Digital Commons Network^™

Collective Interaction: A Key To Inclusive Excellence In Higher Education, Bhuwan Shankar Bhatt

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

The study explored the critical importance of collective interaction, going beyond the perspective of individualism, to explore the inclusion of students with disabilities in higher education. The case study aimed to explore the practices of interactions and perceived influence of the interactions on the inclusion of students with disabilities studying at Nepalese public colleges. Mainly, data were collected via interviews and surveys were also conducted as a preliminary study. Participants comprised students with disabilities and stakeholders for interview. The study showed that the collective interactions in the colleges were positive but practiced in limited ways. The positively perceived interactions were …

The Adultspan Journal Fellowship Program: A Structured Mentorship Experience, Lauren B. Robins, Natese R. Dockery, Courtney T.K. Chester, Crystal Morris, Teah Moore, Zoey Liu, Kaprea F. Johnson

Adultspan Journal

This qualitative study used reflexive thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006) to explore how the Adultspan Journal Fellowship Program, a structured, cohort-based mentorship initiative, supports the development of doctoral students and early-career counselor educators. Grounded in Social Learning Theory, the program integrates hands-on journal management, guided peer review, collaborative writing, and monthly didactic sessions within multi-layered mentorship. Data from asynchronous email interviews and document analysis with seven fellows across two cohorts (2022–2024) yielded four themes: (1) Cultivating Belonging Through Structured Mentorship, highlighting affirming guidance that reduced isolation and built peer networks; (2) Building Confidence and Professional Identity, reflecting growth in …

Different But Still The Same? A Review Of Recent Australian University Internationalization Approaches, Samantha Marangell, Jiadi Cai, Mollie Dollinger

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

In the quest for higher education internationalization approaches, there remains much debate about how to redefine “internationalization” in a post-pandemic context through which the limitations of student mobility have been exposed. This article contributes to current debates about future directions and definitions of internationalization by offering insightful analysis of recent approaches and conceptualizations across the Australian university sector. To do so, we conducted a desktop review of universities’ public-facing international strategies and analyzed the documents for patterns in practices and priorities. Our findings generate a timely picture of internationalization approaches and indicate the broadening conceptualization of internationalization within the sector, …

Introduction To Jcihe 18(1) 2026 Issue, Rosalind L. Raby

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

No abstract provided.

2025 Jcihe State Of The Field: An Annual Report, Rosalind L. Raby

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

The Journal of Comparative and International Education (JCIHE) presents the 2025 Annual Report. This report shows the growing readership for the journal, the diversification of authors, and the range of topics being published. A key finding from this report is that it shows how JCIHE is meeting its goals for increasing visibility and for increasing the diversity of authorship and their global institutional affiliations.

Understanding The Impact Of Virtual Online And Traditional Learning On Student Mental Health: A Sequential Mixed Methods Study Amid And Beyond Educational Disruptions, Helene D. Daya

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

The global pandemic accelerated the transition from conventional face-to-face to distant online education. This study aims to investigate the disparities in mental health challenges among students undergoing remote online learning during the educational disruption and their current psychological status upon transitioning back to in-person learning. Students at public universities experienced high levels of psychological distress, stress, anxiety, and depression. The study revealed an association between mental health concerns and demographic factors, including socioeconomic status and gadget use. While students' mental well-being improved after in-person learning, they faced challenges in managing stress and developing self-directed learning skills. The research recommends implementing …

From Milan To Murmansk – Lisbon To Lake Louise: Conceptualizing The Meaning Of Internationalization In Higher Education, May-Kristin Vespestad

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

Internationalization is an academic goal and quality measure in higher education, driven by governmental policies and target numbers of mobility, where quantitative measures are the norm. Discussions of what internationalization means and why it is regarded as important need further conceptualization in a higher education context. This is the first longitudinal autoethnography to discuss the meaning of internationalization. The present study makes noteworthy contributions to international higher education literature and practice. Based on the conceptual framework of value co-creation and consumer value theory, the study offers a conceptualization of internationalization. It establishes that internationalization cannot be driven by quantitative measures …

Psycholinguistic Factors And Technology Appropriation In Efl Learning: An Instrumental Case Study, Marlon Vanegas Rojas, Claudia María Uribe Hoyos

The Qualitative Report

This instrumental case study described the psycholinguistic factors related to technology appropriation and language learning among English as a foreign language university students in Medellín, Colombia. Conducted at a private university’s language department, the 64-hour English course combined traditional and digital teaching methods with 22 participants from diverse undergraduate programs. Employing maximum variation sampling, the study captured perspectives across age, gender, technology appropriation, academic performance, and cultural background. Data collection included interviews, a technology appropriation self-perception survey, language proficiency tests, and classroom observations. Using the analytical framework of Miles et al. (2014) the analysis revealed that students relied on digital …

Epistemologies Of Inclusion Across Continents And Cultures, Anne Carr, Athena Alchazidu, Gabriella B. Bonilla, William A. Booth, Antonina Bulyna, Katerina Chudovaf, Pilar Constanzo, Oleh Shlapakov, Jorge L. Schlotteri, Liudmyla Sukhovetska, Patricia Tineo, Olena Yasynetska

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

"It is hard to think in two languages when your feet are freezing." Words swim through her head, but she is unable to catch any of them (twelve-year-old Syrian migrant, Warga 2019).

