Digital Commons Network^™

Statutes Of Unjust Limitations: An Argument In Favor Of Increasing The Statute Of Limitations For Civil Cases Of Adult Sex Crimes In Texas, Athina E. Castañon

The Scholar: St. Mary's Law Review on Race and Social Justice

This Comment argues that Texas’s current five-year statute of limitations for civil claims arising from adult sex crimes is unjust and misaligned with modern trauma research. While Texas has enacted meaningful legislation for child survivors, adult survivors who experience sexual violence after the age of eighteen remain subjected to an arbitrarily short filing window that fails to account for the psychological, social, and economic barriers to reporting and litigation. Drawing on historical context, trauma-informed research, and a comparative analysis of reform efforts, this Comment demonstrates how rigid statutes of limitations disproportionately harm survivors and undermine access to civil justice.

Universal Free Lunch: Why Not New Hampshire?, Delaney Hesler

Carsey Publications

School lunch is an essential component of students’ lives. Spending an average of 6.8 hours a day at school, students need food to fuel their learning. Along with many other states across the nation, most New Hampshire schools participate in the National School Lunch Program. This program provides federal reimbursements to schools for students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Across all New Hampshire districts, an average of 23 percent of kids were eligible for free or reduced-price meals during the 2025–26 school year. However, in pockets of both rural and urban New Hampshire, rates far exceed the average. …

The Impact Of Trump Administration Immigration Policies On Connecticut Educators And Families, Elena C. Bielesz

Honors Scholar Theses

Anti-immigrant rhetoric, policies, and practices, which have grown increasingly prevalent due to the current national political climate, have adverse effects on the mental health of immigrant families and the teachers that support them in Connecticut. This study seeks to represent the opinions of Connecticut K-12 MLL (Multilingual Learners) Education Teachers and Administrators whose daily lives are impacted by the anti-immigrant and anti-refugee policies and procedures. The study employed a human subjects-based approach supported by a review of related literature. MLL Educators from around the state of Connecticut were interviewed. These interviews found that while immigration-based trauma and stressors are common …

Haapxtàm Ka'Ál Yimisapʰíkʰ We Dream For Our Children Indigenous Pedagogies In Early Childhood Education: Survivance, Truth Telling, And Healing On Native Land, Sara Anne Koyano

Dissertations and Theses

Since Time Immemorial, Indigenous Peoples have lived, learned, and thrived on this continent, exercising their inherent sovereignty as Original Peoples and passing down Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and learning across generations. US settler colonial violence and assimilation policies have had historical and contemporary detrimental impacts on Native children, families, and communities by attempting to disrupt the intergenerational transmission of Indigenous knowledges. Consequently, many young Native children in Oregon do not have access to educational opportunities that value, honor, and affirm their Indigenous identities and cultures, nor do they see themselves reflected in their classrooms and curricula. Furthermore, in 2019, …

South Carolina Administrator Workforce Profile For 2024–25, Brian Cartiff, Angela Starrett, Svetlana Dmitrieva

Reports

This report details South Carolina’s public school administrator workforce for the 2024–25 academic year. The analysis draws on statewide data to examine the demographic characteristics of South Carolina’s principal and assistant principal workforce. Findings are based on data from 1,385 principals and 2,351 assistant principals employed in South Carolina public schools in 2024–25. The report also incorporates data from previous years to track longitudinal trends, offering insight into workforce patterns. These f indings can support data-informed strategies to strengthen administrator recruitment and retention, which in turn may contribute to broader efforts to improve the stability of South Carolina’s educator workforce.

