<p> This study investigates the association between athletes&rsquo; emotional intelligence and age, gender, academics, and sport performance. Participants in this study consisted of 181 NCAA Division II athletes from one faith-based university. Results indicate that no relationship between emotional intelligence and age, academics, and sport performance exist. A significant relationship was found when comparing gender to emotional intelligence. Male athletes scored higher than females in overall EI, self-management, and self-awareness. Furthermore, the study found gender was a predictor of GPA. Females had a slightly higher GPA than males. Descriptive statistics are included to show several trends depicted in tables and bar graphs that are identifiable by viewing the tendencies of the means.</p>

Scholars have documented the ways in which the influence of neoliberal ideology, and particularly the extension of free-market logic, has resulted in meaningful changes within colleges and universities in the United States. However, largely omitted from these discussions is the impact of neoliberal ideology on college students. Concurrent with the discussion concerning neoliberalism and higher education, a separate dialogue focusing on the rise of the conceptualization of students as customers has been occurring amongst higher education scholars. Such an understanding of college students is consistent with free-market logic, as the relationship between students and their institutions become defined in economic terms. While many scholars have lamented about the rise of this new approach towards education, few have connected it with larger changes in higher education or with the influence of neoliberal ideology. More importantly, researchers have yet to measure reliably the extent to which students actually express a customer orientation. The purpose of this dissertation is to provide the first measure of a customer orientation, and in the process help describe the impact neoliberal ideology, and free-market logic in particular, has had on college students.

A study of 174 applicants to the University of Rhode Island's Graduate School was conducted to identify factors in student choice of graduate schools and to determine if enrollment intent could be predicted. A 20-item survey based on the motivational and cognitive decision making theory of Janis and Mann (1977) was constructed. Applicants were surveyed on two scales regarding: (a) the importance of factors represented in the 20-item survey; and (b) which graduate school better matched those factors. Respondents to the survey were sorted into four groups: (a) accepted; (b) denied; (c) accepted, intending to enroll at URI; and (d) accepted, not intending to enroll at URI. These respondents chose nine of the 20 items as important factors in deciding which graduate school to attend. From these ratings three strong, psychologically interpretable factors matched the Janis and Mann constructs used to develop the survey: (a) Self Approval; (b) Utilitarian Costs; and (c) Concern for Others. A one way analysis discriminated between the "Will Enroll" and the "Will Not Enroll" respondents as the "Will Enroll" group assigned higher ratings of importance to three factors at the.05 level of significance: (a) affordability; (b) closeness to home; and (c) being able to better support family upon graduation. Of eight factors identified by chi-square statistics, only one, "better academic program", differed between the two groups in terms of school choice. Through discriminant analysis, responses to the 20 item survey were classified into "Will Enroll" and "Will Not Enroll" with 78 percent accuracy. (Discriminant analysis results may be inflated, on account of a single sample of respondents. The research results have (a) identified factors salient to a group of graduate school applicants in their decision to attend one graduate school as opposed to another; (b) measured the degree of importance these factors had in that decision; (c) identified significant differences between the "Will Enroll" and "Will Not Enroll" groups; and (d) predicted group membership. In addition, a base for determining the applicability of Janis and Mann's decision making constructs appears to have been established. (Abstract shortened with permission of author.)

<p> This qualitative research study explored the career-decision making process of first-generation Vietnamese college students. The number of Vietnamese students enrolling in postsecondary education continues to be one the highest among all Asian groups. Yet, the educational attainment and graduation numbers of Vietnamese college students are much lower compared to their Asian peers. The unfamiliarity of the significance of various sociocultural values impedes practitioners to help this group of students achieve their educational goals, specifically during career decision-making process. Findings suggest culture, family, and campus support and resources contributed to first-generation Vietnamese college students&rsquo; success and career decision-making process. Implications and recommendations for policy and practice are discussed.</p>

<p> Previous research has shown that individuals with disordered eating patterns who come from a family that is high in Expressed Emotion tend to have more disordered eating behaviors and over a longer period of time. There is less research on how a person&rsquo;s perception of their family&rsquo;s expressed emotion, specifically the criticism directed at them by a parental figure, affects their disordered eating patterns. The purpose of this research was to examine whether there is a relationship between perceived criticism and disordered eating patterns, as well as whether this relationship is influenced by self-criticism. One hundred and five undergraduate college students participated in an online survey that measured perceived criticism, their self-criticism, and their disordered eating behaviors and thoughts. The results suggest that levels of perceived criticism and disordered eating behaviors and thoughts were not related to each other. However, an individual&rsquo;s perception of parental self-criticism was related to their level of self-criticism. Their level of self-criticism in turn was related to their disordered eating behaviors and thoughts, demonstrating an indirect relationship between perceived criticism and disordered eating patterns. These findings offer some potential areas of consideration for clinicians treating clients with disordered eating behaviors. </p>

