Factors Affecting Student Affairs Administrators' Views of Campus Services for International ...

301 Pages·2012·5.12 MB·English

Factors Affecting Student Affairs Administrators’ Views of Campus Services for International
Students at Five Public Universities in Ohio

A DISSERTATION
SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL
OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
BY

David L. Di Maria

IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS
FOR THE DEGREE OF
DOCTOR OF EDUCATION

R. Michael Paige, Advisor
Deanne L. Magnusson, Advisor

September 2012
© David L. Di Maria 2012
Acknowledgements

The process of writing a dissertation can be a terribly lonely journey. While I
indubitably paid a good portion of my passage, the true weight of this fine was born by
my closest family and friends. I thank each of you for your patience, understanding and
unwavering support throughout these past years. Most of all, I thank my wife, Masha, for
her willingness to carry on during a period when I spent more time with books and a
computer than with her.
I wish to express my sincere gratitude to my co-advisors, Dr. R. Michael Paige
and Dr. Deanne L. Magnusson, and committee members, Dr. Gerald W. Fry and
Dr. Rebecca Ropers-Huilman, for their guidance, commitment and encouragement
through each stage of this journey. Thank you for believing in me.
I also wish to thank the many excellent instructors and cohort colleagues in the
International Educators Ed.D. Program. You added breadth, depth and immeasurable
value to my understanding of international education from a P-16 perspective. I will
always be grateful to you for ensuring the lasting relevancy of our learning.
To my mentors in international education, Mrs. Anelise Selene Zandoná Hofmann
and Dr. Penelope Pynes, thank you for introducing me to the profession. You are both a
source of great inspiration to me.
To Professor Andy Field and Associate Professor Gilles Gignac, thank you for
your commitment to making statistics accessible and enjoyable for students everywhere.
Lastly, I wish to thank the thousands of international students and scholars with
whom I have worked over the years. It was through interacting with you that I was able to
i
identify a critical area in need of academic investigation, which ultimately became the
subject of my dissertation.
ii
Dedication

This dissertation is dedicated to the international residence hall communities of
Phillips-Hawkins and Raatuse 22 where, as a resident, I was first exposed to the positive,
life-changing effects of international educational exchange.

iii
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine factors affecting views of campus
services for international students among student affairs administrators. Factors identified
during the literature review were examined using a multiple perspectives framework,
which combined concepts related to student affairs administration, strategic planning for
internationalization and multicultural organization development.
The researcher utilized a mixed methods sequential explanatory research design,
which included an internet survey and interviews. Responses to the internet survey were
examined using a Scale of Current Views and a Scale of Ideal Views, which were
designed specifically for this study to measure alignment between views and professional
standards for international student services.
The findings of this study indicate that foreign language proficiency and strategic
alignment of international activities positively correlate with scores on the Scale of
Current Views while the number of degrees of separation from the president of their
institution holds a negative correlation. International student enrollment and frequency of
travel outside of the United States positively correlate with scores on the Scale of Ideal
Views. Participants reported desires to learn more about the internationalization strategy
at their institution as well as become more involved in internationalization efforts, but
they felt largely excluded as stakeholders. Participants also reported a desire to improve
services for international students, but felt challenged by communication barriers
associated with culture and language as well as a lack of training opportunities available
iv
to staff at their institution. Finally, participants expressed concern over the administration
and intentionality of internationalization efforts at their institution.
v
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements .......................................................................................................................... i
Dedication ...................................................................................................................................... iii
Abstract .......................................................................................................................................... iv
Table of Contents ........................................................................................................................... vi
List of Tables ................................................................................................................................... xi
List of Figures .................................................................................................................................xiii
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................... 1
Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 1
Statement of the Problem ........................................................................................................... 3
Statement of Study Purpose ........................................................................................................ 8
Research Questions ..................................................................................................................... 8
Context of the Study .................................................................................................................... 8
Statement of Value Premises ..................................................................................................... 12
Limitations ................................................................................................................................. 12
Definition of Terms .................................................................................................................... 13
Conceptual Framework .............................................................................................................. 15
Overview of the Framework .................................................................................................. 16
Advance Organizers ............................................................................................................... 17
Student Affairs Functions ....................................................................................................... 19
Strategic Planning for Internationalization ............................................................................ 19
Multicultural Organization Development .............................................................................. 20
Summary .................................................................................................................................... 21
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................................................ 23
Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 23
Globalization of Higher Education ............................................................................................. 24
Definitions .............................................................................................................................. 26
Internationalization of Higher Education ................................................................................... 27
Definitions .............................................................................................................................. 28
Arguments for Internationalization ....................................................................................... 30
vi
Internationalization at Home ................................................................................................. 32
Internationalization of Student Affairs .................................................................................. 33
Strategic Planning for Internationalization ............................................................................ 35
International Student Mobility .................................................................................................. 36
Historical Trends in International Student Mobility .............................................................. 36
Current Trends in International Student Mobility ................................................................. 38
Types of Needs of International Students ................................................................................. 40
Universal Needs of International Students ............................................................................ 42
Needs Specific to International Students .............................................................................. 43
Cultural Needs of International Students .............................................................................. 50
Campus Services for International Students .............................................................................. 53
Historical Perspectives on Campus Services for International Students ............................... 54
The Changing Role of the International Student Advisor ...................................................... 56
International Students and Student Affairs ........................................................................... 58
Views of Campus Services for International Students ........................................................... 60
Student Affairs Administration .................................................................................................. 62
Student Affairs Professionals as Stakeholders ....................................................................... 63
Domains and Functions of Student Affairs Administration ................................................... 67
Professional Competencies of Student Affairs Administrators ............................................. 72
Multiculturalism and Diversity in Student Affairs .................................................................. 76
Multicultural Competence in Student Affairs ........................................................................ 77
Multicultural Organization Development .............................................................................. 81
Factors Affecting Views of Campus Services for International Students ................................... 84
Personal Factors ..................................................................................................................... 84
Professional Factors ............................................................................................................... 86
Institutional Factors ............................................................................................................... 87
Summary .................................................................................................................................... 89
CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY ................................................................................................. 91
Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 91
Study Rationale and Context ..................................................................................................... 91
vii
Statement of Study Purpose ...................................................................................................... 93
Research Questions ................................................................................................................... 93
Study Methodology and Rationale ............................................................................................ 93
Research Paradigm ................................................................................................................ 94
Research Design ..................................................................................................................... 94
Methods and Rationale .............................................................................................................. 96
Internet Survey ...................................................................................................................... 96
Interviews............................................................................................................................... 96
Sampling Strategies .................................................................................................................... 99
Sample Population ................................................................................................................. 99
Sampling Method ................................................................................................................. 101
Data Collection Strategies ........................................................................................................ 104
Stage One ............................................................................................................................. 104
Stage Two ............................................................................................................................. 104
Instrumentation ....................................................................................................................... 104
Scale Development .............................................................................................................. 105
Measurement of Dependent Variables ............................................................................... 105
Measurement of Independent Variables ............................................................................. 106
Pilot Survey .......................................................................................................................... 106
Reliability .............................................................................................................................. 107
Validity ................................................................................................................................. 109
Survey Questionnaire ........................................................................................................... 110
Interviews............................................................................................................................. 118
Data Analysis Strategies ........................................................................................................... 120
Quantitative Analysis ........................................................................................................... 120
Qualitative Analysis .............................................................................................................. 120
Study Limitations ..................................................................................................................... 121
Summary .................................................................................................................................. 121
CHAPTER FOUR: Results ............................................................................................................... 123
Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 123
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