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- Title
- THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ACADEMIC AND STUDENT AFFAIRS COLLABORATION AND STUDENT SUCCESS IN RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES.
- Creator
-
Boggs, Elizabeth, Tubbs, LeVester, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
This study investigated the relationships, if any, between the number, nature, and organization of partnerships between academic and student affairs and measures of institutional success and student learning. Specifically, this research sought to: (a) investigate the relationships between the number, nature, and organization of partnerships with institutional retention rates, graduation rates, and students' engagement in educationally purposeful activities, (b) test the feasibility of a...
Show moreThis study investigated the relationships, if any, between the number, nature, and organization of partnerships between academic and student affairs and measures of institutional success and student learning. Specifically, this research sought to: (a) investigate the relationships between the number, nature, and organization of partnerships with institutional retention rates, graduation rates, and students' engagement in educationally purposeful activities, (b) test the feasibility of a classification system for the organization of partnerships developed by O'Halloran (2005), and (c) explore the alignment between reported goals for engaging in collaboration and the actual nature of existing partnerships. The population for the study consisted of 93 Senior Student Affairs Officers (SSAOs) at doctoral-granting institutions who participated in the spring, 2005 administration of the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). The survey instrument was adapted from O'Halloran (2005) and was administered in spring 2006. Of the 93 surveys administered, 52 were completed for a response rate of 55%. The findings indicated that the nature of the partnerships has significant effects on measures of institutional success and student learning. Furthermore, 75% of the respondents reported that their institutions had developed partnerships for the purpose of enhancing academic performance or increasing student retention and/or persistence. Implications of these findings are discussed in terms of the iterative relationships between the number/nature of partnerships, goals of partnerships, and outcomes of partnerships mediated by organizational structures and institutional characteristics.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2006
- Identifier
- CFE0001396, ucf:46958
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001396
- Title
- A PREDICTIVE MODEL FOR BENCHMARKING ACADEMIC PROGRAMS (PBAP)USING U.S. NEWS RANKING DATA FOR ENGINEERING COLLEGES OFFERING GRADUATE PROGRAMS.
- Creator
-
Chuck, Lisa, Tubbs, LeVester, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Improving national ranking is an increasingly important issue for university administrators. While research has been conducted on performance measures in higher education, research designs have lacked a predictive quality. Studies on the U.S. News college rankings have provided insight into the methodology; however, none of them have provided a model to predict what change in variable values would likely cause an institution to improve its standing in the rankings. The purpose of this study...
Show moreImproving national ranking is an increasingly important issue for university administrators. While research has been conducted on performance measures in higher education, research designs have lacked a predictive quality. Studies on the U.S. News college rankings have provided insight into the methodology; however, none of them have provided a model to predict what change in variable values would likely cause an institution to improve its standing in the rankings. The purpose of this study was to develop a predictive model for benchmarking academic programs (pBAP) for engineering colleges. The 2005 U.S. News ranking data for graduate engineering programs were used to create a four-tier predictive model (pBAP). The pBAP model correctly classified 81.9% of the cases in their respective tier. To test the predictive accuracy of the pBAP model, the 2005 U.S .News data were entered into the pBAP variate developed using the 2004 U.S. News data. The model predicted that 88.9% of the institutions would remain in the same ranking tier in the 2005 U.S. News rankings (compared with 87.7% in the actual data), and 11.1% of the institutions would demonstrate tier movement (compared with an actual 12.3% movement in the actual data). The likelihood of improving an institution's standing in the rankings was greater when increasing the values of 3 of the 11 variables in the U.S. News model: peer assessment score, recruiter assessment score, and research expenditures.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2005
- Identifier
- CFE0000431, ucf:46377
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000431
- Title
- A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF JOB COMPETENCY EXPECTATIONS FOR NEW HIRES: THE RELATIVE VALUE OF A HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT DEGREE.
