Digital Commons Network^™

Breaking Barriers: Enhancing Accessibility For Latin American Students In U.S. Higher Education, Maria Caceres

Whittier Scholars Program

In the dynamic realm of higher education, the pursuit of inclusivity and accessibility stands as a central endeavor. This research project delves into the hurdles faced by Latin American students aspiring to pursue opportunities in the United States, aiming to unravel the complexities of admission requirements and immigration processes. Against the backdrop of the evolving educational landscape post-COVID-19, the study seeks to redefine the higher education sector's approach, fostering an environment that transcends barriers and embraces a more inclusive ethos.

The research holds significance in its mission to illuminate the academic achievements of international students, particularly those from Latin America, …

Do “In The Family” Coaching Hires Outperform External Hires In Ncaa Division I Men’S Basketball, Maxfield Lane, Nels Popp, Jonathan A. Jensen

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

When conducting searches to fill head coaching positions, many college athletics directors frequently look to candidates who have a connection to the university; former players, assistant coaches, or students. Hiring someone from a university’s “family” is often a popular decision among stakeholders, but utilizing such parameters in a search severely restricts candidate pools. More importantly, little empirical evidence suggesting such hires perform better. The purpose of the current study was to examine whether NCAA Division I men’s basketball coaches who are “In the Family” hires perform better than “External” hires in measures of (a) team success and (b) recruiting. The …

Sustainable Fashion In New Era: Exploring Consumer Resilience And Goals In The Post-Pandemic, Joohye Hwang, Xun Sun, Li Zhao, Song-Yi Youn

School of Business Faculty Papers

Abstract: This study examines the underlying mechanisms that lead to sustainable fashion consumption in the post-COVID-19 pandemic era. Particularly, this study explores the complex relations between resilient coping mechanisms, consumer life goals, and sustainable fashion consumption, combining Goal Content Theory and the Consumer Sustainability Orientation framework. The findings obtained from partial least squares structural equation modeling analysis using 503 responses confirm that resilient coping positively influenced both intrinsic and extrinsic life goals. While intrinsic goals reinforce all aspects of sustainability orientation (ecological, social, and economic), extrinsic goals show a contrasting effect—positively affecting economic orientation but negatively impacting ecological and social …

2024-04-09 Message From The President, Morehead State University. Office Of The President.

Staff Congress Records

Message sent by the President to the campus community regarding upcoming dates, congratulatory recognitions, issues with FAFSA, proposed new academic buildings and campus renovations on April 9, 2024.

Literature Review Of Extended Reality Research In Consumer Experience: Insight From Semantic Network Analysis And Topic Modeling, Hansol Choi, Hyemi Lee

Asia Marketing Journal

Extended Reality (XR) technology, the umbrella term covering hyper-realistic technologies, is known to enhance consumer experience and is therefore developing rapidly and being utilized across various industries. Growing studies have examined XR technology and consumer experience; however, the literature has failed to fully explore hyper-realistic technology through a holistic perspective. To fill this gap, we analyzed 720 Korean and international articles through semantic network analysis and topic modeling and identified the literature on XR research in consumer experience. As a result, we extracted six main topics: “Tourism,” “Buying Behavior,” “XR Technology Acceptance,” “Virtual Space,” “Game,” and “XR Environment.” The results …

What Effect Does Standards-Based Grading Versus Traditional Grading Have On Standardized Tests For Fifth-Grade Students In Mathematics In Arkansas?, Ruby Dean

ATU Theses and Dissertations 2021 - Present

WHAT EFFECT DOES STANDARDS-BASED GRADING VERSUS TRADITIONAL

GRADING HAVE ON STANDARDIZED TESTS FOR FIFTH GRADE STUDENTS IN MATHEMATICS IN ARKANSAS?

Ruby Earlene Dean

This study examined the effects of standards-based grading and traditional grading on standardized tests for fifth grade students in mathematics in Arkansas. The purpose of the study was to determine whether the type of grading system (traditional or standards-based) used to assess student progress makes a difference on the ACT Aspire results in fifth grade in mathematics. The information gleaned from this study will provide school leaders and teachers with information to make more informed decisions to …

Academic Success: Lindenwood Announces 2024 Faculty Award Winners, Lindenwood University

Archived Lindenwood Press Releases

No abstract provided.

