W&M ScholarWorks Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects Theses, Dissertations, & Master Projects 2021 A Historical Narrative On The Formative Years And Organizational Culture Of Ave Maria University: 2003 To 2011 Patricia Lourdes Moran William & Mary - School of Education, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.wm.edu/etd Part of the Other Education Commons Recommended Citation Moran, Patricia Lourdes, "A Historical Narrative On The Formative Years And Organizational Culture Of Ave Maria University: 2003 To 2011" (2021). Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects. Paper 1616444269. http://dx.doi.org/10.25774/w4-et8e-4h62 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses, Dissertations, & Master Projects at W&M ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects by an authorized administrator of W&M ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. A HISTORICAL NARRATIVE ON THE FORMATIVE YEARS AND ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE OF AVE MARIA UNIVERSITY: 2003 TO 2011 A Dissertation Presented to the The Faculty of the School of Education The College of William and Mary in Virginia In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Education By Patricia Lourdes Moran November 2020 A HISTORICAL NARRATIVE ON THE FORMATIVE YEARS AND ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE OF AVE MARIA UNIVERSITY: 2003 TO 2011 By Patricia Lourdes Moran Approved November 16, 2020 by PAMELA L. EDDY, PH.D. Committee Member LESLIE W. GRANT, PH.D. Committee Member JAMES P. BARBER, PH.D. Chairperson of Doctoral Committee Dedication I dedicate this journey to my parents for their support and guidance as I navigate many paths in my life. I always choose the one less traveled and that has made all the difference. Acknowledgments I would like to thank my family and friends for all your support and for providing me a sounding board during this journey. Your listening ear and patience was invaluable. I would like to thank all the individuals who participated in my interviews. Your openness and willingness to participate made this study possible. I would also like to thank my committee, Leslie and Pam, for your guidance and drive to make this paper worth reading. Finally, I would like to thank my chair, Jim, as your belief in me to complete this arduous journey kept me going, even when I threatened to quit! I truly would not have completed this program without all of you. iii Table of Contents List of Tables ................................................................................................................................ vii List of Figures .............................................................................................................................. viii Chapter 1: Introduction ....................................................................................................................2 History of Ave Maria University ...............................................................................................3 Organizational Culture Framework ..........................................................................................9 Research Question ...................................................................................................................11 Significance of the Study .........................................................................................................12 Definition of Terms..................................................................................................................13 Chapter 2: Review of Related Literature .......................................................................................15 Origins of Roman Catholic Higher Education ........................................................................15 Roman Catholic Higher Education in the United States .........................................................17 Culture and Integration of Faith and Learning ........................................................................20 Private Funding Growth in Higher Education .........................................................................22 Societal Factors at the Turn of the 21st Century......................................................................23 Schein’s Framework ...............................................................................................................27 Management of Institutional Change ......................................................................................30 Chapter 3: Methods ........................................................................................................................33 Historical Narrative Research ..................................................................................................34 Research Question ..................................................................................................................35 Site ..........................................................................................................................................36 Participants ..............................................................................................................................36 iv Data Collection Methods .........................................................................................................39 Data Analysis Techniques........................................................................................................43 Coding ......................................................................................................................................44 Subjectivity .............................................................................................................................46 Member Checking ....................................................................................................................48 Peer Debriefer ..........................................................................................................................48 Trustworthiness/Authenticity- Researcher as Instrument ........................................................48 Chapter 4: Findings .......................................................................................................................51 Timeline of Ave Maria ............................................................................................................53 Schein’s Framework for Analysis ...........................................................................................71 Chapter 5: Artifacts ........................................................................................................................74 Financial Resources ................................................................................................................75 Temporary Campus .................................................................................................................82 Permanent Campus .................................................................................................................87 Important Documents ...............................................................................................................92 Chapter 6: Espoused Values .........................................................................................................99 Close Campus Community ...................................................................................................100 Faith and Reason ....................................................................................................................102 Legitimacy Through Athletics and Accreditation .................................................................104 Trust and Respect Among Administrative Leaders ...............................................................110 Chapter 7: Basic Underlying Assumptions .................................................................................115 Catholic and Conservative Culture ........................................................................................116 v The “Call” of Ave Maria ........................................................................................................123 Divine Intervention ................................................................................................................126 Chapter 8: Recommendations ......................................................................................................130 Implications of Organizational Culture .................................................................................133 Contribution to Higher Education Literature ........................................................................135 Looking Ahead ......................................................................................................................140 Appendices ...................................................................................................................................145 Appendix A: Informed Consent Form ...................................................................................145 Appendix B: Interview Protocol ...........................................................................................146 Appendix C: Coding Process Protocol .................................................................................148 Appendix D: Ave Maria Town Diagrams .............................................................................149