Digital Commons Network^™

The Legacy Of Language: Indigenous Language In Children’S Fiction, Christine Hartman Derr

Occasional Paper Series

Generally speaking, storytelling is an honored tradition in many Native communities. I use the term generally with a disclaimer. There are currently 574 federally recognized tribal Nations on the land presently known as the United States of America. There are additional Native Nations recognized at the state level and tribal Nations left unrecognized. Each Nation has its own culture, language, traditions, and beliefs. The statements made in this paper could not be universally applicable to all Indigenous communities. There is no monolithic Native perspective that could adequately represent every Native Nation, nor should there be. We celebrate our differences as …

2025 November 17 - Faculty Senate Agenda And Minutes, Faculty Senate, East Tennessee State University

Faculty Senate Agendas and Minutes

No abstract provided.

"We Blink With One Eye Open. They Sleep With One Eye Close": A Qualitative Analysis Of Conflict And Resolution From The Perspective Of Correctional Staff, Staci M. Richardson

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A thesis presented to the faculty of the Caudill College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at Morehead State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree Master of Arts by Staci M. Richardson on November 17, 2025.

Interview With Orca Award Winner James Van Etten, Unl Plant Pathology; Discoverer Of Giant Viruses, Mark Griep, James Van Etten

UNL ORCA Interview Series

Dr. James Van Etten was awarded the UNL Outstanding Research and Creative Activities Award in 1992. He was born in Virginia but grew up Peoria, Illinois. Something in his youth must have sparked an interest in science because he earned his bachelor’s degree in biology from Carleton College in 1960. Carleton is a well-regarded liberal arts institution in Northfield, Minn., about 400 miles from Peoria. Next, Jim earned a master’s and doctorate at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana, both in plant pathology. For his postdoctoral work in 1965 and 1966, he did postdoctoral work in the Department of Genetics …

Exploring Psychological Empowerment Among Hiv Support Groups, Harit Agroia, Leyla Mousli, Rock Braithwaite, Silvia Boron, Rene Padilla

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Support groups can provide members with space to discuss life issues, foster a sense of community, and promote connections with others. For people living with HIV, support groups can improve knowledge and awareness of tools and resources for HIV management, reduce stigma, improve social competence, and overall health. Studies that have connected empowerment and support group structures in populations with HIV have found promising results; however, a dearth of research demonstrates how applying theoretical frameworks can improve understanding of factors that increase empowerment among support group participants. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to apply the Psychological Empowerment Theory …

Special Education Teachers' Experience Implementing Constant Time Delays On Young Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder To Improve Employment Stability, Ayodele Salihu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often encounter challenges in securing and maintaining employment. With appropriate support, they can gradually develop the functional and social skills necessary to perform job tasks independently, fostering long-term employment and greater autonomy. Achieving independence depends on both the cognitive abilities of individuals with ASD and the instructional strategies educators employ to engage them effectively in the learning process. Constant time delay (CTD) is an evidence-based practice that has demonstrated significant benefits for individuals with ASD in skill acquisition and task mastery. This qualitative study explored the experiences of special education (SPED) teachers in implementing …

Introducing Neuro Sscial Work: A Brief Reflection On Neuroscience And The Profession, Priscila Llamosa

Social Work Faculty Publications

This reflection introduces and contextualizes the term Neuro Social Work, which I coin to name a specialized practice area at the intersection of social work, neuroscience, and neurodiversity. Drawing on my experience as a social work educator and practitioner, I discuss social work’s uneasy relationship with neuroscience, marked both by the opportunity to deepen our understanding of trauma, development, and healing, and by the risks of using brain‑based evidence to individualize structural harms or justify surveillance of marginalized communities. I outline, in broad strokes, what distinguishes Neuro Social Work from general neuroscience‑informed practice. The note is intended as a concept …

Every Day Counts – A Critical Qualitative Case Study Examining Black Parents’ Perceptions Of Their Preschool Sons’ Chronic Absenteeism, Marilyn I. Dunham

Theses and Dissertations

Abstract Marilyn I. Dunham EVERY DAY COUNTS – A CRITICAL QUALITATIVE CASE STUDY EXAMINING BLACK PARENTS’ PERCEPTIONS OF THEIR PRESCHOOL SONS’ CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM 2025 - 2026 Jo Ann B. Manning, Ed.D. Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership The purpose of this critical qualitative case study was to examine the perceptions of Black parents regarding chronic absenteeism among Black male preschoolers. Grounded in Critical Race Theory (CRT; Ladson-Billings, 1998; Solórzano & Yosso, 2002), the study sought to amplify parental voices and explore how systemic policies, school practices, home factors, and parental advocacy influence early attendance. Eight Black parents from an urban …