Bridging The Language Gap: Enhancing Interpreter Support And Service For The Benefit Of The Lep Community, Morgan Kuchta

The Scholar: St. Mary's Law Review on Race and Social Justice

English is the language of the court, but when it intends to serve a multilingual public, there must be a strong commitment to uphold the rights of limited English proficient (LEP) individuals. LEP individuals, particularly those that speak rare languages, are disadvantaged by various issues impacting interpreters and the courts. When only the interpreter’s words are reflected in the courtroom and the transcript, it is essential that the court ensures the accessibility of qualified interpretation, as any omission or misinterpretation can hinder access to justice. We must protect the interests of LEP individuals trying to navigate the court system, and …

The Higher Education Health Insurance Trap: How Underinsurance Fuels Health Inequity And Educational Inaccessibility, Hallie E. Vanney, David J. Satin

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Higher education institutions are increasingly committed to recruiting more diverse students. As these efforts succeed, institutions face the parallel challenge of meeting an evolving student body's broader and more complex healthcare needs. This article highlights how student health insurance is a critical need that may be unmet by institutions traditionally designed for young, healthy, able-bodied students. Graduate and professional students are particularly vulnerable to a “health insurance trap”; they may discover, only after enrollment, that their plan does not cover essential care, they can no longer work full-time to gain commercial insurance, they have aged out or do not have …

2026-05-12 Minutes, Morehead State University. Staff Congress.

Staff Congress Records

Staff Congress meeting minutes from May 12, 2026.

Boosting Psychological Well-Being In One Session: A Rapid Counseling Approach To Digital Detox And Music Therapy, Aryobimo Oentarto

Buletin Konseling Inovatif

The rapid acceleration of technology has trapped modern youth in a digital connectivity paradox, where constant social media exposure triggers cognitive distortions and maladaptive behaviors that erode psychological well-being. This study evaluates the effectiveness of a Rapid Counseling approach integrated with Single-Session Music Therapy (RC-SSMT) in enhancing the psychological well-being of youth by breaking the cycle of digital addiction. Using a pre-test and post-test experimental design, the study focused on six youths (aged 15–17) at Church "X" in Jakarta who were identified as having low psychological well-being. The intervention combined a mandatory digital detox as a behavioral task with music …

Awareness And Perceived Benefits Of Ai Assistive Technology In Ghana’S Inclusive Education: An Exploratory And Context-Specific Study, Isaac Amoako, Vera Arhin, Eric Abodey, Daniel Gyapong Nimo

Mid-Western Educational Researcher

Background: Education experts have consistently emphasized that the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in education presents a range of transformative possibilities, including personalized learning, real-time feedback, automation of routine tasks, analysis of learner needs, and adaptability to the pace and requirements of individual students. While many Ghanaian teachers are increasingly familiar with generative AI tools, there remains a noticeable gap in awareness regarding AI-powered assistive technologies and their potential as a catalyst for advancing the nation’s inclusive education agenda. This study, therefore, seeks to assess the level of awareness among teachers concerning the use of AI-powered assistive technologies in supporting …

Factors That Contribute To Unemployment In The School-To-Work Transition, Brittany Verrette

Online Journal for Workforce Education and Development

This paper explores the problem of unemployment for Black or African American high school graduates as well as Latinx graduates. As college increasingly becomes a risk of return on investment, more young adults intend to enter the workforce immediately after high school graduation; however, many Black and Latinx graduates experience difficulty in transitioning from school to work. Using Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory, this paper explores the contributing factors that make gainful employment difficult for high school graduates of color.

Keywords: unemployment, school-to-work transition, high school graduates, career education, K-12, workforce development

Embracing Neurodiversity In The Workplace: Strategies For Human Resource Management To Foster Inclusion And Enhance Employee Well-Being, Sameer Ahmed

Online Journal for Workforce Education and Development

Abstract

Objective: This literature review examines strategies for fostering the inclusion of neurodivergent individuals in the workplace with a focus on the role of Human Resource Management (HRM). Background: Neurodiversity refers to variations in neurological functioning and includes conditions such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia and others. Recognizing neurodiversity as a valuable form of human diversity can enhance workplace innovation and performance. Method: A comprehensive review of the recent literature on neurodiversity in the workplace was conducted by employing qualitative analysis techniques, including thematic coding, comparative analysis, and critical reflection. Results: Key findings encompass the …

