Theses/Dissertations from 2023
Paul's Approach to Social Superiority in the Corinthian Church Applied to Racial Superiority in the 21st Century Church, Michael R. Burns
This study aimed to create a model to guide multiracial churches through a process of engaging effectively in the type of equity imagined in Scripture. Paul’s letter, 1 Corinthians, was examined to determine his response to the social syste...
Misidentifying English Language Learners with Learning Disabilities, Suzan Cevheroglu
This thesis explores the multifaceted issue of misidentifying English Language Learners (ELLs) with learning disabilities (LDs) in the educational system. The study begins by delving into the complicated reasons underlying such misidentific...
Misidentifying English Language Learners with Learning Disabilities, Suzan Cevheroglu
This thesis explores the multifaceted issue of misidentifying English Language Learners (ELLs) with learning disabilities (LDs) in the educational system. The study begins by delving into the complicated reasons underlying such misidentific...
Teachers’ Self-Efficacy and Their Response to Students’ Disruptive Behavior, Nathan Elliott
Disruptive classroom behavior is a frequent topic of concern for teachers who are emotionally exhausted by the profession. The discrepancies in the treatment of students from different demographic groups create the need to research the fact...
Advantages and Disadvantages of Special Education Students in the Mainstream Classrooms, Nikki L. Evens
This systematic review of the literature aimed to understand the advantages of placing special education students in mainstream classrooms and identify barriers to positive experiences among special education students. Findings from seconda...
Digital Archives as Socially and Civically Just Public Resources, Kent Gerber
How can the digital humanities community ensure that its digital archives are public resources that live up to the best potential of digital humanities without repeating or perpetuating power imbalances, silences, or injustice? A framework ...
Community School Programming, Timothy D Gilbert
Contemporary educational legislation is pushing a resurgence of historic educational program models to meet historic and contemporary barriers to student and school achievement. School districts, especially in urban centers are faced with i...
A Literature Review: Creating and Maintaining Inclusion, Emily Goodson
This literature review examines the different parts that are needed in order to create and maintain an inclusive classroom. The success of students in an inclusive classroom, both special education and general education students, can be aff...
“IB for All” from Idea to Implementation: A Literature Review of Participation, Perception, and Student Support in the IB Diploma Programme, Gina L. Graham
The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme’s (IBDP) expansion over the last two decades demonstrates its potential in US schools; however, it is important to analyze the implications of programme implementation. The following literat...
"Coming Soon", Elisabeth Lefebvre
Since at least the 1980s, significant scrutiny has focused on improving almost every aspect of the U.S. educational system. Central to many of these debates are teachers – how they're recruited, how they're trained, where they teach, and ho...
Analyzing the Social Benefits of Inclusion for Students in Special Education, Margo LeMahieu
Inclusive education has been on the rise in recent years. Now more than ever, students with and without disabilities are in the same classroom, learning together, and creating positive relationships with each other. Inclusive education has ...
An Equitable Technology Infrastructure Model: Sustained Technology Practices Implemented During COVID-19 That Address Educational Inequities, Tracy Reimer Ph.D. and Jennifer Hill Ed.D.
The COVID-19 pandemic ushered in a dramatic shift to online learning for K-12 public schools, requiring school districts to address inequities that were illuminated in the remote learning model. This poster summarizes a multi-year research ...
An Equitable Technology Infrastructure Model: Sustained Technology Practices Implemented During COVID-19 That Address Educational Inequities, Tracy Reimer Ph.D. and Jennifer Hill
The COVID-19 pandemic ushered in a dramatic shift to online learning for K-12 public schools, requiring school districts to address inequities that were illuminated in the remote learning model. This poster summarizes a multi-year research ...
Exploring the Characteristics of Physical Therapist Assistant - Doctor of Physical Therapy Bridge Programs that Increase Accessibility and Support for Nontraditional Students, Jessica Scholl
The number of nontraditional students in higher education continues to increase. Despite the increase in the number of nontraditional students overall, the majority of students enrolled in doctor of physical therapy programs are considered ...
The Racial Discipline Gap in Education: A Master's Thesis, Emily Mychal Stripe
Racial inequities persist throughout the United States’ educational system despite the increased attention on reducing exclusionary discipline. These inequities, conceptualized as educational and disciplinary gaps between Black and White st...
Using Private Equity to Acquire Multifamily Assets, Drew Whitson
In Spring of 2023 Endurus Capital, a Minnesota-based private equity real estate firm, raised approximately $10M of private investor funds to purchase a 94 unit townhome in Columbus, Ohio for $20M. The project focused on both the total capit...
