Digital Commons Network^™

Service-Informed Pathways Proposal, Joshua Works

UNLV Transfer Student Seminar Poster (COE 303)

This project explores how food insecurity affects UNLV students’ nutrition and proposes practical ways to strengthen the UNLV Food Pantry. Through six hours of volunteer service and a review of research, I identified key barriers, including stigma, limited access to fresh food, and low awareness. The proposal recommends three actionable improvements: simple nutrition handouts, peer-led outreach to reduce stigma, and stronger partnerships to ensure consistent access to fresh produce. These steps aim to improve daily nutrition, increase pantry usage, and support better academic outcomes. This work combines hands-on service experience with research to offer realistic, low-cost solutions that can help …

2026 May, Morehead State University. Office Of Communications & Marketing.

Morehead State Press Release Archive, 1961 to the Present

Press releases for May of 2026.

An Examination Of Student-Faculty Relationships As A Factor In Retention Of Students In The Department Of Agriculture, Macie C. Johnson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to discover the best approach in building academic relationships between students and faculty. Based on past research, student GPA, learning style, faculty relatability, and involvement were common factors in retention research. These factors contributed to the creation of statements used to analyze the best course of action in building academic relationships between students and faculty. Students and faculty in the Department of Agriculture at Stephen F. Austin State University were able to rank statements using a Quasi-Q-Sort. Results from the Quasi-Q-Sort were analyzed using cross-tabulation, descriptive statistics, Kendall’s W, and Mann-Whitney tests. Following these …

Some Promises Are Worth More Than Others: How “Free Community College” Programs Impact Postsecondary Participation, Destinations, And Degree Completion, David Monaghan, Elizabeth Hawke

Journal of Student Financial Aid

“Free college” programs are widespread in American higher education.  They are discussed as addressing college access, affordability, inequality, and skills shortages.  Many are last-dollar tuition guarantees restricted to use at single community colleges.  Using student-level data spanning the transition to college, we investigate how two similar local community college tuition guarantees in Pennsylvania affected college-going outcomes.  We estimate that the Morgan Success Scholarship has large impacts on any college enrollment, community college attendance and associate degree attainment, but also diverts students from four-year colleges and reduces bachelor’s attainment. Meanwhile, we find scant evidence that the Community College of Philadelphia’s 50 …

Utilizing Supervised Practice In School Settings As An Opportunity To Increase Student Awareness Of Food Waste Reduction Strategies, Maria Givler

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) play a vital role in facilitating nutritional health across a wide range of settings, from clinical care to community-based environments. As the profession continues to evolve, dietetics training programs are emphasizing experiential learning opportunities that address real-world public health challenges (Wegener, 2018). One such challenge is food waste, an issue with significant nutritional, environmental, and economic implications (Seberini, 2020). Within school food service systems, where millions of meals are served daily (Toossi et al.,2024), reducing waste while maintaining student satisfaction presents both a challenge and an opportunity. This article will discuss four ways supervised practice rotations …

Second April 2026 General Education Council Minutes, University Of Nebraska At Kearney General Education Council

General Education Council

No abstract provided.

Solo Faculty Program Coordinators In Student Affairs-Related Graduate Programs, Phillip A. Olt, Mitch Nasser, Louise Michelle Vital, Steven Tolman, James G. Archibald, Mary Ann Bodine Al-Sharif, Blue Brazelton, Rozana Carducci, Michael Houdyshell, Tryan Mcmickens, Cara Meixner, Molly Mistretta, Amy Paciej-Woodruff, Richie Stevens, Ann Wendle, Claude E.P. Mayo

The Qualitative Report

Many graduate programs in student affairs-related subfields employ just one full-time faculty member, who then also functions as the program coordinator. Program coordinator duties and compensation vary widely, but they are generally the person who ensures all aspects of the program function. Research shows that fulfilling these responsibilities in addition to teaching, research, and service is difficult; however, this study sought to expand on that literature to understand what it was like to coordinate a HESA program as the only full-time faculty member isolated in that subfield at the institution. We utilized the hybrid qualitative methodology of phenomenological polyethnography, wherein …

What Multiple Theories Can Illuminate In Qualitative Research, Sherry Marx, Rachel Billings, Taylor Dexter, Mark T. Lewis, Patrick Ocran, Douglas Weber

