Theses and Dissertations at Montana State University (MSU)
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Item The effects of student employment on success in college and faculty perceptions of employed students(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Business, 1998) Dumont, Jacqueline I.; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Norman L. MillikinStudent employment trends have many implications to administrators, educators, counselors, as well as the employers. The major purpose of this research was to study the impact of student employment on achievement and retention of MSU College of Technology post secondary students in Great Falls. The secondary purpose was to assess the perceptions of MSU College of Technology instructors in regard to employment. Is there conflict between teachers' academic priority and the students' work priorities? The students at MSU College of Technology are changing. The typical student is over 30, female, single and working. The majority of students have responsibilities of work, family and school. The college needs to be proactive in determining and meeting the needs of this new student population. Of the students who are at risk, 16% have considered quitting, 11 % have dropped a class, and 10% are not confident in their success at college. The review of the literature indicated that employment is a determining factor in student retention and academic success. The results of the survey indicate that more than work, motivation and organization are the determining factor in student success. Respondents who worked tended to be more efficient In managing their time and setting priorities. Also, as the number of hours worked increased, GPA tended to increase also. A majority of students are working in related employment that allows them to use the skills acquired at college.Item A survey of seniors in the town of Bow Island, Alberta, Canada, to determine the programming needs for the Senior Citizens Center(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Business, 1992) Cecchini, Myrna; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Norman L. MillikinThe major purpose of this study was to assess the current programming needs for the Senior citizens Center in Bow Island, Alberta. To collect the data for the study a questionnaire was sent to seniors selected at random from the senior citizen membership list in Bow Island. Out of 80 questionnaires sent, 60 were returned for a 75% response rate. The findings of the study showed that the seniors of Bow Island are extremely agile and are interested in learning new skills that require above average to rigorous exercise. They are interested in participatory activities, and would like some instruction on basic activities, or someone to organize events that would involve group participation. They are willing to pay for educational programs or instruction, and would prefer discussion groups and group projects as their means of receiving this information. The majority would drive themselves to this educational activity and the minority would walk. Few seniors have specials skills they would be willing to share with others.Item A study of College of Business graduates from Montana State University, 1980-1989(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Business, 1991) Ellis, Paul D.; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Norman L. MillikinThe primary objective of this study was to determine the need for additional entrepreneurial/small business management education at Montana State University. This determination was based upon the responses of College of Business graduates that had graduated between the years 1980 and 1989. Information was collected from the graduates in two areas: (1) General Information, (2) Demographics. Questionnaires were mailed to 629 College of Business graduates, of which 55% or 348 usable responses were returned. The first mailing produced 231 usable responses making it necessary for a follow-up mailing, which provided 117 usable responses. The survey instrument was reviewed, by graduate students in the College of Business enrolled in Business Education 524, Research in Business Education and by other of the college's students and faculty. After suggestions, appropriate revisions were made to the survey questionnaire prior to the first mailing. The review of literature indicated that the trend toward increased entrepreneurial/small business management education has been noticed as early as 1977. This trend is also noticeable at a large number of post-secondary schools in Montana, and through out the United States. The conclusions of the study were: (1) That a majority of the students felt Professional Correspondence/Business Communication was the course most widely used in the work enviroment and was the most adequately taught. (2)The courses Small Business Management and Entrepreneurship rank low in the adequacy of the course coverage provided by the college. (3) These same two courses, as indicated by the respondents, were used the least among their work activities. A considerable number of graduates, 37.60%, do plan to own their own business. (4) The majority of the graduates are finding employment in their chosen fields. (5) A majority, 59.33%, of the graduates work for firms that have sales volume in excess of one million dollars in gross sales volume, and 32.31% of the student's firms employ in excess of 500 employees. (6) The College of Business appears to be preparing students adequately for their careers. (7) Graduates, in general, are satisfied with their chosen careers. (8) The College of Business has had the foresight to either expand or delete course curriculum when necessary. Demographic conclusions were a majority of students, 60.17%, must go out of state to find employment, with 50% prefering to remain in Montana. The recommendations were: (1) It is recommended that the College of Business increase or expand their emphasis in Computers, Internships, Business Communication, Entrepreneurship/Small Business Management, and Finance. (2) It is recommended that more attention be given to the entrepreneur/small business area in the courses already being taught. (3) That a small business accounting course be added to the courses available. (4) That this study be replicated after 5 years to continue to provide feedback to the College of Business. (5) It is recommended that the current track in Small Business Management, under the Management Option, be evaluated to determine its relevancy to the management option.Item The strengths and weaknesses of the Montana Step Program as reported by participants(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Business, 2000) Burton, Anna M.; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Nancy G. DoddA telephone survey was conducted of the 1994-2000 STEP NSF Teaching Scholars in order to gather demographic information and current employment on the scholars as well as to gain information about the scholars' perceptions of the STEP program structure. The survey also examined the scholars' perceptions of various supports and barriers to the successful completion of the scholars' undergraduate teaching program. The survey responses (109 out of the 127 scholars) were collected and summarized. Eighteen scholars were not contacted due to the fact that their current address and/or telephone numbers were not listed or unknown. The gender representation of the respondents was 69% female and 31% male. Approximately 50% of the scholars were Native American. No other minorities were represented among the scholars completing the surveys. There were nine (9) different tribal affiliations reported among the Native American scholars. A large number of Native American scholars (69%) reported being parents, which was in contrast to the relatively low number of non-minority scholars reporting themselves as parents (22%). When asked to describe barriers encountered while pursuing a higher education degree, the scholars cited financial struggles (48%) most frequently. Among Native American scholars, adjustment to a new environment was also cited quite often (40%). Information pertaining to support systems both formal and informal, was also gathered in the survey. For formal support, 77% of the scholars reported the STEP Project was a helpful campus support. Individual staff (65%) and individual students (51%) was also a highly regarded support systems among the scholars. The informal support systems acknowledged were family (88%), friends (73%), and for Native American scholars, spiritual support (82%). Scholar involvement in professional development opportunities and service projects was assessed via the survey instrument. The majority of scholars indicated that they had been offered the opportunity to participate in professional development opportunities as well as service projects and that these opportunities were beneficial. Participation in service projects was encouraged among the majority of the scholars. The results of the telephone survey of the NSF teaching scholars indicated that the scholars program has been quite influential and successful in supporting these teaching candidates through financial assistance as well as through academic, cultural, and emotional support systems. Thirty-six percent of the graduated scholars are currently involved in an educational program or as a teacher in a school system. It is recommended that continued support from the STEP Program can be modified or shifted to address the needs of the scholars from the information that was gathered from the survey.