Education Commons^™

Umaine Office For Diversity And Inclusion_A Time For You! Email, University Of Maine Office For Diversity And Inclusion

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Email from the UMaine Office for Diversity and Inclusion with various details of the Office's work and wrapping up the Fall 2021 Semester.

Are Laws And Regulation Necessary For Microtransactions And Loot Boxes?, Zachary Jamison

Fall Student Research Symposium 2021

As more video games are advertised and released, they include more uses and forms of microtransactions and gambling. Microtransactions are where you can spend money for a virtual currency inside the game that you can then use to buy in game items and cosmetics. Through the use of advertising these skins, cosmetics, and other items, they prey on the desires of children that want something that looks “cool” or “amazing.” Indulging in these circumstances can lead into gambling problems and can even cause mental health issues. While adults can also suffer from these issues, it is more prevalent in emerging …

Using A Social Support Group To Educate And Empower Immigrant Latina Women, Diana N. Rendon

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

The purpose of this capstone project was to promote mental health education and access to vulnerable South Florida Latina Women. The original intent was to establish a program providing families with mental health education, including information about common mental illnesses, signs and symptoms, community resources, and the impacts on occupations. This capstone experience was conducted with the Magnolias Women's Support Group at Caridad Center, located in Palm Beach County, Florida. The focus areas of this capstone were advocacy, policy and program development, and administration. Furthermore, this capstone project was intended to promote health literacy for underserved populations, especially immigrant women.

School-Based Mental Health Promotion And Early Intervention Programs In New South Wales, Australia: Mapping Practice To Policy And Evidence, Kristin R. Laurens, Linda J. Graham, Katherine Dix, Felicity Harris, Stacy Tzoumakis, Kate E. Williams, Jill M. Schofield, Traci Prendergast, Neale Waddy, Mary Taiwo, Vaughan J. Carr, Melissa J. Green

Wellbeing

Limited empirical evidence is available regarding the uptake and effectiveness of school-based mental health and wellbeing programs implemented in Australian schools. This study aimed to characterise the delivery of programs in primary (elementary) schools across New South Wales, Australia, and to assess this information against published ratings of program effectiveness. Delivery of programs in four health-promoting domains—creating a positive school community; teaching social and emotional skills; engaging the parent community; and supporting students experiencing mental health difficulties—were reported by 597 school principals/leaders via online survey. Although three quarters of principals reported implementing at least one program, many of these programs …

Intragroup Marginalization Among Latinx Migrant Farmworker College Students, Annette Calvario Perales

Dissertations

The Latinx population is the fastest-growing racial minority group in the United States (U.S.) (Passel et al., 2014). There are nearly 2 million migrant families in the U.S. (Tippett, 2020). Most migrant families live below the poverty level, and children often provide significant supplemental income to that of their parents’ (Zalaquett et al., 2007). Many migrant families are faced with various challenges, such as secluded living conditions, financial instability, physical and mental health barriers, and educational barriers (Dreby, 2015; Thompson et al., 2002; BPHC, 1995). In addition, migrant students frequently find themselves in a dilemma between providing financial assistance to …

Seeking A Healthy Balance As An Educator During Covid: A Look At Dr. Edith Trevino’S Social Emotional Toolkits For Teachers, Sara Abi Villanueva

Journal of Multicultural Affairs

This is a review of two social-emotional toolkits and guidebooks by Dr. Edith Trevino, affectionately known as Dr. ET. She is a self-published author who provides an easy-to-follow guidebook for those in the education field who might be struggling with the demands and pressures experienced during COVID-19. An interview with the author allows for a deeper understanding of her purpose for providing teachers with interactive toolkits and workbooks.

More Than Just An Internship: One University’S Collaboration With A Rural School District To Attract, Develop, And Retain School Counselors, Rawn Boulden, Christine Schimmel

The Rural Educator

This promising practice describes an innovative collaboration between West Virginia University, a land grant institution situated in the middle of rural Appalachia, and Kanawha County Schools, located in Charleston, WV. The partnership aimed to assist the rural school district by supporting children in three elementary schools and by providing the university’s school counseling students an immersion experience in rural schools, with the hope of retaining them in the school district following graduation. The collaboration fulfilled the original mission of the program in two ways; first, the school district retained one-third of the school counseling students who participated. Secondly, the collaboration …

Review Of On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous, Bao Diep

Journal of Southeast Asian American Education and Advancement

The paper is the review of Ocean Vuong’s novel, On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous, which was published in 2019 by Penguin Press, New York. The paper contains a brief summary of each chapter and the author’s views about the complexity of queer identity in Vietnamese culture. The paper also touches on taboo subjects, such as mental health and queerness, and how they shape Vuong’s perspectives on family relationships, generational trauma and toxicity of nail culture. On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous represents a new generation of young writers who carry multiple identities and want to reveal themselves to the world.

