Digital Commons Network^™

The Minutes Of The Marshall University Graduate Council Meeting, October 31, 2025, Marshall University Graduate Council

Graduate Council Minutes

No abstract provided.

Effectiveness Of Pre-Service Teachers’ Service Learning With English Language Learners Via Zoom, Donita Grissom, Padideh Fattahi Marnani, Sophie Cuocci, Irina Mclaughlin

Journal of English Learner Education

This study investigates service-learning experiences for university students in a teacher certification program, explored through the lens of sociocultural theory. Data was collected from pre-service teachers (PST) involved in service learning conducted virtually using Zoom with Vietnamese pre-service teachers. Data was in the form of surveys, which included short reflections and yes/no responses. Findings show that the service-learning program allowed PST to have the opportunity to apply the strategies learned in their coursework with ELs and increased their sense of preparation as a result. Pre-service teachers reported the service-learning communities of practice to be beneficial for their ELs. Implications highlight …

The Benefit Of Qualified English Language Teachers In Non-English-Speaking Countries, Tina M. Allen-Abulhassan

Journal of English Learner Education

Abstract

This study explores the impact of qualified English language teachers on English Language Learners (ELLs) in their home countries, assessing how English language instruction can enhance their preparedness for higher education in Western universities. The need for effective English language education is underscored by the scarcity of qualified ESL instructors, which leaves L2 learning ill-equipped for academic success. Utilizing Vygotsky’s social development theory, particularly the Zone of Proximal Development, this research examines the role of social interactions with qualified native speakers in fostering language proficiency and academic achievement. The literature review highlights significant barriers ELLs face, including inadequate teaching …

Equity In Action: Transformative Leadership And Anti-Racist Praxis In Canadian K-12 Schools, Ayodeji Osiname

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

This paper examines how Canadian K-12 schools, amidst growing diversity, have historically marginalized certain student groups, perpetuating inequities. It explores the roles of school principals in reversing these trends and creating inclusive, equitable, and safe environments for all. The paper uses two theoretical frameworks—Transformative Leadership theory and Anti-Racist theory—to guide principals in fostering inclusive school cultures. The synergies and distinctions between these frameworks are analyzed to advocate for an integrated approach. Together, these frameworks provide a comprehensive lens for school leadership. School leaders must engage in self-reflection, collaboration, and resilience to cultivate social justice-oriented school cultures. The integration of Transformative …

Mental Health Awareness For Teachers: A Review Of The Literature, Jerry Burkett

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

Mental health is a state of wellbeing in which an individual realizes their abilities and can cope with the normal stresses of life (Bohare & Tiwari, 2020). These individuals are productive in their work, life, and communities. These people can manage their mental health challenges which can range from high to low (MHFA, 2020). Research is showing a growing need for expanding mental health support in K-12 schools. Schools are in a unique position to address today’s mental health crisis among members of the education community. (Mcluckie et al., 2014; National Association of School Psychologists, 2015; Ormiston et al., 2021). …

Teacher Inexperience And Student Exclusionary Discipline Consequences At Texas Large-Size High Schools, William Thompson, Cynthia Martinez-Garcia, John R. Slate

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

In this statewide, multiyear investigation, the relationship between teacher inexperience levels and student discipline assignments into in-school suspension, out-of-school suspension, and DAEP at Texas high school campuses with an enrollment of 2,000 or more students was addressed. An analysis of each discipline placement was conducted for the 2016-2017, 2017-2018, and 2018-2019 school years. Statistical analyses revealed the presence of relationships between teacher inexperience and student disciplinary consequence assignments. Students were more likely to be assigned to an exclusionary discipline consequence when higher percentages of inexperienced teachers were present than when higher percentages of experienced teachers were present. Implications and recommendations …

Voices Unheard: The Paradox Of Teacher Leaders In Educational Decision-Making, Diane E. Johnson, Kelly Brown

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

This phenomenological study explores how teacher leaders (TLs) perceive the impact and recognition of their voices within a high-performing suburban high school. Despite their pivotal role in shaping instruction and school culture, TLs often feel their insights are undervalued, particularly by district-level administrators. Through in-depth interviews with ten formal and informal TLs, the research reveals a disconnect between TL input and policy implementation, with on-campus administrators more receptive but limited in authority. Findings highlight the importance of collaborative leadership structures, professional capital, and authentic engagement to empower TLs. When TL voices are genuinely integrated into decision-making, schools experience improved teacher …

