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Advocating for Transitional Programs for Adolescents with IDD and ASD
No full textThis capstone project aimed to empower HIPsters at My Possibilities, a higher education and transitional program located in Plano, TX. Specifically, this project equipped individuals diagnosed with intellectual developmental disability (IDD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with the essential components required to effectively advocate for themselves. Due to the unique challenges this population faces, these components were subjective, allowing for receptivity and class engagement, over the course of 6 weeks. These subjective components developed were Communication, Knowing Yourself, Knowing Your Rights, Goal Making, Initiative, Problem-Solving, Handling Adversity, Managing Emotions, Selflessness, Leadership, and Teamwork. Upon completion of the course, HIPsters reported an increased knowledge of self-advocacy and how to effectively express their wants, needs, and desires. Therefore, increasing their ability to overcome any environmental, social, and educational barriers they may face. Additionally, a deliverable containing lesson plans and classroom structuring was constructed and presented to the staff at My Possibilities for the continuation of the self-advocacy class. Ultimately, this project strives to educate and bring awareness to self-advocacy and the importance it has for transitioning into adulthood
A Qualitative Study on Black Women Leaders and Their Career Paths in Higher Education
No full textBlack women remain significantly underrepresented in senior leadership roles within higher education, especially in the presidency at historically Black colleges and universities. This qualitative phenomenological study explored the career paths and challenges Black women faced through their lived experiences in leadership roles across higher education institutions within predominantly White institutions and HBCUs. Guided by Black Feminist Thought as the theoretical lens, the study examined the intersecting barriers of race and gender that shaped the participants’ leadership trajectories in higher education. Data were collected through open-ended questionnaires, allowing participants to reflect on systemic inequities, mentorship experiences, and leadership development. Findings revealed that participants encountered persistent stereotypes, strained relationships with governing boards, limited access to mentorship, and high turnover pressures, all of which hindered their career advancement. Despite these challenges, participants demonstrated resilience, leveraging support networks and adaptive leadership practices to navigate institutional and cultural barriers. The study underscores the significance of mentorship, inclusive hiring practices, and leadership development programs in addressing the underrepresentation of Black women in higher education leadership. These findings have implications for boards of trustees, policymakers, and academic leaders committed to creating equitable pathways for Black women leaders and advancing diversity in higher education administration. Keywords: Black women leaders, higher education leadership, organizational leadership, Black feminist thought, qualitative phenomenology, intersectionality, leadership developmen
A Qualitative Descriptive Study on the Importance of Principal Leadership on Title I Middle School Teachers’ Decisions to Remain Teaching in the School
No full textThis qualitative descriptive study examined the perspectives of novice middle school teachers with 0–5 years of experience who taught core academic subjects in Texas Title I school districts. I sought to understand how principal leadership or the building administrator to whom these teachers report influenced their decisions to remain in the teaching profession. Grounded in Herzberg’s motivation-hygiene theory, I described how leadership functions as both a motivator and a hygiene factor in shaping job satisfaction and retention. Data collection involved semistructured interviews and an optional Likert scale survey to capture both narrative insights and measurable perceptions. The findings illuminated the leadership behaviors and school culture conditions that contributed to teacher motivation, professional commitment, and retention. This research provided valuable implications for school leaders and policymakers seeking to enhance support systems and reduce turnover among early-career educators in under resourced, high-need schools. Keywords: teacher retention, novice teacher, Title I schools, motivation-hygiene theory, middle school education, principal, leadership, teacher, motivatio
Electronic Health Record Downtime
Get PDFElectronic health record (EHR) downtime presents significant challenges to patient safety and care quality in acute care settings, particularly regarding timely medication administration. This project addressed the problem of late or absent medication doses during planned or unplanned EHR downtime. The investigator aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured downtime plan in improving nurses’ ability to administer medications on time during periods of EHR unavailability. The investigator used a quantitative design to implement a downtime plan evaluation paradigm. Data were collected using retrospective chart reviews of medication administration records pre-implementation and postimplementation of the downtime plan. The sample included over 1,000 scheduled medication doses from adult inpatient medical–surgical, progressive care, and intensive care units at a large urban hospital in Texas. The intervention procedures involved implementing an evidence-based downtime plan, including staff downtime practice and standardized documentation tools. Medication administration timeliness was assessed by calculating the number of medications given late or absent before and after the intervention. Chi-square analysis was used to evaluate differences between pre- and postintervention periods. Results showed no statistically significant difference in the rate of timely medication administration between the two periods. Descriptive findings indicated increased staff confidence, improved understanding of downtime procedures, and more consistent documentation practices following implementation. While the intervention did not significantly reduce the number of delayed or omitted doses, the findings suggest that structured preparation and staff training may contribute to better workflow and perceived readiness during EHR downtime. The project highlights the importance of continued evaluation of system processes and supports the development of comprehensive downtime plans that address multiple factors contributing to medication administration delays
Overcoming Second-Order Barriers to Teachers’ Technology Integration: A Study of Positive Impacts
Get PDFThis study explored K–12 public school teachers’ self-efficacy, value, and pedagogical beliefs about technology. The teachers worked in a medium-sized, semi-affluent public school district in North Texas. The study investigated second-order barriers to technology integration and what might positively impact teachers’ self-efficacy, value, and pedagogical beliefs. This study used a qualitative descriptive methodology to collect qualitative data about their beliefs by interviewing and observing K–12 classroom teachers who had completed a bachelor’s degree through a traditional teacher education program. Teachers with alternative certifications or noncertified classroom instructors were omitted. Findings revealed that external factors, failure, mistakes, confidence, and professional development positively influenced self-efficacy beliefs. Their value beliefs were positively influenced by external factors and time, and their pedagogical beliefs by students’ learning needs and the classroom environment. The study concluded that educational leaders could help teachers overcome second-order barriers by understanding and acting upon what positively affects teachers’ classroom technology integration
