The researcher developed this study based on the Hardgrave, et al. (1993)statement that for a doctoral student, it was "more than just standardized scores, previous academic performance, and past work experience ultimately affects whether the candidate will be successful in the program" (p. 261). This study examined both the subjective and quantifiable aspects of application materials to a physics doctoral program to explore potential relationships between the credentials presented in the application and the ultimate success of the admitted students. The researcher developed questions with the goals of addressing the problem of attrition in doctoral programs and gaining a better of understanding the information provided in students' application packets. The researcher defined success as either enrolled four years after admission or attainment of the degree. This study examined the records of a population of students admitted to a physics doctoral program from the fall of 1997 to the fall of 2003 to determine their level of success as of August 2006. An exploratory analysis of the data provided answers to each of the research questions as well as an extensive understanding of the students admitted into the program during this time. This study examined both admission credentials and constructs identified by past researchers. An evaluation of the data gathered in this research revealed no relationships between these and student success as previously defined. In 1974, Willingham stated simply, "the best way to improve selection of graduate students will be to develop improved criteria for success" (p. 278). To this end, recommendations emerged regarding the decision-making process and suggestions for future research. This study was not developed to prove or disprove past research findings that predicted success from admissions information; rather, the researcher developed this study to explore each of the credentials that a student presents with his or her application packet, and to tell the story about the nuances of these credentials as they related to student success in a physics doctoral program.

No description available.

The study examined doctoral students‟ perceptions of the doctoral support and services offered by Mississippi State University (MSU). The research design used was descriptive, non-experimental design. Validity of the online survey instrument was established by a panel of experts. Internal consistency and reliability was determined using factor analysis, Cronbach‟s alpha, and test/retest reliability which revealed that the instrument was consistent and reliable. Participants included 172 doctoral students in the seven colleges which offer doctoral programs and 172 doctoral alumni who had graduated within the last 5 years. Data was collected in fall 2009. Responding participants equaled 142 (41% return rate). The results of this study revealed that both current and alumni doctoral students had a moderately positive perception of the doctoral support and services offered by Mississippi State University. The doctoral program of study was considered to be effective and suitable; support and services were considered sufficient and appropriate; doctoral supervision was considered to be sufficient and appropriate by participants. The study showed that doctoral student‟s utilization of external sources of support and services was low, but was perceived as beneficial. The financial support provided was adequate to complete their degrees. Doctoral students funded their degrees primarily through employment. Participants considered that the perceived benefits of obtaining a doctoral degree outweighed the financial cost of its completion. Multiple regression analyses revealed that predictor variables of academic status, race, and college had significant effects on doctoral student‟s perceptions. Alumni had a significantly higher perception of the doctoral support and services than current doctoral students. Speculation as to possible causes of the difference included the psychological phenomenon of memory bias. In addition, Black/African American doctoral students provided a significantly less positive endorsement of doctoral supervision than their white counterparts. Furthermore, doctoral students from the College of Education provided a significantly less positive endorsement of doctoral support and services. This sentiment was supported by the narrative responses. Avenues of future research and recommendation for the university are discussed and presented.The study showed that doctoral student‟s utilization of external sources of support and services was low, but was perceived as beneficial. The financial support provided was adequate to complete their degrees. Doctoral students funded their degrees primarily through employment. Participants considered that the perceived benefits of obtaining a doctoral degree outweighed the financial cost of its completion. Multiple regression analyses revealed that predictor variables of academic status, race, and college had significant effects on doctoral student‟s perceptions. Alumni had a significantly higher perception of the doctoral support and services than current doctoral students. Speculation as to possible causes of the difference included the psychological phenomenon of memory bias. In addition, Black/African American doctoral students provided a significantly less positive endorsement of doctoral supervision than their white counterparts. Furthermore, doctoral students from the College of Education provided a significantly less positive endorsement of doctoral support and services. This sentiment was supported by the narrative responses. Avenues of future research and recommendation for the university are discussed and presented.

Among the 123 political science programs listed by the American Political Science Association that grant Ph.D.s in political science, only seven require every student to complete some sort of political theory or philosophy course. Eighty-one offer students the opportunity to select political theory or philosophy as a concentration. Most surprising, 39 programs advertise no courses in political theory or philosophy at all. Political philosophy, at the doctoral level, is being treated as an optional option. Given these findings about the lack of political philosophy and theory at the doctoral level, the study of all things theoretical or philosophical seems to be overshadowed by other subfields of research. The not so subliminal message being sent by this sort of phenomenon is that some subfields of political science have a higher priority than others. In addition to identifying the number of political science programs that require coursework in political theory, this thesis explores the shift of the political theory offered away from traditional philosophical foundations and toward a postmodern pedagogical approach. This type of pedagogy can have the secondary effect of devaluing traditional notions of teaching and learning in favor of collaborative learning and learner centered teaching. Following the movement to reform the educational system in France after the student riots of 1968, narratives of morality were replaced by the idea that such social constructs ought to be abandoned for a focus on individualism and intertexuality. / Master of Arts