- Creator
-
Ricci, Peter, Tubbs, LeVester, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
ABSTRACT This study compared lodging managers' job competency expectations for newly hired employees in possession of four-year (baccalaureate) degrees from a college or university. Lodging managers mentally separated new hires into two distinct categories when rating the importance of specific job competencies: 1) new hires in possession of a hospitality management baccalaureate degree, and 2) new hires in possession of a non-hospitality management baccalaureate degree. Lodging managers who...
Show moreABSTRACT This study compared lodging managers' job competency expectations for newly hired employees in possession of four-year (baccalaureate) degrees from a college or university. Lodging managers mentally separated new hires into two distinct categories when rating the importance of specific job competencies: 1) new hires in possession of a hospitality management baccalaureate degree, and 2) new hires in possession of a non-hospitality management baccalaureate degree. Lodging managers who were current members of the Central Florida Hotel & Lodging Association (CFHLA) at the time of the survey participated and all were employed in the central Florida area at the time of the study. In the fall of 2004, lodging managers (N=156) were sent an electronic mail correspondence requesting participation. Usable responses were received from 137 lodging managers for a response rate of 87.82%. The survey instrument was developed from a literature review of hospitality job competencies and was refined to 3 content areas: knowledge, ability, and attitude. Research questions were designed to identify differences, if any, in lodging manager new hire expectations based upon several criteria: a) type of baccalaureate degree held by the new hire (hospitality management versus other field), b) gender of the manager, c) number of years the manager had worked in the lodging industry, d) whether or not the manager possessed a baccalaureate degree at the time of the survey, e) if the manager possessed a baccalaureate degree, whether the degree was hospitality or non-hospitality specific, and, f) the type of lodging facility employing the manager at the time of questionnaire completion. These comparisons were made between the two groups of new-hires with baccalaureate hospitality degrees and new-hires with non-hospitality baccalaureate degrees. Consistently, lodging managers rated higher expectations for new-hires when the newly hired employees possessed a baccalaureate degree in hospitality or lodging management versus a non-hospitality discipline. Ramifications of these findings are discussed pursuant to higher education hospitality programs, the lodging industry, and human resource professionals recruiting future lodging managers. Future research is suggested utilizing a wider regional, national, and/or international sample.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2005
- Identifier
- CFE0000343, ucf:46304
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000343
- Title
- FACULTY PERCEPTIONS OF ALIGNMENT OFADMINISTRATIVE PRACTICES WITH A UNIVERSITY MISSIONUTILIZING A HOSPITALITY MODEL.
- Creator
-
Dickson, Duncan, Tubbs, LeVester, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of a university's faculty as to how the strategies, staffing policies, and systems procedures were aligned with the mission statement. Differences in perceptions were examined by college affiliation, rank, primary teaching assignment and gender. Data were analyzed to determine if there were correlations between faculty members' perceptions of alignment of the university's mission statement with administration's actions,...
Show moreThe purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of a university's faculty as to how the strategies, staffing policies, and systems procedures were aligned with the mission statement. Differences in perceptions were examined by college affiliation, rank, primary teaching assignment and gender. Data were analyzed to determine if there were correlations between faculty members' perceptions of alignment of the university's mission statement with administration's actions, policies, and procedures and their level of organizational commitment, job satisfaction, and overall satisfaction with their job and the organization The population for this study was comprised initially of 1363 teaching faculty members of the University of Central with more than one year of service and reduced to 1285 who were determined to meet the criteria for inclusion. The 67-item survey instrument used in this study was developed and copyrighted by Dr. Robert C. Ford (Ford et al, 2006), and was administered during January and February 2006 A total of 297 usable responses (23.1%) were returned. An analysis of all responses indicated that there was a wide disparity in perceptions and that respondents did not believe that there was a strong alignment of mission with administrative practices, policies, and procedures. This confirmed an earlier finding as to the importance of perception (Dickson, Ford, & Upchurch, 2006, Ford et al., 2006). Significant differences in faculty perceptions by college affiliation, university rank, and primary teaching assignment were identified. Significant differences based on gender were minimal. The correlations of items representing level of organizational commitment were highly correlated. Items representing job satisfaction and overall satisfaction with their job and the organization were moderately intercorrelated, and the interrelationship was not strong.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2007
- Identifier
- CFE0001684, ucf:47221
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001684
- Title
- THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ADMISSION CREDENTIALS AND THE SUCCESS OF STUDENTS ADMITTED TO A PHYSICS DOCTORAL PROGRAM.
