Education Commons^™

Using Student Interests To Explore Inclusion In Undergraduate Chemistry, Sonja Hoversten

CSB and SJU Distinguished Thesis

For students who are not chemistry majors, but who are on a career track requiring four chemistry courses, taking the final reactivity chemistry course (CHEM 251) for pre-health students can be daunting. For this reason, this research is focused on the CHEM 251 course at The College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University (CSBSJU) which is one of the four required chemistry courses for pre-medicine and some pre-physician assistant students, and all chemistry and biochemistry majors. Student perception of inclusion in the course increased through the implementation of group assignments including prompts for individual application of the material. The …

The Association Between Student-Mentor Relationships And College Student's' Motivation And Academic Success, Emma Smith

CSB and SJU Distinguished Thesis

No abstract provided.

An Examination Of The Determinants Of Annual Giving To Csb And Sju: 1990 - 2023, Benchy Dutreuil, Muhammad Ibragimov

Celebrating Scholarship and Creativity Day (2018-)

Based on the data gained from stages 1 and 2, we have concluded that the number of donors of CSB+SJU has declined over time after its peak in 2007, unlike the amount of donations that has been changing a lot but has a positive growing trend in general. We also discovered a significant growth in giving among the top 50% of donors after the year 2008, while the other 2 groups stayed relatively the same with a small positive trend. Additionally, we found a strong correlation between the macroeconomic factors and the patterns the real donations represent. Finally, our linear …

Beyond The Binary: The Transgender Experience At Csb+Sju, Stellarae Ambord, Rachel Lawrence, Rylie Owen

Celebrating Scholarship and Creativity Day (2018-)

Our work focused on two objectives:

1. Examine CSB+SJU campus culture toward and experiences for transgender students.

2. Develop implementable goals for CSB+SJU, the IWL, and individuals to create an accepting environment.

Seeing Eye To Eye? Comparing Faculty And Student Perceptions Of Biomolecular Visualization Assessments, Josh T. Beckham, Daniel R. Dries, Bonnie L. Hall, Rarchel M. Mitton-Fry, Shelly Engelman, Charmita Burch, Roderico Acevedo, Pamela S. Mertz, Didem Vardar-Ulu, Swati Agrawal, Kristin M. Fox, Shane Austin, Margaret A. Franzen, Henry V. Jakubowski, Walter R. P. Novak, Rebecca Roberts, Alberto I. Roca, Kristen Procko

Chemistry Faculty Publications

While visual literacy has been identified as a foundational skill in life science education, there are many challenges in teaching and assessing biomolecular visualization skills. Among these are the lack of consensus about what constitutes competence and limited understanding of student and instructor perceptions of visual literacy tasks. In this study, we administered a set of biomolecular visualization assessments, developed as part of the BioMolViz project, to both students and instructors at multiple institutions and compared their perceptions of task difficulty. We then analyzed our findings using a mixed-methods approach. Quantitative analysis was used to answer the following research questions: …

"There Was A Child Went Forth": College, Receptivity, And Understanding, Erica Stonestreet

Philosophy Faculty Publications

This was the CSB and SJU Convocation Address for 2023-24 academic year.

Interventions To Increase Stem Retention Of Undergraduate Women: A Literature Review, Josie Braun, Sarah Pille, Majel Baker

Psychology Student Work

The lack of retention of women in STEM majors and careers has been an ongoing issue for years. With stunted percentages of women in participation, representation, interest, pay and more, resolving this problem is necessary. This systematic literature review focuses on interventions that are aiming to increase women’s STEM self-efficacy, performance, sense of belonging, identification, interest, retention, and positivity while decreasing STEM stereotypes and implicit gender biases. Studies were included if they used an experimental or quasi-experimental design in college students within the past 15 years. A total of 26 studies were included in this review. Across the research reviewed, …

Community-Derived Core Concepts For Neuroscience Higher Education, Audrey Chen, Kimberley A. Phillips, Jennifer E. Schaefer, Patrick M. Sonner

