Given the absence of a comprehensive theory of doctoral student persistence within the current literature base, the purpose of this study was to propose and test a model that would predict doctoral degree completion using an integrated scheme of background, financial support, and experience variables between Black and White students. The impact and interaction of these variables was explored individually and collectively to describe a concept defined as situatedness. The situatedness model illustrates that a student's background is related to the financial support they receive in doctoral programs; in turn, these factors are connected to a student's departmental and personal experiences, which are all directly related to doctoral degree completion.;The situatedness model was found to be useful in conceptualizing doctoral degree completion, but it illustrated that that there are other variables that cause disparities in completion among Black and White doctoral students. The situatedness model indicated that financial support factors affect doctoral degree completion among Black and White students. For Whites, the situatedness model indicated that the total amount of grant aid, the amount borrowed for education, teaching assistantships, and private/outside sources of aid were independent and significant predictors of doctoral degree completion. For Blacks, the situatedness model indicated that income and outside sources of aid were predictive of degree completion. The findings of this study suggest that finances are the most important predictor of degree completion for both groups. The disparity in sources of funding for Blacks and Whites highlight many of the differences in experiences and outcomes between the groups.

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The effect of emotional intelligence (EI) among students in education settings could prove essential to determining the needs of student satisfaction leading to retention and graduation. However, lack of research has yet to determine whether EI is an important factor of student satisfaction. The purpose of this quantitative survey study was to determine whether a relationship exists between EI in graduate students and satisfaction with their overall academic experience at their online institution of higher education. Participants included graduate students enrolled in a masters' or doctoral program at an online institution of higher education. They were surveyed to measure their level of EI by Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test v. 2 and satisfaction of overall academic experience measured by the Priorities Survey for Online Learners. Research questions were focused on satisfaction of graduate students and elements of EI including overall EI and the 4 branches of the EI model. Statistical regression analyses revealed no significant relationships between EI, branches of EI, and overall satisfaction. Nevertheless, the results have implications for positive social change. No significant relationship demonstrated between EI and satisfaction may help accentuate other factors such as motivation and expectations that affect student satisfaction. These results can contribute to social change by supporting focus and improvement of the quality of factors that do affect overall satisfaction of students.

Colleges and universities collaborte with P-12 public schools in professional development school (PDS) partnerships to improve teacher training, provide professional development for inservice teachers, improve student achievement, and promote action research. Most research has been done on advantages for preservice teachers and for students in classrooms. The purpose of this qualitative study was to better understand inservice teachers' mentoring experiences in order for a local college to support and enrich the professional lives of inservice teachers. Research questions addressed inservice teachers' perceptions regarding mentoring interactions, effects on their own classroom practices, and professional growth. The purposeful sample was comprised of 17 mentor teachers from 3 elementary schools that had PDS partnerships with a local college. Individual interviews and school cohort focus group transcripts were coded and analyzed using a data analysis spiral. The researcher also collected unobtrusive data relevant to professional development activities in the PDSs. Results indicated that mentor teachers viewed mentoring experiences as positive and felt rejuvenated. Participants noted that reciprocal learning took place and that they had grown professionally. The local college has implemented changes and plans to continue to improve programs based of the study findings. Other colleges and universities can utilize the study results and the PDS model to improve inservice teachers' mentoring experiences. Inservice teachers may be empowered by successful mentoring experiences to create change in their schools as they take leadership roles, engage in action research, and promote academic success for all learners in the 21st century.

It is imperative that those who provide personal therapy to others be well-adjusted in their personal and professional lives and possess a keen and accurate perception of wellness. Yet, persons drawn to careers in counseling often have unresolved psychological issues. Counselor education programs should have a systematic way to evaluate and improve wellness in their students. Studies addressing the well-being of counselors-in-training, their perception of wellness, and their need for self-care are lacking in the professional literature. This study, therefore, examined the relationship between psychological well-being and perceived wellness in a sample (N = 97) of graduate students in a CACREP-accredited counseling program. Based on person-centered theory, the participants' psychological well-being was measured with the Scales of Psychological Well-Being (SPWB), and their perception of wellness with the Perceived Wellness Survey (PWS). Multiple regression analysis revealed a significant relationship between psychological well-being and perceived wellness. Adding a self-assessment tool to counselor education and, thus, facilitating the students' best possible psychological functioning has positive social-change implications: Considering that 57.7 million individuals sought mental health services in 2006, at a cost of {dollar}68.1 billion, working toward greater well-being of counseling students will help them provide the best therapeutic care to their future clients.