- Creator
-
Wilkerson, Teresa, Tubbs, LeVester, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
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...
Show moreThe 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.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2007
- Identifier
- CFE0001524, ucf:47154
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001524
- Title
- A STUDY OF GENDER EQUALITY AT PRIVATE AND PUBLIC TWO-YEAR AND FOUR-YEAR FLORIDA INSTITUTIONS.
- Creator
-
Malaret, Stacey, Tubbs, LeVester, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
This study sought to examine the perception of gender equality from the viewpoint of women administrators at Florida public and private two- and four-year institutions. Potential respondents were chosen from American College Personnel Association and/or National Association of Student Personnel Administrators databases. The data used for this study were obtained from 32 female administrators (50% response rate) who completed a self-administered online questionnaire, distributed to potential...
Show moreThis study sought to examine the perception of gender equality from the viewpoint of women administrators at Florida public and private two- and four-year institutions. Potential respondents were chosen from American College Personnel Association and/or National Association of Student Personnel Administrators databases. The data used for this study were obtained from 32 female administrators (50% response rate) who completed a self-administered online questionnaire, distributed to potential respondents in August and September, 2007. Collected data were entered into an SPSS database. Through data analysis, confidence intervals were reported for each survey item. Comparable means were studied for each of the six independent variables used in the survey. A broad array of gender equality information was disclosed in the data and literature. This information provided a basis for further research topics on perception on gender equality in higher education administration.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2007
- Identifier
- CFE0001849, ucf:47375
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001849
- Title
- COOPERATIVE EDUCATION AS A PREDICTOR OF BACCALAUREATE DEGREE COMPLETION.
- Creator
-
Pacheco, Amanda, Tubbs, LeVester, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Baccalaureate degree completion statistics are surprisingly low. National four-year graduation rates hover around 38%, and six-year graduation rates have remained steady at approximately 63% (Berkner, He, & Cataldi, 2002). At the University of Central Florida, as at many public research institutions, the numbers are even lower. Literature has emerged, however, which suggests that students who participate in cooperative education programs may experience increased motivation to continue the...
Show moreBaccalaureate degree completion statistics are surprisingly low. National four-year graduation rates hover around 38%, and six-year graduation rates have remained steady at approximately 63% (Berkner, He, & Cataldi, 2002). At the University of Central Florida, as at many public research institutions, the numbers are even lower. Literature has emerged, however, which suggests that students who participate in cooperative education programs may experience increased motivation to continue the formal education process (Avenoso & Totoro, 1994; Schambach & Dirks, 2002; Somers, 1986). This study investigated the effect of co-op participation on undergraduate degree completion in the context of several risk factors for attrition. The population for this study was the cohort of full-time, bachelor's degree-seeking undergraduate students who entered the University of Central Florida as first-time-in-college (FTIC) students in the fall semester of 1999. Group One (Co-op Students) consisted of full-time FTIC students who successfully participated in the University of Central Florida Cooperative Education program and Group Two (Non-Participants) included full-time FTIC students with at least 20 credit hours completed and consistent grade point averages of at least 2.5 who did not participate in the University of Central Florida Cooperative Education program. The additional parameters on the Non-Participant group were included to control for any potential differences between the two groups due to increased requirements for participation in the co-op program. The two groups arrived at the University of Central Florida with nearly identical high school grade point averages and standardized test scores, and also were remarkably similar in age, ethnic composition, and college at entry. Results indicated that students who graduated within four years seemed to do so regardless of co-op participation, but for those who took longer, there was a correlation between co-op and degree completion. There was also some evidence to suggest that internships are associated with degree completion as well. Further, some of the known risk factors for attrition (lower high school grade point average, male gender, and non-White/non-Asian ethnicity) may be mitigated by the student's participation in their institution's co-op program, though additional research in this area is suggested.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2007
- Identifier
- CFE0001856, ucf:47354
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001856
- Title
- AN ASSESSMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING SERVICES PROVIDED BY FLORIDA PUBLIC COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.