The Qualitative Report

Our aim in this paper is to help scholars better understand theory’s purpose in qualitative research, how it is employed in data analysis, and the strengths and limitations of the insights it can reveal. We do this by sharing our practice using multiple theories to make sense of a common data set in an advanced doctoral class focused on theory in qualitative research. For the class final project, students chose different theories to analyze one common data set: A brief historical article on the Los Angeles Zoot Suit Riots. Student-chosen theories included constructivism, actor-network theory, symbolic interactionism, critical race theory, …

Factors That Affect African American Representation In Cybersecurity Academic Programs In The United States, Damon Walker

Dissertations

The U.S. cybersecurity workforce continues to experience a critical talent shortage alongside persistent inequities in racial representation, particularly at the faculty level within higher education. This mixed-methods dissertation examines African American representation among faculty in cybersecurity academic programs designated by the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C) and investigates the factors that influence recruitment, retention, and advancement. Grounded in a transformative research framework, the study integrates quantitative analysis of national institutional data with qualitative interviews to illuminate structural patterns and lived experiences shaping representation.

Quantitative findings revealed pronounced underrepresentation: African American faculty comprise 2.57% (130 of 5,051) of …

Capital Projects As Catalysts For Strategic Change And Transformation In Higher Education, Lora Strigens

Dissertations (1934 -)

University campuses and their physical environments are a visible and symbolic representation of institutions. As the higher education landscape continues to shift and faces ongoing disruption, many institutions are considering significant strategic changes or broad transformation to remain competitive and thrive. As campuses around the country contend with aging buildings and infrastructure, they also have strategic priorities related to the changing needs and expectations of students, and the nature of teaching, learning, and research. Among these complex challenges, there is an opportunity to consider how institutions can leverage investment in the physical campus as a catalyst to support the strategic …

Fostering A Sense Of Belonging Through Culturally Engaging Campus Environments, Rebeca Barajas-Juarez

Masters Projects

Latinx college students are the fastest growing student population, enrolling into college at higher rates than any other group, yet their retention rates are concerningly low (Almanzar & Ruedas-Gracia, 2024). Research has shown that Latinx students disproportionately experience hostile campus climates and feel the negative effect on their sense of belonging (Hurtado & Carter, 1997). Additionally, Latinx students at predominantly white institutions regularly encounter challenges that lead to feelings of isolation and a higher likelihood of departing from college (Benavides et al., 2024). This project uses Samuel D. Museus’ (2014) Culturally Engaging Campus Environment (CECE) Model as the main framework …

2026 Celebration Posters Map, Morehead State University. Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program.

2026 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

No abstract provided.

Editorial: Academic Freedom: Embracing Diverse Voices, Margaret Grogan, Peter Tolmie, Jane Freedman, Scott Schaffer, John Offer, Andrea M. Feldpausch-Parker

Education Faculty Articles and Research

"The articles assembled in this Research Topic (RT) offer a timely discussion of a fundamental principle upon which both scientific endeavor and higher education are founded: academic freedom. While there is no single accepted definition of academic freedom, most scholars accept that there are three basic dimensions: the freedom to research in a scientifically agreed-upon and rigorous fashion; the freedom to express academic points of view; and the freedom to educate and to learn (Maassen et al., 2023). In this RT, the first and second of these dimensions are effectively grouped together around an interest in the latitude for scholars …

Protecting Free Speech And Promoting Civility: The Dueling Responsibilities Of American Colleges And Universities, Tara N. Parsons

International Journal on Responsibility

Freedom House estimates that 75% of the world’s population lives in countries that experienced a democratic decline in 2020. Even in long established democracies, liberal democratic values have been shaken. As democracy requires an enlightened citizenry cultivated by a college education, many American universities and colleges adopt civic instruction and engagement as a core responsibility and mission. However, growing anti-intellectualism has drawn increased scrutiny and suspicion towards the programming, curriculum, and core values of universities. Powerful political figures regularly accuse universities of stifling conservative voices and discouraging free speech. The tension between free speech and civic dialogue requires a reframing …

Community Cultivation: Building Community Health, Growth, And Sustainability Through A Community Garden, Lauren J. Franks

