Digital Commons Network^™

College Sojourners' Reentry Experiences After Studying Abroad, Samantha Rose Maiolo

Honors Scholar Theses

When people think of studying abroad, they often think the experience ends when a study abroad participant returns home, but the reentry experience back home can be just as significant as the experience in the host country. In this study, I explored the following questions: (1) What emotional, social, and academic transitions do students experience when returning home from studying abroad? and (2) In what ways do the experiences students have abroad change their perspective of their life in the home culture? We interviewed 10 and surveyed 3 recent study abroad returnees from a large state university in New England. …

Pathways And Persistence: Analyzing Kentucky's Special Education Teacher Shortage, Stacy Marie Onderdonk Liguori

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A capstone submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education in the Ernst and Sara Lane Volgenau College of Education at Morehead State University by Stacy Marie Onderdonk Liguori on April 21, 2025.

We Lift As We Climb: An Intervention Method Proving The Efficacy Of Mentorship In Higher Education, Dogan Copeland

Masters Projects

This project examines the lack of mentorship programs for first-generation Black students in higher education. It aims to develop a structured peer mentorship program tailored to their unique needs. Given the systemic barriers that first-generation Black students may face, this project explores how culturally relevant mentorship can improve academic success, retention, and professional development while fostering a sense of belonging. The research involves a literature review of existing mentorship programs, an analysis of student success markers (retention rates, academic performance, and professional development), and qualitative data from mentorship initiatives. In addition, the project assesses student experiences and satisfaction levels to …

2025 Undergraduate Research Competition Program, Coastal Carolina University

Undergraduate Research Symposium Programs

16th Annual Undergraduate Research Competition, April 15-16, 2025.

The 2025 CCU Undergraduate Research Symposium included 168 oral and poster presentations (51 oral presentations and 117 poster presentations) and an additional 20 team pitch presentations composed of 57 students who participated in the inaugural year of the Wall College’s Chant’s Tank Pitch Competition.

Presentations at the Undergraduate Research Symposium were judged by over 80 faculty and staff, and prizes are awarded in three categories: Best Oral Presentation, Best Poster Presentation, and Best Chant’s Tank Pitch Presentation. Here are the following award winners in their respective categories:

Best Oral Presentation:

• 1st Place: …

Challenges And Strategies For Caribbean Students Pursuing Education In The United States, Keyeria Mccormick

Masters Projects

Caribbean students who come to study in the United States face significant obstacles that shape their college experience. These students struggle with more than typical academic challenges; they deal with financial pressures, the complexities of adapting to a new culture, strict visa rules, and a lack of targeted support from their institutions. This project examines their experiences, drawing from research on how factors like emotional and cultural intelligence, mental health, peer relationships, and systemic inequalities affect their educational paths. Using Critical Race Theory and Social Identity Theory as foundations, this work shows how deep-rooted inequities in U.S. higher education make …

Campus Vibrancy Through The Lens Of Student Organizations Collaboration, Elijah A. Fosu

Masters Projects

Universities are increasingly aware that isolated student organizations hinder engagement, replicate efforts, and diminish campus life. At Grand Valley State University, over 400 Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) vie for attention but often fail to collaborate, resulting in many students lacking cohesive and impactful co‑curricular experiences. Based on experiential learning theories such as Astin’s Student Involvement framework, Tinto’s theory of student departure, and the Social Change Model of Leadership Development, the RSO Collaborate and Create project aims to tackle this issue by offering a structured pathway for collaboration across organizations, simultaneously enhancing leadership skills and improving the campus environment. While the …

Reinventing Mathematics Learning: An Exploration Of Undergraduate Mathematics Learning Post-Pandemic, Morgan R. Balesano

Honors Scholar Theses

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, beginning in March 2020 nearly all secondary and undergraduate mathematics students were forced to adapt to new methods of learning and testing. As a result, the current experience for these mathematics students has changed vastly, as have the opinions and preferences of these students in terms of their learning. This study aims to identify instruction and testing resources and methods that students prefer and those that students find less beneficial in their current, post-pandemic educational experience. The past few years have seen a focus on the direct impacts of online learning during the pandemic, …

