Abstract

The initial goal of this work was to assess factors influencing university students’ knowledge, understanding and beliefs about global issues using the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). In this research, selected outcomes related to global citizenship from 30 of 56 benchmark universities of Eastern Kentucky University were chosen for comparison with Eastern Kentucky University by using metrics from the 2011 NSSE Means and Comparison reports. Each university’s freshmen and four-year senior students participating in NSSE were evaluated in regards to growth in global/social awareness using specific questions from NSSE. Using the campus averages pulled from NSSE for each school from the NSSE Means and Frequency Report, hypothesized key essential experiential elements were evaluated as possible predictors of capacity of global awareness among students at these benchmark schools. Here, significant benefits for global citizenship-related outcomes were observed among several key experiential factors reported by students, most notably interaction with persons with diverse perspectives while attending their university, and participation in some type of university-affiliated service activity. This paper presents strategies for promoting not only cosmopolitan and democratic ideals but also tools for overcoming obstacles which bar the way to their realization by graduates of EKU and peer universities.

Semester/Year of Award

Spring 5-11-2016

Mentor

Jason W. Marion

Mentor Professional Affiliation

Environmental Health Science

Access Options

Restricted Access Thesis

Document Type

Bachelor Thesis

Degree Name

Honors Scholars

Degree Level

Bachelor's

Department

Justice Studies

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