The Emotional Labor Of Care: Sustainability And Strain In Leading With Unconditional Positive Regard, Emily R. Mulvihill

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

Unconditional Positive Regard (UPR) is the capacity to honor the inherent worth of all persons, a practice increasingly applied to school leadership. While UPR fosters trust and dignity-based relationships, its sustained use within chronically under-resourced schools exacts a significant emotional toll. This study builds on prior research with Colorado school leaders who framed UPR as a “compass for relationships.” Using narrative inquiry with five leaders from the original cohort, this follow-up examined the emotional and psychological costs of leading with UPR. Findings revealed four themes: the weight of holding space, tensions between values and mandates, resilience through reflection, and boundary-setting …

Curriculum Beyond Constraint: Stakeholder Perspectives On Innovation And Autonomy In A Free School, Lucy A. Barker, David Littlefair, Christopher Million

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

Free schools in the UK, like international ones, were established to promote autonomy, innovation, and diversity in education. This case study explores how one such school in the South of England, leveraged these freedoms to co-construct a distinctive and socially just curriculum. Data collected through semi-structured interviews and focus groups with school leaders, teachers, trustees, and parents was analysed thematically and revealed how leadership, curriculum design, and the hidden curriculum intersect to support holistic development, equity, and community cohesion. Particular attention is paid to how extended opportunities in the arts, sport, and enrichment activities contribute to cultural capital and wellbeing. …

Journal Of Educational Leadership In Action, Volume 10, Issue 1, Full Issue

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

No abstract provided.

Artificial Intelligence (Ai) Additions To Nursing Education: Accommodating The Complexity Of Today’S Populations And Assuring Evidence-Based Pathways Of Patient-Centered Care, Jamie Anne Marcus, Bonnette Villalba Webb, Abigail Pauline Batin Villarroya

FDLA Journal

Predicted demographic changes in the rising older than 65 populations with possible declining mental and physical health mandate adaptations to new professional nursing roles that will incorporate technology, and changing policy environments. Nursing experience, knowledge, and skills will transition to new cognitive pathways to think and process information. Nurses will be supported by artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and become information integrators, health coaches, and continue to be deliverers of human caring. New transition pathways in nursing education to meet the needs of these diverse populations, and patient complex presentations will transcend to synergizing and optimize digital-age healthcare environments and assure …

Connectedness And Belonging: An Autoethnography About Military Veteran Transition, Benjamin A. Smet

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Military veterans often face profound challenges transitioning to civilian life, yet prevailing narratives focus narrowly on PTSD and combat trauma. This dissertation uses autoethnography to broaden that view, blending personal narrative with theory to explore seven interrelated transition stressors: grief and bereavement, loss of military identity, autobiographical memory, service-connected nostalgia, moral injury, stereotype threat, and socialized masculinity and stoicism. These layered stories illuminate the cultural, emotional, and relational dimensions of transition, showing how isolation, disconnection, and loss of belonging shape veteran experiences as deeply as trauma. The analysis demonstrates that healing emerges not from prescriptive programs but from relational practices …

Student Loan Debt And Alumni Perception Of Return On Investment, Kimberly Yousey-Elsener

Journal of Student Financial Aid

The return on investment (ROI) for higher education continues to be a conversation for institutions and their many constituencies. Measuring ROI using post-graduation salaries is a popular yet limiting way to measure ROI. For higher education institutions, demonstrating ROI using salary leaves them little actionable data beyond funneling more graduates into high-paying career tracks. Alternative measures that not only demonstrate ROI but also provide insights for institutions on how to increase student success are needed. This study uses results from the National Alumni Career Mobility Survey (NACM) to explore the relationships between alumni perceptions of ROI and student loan debt. …

2025-10-17 Agenda Book, Morehead State University. Board Of Regents.

Morehead State Board of Regents Agenda Books and Meeting Minutes

Agenda booklet for the Board of Regents meeting of October 17, 2025, which includes the minutes of the meeting held on August 8, 2025.