Exercise Prescription Practices In University Counseling Centers: Testing The Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills Model, A'Naja M. Newsome

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The co-occurence of physical inactivity and poor mental health in the college student population can lead to chronic health issues that have negative short-term (e.g., academic success and weight gain) and long-term (e.g., obesity, serious mental illness, and premature mortality) impacts. Integrating exercise prescription into the mental health treatment plan of college students could enhance the holistic care model described by The American College Health Association (ACHA) and Healthy Campus task force. Understanding the knowledge, attitudes, and skills that mental health professionals (MHPs) hold regarding exercise prescription is important for policy formation and program development for college student health. The …

Moving Toward Wellness: A Transformative Approach To Addressing Inadequacies In Mental Health Supports For Indigenous Youth In Residential Treatment Resource, Tsion Tekie

The Dissertation in Practice at Western University

Indigenous youth are overrepresented in the child welfare system in Canada. Organization X, a Ministry of Children and Families program provider, has made significant efforts to address the needs of Indigenous youth in care, including creating the Residential Treatment Resources (RTR) program. While behavioural-focused RTR program is an important step in the right direction, the program fails to address the causal mental health needs, which has resulted in high numbers of recidivism among Indigenous youth after discharge. After careful review of the literature, the possible solutions revealed mental health counselling is a vital supportive resource required for this population. Additionally, …

"Read It Again!": Storytelling To Imitate The Great Teacher, Kate Whatley

Senior Honors Theses

The student’s mind is bent on stories, asking mothers around the world to ‘read it again’. These stories preserve information and emotions for centuries. In the classroom, stories enliven motivation and empathy in ways that result in higher academic achievement and social awareness. Learning to use stories as a key instructional strategy will allow for more equitable opportunities in classrooms, encourage mental health and truth telling for the teacher and the student collectively, and allow the academic community to imitate Christ by contributing to the bigger story taking place across time. In application of using stories as teachers, this thesis …

Higher Education Response To Challenges During Covid-19 Pandemic, Luke Byram

Access*: Interdisciplinary Journal of Student Research and Scholarship

This paper explores the response of international higher education to the COVID-19 pandemic through the lenses of broadband connectivity, faculty fatigue over teaching online and student performance during the public health crisis. It also addresses the global supply chain challenges the world experienced and its effect on higher education related to technology. Finally, the paper identifies lessons learned and strategies for future success for higher education in an online environment.

Covid-19_Maine Campus_The Lasting Effects Of Covid-19: College Students Stuggle With Returning To In-Person Education, Sydney Jackson

Teaching, Learning & Research Documents

Maine Campus opinion piece regarding the effects of COVID-19 on college students.

Exploring Simulation Design For Mental Health Practice Preparation: A Pilot Study With Learners And Preceptors, Diane E. Mackenzie, Niki Kiepek, Leanne Picketts, Stephanie Zubriski, Karen Landry, Jonathan Harris

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

The purpose of this exploratory pilot study was to determine the feasibility of delivering mental health practice simulations for occupational therapy learners, and whether different debriefing approaches yielded performance differences over successive simulations. Five clinical preceptors and nine first year MScOT students participated in this mixed-method study. In week one simulations, one student group received preceptor facilitated debriefing while the other group used self-debriefing. Both groups used the same scripted questions informed by an advocacy-inquiry approach. In the second week, both groups received the preceptor-led debriefing. Preceptors rated student performances while students self-rated their confidence, competence screen, and satisfaction using …

Advancing Behavioral Health Literacy, James Scollione

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Accessing, comprehending, and using information to make informed decisions and improve one’s overall health or well-being are the foci of health literacy. The concept of behavioral health was introduced in the early 1980s and, since then, it has influenced new ideas (e.g., behavioral health literacy and integrated behavioral health care) and gained research and public attention. My aim is to provide an overview of definitions (i.e., health literacy, mental health literacy, and behavioral health literacy) and their connection to each other. I propose an expanded and honed definition of behavioral health literacy to enhance the behavioral health literacy and well-being …

