Phd Theses and Dissertations

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    Individual home and university environment factors as correlates of student attrition in private universities in Nairobi County, Kenya
    (Strathmore University, 2017) Njoroge, Mary Mukami
    Completion of university education within prescribed time limits has been a concern of universities for decades. As governments emphasize that institutions of higher learning churn out an educated work force, relevant information is required by the universities to curb student attrition. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between selected individual, home and university environmental factors and students ' attrition in private universities in Nairobi County, Kenya and further establish current student attrition levels in private universities in Nairobi. The target population was 24901 second year students in private universities. Stratified sampling was used to select the 387 students for the study. In addition purposive sampling was used to select nine faculty members. Sixty (60) university dropouts were identified through the snowballing method. Data was collected using se lf-administered questionnaires for the second year students and interview guide for university staff. Data for sixty university dropout s was collected telephonically. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient were used to test the relationships between the independent variables (individual, home and university environmental factors) and the dependent variable, student Attrition. Initially, preliminary and descriptive statistical analyses were performed. This included analysis of demographic data and analysis of examination retakes, semester deferments and student drop out. Data study was analyzed using maximum likelihood estimates (MLE). The findings established current student attrition levels of thirty seven per cent (37%). From the results student attrition was found to be correlated to peer support, parental support and student faculty interaction. The study recommends the need for interventions, such as establishment of constant student lecturer interactions and provision of adequate facilities to create a conducive environment for study. Also, strategies that will encourage peer interaction should be developed as well as adequate financial support to students by parents and government actors. All these will enhance peer support and increased emphasis on faculty interaction through availing time and space by university management thereby reducing student attrition.
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    Synderesis according to Leonardo Polo Barrena
    (Strathmore University, 2016) Branya, John
    The present work tries to see whether Leonardo Polo´s proposal expands synderesis in a way that, assuming the medieval traditional views, it can be the ontological basis for grounding a personalistic view of ethics.Synderesis seems to be a controversial topic. The human reality behind the term was touched upon by Greek and Latin philosophers but the term was not used in classic philosophy. It was Jerome the first to use this term in his commentary to Ezequiel 1:4-14. This was a theological treatise. Synderesis was a popular term among philosophers in the Middle Ages especially after Peter Lombard included St. Jerome’s commentary in his Sentences. Peter Lombard’s Sentences was a common textbook in most universities and therefore synderesis became a compulsory and therefore well know term in medieval philosophy. Aquinas used it extensively as well as his commentators. Aquinas considered synderesis an intellectual habit responsible for the first principles of morality. For Bonaventura synderesis was the will’s inclination to do good. Ockham does not mention synderesis in his works. Luther in his early works mentions it but later breaks with tradition and no longer accepts synderesis as he defended that nature was totally corrupt after the original sin, and synderesis was seen as an unpolluted remain of the original nature which kept men aware of sins. From there on the topic, with rare exceptions, was only developed by those who followed medieval traditions. It looks as if Leonardo Polo not only regains the traditional view of synderesis but makes it a pivotal topic in anthropology. For him synderesis becomes the innate habit through which the personal act of being activates all human faculties. Synderesis then, is at the root of all human decisions, because it becomes the unifying structure of the intellect and will. Because of this it also becomes the root of ethics because it allows viewing human decisions in their relationship with the human integral good.