Digital Commons Network^™

The Anatomy Of Change: A Scoping Review Of Surgical Curriculum Renewal Processes, Marc A. Seifman, Robyn Woodward-Kron, Roi Y. Kagan, Kirsten Dalrymple, Aimee K. Gardner, Ian Incoll, Lars Konge, John T. Paige, Debra Nestel

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

PURPOSE: Renewal of surgical curricula is critical in maintaining relevance to contemporary healthcare needs. A curriculum document usually describes its purpose, intended outcomes, content, methods, and assessment and evaluation processes. The document may also consider cultural, professional, political, and social contexts. While there are published curriculum development approaches, guidance on renewal processes is limited. This scoping review aims to synthesise literature on surgical curriculum renewal, to understand the key elements of this process, and identify areas for improvement. METHODS: A scoping review was conducted by the core author team, with co-creation involving a Knowledge User Group (KUG). Seven databases were …

December 5, 2025 Minutes, Swosu Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Minutes

No abstract provided.

First Scholars: Enhanced Institutional Support For First Generation College Students, Genevieve Reside

Masters Projects

First-generation college students (FGCS) represent a large proportion of incoming freshmen at higher education institutions. Despite the having a high amount of FGCS, institution supports do not meet the high level of need presented by this student population. Lacking cultural capital that would otherwise be passed along by college-graduated parents, FGCS must navigate unfamiliar college territory on their own, requiring a high volume of support. This project explores the importance of institutional support on education outcomes for FGCS, proposing a comprehensive social and financial support program. The scholarship program, First Scholars, awards increasing scholarship amounts for subsequent years that students …

Expressive Language And Behavior, Bethany J. Butler

Masters Projects

Research has revealed the importance of language and its correlation with behavior. Although language and behavior are both forms of communication, this project explores young children and their relationship with society. Honing in on the essential importance of efficient expressive language to be able to participate in society. Looking at common barriers that may hinder the language process. Exploring Maslow and his hierarchy of needs, and understanding that the basic needs have to be met before having the ability to learn. In summary, the project focused on how to support the increase in language in different stages.

School And District Leaders’ Understanding Of Technology Organizations’ Cyber Business Practices, Jayejaye Johnson

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

Educational technology (EdTech) interoperability throughout cyberspace provides the financial opportunity to collect and sell student privacy information in digital learning environments, challenging school leaders to govern schools and keep children safe. School leaders provide the resources, funding, planning, decision making, and administration for EdTech cybersecurity practices and policies, yet little is known about what public school leaders understand. A quantitative study was designed using primary data collected from an online survey. Four research questions guided this study: What are the differences in cybersecurity practices and policy response scores (1) between male and female school leaders; (2) among leaders with different …

Child Assent Practices In Research: Improving Ethics, Decision-Making, And Inclusivity, David C. Coker, Ketaki Inamdar, Daniel F. Mccleary, Lesley Cottrell

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

The following article addresses a conundrum: What if child assent in research were a fully informed, stand-alone process that empowered all children to discuss meaningfully, negotiate, and decide how and what the research experience would look like? Past research and practices suggest that child assent, when children (youths to 17-year-olds who have not been emancipated) agree to participate in research before, during, and after parents’ or guardians’ consent, is rife with problems that minimize informed participation and prize procedural ethics over true understanding of the processes and autonomous decision-making. Academic articles often lack details, as length requirements and brevity preclude …

'The Rest Is Silence': Reframing Stasis As Integral To Creative Practice, Corinna Di Niro, Pablo Muslera

Staff Scholarship - Australia & Dubai

This duoethnographic study examines the relationship between motion and stasis in creative practice through the lens of two creative educators working in postgraduate and undergraduate Creative Industries. Drawing on our combined experiences as practitioners and educators at SAE University College, we explore how creative blockages can be reframed as productive rather than problematic, challenging dominant productivity paradigms in contemporary creative industries and education. Through structured dialogic exchange, we investigate three interconnected themes: the rhythmic nature of creative practice, the pedagogical value of embracing productive stasis, and the tension between institutional timelines and creative development. We consider how encouraging SAE creative …

December 2025 General Education Council Minutes, University Of Nebraska At Kearney General Education Council

General Education Council

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Social-Emotional Development In Early Childhood On Academic Success, Chelsea Bassett

