Digital Commons Network^™

Barriers To Online Education: A Qualitative Study Of First-Generation Online Community College Students And The Barriers They Face, Caleb D. Leal

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the barriers that first-generation community college students face when enrolling in online courses. The theory guiding this study is Bourdieu’s capital theory, which details possible barriers students may face when enrolling in online courses. The barriers associated with Bourdieu’s capital theory include economic, cultural, social, and technical. The method employed in this research is a qualitative phenomenological approach, focusing on the lived experiences of first-generation community college students enrolled in online courses. Using a hermeneutical approach, the research was focused on the stories and lived experiences of each participant. The study …

Institutional Belonging And College Success In A Neoliberal Environment, Alicia C. Figueroa

Dissertations

As higher education evolves in response to various pressures, adult learner graduate students, particularly women who are mothers, find themselves navigating a complex landscape shaped by neoliberal ideals of belonging. This research aimed to explore the multifaceted notions of belonging within a neoliberal environment and provide insight into a growing sector of this college student population. The project sought to illuminate the unique experiences of female adult learner graduate students, especially mothers, as they increasingly return to college post-COVID-19. Employing a qualitative phenomenological research design, this study gathered diverse narratives from this sub-population. The methodology utilized purposeful sampling for semi-structured …

A Phenomenological Exploration Of The Lived Experiences Of Educators In Nursing Programs Experiencing Changes In Academic Nurse Administrators From High Attrition, Anny Dionne

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutical study was to describe and interpret the lived experiences of educators in nursing programs who experienced changes in academic nurse administrators at colleges and universities in a southern state in the United States. Nursing academic administrators influence the quality of nursing programs. Changes in academic administrators are experienced by educators of nursing programs, who, in turn, contribute to the students' learning experience. Stress is perceived differently in individuals. Lazarus and Folkman's transactional theory of stress and coping (TTSC) is the theory guiding this study. This theory examines how individuals interpret and react to events. The …

2025-10-16 Faculty Senate Meeting Minutes, Morehead State University. Faculty Senate.

Faculty Senate Records

Faculty Senate meeting minutes from October 16, 2025.

Advanced Artificial Intelligence Software In Mental Health Field Integrating Into Practice, Nazanin Azimi Hagjoo

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The integration of artificial intelligence software in health care has delivered revolutionary changes by enhancing efficiency, increasing accuracy, saving time, and improving clinician life balance. In very recent years, the mental health field also has started to be transformed by AI software; the adoption of AI technologies has helped to meet the demand for mental health services. AI tools have great potential to improve the efficiency and efficacy of clinicians, as they can provide diagnostic tools, smart treatment plans, improved medication refill processes, and monitoring of patient outcomes and well-being, as well as prevent medication errors. Such exciting innovations help …

Exploring How Collaboration Between General And Special Education Teachers Affects Self-Efficacy When Teaching Students Diagnosed With Emotional Disabilities In The Inclusive Classroom: A Qualitative Case Study, Liza K. Hyde

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study was to explore the self-efficacy of general education and special education teachers at XYZ school district. The theory guiding this study was Bandura’s self-efficacy theory. The central research question was: How does collaboration between general and special education teachers affect their self-efficacy when working with students with emotional disabilities? This qualitative case study explored general and special education teachers’ real-life experiences while collaborating and teaching students with emotional disabilities in the secondary inclusive classroom. The total number of participants (10) were interviewed, allowed to collaborate in focus groups, and completed a reflective letter writing …

Exploring The Influence Of Servant Leadership Style On Staff Retention In The Early Childhood Education Industry: A Transcendental Phenomenology, Stacey Andrews Pipkins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to discover whether the servant leadership style, which emphasizes supporting the needs of followers, could enhance the support of early childhood education (ECE) teachers and raise retention rates in the central Arkansas area. The theory guiding this study was Robert Greenleaf’s servant leadership theory, as it is best known for supporting the needs of followers. A review of relevant literature has found that ECE teachers are leaving the industry due to heavy workloads and a lack of support from leadership. The aim of this study was to investigate how the leadership style …