- Creator
-
Benjamin, Tito, Tubbs, LeVester, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to assess mental health counseling services provided by Florida public community colleges and universities. The researcher of this study designed the Counseling Center Questionnaire instrument. This instrument consisted of two different questionnaires, one for community colleges and the other for universities. The questionnaires were developed to ascertain information regarding mental health services provided by higher education institutions. The...
Show moreABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to assess mental health counseling services provided by Florida public community colleges and universities. The researcher of this study designed the Counseling Center Questionnaire instrument. This instrument consisted of two different questionnaires, one for community colleges and the other for universities. The questionnaires were developed to ascertain information regarding mental health services provided by higher education institutions. The questionnaires yielded information pertaining to (a) which Florida community colleges and public universities were offering mental health counseling services to students, (b) the types of mental health counseling services provided, (c) the types of problems/issues students were reporting to counseling centers, and (d) the scope of mental health counseling services provided by Florida community colleges and universities. The findings indicated that only 5 of 20 Florida community colleges provided mental health services to students and all 7 universities who responded to the questionnaire provided such services to students. Community colleges provided fewer mental health services than did 4-year institutions. According to higher education counseling officials, students in all institutions experienced many of the same types of issues or problems including Anxiety, Depression, Bi-polar Disorders, Substance Abuse, Eating Disorders and Schizophrenia. Depression was the most frequently reported mental health issue among all students.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2005
- Identifier
- CFE0000633, ucf:46547
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000633
- Title
- A PREDICTIVE MODEL FOR BENCHMARKING ACADEMIC PROGRAMS (PBAP) USING U.S. NEWS RANKING DATA FOR ENGINEERING COLLEGES OFFERING GRADUATE PROGRAMS.
- Creator
-
Chuck, Lisa, Tubbs, LeVester, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Improving national ranking is an increasingly important issue for university administrators. While research has been conducted on performance measures in higher education, research designs have lacked a predictive quality. Studies on the U.S. News college rankings have provided insight into the methodology; however, none of them have provided a model to predict what change in variable values would likely cause an institution to improve its standing in the rankings. The purpose of this study...
Show moreImproving national ranking is an increasingly important issue for university administrators. While research has been conducted on performance measures in higher education, research designs have lacked a predictive quality. Studies on the U.S. News college rankings have provided insight into the methodology; however, none of them have provided a model to predict what change in variable values would likely cause an institution to improve its standing in the rankings. The purpose of this study was to develop a predictive model for benchmarking academic programs (pBAP) for engineering colleges. The 2005 U.S. News ranking data for graduate engineering programs were used to create a four-tier predictive model (pBAP). The pBAP model correctly classified 81.9% of the cases in their respective tier. To test the predictive accuracy of the pBAP model, the 2005 U.S .News data were entered into the pBAP variate developed using the 2004 U.S. News data. The model predicted that 88.9% of the institutions would remain in the same ranking tier in the 2005 U.S. News rankings (compared with 87.7% in the actual data), and 11.1% of the institutions would demonstrate tier movement (compared with an actual 12.3% movement in the actual data). The likelihood of improving an institution's standing in the rankings was greater when increasing the values of 3 of the 11 variables in the U.S. News model: peer assessment score, recruiter assessment score, and research expenditures.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2005
- Identifier
- CFE0000576, ucf:46422
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000576
- Title
- ANALYSIS OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ENROLLMENTSAT A FLORIDA PUBLIC UNIVERSITY.
