DOI
https://doi.org/10.25772/V0HS-DV67
Defense Date
2007
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy
Department
Political Science & Public Administration
First Advisor
Dr. Robert D. Holsworth
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to identify current practices in study abroad offices and to investigate factors that may impact the number of minority students that participate in study abroad programs. The predictors, commitment to study abroad, proportion of staff and student workers, and awareness were selected for this current exploratory study are a result of the literature review. The other selected variables: endowment, financial aid and SAT/ACT scores are predictors typically used in higher education. This exploratory research focused on the policies, procedures, and strategies implemented allowing us to comprehensively describe the activities and efforts study abroad personnel employ in American higher education. We used as our population the Carnegie 101 public doctoral/research extensive universities that serve undergraduates. The researcher implemented the Study Abroad Office Survey to collect the data. The researcher conducted multiple regression analyses to examine whether the proportion of all students studying abroad is influenced by endowment, percent of a university's students receiving financial aid, university's commitment to internationalization and study abroad, the SAT/ACT scores, and the proportion of staff. The results of the regression reveals that the proportion of staff was highly significant Analysis of the standardized regression coefficient and associated p value reveals (β=.5 18, t=5.233, p The researcher conducted independent samples t tests to address the awareness factor. Results indicate that there is a significant difference in the proportion of the undergraduate student population studying abroad when presentations by study abroad office faculty/staff at student club meetings are implemented as a recruitment activity (t = is 2.595, 70 df, p = .012).Employing systems theory, the researcher recommends that higher education administrators should consider embedding internationalization in the curriculum by finding ways of making an international experience a more routine part of attending a twenty-first century university. The researcher further recommends continued lobbying efforts regarding the fate of the Abraham Lincoln Fellowship legislation.
Rights
© The Author
Is Part Of
VCU University Archives
Is Part Of
VCU Theses and Dissertations
Date of Submission
June 2008