Masters Projects

Research consistently shows that social-emotional competencies such as emotional regulation, empathy, interpersonal skills and self-awareness play a foundational role in a student’s ability to engage in learning, collaborate with peers, persist through struggles and achieve academically. Deficits in these skills are associated with decreased motivation, disruptive behavior, poor relationships with peers and teachers and diminished academic performance. Grounded in Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory and supported by evidence-based frameworks, this project explores how intentionally targeting social-emotional learning can strengthen both student well-being and academic outcomes. This project examines the relationship between social-emotional development and academic achievement in early childhood and elementary education. …

Many Elementary Students Lack Opportunities To Develop Critical Thinking, Problem-Solving And Other Essential 21st-Century Skills., Raeanne Sika

Masters Projects

Abstract

Many elementary students have limited opportunities to develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration skills essential for 21st-century learning. Traditional teacher-centered approaches often prioritize memorization over inquiry, leaving young learners underprepared for complex, authentic tasks. Project-based learning (PBL) offers a research-supported alternative, yet teachers often face barriers such as limited preparation, time, and resources.

This project provides a practical solution through a comprehensive professional development (PD) program and PBL implementation toolkit designed for early elementary educators. Grounded in constructivist and social learning theories, the project includes a multi-session PD series, planning templates, instructional supports, and a complete first-grade PBL unit …

Wmu Board Of Trustee Board Meeting, Thursday December 4, 2025, Wmu Board Of Trustees

WMU Board of Trustees Meetings

• Acceptance of the Agenda
• Approval of the Minutes (October 30, 2025)
• Remarks by the Chair of the Board
• Remarks by the President
• Updates by the Faculty Senate President
• Updates by the Western Student Association President
• Updates by the Graduate Student Association President
• Presentation: The Voice of Bronco Success
• Public Comments Regarding Action Items

Action Items

Student Housing and Meal Rates 2026/27

Consent Items

Curriculum Proposals

Personnel Report

• General Public Comments

2025 December 4 - From My Notepads Newsletter, Office Of The President, East Tennessee State University, Brian Noland

From My Notepads: A Newsletter from President Brian Noland

No abstract provided.

A Phenomenological Study: The Self-Efficacious Experiences Of Mid-Level Black Female Administrators At Public Colleges And Universities In Virginia, Alexis Bacote Archer Alarcón

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the self-efficacious experiences for mid-level Black female administrators at public colleges and universities in Virginia. Self-efficacious experiences were generally defined as a person’s belief in their ability to perform well in their role as a leader. The theory guiding this study was Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy. Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy served as the theoretical framework for answering the study's central question: What are the self-efficacious experiences of mid-level Black female administrators at public colleges and universities in Virginia? A transcendental phenomenological design using three core processes, epoche ́, transcendental-phenomenological reduction, …

The Impact Of Education And Awareness In Influencing Lifestyle Behaviors That Prevent And Treat Sarcopenia In Older Adults: A Mixed-Methods Cross-Sectional Research Study, Alan Lynn Jones

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This mixed-methods, cross-sectional study assessed the current level of knowledge and awareness among people aged 50 and older about sarcopenia, as well as their willingness to adopt lifestyle changes that could prevent or reverse the condition as they age. The study aimed to determine whether a lack of awareness and knowledge is linked to current lifestyle behaviors that contribute to or protect against the development of the disease. The population included men and women 50 and older, living independently in the community with no prior diagnosis of sarcopenia. The study used a custom-designed questionnaire and semi-structured interviews. A total of …

Perspectives Of School Based Mental Health Workers Supporting Intellectual Disabilities & Mental Health Disorders, Anna R. Cleeland

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study aimed to investigate the current training of school based mental health (SBMH) professionals working with individuals with dual diagnosed individuals with Intellectual/Developmental disabilities and mental health disorders. A triangulated data approach of survey, focus group and journal reflection was completed providing opportunities for the SBMH professionals to describe their professional training to work with the population and expound on their experiences providing services in the K12 school setting. Results from all three data points indicated a large deficit in training options available specifically for professionals working with those who have an IDD/MH diagnosis. Results also outlined three themes/10 …

A Phenomenological Study Of Perceptions Of The Work Readiness Of Women Working In Skilled Trade Job Roles, Danielle N. Arias

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the attitudes and perceptions of female graduates of post-secondary education programs who are employed in skilled trade job roles in the United States. The study focuses on the problem of underrepresentation of women in industrial trade jobs. The theory guiding this research was Acker’s theory of inequality regimes, as it implies a disadvantage for women and other marginalized groups within organizations. The Central Research Question for the study was: What are the attitudes or perceptions of female graduates of post-secondary education programs who are employed in skilled trade job roles? The …

