Sensemaking and Success in the Transition from Community Colleges to University IS/CS/CE Programs

Increasing the enrollment of women, minority, and other underrepresented populations in undergraduate information systems and computing programs is an important social issue. We explore ways of attracting and retaining community college transfer students—an important source of underrepresented students —by examining their sensemaking efforts as they transition to four-year universities. We conducted a qualitative study to test sensemaking theory and develop recommendations for retaining community college transfer students in undergraduate information systems, computer science, and computer engineering programs

Student Persistence and Success

Organizations of higher education are under increasing pressure to provide and validate student attrition data, particularly for funding sources and accreditation bodies. Simplistic attrition formulas comparing the number of students admitted to a program to the number of students graduating in the traditional program length problematizes both students and the organization. Approaches to student retention in higher education have evolved to focus on increasing student enrolment numbers, and subsequent funding often depends on this information. However, in taking this strategic, neoliberal approach, organizations fail to address the multifactorial nature of student attrition and the supports needed to maximize student success. This organizational improvement plan provides an alternative approach to the complex issue of student attrition by focusing on student persistence using decolonized and strength-based language. This plan calls for culturally congruent education, particularly important to an organization seeking to decolonize in light of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s (2015) Calls to Action. This organizational improvement plan addresses a gap at a remote Canadian college; namely, the absence of a student and persistence plan and the need to reconnect the organization with its mission of supporting student success. Connective leadership is pivotal to this cultural change, particularly for its relationship focus and shared leadership approach. This leadership style can unite College departments to work collaboratively through professional learning communities, to support student persistence. A detailed monitoring and evaluation plan can yield the necessary data for continuous quality improvement, with the ultimate goal of increasing student success, resulting in potential long-term societal and economic benefit

Driving Change in Workforce Speech-Language Pathology Clinical Supervisors: How Identity Impacts Response to Supervision Policy Changes

Workforce Speech-Language Pathologist (WSLP) clinical supervisors are vital members in supporting Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) graduate students to meet their graduating requirements. CSD program members rely on WSLP’s time and expertise to prepare future speech-language pathologists so they are effective professionals. However, there are those in the ASHA organization that question the preparedness and effectiveness of WSLP clinical supervisors, resulting in ASHA and CFCC implementing new supervision policies originally effective January 1, 2020 (ASHA, 1978, 1985, 2008, 2016b, 2020a; Beckley, 2017;Fencel & Mead, 2017; CAPCSD, 2013; Pocaccini et al., 2017; Wright & Needham, 2016). This qualitative study explored the responses of 10 WSLP clinical supervisors to the ASHA supervision policy change. The outcomes expanded and modified the Degn (2018) model of response to threat continuum in response to ASHA’s minor policy change to the clinical certification standards. The participants provided information that also created a response to threat model using internal and external motivators and provided suggestions to support WSLP clinical supervisors. This model provides guiding perspectives to support successful future change initiatives

Transforming Institutions

Higher education is coming under increasing scrutiny, both publically and within academia, with respect to its ability to appropriately prepare students for the careers that will make them competitive in the 21st-century workplace. At the same time, there is a growing awareness that many global issues will require creative and critical thinking deeply rooted in the technical STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) disciplines. Transforming Institutions brings together chapters from the scholars and leaders who were part of the 2011 and 2014 conferences. It provides an overview of the context and challenges in STEM higher education, contributed chapters describing programs and research in this area, and a reflection and summary of the lessons from the many authors’ viewpoints, leading to suggested next steps in the path toward transformation

Virtual integration and segmentation

The purpose of this paper is to extend Ashforth et al's (2000) integration-segmentation continuum by considering the virtual domain. The focus of the integration-segmentation continuum was on the multiple role identities of individuals and how they combined or separated their physical roles. Schultze's (2012) study illustrated that individuals can have a unidirectional or multi-directional influence between one's physical and virtual performance identities. By focusing on the virtual spaces that professors create when they teach online courses, I address the question of when and why professors create virtual environments that are similar or different from their physical environments

Social-cognitive mechanisms and counterproductive computer security behaviors (CCSB): an analysis of links

Very little research has been carried out to determine the links between social-cognitive mechanisms and employees' counterproductive computer security behaviors (CCSB). Accordingly, we aim to contribute to the literature in this area. A research model that drew from the social cognitive theory (SCT) was proposed and tested with data collected from professionals employed in Canadian organizations. Data analysis using the partial least squares (PLS) technique confirmed that outcome expectations (personal) and selfregulation were significant factors that impacted employees' decisions to engage or not in CCSB. The other considered SCT factors (i.e., observational learning, self-efficacy, and outcome expectations (organizational) in our study yielded insignificant results. The study's implications for practice and research are discussed

Hybrid, emergent and symbiotic innovation patterns: some taxonomic problems in Nova Scotia’s ocean industries

Innovation taxonomies help us understand firms’ technological trajectories. We used website material to classify 117 ocean technology firms into 6 innovation patterns from the Castellacci (2008) taxonomy. This revealed 3 boundary conditions: hybrid firms with emergent innovation strategies and symbiotic linkages defy classification. We discuss approaches to resolve each limitation

Do accounting students differ from others in self-interest, concern for others and ethical perceptions - findings from an Atlantic Canada study

This paper presents the results of a study using participants from an Atlantic Canadian university (n=997) which indicates that accounting students differ significantly in their level of self-interest and perceptions of academic dishonesty – but not in their concern for others- from some of the other business majors and students in other programs

Authors of our own misfortune?: Crandall University Bookstore writes its future

In 2014 the eponymous campus bookstore is in a tenuous position – increasing textbook prices and new competitors who are leveraging technology to capture their traditional market (students) have served to deplete revenues and shake the very foundations of an established business model. Authors of Our Own Misfortune? traces the experience of the Crandall University Bookstore – an independent campus bookstore at a small university in Moncton, NB, Canada – as its manager seeks to plan for its future. Principal issues explored in the case surround how to respond to new entrants who are exploiting innovation to change industry fundamentals and product diversification in an environment characterized by dominant and powerful suppliers who are moving to become competitors