In these ‘liquid’ times of hyper-diversity, students’ lives marked by their identity practices and social relations can tell us how future inclusive global citizenship will be crafted and negotiated. During 2023, students and professors from universities in Ecuador, Argentina, Dominican Republic, United Kingdom, Czech Republic and Ukraine participated in a series of virtual meetings to explore and present the multiple threads that connect the local expression and negotiation …

Married And Co-Teaching While Abroad: A Case Study, Rachel Renbargera, Munube Yilmaz, Tracey Sulakc

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

The existing literature on co-teaching, higher education, and study abroad settings discusses best practices, but it largely overlooks how these frameworks may interact and influence the co-teaching experiences of married couples, which would ultimately impact student outcomes. This study utilizes a qualitative case study approach to examine how students in a higher education program experience and perceive a study abroad course taught by a married couple. The data were collected from six undergraduate students through focus group interviews, observations, and a survey. Information from the course syllabus and interviews with the professors was also utilized. Results illustrated that married co-teachers …

Mobility, Migration, And Cultural Political Economy: Personal Narratives Of Immigration Policy, Max Crumley-Effinger

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

This study embraces the opportunity to explore students’ immigration experiences from a cultural political economy (CPE) perspective, beginning with a review of literature relevant to understanding students’ perspectives of host nation international student mobility and migration (ISM) policy, followed by an outline of the CPE theoretical framework. The study’s methodology is presented, outlining how findings were obtained through a qualitative content analysis of interviews with 40 international students studying in Australia, Canada, and the United States. Findings are then presented through the words of study participants, highlighting how international students connect their ISM policy experiences with the local CPE contexts …

The Lived Experiences Of Nontraditional Students And The Innovative Strategies Higher Education Leaders Can Implement To Support Their Success: A Phenomenological Study, Fernando Jose De Oliveira Castro

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the experiences and strategies employed by nontraditional college students to achieve academic success at public universities in Massachusetts. Nontraditional student experiences were generally defined as the ways in which adult learners, part-time students, and those balancing work and family responsibilities navigated challenges, used support systems, and developed strategies to persist in higher education. The central research questions this study was: How do innovative strategies and support systems contribute to the lived experiences of nontraditional students’ success in Massachusetts’s higher education institutions? I employed Ryan and Deci’s (2017) self-determination theory to …

Teaching Multiculturalism With A Christian Worldview To Influence Perspectives: Combating Emotions And Challenging Presuppositions Of Counselors, Steven Brooks

Faculty Publications and Presentations

In counseling education, teaching multiculturalism is a critical curricular component. Today, counselors (more widely defined as various caregivers) are more likely to encounter people whose race or culture differs from their own. Therefore, to be the most effective counselor, a solid and unapologetic curriculum in multiculturalism should be required. Because the education component of multiculturalism is often subordinate to a trainee’s reluctance—or even inability—to confront the difficult concepts, it is necessary first to address the reluctance; hence, my thesis. Multiculturalism presented and discussed on an academic plane is more likely to assuage trainees’ fears and spur them to cultural competence. …

February 2026 Graduate Council Minutes, University Of Nebraska At Kearney Graduate Council

Graduate Council Minutes

No abstract provided.

Understanding Interventions For Generational Trauma From The Experienced Counselors’ Perspective, Christina Ann Cartagena

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Healing generational trauma involves counselors’ understanding and recognizing the symptoms of unhealthy coping mechanisms in adults who witnessed adverse emotional reactions as children. Generational trauma occurs when generations have trouble building healthy relationships and pass unhealthy coping mechanisms to future generations. There has been a reported increase in youth and adults seeking mental health services for generational trauma. The problem was that there was insufficient information about how counselors recognize and respond to the symptoms of generational trauma or what treatment methods or modalities to use to support patients. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore the …

Fostering Psychological Ownership And Self-Authorship In Higher Education: Pathways To Student Engagement, Growth And Knowledge Creation, Noora Heino, Markku Ikävalko, Anssi Tarkiainen, Terhi Virkki-Hatakka

