Current Projects
Mapping Rural Education: A Survey of ETSU Rural Education Research and Outreach
Principal Investigators: Dawn A. Rowe, Laura Higgs Kappel, Kelly Foster, Candace Bright
This study seeks to gather in-depth data on the current landscape of rural education
research and outreach activities across ETSU. The survey will identify faculty and
staff engaged in rural education projects, assess their levels of expertise, and understand
the scope, challenges, and geographic focus of their work. The insights from this
survey will inform strategic planning for the Center for Rural Education and Development,
allowing it to support existing efforts, foster new interdisciplinary collaborations,
and address identified gaps in rural education research.
Understanding Factors that Influence Rural Students' Postsecondary and Employment Decisions in Northeast Tennessee (NETN)
Principal Investigators: Dawn A. Rowe, Laura Higgs Kappel, Paul Garton, Rich Rhoda,
Jeff Moorhouse, Patrick Kelly
The purpose of this study is to understand what factors, such as career counseling,
mentors, and others, that occur while a student is enrolled in their local high school
CTE program influence rural students' intentions to pursue postsecondary education
or employment in or near their hometowns in Northeast Tennessee (NETN). Additionally,
the study seeks to explore how individual, familial, and community factors interact
to shape rural students' employment or postsecondary education enrollment decisions
in NETN.
Holistic Credit Mobility Cohort
Principal Investigators: Rich Rhoda, Laura Higgs Kappel
This project aims to address several significant issues that impact student success
and educational attainment in the region, particularly for transfer students, adult
learners, and students pursuing technical education.