At-Risk Students' Perceptions Of Holistic Advising: A Phenomenological Study, Jonathan David Broyles

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand at-risk students’ perceptions of success after having received holistic advising practices at public, four-year universities located in the Southeast United States. The theory that guided this study was Maslow’s Theory of Human Motivation, which emphasizes the importance of addressing students’ academic, social, personal, physiological, safety, and emotional needs to support their academic success better. The Central Research Question was: what are at-risk students’ perceptions of success after receiving holistic advising practices? The transcendental phenomenological approach allowed the researcher to explore the phenomenon with others who have experienced the same phenomenon through …

April 18, 2025 Ereporter, University Of Alabama At Birmingham

eReporter (campus newsletter)

No abstract provided.

Nursing Faculty Perspectives On Students With Learning Disabilities: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Marlies Aanensen Hébert

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to record the lived experiences of nursing faculty perspectives of students with learning disabilities in all learning environments. The theories that provide the framework for the study are John Dewey’s theory of education and Malcolm Knowles’ theory of adult learning. Both theories establish a foundation for understanding the challenges faced by adult learners with learning disabilities and how to offer effective support. The research question is: What are the lived experiences of nurse educators working with students with learning disabilities in all learning environments? The study employed a snowball sampling method to …

Exploring The Persistence Experiences Of Ells In Higher Education: A Phenomenological Study, Robert J. Platt

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the persistence experiences of undergraduate English Language Learners at a four-year Christian institution in New Jersey. Twelve participants were recruited from various schools within the college. The theory guiding this study was Tinto’s (1975) student integration model specifically examining this idea within the context of academic and social integration. The central research question of this study was, “What are the persistence experiences of English Language Learners at a private four-year institution in New Jersey?” To achieve this, semi-structured interview questions, journaling prompts, and focus groups were used, and data were …

The Lived Experiences Of Elementary Teachers' Use Of Positive Behavior Intervention Supports And Social-Emotional Learning With Emotionally Disturbed And Behaviorally Challenged Students: A Phenomenological Study, Chandra Yvette Madden

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological qualitative study was to understand the lived experiences of elementary teachers' use of PBIS and SEL with students with emotional behavioral needs and to gain insight into what supports are needed for teachers in a school district in the southern United States. There is a need to examine elementary teachers' implementation of PBIS and SEL with students who have emotional and behavioral needs to understand what supports are needed. A positive academic environment for students and teachers is generally defined as such. The theory that guided this study was the social constructivist theory (Vygotsky,1978). …

The Rise Of Artificial Intelligence In Graduate Healthcare Programs, Rachael Hinkel Ots, Kenna Kleinert Ots, Colin O'Donnell Ots, Martina Youssef Ots, Erin Simpson Drot, Mot, Otr/L

Research Days

With the current progression of the digital world, artificial intelligence (A)I implementation has been progressing rapidly in graduate school curricula. Previous studies have focused primarily on physicians' attitudes toward implementing AI. Still, a growing need exists to assess students' perspectives across healthcare disciplines to help inform future curriculum development (Teng et al., 2021). This study aims to gain knowledge about the overall use and teaching of artificial intelligence in graduate healthcare professions and its carryover into the healthcare field. Quantitative research with an exploratory design was conducted using a survey method. The findings of this research study revealed a growing …

The Minutes Of The Marshall University Staff Council Meeting, April 2025, Marshall University Staff Council

Staff Council Minutes

No abstract provided.

36. Protest 2025. Protest At Applied Engineering Building 1 [Article], University Of Northern Iowa

LGBTQIA+ Archive Class Projects

Citation: Klinkhammer, B. (2025, April 9). Students make their voice heard at Applied Engineering building opening. Northern Iowan, 2.

