Digital Commons Network^™

Els In A Michigan 9-12 School: Educators’ Perceptions And Cultural Considerations, Melissa Lynn Dean

Masters Theses

This research investigates the perceptions of administrators and specialists in one diversely enrolled Michigan secondary school. Particularly, the purpose was to determine to what extent English learners (ELs), especially those of non-Western backgrounds, are being accommodated and considered by educators and policy. To examine this, three participants were successfully recruited- a language acquisition administrator, a language acquisition specialist, and an assistant principal. They were then each interviewed once to learn of their perceptions and beliefs on these topics. This research finds that although administrators and specialists may be knowledgeable and advocate for their ELs in creative and culturally competent ways, …

When A Woman Goes To Jail, Renee Onque, Emily Nadal

Capstones

The United States holds 30% of the world’s incarcerated women and the laws protecting their specific needs while in the prison system differ by state. New York, Minnesota and Alabama are introducing innovative ways to improve the birthing experiences of women who are incarcerated. From programs that allow mothers to send their breast milk on dry ice to their babies to nurseries within prisons that allow babies to live with their moms for up to a year, these states are pushing for progressive changes for mothers in the system. https://reneeonque.github.io/capstone/

Evaluating Nebraska Ems Providers' Ability And Willingness To Respond To Bioterrorism Emergencies, Ryan Houser

Capstone Experience

Previous studies have found that public health systems within the United States are inadequately prepared for an act of biological terrorism. This study utilized an Internet-based survey to assess the level of preparedness and willingness to respond to a bioterrorism attack, and identify factors that predict preparedness and willingness among Nebraska Emergency Medical Service providers, who are key to resilience in the face of an attack. The survey was available for one month in 2021 during which 190 EMS providers responded to the survey. The subjects included Registered Nurses, doctors, EMTs, and paramedics. Only 10% of the respondents are both …

Tightening Your Grip : The Unintended Consequences Of Export Control Policies, Keon C. Weigold

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

This dissertation examines the effects that policies instituted to restrict the diffusion of technology between countries have on the development of technology and international relations. Diffusion restrictions such as export controls or strategic trade controls are often instituted for the purpose of increasing the national security of the implementing country. However, this project theorizes that these types of restrictions can have unforeseen effects on the level of technological development in the implementing country and other countries around the world. The implementing country will see a decrease in their relative level of technological development while other countries around the world will …

The Policy Feedback Loop: Exploring English Learner (El) Policy, Policy Implementation, And The Relationship Between Policy, Research, And Practice, Nathan D. Koerber

Doctoral Dissertations

This study will explore the EL policy implementation process and offer evaluative feedback by systematically reviewing the history of US federal educational language policy and its impact on schools and classrooms, as well as the role research, has played in the development of EL policy. Additionally, this study will explore how current language policy implementation impacts programming and practices in both the UK and the US through two separate case studies, as a means of providing evaluative feedback on the policies.

The purpose of this study is to elucidate the complicated history of EL policy and its impact, as well …

The Influence Of Demographic Information On Public Attitudes Towards Individuals Who Commit Sexual Offenses, Emily Bogdan

Student Theses

Research exploring the factors that shape public attitudes towards individuals who commit sexual offenses is needed to inform policy and reduce stigma that these individuals face as they reenter society. Prior research has explored demographic factors of those who offend and have been victimized, but few have studied how these variables may interact with one another to shape attitudes toward people who commit sexual offenses. The current study explores whether offender gender, victim gender, and victim age shape the public’s attitudes towards these individuals. Participants were presented with a vignette describing the offense and then they were asked to respond …

Lgb Employment And Civil Rights Protections: Emphasizing Existing And Potential Policy For Improving The Lgb Hiring, Alexa Nicole Massiquet

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Much of the LGB employment research addressing discrimination suggests culture and policy changes for attracting more and retaining their current LGB employees. Some research suggests a cyclical nature between the acceptance of progressive policy and inclusive culture. While many researchers discuss the need for policies protecting LGB employees, little has been written about exactly how to do that. One method is to emphasize LGB non-discrimination policy and already existing gender non-discrimination policy during the hiring process. I built upon the work of other researchers, who emphasized LGB nondiscrimination during the hiring process by additionally emphasizing protections for employees based on …

The Debate On Physician-Assisted Death In The United States: A Narrative Analysis Of Formula Stories, Rebecca Blackwell

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Public policy discussions can be viewed as empirical windows into broadly shared culturalvalues and emotions of the social contexts in which the policy discussions take place. This project is a narrative analysis of the public debate on physician-assisted death (PAD), drawing from three data sources: newspaper articles, the websites of social movement organizations, and testimonies from a state legislative hearing. This analysis explores ways in which social actors deploy personal stories that contribute to shape the policy-making process by appealing to cultural beliefs and broadly shared emotions. The findings of this project constitute a contribution to the study of emotions …