International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education

This study explores the intersection of psychological ownership (PO) and self-authorship (SA) in the context of university students’ project-based learning. It examines how students develop a sense of ownership over their course projects, ideas, and knowledge they create, and how this engagement shapes their learning, identity, and sense of self. The findings highlight the role of control and perceived idea quality in fostering psychological ownership, as well as the importance of intimate knowledge and perceived object quality in supporting self-authorship. The study underscores that when students feel connected to their ideas, their motivation, persistence, and engagement increase, especially in creativity-driven …

Leveraging The Intersection Of Ai And Play To Foster Human Connectedness And Character Formation, Lori B. Doyle, Ashley Brandon

Journal of Organizational & Educational Leadership

The benefits of fostering character formation are vast, encompassing psychological, social and emotional growth, yet there is no universally prescribed manner by which to proceed. Central to these efforts is human connectedness, which enhances psychological functioning and provides a pivotal foundation for well-being. Emerging factors such as integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the pedagogy of play are novel topics for the conversation within the character formation discourse. These elements, while tangentially related, hold significant potential to amplify character formation and sense of belonging. This paper examines the intersection of AI, pedagogy of play, and character formation through a theoretical …

Cybersecurity In Higher Education Institutions: Awareness, Policy, And Experience On Employee Behaviour, Abdullahi Abiodun Yusuf, Adriana A. Steyn

Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice

The digital transformation of higher education institutions (HEIs) has introduced unprecedented connectivity and operational efficiency, but it has also heightened their exposure to cyber threats. South African HEIs, in particular, face increasing vulnerability due to their reliance on technology, openness, and diverse user communities. This study examines the influence of the institutional cybersecurity environment on employee cybersecurity-compliant behaviour (CCB), emphasising the critical roles of awareness, policy engagement, and experience. Drawing on Protection Motivation Theory and the Theory of Planned Behaviour, a conceptual model was developed to explore how cybersecurity awareness, policy familiarity, and prior experience shape employees’ attitudes, subjective norms, …

Challenges To Completion Of Workforce Adult Education Classes Among New Americans, Damon Grew Peter Syphers-Wilkins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem which was addressed through this study was New American groups face challenges in the completion of workforce adult education classes. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore New Americans’ challenges, needs, and cultural challenges to complete workforce adult education classes. The conceptual frameworks that guided this study were Knowles’ model of andragogy and Wlodkowski and Ginsberg’s motivational framework for culturally responsive teaching. Freire’s pedagogy of hope can inform future research focused on strengthening the model of andragogy and the motivational framework for culturally responsive teaching. For this phenomenological design, 10 semistructured telephone interviews were conducted with …

What Is Happening In The World Today And Why: Humanity’S Evolving Consciousness And The Role Of Archetypal Energies As Guides During An Unfolding Weeding Out And Alignment Process, Carroy U. Ferguson

Psychology Faculty Publication Series

What is happening in the world today and why? Humanity is evolving its consciousness at individual and collective levels. Given these seemingly tumultuous times, as of this writing (January 2026), to make such a statement may sound like a strange thing to say. However, I suggest that if you are alive today and if you are reading these words, these are the very times for which you were born--to assist Humanity as it evolves its consciousness with your unique gifts, whatever they may be. That is, this period of our individual and collective human being-ness may be characterized as an …

The Current - Volume 36 Issue 6, Nova Southeastern University

Student Newspapers

No abstract provided.

Development And Initial Validation Of The Comprehensive Ai Integration Readiness Survey (Caiirs), Richard D. Amoako, Jennifer A. Morrow

International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education

Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative force in higher education, improving learning and optimizing administrative operations. However, the adoption and integration of AI in learning environments have received limited research attention until recently. Consequently, this research aimed to develop and validate a scale to assess readiness and preparedness among higher education faculty members for the integrative adoption of AI in learning and teaching practices. A nationwide survey was used to collect data from faculty at universities and colleges in the United States. The CAIIRS scale was developed after an extensive review of scholarly literature. Exploratory factor analysis was …

Spectrum, Volume 56, Issue 1, Sacred Heart University

Newspapers (Obelisk & Spectrum)

Highlights include: Debate Grows Over Trump’s Interest in Greenland -- Michael Larobina Named Interim Provost --  WCBT Dean Dr. David Taylor Resigning -- KD Brings Sisterhood and Service to Girl Scouts -- Mahoney Dives into Action

How Does Johnson & Wales University In Providence Combat Food Insecurity On Campus For Its Students?, Ava Zajczenko