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

The Community Cultivation program is a grant proposal project that explores how a community garden can improve access to healthy food in rural areas, with a focus on Hays, Kansas. Guided by the question of how community-based food initiatives can reduce nutrition-related disparities, this project responds to the HaysMed Community Health Needs Assessment, which identifies nutrition and access to fresh produce as critical concerns for Ellis County. The program offers a sustainable, community-centered approach that increases the availability of fresh produce while building individual gardening and cooking skills. With an emphasis on food-insecure and low-income individuals, the Community Cultivation Garden …

Children With Imprisoned Parents: Challenges And The Impact On Society, Alonzo Ortiz

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Nearly half (47%) of incarcerated people in the United States are parents, impacting 2.7 million children at any given time. Prior to their incarceration, about 52% of these children resided with their mother, while 40% lived with their fathers. The rate of incarcerated mothers of multiple children has continued to rise over the past couple of decades. The impact of incarceration produces secondary consequences, including negative impacts on the incarcerated person’s child(ren). In fact, having an incarcerated parent is one of the known Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) and ACEs are directly related to later negative life outcomes (e.g., worsened health …

Overcoming Negative Perceptions Of The Sport Of Hockey When Promoting Hockey To African American Parents Of Young Athletes: An Exploratory Study Of Potential Obstacles, George W. Stone

Atlantic Marketing Association Proceedings

No abstract provided.

Professional Practice Areas Of Occupational Therapy, Jaycie Theis

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Jaycie Theis- Professional Practice Areas of Occupational Therapy Occupational therapy (OT) is a dynamic healthcare profession focused on promoting independence, functional skills, and quality of life for individuals across the lifespan. This poster outlines the professional practice areas of occupational therapists, including hospitals, schools, home health, and long-term care facilities, highlighting the unique roles, responsibilities, and client populations in each setting. Core job tasks such as patient assessment, individualized treatment planning, therapeutic intervention, and caregiver education are emphasized, along with essential skills like communication, adaptability, and clinical reasoning. The poster also reviews common goals of OT, including improving physical, cognitive, …

Exploring The Role Of Cine-Virtual Reality In Empathy And Awareness Of Social Determinants Of Health Among Occupational Therapy Students, Leah M. Stade, Madison Mckeever, Emma Gardner, Jana L. Wardian Phd

Innovations in Health Sciences Education Journal

Understanding social determinants of health (SDOH) is crucial for Occupational Therapy students to develop empathy and deliver optimal healthcare. This study explores using web-based 360° cinematic virtual reality (cine-VR) simulations in Level I fieldwork to address SDOH education and occupational engagement before community-based exposure.

This mixed methods study involved surveys and thematic analysis of written reflections from fifty students in a distance-based program at a Midwest university. Students viewed 12 web-based immersive cine-VR modules about a client experiencing multiple SDOH impacts. Surveys were conducted at baseline, post-intervention, and 6-weeks post-intervention, measuring empathy using the Jefferson Empathy Scale and attitudes toward …

Street-Level Bureaucrats In Public Higher Education: The Ethical Obligations To Support Psychologically At-Risk Students, Michael Turtz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

To fill the gap in the current literature, the purpose of this dissertation was to explain how and why Street-Level Bureaucrats (SLBs) in public higher education helped psychologically at-risk students during the pandemic. This qualitative study was intended to examine the role of SLBs in public higher education as it relates to their utilization of administrative discretion when advising psychologically at-risk students. In addition to administrative discretion, this dissertation also explored the role of ethical obligations and the use of a therapeutic lens when SLBs are faced with some of the most difficult situations for which they were not equipped …

A Case Study Examining Why Students Succeed When Exposed To Peer Tutors, Van E. Carpenter

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this instrumental case study was to identify the impact of online peer tutoring on students’ perceptions of their success for students who participated in online peer tutoring at Summit Faith University (a pseudonym used for this research). This research was grounded in Bandura’s self-efficacy theory, which provided a comprehensive framework for examining the factors influencing the effectiveness of peer tutoring among students. This study answered three research questions: How do online students use peer tutoring at Summit Faith University, how does online peer tutoring at Summit Faith University shape students’ perceptions of their success at Summit Faith …

The Lived Experiences Of Community College Faculty Working With Students With Cross-Categorical Disabilities: A Phenomenological Study, Michelle Rosalie Amenta

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the preparedness towards disability for faculty members at community colleges. The theory guiding this study was Oliver’s social model of disability, as the theory explained the relationship between environmental, institutional, and attitudinal barriers and disabilities. The central research question was: What are the lived experiences of community college faculty who instruct students that self-disclose their cross-categorical disabilities? The research sample included thirteen faculty members from community colleges in varied disciplines across the United States. Data collection consisted of individual interviews and focus groups, with analysis using Moustakas’ modified Stevick-Colaizzi-Keen Method …

Book Review Of International Faculty In East Asian Higher Education: Theory And Reality, Xixi Zhang Ph.D.