Using Private Equity to Acquire Multifamily Assets, Drew Whitson
In Spring of 2023 Endurus Capital, a Minnesota-based private equity real estate firm, raised approximately $10M of private investor funds to purchase a 94 unit townhome in Columbus, Ohio for $20M. The project focused on both the total capit...
The Impact of Teacher Attrition on Equitable Education for Students from Underserved Communities, Marian Alicia Williams
ABSTRACT The current teacher shortage has created a looming crisis in education in the United States that most frequently impacts students from underserved communities. Receiving an equitable education in our country should not be assumed b...
Promoting Inclusion for Students Through Service-Learning, Charlene Marie Winter
The following literature review explores how service-learning can be used in an inclusive setting. How can schools use service-learning to promote diverse learning by including students of varying abilities? Studies have shown that service-...
Theses/Dissertations from 2022
Perceptions of Somali Parents Regarding the Impact of the Parent Academy Program on Their School Engagement Capacity, Abdisalam A. Adam
The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions of Somali parents about the Parent Academy program in Saint Paul Schools and whether it impacted their school engagement capacity. The research was a qualitative phenomenological ...
Language Learning: Access and Equity, Ashley N. Bonsen
As humans evolve, so do their languages, cultures, and practices. In a world that is becoming increasingly connected and multilingual, access to language learning has never been more important. What remains open to question are modern perce...
A Reconciliatory Approach to Marketing: A Case of the Marginalized, Mauvalyn Bowen
This paper shares some reflections and research, informed by faith and Biblical principles, to cast a fresh vision for ways that marketing can be reconciliatory instead of adversarial, and God-honoring instead of self-glorifying. It then co...
Inclusion in the Modern-Day Classroom: Identification of Benefits, Reservations, and Methods of Implementation, Carley Anne Dyer
This thesis investigates some of the most apparent benefits of creating an inclusive classroom. Inclusion is a vital part of development for students with special education needs, but also directly benefits their general education peers and...
Inclusion Strategies and Perspectives in Special Education, Meghan Filipek
This work drives to discover evidence related to the reasoning for varying perspectives in special education- specifically focusing on negative perspectives and what the reasoning is, and supportive strategies to make the shift to more posi...
Among Friends Fall 2022 Vol 23 No 1, Friends of the Bethel University Library
Theme Issue: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Inclusive Excellence
Contents: Others' Stories Collecting DEI Honoring a Native Woman Artist Ukrainian Youth at Primetime Take Action New Vice President for Inclusive Excellence Faith and In...
Successful Co-Teaching Models in the Secondary Setting, Alexandra L. Hermoza
Co-teaching is an educational practice that emerged in the early 1970’s with the creation of the IDEA act. In this inclusive teaching model, a special education and a general education teacher work together to share responsibilities of the ...
Academic leadership in physician assistant/associate medical education: a cross-sectional analysis of the association with doctoral degree, gender, and minority status, Lucy W. Kibe, Gerald Kayingo, Katrina M. Schrode, and Alicia Klein
Background
There is a critical need for a diverse pool of academic leaders to increase the number and diversity of the medical workforce. Physician Assistant/Associate (PA) is a growing medical profession. Although the master’s degree is t...
The Impact of the Pandemic on Social Emotional Learning, Bryan Kilbourne Norman
The COVID-19 pandemic declared in March of 2020 disrupted the landscape of education and presented students and teachers with unforeseen impacts and obstacles. Notably, negative social and emotional issues arose as these changes drove stude...
School-Based Health Centers and Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Students, Jena Parker
School-based health centers (SBHCs) improve health equity by increasing access to primary care and eliminating many barriers that underserved students often face. Convenience, confidentiality, and cost are just some of the benefits of this ...
Teacher Perceptions and Attitude of Differentiated Instruction, Anu Pazhayannur
A classroom comprises of students who are learning at grade level, below grade level and some who find grade-level curriculum not challenging enough. Teachers who are planning and executing lesson plans that view the classroom as one entity...
The Role of Inclusion in Creating a Positive Learning Experience and Outcomes for Students with Disabilities, Jacob Rath
This paper reviews the current research regarding the inclusion of students with special education services in the general education setting and what steps would be necessary to effectively implement more inclusive approaches in schools tod...
Benefits, Barriers, and Supports in Sports and Activities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities, Stephanie O'Neal Sauer
This literature review examines the benefits of inclusion in sports and activities for those with intellectual disabilities, the barriers that exist that inhibit or prohibit the inclusion, and the supports that can be implemented to establi...