Closing The Global Skills Gap: Employer Panels As Partnership Tools For Industry And Higher Education, Dean Campbell, Emily Workman

Online Journal for Workforce Education and Development

This paper explores how employer panels function as partnership tools to close the global skills gap between higher education and industry. As workforce demands shift toward adaptability, critical thinking, and intercultural competence, institutions must prepare students with both technical and soft skills. Guided by Communities of Practice and constructivist learning frameworks, two community college case studies—a metropolitan branch campus (BCCC) and a rural college (RCC)—demonstrate how employer panels support workforce readiness. Panels engaged employers, faculty, and students in discussions informed by pre-session surveys and industry insights, highlighting skills essential for navigating a globalized economy. Outcomes show that panels foster collaborative …

Workplace English For Non-Profits: Using Visual And Specific Purposes Pedagogy, Emma K. Brown

2026 Symposium

Between April and June 2025, I designed and taught an English for Specific Purposes (ESP) workshop series for Refugee and Immigrant Connections Spokane (RICS) in Spokane, Washington. The purpose of this workshop series was to provide RICS’s employees, who were advanced English learners, instruction and practice with the nuances of professional communication, especially email communication, and vocabulary unique to their career in a non-profit organization. The workshop was entirely voluntary, provided online over Zoom after their workday had ended, and met once a week for one hour. I designed this workshop series using the pedagogy of ESP: conducting a thorough …

Preparing A Qualified Workforce To Support The Disability Community Through The Lend Interprofessional Learning Experience, Megan K. Roberts, Beth W. Degrace, Mark J. Fisher, Sandra H. Arnold

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

Leadership and workforce preparation are vital roles of the nation’s academic institutions to advance health care services for the members of our communities. Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and other Related Disabilities (LEND) programs aim to prepare leaders in health care services and advocacy to improve systems and the quality of care and supports for the disability community, specifically children with developmental disabilities. LEND programs enhance standard health care pre-service training by providing interdisciplinary learning experiences for student trainees from a minimum of ten disciplines in 300 hours of learning activities over one academic year. An innovative feature of LEND programs …

The Gatekeepers: School Personnel And The Identification Of Twice-Exceptional Black Girls, Stephanie L. Addison-Fontaine

LMU Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative research study examined the discourse of school personnel in the twice-exceptional (2E; Kaufman, 2018) student identification process (Gilman & Peters, 2018). It used disability critical race studies (DisCrit; Annamma et al., 2016) to investigate how educators’ discourse signals the inclusion or exclusion of 2E Black girls. Critical discourse analysis (Gee, 2014) was used to understand the ways their intersectional identities of race, ability, and gender impact their identification in schools. It highlighted the identification barriers for 2E Black girls and conceptualized a normative 2E construct (N.A.T.E.) aligned with the dominant institutional discourse of twice-exceptionality. Policy shifts are recommended …

Exploring Safety Perceptions On Campus: A Look At Student Responses To Campus Crime And Institutional Effectiveness, Edgar J. Delatorre

Undergraduate University Honors Capstones

There is limited research examining safety-related programs and perceptions of Deaf and hard of hearing (HoH) students, especially in respect to how receptive these students are to resources aimed to keep them safe while they are on campus and how these resources are perceived and to what extent they are utilized. Gallaudet University is the only university in the United States established for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, with a bilingual campus where students and staff use both English and American Sign Language (ASL) – making it a unique focus of study compared to other universities that use primarily …

A Multiple-Framework Approach To Examining The Role Of College Visits In College Access And Success For First-Generation And Bipoc Students, Jameia Mcduffie