A Theology of Public Witness for Churches of Christ in the 21st Century
Get PDFIn a time of increasingly divisive rhetoric and polarization, churches are facing new challenges that threaten their unity and mission. Churches of Christ find themselves in a peculiar position in this cultural moment. We do not bear the negative baggage associated with Evangelicalism’s drift into Christian nationalism and an enmeshment with the Religious Right. And yet, our witness has been muted through our silence pertaining to matters of public life and ethics. In this paper, I set out to investigate the historical reasons for our silence and to suggest a theology of public witness for Churches of Christ in the 21st century. Christians have an opportunity to offer an alternative politic to the two partisan political visions offered by modern American democracy. As we follow Jesus, our public witness must decidedly focus on the interests of others, particularly the oppressed and marginalized whose cries we encounter as we do justice in our communities. In a world increasingly willing and prepared to use violence, Christian communities must remain committed to nonviolent action as we seek to love our neighbors
Advancing Medical Education With Lifestyle Medicine: A Comprehensive Program Evaluation Using the Kirkpatrick Framework
No full textThis dissertation examined how a U.S. national lifestyle medicine residency curriculum influenced resident learning and practice using a program evaluation paradigm with a convergent mixed methods design guided by Kirkpatrick’s four-level evaluation model. The problem addressed was the persistent gap between evidence for lifestyle interventions and the limited preparation residents receive to deliver lifestyle counseling in routine care. The purpose of the study was to evaluate changes in residents’ reactions, learning, and clinical behaviors and to identify early patient-level signals and the implementation conditions that enabled or constrained behavior change. Quantitative methods analyzed archived pre- and posttraining surveys from 148 residents across multiple specialties and sites. Data collection included item-level reaction, knowledge, confidence, and behavior ratings; procedures included data cleaning, descriptive statistics, paired nonparametric tests appropriate for ordinal outcomes, and effect size estimation, with valid denominators reported per item. Qualitative methods included semistructured interviews with 15 residents, conducted via videoconference, transcribed verbatim, member checked, and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Integration used joint displays to connect quantitative movement with qualitative explanations of mechanisms. Quantitative results indicated statistically significant, practically meaningful improvements in knowledge, confidence, and frequency of lifestyle counseling behaviors. Qualitative findings showed that residents incorporated lifestyle practices into daily visits by using brief openers, specific and time-bound goal setting, simple prescriptions, and quick referrals, supported by microworkflows, electronic health record tools, and one-page patient handouts. Reported early patient-level signals included medication reduction, improved clinical measures, and enhanced patient engagement; these signals were self-reported and noncausal. Barriers included time pressure, documentation burden, variable faculty modeling, and inconsistent local resources. Conclusions were that the curriculum was associated with positive movement across Levels 1 to 3 and with plausible early indicators at Level 4 when key drivers were present, such as faculty exemplars, embedded tools, and streamlined workflows. Recommendations included institutionalizing these drivers, expanding faculty development, and conducting follow-on studies that link resident behaviors to electronic health record outcomes using stronger comparative designs
Community College Student Admissions Experiences
No full textCommunity college students have always faced barriers to going to college and getting their degrees. Much of the research centers on the completion of their degrees. The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological study was to understand the experiences of community college students during enrollment. To understand how community college students experience the enrollment process, the study used phenomenology to hear the experiences of students through semistructured interviews. Findings showed that three broad themes emerged from this research. First, students felt both nervous and uncertain about college, but they also recognized the importance of college to improve their lives. Second, students reported some challenges along the way to admission, particularly gathering the necessary documents to submit and preparing for financial aid to cover class costs. Third, students were able to overcome these barriers with support from both staff and family. These findings suggest that higher education leaders should ensure that staff have the necessary training and tools to support students through the admissions process. Some students have supportive families to help them through the admissions process. Other students rely on staff to help them understand what needs to be done to complete the admissions process. Colleges should not neglect admissions policies and procedures. Hearing from students can help leaders understand how students experience the process and the barriers they face
A Roadmap for Equipping Saints for the Work of Ministry at Sugar Land Church of Christ
No full textThe purpose of this project was to create a roadmap for a process that invites and equips saints at Sugar Land Church of Christ to work in ministry. As part of the research process, a design team was empaneled and met for eight sessions, during which participants offered valuable insight into Sugar Land’s ministry context. This data informed the final roadmap. Ephesians 4, which discusses the importance of every member getting involved in ministry, serves as the foundation of this project. The work of every member is for the edification of the entire group, and the calling and gift of church leaders is to equip others to work in ministry. First Corinthians 12 also lends insight into Sugar Land’s context in that Paul, in this letter, informs his audience of how the diverse gifts come together to benefit the group. Further, this project uses Complexity Leadership Theory (CLT), which values the input of members at all levels and encourages leaders to create adaptive space that invites innovation. The conclusions of the research established that Sugar Land could benefit by getting more volunteers involved in ministry. Research also indicated that there was no formal process that invites or equips volunteers. Accordingly, the design team developed a roadmap for Sugar Land to use as a guide to help create a process to welcome more volunteers to participate in ministry