A Study of the Implementation Process of Interventions to Address Racial Disproportionalities in Student Discipline, Katie Stennes
Beginning in the fall of 2017, forty-one districts and charter schools entered into three-year legal agreements with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights to reduce the racial disproportionality in their district or school’s exclusionary...
Religious diversity and well-being in positive psychology: implications for clinical practice, James Tomlinson, Steven J. Sandage, Peter J. Jankowski, and Laura E. Captari
Positive psychology, as a subdiscipline oriented to promoting human well-being, has grown significantly as a field over the past thirty years. To date, clinical applications in positive psychology have tended to advance more generalized, un...
Increasing the Quality and Quantity of Inclusive Practices in Grades K-12, Emily B. Wakefield
In the 21st century, many students with disabilities who might have previously received most of their education in a self-contained room or resource room are much more frequently in classrooms with typically developing peers. However, many ...
The Efficacy of Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) in Closing the Discipline Gap Between White Students and Students of Color, Taylor Williams
The purpose of this quantitative study was to analyze the data from schools that have and have not implemented AVID for at least three years to determine what difference, if any, existed between the schools’ racial discipline gap. This stud...
Importance of Inclusion for Special Education Students in General Education Classrooms, Michelle L. Zidlicky
This literature review aims to inform inclusive education and why it is crucial for all students. Inclusion is based on students' academic and social-emotional success from learning with general education peers from both general education, ...
Submissions from 2021
Jamaican micro/small entrepreneurs: A comparative assessment of their motivations and problems, Mauvalyn M. Bowen
The purpose of the paper is to assess the motivations and challenges faced by three groups of micro and small entrepreneurs in Jamaica, as well as factors that might contribute to their success. Success was operationally defined in the stud...
Building a Cultural and Scholar Identity in Adolescent Black Males, Emily E. Firkus
Black male students in the United States have been the focus of interest in education for a long time. Much professional development is centered around closing the Achievement or Opportunity Gap as the progress of Black students is not as g...
Locational Disparity in Rural Education, Carlie A. Hedlund
Location impacts the quality of education a student receives. Specifically in rural areas, the challenges that students face are unique to their location. The purpose of this literature review on locational disparity in rural education was ...
The Lived Experience of College Students with Intellectual Disabilities, Mary Lindell, Jessica Daniels, and Mary Schulze Michener
Within a private university in the United States, BUILD is a two-year program for individuals with intellectual disabilities. BUILD provides inclusive opportunities in coursework, employment, residential, and social activities with traditio...
Inquiry-Based Pedagogy for Inclusive Classrooms, Abby N. McKimm
Inquiry-based learning is a popular topic in today’s mainstreams classrooms due to increasing student needs and the push to create more inclusive classrooms. This thesis explores the benefits of inquiry-based learning and inclusive classroo...
Promoting Self-Management Skills Among Students with Disabilities Within the General Education Classroom, Elisabeth A. Pagel
The purpose of this action research project was to determine how educators can promote self-management skills among students with disabilities in the general education classroom. Previous studies were used to summarize the current state of ...
Systemic Inequities: A Poverty Responsive School Leadership Framework to Address the Opportunity Gap, Tracy Reimer
The purpose of this study was to construct a school leadership framework well poised to meet the needs of students and families experiencing poverty. Structural ideology and culturally responsive school leadership were synthesized and reima...
Crossing the Digital Divide and the Equity Expanse: Reaching and Teaching All Students During the Pandemic, Tracy Reimer and Jennifer Hill
The COVID-19 pandemic illuminated the digital divide revealing an expanse of inequity among students who had access to the internet, personal devices, and parental support during remote learning and those who did not. Framed with the theore...
The Effects of Inclusive Classrooms on Students With Disabilities and Effective Inclusive Classroom Strategies, Erin Rose Welter
The purpose of this literature review was to research the effectiveness of inclusive classroom strategies pertaining to academic achievement and social/behavioral achievement in students with disabilities along with which inclusive classroo...
The Relationship between Inclusive Classroom Practice and Student Self-Perception Outcomes, Jenifer York
The majority of students with special education needs spend of 80% their time in general education classrooms (National Center for Education Statistics, 2019c). While participation in general education classes is linked to positive outcomes...
Theses/Dissertations from 2020
Inclusion Model Impact on Students with Disabilities in Academic Settings, Michael Anthony Adams
This study explored how the special education inclusion model impacted students with disabilities in several South Georgia counties. The researcher determined there were differences in perceptions and actual progression based on the finding...
The Impact of Cooperative Learning Methods Grades 6-12, Nathan Jon Anderson
Cooperative Learning methods are reviewed compared to traditional teaching methods in grades 6-12. Grades 6-12 present a time when students are beginning to explore careers and understanding their niche in the world of work. The research qu...