LMU Theses and Dissertations

A Multiple-Framework Approach to Examining the Role of College Visits in College Access and Success for First-Generation and BIPOC Students By Jameia McDuffie This mixed-methods study explored how first-generation and BIPOC college students make sense of their college visit experiences and how those moments shaped confidence, belonging, and readiness for higher education. The study draws on Possible Selves Theory (Markus & Nurius, 1986), Community Cultural Wealth (Yosso, 2005), and Critical Race Theory (Ladson– Billings & Tate, 1995) to better understand the connections students form between what they see on campus and what they imagine for themselves. These frameworks guided the …

Filipino High School Teachers’ Use Of Technology To Teach Science Online, Bongbong Lalata Fernandez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

The Importance Of Diverse Characters In Children's Literature For Identity Development, Gabrielle Revaitis

English and Creative Writing Independent Study Projects

This paper aims to explore and examine the function of diverse and realistic representation in children's literature and its effect on their identity development. It asserts that literature is one of the main tools by which children develop their understanding of themselves and their place in the world. Reading about various kinds of diversity and realistic representation of different kinds of identities, whether based on race, gender, and disability, helps them to see diversity and commonality in human experiences. However, this paper will also examine how children's literature has been problematic in representing stereotypes and misrepresenting marginalized groups. It emphasizes …

Understanding Diversity Through "All Are Welcome" Lesson Plan, Gabrielle Revaitis

English and Creative Writing Independent Study Projects

This lesson plan for 2^nd grade students uses the book All Are Welcome to explore themes of diversity. It lists needed materials and includes learning objectives, lesson procedure and discussion prompts.

They Don’T Care About Us Here! The Intersectionality Of Implicit Bias, Stereotype Threat, And The Need For Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy, Louis D. Blair

Education Doctorate Dissertations

This qualitative case study examined how teachers engage in critical self-reflection of implicit bias and how that process influences their pedagogical awareness and classroom practices. Grounded in the Implicit Bias Theory, Adult Learning Theory, Transformative Learning Theory, and Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy, the study utilized the Harvard Implicit Association Test (IAT), reflective journaling, and engagement with the book Despite the Best Intentions: How Racial Inequality Thrives in Good Schools, to explore shifts in three participants’ beliefs and instructional approaches. Data sources included pre- and post-survey responses, IAT reflections, and ongoing journal entries, and semi-structured post-study interviews which were analyzed thematically. Findings …

Accesstem: How Small Colleges Can Open Stem Pathways For Local High School Students, Dina D. Isakov

Program in Community Action (PICA)

This paper reflects my experience developing ACCESStem as part of the Program in Community Action (PICA) center at Connecticut College. ACCESStem is a community-engaged research project designed to create hands-on, lab-based STEM workshops for local high school students in New London. ACCESStem was built on the premise that even small liberal arts colleges can hold a meaningful impact on helping diversify the science workforce. Over the course of three years, this project took shape through my relationships with STEM faculty on campus and relationships with staff at the Holleran Center for Community Action. This paper works to begin contextualizing the …

Virtualizing Practical Science Education: A Sociological Analysis Of Undergraduate Teaching And Learning, Sina J. Fakoyede, Femi E. Babalola, Oluwatoyin T. Obateru, Oluwayemisi D. Akomolafe, Deborah O. Alabi, Stella K. Ekundayo

Higher Learning Research Communications

Objectives: The study aims to investigate the perspectives of university teachers and students on integrating practical science teaching with virtual learning in a multicultural and diverse society, specifically within the context of southwestern Nigeria.

Methods: A mixed-methods approach was employed, involving data collection from 100 university lecturers and 400 undergraduate students across 10 universities. Qualitative data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with lecturers and focus group discussions with students. Quantitative data were obtained via structured questionnaires, allowing for triangulation and comprehensive analysis.

