Digital Commons Network^™

A Distributed Leadership Perspective For Critical Consciousness In Middle Grades, Kenneth M. Bond, Daniel P. Tulino

Middle Grades Review

In middle-grades settings, students are cultivating critical consciousness to apply general knowledge of equity to their local context(s) (Nojan, 2020). As educators work to foster environments that allow middle-grade students to cultivate critical consciousness, expectations have shifted in the area of leading for equity. We have outlined a leadership framework we believe will advance the collective critical consciousness with examples for middle-grade contexts. Our focus is working toward equitable outcomes through one’s sociopolitical development and creating ways to further the collective critical consciousness of the entire school community through a distributed leadership perspective. Through this lens, our hope is to …

Considering Middle School Organizational Structures Through A Lens Of Equity And Justice, Kristie Smith

Middle Grades Review

No abstract provided.

Students Deserve More Than Equity Conversations: Middle Level Structures That Promote Equity, Dave Brown

Middle Grades Review

No abstract provided.

Re-Examining School Structures Of People, Place, And Time To Promote Equity At The Middle Level, Katherine M. Main, Dana Pomykal Franz, Kristina N. Falbe, Cheryl Ellerbrock

Middle Grades Review

In 2018 we published a chapter entitled “Middle Grades Schools and Structures” (Ellerbrock et al., 2018a) in Literature Reviews in Support of the Middle Level Education Research Agenda (Mertens et al., 2013). Building on the earlier work of Ellerbrock et al. (2018a), this chapter reviewed literature between 2000 and 2018 that reported on the organizational structures of middle level education settings in the United States of America and Australia. Though the findings highlighted the dearth of research specifically examining the organizational structures of middle level education, the literature examined supported the original three key interconnected themes of people, place …

Organizing For Equity In The Middle Grades: Editorial Remarks, James F. Nagle, Penny A. Bishop

Middle Grades Review

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Information And Education On Modifying Support For Gas Tax Alternatives Using An Informed Choice Questionnaire, Clare Nelson, Gregory Rowangould

University of Vermont Transportation Research Center

In the United States, transportation fuel excise taxes commonly referred to as the “gas tax” provide a large share of funding to state agencies for transportation maintenance and construction projects. The revenue generating capacity of the gas tax is threatened by increasing vehicle fuel efficiency, electric vehicles adoption and inflation. Alternative funding schemes are necessary, but public acceptance of tax changes is low. We surveyed residents of Vermont, Maine, and New Hampshire to gauge understanding of and support for a mileage-based user fee and a flat fee as potential replacements for the current gas tax and the potential to modify …

Migrant Farmworker Health In Windham County, Shea A. Bellino

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

There is a significant population of migrant farmworkers, especially H2A visa holders, in Windham county with limited access to health care compared to peers in Addison and Chittenden counties. Health care is delivered to migrant farmworkers across Vermont via a volunteer-based program coordinated by the University of Vermont Extension known as Bridges to Health. Given the proximity of Grace Cottage to H2A farmworkers, it is reasonable to explore ways of increasing access for this patient population, including raising awareness of Bridges to Health.

Data-Driven Analysis Of Rural Equity And Cost Concerns For Mileage-Based User Fees In Vermont, Clare Nelson, Gregory Rowangould

University of Vermont Transportation Research Center

Examining substitutes to the current state and federal gasoline and diesel fuel excise taxes has become a pressing issue, exacerbated by the rise of high efficiency and alternative fuel vehicles threatening the revenue generating capacity of these taxes. A mileage-based user fee has been frequently proposed in the literature as an alternative which would offer greater benefits to rural and low-income populations than to urban and higher income populations. However, most prior analyses relied on small data sets and aggregated data. This study examined the impact of replacing the Vermont state fuels tax with a revenue-neutral mileage-based user fee using …

Secondary Students’ Perspective On Relationships And Belonging Within A High School Implementing Tier One Restorative Practice: A Secondary Data Analysis, Olivia L. Mauro

UVM Patrick Leahy Honors College Senior Theses

Restorative Approaches are a foundational mindset adopted in schools that focus on fostering relationships and building a unified community that, in turn, mitigates harmful and negative behavior. Restorative Practice is a positive, school-wide intervention system often implemented within K-12 schools fitted into multiple, fluid tiers for the purpose of providing increasing support throughout its levels. At its universal level, Restorative Practice aims to build a school-wide community. From a restorative perspective, this can be achieved through establishing high, consistent expectations, using affective language, and holding Community Building Circles. This secondary study and thesis aim to add to the literature by …

Exploring The Differential Impacts On Student Equity Following Rapid & Disruptive Changes In Classroom Modality For Higher Education, Luke J. Willcox