Job-Related Factors Affecting Special Education Teachers In The Pk-12 Classrooms Technology Proficiency: A Predictive Correlational Study, Kreshonya Porter

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this predictive correlational study was to determine if a linear combination of job-related factors could predict special education teachers’ technology proficiency. The study is critical because teachers’ technology proficiency in a special education setting directly impacts students’ inclusivity, engagement, productivity, and achievements in the classroom. This study adds to the literature regarding special education teachers’ technology proficiency by examining specific job-related factors (experience, educational level, amount of technology-related professional development training, frequency of technology use, specialty, and job placement). The participants for this study were drawn from the population of special education teachers employed in pre-K through …

Criminalizing Difference: An Intersectional Analysis Of Disability In The Criminal Justice System, Rowan Eisleman

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

This research addresses the central question: How do individuals with disabilities intersect with the criminal justice system, and what systemic factors contribute to their overrepresentation and victimization? Despite over 61 million Americans having disabilities, there exists a significant gap in comprehensive scholarship examining disability-criminal justice intersections, particularly regarding how people with intellectual and developmental disabilities experience unique vulnerabilities as both offenders and victims. This study contributes to disability studies and criminology by providing a comprehensive intersectional analysis examining how disability compounds with race and gender to create compounded marginalization. This study conducted a comprehensive literature review, analyzing government statistics from …

2025-12-04 Faculty Senate Meeting Minutes, Morehead State University. Faculty Senate.

Faculty Senate Records

Faculty Senate meeting minutes from December 4, 2025.

General Education Teachers’ Attitudes Toward Students With Emotional And Behavioral Disorders: The Predictive Value Of Idea Knowledge, Teaching Experience, And Classroom-Management Self-Efficacy, Kellie N. Allen

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

General-education teachers often feel unprepared to support students with Emotional and Behavior Disorders (EBD), which can foster negative attitudes toward inclusion. Identifying teacher factors that support successful inclusion in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) is needed. This quantitative predictive–correlational study tested whether general-education teachers’ Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) knowledge, classroom-management self-efficacy, and years of experience predict attitudes toward including students with EBD. Using Facebook and LinkedIn, 83 teachers volunteered and completed the General Educators’ Attitudes toward Emotional and Behavioral Disorders Questionnaire, the Efficacy for Classroom Management Scale, and the Knowledge of Special Education Law Survey. Multiple linear regression …

Examining The Influence Of Education On Job Satisfaction Among Georgia Police Officers: A Causal-Comparative Quantitative Analysis, Ebony J. Gammon

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative causal-comparative study was to determine if a significant difference exists between job satisfaction scores among police officers with varying levels of education. This study is important because it addresses contemporary challenges in law enforcement, will provide valuable insight into informed decision making, has broad implications and applicability, and will contribute to scant policing knowledge that informs the understanding of education level on police actions. More specifically, how higher education or the absence thereof impacts job satisfaction. The sample was composed of 180 sworn Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certified, police officers in the state …

Exploring The Predictive Relationship Between Course Clarity And Utility Value On Engagement For Online Post-Secondary Students In Canada, Amanda Marie Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, predictive, correlational study was to examine how well course clarity and utility value predict student engagement among online learners at a Canadian post-secondary institution. This study is important because it can provide educators and curriculum developers with insights into the factors that positively impact student engagement. Supporting student engagement ensures learners receive a beneficial education and that the institution delivers relevant, engaging programming to retain its students. The sample comprised 68 online post-secondary learners studying at a college in Canada. Data were collected using portions of the Online Learning Climate Scale, the Expectancies and Values …

Academic Opportunities: A Phenomenological Study Of The Lived Experiences Of Principals That Foster Academic Achievement Of Students That Attend Secondary Title I Schools, Loretta O'Nita Speller

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study is to explore the lived experiences of principals fostering the academic achievement of students in grades six through twelve who attend public secondary, Title I schools. The theory guiding this study was Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs. Maslow’s theory posits that if a person’s lower-level deficiency needs are not met, ascension to higher levels cannot happen. The central research question is: “What are the lived experiences of principals that lead secondary Title I schools and how do they foster academic achievement of their students?” Purposeful sampling was used in this study, and participants in …