Analysis Of The Effects Of Service Delivery On The Wellbeing Of Internally Displaced Persons (Idps) In Federal Capital Territory (Fct), Abuja, Olusegun O. Idowu, Valda Martins, Ndako B. Santali, Jonathan U. Adama, Adekunle S. Adeogun, Gideon Danlami

CSID Journal of Infrastructure Development

The provision of services, encompassing substandard medical facilities, inadequate housing conditions, limited access to electricity, insufficient recreational amenities, and the absence of potable water supply, has emerged as a significant impediment confronting Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) both domestically and globally. The present investigation sought to evaluate the impact of service delivery on the welfare of IDPs residing in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. The objectives of this inquiry were to assess the socioeconomic attributes of the IDPs, scrutinize the types and efficacy of service delivery within the IDP camps, and appraise the consequences of service delivery on the well-being …

Investigating The Benefits Of Using Implicit Averaging In Construction Simulation Optimization Models, Mohammed Mawlana, Faridaddin Vahdatikhaki

College of Architecture and the Built Environment Faculty Papers

Stochastic simulation optimization has been proposed by several researchers to optimize construction operations. Traditionally, explicit averaging is used to estimate the objective functions of candidate solutions. This is carried out by calculating the average estimates of the objective functions obtained from a number of simulation replications. However, the computation effort increases as the number of replications and the size of the search space increase. The main objective of this paper is to study the benefits of using implicit averaging and common random numbers to improve the quality of the optimum solutions while reducing the computation time. The initial results of …

Omnichannel Retail Effectiveness: Consumer Attitudes & Attributes Impacting Cross-Category Success Post-Pandemic, Alyssa Alviti

Honors Projects in Management

Post-pandemic the retail industry is undergoing a digital transformation, rapidly impacting retailers' business, and consumer behavior: Omnichannel Retail. Successful implementation of omnichannel services, seamlessly integrating in-store and online sales channels, has launched across retail sectors, and become a key strategy for driving business performance. This paper investigates the numerous factors that influence consumer behavior in the new, post-pandemic state of retailing and e-commerce. An examination of consumer attitudes towards varying omnichannel services is measured across six different retail categories. Consumer and demographic attributes are investigated to identify the key characteristics impacting an uninterrupted customer journey and successful omnichannel execution for …

Recruitment And Retention: The Role Of Flexibility And Benefits In Shaping Gen Z Employee Attitudes And Behaviors, Dennis Field

Honors Projects in Management

To stay competitive, corporations need to find ways to attract and retain employees, especially the youngest generation entering the workforce, known as Generation Z or Gen Z. Born between 1995 and 2012, Gen Z differs from previous generations. This generation puts a stronger emphasis on flexibility in the workplace and the perks of being able to do work remotely; however, remote work is not perfect. It can lead to counterproductive work behavior and a lack of needed personal interaction with colleagues. Other expectations Gen Z has for the workplace are sustainable business practices, mental health benefits, and support from their …

The Effects Of Covid-19 On Project Managers & Their Work, Devahya Townsend

Honors Projects in Management

Project management and project managers have been affected by COVID-19 in drastic ways. Whether it be the way they had to complete their work or the demand for their expertise, the effects left a lasting impact. This research will investigate how project managers' work was affected due to covid and how the demand for them changed. Since this area of study has been overlooked, this research could be helpful for any student or individual looking to go into the project management field. In order to complete this research, interviews were conducted, and a secondary data analysis was completed. These interviews …

How The Current Economy Will Affect Generation Z'S Ability To Retire In The Future, Connor Stahl

Honors Projects in Finance

As Gen Z is moving into the workforce, it is becoming more evident that they are going to have a tough time being able to retire. Generation Z, born from 1995 to 2008 is one of the youngest Generations that has seen the most financial strife in their developing years, than any other generation. Even so, this generation has seen a lot of financial struggles they will continue to see them into the future. This study looks at a variety of different factors to help determine the severity of retirement for Generation Z. Some factors that will be looked at …

Biases Within Internal Managerial Reports: The Trickle-Down Effect, Elizabeth Marses

Honors Projects in Accounting

Internal managerial reports are constantly utilized by managers within an organization to make decisions on behalf of the company. When biases become present within these reports, a trickle-down effect also becomes present being that biases have the power to impact one’s decisions and alter the future of a company. This thesis project presents literature that supports this idea and presents one of the more common causes of biases within internal managerial reports, subjective performance evaluations. This project empirically tests whether biased reports alter decision making by presenting an investment type scenario to respondents in both a neutral and biased tone. …

Green Transition And Financial Stability: The Role Of Green Monetary And Macroprudential Policies And Vouchers, Ying Tung Chan, Maria Teresa Punzi, Hong Zhao

Sim Kee Boon Institute for Financial Economics

This paper analyzes a mix of alternative policies in supporting the green transition and the phase-out of fossil fuels, without compromising financial stability. An environmental dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (E-DSGE) model with two sectors (green and brown) and endogenous default is developed to assess potential climate-induced financial stability threats that can be mainly generated through physical and transition risks mechanism. Those risks are evaluated through a compound capital depreciation shock and a carbon tax shock. The paper offers several findings. First of all, a too stringent carbon tax would increase the medium-term default rate in both sectors, harming financial stability …

Equity Fund Monthly Report, April 2024, Archway Investment Fund

Archway Investment Fund

No abstract provided.