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 …

Has “Better Fafsa” Been Better Or Worse? A Study Of Student And Stakeholders’ Experience With The 2024-25 Fafsa, Jonathan S. Lewis, Alyssa Stefanese Yates

Journal of Student Financial Aid

The 2024-25 or “Better” FAFSA was intended to be simpler, addressing long standing issues with the federal financial aid application process, and expand financial aid eligibility to more low-income students and their families. However, its problematic implementation had negative implications for college access, affordability, and enrollment. This study reviews findings from a mixed methods case study of 274 students, parents, high school counselors, and financial aid administrators’ experiences navigating the 24-25 FAFSA. Interpreting participant responses through an administrative burden lens, the study found some intentional changes in the 24-25 FAFSA, such as the Direct Data Exchange and user-centered design elements, …

2025 October 10 - State Of The University Address, Office Of The President, East Tennessee State University

Office of the President Speeches

No abstract provided.

9th Gsep Research Symposium - 2025

GSEP Research Symposium

The Ninth Annual GSEP Research Symposium, themed "Building Bridges to Elevate Humanity: Innovations and Insights in Education and Psychology", was hosted by the Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology (GSEP) on June 19–20, 2025, at the historic Château d’Hauteville in Switzerland and virtually via Zoom.

This hybrid symposium convened a vibrant global community of students, alumni, faculty, and scholars to share research that addresses real-world challenges, advances scholarly inquiry, and builds pathways for inclusive collaboration and leadership. Spanning a wide array of topics—from artificial intelligence and mental health to trauma-informed practices, educational equity, social justice, and cross-cultural leadership—the …

Becoming Again: Dialogues On Identity Formation Among Second-Career Educators In Initial Certification Programs, Michelle White, Tracy Driehaus, Mark Wolfmeyer

Education Faculty Research

No abstract provided.

Nebraska Transcript (University Of Nebraska College Of Law), Fall 2025

Nebraska Transcript

Dean’s message

Nebraska Law students achieve outstanding results in competitions

Nebraska Law recognized for excellence in mental health and well-being

Clifton, ’08, honored as 2025 Alumni Master

Uecker, ’25, selected as a 2025 Next Generation Leader

Unexpected path to Nebraska Law leads Haratsis, ’25, to home, calling

Client Counseling program celebrates 50 years

Big Ten law schools present series of panel discussions on rule of law

A reflection of the past six years, College’s strategic plan now complete

A culture of strengths: CliftonStrengths and the College of Law

Celebrating 50 years of Ross McCollum Hall

Johnson studies how election law …

Swosu Fact Book Fall 2025, Joel Harrel Kendall, Diane Fitzsimmons, Kelsi Burghardt

Fact Books

The 34th annual Southwestern Oklahoma State University Fall Fact Book provides a ready source of information to answer frequently asked questions about the University and its operations. The Fall Fact Book is compiled annually by the Office of Institutional Research to assist the university with strategic planning, academic program reviews, grant writing, accreditation, and institutional information to help guide decision-making. The report uses data collected from 2016 to 2025 and is designed to help faculty, staff, administrators, and external stakeholders better understand the student body and university trends.

The Influence Of Academic Outcomes On Academic Achievement: A Quantitative Study In Grades 3-12, Kelli R. Helle

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

The purpose of this predictive study was to examine the relationship between social and emotional learning (SEL) subskills and academic performance among students in grades 3–12. Using the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) framework, the study sought to identify which specific subskills were most strongly associated with student grade point average (GPA). A quantitative predictive correlational design was employed with a sample of 737 students representing diverse grade levels and backgrounds. Data were collected through the Satchel Pulse SEL assessment platform, and hierarchical multiple regression analysis was conducted to determine the predictive value of SEL subskills while …

The Fear Factor: Exploring The Experiences Of Fear Of Secondary School Teachers, Kelly J. Raines

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

Fear can be a powerful catalyst for cognitive potential, or a potent agent of havoc. This descriptive (transcendental) phenomenological study aimed to understand the phenomenon of fear experienced by teachers in public and private secondary schools in Central Florida. Semi-structured interviews collected data from the purposive sample, and the data were thoroughly analyzed using Colaizzi's (1978) model. The emergent essence of the lived experience of teachers identified the phenomenon of fear as the inducement of a debilitating sense of powerlessness that diminishes self-confidence and self-efficacy, resulting in emotional, cognitive, and/or physical impairments that directly affect the metacognitive potential of teachers. …

Hire And Hope: An Exploration Of Principal Turnover, Jessica D. True

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study is designed to investigate the possible relationships between principal turnover within K-12 public schools in the State of Texas, and demographic characteristics of school location, principal’s ethnicity, principal’s gender, and principal’s level of post-secondary degree. Data for participating schools was gathered from state-reported educator information specifically for the 2018/2019, 2019/2020, 2020/2021, 2021/2022, 2022/2023, and 2023/2024 school years. The longitudinal study reviewed K-12 non-charter public schools in Education Service Center (ESC) 11, which encompasses all public schools in the Fort Worth metroplex of North Texas, allowing this study to analyze a robust and inclusive dataset. The Chi-Square Test of …