The Lifelong Effects Of Childhood Trauma, Jacayla Litwiller

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) continue in a cycle, as evidence in research literature. Those who have experienced ACEs are likely to continue the cycle with their own children. As a result, children with ACEs are an increasing reality for educators who often see the immediate and short-term effects of trauma. What is not commonly understood among educators are the significant lifelong health effects of ACEs. This literature review examines the life-long effects of ACEs on physical, mental, intellectual, and occupational health. The effects include a shorter life expectancy and a lower quality of life.

Mental Health Delivery Method Outcomes For The Postsecondary Student: A Quantitative Quasi-Experimental, Non-Equivalent Control Group Pretest-Posttest Study, Mallory Nicole Ball

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact that a virtual mental health intervention has on distance education postsecondary students. This study utilized a quantitative quasi-experimental non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest study design. The study design was used to determine if there is a statistically significant difference in the pretest and posttest scores for the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale-Revised (CESD-R). Furthermore, how these differences impact distance education postsecondary students utilizing online delivery method of mental health interventions compared to postsecondary distance education students who did not. The study setting was at …

The Grizzly, September 23, 2021, Layla Halterman, Ava Compagnoni, Morgan Mason, Brooke Hurley, Sean Mcginley, Amelia Kunko, Kathy Logan, Alena Deantonellis, Erin Corcoran, Katie Cressman

Ursinus College Grizzly Newspaper, 1978 to Present

Jalen Everette, Two Term Student Body President • Yellowjackets Have Made Ursinus Their Home • Hurricane Ida Leads to Flooding • New Club Feature: UC Possibilities • Inside Rush Week with Tri Sigma • Opinions: Students' Favorite Foods at the Collegeville Bakery • Sculpture Parade Around Campus • The Hidden Opponent Club • "Minding Your Mind"

National Suicide Prevention Month: Acknowledging The Mental Health Crisis In Maine, Emma Vannorsdall

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Each year, approximately 47,500 people die by suicide in the United States. It is the tenth leading cause of death in the U.S. and the second leading cause for those aged 10-34. Maine falls 20% above the national average and has the highest suicide rate in New England. On average, approximately 227 people in Maine die by suicide each year. These statistics alone are concerning, but the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic threaten to further exacerbate the mental health crisis in our state.

Bringing Up Buddhas: How Mindfulness Can Impact The Next Generation, Alex Tzelnic

Mindfulness Studies Theses

The following presents both a rationale paper and a creative thesis on the topic of how mindfulness can meaningfully impact the next generation. Given the daunting issues faced by Generation Alpha (those born after 2010), including climate change, social justice, and mental health, understanding how the tool of mindfulness can best support children, as well as inform the caretakers most influential to them such as parents and educators, is crucial.

The following rationale paper outlines how mindfulness can make an impact in the fields of parenting and education, as well as in addressing the pertinent issues mentioned above. In surveying …

School-Based Restorative Justice: Lessons And Opportunities In A Post-Pandemic World, Gabriel M. Velez

College of Education Faculty Research and Publications

The COVID-19 pandemic has deeply affected schools and the people within them. The move to remote schooling forced practitioners of school-based restorative justice to adapt and innovate, as theory and practice had almost exclusively focused on in-person instruction. In this paper, I first review some of the challenges, adaptations, and lessons during the pandemic. I then argue that restorative justice in schools offers new and unique potential to address needs of educational communities and the students, educators, and staff within them as in-person instruction returns. Specifically, I suggest it could contribute to rebuilding social connection and community, bolstering mental health, …

An Application Of Social Marketing Theory To Develop A Social Marketing Campaign To Address Mental Health Literacy And Help-Seeking Behavior Among Male College Students, Rita Debate, Amy Gatto

Health Behavior Research

Male college students have been observed to have low mental health literacy and help-seeking behaviors. The purpose of this study was to apply social marketing theory to address mental health literacy among male undergraduate students in order to improve both mental health literacy and help-seeking behaviors. The current study employed qualitative methods involving key informant interviews among male undergraduate university students (n = 26). Participants were provided three vignettes representing a male college student presenting with anxiety, depression, or stress during the key informant interviews. The concepts from the key informant interviews were mapped onto the social marketing theory …

