A now-common question regarding whether or not individuals should pursue college degrees is whether college is worth the cost. One of the ways that institutions of higher learning may help students reduce cost of attending college, thereby reducing the financial stresses, is to reduce expenses where possible. One place where institutions of higher…

The primary purpose of this research was to examine institutional characteristics of four-year, public colleges and universities that closed off-site locations between 2012 and 2019 through the lens of resource dependence theory. As institutions attempt to maximize their available resources and make the best use of existing resources, there will…

This dissertation project began with the development of a Design-Focused Approach (DFA) to First-Year Composition (FYC) curriculum largely informed by multimodal pedagogical theory. In the DFA to FYC curriculum, I highlighted the importance of multiliteracy and the demand for multiple modalities for students to effectively communicate in various…

The importance of textbooks and other materials to the educational process cannot be overstated. Unfortunately, the prices on these vital learning materials have continued to grow steadily year over year (Hanson, 2021). Open educational resources (OER), which are "teaching, learning, and research materials that are either (a) in the public…

Background/significance: The World Health Organization identified bullying in childhood as major health problem; studies document its profound impact on physical, mental, and social well-being. To prevent these impacts, interventions need to be implemented. Bullying peaks in middle school; therefore, it is important to prepare school nurses to…

Many resources for jazz educators and students are readily available online for free. With consistent video content and online platform growth across the globe, jazz educators are called upon to engage within this digital discourse. Additionally, they must find new ways of adopting these resources and administer them within their curriculum. How…

The main topics of this dissertation are: 1) the development and discussion of a new molecular balance for measuring alkyl-alkyl interactions in a wide array of organic solvents, 2) the development of linear solvation energy relationships between solvent interaction parameters and solvent accessible surface area (SASA) in CH-arene interactions,…

This study addresses the critical issue of low-income student success at Tri-County Community College (TCCC), with a specific focus on reducing the financial barriers posed by commercial textbooks. Recognizing the disproportionate impact of these costs on low-income students, the study implements an improvement initiative leveraging Open…

Response to Intervention (RTI) has emerged as a leading framework for closing achievement gaps--a priority in education to ensure that all students, regardless of their background, have equal access to quality education and the opportunity to succeed academically. Nonetheless, the extent to which RTI is effectively implemented can vary…

In the United States, accreditation was a mandatory requirement that placed stress, financial burden, and alignment to various standards on universities. The changes that had occurred in educator preparation over the past decade left many institutions confused and untrusting in the process (Burnett, 2020). Due to these changes, the relationship…

A college education is becoming increasingly expensive, and the burden of this cost is often felt disproportionately by marginalized students. One aspect of rising college costs are textbook prices, which have increased at a rate that far surpasses inflation. Open educational resources (OER; free, openly-licensed course materials) or Affordable…

This study examined Open Educational Resources (OER) through a community college faculty perspective. Specifically, this study aimed to gain a deeper understanding of faculty motivations surrounding OER, faculty perceptions of OER's influences on students, and pedagogical changes that faculty have made in response to OER. A qualitative research…

Nine higher education institutional administrators who embraced and supported OER (Open Educational Resources) implementation on their campuses were interviewed. As a generic, qualitative, inductive study, the goal of the research was to uncover what motivated them to lend their time and energy to such an initiative; how they perceived the value…

Teachers are responsible for providing opportunities to use learning strategies in the classroom. The students' engagement shows an observable reflection of the educator's teaching practice. This qualitative case study highlights teachers' perceptions of student engagement in the urban elementary classroom. The research questions asked about…

This qualitative case study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of reading literacy teachers based on teacher perceptions. The case study was an examination of instructional practices, strategies, professional developments, and resources at they relate to effective reading instruction. Reading is the core to education because it is…