Browsing by Author "Lawrence, Kacy"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
  • Thumbnail Image
    2016 Graduate Student Climate Survey: Preliminary Findings
    Fang, Fang; Smart, Henry III; Gomez Beane, Dannette; Dull, Matthew M.; Lawrence, Kacy; Schnitzer, Marcy (Virginia Tech Graduate School, 2016)
    The Graduate School, Office of Inclusion and Diversity, and the Division of Student Affairs collaborated to design and administer the 2013 and 2016 Climate Surveys for graduate students. The purpose of these surveys is to gather information about the experiences of graduate students, to identify trends and phenomenon by college and department, and to inform administrators about the needs, concerns, and challenges of graduate students.
  • Thumbnail Image
    A Multilevel Analysis to Examine Interdisciplinary Research Experience Among Doctoral Graduates and Its Effect on Career Outcomes
    Lawrence, Kacy (Virginia Tech, 2024-04-23)
    This study was designed to explore the impact of interdisciplinary research on the likelihood of a doctoral student obtaining a faculty job upon degree completion. Additionally, this study examined the important individual and institutional components of socialization that contribute to differences in career outcomes. A socialization framework likely substantiates the extent to which doctoral training environments are consequential to careers. Results were obtained from a sample of 28,928 doctoral students who participated in the 2021 Survey of Earned Doctorates. Hierarchical Generalized Linear Modeling was used because it measures the effects of both student characteristics and institutional factors. The findings from this analysis suggest student demographics are an important predictor, but the significance of those characteristics' changes when doctoral field of study is considered. Additionally, there are institutional characteristics that impact the likelihood of obtaining a faculty job related to the proportion of various student backgrounds, faculty backgrounds, and broad field of study, and the prestige of the institution. The independent variable of interest, interdisciplinary dissertation, was not statistically significant at the student level, but the proportion of doctoral students completing an interdisciplinary dissertation at the institution level was statistically significant and negatively associated with obtaining a faculty position adjusting for other institutional factors. These findings show the importance of applying hierarchical models to research questions related to career outcomes for doctoral students. Without a hierarchical model, this important differential finding across levels would have been hidden.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Virginia Tech Graduate Student Climate Survey Report 2016
    Fang, Fang; Smart, Henry III; Gomez Beane, Dannette; Dull, Matthew M.; Lawrence, Kacy; Schnitzer, Marcy (Virginia Tech Graduate School, 2017-03-23)
    The 2016 Graduate Student Climate Survey was administered in Spring 2016 to capture information about the graduate student experience. The rich qualitative and quantitative data gathered is used to inform students, faculty, staff, and administrators of the climate for graduate students in the following areas: University Community, Department Community, Advising and Mentoring, and Diversity and Inclusion.