Assessing the Needs of Our Students: Using a Course Rotation Cycle to Increase Well-Being Cover Image

Assessing the Needs of Our Students: Using a Course Rotation Cycle to Increase Well-Being
Assessing the Needs of Our Students: Using a Course Rotation Cycle to Increase Well-Being

Author(s): Nancy DiTunnariello
Subject(s): Higher Education , Policy, planning, forecast and speculation, Pedagogy
Published by: Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza w Poznaniu
Keywords: action research; case study; college teaching; course curriculum; education; Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs; student needs; theory in practice;

Summary/Abstract: In an effort to better understand how a decrease in university enrollment has led to a series of campus closures across the United States, this paper of practice proposes a structural change to assist students and departments alike. Using an action research approach and a case study-like format, the author takes a closer look at two departments at St. John's University, Staten Island, New York, USA to better understand the problem, and propose a potential solution in offering a four-year course cycle to assist in cutting costs and meeting student needs. This practice paper highlights the pedagogical practice of a mainly two-year institution to provide relevant insights into what went wrong with the university system. The paper layout includes a literature review highlighting the current state of enrollment concerns in the United States, a closer look at the university in question, an explanation of how Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs can be used as a lens for showcasing university education as a financial need, and explains the strengths and limitations of the proposed solution.

  • Issue Year: 5/2025
  • Issue No: 9
  • Page Range: 101-117
  • Page Count: 17
  • Language: English
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