This article is a description of a recent protest at the new Applied Engineering Building. Well over 100 UNI students, Cedar Falls High School students, and the Cedar Valley came together to protest Kim Reynolds appearance for the ribbon cutting ceremony. Kim Reynolds failed to appear to give a speech and to help cut the ribbon. I think that in itself is so powerful, to know that she didn't show up because people showed up to protest against someone so …

The Grizzly, April 17, 2025, Kate Horan, Grace Olivo, Claudia Tracy, Renee Washart, Ashley Adam, Nathaniel Nerone, Emily Veasey, Jesse Cherone, Erin Ewing

Ursinus College Grizzly Newspaper, 1978 to Present

Denim Day: UC Peer Advocates • Myrin Makeover • Out of the Darkness Campus Walk • Sisters Helping Sisters • Fun Home Comes to Lenfest Theatre Stage • Party Culture: A Dying Breed? • Bears' Softball Looks to End Season on a High Note • Women's Lacrosse Confident Amidst Playoff Push

2025 April 17 - From My Notepads Newsletter, Office Of The President, East Tennessee State University, Brian Noland

From My Notepads: A Newsletter from President Brian Noland

No abstract provided.

Patient To Nurse Ratios And Their Effects On Patient Care, Katalina White

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

While working on a medical surgical unit at hospital A, I noticed that many nurses received upwards to 7 patients per shift. This led to many patient care activities not being able to be accomplished, unsatisfactory patient outcomes, nursing dissatisfaction, and nurse turnover rates increasing. Patient care was brought into question as the nurses on the unit felt overworked and understaffed. So the objective of this project is to introduce a 4-1 ratio of patients to nurses to improve patient safety, patient outcomes, and overall patient care. QSEN thrives for patient safety and quality improvement, so implementation of this standard …

Effect Of Nordic Hamstring Exercise On Knee Flexor Torque In Female Athletes: A Pilot Study, Jarrod Plank, Lucy Singleton, Manuel Probst

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

PREVALENCE Female athletes experience Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injuries 5-6x more often than male counterparts.

PREDISPOSITIONAL FACTORS The Q-angle refers to the pull vector exerted by the quadriceps muscle on the patella which results in greater valgus load on the knee ligaments.2,3,4,5,6 Females also possess lower levels of testosterone which yield decreased ligamentous strain tolerances.

MUSCULAR IMBALANCES Sufficient hamstring contraction during the landing phase decreases ACL strain by >70%, thereby limiting anterior tibial translation (ATT) force exerted by the quadriceps. As stated by Hewett et al., females present an absence of increased hamstring/quadricep torque ratio compared to males, resulting in …

Just Plain(S) Native: Isolating Experiences Of Non-Plains Native Students At A Primarily Plains Nasnti, Bryne Qavvik Croyle Johnson

Undergraduate Research Symposium 2025

Higher education institutions have historically underserved the needs of Native students, even when active efforts are made to the improvement of services and support. Sense of belonging is a particularly ephemeral point of student’s engagement with a campus community, and studies about Native students don’t always account for the vast cultural differences between the different tribes and villages. My aim with this study is to present for consideration the isolating effects of culturally nonspecific services and groups on Native students at the University of Minnesota, Morris, a Native American-Serving Non-Tribal Institution (NASNTI). Employing ethnographic interview methods and discursive analysis, I …

Improving Fall Risk Precautions: A Safer Approach To Protect Patients, Dylan Fraley

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

The purpose of this project is to highlight current fall risk precaution flaws at facility XYZ and implement new changes that would increase patient safety. As a nurse, safety comes first for both patients and staff, with new guidelines and interventions we can decrease the number of preventable falls in the hospital setting. We would implement changes that have showed positive outcomes in evidenced based practice and prioritizes patient comfort and safety. These new precautions would be patient centered as their safety needs would be better met. Teamwork and collaboration are also essential as many of the interventions in this …

Diversity/Adaptations Of The Galapagos Land Snails (Bulimulus) On The Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, M.E. Hargan, Charles Lydeard

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

The Galapagos Land Snails, scientific species name Bulimulus, are native to the Galapagos Islands off the coast of Ecuador. There is varying climates and geography throughout the islands and these snails evolved and adapted to these variances. On our experience abroad trip, the goal was to find our selected animal we researched and try to prove whatever hypothesis we found to be correct. I researched and found that depending on the island/area the snails where their cones were shaped different from each other although they were the same species they had variances. I had set out to see if this …

Battling Ventilator Associated Pneumonia, Kelsey Carrier

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

The purpose of this literature review is to address common or potential concerns that may contribute to the hospital setting where we are receiving practicum experience. A potent issue in hospitals today is the healthcare acquired infections that occurs worldwide. One of the biggest contributors to healthcare-acquired infections is ventilator associated pneumonia (vap). QSEN, which is Quality, Safety, and Education for Nurses is integrated into the literature review by enhancing the knowledge of Nurses and safety of the patients. By researching potential health concerns, it helps us better understand the issue and what we can do to prevent it.