Biology Faculty Publications

Core concepts provide a framework for organizing facts and understanding in neuroscience higher education curricula. Core concepts are overarching principles that identify patterns in neuroscience processes and phenomena and can be used as a foundational scaffold for neuroscience knowledge. The need for community-derived core concepts is pressing, because both the pace of research and number of neuroscience programs are rapidly expanding. While general biology and many subdisciplines within biology have identified core concepts, neuroscience has yet to establish a community-derived set of core concepts for neuroscience higher education. We used an empirical approach involving more than 100 neuroscience educators to …

Advancing College Food Security: Priority Research Gaps, Matthew J. Landry, Emily Heying, Zubaida Qamar, Rebecca L. Hagedorn-Hatfield, Mateja R. Savoie-Roskos, Cara L. Cuite, Victoria A. Zigmont, Kendra Oonorasak, Susan Chen

Nutrition Faculty Publications

Despite over a decade of both quantitative and qualitative studies, food insecurity among US college/university students remains a pervasive problem within higher education. The purpose of this perspective piece was to highlight research gaps in the area of college food insecurity and provide rationale for the research community to focus on these gaps going forward. A group of food insecurity researchers from a variety of higher education institutions across the United States identified five thematic areas of research gaps: screening and estimates of food insecurity; longitudinal changes in food insecurity; impact of food insecurity on broader health and academic outcomes; …

Interdisciplinary And Innovative: A Nursing And Computer Science Collaboration To Create A Barcode Medication Administration System, Jodi Lisbeth Berndt, Peter Ohmann, Imad Rahal, Lindsey Hoeschen, Andrew Rothstein

Nursing Faculty Publications

Preventing medication errors remains a priority in nursing education. The implementation of Barcode Medication Administration (BCMA) systems is one strategy that has been used to reduce medication errors. Practice using BCMA in simulated settings may enhance the transfer of these skills to the clinical practice setting. However, the purchase of BCMA educational products available for nursing students can be cost prohibitive for many nursing programs. To overcome the barrier of cost, an interdisciplinary and innovative collaborative approach was used to create a fully functional low-cost BCMA system.

Spotlight On Female Leadership: Conclusions Based On A College Survey On Gender And Leadership, Marisa Laplante

Celebrating Scholarship and Creativity Day (2018-)

This project titled Spotlight on Female Leadership: How College Education at CSB Can Foster Female Leadership. The importance of this topic was to find out why woman are not typically shown to be leaders, and why woman are not treated fairly as leaders. The motivation for this topic came from to find out more reasons why we have never had a female president. I studied this topic concluding a survey with students on campus and staff and faculty about their leadership experiences on and off campus. I also had male students, staff and faculty participate in this survey for comparison …

Dual Vocations Of Science And Religion: A Historical Case Study Of Benedictine Women, Diana Fenton

Education Faculty Publications

This study examines Catholic Benedictine sisters who majored in sciences and taught science for over 100 years at the College of Saint Benedict in Saint Joseph, Minnesota, USA. In 1913, the College of Saint Benedict began as a women’s college, expanding Saint Benedict’s Academy, a boarding high school for women. This historical organizational case study analyzed archived data to understand the benefits and challenges of women who lived religious lives and studied science. Although women, in general, are still underrepresented in the sciences, the data collected provides information on how the sisters obtained advanced degrees as early as 1923, well …

Writing For Intercultural Growth On Study Abroad In Australia, Allison J. Spenader, Joy L. H. Ruis, Catherine Bohn-Gettler

Education Faculty Publications

For students participating in study abroad programs in seemingly familiar environs, ongoing cultural mentoring is critically important. This study looks at intercultural development using both the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) and qualitative analysis of reflective writing assignments. U.S. participants in a semester-long faculty-led program in Australia experienced significant intercultural growth as measured by the IDI. Four writing prompts were analyzed in terms of how well they correlated with student IDI Developmental Orientation (DO) scores. Written reflection reveals how students write about intercultural issues at different developmental stages. Some writing prompts were found to facilitate intercultural development, allowing students to ‘write …

Transition In The Era Of A Pandemic: An Exercise In Mindfulness, Ana Fonseca Conboy

