Date Approved

2019

Degree Type

Open Access Thesis

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department or School

Leadership and Counseling

Committee Member

Elizabeth Broughton, EdD, Chair

Committee Member

Ronald Flowers. EdD

Committee Member

Raul Leon, PhD

Committee Member

Michael Tew, PhD

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore entry-level admissions representatives and their job satisfaction in relation to work-life balance. This study was guided by examining the perceptions of entry-level admissions representatives. Semi-structured interviews were utilized in collection of the data in this study. The conceptual framework applied was Campbell-Clark’s border theory and how work and life crossed between each border of employee obligations. This research provided a new perspective on the shared experiences of entry-level admissions representatives. This study focused upon describing what multiple participants in the research experienced as they interacted with a phenomenon. The perceptions from the participants detailed challenges with work-life balance. The perceptions shared by the participants indicated a dissatisfaction with their employment field. The results of this study modeled Campbell-Clark’s border theory and how work and life permeated into the respective domain to impact job satisfaction. The participants chose to give primacy to obligations in the work domain over family. They noted the importance of family in their lives, but their descriptions showed the sacrifices they made to complete work responsibilities. There was a clear lack of balance between the two domains, and frequently, work items saturated the family domain. The understanding of entry-level admissions professionals provided multiple implications for educational leaders. Leaders will find examples of challenges entry-level admissions professionals encounter and also gain a better understanding of the role’s entry-level admissions professionals experience. Entry-level admissions professionals are critical to the overall success of their respective colleges; however, the perceptions shared by the participants indicated a dissatisfaction with their employment field.

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