A Phenomenological Study Of Parent And Educator Perceptions Of Inclusive Education For Individuals With Disabilities, Karin Elizabeth Kawagoe

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological qualitative study, grounded in disability theory, explores the lived experiences of parents and educators regarding inclusive education. At present, laws and regulations promote the inclusion of individuals with disabilities. Inclusion has evolved since the mid-1950s. The biblical foundation for inclusion draws on the life of Jesus. This study examined how concepts of belonging, willingness, perceptions of inclusion, and evidenced based practices manifest in perceptions of advocacy, empathy, flexibility, and collaboration. Data was collected using interviews with parents and educators. Thematic analysis revealed that parents’ experiences centered on advocacy, resilience, empathy, and compassion, reflecting feelings of isolation and being …

Qualitative Ethnographic Research On The Efficacy Of A Christian-Based Approach To Mentorship For Black Males, Arnold M. Campbell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study advanced qualitative research by identifying several statistical gaps in the social sciences related to leadership development, learning principles, character traits, and spiritual formation for a specific demographic of Black males. This researcher aimed to understand the efficacy of Christian-based actions through mentorship programs that intend to address social deficits. From a theological and theoretical context, this research literature review and observations focused on the practical Christian-based approaches to mentorship that provided a model to improve the lives of a specific demographic of Black males considered high-risk and vulnerable. The target group was raised in single-parent homes and attended …

Generation Z And The Church: A Phenomenological Study Of Perceptions, Barriers, And Opportunities For Church Engagement, Hector Albert Soto

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine the perceptions, barriers, and opportunities that shape the relationship between Generation Z and the Christian church, with particular attention to how these factors influence patterns of engagement. Recent trends indicated a significant decline in church engagement among Generation Z, contributing to the erosion of vital resources necessary for the sustained vitality of contemporary Christian congregations (Barna, 2020; Braddy, 2021; Earls, 2020). The study was guided by three research questions: 1) What Generation Z variables did the church need to focus on to attract and retain Gen Z (e.g., social concerns, leadership …

From Food Desert To Food Security: Implementing Change Through The Augusta Dream Center, Marté Antione Gifford

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project is to design and implement a community garden, supplemented by local farmer partnerships, at the Augusta Dream Center (ADC) to address food insecurity in the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA) by providing fresh produce, fostering nutrition education, and promoting long-term health equity. This project is driven by the urgent need to reduce health disparities that result from limited access to healthy foods, particularly the elevated risks of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease in low-income and minority communities. The CSRA faces unique challenges as it contains both food deserts, where healthy food options are scarce, and …

Influence Of High-Speed Internet Infrastructure Availability On Aggregate Academic Outcome Measures For Washington State High Schools, Jessie A. Tanksley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Limited research has been conducted about the potential influence of high-speed broadband infrastructure availability in rural and urban communities on high school academic outcome measures in Washington state. Guided by Siemens’s theory of connectivism and van Dijk’s digital divide theory, the purpose of this quasi-experimental, causal-comparative, quantitative study was to determine whether significant differences in high school academic performance, measured by graduation rates and standardized test scores, exist between urban and rural communities with and without access to high-speed broadband internet infrastructure in Washington state. Three research questions were developed to examine differences in graduation rates, 10th-grade English Language Arts …

Stoic Wisdom For The Contemplative Teacher: Prosochê And Praemeditatio Malorum As Alternative Approaches To Mindfulness, Anna Rumjahn

Journal of Contemplative and Holistic Education

In K-12 environments where teacher burnout and attrition are increasingly prevalent, where can educational professionals seek sustainable approaches to reduce exhaustion, emotional demands, and uncertainty? In this paper, I extend Christopher McCaw’s research on the direct and dynamic relationship between contemplative practices and who teachers are and are becoming. By examining the current debates around defining reflective and contemplative practitioners, I call for alternative definitions of mindfulness when considering teacher professional becoming and submit for consideration the perspectives of Greco-Roman philosophy which has hitherto been less explored apropos education. Using prosochê (attention) and the Stoic exercise of praemeditatio malorum to …