11.17.2025 Ored Connect, Liz Williamson

ORED Newsletter

• Qualtrics training sessions
• Alcorn State University, Dr. Edmund Buckner

دَور معلمات رياض الأطفال الحكومية في العاصمة عمّان في دعم الكفاءة الاجتماعية لدى أطفال الروضة من وجهة نظرهن (الواقع و المعوقات و المأمول). The Role Of “Government Kindergarten” Teachers In The Capital Amman In Improving The Level Of Social Competence Kindergarten Children From Their Point Of View (Reality - Obstacles - Hopefully), رامي محمود اليوسف

Association of Arab Universities Journal for Education and Psychology

هدفت الدراسة الحالية التعرف إلى واقع دَور معلمات رياض الأطفال في دعم الكفاءة الاجتماعية لدى أطفال الروضة من وجهة نظرهن، والتعرف إلى المعوقات التي تحد من دور معلمات رياض الأطفال في دعم الكفاءة الاجتماعية لدى أطفال الروضة من وجهة نظرهن، كما وهدفت إلى تحديد الإجراءات التي تقترحها المعلمات للتغلب على تلك المعوقات، ولتحقيق أهداف الدراسة تم استخدام المنهج الوصفي التحليلي، حيث تكونت عينة الدراسة من (193) معلمة من المعلمات العاملات في رياض الأطفال الحكومية التابعة لمديريات التربية والتعليم في العاصمة عمّان، تم اختيارهن بالطريقة العنقودية، وقد تم استخدام الاستبانة كأداة لجمع البيانات المرتبطة بأسئلة الدراسة، حيث تكونت من ثلاثة محاور، …

الهناء الوجداني المهني لدى معلمي ومعلمات المرحلة المتوسطة في مدينة الرياض. Job-Related Affective Well-Being Among Male And Female Intermediate Stage Teachers In Riyadh, رجاء محمود مريم

Association of Arab Universities Journal for Education and Psychology

هدفت هذه الدراسة إلى قياس مستوى الهناء الوجداني المهني لدى معلمي المرحلة المتوسطة بمدينة الرياض، ذلك من خلال تطبيق مقياس الهناء الوجداني المرتبط بالعمل (JAWS) والمعد من قبل (Van Katwyk et., 2000 )، وبعد ترجمته والتحقق من خصائصه السيكومترية. جرى تطبيقه على عينة مكونة من (415) معلمًا ومعلمة. وأظهرت النتائج أن مستوى الهناء الوجداني المهني لدى المعلمين كان بوجه عام متوسطًا، حيث جاء بُعد المشاعر الإيجابية منخفضة الإثارة (HPLA) في المرتبة الأولى، يليه بُعد المشاعر الإيجابية عالية الإثارة (HPHA)، ثم المشاعر السلبية منخفضة الإثارةLPLA) )، وأخيرًا المشاعر السلبية عالية الإثارة ( LPHA). وتشير هذه النتائج إلى تمتع المعلمين بدرجة مُرضية …

Exploring Generation Z Student Satisfaction In Radiography Programs Within A Southern State: Development And Application Of A Survey Instrument For Leadership Use, Brittany Seruntine Smith

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation employed a sequential exploratory mixed-methods design to examine the extent to which Generation Z students in radiography programs within a southern state perceive that their needs and expectations are being fulfilled. Additionally, the study examined how program leaders perceived and plan to utilize the survey and its findings within the cycle of continuous program improvement and accreditation readiness. A Likert-scale survey instrument was constructed by cross-referencing Generation Z’s characteristics, needs, and expectations with JRCERT standards. Items were refined through target population focus groups and validated using Lawshe’s Content Validity Ratio. The validated instrument was then administered to Generation …

For The Good Times: The Influence Of Leaders' Regret On Risk-Taking Behavior In Decision-Making, Ashley Elizabeth Owen

Doctoral Dissertations

Regret is a powerful and often underexplored emotion that significantly shapes leadership decision-making, particularly in high-stakes environments where the consequences of choices have lasting impacts on individuals, organizations, and communities. The researcher utilized qualitative research to explore how various forms of regret, including anticipatory regret, self-blame regret, and existential regret, influence risk-taking behavior and decision-making processes among higher education leaders within the University of Louisiana System. Drawing upon behavioral decision theory, regret theory, prospect theory, and emotional intelligence frameworks, the study aimed to understand how leaders experience, process, and respond to the emotional dynamics of regret within complex organizational settings. …