<p> Various determinants have been found to explain the donor status and giving levels of college alumni. Limited research exists on what motivates college alumni to give repeated donations to a higher education institution. The purpose of this study was to determine if commitment and trust significantly related to higher education institutions receiving repeated annual gifts from college alumni. The extent of the relationship that commitment and trust had with college alumni donating repeated annual gifts was investigated using the commitment-trust theory of relationship marketing (commitment-trust theory) as the theoretical framework. Demographic variables (i.e., gender, age, race, marital status, number of dependents in a household, annual income, highest degree earned, family legacy, and number of years since graduating) were also included and examined to assess how strongly commitment and trust predicted college alumni giving repeated annual gifts. A quantitative, correlational, nonexperimental research design was used in the study to collect and analyze data from online survey responses. The study's sample consisted of 478 college alumni that were purposively drawn from a population of 43,381 college alumni at two 4-year higher education institutions located in the southeastern region of the United States. This sample was comprised of college alumni who graduated from one of the two higher education institutions during or before 2007. Most of the study's alumni were older Caucasian females who were married or in a domestic partnership and without any dependents living in the participants' households. The majority of the alumni also reported having an annual income of more than $100,000, earning a bachelor's degree as the highest level of education and not having any family ties at either institution involved in the study. Multiple regression analyses were performed and revealed commitment and trust to be statistically significant predictors of repeated giving by the sample. A second multiple regression model showed that the demographic variables were insignificant predictors of repeated giving. Including the demographic variables contributed to very small declines in the strength of commitment and trust as predictors of repeated giving. The commitment-trust theory was found to align with the results of the study.</p><p>

<p> The purpose of this project is to create a career planning guidebook for undergraduate hospitality management students. This guidebook will allow students to determine what their interests are in various hospitality careers. Students&rsquo; interests will be determined by performing a self assessment via the web based O*Net Interest Profiler&trade; instrument. The Interest Profiler report will identify students&rsquo; interests based on the six personality types adapted from John Holland&rsquo;s typology of personality types and work environments.</p>

<p> A noted discrepancy between the skills demanded by industry and the skills engineering graduates are proficient in has engendered a push for reform in undergraduate engineering curriculum. As a result, many institutions are now implementing supplemental leadership development programs to better prepare students for the collaborative work and leadership roles they will encounter on the job. The present study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of one such program, and then to measure self-perceived success of program alumni when compared to a non-leadership-program control group. Archival survey data and focus groups were utilized to confirm proposed hypotheses. Obtained results suggested significant improvements in engineering undergraduate students following leadership development exposure. Following graduation, these improvements persisted as increased self-perceived competency and a heightened awareness of the importance of leadership, teamwork, and communication in the workforce. This research suggests formalized leadership development training as a complimentary curriculum for engineering undergraduates facilitates the successful transition into the workplace following graduation.</p><p>

<p> Current literature confirms that self-efficacy, academic self-concept, and participation in undergraduate research influence the academic performance and aspirations of students. However, a gap in the literature remains as research has yet to explore whether students who have participated in research have a higher sense of research self-efficacy and academic self-concept than students who have not participated in these activities. In addition, it is unknown whether undergraduate researchers pursuing STEM degrees differ from students pursuing non-STEM degrees, nor if they vary by gender. </p><p> The purpose of this study was to investigate the research self-efficacy and academic self-concept of undergraduate researchers, compare these beliefs to non-researchers, and to examine how these measures differ by gender and field of study (i.e. STEM and non-STEM fields) among undergraduate researchers. Additionally, this research identified various factors that predict research self-efficacy and academic self-concept. </p><p> This quantitative study was conducted at a public university located in the Southeast region of the United States. Using survey methods participants&rsquo; background information, academic self-concept, and research self-efficacy was collected. Participants were students who had participated in undergraduate research as well as students who had not participated in research activities. Both groups completed the same survey. This study gained insight into the research self-efficacy, academic self-concept, field of study, and gender differences among undergraduate researchers and how they compare to non-researchers. Research findings may assist colleges, universities, and offices that promote undergraduate research in recruiting students to participate in research activities. Findings also contribute to literature supporting undergraduate research as an element that contributes to student success in undergraduate education.</p><p>

<p> The present study examined the impact of self-esteem, the desire for lighter skin, and gender on levels of depression, anxiety, and stress among university students in Thailand. The study included 761 students from two universities in a northeastern province of Thailand who participated voluntarily. Results indicated that although the desire for lighter skin is prevalent among Thai university students, this desire alone does not significantly impact levels of depression, anxiety, or stress. Self-esteem was a significant predictor of depression, anxiety, and stress. School year showed a significant positive correlation with depression, anxiety, and stress. Academic performance as measured by GPA showed a significant positive correlation with self-esteem and a significant negative correlation with depression. Mental health professionals are advised to explore ways to improve Thai university students&rsquo; self-esteem and to examine the influence of academic and graduation-related pressures in order to positively impact students&rsquo; overall mental health. Additional implications, limitations, and recommendations for future research are discussed. </p><p>