The Impact Of Rhetorical Framing On Determining Climate Refugee Responsibility In International Policy, Clare Steiner

Senior Theses

In 2021, the World Bank predicted that six regions, Sub-Saharan Africa, East Asia and the Pacific, South Asia, North Africa, Latin America, and Eastern Europe and Central Asia, would produce as many as 216 million climate migrants by 2050.[1] Both slow-processes, like rising sea level and land degradation, and sudden onset events, like cyclones and floods, will worsen existing vulnerabilities and create higher rates of forced displacement around the world. Since those escaping the consequences of global warming are not escaping direct ‘persecution,’ they fall through the cracks of current legal protections. These barriers to refugee status raise questions …

Canadian Government – Non-Profit Relations And Covid-19: Crisis And The Non-Profit Sector, Safa Youness

Major Papers

This study examines the state of the non-profit sector during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic through the context of government-non-profit relations. The history of this relationship is essential to the understanding of why the non-profit sector has been so negatively affected by this crisis. This research uses a normative institutionalist approach and a qualitative method of analysis to examine how the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted key issues with the non-profit sector.

The study asserts that for a number of reasons, including the lack of a clear vision by the Canadian government for the non-profit sector, shifts in public administration approaches, and …

Building Support Systems For High School English Language Learners: A Developmental Program Evaluation, Manuel Ferreras

Dissertations

The graduation rate of English Language Learners (ELL) is lagging behind the general school population graduation rate. The purpose of this study is to address the needs of ELL students for improving the graduation rate of ELL students. The context of this inquiry is a high school with a large ELL population located in one of the state’s largest school districts. My study demonstrates outcomes of a lack of a shared vision and attention by the school administrators on addressing the needs of ELL students, ineffective remediation strategies and tools used to guide ELL students, and the potential impact high-stakes …

The Impact Of Select Buses On Taxi Ridership In Nyc, Sara Ahmed

Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this research is to measure the impact of select buses on taxi ridership in NYC. Due to the phased implementation of select buses in NYC, a difference-in-differences model was used. Taxi ridership on the M14A/M14D, M34, M79, and M15 bus routes was examined as the treatment group. The control group is the M100/M101 non-select bus route that runs along Lexington and Amsterdam Avenue. The results from this model show that the M14A/M14D, M34, and M79 select buses had a negative statistically significant impact on taxi ridership. The M15 select bus had a positive statistically insignificant impact on …

Crime And Safety In United States Schools : Selected Findings Regarding The Relationship Of Interventions On The Rate Of Student Removal From The Educational Setting For Disciplinary Reasons, Heather Chadwell Dennis

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Providing students with equitable and safe learning experiences is a fundamental right; however school districts grapple with balancing student learning and student safety. In the Brown vs the Board of Education (1954) decision, the court identified education as a basic public responsibility and a principal instrument to facilitate understanding cultural values and adjusting to a normalized environment in pursuit of later professional training (Justia Law, 1954). The court went so far as to indicate that the chance of a child succeeding in life is not likely if they are denied an education (Justia Law, 1954). The purpose of this quantitative …

Grade Level Reconfiguration At The Elementary Level: A Case Study Of Select Elementary School Principals’ Reports On Educational Policy When Choosing To Reconfigure Grade Span And The Impact On Student Success, Michael E Rivard

Culminating Projects in Education Administration and Leadership

Abstract

The standards movement and subsequent accountability measures invoked by federal mandate has influenced elementary schools in multiple ways. As school principals navigate initiatives to impact student success, limited research has been carried out on the role of school configuration on elementary students’ academic success (Coladarci & Hancock, 2002; Dove et al., 2010; Franklin & Glascock, 1996; Howley, 2002; Paglin & Fager, 1997; Renchler, 2002; Seller, 2004; Wren, 2003). This study examines the relationship between educational policy, accountability measures, and grade span reconfiguration at the elementary level.

Through a structured interviews with six Minnesota school principals who had experienced reconfiguration …

“And The Next Day, You Are In Charge”: Policy Recommendations Stemming From A Qualitative Investigation Into The Professional Development Of Early Career Peer Support Specialists In Kentucky., Diane Zero

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Over the last twenty years, the peer support segment of the behavioral health workforce has grown rapidly. However, few researchers have studied the effects on individuals from transitioning into the role. Likewise, there is limited research examining the professional development process of early career peer support specialists. To begin to fill these gaps in the literature, I conducted a qualitative research study examining workforce development experiences of peer support specialists in Kentucky. This dissertation reports on its findings and includes a policy paper with recommendations for improving policy and practice. Chapter one offers an introduction to the peer support workforce …