Understanding Global Attitudes Towards Artificial Intelligence In The Workplace, William Medeiros

Honors Projects in Business

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has rapidly evolved over the years, emerging as a transformative technology with the potential to revolutionize various industries as well as the way humans work and live. With its ability to mimic human cognitive processes and perform complex tasks, this technology is becoming a powerful tool for automation, decision-making, and problem-solving. Despite these major advancements, several challenges still exist which need to be addressed in order to unlock its full potential. The goal of this research is to gain a better understanding of global attitudes towards AI in the workplace. The purpose is to expand upon existing …

The Landscape Of Gender Lens Investing In The United States And Performance Analysis, Sarah Monsini

Honors Projects in Finance

This study aims to analyze the performance of environmental, social, and governance mutual funds and ETFs, particularly those composed of companies that prioritize the gender diversity pillar of ESG. This method of investing, known as gender lens investing, involves selecting securities with a high social ESG score attributable to strong gender diversity throughout all levels of the company, or in this case, companies that an ETF or mutual fund is invested in. I expect to find that gender diverse ETFs and mutual funds perform better than their benchmarks, promoting the inclusion of policies that facilitate this aspect of ESG in …

Implementing Universal Design For Learning In Financial Literacy Education, Andreas Kotsironis

Honors Projects in Finance

The purpose of the study is to understand what students currently know regarding financial literacy, what learning style they use in the classroom, and how to fuse the two into a simple and informational version of financial literacy education. Financial literacy education can be used to increase household savings for retirement, personal financial goals, and risk management purposes. By joining the concept of UDL and Financial Literacy Education, each obstacle listed can be improved upon. Learning styles focus attention onto three different approaches to teaching that are based in auditory, visual, and kinesthetic pedagogies. UDL focuses on curating individual learning …

Import Penetration And Corporate Misconduct: A Natural Experiment, Christopher Dupuis

Honors Projects in Finance

Import penetration from China is largely exogenous to the U.S. product market. Using this natural experiment, we find that heightened China import penetration curbs corporate misconduct of U.S. firms. The effect is more pronounced for firms with weaker corporate governance and firms more vulnerable to product market competition. The findings suggest that when import penetration increases, firms may improve corporate governance, and differentiate themselves through product innovation or corporate social responsibility to cope with the competition. In addition, we address the exogeneity concern derived from the influence of China value penetration. Furthermore, we find that competition related policies such as …

Rural Hospital Closures Unraveling The Socioeconomic, Healthcare Access, And Community Impact On Local Communities, Jake Lestitian-Howard, Chase Ooten, Jay Poindexter, Colette Martin, Alberto Coustasse

Management Faculty Research

This study aimed to analyze the effects of rural hospital closures on employment level, economic indicators, and availability of care for communities. The research showed that rural hospital closures negatively impacted community economies and access to healthcare.

How To Define, Evaluate, And Improve Extracurricular Student Engagement Using A Nine-Point Framework Based On Marketing Theory, Patrick Roth

Honors Projects in Marketing

Opportunities for extracurricular engagement are an essential component of the value proposition of many colleges and universities, yet students do not always take advantage of these experiences. Previous studies have identified important elements of engagement, as well as best practices to improve it, but are largely contextual and not easily applicable to other instances of organizational engagement. Existing research also fails to establish a consistent definition or perception of engagement. Using a complex synthesis of available literature, as well as focus interviews conducted within the target population at Bryant University, we can derive the individual dimensions of engagement to establish …

Analyzing Deaths From Extreme Weather Events And Their Relevance To The Life Insurance Industry, Erika Roof

Honors Projects in Biological and Biomedical Sciences

This study aims to discover the effect of extreme weather events on the life insurance industry. As climate change progresses and global temperatures increase, extreme weather events, which are separated into drought, freeze, severe storms, tropical cyclones, wildfires, and winter storms are expected to occur more often. Extreme weather events not only impact the local economies but increase local death rates as well. Using data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Centers for Environmental Information (NOAA NCEI), this study uses regression analysis to examine the correlation between extreme weather and mortality data. Time series regression analysis suggests that …

Climate Change: An Existential Threat To Humanity, Brayden Asher Roy

Honors Projects in Biological and Biomedical Sciences

According to President Joe Biden, "Climate change is an existential threat to humanity" (Biden, 2020), one that requires the fullest attention from leaders within the international community. Research into the impacts of anthropogenic behavior on the climate began as early as the 1870s. When the clean energy movement generated support in the 1980s, fossil fuel companies responded to protect their existing business model that a transition to renewable energy would dismantle. Within the United States, through the suppression of information and lobbying of politicians, fossil fuel companies turned the concept of climate change into a partisan issue. Based on scientific …