Using Peer-Mediation to Provide Inclusion for Students with Moderate to Severe Autism Spectrum Disorders, Shauna Marie Geffre
Students identified with low-functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), in center-based programs, have minimal opportunities for inclusion in the general education setting and are often emotionally and socially excluded from their peers. ...
Adapting School-Wide Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports to Meet the Needs of Students with Significant Disabilities, Amy Hazel Hansen
Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is a multi-tiered system of support for addressing discipline problems in schools through proactive and positive discipline procedures, guided by evidenced-based behavioral interventions a...
Co-teaching in the Inclusive Math Classroom, Kylie Marie Kallman Moore
This literature review examined various aspects of co-teaching math in inclusive classrooms. Research has shown varying results on the effects of student achievement for general education students and students with special needs in co-taugh...
The Effects of Inclusion for Teachers, Special Education, and General Education Students in General Education Classrooms, Rachel O'Neill
With the current special education policies in place in the United States, solutions must be found in order to equitably meet the academic, social and emotional needs for all types of students found in a classroom. One of the most practiced...
The Impact That Student’s Homelife Have on Their Ability to Achieve Success in School, Annmarie T. Umland
The homelife of an adolescent has a profound impact on their ability to find success in school. Students who come from a family that is made up of a single parent, divorced parents, homelessness, and some other non-traditional family config...
Disproportionality In Special Education: The Factors of Overrepresentation, Lack of Inclusion and It's Impact on Student Success, Paige E. Webb
The Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) is the guiding force behind placement for special education students. It provides students with disabilities access to the general education classroom and the ability to learn. The Individuals with Di...
Theses/Dissertations from 2019
Critical Elements of Effective Co-Teaching in the K-12 Classroom, Julie M. Gaffney
Co-teaching is a common and significant practice that pairs a special education teacher with a general education teacher for the purpose of enhancing the education of all students. In addition to giving students with special needs access to...
Inclusion in International Schools: Achieving Academic Excellence AND Education for All, Marla Starr Hall
Inclusion of students with diverse learning profiles is a rapidly growing trend, yet no research exists on the implementation of inclusive programming in international schools. As diversity becomes more important in the globalized world and...
Preparing Equitable and Culturally Responsive School Leaders, Kimberly Hartung and Tracy Lynn Reimer
Equitable school leadership is intentional; it requires learning, listening, action, and reflection. This study explored how two school administrator preparation programs, focused on culturally responsive instructional leadership and critic...
Multiethnic and Missional: God’s Heart for an Integrated and Diverse Church, Justin Saul Hiebert
The American church is largely segregated and homogenous. This has not only stunted the growth of the church but led to an ineffective and limited mission vision. The contemporary American church must reclaim the biblical mandate to be both...
Addressing the Educational Challenges of Latino Students, Molly A. Ireland
One of the largest minority student populations in the United States is Latinos. Despite the large population, there is a significant achievement gap between Latino students and their white classmates. This literature review examines the is...
Can the Church of God Pursue Ethnic Diversity in Leadership?, Fijoy Linord Johnson
The Church of God denomination has more than seven million members in 185 nations and territories. More than 36,000 congregations serve around the world. The Church of God denomination has been in existence for 130 years and in its entire h...
iCURE (Iterative Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience): A Case-Study, Angela K. Stoeckman, Yingqi Cai, and Kent D. Chapman
Several models suggest ways to expose undergraduates at minority serving institutions or institutions with limited research infrastructures to the iterative process of research. Apprentice-based research experiences allow students to work o...
Impacts of Inclusion on the Academic and Social-emotional Skills of Students With Special Education Needs, Tara L. Wood
This literature review examined studies focusing on how students with disabilities are benefited by receiving services in the general education classroom, or least restrictive environment. It also aims to determine the negative impacts of s...
Theses/Dissertations from 2018
Parent Teacher Cross-cultural Collaboration in Special Education, Elvera O. Agboka
Classrooms today are so diverse that it cannot go unnoticed. Diversity ranging from academic levels, religion, culture, etc. The focus for this thesis is how to create a collaborative environment with parents of students from different cult...
The Inclusion of Students With Significant Disabilities and Their Access to the General Education, Megan E. Freeman
Students with significant disabilities are continually placed in restrictive settings with a focus on functional and life skills becoming more excluded from their peers in the general education setting. This limits their access to the gener...