The number of women in senior administrative and leadership roles in higher education is minimal compared to the number of women in higher education jobs in general. This phenomenological study explored pathways women took to advance in their careers and barriers that prevent more women from gaining senior administrative and leadership roles. Research questions addressed perceived barriers participants faced while trying to advance their careers, mentoring and other support strategies women in higher education employed to help them move up the career ladder, and actions female leaders took in order to help establish gender equity. Dambe and Moorad's empowerment-based/transformational leadership theory, Vroom's expectancy theory, and hooks's feminist theory were used as conceptual frameworks for this study. Data collection included in-depth interviews and gestural observations. Data were triangulated through member check, debriefing, iterative questioning, and reflective commentary. Titchen's thematic data analysis and the hermeneutic circle were used to analyze data; analysis was validated by an independent auditor. Mentoring and networking were identified as effective tools for gaining executive skills. Political savvy, determination, and serendipity were factors to which participants attributed success. Based on study results, higher education institutions should focus on succession planning to bring more women into senior leadership roles. The age gap for female senior leaders in higher education is an area for further study. This study may support positive social change by providing female leaders the opportunity to understand the nature of higher education and subsequently to develop strategies and to gain constructive experiences that can improve their status.

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of sex education instruction by a male, a female, and a male and female team on college students' sexual knowledge and sexual attitudes. The author also attempted to expand the literature in the area of team taught human sexuality course.;The population consisted of students enrolled in three human sexuality classes at Richard Bland College, a two-year liberal arts college. Each student selected a class section without prior knowledge of the male traditionally taught, female traditionally taught, or male/female team taught.;The same textbook, tests, guest speakers, movies, and class discussions were used for each class. Each student in all three classes was asked to give general information about themselves, however the information remained anonymous.;It was hypothesized that (1) after completion of a human sexuality course, students taught by a male/female team, compared to those taught by a single instructor of either gender, would demonstrate more sexual knowledge and (2) after completion of a human sexuality course, students taught by male/female teaching team, compared to those taught by a single instructor, would show more positive sexual attitudes.;After statistically testing the scores using an analysis of covariance, it was concluded that the male/female team taught class did not increase significantly in knowledge or in more positive sexual attitudes.;Further study is needed using other kinds of measures for sexual knowledge and attitudes, using various age groups and subject areas, and in other settings such as four year institutions since this study of junior college students cannot be generalized to other constitutions and students.

Doctor of Philosophy(PhD) / In 1997 Thailand faced an economic crisis, primarily due to a foreign exchange induced recession. At this time of economic crisis, Thailand approached the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for financial assistance. Assistance would be provided only if the Thai Government agreed to reduce public spending, downsize the civil service, change the regulations designed to restrict foreign investment and ownership, and privatise some public enterprises. These requirements had a great impact upon all aspects of Thai society. This study investigates the impact of the imposed changes upon one part of the higher education sector, that of the Rajabhat Institutes. The National Education Act introduced in 1999 was aimed at transforming all sectors of Thai education, provide all Thai people with increased opportunities for access to higher education, and transform Thailand into a learning society. In 2004 the Rajabhat University Act changed the former Rajabhat Institutes into Rajabhat Universities, providing them with greater autonomy, but with greater responsibility for their own futures. This study investigates how these Acts changed policies, processes and practices in the six Rajabhat Universities in Bangkok. The six case studies investigate how these universities have coped with and managed change to meet the challenges of the present and the future. The focus is on policies and practices which have occurred since 2004 and how the Rajabhat Universities planned to meet the challenges of higher educational reform in Thailand, from the viewpoint of the President and Vice Presidents of each university. Analyses reveal that the six Rajabhat Universities were influenced by globalisation, economic, political legal and technologies, which impacted upon their organisational culture and management style. Each of the universities can be considered as a Complex Adaptive System (CAS) in which change occurred in complex and unpredictable ways. The use of dissimilar leadership dimensions and the desire to differentiate their university from the others was found to be a recurring theme.

<p>This research is an evaluative case study of transformation in a Historically White University in South Africa. The research occurs within the context of redress against the inequality and exclusion created by the legacy of apartheid. The research is a qualitative and quantinative study. it is based on based on desk research and include a literature review. Internet search as well as an analysis of key organisational and policy context documents such as reports, projects and surveys are used. semi-structured interviews was held with a sample of staff.</p>