Evaluating The Self-Efficacy Of Novice Educators In Nursing And Allied Health Care Programs As It Pertains To Faculty Development, Amanda Doneski, Martin S. Rice

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Career choices in nursing and allied health include but are not limited to nursing, radiologic technology, dental hygiene, respiratory therapy, and occupational therapy.¹The majority of health care professions require the practitioner to hold certain required credentials. These credentials are obtained upon successful graduation from an accredited curriculum, passing some sort of board exam, and applying for and obtaining a state license to practice in their designated area of expertise.² Advancement opportunities in management, sales, and education are attainable for many healthcare professionals.³ Individuals who transition from the role of a health care provider to educator …

Knowledge And Perceived Barriers About Hand Hygiene Among Interns In A Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital, Riddhi Soni, Pradeep Jadhav (Corresponding Author), Rekha Mane

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose

Good hand hygiene is a significant factor in preventing hospital-acquired infections (HAI) and antibiotic resistance. The concepts of hand hygiene need to be evaluated among healthcare interns who are in the training stage.

Aim

To determine the knowledge of hand hygiene and associated barriers among dental, medical, and physiotherapy Interns.

Methods

A prospective, cross-sectional study was conducted among 150 healthcare interns (50 each from Dentistry, Medicine, and Physiotherapy) selected using a 4-block randomization method. Participants who did not provide consent, undergraduate students, postgraduate residents, and faculty members were excluded. Data were collected using a structured survey comprising two sections: …

Printing The Future: A Collaborative Approach To Integrating 3d Printing In Physical Therapy Education, Amanda L. Thomas, Teresa Munecas, Andreina Lander, Amber Sivalls, Abigail Tong, Tyler Turner, Lauren Butler

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Integrating 3D printing into healthcare education presents an opportunity to enhance learning, foster innovation, and address challenges in patient care. This study explores a collaborative approach to incorporating 3D printing into a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program through interdisciplinary partnerships with biomedical engineering, architecture, and immersive studio technologies. The study's primary aim was to provide DPT students with hands-on experience in designing and creating 3D printed adaptive devices for individuals with unique healthcare needs while encouraging cross-disciplinary collaboration to enhance innovation and problem-solving. The initiative was structured around a series of pilot projects embedded in the DPT curriculum, focusing …

Towards An Ecofeminist Pedagogy: The Environmental Ethics Of Ai, Jessica K. Crowell

Feminist Pedagogy

Previous scholarship has outlined some of the ethical considerations regarding the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the classroom and beyond, such as the potentials for plagiarism, information bias, disinformation, or even violations of user privacy. Though research suggests that machine learning is a major and ever-increasing contributor to carbon emissions, there has been little discussion of how we teach about the ethics of AI from an environmental perspective. Therefore, this critical commentary first outlines how an ecofeminist pedagogy can help students consider the environmental and ecological effects of new technologies, including AI. At its core, an ecofeminist pedagogy argues …

Democratic Education In The Literature Classroom: Integrating Political Literacy And Political Emotions Into Agonistic Literary Discussions. A Response To “Agonism In A Classroom Discussion On Strindberg’S Miss Julie”, Baptiste Roucau

Democracy & Education

In an era of rising polarization and populism, how can we transform the literature classroom into a site of democratic education? Drawing on agonistic scholarship, Tysklind et al. (2024) offer the agonistic literary discussion, a novel pedagogical approach aiming to prepare students for the complexities of democracy by forming collective identities and navigating conflictual consensus. To build on the authors’ work, this response article proposes two additions—political literacy and political emotions—and cautions against the risk of antagonism. Agonistic literary discussions can integrate political literacy through teaching relevant knowledge and careful questioning, enabling students to situate characters’ experiences in political contexts …

Action Civics As A Powerful Tool—Not A Panacea—In The Provision Of High-Quality Civic Education. A Response To “The Domino Effect”: How Early Adolescence Describe Their Capacity For Civic Engagement", Daniela Kruel Digiacomo