How Spending Patterns Of Different Groups Affect Long And Short-Term Savings, Peter Misiaszek

Honors Projects in Mathematics and Economics

Many young Americans are concerned whether they will have sufficient savings as they age. This paper will explore the factors that influence the spending habits of young Americans and how those patterns correlate to lifetime savings. There is a plethora of psychological and sociological factors that contribute to different patterns of spending which ultimately affect long-term savings. Savings rates have dropped significantly over the past few decades, and this decline is leaving many Americans without sufficient wealth for retirement. Data that will be collected will be used to run a regression model, ultimately to conclude what the most important factors …

Santa Clara Magazine, Volume 65 Number 1, Spring 2024, Santa Clara University

Santa Clara Magazine

14 - A CAMPUS ON THE RISE Six new buildings on campus aren’t the only changes brought by a successful $1 billion fundraising campaign. Lauren Loftus & Leslie Griffy

20 - HUMAN AT HEART How Santa Clara University is distinguishing itself as a leader in human-focused health care innovation. Lauren Loftus

26 - SHEPHERDING INNOVATION How wonder, and God, can make us better scientists. Brother Guy Consolmagno, S.J.

30 - THE CO-OP Santa Clara University has long been a bastion of interdisciplinary learning. A new fund is taking cross-collaboration to new heights. SCM Staff

34 - MAKE AI THE BEST …

2024- The Twenty-Eighth Annual Symposium Of Student Scholars

Symposium of Student Scholars Program Books

The full program book from the 28th Annual Symposium of Student Scholars, held on April 17-19, 2024. Includes abstracts from the presentations and posters.

A Mixed-Method Inquiry Into Rural School Principal Perspectives Regarding Inclusion Through Social Justice Leadership, Amy J. Konz

PhD in Organizational Leadership

The purpose of this exploratory mixed-methods phenomenological study was to understand the perceptions of school building leaders (SBLs), also referred to as principals, regarding their facilitation of social justice leadership (SJL) and culturally responsive school leadership (CRSL) practices to support student inclusion and belongingness within the K-12 educational setting in NYS. This research study fills the knowledge gap related to student belongingness through the principal's perspective and illuminates how SBLs support inclusion. First, nine high-need rural school principals participated in semi-structured interviews, and second, 101 SBLs from across NYS completed a survey using the Social Justice Behavior Scale (SJBS). Findings …

Exploring The Intersection Of Ethical And Virtuous Leadership: An Analysis Of Correlation And Interchangeability Of Measurement Tools, Ty H. Wenglar

PhD in Organizational Leadership

Exploring the nuanced dimensions of leadership within contemporary organizational contexts, in this study, I delved into the correlation and interchangeability between virtuous and ethical leadership paradigms. Anchored in a methodological framework that includes a thorough literature review and a correlation research design, I assessed the relationship between perceptions of virtuous leadership (measured by the virtuous leadership questionnaire) and ethical leadership (measured by the ethical leadership scale) among leaders and subordinates across a representative demographic of the professional business environment. Drawing from a qualified participant pool of 533, I found a statistically significant, direct, and robust correlation (r = .91, p < .001) between virtuous and ethical leadership perceptions. Simple linear regression analysis showed that perceptions of virtuous leadership significantly predict those of ethical leadership, explaining 83.02% of the variance in ethical leadership perceptions (F (1,531) = 2,596.06, p < .001, R² = .83). These findings illuminate the close alignment between the constructs of virtuous and ethical leadership and suggest the potential use of their measurement instruments interchangeably without modification. By challenging traditional leadership models and advocating for an integrated approach to moral leadership, I highlight the critical importance of fostering both ethical behaviors and virtuous traits for effective leadership. A discussion of the implications for leadership development within organizations and outline directions for future research is provided, emphasizing the need for a holistic approach to cultivating leadership qualities that enhance organizational culture and effectiveness.

Personality Trait Theory And Combat Performance: A Retroactive Study Analyzing Combat Performance And Resilience Among Usaf Eod Veterans Of Iraq And Afghanistan, Michael C. Pasley

PhD in Organizational Leadership

The United States' national security depends upon high-performing leaders within select high-stress and high-risk military functional communities. However, research into the personality traits needed to perform well in these communities is lacking. This quantitative, retrospective, nonexperimental, correlational research aimed to determine whether relationships existed between the personality traits of Air Force EOD Team Leader Veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan and their combat performance and resilience. The theoretical foundation of this study encompassed personality trait theory, theories of human resource management and performance, and criterion measurement theories. The TAKE5 FC, a commercially available forced-choice five-factor model personality assessment, measured personality traits. …