Exploring The Effectiveness Of Virtual Reality Learning Through Use Of Visual Eye-Tracking Analytics (Veta) And Biological Measurements, Mckinley Anne Sherman

Master's Theses

Virtual Reality (VR) offers an immersive and interactive platform for experiential learning. The purpose of this thesis was to evaluate the relationship between physiological responses and cognitive workload within a VR learning environment and to explore VR as an effective instructional tool. This research compared participant engagement, stress, and learning performance within a 6th-grade science module developed in VR by incorporating biometric data collected via Polar H10 heart rate monitor and Varjo Areo VR headset eye-tracking. Thirty-three participants completed a pre-lesson demographic survey, post-lesson survey, VR sickness questionnaire, and the NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX). While completing the lesson, the …

Latine Doctoral Student Experiences In U.S. Counselor Education And Supervision Programs, Nayara Aparecida Da Costa Silva Beall, Lizbeth Duran Oden, Isabel C. Farrell, Mariaimeé Gonzalez, Stephanie Thorson-Olesen

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

This study explored the experiences of Latine doctoral students in Counselor Education and Supervision programs in the United States. The consensual qualitative research yielded five domains: cultural values, representation, racialized experiences, support, and social justice. The findings are discussed with direct applications for programs and recommendations for future research.

Counselor Education: Digital Delivery With Confidence, Nicole Marie Arcuri-Sanders, Alisha Davis

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Counselor education programs are required to demonstrate a clear framework, effective implementation, and overall program effectiveness. The pandemic’s surge in online instruction influenced CACREP’s (2024) digital delivery (DD) standards, addressing ethical and legal implications alongside student outcomes. Guidance from digital health initiatives, telemental health ethics and legal practices can be invaluable in clarifying DD protocols for counselor education programs. Understanding the parallels between DD and digital health regulations (e.g., HIPAA, ACA [2014], and NBCC [2023] ethical codes) provides a solid foundation for protecting both students and programs. Integrating technology and modeling digital health practices can enhance counselor education, benefiting both …

Global Citizenship Education In Ghana: An Evaluation Of The Junior High School Social Studies Curriculum, Benjamin Takyi, Anthony Bordoh Dr., Isaac Eshun Prof., Frederick Owusu

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

The aim of global citizenship education (GCE) is to equip individuals with the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to address global challenges. Despite its significance, GCE is often insufficiently integrated into curricula, particularly in the Global South. The purpose of the study was to examine the alignment of the junior high school standards-based social studies curriculum with GCE principles. Using a qualitative case study design and content analysis, the study explores cognitive, socio-emotional, and behavioral aspects of global citizenship embedded in the curriculum. The findings indicate a strong alignment between social studies learning outcomes and GCE principles, with content incorporating …

Evaluating Student Proficiency In Quantitative Reasoning, Gabriel Chavez, Jennifer Clinkenbeard, Tolga Tezcan, Celine Pinet, Jennifer Duggan, George Beckham, Sumadhur Shakya, Christina Zhang

Numeracy

Quantitative Reasoning (QR) competencies are increasingly vital for academic and professional success across disciplines. This study examines the QR proficiency of over 400 undergraduates through a mixed-methods approach, integrating survey-based self-assessments (n = 469) with direct evaluations of final exams (n = 80). This study took place at a public, primarily undergraduate, four-year state university in Northern California with approximate enrollment of 7,500 students. Although students reported frequent engagement in foundational QR tasks— such as calculation and interpretation—rubric-based scoring revealed inconsistent levels of mastery, particularly on higher-order skills like evaluation and coherence. Regression analyses linked confidence to calculation …

Does The National Benchmark Quantitative Literacy Test Predict Performance In Stem Programmes In Commerce, Engineering And Science?, Robert N. Prince

Numeracy

In South Africa, university completion rates remain low, with only 23% of students finishing within the regulation time (three or four years). These completion rates continue to reflect racial inequalities, with ‘White’ students significantly more likely to complete degrees in professional fields such as engineering and commerce compared to their ‘African’ counterparts. To address these challenges, the South African higher education institutions, through their umbrella body, introduced the National Benchmark (NB) tests to assess students’ academic literacy skills—including quantitative literacy, academic literacy, and mathematics—to identify those most at risk of struggling with the curriculum. The NB tests aim to evaluate …

Book Review - Dispositions Are A Teacher's Greatest Strength: Mindful Pedagogical Practices To Develop Self-Awareness To Flourish In The Classroom, Jeff Wiesman