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

No abstract provided.

The Messy Negotiation Of Power, Context, And Self In Constructing A Global Researcher Identity, Punita Lumb

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

The formation of researcher identity is complex and evolves over various experiences, including international fieldwork and research. Especially important to consider is how power dynamics impact the development of researcher identity in the cases of international research between the Global North and Global South. This study uses phenomenological and decolonial approaches to analyze 23 interviews of faculty from India and the United Kingdom who have worked on UK-India research projects in the field of social sciences. Salient themes on how power and being were constructed, challenged, or negotiated by the participants include how researchers locate themselves in the paradigm of …

Voiceless Experiences: Stress And Coping Of International Students With Language Barriers, Junguen Lee, Hongryun Woo, April Nguyen, Melissa Henry

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

International students’ difficulties and unique needs have been increasingly explored in professional literature, reflecting the expanding number of international students enrolling in the United States’ higher education institutions. Language difficulties appear to be the most challenging issue for international students from non-English speaking countries as they become marginalized as a linguistic minority on campus. Few researchers have focused specifically on understanding international students’ experiences of being voiceless due to language barriers, nor have they postulated the nature of their adaptation process. This grounded theory study aimed to investigate international students’ stress and coping experiences with language barriers and develop a …

Administering Surveys To International Undergraduates—Recommendations For Best Practices, Ricardo Paniagua, Barry Fass-Holmes

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

Researchers and educators historically have administered surveys to collect data, track perceptions, and/or solicit opinions from undergraduates, including internationals, attending American institutions. To promote survey responses’ generalizability, the present report advocates the following recommendations for best practices in survey administration. 1) Use stratified random sampling methodology to identify which specific subset of students from the campus’ source population to invite to the survey. 2) Strive for, design, and implement an administration process that achieves a high response rate (preferably above 90%). 3) Choose an incentive that is truly salient for survey invitees to recruit and reward them for their time. …

A College Choice Model For Chinese International Undergraduate Students Studying In The U.S., Ian D. Baker, Seyoung Hong

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

Students hailing from China now represent the largest single international undergraduate student population on college campuses in the United States (U.S). We advance a theoretical model to better conceptualize the college choice process of Chinese international undergraduate students. Utilizing Hossler and Gallagher’s (1987) college choice model as a foundation, our model theorizes that the college choice process for Chinese international undergraduate students can be understood as the combination of three distinct phases: predisposition, search, and choice. Our research advances the scholarly literature by positing a conceptual model of college choice for one of the largest international student populations in the …

Empirical Benchmarks For Interpreting Effect Sizes In Violent Crime Interventions, Kohta James Matsukawa Hansen

Theses and Dissertations

Criminal justice researchers apply Cohen’s (1988) benchmarks to classify effect sizes as small, medium, or large, despite these standards never being meant for broad, decontextualized use (Cohen, 1988; Gies et al., 2024; Goulet-Pelletier & Cousineau, 2018; Lakens, 2013; Milner et al., 2023). Repeatedly doing so may weaken statistical validity, distort findings, and impede effective policymaking. This study introduces the first effect size benchmarks specifically designed for violent crime interventions.

Using a quasi-meta-analysis framework, 1,605 effect sizes from 104 violent crime intervention studies from the CrimeSolutions clearinghouse were converted to Cohen’s d. Three new discrete benchmarking methods were created using a …

Fcrh Honors Program: 2025-26 Year In Review, Fcrh Honors Program

FCRH Honors Program Newsletters and Reports

No abstract provided.

2026 Commencement Program - Spring, Morehead State University. Registrar's Office.

Morehead State Commencement Programs

2026 Spring Commencement program for Morehead State University.