Languages and Cultures Faculty Publications

COVID-19 took over the world in March 2020 and overturned our practices, customs, and perspectives. It reminded us that how we relate to one another defines how we choose to build our community and our society. In our forced isolation and confinement, it became evident that we must remember to let go, slow down, and rely on each other to positively influence our future. In times of drastic change, exercising kindness to yourself and to those around you can help wade through challenges and make the best of them, one day at a time, one step at a time. This …

Navigating The “Covid Hangover” In Physiology Courses, Jennifer E. Schaefer

Biology Faculty Publications

Undergraduate educators and students must navigate lingering aftereffects of the COVID pandemic on education in the 2021–2022 academic year even as COVID continues to impact delivery of undergraduate science education. This article describes ongoing difficulties for undergraduate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) students and educators and suggests strategies and easy-to-use resources that may help educators navigate the “COVID hangover” and ongoing COVID-related disruptions.

Understanding Differences In Underrepresented Minorities And First-Generation Student Perceptions In The Introductory Biology Classroom, Jacob Jantzer, Thomas W. Kirkman, Katherine L. Furniss

Biology Faculty Publications

We used quantitative methods to better understand the perceptions of students in an introductory biology course (Biology 101) at a small, liberal arts college (SLAC) that is also a primarily white institution (PWI). In pre/post surveys, we asked students questions related to their attitudes and beliefs about their professor, classmates, and Biology 101. We were especially interested in the responses and outcomes of underrepresented minorities (URM) and first-generation (FG) students. Our findings suggest URM and FG students have a decreased sense of belonging and increased perceptions of exclusion and differential treatment due to race. These findings can explain, in part, …

Using Fad Diets To Teach Information Evaluation, Jonathan D. Carlson, Annie Larson, Laura Bauer

Libraries Staff Publications

In Spring 2021, the librarian presenters partnered with Laura Bauer, a Nutrition faculty member, to teach students in introductory Nutrition classes information evaluation skills. The instructor's assignment originally asked the class of non-science major students to find a recipe online that met a personal nutrition goal based on current recommendations. The assignment evolved for a class of pre-health science students into an evaluative assignment where students were asked to research a fad diet online and compare those findings with the scholarly literature, all while considering diet culture through a social justice lens. In this session we'll discuss how the librarians …

A Visit To The Present: Potential Benefits Of Inclusion Of Mindfulness In Study Abroad Programs, Kevin Clancy, Ana Conboy, Henry V. Jakubowski, Dani Jakubowski

Forum Lectures

In this Thursday Forum, we explore benefits of inclusion of mindfulness in the study abroad setting. We describe some of the theory behind contemplative pedagogy, and offer examples of how mindfulness strategies were employed successfully in two of CSBSJU's recent study abroad programs.

Access And Opportunity At American Women’S Colleges: Contemporary Findings, Kathryn A. E. Enke

Administration Publications

American women’s colleges were founded to create access and opportunity for women in higher education, and 36 continue to operate toward that mission in 2020. While historical and anecdotal evidence shows the value of women’s colleges, contemporary research about student demographics and outcomes at American women’s colleges is limited. This study is designed to fill this gap in literature. It uses quantitative research methods to compare access and opportunity at American women’s colleges to liberal arts colleges and public universities. The findings reveal that women’s colleges are enrolling students similar in demographic profile to public universities (enrolling those who have …

Farmwomen In The Academy: Rurality And Leadership In Higher Education, Kathryn A. E. Enke, Leslie R. Zenk

Administration Publications

Using collective biography, this paper examines the ways that rural identity mediates the leadership of two women working as administrators in higher education in the United States. We, the authors, examine our own leadership, as college administrators raised in rural environments, and seek to describe how the notion of rurality manifests in our administrative roles. Our collective biography reveals that rural identity influences our definitions of home, fear of irrelevancy, relationships with others, and work ethic. At the same time, our interesting identities as rural, women leaders are fluid and constantly shifting, manifesting themselves in both implicit and explicit ways. …

Understanding Intercultural Learning In Csb/Sju Study Abroad Programs: 2010 To Today, Allison J. Spenader, Joy Ruis

Forum Lectures

Nearly a decade of research on CSB/SJU Study Abroad programs has yielded significant findings related to intercultural development and other desired learning outcomes. Join members of our research team to learn more about the work we have completed on semester faculty-led programs. Learn how to engage on-site with students and how different models of study abroad work at CSB/SJU, and implications for new short-term embedded programs.