Professor Perspectives: Inclusion Of Students With An Intellectual Disability In Transition Programming On A College Campus, Melissa Jane Massey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Students with intellectual disabilities (ID) are often unemployed or underemployed compared to students who do not have ID. Transition or postsecondary programming for students with ID has increased in recent years in response to the U.S. federal requirement for special education professionals to complete transition plans before students turn 16. The requirement for transition planning in Texas is age 14, and the ARD committee including the student and parent come together to develop goals for future planning. Transition plans include information on future employment, future independent living skills, and agency connections that students with ID may need to access to …

Capitalizing On Teacher Retention: The Role Of Human, Social, Structural, And Positive Psychological Capital, Mary A. Hamner

PhD in Education

This study explored the influence of psychological, social, human, and structural capital on teacher retention within a large Florida school district, guided by Mason and Matas’s (2015) four-capital framework. Using a nonexperimental quantitative design, the research examines how demographic variables and perceptions of professional capital relate to educators’ decisions to remain in the profession. Findings revealed that most demographic factors—gender, age, years of service, and degree type—did not significantly affect perceptions of the four capitals, suggesting a relatively equitable distribution of organizational supports. However, educational degree status was associated with higher perceptions of social, human, and structural capital, indicating that …

Collaborative Reflections On A Practical Journey Through Transcendental Phenomenology Data Analysis, Tyler Kulp, Hissah Alzahrani, Michele Parker

The Qualitative Report

Although transcendental phenomenology is widely recognized in qualitative research, there is limited discussion of how researchers come to understand and apply its methods in practice. This paper examines how reflective collaboration enhances the understanding and use of transcendental phenomenological analysis. It involves the first author, a recent doctoral graduate, the second author, a current doctoral student, and the third author, the doctoral advisor, using a collaborative approach. We draw upon the first author’s dissertation, providing clear, actionable guidance for simplifying the analysis process. The discussion highlights the value of collaborative reflection in making the methodology more accessible and enriching understanding …

Effective Engagement In Online Asynchronous Graduate Courses: How Students Perceive Engagement In Their Graduate Programs, Matthew A. Galeota, Robert M. Mangione, Stephanie M. Foote

New York Journal of Student Affairs

An increase in online learning has created a set of new challenges for higher education institutions. Institutions seek to retain students and ensure they are engaged in their courses. This paper examines forms of engagement that traditional and nontraditional students perceive in their online asynchronous graduate courses at a public flagship university. The authors examined relevant literature and surveyed students across several online graduate education programs. The survey shows that collaborative engagement, specifically the indicator of connecting to institutional opportunities, is the lowest tallied. This suggests that online graduate programs should seek to implement more collaborative engagement indicators. The survey …

Cultivating Commitment Within Educational Ecosystems: Improving Teacher Satisfaction Through Autonomy And Expertise, Jane Mcintosh Cooper, Leslie Gauna, John Decman, Sheila Baker

School Leadership Review

This study explores the experiences of Texas educators’ job satisfaction, focusing on their ability to enact curriculum and pedagogy within their school ecosystems. Reporting of partial qualitative results of a larger mixed-methods survey of teachers in Texas, the research examines how administrative and contextual stances impact teachers’ professional and personal goals. Findings reveal that dismissive attitudes toward teachers’ content expertise and micromanagement by evaluation-focused leadership lead to dissatisfaction and potential attrition. Conversely, growth-oriented leadership that values autonomy and respects teachers’ practical knowledge enhances job satisfaction and commitment. The study, grounded in self-determination theory, highlights the critical role of intrinsic motivators—such …

Case Managers As A Compass: A Strategy For Influencing First-Generation College Student Success, James Riley

Student Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of case managers who use case management as a strategy for improving first-generation student retention at higher education institutions in the United States. Case managers are college or university staff members who provide non-clinical one-on-one student support, including interventions, advocacy, referrals and follow-up services for students who are experiencing significant difficulties. Guided by Tinto’s Theory of Student Departure (1975) and Pascarella’s Model for Assessing Student Change (1980), this study involved interviews with 11 case managers from institutions across the United States and a subsequent review of 24 …