UVM Patrick Leahy Honors College Senior Theses

In the past 3 years, the world has seen the largest disruption in the worldwide education system in history (United Nations, 2020). The introduction of COVID-19 has stopped the world as we knew it. With rapid technological advancements spanning the last few decades, the world was more prepared for this disruption than it could have been when work and education shifted from the traditional, in-person experience to, online, distanced interactions. In a report by the International Association of Universities (IAU), a survey that included over 400 higher educational institutions across over 100 countries, at least 2/3 of the institutions shifted …

Racial Equity And Ultimate: A Case Study In Sports Geography, Helen C. Laseter

UVM Patrick Leahy Honors College Senior Theses

Ultimate, sometimes known as Ultimate Frisbee, carries with it particularities that sets it apart from other sports. The players are heavily stereotyped as progressive, alternative, White athletes, the sport itself rejects the status quo by encouraging self-officiation of the game by athletes, and the idea of “Spirit” is written into the very rules that govern play. Ultimate requires minimal equipment, there is no substantial endowment put into the sport, and athletic success is not a way to produce income or gain an academic scholarship. These factors make it appear to be a perfect avenue for equitable access. Yet, while Ultimate …

Together We Learn: Collaborating With Medical Students To Build An Online Anti-Racism Guide, Gary S. Atwood, Kate E. Bright

University Libraries Faculty and Staff Publications

In the summer of 2020, students from the medical school’s Social Justice Coalition asked if the library could support their project to build a digital collection of anti-racism resources. Specifically, they asked if the library could host the collection and purchase relevant materials when possible. The project presented interesting policy and technical issues related to LibGuides, the platform we eventually selected. It also provided educational opportunities for the medical students, staff, and the library. After six months of hard work, we launched the collection, titled “Together We Learn: Resources for Our Journeys in Justice & Inclusion” in December 2020.

While, …

A Comprehensive Transit Accessibility And Equity Dashboard, Willem Klumpenhouwer, Jeff Allen, Lisa Li, Rick Liu, Mitchell Robinson, Diego Da Silva, Steven Farber, Alex Karner, Dana Rowangould, Amer Shalaby, Mary Buchanan, Steven Higashide

University of Vermont Transportation Research Center

The TransitCenter Equity Dashboard tracks how well public transit systems in seven densely populated urban regions in the United States serve their riders and how changes to transit service affect riders over space, time, and cost constraints. The dashboard presents a series of charts and interactive maps that can be used to evaluate variations in transit accessibility and equity. It was created using publicly available data and primarily open-source software. All measures can be accessed by users seeking to conduct their own analyses. Results demonstrate differences in agency responses to COVID-19 as well as baseline transit service levels provided to …

Health Care Delivery To The Homeless Population In The Greater Danbury Community: A Needs Assessment, Ariella Yazdani

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

• The Greater Danbury Region has substantial health resources; two hospitals, community health centers and health clinics. Residents who lack health insurance struggle to access the full continuum of care, especially outpatient and preventative care. Although a vast majority of people in Danbury have health insurance, it is unclear if individuals living with homelessness are amongst this insured population and have equitable access to healthcare. Two transitional housing programs in Danbury were identified and interviewed directly. A qualitative assessment of healthcare delivery to members of these programs was then performed.

Forging A New Freedom Trail: The Path To Black-White Wealth Equity In Boston, Emma J. Staff

UVM Patrick Leahy Honors College Senior Theses

The City of Boston has a Black-white wealth gap that is significantly larger than the national wealth gap. The gap stems from historical and political events which have created racial disparities in the socio-economic factors that influence wealth. The wealth gap violates the societal goals of life, safety, liberty, equality, democracy, property, and happiness. This paper explores data on wealth in Boston, describes factors that influence the wealth gap, and analyzes policy options. This analysis demonstrates a need for the City of Boston and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to address the Black-white wealth gap by expanding the existing Boston …

Gender Engagement Differences With Remote Learning: A Middle Level Teacher's Perspective, Matt Chandler

Middle Grades Review

This essay shares the perspective of a sixth grade teacher working with students during a period of remote learning. Gender engagement data from multiple classrooms is presented. In addition, other research is cited to raise questions and concerns about student engagement equity during a period of remote learning.

Applying Equity Literacy’S Four Abilities To Middle Schools For The Benefit Of Students Experiencing Homelessness, Matthew J. Moulton

Middle Grades Review

In this essay, I use the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Improvements Act of 2001 to define homelessness and describe its prevalence in United States public schools. I present readers with statistics about student homelessness and situate Gorski’s equity literacy within the progressive, equity-oriented foundations of the middle school movement and as a means by which stakeholders could begin to address homelessness in their contexts. After presenting the four abilities of equity literate educators, I apply the abilities to the nuances of student homelessness in the middle grades.