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

A review of Hughes, M.C. (2024). Dispositions are a teachers’ greatest strength: Mindful pedagogical practices to develop self-awareness to flourish in the classroom. Routledge. (ISBN: 978-1032457598, 204 pgs., soft cover)

Disproportionate School Brutality Upon Black Children, Nicole Tuchinda

Kentucky Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Evaluating And Supporting Transformative Agreements: Five Institutional Perspectives In Discussion, Anna R. Craft, Peggy Kain, Danica Lewis, Camille Mccutcheon, William Joseph Thomas

Libraries Professional Work

Transformative—or Read and Publish—deals are impacting the open access (OA) publishing landscape, allowing libraries to test new models for funding and incentivizing OA publishing, while also providing direct benefits for authors, including discounts and waivers on article processing charges (APCs). But how sustainable are transformative deals in light of library materials budgets and workloads for personnel who negotiate these deals, manage the implementations, and support campus authors? And how can libraries evaluate the perceived value of these deals in relation to the specific needs of their institutional users?

Shrek: The Musical, David Lindsay-Abaire, Jeanine Tesori

Taylor Theatre Playbills

The playbill for Taylor University's performance of Shrek: The Musical with book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire and music by Jeanine Tesori.

Performed November 20-22, 2025 in the Mitchell Theatre at Taylor University.

Shrek is, on the surface, a whimsical fairy tale full of comedy, color, and charm. But beneath the humor lies a story about seeing and being seen—about belonging, forgiveness, and the quiet courage it takes to live authentically in a world that too easily labels and excludes. “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am …

2025 November 14 - Audit Committee Agenda And Minutes, Board Of Trustees, East Tennessee State University

Board of Trustees Agendas and Minutes

No abstract provided.

2025 November 14 - Academic, Research And Student Success Committee, Board Of Trustees, East Tennessee State University

Board of Trustees Agendas and Minutes

No abstract provided.

2025 November 14 - Full Board Of Trustees Agenda And Minutes, Board Of Trustees, East Tennessee State University

Board of Trustees Agendas and Minutes

No abstract provided.

Culture Clash: New Majority Students At Psu, David Peterson Del Mar, Alejandra Vazquez

PDXOpen: Open Educational Resources

At the heart of this open access book are nearly 100 interviews that the authors conducted with New Majority Portland State University undergraduates, especially first-generation students from immigrant families. These young adults have a lot to say about the practical and emotional challenges of balancing their warm cultures and extensive family obligations with college and classroom experiences that are often intimidating and impersonal. The book includes suggestions from the students and some of the faculty and staff they praised for how Portland State might become a place where many more feel at home and fulfill their dreams.

Pow, Bam, Snikt: Using Superheroes To Teach Mental Health, Christopher Dabbs

Journal of Thematic Instruction

Undergraduate psychopathology (abnormal psychology) courses traditionally emphasize case vignettes of individuals with psychiatric disorders to illustrate etiology, nosology, and treatment. While pedagogically useful, these depictions can inadvertently provoke distress in students, potentially impeding engagement and learning. To address this dilemma while continuing to center the same learning outcomes, I formulated a course structure which embedded some course topics in superhero-related material with the express intent to create psychological distance between potentially distressing topics and the learners themselves. This commentary provides background for the course, evidenced-based rationale for specific pedagogical choices alongside topical material recommendations, and ends with personal reflections.

From The Stage To The Classroom: Reflections On A Psychology Of Musical Theater Class, Jill M. Swirsky

Journal of Thematic Instruction

Thematic instruction, which uses a central popular culture theme to bridge theoretical concepts and lived experience, is a powerful tool for engaging students in complex subject matter. This paper explores the design, structure, and outcomes of a Psychology of Musical Theater course that uses popular musicals as a lens for examining key psychological theories and themes. Utilizing a hybrid course design, students explored psychological themes in musicals (e.g., racism in Hairspray) through reflective writing, small and large group discussion, and a final project. Anecdotal evidence suggests that this approach enhanced engagement and promoted deeper learning, as students reported personal growth, …

Growing A Church Worship Band, Charmaine Landrum

Masters Theses

Many churches either leave the music to the professionals, or let untrained musicians blunder their way through the service, distracting their congregations. Little research has been done pertaining to the development of average or inexperienced musicians for Sunday Services. Considering the shift in worship music and technology, there is a need to train the next generation of worship team members. There is a lack in research pertaining to the best methods for training untrained musicians who want to volunteer but may not be ready for the platform. One particular church, Revolution Church in Canton, Georgia, is solving their dilemma by …