Improving Stem Graduate Students' Mental Health And Wellbeing, Aneesa Khan

The Dissertation in Practice at Western University

An emerging problem with graduate education is the unprecedented rise in mental health and wellbeing concerns across higher education institutions in Canada. Graduate education is widely associated with emotional, physical, and psychological stress. Graduate students are at risk of the onset of mental health illnesses due to a culture of acceptance that graduate studies is synonymous with stress and anxiety. This Organizational Improvement Plan (OIP) explores approaches to improve the mental health and wellness of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) graduate students to promote their personal wellbeing and academic success. The goal of my Problem of Practice (PoP) is …

Improving Faculty Capacity To Support Student Mental Health, Nishma Bhaloo

The Dissertation in Practice at Western University

Mental health issues are on the rise among students at postsecondary institutions (PSIs), necessitating a campus-wide initiative to address growing concerns about mental health problems among students. Extending the circle of care model to include faculty ensures the timely delivery of support and services to address students’ mental health needs. This integrated approach also enables faculty to respond to students’ needs and direct students to the appropriate resources. However, faculty must be equipped with the knowledge needed to recognize the signs of mental health issues among students to positively impact students’ overall health and well-being. Improving faculty capacity to support …

Supporting Faculty In Responding To Distressed Students, Karolina E. Kulinska

The Dissertation in Practice at Western University

The increased numbers of students struggling with mental health problems require faculty to increase their competence and confidence in working with distressed students. In this Organizational Improvement Plan (OIP), I explore this problem of practice, pursuing improved mental health literacy among higher education faculty and an enhanced ability to recognize signs of distress and employ role-appropriate interventions. A mentally healthy and supportive learning environment improves student engagement and academic achievement; therefore, it is pedagogically relevant. Well-being and mental health-related knowledge and a helpful network of colleagues can help faculty respond to distressed students. This OIP is rooted in the Okanagan …

Racial Discrimination And The Indirect Effects Of Forgiveness On Well-Being Among Emerging Polynesian Americans, Emily E. Tanner

Theses and Dissertations

There is a lack of research on the effects of racial discrimination on the mental health of emerging Polynesian American adults (ages 17-29). This study examines the effects of racial discrimination and the indirect effects of forgiveness on mental health among 423 Polynesian American emerging adults. Correlations were conducted in preliminary analysis then data was further analyzed through multiple regressions to determine if racial discrimination predicts psychological outcomes. A mediation analyses with Hayes PROCESS macro bootstrapping was conducted to examine the indirect effects of forgiveness. Lastly, a point-biserial correlation was conducted to examine the effects of education level on perception …

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 …

What Aspects Of Teaching Generate Burnout In Teachers With Five Or Less Years Of Experience?, Paige Peterson

Leadership Education Capstones

The educational field can prove to be a stressful occupation with various aspects being more stressful than others. The purpose of this qualitative research study was to explore the aspects of teaching that generate burnout in teachers with five years or less of teaching experience. The study used an anonymous online survey to collect data from teachers in the state of Minnesota. Research questions aimed to understand which aspects of teaching are the most stressful, how grade level (elementary, middle school, or high school) impacts burnout, and if professional development could help limit burnout. A total of 289 individuals participated …

Interview Of Kate Ward-Gaus Avp Of Student Wellness, Kate Ward-Gaus, Wendy Stanley

All Oral Histories

Kate Ward-Gaus was the Assistant Vice President of Student Wellness at La Salle University. She retired in January 2021. Prior to retiring, Kate worked in substance abuse counseling and wellness for more than forty years. She joined La Salle in 2006 and became the Director of the Alcohol and Other Drug Education Center prior to becoming Assistant VP in 2017. Kate was part of the leadership team that prepared for the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in February 2020.

Secondary Trauma: How Does It Impact Educators, Callie Namminga

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

Students are facing more adverse traumatic experiences at an early age in their lifetime. When students enter school, their teachers begin to take on new roles and often learn and encounter the trauma alongside of these students. Secondary trauma in educators is on the rise and many do not know how to manage it. This literature review will examine the impacts that secondary trauma has on teachers, how it shapes and impacts teachers’ roles in education, what causes secondary trauma, and how teachers can adapt and overcome the impacts and implications that secondary trauma causes in their professional and personal …