This panel from East Tennessee State University (ETSU) shared a wide variety of opportunities and challenges in moving well-established face-to-face programs to fully online delivery formats. The panel represented a rich history of professional experience and teaching in higher education administration, PK-12 administration, and program development and marketing. Originally scheduled as a roundtable discussion, the presentation was moved to a breakout session and was well-attended. Panel members shared discussion, comments, and audience questions. Content proximal to the presentation focused on four areas involved in the collaborative move to an online delivery of a doctoral program: Notification, Development, Approval, and Implementation. However, audience participation drove discussions into areas of adult learning constructs, tuition, accreditation, and much more. Notification as a central topic was a review of the political and historical perspectives leading to ETSU’s program change when the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) announced a state-level initiative to move programs to online formats. ETSU had a fortyyear history of delivering a strong and well-respected Doctor of Education program, but. as the state-level movement continued, it was clear that ETSU would lead the way with its program. Development was the process of moving a rigorous program from the classroom to a fully online program. During this phase additional instructors were hired and resources were provided for training and curriculum change to accommodate non-traditional delivery models. Because of the state support and interest in moving this project, the program change occurred over an amazingly short time frame — approximately eight months. Approval as a phase occurred in concert with development as course work had to meet online guidelines and many courses were reviewed through processes in the department of educational technology. Approval phase issues also addressed accreditation issues pertaining to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools requiring online courses to retain rigor and be equivalent in content to the same or similar course delivered in a traditional construct. Implementation emerged as a review of the issues and opportunities of practical change in delivery models. As we all have experienced, no amount of training or preparation can remove the classroom moment of loss of connectivity or the inherent difficulties of getting students comfortable with using tools in a virtual environment. Questions from the audience moved panel participants into discussions of the wide variety of university resources for graduate students in online programs, including but not limited to a myriad of library resources, technology help resources, and lower tuition rates through an online consortium that allows online students to have access to in-state tuition rates. In the panel dialogue with the audience, it appeared that the ETSU program migration, though swift, was very thorough. One area that seemed to engage all was a possibility of moving toward strengthening culture in online programming through resources for family members of graduate students in online programming.

Doctoral students and graduates of the program in Higher Education, Division of Higher Education, North Texas State University, enrolled during the summer semester of 1980 were selected as the sample for the study. The purpose of the study was to determine the effectiveness of the doctoral program by (1) determining doctoral students' and graduates' experiences and reactions to the program, (2) measuring the extent that perceptions about the program by students differ from or are similar to those of graduates, (3) comparing these findings to an earlier study by Brice (19 74), (4) presenting conclusions and recommendations based on the findings of the study which could aid in the administration of the doctoral program, and (5) providing information for planning new program policies or supporting those already in existence.

The purpose of this study was to discover which southern universities have graduate preparatory programs in community college leadership and how, if at all, ethics is addressed in their curricula and in instruction. Surveys were mailed to 38 southern universities located in the Southern Regional Education Board member states. Of the 21 responses received, there were 16 usable responses from universities in these states. Through an examination of databases of Council for the Study of Community Colleges Graduate Studies and the American Association of Community Colleges Leadership Programs for Community College Professionals databases, 38 senior universities were found to have community college leadership programs. State programs were further confirmed through the survey to personnel listed on program websites for the universities. 15 of 16 southern universities responding to the survey item were found to have community college leadership preparatory programs that provide ethics instruction. Although the results of this survey indicate that the majority of the respondents include ethics in their curricula and in instruction, the manner in which they integrate it is varied and shows a lack of consensus among southern universities. Of the institutions that responded, the majority of respondents indicated that ethics instruction is integrated into specific discipline- or department-based courses. Offering ethics in an elective or general core course requirement was noted as a less common approach, but a viable alternative to the specific discipline- or department-based course method. Additionally, several respondents revealed that ethics instruction is institution-wide. This finding, in particular, is hopeful because it suggests that colleges are going beyond the confines of courses and degree programs and making ethics instruction a university priority. A review of the graduate preparatory programs in community college leadership courses, syllabi, and course descriptions revealed that a number of universities often incorporated instruction in ethics-based courses such as Ethical Decision Making or Ethics in the Workplace and Education. Conversely, the majority of the universities in this study addressed ethics through community college leadership core courses to include, but not limited to, The Community College, The History and Philosophy of the Community College, and Legal Aspects of Higher Education.