<p> Introductory biology courses at two-year, open enrollment colleges in America are presented in a variety of different course delivery formats. Traditionally, most students have enrolled in seated or face-to-face (F2F) lectures and laboratories. There is increased demand for courses presented online or in a hybrid format, although some studies report higher attrition rates, and lower grades for these course delivery formats. The purpose of this study was to examine if there were academic differences among F2F, hybrid, or online introductory biology courses by analyzing precourse and postcourse assessment scores, final grades, attrition rates, and students' perceptions of course satisfaction. This study was grounded in the social constructivist conceptual framework and followed a mixed method design. Four research questions guided the study which involved the collection of both quantitative and qualitative data. The study involved 354 adult students enrolled in three, open enrollment, two-year institutions in Southern Missouri. Statistical analysis indicated significantly higher mean gain scores on postcourse than precourse assessments, regardless of location or course format. There was a significant difference in final course grades for students enrolled in online courses compared to those in F2F or hybrid sections; students enrolled in online sections also had a significantly higher attrition rate. Seven focus groups were conducted, and students completed online surveys indicating their satisfaction level. This study had direct application to the design, implementation, and assessment of introductory biology courses and provided insight into students' academic success and perceptions of course satisfaction with introductory biology classes. </p>

<p>The purpose of this thesis was to study how and to what extent ISO 9000 quality standards management certification is taught on the undergraduate level in courses in California ABET-accredited 4-year engineering programs. The level of knowledge of the standard among graduates is of concern because well-educated engineers are important to the future of businesses in the global economy, and the ISO 9000 series is an enduring standard of global significance. An email survey was conducted of over 2000 undergraduate engineering professors who are currently teaching in public and private California universities. The overview of responses indicates that, although the majority of professors have over 10 years of teaching experience and a past background in industry, ISO 9000 series certification is not widely understood, taught, or valued. Engineering students and their future employers are clearly not gleaning the benefits of learning this valuable global standard. </p>

<p> This participatory action research needs assessment was to empower the students in a large urban research university to explore and to identify the strengths of the program, to identify the needs, and to identify the barriers to student success during their first year of college. Using qualitative methods of Group Level Interviews (GLA) and personal success narratives, low-income first generation college students engaged as advocates for improvements to a residential student support services program to benefit future first year students. Constant comparative analysis with open coding was used to analyze the data. The analysis of data revealed: (strengths) <i>self-efficacy relating to self-confidence, reaching out, proactive planning, support, community, and personal effort; </i>(needs) <i>empathic leadership, support, and community; </i>(barriers) <i>stress pertaining to their grades, obstacles and distractions, time management, and transition to college.</i> Overarching themes emerged as 1) community, 2) empathic leadership, 3) self-efficacy, and 4) time management.</p>

<p> Abstract not available.</p>

<p>Research on writing proficiency from elementary students through undergraduates is prevalent; however, few focused on students in graduate school. Few teacher education programs require specific coursework in writing for teacher certification. Yet, teacher educators express concern about teacher candidates' writing proficiencies. Writing may not be explicitly taught, such as in graduate school or doctoral coursework, because professors assume students already have these skills. Writing is something writers are always learning to do, yet scholarly writing is not included as a learning objective throughout the doctoral coursework at Sibley University, at the time of this study. Sibley University is the pseudonym used for the university referenced throughout the dissertation. The purpose of the exploratory research was to gain a deeper understanding of measurable and perceived changes throughout the dissertation writing process, and possibly uncover information that faculty could use to improve the doctoral students' writings. Data from the study will provide Sibley University's EdD program's structure comparative completion data for benchmarking purposes. </p><p> The study consisted of participants from Sibley University's May 2011 EdD graduates, five EdD students who defended their dissertation between May of 2011 and December of 2011, and four students who defended in spring of 2012, a convenient sample. Seventeen participants agreed to a 19-question, taped interview; one of the 17 failed to submit drafts of writings. An additional four participants submitted the required writings but, due to time constraints, were not interviewed. Seventeen participants were interviewed and 20 submitted writings for data analysis, with a gender breakdown of 85% female, and 15% male. </p><p> An ANOVA for the difference in the means was run on average characters per word, average words per paragraph, average sentences per paragraph, and percentage of passive sentences for each draft of the dissertation from the identified four data points. The steps used in analyzing the qualitative data gathered from the participants' retrospective interview transcripts included: highlighted chunks of significant information on each transcript, highlighted segment a two to three word description (code), and sorted all segments by meaning. The ANOVA analysis does not support a significant difference in average of variables analyzed when comparing documents, at the 95% confidence level. Yet, doctoral students perceived their writing had improved throughout the dissertation process. </p>