- Creator
-
Weidman, Diana, Tubbs, LeVester, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
This study sought to determine if international student admissions at a public university had been affected by the events on September 11, 2001. To accomplish this, an analysis was conducted comparing international and domestic students' application rates, number of acceptances and enrollments for the fall semesters from 1998 through 2004 on data obtained from University of South Florida. The USF population data were also compared to enrollments in the U.S. for the respective years. Analyses...
Show moreThis study sought to determine if international student admissions at a public university had been affected by the events on September 11, 2001. To accomplish this, an analysis was conducted comparing international and domestic students' application rates, number of acceptances and enrollments for the fall semesters from 1998 through 2004 on data obtained from University of South Florida. The USF population data were also compared to enrollments in the U.S. for the respective years. Analyses on application frequencies and student enrollments comparing colleges of major and regions of origin were also performed. Generally, although statistical significance was found in many comparisons, the results of the chi square analyses found that no real effects were present, particularly when comparing USF international and domestic student populations. The chi square analyses comparing USF enrollments to the U.S. population from 1998 to 2003 also found no real effect. The analyses of the proportions of international graduate and domestic student enrollments and applications before and after September 11, 2001, also found no relationship. However, the analyses on world regions found that proportions of students from the Mideast declined from before to after Fall 2001 but other regions increased. Additionally, for graduate students, the proportion of Chinese students declined after 2001. Descriptive statistics indicated that international students majoring in engineering declined after 2001. The literature review found there were many factors in influencing the international student population in the U.S. including competition from other countries for students, the expense of a U.S education and changes in the U.S. regulations for issuing student visas. In general, the literature supported a decline in the number of overseas students coming to the U.S. to study. While the USF enrollments seemed to be consistent with the literature, no conclusive evidence indicated this decline was a result of the events of September 11, 2001.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2005
- Identifier
- CFE0000559, ucf:46419
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000559
- Title
- A FAITH-BASED PROGRAM EVALUATION: MORAL DEVELOPMENT OF SEMINARY STUDENTS AT THE LOUISIANA STATE PENITENTIARY.
- Creator
-
Sabin, Bruce, Tubbs, LeVester, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
The purpose of this dissertation was to conduct an outcomes-based program evaluation for the Louisiana State Penitentiary (Angola) campus of the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. The study included one primary research question, with two subquestions. The primary research question asked to what extent students in the program developed moral judgment consistent with program goals of rehabilitating students and preparing them for effective ministry. The first subquestion asked whether...
Show moreThe purpose of this dissertation was to conduct an outcomes-based program evaluation for the Louisiana State Penitentiary (Angola) campus of the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. The study included one primary research question, with two subquestions. The primary research question asked to what extent students in the program developed moral judgment consistent with program goals of rehabilitating students and preparing them for effective ministry. The first subquestion asked whether statistically significant differences existed in the moral reasoning of students of different class years. The second subquestion asked whether statistically significant differences existed in the moral reasoning of students of different personality types. A cross-sectional study was conducted with students during the fall of 2005 using the Defining Issues Test 2 (DIT-2) and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) instruments. All 101 program students were invited to participate in the study. To provide a benchmark for student scores, 30 Seminary faculty members were asked to complete the DIT-2. The student response rates were 94% for the DIT-2 instrument and 97% for the MBTI instrument. The response rate for faculty was 20%. After removing two outliers from the freshmen class, statistically significant differences were found in the principled moral reasoning scores (P scores) of freshmen (m = 22.146, sd = 12.002) and juniors (m = 30.274, sd = 13.165). No significant differences were found in moral reasoning based upon personality types. The mean P score among faculty members was 34.02 (sd = 15.25). In response to the primary research question, it was determined student scores did show moral reasoning differences consistent with the program goals. Conclusions reached in this study were limited because of the cross-sectional design. Further research is necessary before conclusions may be generalized beyond the sample.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2006
- Identifier
- CFE0001039, ucf:46795
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001039
- Title
- NATIONAL MERIT FINALISTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA-TRENDS, ATTRITION, AND RETENTION1997-2005.
