Family Science is an exciting field which offers a multitude of career pathways, including Family Life Educator (FLE) and the Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) credential. In this article, I will discuss how, as a Family Life Educator in a university setting, I employ Bronfenbrenner's bioecological model of human development (Bronfenbrenner…

This exploratory study investigated the factors that influence family science SoTL scholars' decisions regarding where to submit their FS-SoTL work for publication consideration, contributing to ISSOTL's Grand Challenge #5. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected from 12 SoTL-active family science faculty members. The results of the…

The work of Urie Bronfenbrenner is a key framework in Family Science, yet there are many areas where it has seldom been applied, including in the processes experienced by divorcing families in Family Court. Acknowledging the paucity of scholarship applying ecological systems theory to these topics, the paper offers instructive interpretations of…

Many colleges and universities utilize faculty advisors for academic advising. In this model, faculty advise students in their discipline on curriculum requirements, as well as career and academic goals. Faculty often report feeling that they have had little training or support for their role as an academic advisor. Faculty advisors in the field…

Family science literature has documented the benefits of studying abroad on students' overall development. However, research has focused less on the challenges that students experience while studying abroad. This study aimed to explore the challenges family science students experienced in a semester-long study abroad program. Qualitative data were…

Certified Child Life Specialists (CCLS) are an integral part of the healthcare team, who address children and families' psychosocial needs and help children and families cope throughout their healthcare experiences. The history of child life, description of the interventions provided by Certified Child Life Specialists, and educational preparation…

The current content analysis examines work-family conflict (work-to-family conflict and family-to-work conflict) research published between January 2010 and December 2018. The bioecological theory was used as a conceptual framework to deductively develop and guide the content-coding of hypotheses/research questions. Fifty-eight empirical articles…

Family and consumer sciences (FCS) has a rich history dating back to its origins as home economics. The profession has always been rooted in multiple branches of science including chemistry, biology, sociology, and psychology. The Family and Consumer Sciences Body of Knowledge (FCS-BOK) unveiled at the turn of the 21st century helped solidify the…

Contract grading can provide an alternative to traditional grading systems. The goal of this exploratory study was to determine students' reactions to grade contracts as well as their perceived usefulness in undergraduate courses. Contract grading is becoming more popular in higher education. Using a sample of 41 students across three…

One of the central purposes of an introductory family science textbook is to introduce students to the theory and research methods that are commonly used in the discipline and to the applications of research to practical issues confronting families. We examined seventeen textbooks published between 2012-2019 regarding the amount of content devoted…

Families of children with disabilities have unique relational needs that may be addressed by practitioners in the field of family science. In this article, we discuss how relational feminism was used as an approach to working with families in a rural Special Education program to facilitate success for very young students with neurodevelopmental…

Outcomes assessment in an academic family science program led to the accidental discovery of grade inflation that was causing impaction problems in upper-division major courses. The current analysis evaluates the effectiveness of a policy intervention designed to improve academic rigor in previously grade-inflated classes. The new policy required…

Technological advances have created a myriad of possibilities for university teaching, administration, and research. In particular, the internet makes it possible for teaching and meetings to occur when faculty and students are in different locations, and the use of such technologies has seen an unprecedented upsurge since the COVID-19 pandemic.…

As middle managers in higher education, department chairs play a critical role in the university structure while operating in an ambiguous location between faculty and senior administration. This paper will take a closer look at the role of department chair, how chairs are selected and prepared for the position, what the job entails, qualities of…

This study examined the presence of Scholarship of Teaching and Learning [SoTL] scholarship published in four refereed, disciplinary family science journals: "Family Science Review," "Journal of Marriage & Family," "Family Relations," and "Journal of Family Theory & Review" from 2009-2018. Results…