Human Rights Violations And Migrants' Deaths Across The United States And Mexico Border: A Policy Analysis, Mayra Arredondo-Garcia

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

For this thesis project, the research question will be the following: “How do United States immigration policies contribute to the rising death and deportations of migrants across the United States and Mexico border?” Immigration policies is a widely debated political topic and often used as a but public debate often neglects to thoroughly consider the effects on the everyday lives of immigrants and their communities. It is essential to further research into immigration policies, their impacts on migrant communities and the implications for human rights. This research is intended to extend the understanding how the militarization of the border has …

Cross-National Analysis Of Mothers' Occupational Status In Germany And The United States: Before And After Germany's Work-Family Policy Changes, Paige N. Park

Theses and Dissertations

In many OECD countries, women are underrepresented in the highest status, highest paying positions and overrepresented in the lowest status, lowest paying positions. One potential reason for this inequity is the "motherhood penalty," where women with children face more roadblocks in hiring and promotions. This research investigates occupational segregation among mothers and fathers and analyzes whether gender gaps in occupational status are more extreme for immigrant populations. Using data from the Luxembourg Cross-National Data Center, I compare changes in gender occupational segregation from 2000 to 2016 in Germany and the United States among immigrant and native-born parents. Multinomial logistic regression …

Telehealth Policy Analysis: Recommendations To Improve Medicaid Reimbursement In Michigan, Adelheid Fisher

Doctoral Dissertations

Purpose: At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) granted flexibility for audio-only visits. However, CMS indicated possible cessation of reimbursement for audio-only telehealth when the pandemic ends. This project explored current audio-only telehealth reimbursement and proposed post-pandemic policies for Medicaid beneficiaries at the state level and the perceived benefits and challenges from the perspective of rural providers.

Methods: Data was collected from a rural ambulatory clinic that included patients ≥ 18 who received telehealth during the study period (April 2020 - May 2021). The providers at this clinic were surveyed on the …

Youth Sports In A Pandemic Age, Robert Bohnert

Dissertations

Abstract

Problem: Youth sporting events is a public health concern as infected youth with coronavirus disease 2019 may unknowingly spread the virus, as many show little to no symptoms (Zimmerman & Nigel, 2020). This project aimed to identify level of adherence to posted Youth Sports Guidelines, which were designed to mitigate the spread of virus at youth sporting events.

Methods: An observational descriptive design was utilized. Two observers tallied guideline violations by participants and spectators at six high-contact (basketball) and six low-contact (swimming) public high school youth sporting events.

Results: A total of 726 youth sport participants and 139 …

Examining Civic Education Policy In The United States, Cassandra Peltola

Community Engagement Student Work

This paper seeks to explore issues of civic education in American schools and make recommendations based on best practices on civic education to encourage 21st century democratic skills, competencies, and behaviors. The authors explain how we know civic education is lacking due to our country’s civic anemic health and low democratic participation. The author shares what solutions lead to effective civic education as well as what barriers stand in the way. The author concludes by making policy recommendations with an emphasis on national standardization, assessment, resource support, and experiential community-based learning.

Unintended Consequences Of Public Policy And Government Regulation On Supply Chain Structure, Conduct, And Performance, Jonathan Phares

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Supply chains, and the firms within them, change their behaviors in response to industry conditions so they can provide efficiency, effectiveness, strategic enablement, and customer utility. Social and economic policies enacted to promote social welfare by correcting market failures can alter these conditions. While these policies may serve their intended purposes, they may also create unintended consequences that may make managing logistics, operations, and supply chains more challenging. This dissertation contributes to the nascent body of knowledge concerning the intended and unintended consequences of policy on supply chain management by examining three unique contextual settings using different methodologies and levels …

“Acts Of Pure Evil”: The Portrayal Of Mass Shooting Events On Online Media Platforms, Elizabeth Twitty

Sociology & Criminal Justice Theses & Dissertations

As media continues to integrate into everyday life, it is essential to critically examine the media and the messages that are forwarded to the public, who often lack personal knowledge of crime and justice issues, and thus rely on news media to glean information. This effort, also called media criminology, seeks to understand the media and the effect it has on understanding societal issues. This project forwards media criminology by examining online news articles, as media criminology has historically focused on traditional media formats, such as newspaper and television. Online news has surpassed these traditional formats and has become a …

Animals In Science: Ethical Justifications, Regulatory Frameworks, And Political Recommendations In The Canadian Context, Garett Grittner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Global estimates suggest that more than 100 million non-human animals are used for scientific purposes each year. The nature of the research, teaching, and testing conducted on these animals can be very invasive, painful, and fatal. Should we care? To discontinue these practices in some cases may result in human suffering. Should any human benefits of research, teaching, and testing outweigh the resultant animal suffering? This paper begins with an analysis of some of the most popular theories on the moral status of animals. From this analysis it is argued that mere species membership is not a morally relevant characteristic, …

The Implications Of Well-Meaning Policies On Social Justice: A Case Study On Collective Efficacy In Adolescent Literacy Amongst Majority-Uncertified Teachers, Stephanie Van Eps

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstones

The pursuit of social justice through education, or ensuring that all students receive equal access to a quality education, has long been the focus of policies and practices at the national and local levels. However, opportunity gaps still exist in America, in particular among socioeconomic and racial lines. This qualitative case study aimed to discover if job-embedded professional development in the area of adolescent literacy could build collective efficacy within a faculty in order to promote social justice.