Democracy & Education

Action civics happens when young people do research, action, and reflection on social or political issues they care about. In this third decade of the 21st century, action civics is often found in after-school and/or out-of-school contexts, and substantive research now shows its power and potential for providing transformative learning experiences for young people, as is evidenced again in "The Domino Effect: How Early Adolescents Describe Their Capacity for Civic Engagement"—one of the feature articles of this issue. At the same time, action civics, precisely because it is so often conceived and enacted in out-of-school time spaces, is not, and …

“The Domino Effect”: How Early Adolescents Describe Their Capacity For Civic Engagement, Michelle Bauml, Jonathan W. Crocker

Democracy & Education

This qualitative study explored how 28 early adolescents described their capacity for civic engagement as they participated in a civic education camp in the United States and engaged in action civics inquiry projects about local issues. Focus group interviews revealed that these youth recognized the capacity of people their age to raise awareness and advocate about issues they care about while acknowledging their limits as youth and conceding that adults have advantages of age and power. Participants also described their capacity to take personal responsibility for their actions and efforts and to leverage relationships to influence others. Findings suggest that …

Gender And Racial Gaps In Student Shadow Debts, Melissa Jones, Jodonnis Rodriguez, Amanda Stype

Journal of Student Financial Aid

This exploratory study delves into the intricate landscape of student debt by spotlighting the demographics of non-returning university students who grapple with unpaid bursar bills, a type of shadow debt not visible in traditional assessments of loan borrowing and repayment. Analysis of such shadow debt at one regional Midwest institution reveals that underrepresented minority students and female students are disproportionately burdened, facing 117% and 19% higher odds of unpaid institutional balances being sent to collections, respectively. These findings illuminate the urgent need for 1) tailored interventions that can bolster the resilience of at-risk students, effectively addressing and alleviating the financial …

An Authentic Leader Never Dies: Lessons Learned From The Seminal Work Of Elizabeth Yerxa, Daniel Cezar Da Cruz

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

This Opinion in the Profession is based on the enduring legacy of Elizabeth June Yerxa, a pioneering leader in occupational therapy and occupational science, following her passing in December 2024. Rather than a traditional "in memoriam," the author uses the present tense to emphasize Yerxa's ongoing influence. The paper highlights four key themes from Yerxa’s work: the commitment of occupational therapy to social change, the importance of an occupation-centered education, the term “engaging in occupation”, and the establishment of occupational science as a foundational discipline. Yerxa’s advocacy for critical thinking, holistic perspectives, and the integration of diverse fields …

Promoting Sense Of Belonging Among First-Generation Students In Occupational Therapy, Pola Ham

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

First-generation students in occupational therapy programs face unique challenges that can impact their sense of belonging and academic success, potentially hindering efforts to diversify the profession. There is limited data on occupational therapy students who identify as first-generation students. However, the literature has noted improved efforts toward a sense of belonging in higher education among students leads to feeling a sense of connectedness with their peers and faculty, aiding in overall well-being, academic performance and retention. In contrast, a lack of these efforts can lead students to experience a diminished sense of belonging to the institution. This article examines the …

Occupational Balance Of Occupational Therapy Students Before And After Occupational Disruption Caused By Covid-19, Juan Pablo Saa, Georgia King, Kylee Lockwood, Tamara Tse

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing restrictions have caused occupational disruption, yet little is known about their relationship with occupational balance, student satisfaction, and stress. This study aimed to investigate the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on the occupational balance of occupational therapy students in the state of Victoria, Australia, and its association with measures of life satisfaction and distress.