- Creator
-
Norburn, Jill, Tubbs, LeVester, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
The purpose of this study was to examine the trends, attrition and retention rates of National Merit Finalists at the University of Central Florida between the years of 1997 to 2005. This study was intended to provide information for higher education practitioners, faculty, and administrators to help them better understand the expectations and current trends of National Merit Finalists. The problem was to determine how to increase recruitment and retention while decreasing the attrition rates...
Show moreThe purpose of this study was to examine the trends, attrition and retention rates of National Merit Finalists at the University of Central Florida between the years of 1997 to 2005. This study was intended to provide information for higher education practitioners, faculty, and administrators to help them better understand the expectations and current trends of National Merit Finalists. The problem was to determine how to increase recruitment and retention while decreasing the attrition rates of these highly desirable students. The importance of this study includes identifying trends that may aid in future recruitment efforts for National Merit Finalists; finding the causes of dissatisfaction towards the University among these students; and identifying specific areas in which to alleviate those dissatisfactions. The results will hopefully provide insight into specific recruitment, services, and programming options for these students. The study examined data that was collected from the University of Central Florida's Burnett Honors College database known as FileMaker 8.0. The data examined characteristics such as grade point averages (high school and college); valedictorian and salutatorian status; test scores (SAT and ACT); Honors in the Major (undergraduate thesis) students; Honors and university status (withdrawn, probation, removed, disqualified, enrolled, graduated); Honors college attrition; university attrition; ethnicity; gender ratios; majors; and, prestigious scholarships awarded in college (such as the Rhodes, Truman, Marshall). The actual size of the sample was one hundred ninety-eight National Merit Finalists. Data was also collected from a survey given to all University of Central Florida National Merit Finalists. Descriptive statistics were reported for each of the components examined. This data examined the types of scholarship packages that National Merit Finalists were offered; the reasons students chose the University of Central Florida over other universities; the college recruitment process; hours studied for the PSAT; siblings; perceptions on being a National Merit Finalist; the number of times students changed their majors; job status; transportation; computer attainment; disabilities; and the potential disadvantages of being labeled as a National Merit Finalist. The data could be utilized to examine the trends of our National Merit Finalists, in order to see what is working and what is not in terms or recruitment and retention; and also to further examine what these students want from their institutions. Findings indicated that problems exist in regard to the following: the recruitment of female and minority National Merit Finalists; males historically score higher on the SAT than females; decreasing the attrition rates of this population at the University of Central Florida; the majority of National Merit Finalists at the University of Central Florida come from Florida; the majority of National Merit Finalists at the University of Central Florida do not tend to be high school salutatorians or valedictorians; high school counselors seem to be the least effective tool for recruiting National Merit Finalists at the University of Central Florida; and the majority of National Merit Finalists at the University of Central Florida did not study at all for the PSAT test. However, the University of Central Florida is extremely competitive with other institutions of higher education with regard to scholarship packages. Results also revealed the following: the SAT is a more widely accepted tool for determining NMSC status as opposed to the ACT; the majority of National Merit Finalists have a GPA between 3.600 and 3.999 at the University of Central Florida; the University of Central Florida is succeeding in making its National Merit Finalists feel special during the recruitment process; the most influential reason that National Merit Finalists are choosing UCF is based upon the financial scholarship packages they are offered; and the majority of National Merit Finalists at the University of Central Florida do not feel that there are disadvantages toward being labeled as such. This data provides a basis for further research on National Merit Finalists trends, attrition, and retention. Practical considerations are revealed in the data that will influence future recruitment methods and lead to higher retention rates and increased student satisfaction. Several other recommendations are made to conduct further research studies on the trends, attrition, and retention rates of National Merit Finalists.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2006
- Identifier
- CFE0000931, ucf:46760
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000931
- Title
- A COMPARISON OF STUDENT PERCEPTIONS OF LEARNING IN THEIR CO-OP AND INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCES AND THE CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT: A STUDY OF HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT STUDENTS.