Looking Into The Dragons Of Cultural Ecosystem Services, Rachelle K. Gould, Alison Adams, Luis Vivanco

Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources Faculty Publications

Cultural ecosystem services research is in a somewhat tumultuous state. The cultural ecosystem services (CES) idea is seen simultaneously as a welcoming, expansive addition to conservation policy-making and as a strange, square-peg-in-a-round-hole concept that should be replaced by a more appropriate metaphor or conceptual structure. This confluence of interest and skepticism suggests an opportune moment to take stock of CES, both as a concept and growing scholarly field. Here, we focus on dilemmas that characterize and constitute CES as a field of empirical inquiry and practice. We describe five tensions that characterize the field (and mirror tensions in interdisciplinary work …

As The World Interns: The Impact Of Identity And Social, Economic, And Cultural Capital On College Student Internship Engagement, Amanda Chase

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

Internships have become a critical credential for employment, and college students with internship experience reap significant gains compared to their non-interning peers. Students who have engaged in internships are more likely to find work post-graduation, earn higher starting salaries, have better retention and engagement while still in college, and are more engaged in their workplaces many years after their internship experience has concluded. Companies who hire interns benefit from a steady pipeline of new talent, cost-savings in the hiring process, and employees who stay longer and are more engaged. Despite the significant advantages of internships, limited information exists about the …

Educating For Equity: Editorial Remarks, Penny A. Bishop, James F. Nagle

Middle Grades Review

No abstract provided.

Seizing Opportunities To Diversify Conservation, Rachelle K. Gould, Indira Phukan, Mary E. Mendoza, Nicole M. Ardoin, Bindu Panikkar

Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources Faculty Publications

Conservation Letters published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. This article identifies, and offers several ways to address, a serious, persistent issue in conservation: low levels of diversity in thought and action. We first describe the lack of diversity and highlight the continued separation of the environmental conservation and environmental justice movements. We then offer—based on previous research and our collective experience—two suggestions for how to increase inclusivity (a step farther than increasing diversity) in holistic ways. We suggest that embracing narrative, including historical narrative that can be profound and painful, may be essential to addressing this deeply rooted issue. We also …

Master's Project: Tending To Joy, Karen Leu

Rubenstein School Leadership for Sustainability Project Publications

If we dare to hope for the thriving of humans and all of life, then joy must hold a solid place in our imagination. The purpose of this project was to breathe joy into my own life and into the world around me. Following a literature review, I carried out three mini-projects – creating crowd-sourced collages out of what brings people joy, sending daily text messages with quotes about joy, and providing cookies to groups working on social change efforts. The projects succeeded in spreading delight, raising spirits, and inspiring reflection. The journey towards cultivating joy in my own life …

Master's Project: Examining Equity And Emergence: Personal Inquiry And Practice, Mary Rachel Cadwallader-Staub

Rubenstein School Leadership for Sustainability Project Publications

When I awakened to the reality of my White privilege I began a transformative learning journey which implicates my personal life, professional work, and leadership practice. This project deepened and integrated my understanding of Whiteness, power, privilege, and systemic oppression. By learning the ways I perpetuate white supremacy, I create personal agency for changing such patterns, embodying leadership which builds a more equitable and justice-centered future. This personal inquiry utilized emergent strategy, relationship-building, and critical reflection to generate deep and integrated learning.

Forest Carbon Projects In The Ukrainian Carpathians: An Assessment Of Potential Community Impacts And Benefits, Amanda R. Egan, William S. Keeton, Cecilia M. Danks, Ihor Soloviy, Asim Zia

Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources Faculty Publications

Reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD+) is a frequently promoted climate change mitigation strategy. As forest carbon projects proceed, we are learning how they affect local sovereignty and resource access, particularly in developing economies. Central and Eastern Europe’s temperate forests offer potential for projects, yet little is known about how the sociopolitical context of these transitional economies may influence project success. In this article, we enhance understanding of potential community impacts and explore opportunities for fair benefit distribution in Ukraine’s Carpathian Mountain region. Through a thematic qualitative and interpretive analysis of interviews and observational data, we: (1) describe what …

Examining Disparities In Long-Distance Travel Access, Hannah Catherine Ullman

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

This thesis examines several nuanced issues, including equitable access, regarding long-distance intercity travel. In the United States, studies of transportation equity focus on affordable access to local destinations and basic services. The limited studies of long-distance intercity travel focus on observed demand, ignoring latent or unmet demand. Both quantitative and qualitative data are used to explore the differences between those who participate in long-distance travel and those with unmet need for it. This thesis found that the ability to participate in long-distance travel plays a role in one’s overall well-being. Undertaking long-distance trips facilitates access to opportunity for cultural and …

A Study Of The Relationship Between Foundational Per Pupil Investment And Student Outcomes, Michelle Baird Mathias

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

The concept of return on investment for public education requires an understanding of the cumulative impact of resources employed to educate a student over time. The State of Vermont presented a unique opportunity to measure the return on investment as indicated by student outcomes. The governance structure of Vermont school districts allowed the identification of investments at the local school level, thereby enabling a match between the outcomes for 1355 students on the New Standards Reference Exam and cumulative investments over time. The longitudinal study examined the relationship between the cumulative investment made during the first eight years of school …