Method: Participants completed the Occupational Balance Questionnaire (OBQ-11) twice (once rating their occupational balance before COVID-19 social distancing restrictions and again during the time these restrictions were in place); the Global Life Satisfaction Questionnaire; and the Depression, Anxiety and …

The Need For ‘Soft Skills’ In Occupational Therapy Curricula: A Descriptive Analysis Of French Students’ Internship Comments, Cynthia Engels, Nadia Oubaya, Aliki Thomas

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

A competent occupational therapist needs soft skills. Although the French national occupational therapy (OT) curriculum lists 10 competences to be acquired, they do not include soft skills. The objectives of this study were to (a) Identify the proportion of soft skills in OT students’ internship comments written by internship tutors and (b) characterize the mentioned soft skills to help determine whether and which soft skills should be included in the new OT curriculum nationwide in France. This was a qualitative descriptive analysis of tutors’ comments on internship evaluations based on the framework method. Of the 1060 internship reports, 1035 (98%) …

Language Learning, Neurodiversity, And Advocacy: Tools For Success At Cod, Brian Kapustka

Faculty and Staff Scholarship

Informed by the pedagogical applications developed in my project, A Sociocognitive Approach to Second Language Acquisition: Integrating Neurodiversity and Advocacy in Language Learning—itself grounded in Atkinson’s (2011) sociocognitive framework—this presentation explores the intersection of language learning, neurodiversity, and self-advocacy through a strengths-based and socially grounded lens. It highlights how multilingual and neurodivergent students experience language acquisition differently and how embracing cognitive diversity fosters inclusion and success at the College of DuPage. The session introduces practical strategies for understanding one’s learning profile, communicating needs effectively, and navigating COD’s academic support services. Emphasis is placed on developing self-advocacy language, applying reflective …

Exploring Social And Emotional Learning Implementation At The High School Level: Professional School Counselors’ Perceptions Of Student Academic, Behavior, Course Performance Success, And Post-Secondary Readiness, Charlene Fletcher

Ed.D. Dissertations

This qualitative interpretive study explored high school counselors’ perceptions of the influence of a schoolwide Social and Emotional Learning program on senior students’ attendance, behavior, course performance, and postsecondary readiness in school districts across the United States. The study sought to gain insight into how the implementation of Social and Emotional Learning practices influenced student outcomes, and better prepared them for life beyond high school graduation. Data were collected through single questionnaires and single semistructured interviews with professional high school counselors who shared their perceptions on the influence of Social and Emotional Learning in fostering student success. The findings revealed …

Managing User Conflicts In A Water Aerobics Program On Behalf Of A Veteran’S Group: A Short Case Study, Hadley Blankenship, Steven N. Waller Ph.D., Jason L. Scott

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

This article captures an experience in conflict management that happened during the summer of 2024 as a recreational therapy intern with an adaptive sport and recreation organization located in the Southeastern United States. The backdrop to the case is that a recreational therapy intern worked with various special needs populations – mainly with paraplegic (adult and youth) athletes and veterans. In many organizations, user conflicts and poor communication regarding service provision and scheduling hinder the implementation of programs for special populations, such as veteran groups. In this case, a problem occurred with the scheduling of a water aerobics program for …

Curbing Fatal And Non-Fatal Drowning Deaths: An Effort To Reach Under-Resourced Children In Baltimore, Maryland, Ashton P. Christo, William D. Ramos

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

Drowning remains a significant public health problem in the United States, with The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reporting approximately 4,000 drowning deaths annually. Children aged 1-4 face the highest risk, and African American children are disproportionately affected–7.6 times more likely to drown than white children (CDC, 2024). In a city on the East Coast that is predominantly African American, limited access to swimming lessons heightens the risk. To reduce drowning rates, a collaborative swimming program was established between a city high school and a public school enrichment program. The initiative provided essential water safety and swimming skills …

Diversity In Aquatics:4th Special Issue, Tiffany M. Quash Ph.D., Angela K. Beale-Tawfeeq, Steven N. Waller Ph.D.

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

The theme of this special issue is “Building a Community of Champions.” The purpose of this theme is to highlight and promote a civic engagement perspective that engages, advocates, and supports communities of Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) in addressing the national, regional, and local evolving health-related issue of drowning. Aquatic Settings have been a pivotal focal point of social justice, water safety, and public health, not only in the past but also in our present day (Beale-Tawfeeq, Quash, et al, 2023 and Waller and Bemiller, 2023). Diversity In Aquatics (DIA) strives to positively impact the field of aquatics …