Thesis (M.A.)--Trinity International University, 2002. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 50-54).

The purpose of this study was to explore the essence of diversity experiences of some undergraduates on a private, religiously-affiliated university. Sixteen undergraduates from a Midwestern private, religiously affiliated university were interviewed and described their diversity experiences. The key components of their experiences revealed five emergent themes: Types of diversity experiences, Forms of diversity experiences, Influence of previous context, Benefits of diversity experiences, and Faith issues regarding diversity experiences. These overarching themes were viewed through van Manen’s (1990) notion that phenomenological themes may be defined as the structures of experience. This examination of a progression or flow of the themes explained how the following progression or flow worked within a system of contextually related experiences to help bring about benefits of student and faith development within the participants’ educational lives. The progression began when forms of diversity experiences enabled different types of diversity experiences to take place in the undergraduates’ lives. In turn, the dynamics created within those types of diversity experiences instigated critical reflection of the participants’ previous context and previous held beliefs and values. This process of reflection/critical thinking enabled personal reassessment/transformation to take place as the benefits of diversity experiences produced life change within the undergraduates’ lives. In sum, the progression or theme flow enabled significant individual student and faith development to take place as a result of diversity experiences within the undergraduates’ educational lives. Embracing van Manen’s (1990) concept of themes defining the structure of experiences may allow the progression or flow of themes to provide the possibility for colleges/universities to chart an intentional course along that progression directed towards achieving the positive benefits that diversity experiences can bring to undergraduates’ within their educational lives. / Department of Educational Studies

Thesis (M.A.)--Trinity International University, 2002. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 50-54).

Thesis (M.A.)--Trinity International University, 2002. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 50-54).

Thesis (M.A.)--Denver Seminary, 2007. / Abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 71-78).

Thesis (M.A.)--Denver Seminary, 2007. / Abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 71-78).

Thesis (Ed.D.)--University of Memphis, 2009. / Typescript. "August 2009." Includes bibliographical references (leaves [65]-70).

This study was designed to examine: (1) the extent to which cheating occurs in fundamentalist Christian colleges; (2) the attitudes of fundamentalist Christian college students toward cheating; (3) attitudes of fundamentalist Christian college students toward cheating among their peers; (4) the kinds of cheating practices of fundamentalist Christian college students; (5) the degree to which students engage in neutralizing behavior to justify cheating; (6) differences in cheating behaviors according to gender; (7) differences in cheating behaviors according to ethnicity; and (8) differences in cheating behaviors according to the length of duration of Christian commitment. Based upon the responses of 337 students attending 3 different Christian colleges, it was concluded that: (1) most Christian fundamentalist students do not engage in cheating; (2) respondents believe that each of 17 self-reported cheating behaviors are serious forms of cheating; (3) respondents are unlikely to report cheating among peers; (4) plagiarism is the most common cheating behavior; (5) most respondents justify cheating on the basis of the workload at school and the pressure to obtain good grades; (6) there are no differences in cheating behavior according to gender; (7) there are differences in cheating behavior according to groups; and (8) most respondents do not cheat regardless of the self-reported duration of Christian commitment.

This dissertation examined to what degree traditional students were impacted by the institutional core values at a Southern Baptist college. The subjects of mission statements, core values, and college impact were defined. Special attention was given to the eight institutional core values being examined in this study. The current study was conducted at Georgetown College. Located within the eleven state region that is encompassed by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools accrediting agency, Georgetown College is a member of the Association of Southern Baptist Colleges and Schools. The goal of Georgetown College, broadly defined, is to provide a quality educational program within the context of a values-based Christian atmosphere. The sample of the current study included all the traditional freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors at Georgetown College at the beginning of the fall semester of 2003. Data gathering consisted of two concurrent lines of inquiry: similarities and differences in students' agreement with the institutional core values. These lines of inquiry were analyzed according to four specific areas of interest including students' class year, gender, ethnic background, and religious affiliation. A value statement index was created for use in this study. The core values of community and integrity were rated by the students as the most important values in the study. The Christian core values showed a general increase among almost all of the students from the freshmen to the senior year. The core values concerning diversity and cultural enrichment programs were rated as the least important values in the study. The presence of a Christian community was determined to be the key ingredient for Southern Baptist colleges to impact positively the value systems of their traditional students. / This item is only available to students and faculty of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. If you are not associated with SBTS, this dissertation may be purchased from <a href="http://disexpress.umi.com/dxweb">http://disexpress.umi.com/dxweb</a> or downloaded through ProQuest's Dissertation and Theses database if your institution subscribes to that service.

The research explores the epistemological development of pre-ministry undergraduates in confessional Christian liberal arts colleges and universities. The Perry Scheme is the basis for the evaluation. This is a replication study of a 2012 Perry Scheme analysis of pre-ministry graduates in a cross-section of higher education institutions. This research is a qualitative study with thirty traditional-aged students within six months of graduation. The students are from purposively selected confessional Christian liberal arts institutions. The interviews are conducted by telephone, transcribed, and scored by the Center for Study of Intellectual Development (CSID). Of particular interest is the ethical decision making abilities of graduating pre-ministry students. The research is intended to clarify the students’ position on the Perry Scheme that reflects the level, if any, of personal commitment to their belief system. KEYWORDS: biblical worldview, Center for the Study of Intellectual Development (CSID), cognitive development, college student development, dualism, epistemological development, ethics, higher education, imago Dei, multiplicity, Perry Scheme, pre-ministry undergraduates, reflective judgment, relativism, vocational ministry, William Perry.