The New Csb/Sju Honors Program, Emily Esch, William Lamberts, Elisabeth Wengler

Forum Lectures

The new CSB/SJU Honors Program is a four-year, five course interdisciplinary general education program aimed intentionally at academically high-achieving students who have wide-ranging intellectual interests and a desire to put their theoretical learning into practice. In this academically challenging program, students develop interdisciplinary agility, research skills, and leadership abilities. It is a selective program, admitting only 60 students per cohort through a competitive application process. Students will move through the Honors curriculum with their class cohort and earn credit toward general education requirements.

We provide information about the redesigned Honors Program including an explanation of the rationale for the changes, …

The Talkabroad Case: Addressing Intercultural Communicative Competency In Fren311, Ana Conboy

Forum Lectures

In fall 2017, the online interactive exchange platform, TalkAbroad, was integrated into the curriculum of Introduction to Contemporary French Culture (FREN311). Twelve students independently conducted three 30-minute conversations with native speakers from six different Francophone countries to discuss cultural dimensions, in conjunction with in-class activities. As a final assignment, students collaborated in pairs to analyze information gathered during the exchanges, and to create oral presentations about the country of their interlocutors. The project employs three modes of communication (Interpersonal, Interpretational and Presentational), as described by the American Council for Teachers of Foreign Languages (ACTFL). It creates meaning in the classroom, …

Advising And Mentoring At Csb/Sju: An In-Depth Review And Recommendations, Emily Esch, Jason Kelly, Lindsey Gunnerson

Academic Affairs Publications

No abstract provided.

An Academic Life, Michael Hemesath

Administration Publications

No abstract provided.

The Offer Of The College: A Life Of Meaning And Purpose, Ana Conboy

Phi Beta Kappa Lectures

Fifty-seven students from the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University were inducted into the Theta of Minnesota Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa at CSB and SJU at 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 24, at Alumnae Hall, Haehn Campus Center, CSB.

The public was welcome to attend the ceremony, which was followed by an invitation-only banquet for Phi Beta Kappa members and their guests in room 204, Gorecki Center.

CSB President Mary Dana Hinton gave welcoming remarks at the ceremony. Ana Conboy, assistant professor of languages and cultures at CSB and SJU and a resident member of Phi Beta Kappa, …

What Will You Be? Who Will You Be?, Michael Hemesath

Administration Publications

No abstract provided.

Lessons In Productivity: What I Learned By Writing For 30 Minutes A Day, Mary Stenson

Forum Lectures

Too often our scholarly and creative work takes a back seat to components of our jobs with built in accountability like teaching and service. During the fall 2018 semester, I participated in the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity's Faculty Success Program. The program emphasizes scholarly productivity and encourages work-life balance. The core component of the program is developing a daily writing practice. The program encourages participants to write for 30 minutes per day. NCFDD founder, Kerry Ann Rockquemore defines writing as "anything between the spark of an idea and a manuscript out the door." In this forum, I …

Neurodiversity Goes To College, Michael Hemesath

Administration Publications

No abstract provided.

Inclusion And Social Justice As Peacemaking Within Higher Education, Mary Dana Hinton

The Journal of Social Encounters

The Journal of Social Encounters has been described as “a venue in which we can encounter one other and build the common good together” (Okumu & Pagnucco, 2017, p. ii). In many ways, this description of the Journal mirrors what we endeavor to accomplish in higher education in the United States in general, and in Catholic higher education in particular. While our mission statements vary, and how we achieve the mission will look different on all of our campuses, there is widespread consensus that higher education provides a space wherein people can learn together for the good of supporting our …