major projects

DACA: At a Standstill

Federal Higher Education Policy Brief on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA): Impact of the policy’s termination on DACA recipients. An examination of the DACA policy from its implementation in 2012 until January 2018.

Undocumented Students in Higher Education

Group Members: Sally Gatlin, Marie Ibarra, Karlee Moxley, Jasmin Ortiz, Jose Rivera
Abstract: The current political climate continually brings attention to the pressing issue of undocumented student support in higher education. Within this paper we will set a historical context of higher education and access, give information on the current climate pertaining to immigration reform followed by a discussion of our main themes derived from current literature: financial struggles, a need to hide, emotional well-being, navigation of the higher education system, and campus survival. Upon discussing themes, we will explore areas of future research and recommendations for ways in which professionals in higher education can support undocumented students.

Office Consultation Project: Feedback on Student Success Surveys

Group Members: Rae Chaloult, Jasmin Ortiz, Marie Ibarra
Client: Office of the Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education
The nature of our Office Consultation Project (OCP) challenge is unique in examining assessment response rates since nationally, minoritized student respondents are low, but often high for White women. Thus, our OCP requires an understanding of the aforementioned national assessment barrier trends as well as a careful examination of MSU’s predominantly White student population. This national trend and the nature of MSU’s institutional makeup is manifested in APUE receiving historically low-attendance and participation from minoritized students in focus groups and survey feedback on academic advising practices. Therefore, our OCP challenge revolves around increasing survey response rates for APUE assessment efforts from minoritized student populations. While our client is interested in the broad recruitment and survey design to increase minoritized student response rates, APUE is specifically interested in Black male-identified and international student populations.

Group Assessment Project: First-Year, First Generation College Student Transitions

Group Members: Dillon Frechen, Nexy Gavidia, Marie Ibarra, Jose Rivera
Research Question: What transitional factors aided or limited social and academic integration for first-year, first generation students at Michigan State University?

Collegiate Contexts of Teaching and Learning: Incorporating Students’ Lived Experiences at Central Michigan University

Group Members: Judd Eichorst, Dillon Frechen, Marie Ibarra, Karlee Moxley
Excerpt: We studied the ways in which teaching and learning occurs at comprehensive universities. Our research question asked the following: How do faculty at comprehensive universities incorporate students lived experiences within gateway courses (ie such as Writing 101), that are typically large in size? . . . As future student affairs professionals, we felt a need to investigate the influence of the pedagogical process on the learning environment within comprehensive universities due to the number of students attending and the institutional requirement of gateway courses.

Functional Area Report: Multicultural Student Programs and Services (MSPS)

Group Members: Authrene Ashton, Marie Ibarra, Allison Miron, Karlee Moxley

• Interviewed current practitioners

• Utilized relevant literature (and CAS Standards) to review specific office implications

• Examined the functions of MSPS offices (themes discussed: political climate and needs assessment)

• Recommended best practices

graduate coursework

• EAD 805: Administration in Higher Education

• EAD 873: College Student Development

• EAD 871: Collegiate Contexts in Teaching and Learning

• EAD 870: Foundations of Postsecondary Education

• EAD 972: International Comparative Higher Education: Japan (Study Abroad)

• EAD 874: Introduction to Student Affairs

• EAD 875: Issues and Strategies in Student Affairs

• EAD 801: Leadership and Organizational Development

• EAD 893: Professional Development Seminar in Student Affairs (4 semesters)

• EAD 889: Research and Assessment in Student Affairs

• EAD 882: Seminars in Educational Administration: State and Federal Higher Education Policy

• EAD 893: Training and Professional Development

• EAD 830: Urban Education: Racial Achievement Gap