The study took place in a private middle school whose mission was to serve students in low-socioeconomic circumstances, and typically students of …

The Extent To Which The Provision Of Water And Sanitation Services Affect The Individual’S Decision To Migrate: The Case Of Egypt, Sara Mohamed Soliman

Theses and Dissertations

Determinants of migration, although researched copiously shed little light on the importance of access to sustainable, basic water and sanitation utilities on an individual’s decision to migrate. This research reveals that individuals originating from rural Upper Egypt, rural and urban Lower Egypt, and rural and urban Alexandria and Suez Canal regions are more likely to migrate relative to those from the urban Greater Cairo region. Access to water has been deemed as insignificant while access to sanitation is a significant factor in determining migration patterns as do macro- economic differences in origin governorates, gender, educational background before migration, and employment …

Vocation Or Victimization: An Analysis Of Legal Models Addressing Prostitution, K'Reisa J. Cox

Honors Projects

This discussion of legal models addressing prostitution evaluates the three predominate models currently implemented worldwide: criminalization, legalization/full decriminalization, and partial decriminalization (also termed the Nordic Model). Specific focus is given to each model’s capacity to maintain nations’ human rights obligations to people in prostitution, specifically the right to free choice of employment, and the right to safe working conditions free of exploitation and coercion. Along with evaluating the origins, structure, strengths, and weaknesses of each, case studies of all three models in practice are incorporated to transition from theoretical to practical evaluation. Each model’s unique design, purported outcomes, and various …

Family Bereavement Implications For Military Personnel: A Policy Proposal, Dehussa Urbieta

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Introduction: The death of a child is a devastating tragedy. Evidence demonstrates a link between bereavement and increased mortality risks and decrements in physical and mental health. Factors are compounded in active-duty service members through arduous duty environments, deployments, relocations, and inadequate support systems.

Methods: A focused literature search of bereavement specifically concentrated on child loss and the sequela on survivor mental health and functioning was conducted. The quality of the evidence was assessed using the Melnyk Evidence-Based Practice Model. The Evidence-Based Public Health Model was used as a guide for policy development.

Evidence-Based Intervention: Draft a military parental bereavement …

Neonicotinoid Use, Bee Toxicity, And Actions For California Landscapes, Kendra Mann

Master's Projects and Capstones

Neonicotinoid insecticides are toxic to bees and enhance biodiversity loss due to decreased pollination. Despite the toxicity of neonicotinoids to bees, they are being applied in increasing amounts across California landscapes. To determine what measures can mitigate neonicotinoid effects on bees, I conducted a comparative analysis of toxicity for honey bees (Apis mellifera) vs. wild bees (e.g., Bombus spp. and Osmia spp.) in agriculture and urban landscapes. Then I analyzed alternative actions and current pesticide policies. While more studies are conducted in agricultural landscapes, neonicotinoids are also found at high levels (10 ng/g per bee; 11.2 ng/g in …

Fire Service Covid-19 Infection Prevention And Control Policy Comparison, Saaddedine Dichari

Theses & Dissertations

To date, there have been over 2.7 million deaths and more than 126 million cases attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic (JHU, 2021). This pandemic has affected nearly every aspect of daily life. Among those impacted are U.S. firefighters, as they provide many services beyond simply extinguishing structure fires and are frequently dual certified as emergency medical technicians. Many of the victims of this pandemic have relied on first responders to provide them with emergency medical care and hospital transport. When caring for these infected patients, firefighters have an increased risk of exposure and must be provided with adequate …

Small-Family Mindset: An Analysis Of The Impact Of China's Family Planning Policies On Family Culture, Sarah Ansley Croft

Honors Theses

This thesis examines the impact of China’s family planning policies on women’s attitudes towards family culture and the implications on China today. The family planning policies began in the 1970s as an emergency measure intended to create a short-term voluntary small-family culture by decreasing fertility rates. My research, comprised primarily of primary and secondary qualitative sources, discusses the development and implementation of the policies, the economic reforms beginning in the 1980s, and their joint effects on fertility rates, sex ratio at birth, women’s liberation, and changes in family culture, particularly in rural areas. This study found that the family planning …