03/08/2024
By Zakkiyya Witherspoon
The School of Education invites you to attend a doctoral dissertation defense by Rachel Ziminski “Implementing Encouragement Practices in Engineering Education for Retaining Underrepresented Students.”
Candidate: Rachel Ziminski
Degree: Doctoral- Leadership in Education
Defense Date: Friday, March 15, 2024
Time: 10 a.m.
Location: Coburn Hall Room 110
Thesis/Dissertation Title: "Implementing Encouragement Practices in Engineering Education for Retaining Underrepresented Students”
Dissertation Committee
- Chair: Yanfen Li, Ph.D, Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Francis College of Engineering and Affiliate Faculty, School of Education, University of Massachusetts Lowell
- Hsien-Yuan Hsu, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Research and Evaluation, School of Education, University of Massachusetts Lowell
- Phitsamay Uy, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Leadership in Schooling, School of Education, University of Massachusetts Lowell
Abstract
This dissertation was motivated by the need to understand encouragement in engineering education academic settings. While studies of receiving encouragement from the student perspective have identified benefits to self-efficacy and degree persistence, limited research is available to describe faculty perspectives on providing encouragement. This three-paper dissertation addressed questions that explored varying components of encouragement from the faculty's perspective. Together, the papers provide insights into encouragement practices, engineering department cultural norms regarding the encouragement of underrepresented students, and invested partner perspectives on the contextual and cultural landscape to initiate changes to pedagogy. The main findings indicate that faculty lack knowledge of the two-factor structure of encouragement (challenge-based and potential-based). There is also a demonstrated need for faculty teaching preparation and structural support from higher education institutions to implement change.