Results: Findings revealed that certain lecturers showed preferential support influenced by students’ cultural backgrounds or academic behavior during …

Meeting The Moment With Ai-Employer Informed Education, Brent Terwilliger, John Faraca

Publications

As artificial intelligence transforms aviation, aerospace, and autonomy-related sectors, higher education must adapt to meet evolving workforce demands. This session shares emerging findings from a nationwide study led by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, focused on employer perceptions of AI adoption, responsible use, and workforce preparedness in domains including uncrewed systems, space systems, robotics, and advanced air mobility. Based on a structured survey and follow-up interviews, the presentation explores how organizations are using AI tools, from generative platforms to enterprise systems, and defining effective and inappropriate use in operational contexts. Participants will gain insight into critical concerns (e.g., data privacy, compliance, security, …

A Quantitative Critical Analysis Of Comprehensive Education Plan Effects As Implemented Under Title 5 In California Community Colleges, Nicole Jones

Dissertations

California Code of Regulations, Title 5, is the policy and regulatory guide of the California Community Colleges. Sections of Title 5 policy govern the implementation of programs and services at these colleges. It provides protection for colleges and specifies student entitlements under the law. The mission of the California Community Colleges is to serve as an open-access point, providing students with services and instruction. Access barriers to services like counseling can delay goal attainment, increase cost of attendance and time to completion, and result in lower successful retention or persistence rates. Additionally, resource allocation, Title 5 Section 59200 regulations (the …

Not Retirement, But A Rewiring And Fresh Perspectives Post-Dbs, Says Piyush Gupta [Interview With Business Times], Su Shyan Lee, Piyush Gupta

Oral History Collection

In an interview with The Business Times, SMU Chairman Piyush Gupta discussed topics ranging from meditation and conservation to the future of education. On his role at SMU, he emphasised his desire to help shape tertiary education and noted that the rise of AI makes it critical to rethink how we learn. Mr Gupta believes that in an AI-driven world, students must move beyond domain knowledge to focus on interpreting information, "connecting the dots," and engaging others with genuine empathy. He is supportive of a more experiential curriculum at SMU — one that focuses on regional exposure through internships and …

A Dynamic Assessment Of Writing Apprehension In Elementary And Middle School Students Undergoing A Writing Intervention, Jennifer Lin Williams

Theses - ALL

Writing apprehension refers to fear or anxiety associated with writing tasks, avoidance of writing, and concern over evaluation of written works (Daly & Miller, 1975c). Although extensively studied in college-aged populations, where elevated apprehension is linked to reduced text production (Limpo, 2018) and diminished sentence complexity and quality (Faigley et al., 1981), research in elementary students remains limited. Existing studies have relied on adaptations of the Writing Apprehension Test (Daly & Miller, 1975c), originally validated for adults, and have typically employed cross-sectional designs, leaving the developmental trajectory of writing apprehension underexplored. To address these gaps, the present study examined changes …

Transformative Simulations: Bridging Theory And Practice Through Clinical Simulations, Jessica Fundalinski

Dissertations - ALL

This dissertation study explores how teacher candidates (TC) respond to, reflect on, and make meaning of a clinical simulation that surfaces marginalizing language ideologies towards multilingualism and multilingual language users. This study is framed conceptually through language ideologies, Critical Multilingual Language Awareness (CMLA) (García, 2017; Prasad & Lory, 2020), and practice-based teacher education, emphasizing the role of reflective, justice-oriented practice in shaping future educators' critical consciousness. To explore how TCs navigated the simulation in real-time and how they reflected on their approaches and takeaways from the simulation, this study employed a four-phase analytical framework and coding process of video and …

Belonging, Identity, And Agency: A Qualitative Study Of Muslim Students In U.S. Higher Education, Amir Duric

Dissertations - ALL

This dissertation examines the lived experiences of Muslim students in U.S. higher education, focusing on how they navigate identity formation, search for belonging, and exercise agency within two predominantly white institutions (PWIs) in the Northeast. Drawing on 40 semi-structured interviews and four months of fieldwork, the study demonstrates how Muslim students navigate not only their religious identity and practices in secular contexts but also how the racialization of their Muslim identity is shaped by U.S. foreign policy and the Global War on Terror. Three central findings emerged from the data. First, Muslim students demonstrated sustained and deepening religious commitment through …