Many students graduate high school unprepared for college or the job market because they lack employable skills or have not been taught the necessary tools to succeed in higher education. The problem addressed in this study was that many teachers in a central Alabama school district are not adequately trained to support the development of…

The problem is that undergraduates' perception of leadership which may affect their levels of work readiness upon graduation are not clearly understood. Undergraduates' perception of leadership is not being heard, which may present a problem in their work readiness, along with what adequate skills are needed for a successful transition into the…

The specific problem addressed by this study was to understand those experiences well-prepared students undertake to become career ready as they position themselves for post-graduation employment. The majority of college students experience post-graduation employment challenges. The exception are those better prepared graduates with co-curricular…

Job readiness programs assist individuals with gaining the necessary information to obtain and keep employment. The research study was an investigation of the reasons for the low enrollment and low success rate for the Midlands Fatherhood Coalition Job Boot Camp program in Richland County SC. With the completion of the study the researcher gained…

Healthcare administration is a complex, multifaceted career path that requires constant adaptation and integration of external guidance. Organizations seeking the most qualified and skilled candidates draw from a multitude of applicants without having a single potential success indicator. The lack of a standard educational background,…

This dissertation is a qualitative single case study design investigating the effectiveness of holistic pedagogy in meeting the needs of learners in the 21st century. "The future growth and stability of the global economy depends on the ability of education systems around the world to prepare all students for career opportunities and help…

Autism spectrum disorder rates are climbing in the United States. Because this population is growing, research is needed to understand how to assist these individuals in pursuit of postsecondary educational and employment opportunities. The purpose of this qualitative study, as reflected in the central research question, was to investigate how a…

This qualitative case study focused on the perception of Creative Arts (CA) students on creativity and innovation stimulators and barriers in higher learning situations, and, the observation and comparison of the fluency and flexibility exhibited within the results of the 30-circle exercise to determine the degree of development for creativity and…

The purpose of this qualitative case study is to identify how PLCs influence the high school English teachers' practice in response to key instructional shifts within teaching standards in the Southwest United States. Legislation from the last two decades puts expectations in place that raise the bar for American students and their teachers…

The North Carolina Occupational Course of Study (NCOCS) program is an alternative diploma track with a vocational focus toward post school employment to assist students who would not otherwise graduate with a standard course of study. The purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore the local causes of low post-school employment…

The German Dual System is a model educational and employment approach that other nations could emulate. The ability of young apprentices to work and study at the same time to gain both practical and theoretical skills leads to more meaningful education and decreased dropout and youth unemployment rates. The collaboration of the government,…

College students in the United States today are failing to be academically engaged, and there is a critical need to analyze why this is occurring. The research conducted in this study was used to examine student engagement as a means to promote learning in higher education. Student engagement can lead to knowledge development and foster academic…

This dissertation builds on an alternative framework for evaluation of science, technology and innovation (STI) outcomes--the scientific & technical (S&T) human capital which was developed by Bozeman, Dietz and Gaughan (2001). At its core, this framework looks beyond simple economic and publication metrics and instead focuses on…

Linked Learning is an approach that has proven effective in transforming the learning experiences for high school students. An instrumental case study was conducted in a large urban district in Southern California where district and school leaders implemented Linked Learning as a systemic high school reform initiative. Analysis of the data…

This dissertation investigates how low-resource high schools support (or not) high achieving, low-income students depending on how they enact college readiness agendas. My study was motivated by the lack of empirical research in two areas--how college readiness policies are being actualized for high achieving, low-income students and how these…