<p> The need related behavioral dynamics that are revealed in self-determination and academic motivation research control factors which pinpoint and examine settings that facilitate self-motivation and well-being. This study examined differences in motivational and self-determination behaviors among three ethnic groups of Nigerian university students using a sample of students attending the University of Ibadan. The research continues the dialogue of the role of ethnicity in the motivational and self-determination behaviors by focusing on Nigerian students. Lastly, the study expands the current literature on motivation and self-determination by adding a study focusing on Nigerian students. Twenty-one hypotheses were tested to answer five research questions in the study. The research questions addressed whether significant statistical differences existed in academic motivation scores of Nigerian students based on their ethnicities or whether the parents' level of education affected the students' motivation, or self-determination. The questions also explored any statistical differences in self-determination of students based on their ethnicities or if there were differences between self-determination and gender, scholarship status, or number of children. Lastly, the questions addressed if there were differences in the type of prerequisites for entry to University of Ibadan. There were no statistically significant differences in means of the three broad types of academic motivation and perceived choice scores on the SDS based on ethnicity, parents' level of education, gender, scholarship status, number of children each participant had, and the kind of entry examinations that were taken. There were statistically significant differences in the mean of awareness of self scores based on parents' level of education and scholarship status. There was also a statistically significant difference in the mean perceived choice scores on the SDS based on the number of children each participant had. There were no statistically significant differences based on students' prerequisites.</p>

<p> This exploratory study investigated the effect of a twenty-one day outdoor orientation program (OOP) on participants' relationships with the natural world, as understood via the lens of biophilia. The primary research question was "Does the Prescott College New Student Orientation have an effect on participants' biophilic profiles, as measured by the Kellert-Shorb Biophilic Values Indicator (KSBVI)?" <i>Biophilic profiles</i> were calculated pre and post with the KSBVI, a 99-question survey that shows survey-takers' expressions of each of the nine biophilic responses at a specific moment in time. The KSBVI was administered to instructors and participants prior to the trip and to participants on the last day in the field; instructors also completed a questionnaire about the curriculum implemented. Correlation analyses showed highly stable biophilic expressions over time, and paired-sample t-tests showed changed on 8 of the 9 KSBVI subscales. Alpha tests indicated that the KSBVI had acceptable reliability as a whole, however the aesthetic and symbolic subscales showed poor reliability. The KSBVI was determined to be a promising tool for understanding how OOP and WEP participants relate to the natural world through the lens of biophilia, however further research is warranted to better understand the KSBVI's strengths and limitations. This research determined that participation on this OOP may have influenced change in these participants' relationships with the natural world, with strong evidence for the impact of the curriculum on type and amount of change in biophilic expression.</p><p> <i>Keywords:</i> biophilia, adventure education (AE), outdoor orientation program (OOP), Kellert-Shorb Biophilic Values Indicator (KSBVI), Wilderness Experience Program (WEP)</p>

<p>The growing calls for accountability within higher education have mobilized student affairs divisions to develop practices that provide evidence of student learning and development. In order to do this effectively student affairs divisions understand the importance of creating, managing, and sustaining a culture of assessment. The purpose of this study was to explore and understand effective practices in creating a culture of assessment within a division of student affairs at a large public university. The findings from this study offer insight into the experiences of one division in creating a culture of assessment. Key themes of leadership, socialization, and learning were consistent with organizational theory regarding the creation and management of a culture of an organization and with student affairs assessment literature. This study offers suggestions for best practices in ways other divisions might approach the creation of a culture of assessment. </p>

<p> The purpose of this study was to report a more inclusive postsecondary graduation rate figure, improve the ability of postsecondary institutions to predict the likelihood that a student will graduate, and to help address challenges presented by the United States President and by the Kentucky General Assembly. The more inclusive graduation rate calculation is in contrast to the prevailing National Center for Education Statistics' (NCES) Graduation Rate Survey (GRS) calculation. The calculations used in this study incorporated data from the National Student Clearinghouse's (NSC) StudentTracker systems. The research population used in this study consisted of students who initially enrolled at the University of Louisville (UofL) in academic years 2000-01, 2001-02, or 2002-03. Using a more inclusive graduation rate calculation that counted a student as having graduated from any postsecondary institution, not just the institution where they initially enrolled yielded a graduation rate that was 10 percent higher for the research population than was reported under the prevailing methodology. The study created a Graduation Likelihood Model (GLM) to predict the likelihood that a first-time, full-time bachelor-degree-seeking student will graduate within six academic years. Eight independent variables were examined through chi-square and logistic regression (logit). The eight variables examined were gender, race/ethnicity, ACT, High School Grade Point Average (HSGPA), public high school (HS) vs. private HS, HS distance from campus, state/federal-grant/scholarship financial aid, and federal loan financial aid. In addition to running chi-square and logit on each variable, the procedures were run on the variables after they were included in four distinct categories: demographic, academic, pre-postsecondary academic and financial aid. The chi-square results showed that with the exception of HSGPA there was an association, albeit small, between the variables and successful graduation. All variables including HSGPA are to be used in the GLM, which can be used by postsecondary institutions to predict, at the time a student applies to the institutions, the likelihood that a student will graduate within six academic years. The GLM and the new calculation of graduation rates relate to initiatives set out by both the state of Kentucky and current US President Barack Obama. The new calculation provides a better way of assessing student achievement. At the time of initial enrollment, the GLM can be used to identify students, who may need additional assistance to obtain their degrees. .</p>

<p> Students who enter higher education requiring reading remediation have poor institutional persistence. This study examined the course success and first-year institutional persistence of six women enrolled in a developmental reading course at a regional campus of a state university. Data sets were comprised of classroom observation, review of academic records, and interviews with students and their instructor. </p><p> </p>