The Potential Impact Of Overusing Isolation Precautions, Laci Johnson

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

While Isolation Precautions (IP) help prevent infections, excessive use can harm patients' mental and physical health. Research shows that prolonged IP increases anxiety, depression, and social isolation, leading to worsened outcomes and longer hospital stays. Overuse may also create stigma and communication barriers, reducing care quality. This poster highlights the need for a balanced approach to IP to protect both patient well-being and infection control.

Benefits Of Interdisciplinary Rounding For Better Patient Outcomes, Brooklyn Phipps

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

Interdisciplinary rounding in healthcare teams can significantly improve communication and patient care. Miscommunication often arises when multiple physicians and healthcare professionals are involved in a patient's care, leading to fragmented or delayed treatment. By adopting interdisciplinary rounding, healthcare teams can share expertise and knowledge, ensuring that all members are aligned on the patient's plan of care. This approach directly supports the QSEN competencies, including Teamwork and Collaboration, which fosters effective communication and mutual respect among team members, and Patient-Centered Care, which ensures the patient is a central part of the decision-making process. Furthermore, it enhances Safety by minimizing the risk …

Nurse-Patient Ratios And The Effects On Patient Outcomes, Mortality, And Costs., Martin Helms

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

Healthcare in the United States is constantly changing and adapting to the current health of the country. There are many considerations that play into providing quality, safe, and effective care. At the forefront of what is needed is nursing staff, that has seen a steep decline in recent years. One of the problems I see as a large influence on nursing is the ratio of patient's nurses are responsible for during their shifts. This research project is aimed at finding the relation between nurse-patient ratios and the outcomes on patients/hospitals. The study is focused on identifying improvement in patient-centered care, …

2024-2025 Program And Abstracts Celebration Of Student Scholarship, Morehead State University. Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program.

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

The 2024-2025 Program and Abstracts for the Celebration of Student Scholarship at Morehead State University held on April 16, 2025. A Showcase of Student Research, Scholarship, Creative Work, and Performance Arts.

End Of Life Decision Making: The Right To Die On Their Own Terms, Alexandra Stacy

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

For the capstone project I was asked to identify a “problem” that I observed at my clinical site this semester. One problem at my clinical site has stuck out to me significantly. Patients on the unit I have been assigned are often close to death and unable to make their own decisions and despite any legal paperwork that may be in place their power of attorney or state mandated power of attorney often go against the patients last wishes. While this does not sit well with me, and many others, this is a large legal and ethical issue that would …

Determination Of Synthetic Pesticide Concentration In Bodies Of Water In Rowan County Kentucky, Jacob Blevins, Emmalou Schmittzehe-Skarbek

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

Synthetic pesticide usage is a relatively recent invention of industry that has been proven to have widespread biological effects. Many families of pesticides have unique properties including solubility in water and long half-lives. This ability to be soluble in water paired with a long half-life result in a pesticide that is perfectly suited to contaminate water designated for human or agricultural use. Solid-phase extraction is a preparatory technique of analytical chemistry in which a liquid sample is passed through a solid material that selectively retains compounds for further analysis. High-Performance Liquid Chromatography is an analytical chemistry technique that can quantify …

Ensuring Blood Transfusion Safety: Preventing Errors And Sentinel Events, Brooklyn Lemaster

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

During my time working across various units at Hospital A, I frequently observed blood transfusions as a common procedure. One particular event stands out: a sentinel event in which the incorrect blood products were administered to a patient. This incident resulted in the patient exhibiting visible body tremors, dizziness, confusion, tachycardia, and hypertension. While the patient and blood product ID numbers were correctly matched, the error occurred when two type and screen results were switched in the blood bank. Fortunately, my nurse and I promptly reassessed the situation and stopped the transfusion. However, had we not intervened quickly, this simple …