A Hermeneutic Phenomenology Study: How Students Affected By Trauma Experience Transformative Learning Through Digital Tools, Anita Sarah Chen

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutical phenomenological study is to explore the lived experiences of adolescent students affected by trauma embarking on the transformative learning process as facilitated by digital learning tools. The theory used to guide the study will be the transformative learning theory by Jack Mezirow. The central research question is: How do students affected by trauma experience transformative learning through digital learning tools? Examining students affected by trauma undergoing the transformative learning process facilitated by digital learning tools will be explored using a hermeneutical qualitative design. Ten participants w selected through purposive sampling based on their experiences in …

Ace Scores And Ipv Perpetration Among Domestic Violence Treatment Court Participants In New Mexico, Laura S. Daniels

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative archival study examined the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and intimate partner violence (IPV) among participants in a specialized Domestic Violence Treatment Court (DVTC) in New Mexico. Between January 2019 and December 2024, 69 individuals volunteered for the DVTC, with 49 graduating successfully, reflecting a graduation rate of approximately 78%. The study’s purpose was to determine whether a sample of offenders (N=22) reported higher levels of ACEs compared to the U.S. general population. ACEs were measured using a 10-item questionnaire, and data were compared to national benchmarks from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A …

A Phenomenological Study Of Teachers’ Perspectives On Social-Emotional Learning As A Tool For Mitigating Poverty, Violence, And Trauma In Urban High Schools Of West Tennessee, Schevonda G. Hunt

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand teachers' perspectives on Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) as a mitigating factor for poverty, violence, and trauma for high school students in West Tennessee. At this stage in the research, SEL implementation was generally defined as the strategies and practices teachers used to integrate cognitive, emotional, and social aspects of learning to address the unique challenges faced by students in high-stress urban environments. The theory guiding this study was the social cognitive theory, which emphasized the reciprocal interaction between personal, behavioral, and environmental factors in learning and development. The central research question was …

Personality Traits And Perceived Barriers: A Comparative Study Of Teacher Views On Behavior Interventions, Patricia Geiger Lee

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Maladaptive behaviors negatively affect both students and teachers. Students’ academic success, mental health, and safety are jeopardized by these behaviors, while teachers experience increased stress and burnout when managing them. Behavior interventions have been shown to reduce maladaptive behaviors and improve outcomes. Although most teachers agree that certain factors act as barriers to implementing behavior interventions, there is no consensus on the frequency or impact of these barriers. Guided by the Big Five Theory, this quantitative study examined how teachers’ levels of extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, and openness were associated with differences in their perceptions of the frequency and impact …

The Discoveries Of Key Elements Behind A Central Texas Title 1 Public School District’S Academic And Relational Success Amid Learning Loss In State Trends: A Qualitative Single Case Study, Hannah Deborah-Johns Fountain

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative single case study is to discover the key elements behind a central Texas Title 1 Public School District’s academic and relational success amid learning loss experienced in other similar Texas public school districts during the COVID pandemic. From the years prior to the pandemic to three years post, Sunflower Independent School District (SISD) has remained steadfast in demonstrating superb state ratings via STAAR and TELPAS assessments. It has also received continuous spotlight district recognition through Capturing Kids’ Hearts (CKH) – a social emotional learning (SEL)/character enriching program. Texas Public Education throughout the years has looked …

Linguistic, Academic, And Cultural Experiences Of High School English Language Learners And Sustaining Cultural Pedagogies: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Tina G. Wyatt

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the linguistic, academic, and cultural challenges faced by English language learners at a suburban high school in Texas. At this stage in the research, English language learners were defined as students enrolled in a Texas public high school in a suburban town living in America for no more than four years with little to no English language proficiency, no access to multicultural classrooms, limited instruction from culturally and linguistically trained teachers, and a foreign school environment. The theory guiding this study was Byram’s critical cultural awareness theory, as it aided …

The Lived Experiences Of School Administrators Addressing School Violence Prevention Strategies And Safety Policies In Tennessee: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Trinka Hicks

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of urban high school administrators addressing school violence prevention policies and strategies in academic settings in an urban school district in Tennessee. The central research question used to lead this study is, what are the experiences of school administrators addressing school violence prevention strategies and safety policies in the academic setting? The theory that guided this study is Bandura’s social cognitive theory. Social cognitive theory emphasizes observation, imitation, and modeling, and the relative connection between behavior and the social environment was applied in this study to evaluate …