- Creator
-
Lee, Scott, Tubbs, LeVester, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
This study analyzed hospitality management student perceptions of learning both inside the classroom environment and student perceptions of learning in their experiential learning assignments outside the classroom. There were 681 students attending the Rosen College of Hospitality Management at the University of Central Florida who participated in this study. A modified version of the Predicting Learner Advancement through Cooperative Education (P.L.A.C.E.) instrument was used in order to...
Show moreThis study analyzed hospitality management student perceptions of learning both inside the classroom environment and student perceptions of learning in their experiential learning assignments outside the classroom. There were 681 students attending the Rosen College of Hospitality Management at the University of Central Florida who participated in this study. A modified version of the Predicting Learner Advancement through Cooperative Education (P.L.A.C.E.) instrument was used in order to collect data for the study. The P.L.A.C.E. instrument was developed to be a standardized instrument measuring pre-graduation learning outcomes in the following four areas: (a) career development, (b) academic functions achievement, (c) work skills development, and (d) personal growth/development (Parks et al., 2001). This study attempted to add to the literature regarding learning outcomes by contrasting learning in the classroom environment and cooperative education learning assignments. Many leading hospitality curriculums currently incorporate an experiential learning component into their curriculums. Some of the documented benefits of experiential learning or cooperative education programs include: (a) improved student self confidence, self-concept, and improved social skills (Gillan, Davies, & Beissel, 1984). (b) increased practical knowledge and skills (Williams et al. (1993), and (c) enhanced employment opportunities (Clark, 1994; Sharma, Mannel & Rowe, 1995). This study confirmed all of these previously documented benefits of experiential learning, and identified new learning outcomes or benefits for students who participate in experiential learning, such as an increased understanding of how organizations function, increased ability to view career expectations realistically, an increased network of professional contacts, increased ability to take initiative, increased ability to adapt to change, increased leadership skills and increased financial management skills. Unlike many other studies, this study investigated student perceptions of learning in both their classroom environments and their experiential learning assignments at the same time. This allowed the researcher a unique opportunity to compare and contrast each learning environment and identify specific benefits for each.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2006
- Identifier
- CFE0001284, ucf:46911
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001284
- Title
- PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE: FLORIDA COMMUNITY COLLEGES' PREPARATIONS FOR THE ADVENT OF HIGH DEFINITION TELEVISION.
- Creator
-
Wyly, Sharon, Tubbs, LeVester, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Throughout the literature, researchers reported on the problems that post-secondary institutions have had with technology (Birchard, 2001; Green, 2003; Starrett & Rogers, 2003;). Given limited budgets and the need to train faculty and staff, many colleges have struggled to find a way to use technology to enhance, not hinder, pedagogy (Cuban, 2001; Oppenheimer, 2003). This study was conducted to examine the impact of the federally mandated change in the television standard to high definition...
Show moreThroughout the literature, researchers reported on the problems that post-secondary institutions have had with technology (Birchard, 2001; Green, 2003; Starrett & Rogers, 2003;). Given limited budgets and the need to train faculty and staff, many colleges have struggled to find a way to use technology to enhance, not hinder, pedagogy (Cuban, 2001; Oppenheimer, 2003). This study was conducted to examine the impact of the federally mandated change in the television standard to high definition television (HDTV) on Florida's community colleges. Surveys were sent to the chief technology officers of the 28 community colleges in Florida. Additionally, eight interviews were conducted in five of the institutions. From both the qualitative data and the quantitative data, a picture emerged of the institutions and the conversion status. Of the 17 survey respondents, 11 reported no plans for conversion. Of those that did have plans for conversion, few concrete details were reported. Instead, the representatives of the institutions seemed to believe that it was not necessary to make plans for the change to HDTV. Costs represented the major concern of the survey respondents with implementation and training listed as the second and third most important issues. Many participants from the community colleges had some thoughts about HDTV, but these were more on the departmental level rather than college-wide. HDTV was projected to become the television standard in February 2009. The long lead time on this innovation should have provided community colleges with time to plan. As revealed, however, community colleges in Florida failed to plan for change.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2008
- Identifier
- CFE0002005, ucf:47629
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002005