Dr. Bray is an active teacher and mentor, having chaired over 50 dissertations to completion. He has taught the following courses at The University of Alabama:
AHE 500: Perspect High Educ Admin
How higher education has been shaped by the major trends in American society, how it has contributed to the development of this country, and what may be expected of higher education in the future. Higher education is also viewed in institutional and conceptual forms from the perspective of students, faculty, and administrators.
AHE 507: Student Development Theory I
Introduction to the theoretical basis for the delivery of services through organizational student development, and a study of the research basis for student development.
AHE 520: Student In Higher Eduction
A survey of the needs, characteristics, and cultures of the American college student within various types of higher education institutions.
AHE 521: Student Affairs
An overview of the organization, personnel, and practices of student affairs and related higher education functions in U.S. colleges and universities. The course is designed to increase student understanding of how student services, student activities, and student development tasks are organized, administered, and assessed. Students will explore the main issues, roles, constituencies and expectations affecting individual professionals as well as the profession as a whole.
AHE 530: Law & Higher Education
Investigates and explicates the structure and background of law and equity in higher education, with emphasis on how statutory law, administrative law, and case law respond to and affect faculty, students, administrators, and trustees. Constitutional law, contracts, torts, the law of private associations, civil rights statutes, executive orders, injunctions, specific performance, corporate and partnership law, law of agency, and laws on liability are studied as they apply to higher education.
AHE 540: Org and Governance
Overview of the organization, administrative roles and positions, administrative process, and administrator relationships within various institutions of higher learning.
AHE 550: Financing Higher Eductn
An overview of the budgeting processes, sources of revenue, types of expenditures, and issues and innovations in financing various types of contemporary institutions of higher education. Also a survey of the various business and planning operations vital to the operation of colleges and universities
AHE 560: Comparatv Higher Eductn
This course is designed to provide a cross-cultural perspective on issues related to higher education throughout the world. The course will focus on topics such as reform, students and student activism, internal and external governance of universities, unions, and the academic profession in key world regions.
AHE 590: Ind Study In Higher Ed
Directed independent study in the literature of higher education, designed for the student seeking a minor or pursuing master's work in the program in higher education (AHE).
AHE 591: Seminar Higher Education
A topical seminar on a current issue or problem in higher or postsecondary education. On occasion, the seminar involves travel or on-site visitations to institutions or oversight bodies.
AHE 601: Professional Sem High Ed
This course is designed for students newly admitted to the doctoral program in higher education administration. As such, the seminar concentrates on issues and concerns that arise as part of the doctoral experience. Course activities and experiences may vary according to the professional experience and academic background of course participants.
AHE 602: Problems In Higher Education
Seminar studying the current issues and trends related to higher education.
AHE 610: Academic Culture & Learn
An intensive examination of the student, faculty, and administrative cultures in higher education environments. The impact of various internal and external factors on institutional culture and behavior will also be studied, particularly as they relate to teaching, learning, research, and service.
AHE 621: Power Politics Change
A study of higher education institutions as complex organizations within a framework of local, state, and federal domains. Attention is focused on the institution as a dynamic, political entity which continually undergoes change. State level coordination and systems behavior are also examined.
AHE 642: Sem Inst Resrch & Assesm
An overview of the institutional research and analysis techniques utilized in contemporary higher education. The course is configured for those with an interest in conducting institutional research and/or working in offices of institutional research on the campus, system, and/or state level.
AHE 644: Sem Acad Progrm Dev Eval
Design and management of academic programs; study of institutional structures for academic affairs; practice in program review for instructional improvement; and overview of graduate programs (general and liberal education, as well as occupational and professional education).
AHE 670: Higher Education Policy
This course will introduce students to the essential elements of higher education policy and finance. Students will examine the main financing options of colleges and universities; college costs and pricing; financial aid policy, and emerging policy issues.
AHE 688: Mentored Teaching
This course provides students with a mentored experiential learning opportunity to develop competency and mastery in course construction and delivery in the higher education environment.
AHE 689: Mentored Research
This course provides students with mentored experiential learning opportunity to develop competency and mastery in research and analytical skills. To be taken at or near end of students research requirements.
AHE 690: Direct Doctoral Study
Directed individual study and analysis of a problem confronting higher education. Note: Frequently, special one-time-only seminars focusing on a particular aspect of higher education are offered by program faculty under this course number.
AHE 699: Dissertation Research
Directed dissertation research in the field of higher education. Enrollment is subject to program regulations and permission of the student's dissertation committee chairperson. Also offered in summer school.
BER 540: Statistical Methods In Educ
This three-hour course covers basic descriptive and inferential statistics, including measures of central tendency and dispersion. Hypothesis testing related to one-sample z-and t-test; independent and dependent samples t-test; correlation; and chi-square and simple regression are included. An introduction SPSS is required.Offered fall, spring, and summer semesters.
BER 600: Quant Research Methods
An overview of research methods and procedures in education, primarily for doctoral students. Emphasis is given to the quantitative and qualitative methods used in writing a doctoral dissertation.