K-12 educational systems are currently facing the issue of special education teachers leaving their positions prematurely and the struggle to retain highly qualified special education teachers. The attrition rate of special education teachers continues to rise due to the demands placed on this group of teachers, such as behavior and discipline…

The number of enrolled international students in U.S. higher education has grown from 71,616 in 2009 to 1,095,299 in 2019, accounting for 5.5% of the entire U.S. higher education population (Institute of International Education, 2019). Large numbers of international students graduate with a U.S. bachelor's degree, and many desire to seek…

The question of undergraduate labor organizing has been debated by scholars since the 2016 "Columbia" decision, which now includes undergraduates. Scholars view rhetoric and composition analysis centered on students as writers and scholars, but this project shows that the field is not getting the full picture of student labor movements.…

This dissertation examines the impact of the Teacher Effectiveness and Accountability for the Children of New Jersey (TEACHNJ) Act on teacher tenure revocation in New Jersey. Employing a qualitative content analysis approach, the study analyzes 270 arbitration decisions from 2012 to 2023 to identify the specific legislative provisions that most…

The problem is school systems may lack detailed guidelines on how teachers make physical contact with their students and protect themselves from false accusations of inappropriate behaviors. The purpose of this qualitative exploratory case study was to explore the perceptions of K-8 administrators and teachers on school and school districts…

U.S. higher education institutions and international educators have sought to improve the level of engagement and participation in education abroad among undergraduate college students as well as to diversify the types of available experiences and the students that benefit from them. Yet, this programmatic investment in international education and…

The present study sets out to understand the interlocking experiences of undocumented status and queer identities as immigrant young adults pursue higher education degrees in the United States. A framework for future research is presented, which 1) is based on a queer understanding of the construction of legality, 2) posits that a multiply…

This study is a qualitative analysis of the use of best practices in vocational training for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in the Omaha metropolitan area. Best practices from the transition literature related to vocational training were identified as transition planning, parental involvement, community support,…

This dissertation analyzed court decisions in injuries on school grounds cases under the Louisiana Governmental Claims Act. The question addressed was: How have the Louisiana courts interpreted the Louisiana Governmental Claims Act in litigation against Louisiana school districts and their employees? The intent of this study was to show how…

This study contributes to new literature on patterns of conjoint alcohol and marijuana use within a college population. In addition to examining patterns of use in college and subsequent consequences, this paper will also help identify substance-specific consequences. Participants included 473 entering freshmen at a Bay Area university who…

The aim of this study was to determine the perceptions higher education faculty members and administrators have on the use of social media, whether academic freedom applies to social media, and the legal protections of academic freedom on social media. A quantitative survey and semi-structured interviews were employed to gather descriptive data…

The use of interpretative phenomenological analysis served as a lens to direct the researcher in making meaning of the experiences of African American college presidents leading predominantly White institutions with race-conscious affirmative action policies in higher education. This study was a chronicle of the voices of African American college…

The National Collegiate Athletic Association and the manner in which it governs intercollegiate athletics has come under intense scrutiny in its recent history. The area within the NCAA's policy's and legislation that has come under fire the most is its regulation on student-athlete amateurism. Within the past few decades the NCAA has faced an…

Immigration and education policies between state and federal levels often push students into a cyclical web of contradictions that replicate systemic injustices and leave many students in a conundrum of uncertainty to their access and continued eligibility to attend higher education. Drawing from Critical Race Theory (CRT), Latino Critical Theory…

Higher education has experienced challenges defining and implementing copyright compliance. Confusion among faculty and staff appears to be common regarding copyright and fair use. The original copyright doctrine was drafted over 200 years ago, which predates practically all technological advances that have and will continue to occur. Change is…