The Relationship of Underrepresented Minority Status With Choice Process When Considering the Physician Assistant Profession, Christina Hanson
Representation of African Americans, Latinos, Hispanics, Native Americans, and Alaskan Natives in the Physician Assistant (PA) profession is not growing at the same rate as in the general population, leaving these groups underrepresented in...
The Pros and Cons of Inclusion for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in the Mainstream Classroom, Benjamin Kwofie
General education placement are believed to offer innumerable benefits for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), however, decisions about including students with ASD remain controversial. This thesis highlights the benefits and chal...
Diversity Ideology in the CCCU: A Critical Discourse Analysis, Desiree Libengood
As American demographics shift, it is necessary for institutions of higher education to adapt to the needs of an increasingly diverse student population. Christian colleges and universities have often been criticized for their lack of diver...
An Evaluation of Co-teaching Models and Best Practices to Meet the Needs of Providing Equitable Educational Opportunities for English Language Learners, Sophie M. Ly
The purpose of this thesis is to investigate and evaluate best practices in a co-teaching setting between two licensed educators, one being the content teacher and the other an English Language Learner (ELL) specialist. The focus is on main...
Unity in Diversity: an Intentional Plan to Move from Inclusion to Belonging to Becoming, Brian R. Mowrey
The goal of this thesis project was to develop an intentional plan to embrace and celebrate unity in diversity at Walnut Hill Community Church. The church enjoyed diversity in race, ethnicity, age and ability but had no plan to embrace and ...
Effective Inclusion Practices for the Academic and Social Success of Students With Intellectual Disabilities, Caitlin J. Siems
This paper includes a comprehensive literature review of the research and best practice implications for providing effective inclusion in the general education setting to individuals with intellectual disabilities. Similarly, it reviews the...
Social and Emotional Learning in Daily Instruction for Intermediate Elementary Students., Laura R. Williams
Teachers today are consumed with a vast number of responsibilities. All teachers, no matter what licensure or specialized area, have the same responsibility to ensure that students receive an equitable and quality education by providing stu...
Theses/Dissertations from 2017
Creating an Inclusive School Environment and Experience for Minority Students in a Faith-based University: a Case Study of Undergraduate Programs, Caroline O. Abiaziem
Higher education institutions are experiencing the need to advance their understanding of diversity and inclusion on campus. Therefore, this study was to explore the experiences and challenges of minority students in the undergraduate progr...
Increasing Academic Achievement and Motivation Through the Use of One-to-one Technology in the Intermediate Classroom, Derrick Stephen Davis
This study explored the impact of one-to-one technology on motivating students to higher academic achievement within math and reading curricula in the fourth-grade and fifth-grade intermediate classrooms. Located at an urban/suburban PreK-5...
Student Religious Ideologies as Predictors of Openness to Diverse Others, Curt Hinkle
As Christian higher educational institutions and particularly Council of Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) member institutions seek to become more diverse bodies and prepare students to become people of influence in a pluralistic g...
Examining High School Placement Methodology With Strategies to Improve Students With Autism Outcomes, Elaine Martin
Graduation statistics indicate that students with disabilities like Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are now completing high school at an average rate of about 60 percent. The purpose of this literature examination and application is to analy...
Success for Students With Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, Julie J. Soderlund
Special education students with emotional and behavioral disorders have the right to receive an education that addresses their specific, individual needs. There are many challenges that accompany these students. It is beneficial for teacher...
Theses/Dissertations from 2016
Empowering Congregations to Move from Simple Hospitality to Celebration of Ethnic Diversity within Their Church, Stephen R. Gibson
This thesis addresses the question of how a large church can best pursue ethnic diversity. Using qualitative research methods the researcher demonstrated that the best practices found among secular organizations in pursing diversity are eff...
A Day in Their Shoes: Lived Experiences of Five Agricultural Education Teachers Working with English Learners, Julie A. Ketterling
This dissertation took a phenomenological approach in order to take a deeper look into the experiences of five agricultural education teachers that taught English Learner (EL) students and factors that affected those experiences. Dunkin and...
Building an Inclusive Workplace Culture: With Special Focus on the South African Context, Seth Naicker
We are living in a world of ever-increasing diversity. It is diversity in general, but also diversity specific to the aspect of people. People are engaging one another across culture, language, race/ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, ab...
Theses/Dissertations from 2015
"Repairs are Pending": A Mixed Methods Investigation of the Effects of No Child Left Behind on Rhode Island's Public School Libraries, Laurie Anne Dias-Mitchell
Throughout history, free public and school libraries have been symbols of freedom and democracy, of equitable access to cultural, intellectual, and technical resources. Since the passage of No Child Left Behind in 2001, there have been only...