov's method of accelerated...
This study measured muscular strength and perceived exertion of active men, 25 to 64 years old. The subjects were 80 members of a large YMCA, with 20 active men chosen from each of the following age groups: 25-34, 35-44, 45-54,and 55-64. Measurement of strength consisted of assessing the maximum weight...
This study employed ethnographic methodology to investigate and record the post-camp, pre-assimilation period of Laotian refugees.The primary goal was to document the special problems and experiences of the Laotian population as they attempted to adjust to new roles and expectations within mainstream North American society.Oral histories and biographical statements focused...
The purpose of this study was to examine the relativeeffectiveness of functional isometric squats on thedevelopment of dynamic strength, static strength and powerof college males. Ten college males volunteered for thestudy. The subjects trained two days per week for a totalof eight weeks which consisted of a two week preconditioningperiod...
The purpose of this qualitative research study is to address the disconnect in high school classrooms between traditionally taught, canonical texts and the increasingly diverse population of students reading them through the framework of culturally responsive teaching (Ladson-Billings, 1994; Gay, 2010). Open-ended interviews were utilized to document the teaching practices...
Director David Fincher’s films contain many distinct elements that set his work apart, but one of the most instantly recognizable elements is his visual style – specifically, his camerawork. The level of control and purposefulness that Fincher exhibits in his films qualify Fincher as the auteur, or “author,” of his...
Youth in foster care often perform at lower levels academically than those not in foster care. Prior research on the nature of the relationships that affect former foster youth's educational path has been inconclusive. Though it is widely believed that positive relationships with faculty, staff and peers is beneficial for...
The study of motivation in second language acquisition has been a matter of interest for many years. The research objective of this project was to conduct a study that would determine the motivation level of students of Spanish 113 during Spring term 2016 at Oregon State University, and how their...
African American male students are a small portion of the student body at NCAA Division 1-A schools, but they make up a large portion of population of college football players. African American male college students are also one of the most at-risk student populations on campus in regards to retention....
At the intersection of higher education and politics, there is demand for an easily understood measure of student success. Graduation rate is the current measure of choice, but the definition of graduation rate excludes many categories of students and types of success particularly applicable to community colleges. The purpose of...
This study documented the influence of the completion agenda on decision-making by community college career and technical education (CTE) deans. Ten career and technical programs deans were identified as the sample for the study. Washington State was selected because of the Student Achievement Initiative that was developed as a completion...
This dissertation serves a threefold purpose: 1. identify the principles, practices and assumptions implicated in an academic theory of social justice; 2. continue moving towards articulating a theory of social justice judgment and decision making; and 3. develop a model of social justice judgment and decision making that will assist...
Approximately 600,000 individuals will be eventually released from the prison system and millions will be released from jails across the United States each year (Mukamal et al., 2015). Some of these individuals will make their way to a local community college to make a better life for themselves. There is...
Job satisfaction has received considerable attention within the community college sector, but there is limited research focused solely on the job satisfaction of foreign-born faculty members employed at community colleges. The purpose of this study was to examine factors associated with job satisfaction among foreign-born faculty members employed at U.S....
The Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) and the eight public colleges and universities in the system, have depended on the Federal Pell Grant program for more than 40 years to assist students to attend. For some of these institutions, the amount of Pell grant dollars received is as much...
The student-loan market has surpassed 1.3 trillion dollars; rising student-loan cohort default rates are a growing concern among educational institutions. Many colleges are implementing financial-education programs for students to help increase their knowledge, aptitude, and skills so they may become informed consumers. Purpose/Objective/Research Question/Focus of Study: The purpose of this...
Many low-income and first-generation community college students face disproportionate challenges in their quest for a college education. They typically balance multiple outside obligations, while being solely responsible for making these decisions without adequate knowledge, guidance, or support (Lyons, 2004). Many students begin college without ever having been responsible for their...
Background: African American males' experience in higher education is often categorized with negative terminology that does not reflect notions of success. Most research addressing the success of African American males in higher education illuminates factors that impede access to success and is often situated in university settings. Very little research...
In 2010 the American taxpayers spent $697 million educating veterans under the provisions of the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944 (commonly referred to as the GI Bill). Most veterans begin their college education at a community college. However, the number of veterans succeeding in community colleges is exceedingly low. Based...
Institutions of higher education are increasingly being held accountable and experiencing pressure to demonstrate how well their students are achieving intended learning outcomes. External and internal influences fuel this pressure. After decades of rhetoric on student learning outcomes assessment there remains a question of whether the practice has been fully...
Background: Legislators and higher education policy makers increasingly are turning to policy initiatives to incentivize institutions of higher education to transform policies and practices in the name of student success, with success typically defined as retention and graduation rates. One such policy receiving increased attention amongst states is outcomes-based funding,...
Background: Social interaction among peers on a campus of higher education has long been considered an important part of the college student experience, in particular for the first-term students transitioning into college life. Students who socially connect with peers on campus tend to persist at higher rates, while other benefits...
Community colleges serve various populations as part of their missions. Many community colleges serve the people who live in rural communities and are challenged with fewer financial resources. The term rural is not easily defined, and many variables need to be considered when creating academic programming for rural populations. There...
Corporate universities (CUs) have been in existence in the United States since the early 1900s. They are increasingly providing educational and developmental opportunities for workers; however, there is little empirical research on these types of organizations. This study examined a specific electrical distributor's CU using a theoretical framework as a...
Latina/o student enrollments in community colleges in the United States are rapidly growing, yet Latina/o student success rates have not matched this growth. There is a need for community college programs that serve Latina/o student populations more effectively and that incorporate multicultural educational practices into college programs. The purpose of...