Interdisciplinary Studies: Student Publications

Across the United States, an increasing number of people are becoming food insecure, and a part of this population are college students. With tuition, housing, books, and personal expenses, college students have a large financial burden placed on them when they enter college. Johnson & Wales University is a private university with a prestigious culinary program. With food being at the forefront of many students, professors, and chef instructors’ minds at JWU, this raises the question: How does Johnson & Wales University in Providence address food insecurity on campus for its students? JWU already has multiple resources that exist on …

Unl Emeriti And Retirees Association Newsletter, February 2026

UNL Emeriti and Retirees Association: Newsletters and Other Materials

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Emeriti and Retirees Association Newsletter, February 2026>

Message from the ERA President, Vicki Highstreet

Thank you to former ERA President, Pam Edwards

Welcome to new members

Introducing a new ERA member: Ellen Paparozzi

ERA 65th anniversary

Organizational development plan

Funding opportunity

Wisherd awards

Wake up your well-being

mini-grant update

State of long-term care in Nebraska

Announcements and notices

Upcoming programming

Programming recap

Memory moments

A Phenomenologically Informed Study Of Black Male Preservice Teachers’ Lived Experiences: Professional Socialization, Social Representation, And The Redesign Of Teacher Education For Equity, William A. Anders

Student Theses

This qualitative research explores the experiences of Black male preservice teachers in New York City’s teacher education programs. To examine the underrepresentation of Black male preservice teachers, the research employs Critical University Studies and Critical Race Theory to investigate the institutional barriers they face. Using semi-structured interviews with seven participants and reflexive thematic analysis, the findings revealed six paramount themes: Pathways in Teaching, Representation and Identity, Experiences in Teacher Education, Racial Bias and Institutional Challenges, the Role of Mentorship and Support Networks, and Teaching Philosophy.

Participants described the challenges that Black male preservice teachers face, including isolation, economic hardships, unsuitable …

A Critical Lens On Emotions And Learning: Shame, Loneliness, And Alienation In Community College, Mike Rifino

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This dissertation explores how community college students make sense of and navigate their emotions related to learning. Community colleges are two-year public higher education institutions that primarily serve working-class and students of color, enrolling almost half of all current undergraduates in the United States, yet their experiences are rarely addressed by researchers. Drawing on critical theories (e.g., feminist politics of emotions, Black feminist/queer women of color theorizing), emotions in this study are conceptualized as socio-politically situated, shaped by institutions and ideologies distributed through power across intersecting social identities. Although emotion research in higher education has grown substantially in the past …

Re-Thinking The Composition Of The Business School Faculty, Michael A. Carrillo, Arthur Kraft, John Kraft

Business Faculty Articles and Research

Since the 1990s, the faculty of U.S. colleges and universities has shifted from a workforce dominated by full-time tenured and tenure-track positions to one in which contingent appointments predominate. According to the American Association of University Professors, contingent faculty grew from about 47 percent of the national workforce in 1987 to roughly two- thirds by 2021 (AAUP, 2023). Business schools faced the same pressures, including cost constraints, a shortage of doctorally qualified faculty, ranking competition, and revised accreditation standards, but they responded differently. Drawing on two decades of faculty data from 180 AACSB-accredited business schools and a subsample of 54 …

A Student-Centered Gis Classroom: Second Chances And Real-World Practice Teaching Portfolio For Nres218 Introduction To Geospatial Technologies, Ran Wang

UNL Faculty Course Portfolios

This course portfolio documents the design, implementation, and reflection of NRES218 Introduction to Geospatial Technologies, an introductory undergraduate geographic information system (GIS) course. This course aims to integrate basic and applied sciences to help students develop spatial thinking and spatial analysis skills for proposing spatial science–oriented solutions. Instructional strategies emphasize experiential learning through structured laboratory exercises and outdoor field activities that connects real-world observation with GIS analysis. To support student learning and persistence, the course also incorporated flexible assessment practices, including second-chance exams. Reflection on student engagement and performance revealed that while these strategies were highly beneficial for some students, …

Necessary, But Insufficient: School Counselors’ Informal Learning Experiences With Writing Letters Of Recommendations, Mandy Savitz-Romer, Tara Nicola, Julius Dilorenzo, Jen Ha, Amy Desiderio, Sebastian Munoz Galvez, Matthew O'Brien

Journal of College Access

Submission of recommendation letters from high school counselors is a requirement for undergraduate admission at many selective colleges. However, there has been limited research to-date examining these critical application components and the front-line professionals who generate them. This study examines how high school counselors, who are key actors in holistic admission practices, learn how to craft recommendation letters. Given previous research has found that counselors have limited training in college admission counseling, understanding the learning processes that shape their letter writing is a critical first step for improving the quality of letters and their utility for student success in the …