Digital Commons Network^™

Engaging Students And Stakeholders In Times Of Crisis: Hbcus Bridging Social Capital On Facebook While Navigating Physical Distancing, Pamela Peters

Journal of Research Initiatives

COVID-19 placed a strain on colleges that tend to rely on tuition, especially small HBCUs, which traditionally serve a high percentage of underrepresented students. Being away from campus, many stakeholders were experiencing higher levels of stress and anxiety. Social media offers an outlet for schools and stakeholders to stay connected during a crisis. Using social capital, this study examined how small HBCUs bridged social capital on Facebook during the year before and the first two years of the pandemic. A comparative analysis of Facebook posts of 30 HBCUs with a student population of under 2000 was conducted to determine post …

Enhancing Critical Thinking Through Interactive Learning Approaches For First-Year University Students, Nana Yaw B. Agyeman, Venessa Vela Aphane Ms

Journal of Research Initiatives

The use of interactive learning methods is considered crucial in equipping university students with critical skills. This could successfully deal with, and address issues encountered in real-world contexts. It has been noted that most first-year university students often face challenges adjusting to university life due to their background. The research methodology utilized in this study was qualitative, as it was deemed appropriate for the research objectives. A case study design was employed to investigate the issue comprehensively. A purposive sample of eight participants was selected. Thematic analysis was employed as the method of data analysis. The study's findings suggest that …

Boundless Possibilities: Reimagining Blackness In Wilson Kwamogi Okello’S On Blackness, Liveliness, And What It Means To Be Human, Duane Ebesu

Journal of Research Initiatives

Wilson Kwamogi Okello's *On Blackness, Liveliness, and What It Means to Be Human* theorizes the inheritances of systemic anti-Blackness while affirming Blackness as a site of creativity, vitality, and world-making. Okello examines how Western humanism and the coloniality of knowledge have excluded and restricted Black life both socially and within educational systems and epistemology. The volume is composed of three parts and critiques the regulative logics of higher education, the aesthetics and relationality of Black life, and the pervasive reach of carceral systems. At its core, Okello proposes a reconceptualization of Blackness in terms of "liveliness," viewing it as a …

Walking On Burning Ground: A Neo-Calvinist Cure To Climate Apathy, Beatrice Shackleford

Pro Rege

No abstract provided.

Longing For Transcendence: Olympic Gold And Christian Virtue, Matthew Vos, John B. White

Pro Rege

No abstract provided.

Who Is The God "With Whom We Have To Do"?, Michael Williams

Pro Rege

No abstract provided.

Do We Serve A Dice-Throwing God? Reconciling The Indeterminacy Of Quantum Mechanics With The Sovereignty Of An Almighty God, Elias Obbink

Pro Rege

No abstract provided.

Impostor Phenomenon, Psychological Safety, And The Intent To Leave Of Novice Pa Faculty, Barbara J. Quillin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The growing healthcare demands of the aging population in the United States, along with the growth of physician assistant (PA) educational programs, has created a pressing need for qualified PA educators. This study examined the role of impostor phenomenon and psychological safety in shaping PA faculty members’ intent to leave. Grounded in the job demands-resources framework, the research explored how individual psychological experiences and perceptions of the organizational climate relate to faculty turnover intentions in PA education. This study aimed to provide PA program administrators with information that may reduce faculty attrition and improve the overall well-being of novice faculty. …

Racial Identity And Belonging Among Asian American Undergraduate Students In The Midwest, Seema M. Dahlheimer

Dissertations

Asian American students are often deemed overrepresented in higher education, leading to inequities in admissions, scholarships, and student support. This perception feeds and is fed by the model minority stereotype, which characterizes Asian Americans as hard-working and high-achieving and creates intense pressure to succeed academically (Poon et al., 2016). In addition, Asian American college students often experience racism and xenophobia, which can undermine their sense of belonging on campus. However, in the Midwest, where their immigration is more recent and conversations about race are often framed in terms of Black and white, Asian Americans often feel invisible and othered (Lee, …

It's Deeper Than Rap. Exploring The Lived Experiences Of Black Faculty With Hip-Hop Epistemologies Through Counterstory, Austin Ashe

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation study explores the experiences of Black professors who carry Hip-Hop epistemologies and utilize Hip-Hop as a method to navigate the social and structural systems within their predominantly white institutions (PWIs). Grounded in Critical Race Theory, the study utilizes narrative inquiry and counterstorytelling. The analysis involved the development of a composite counterstory featuring the fictional protagonist, Hampton Franklin. The findings highlight common experiences among participants. Findings suggest that Black faculty are insiders whose positions grant them access and influence. Second, they are outsiders that navigate hypervisibility, invisibility, and racial battle fatigue. Third, each participant was a “pedagogue of the …

On Being The Only: Using Black Feminist Thought And Hermeneutic Phenomenology To Deeply Understand Onliness As Experienced By Black Women In Stem, Karen M. Jarvis-Thorne, Karen M. Jarvis-Thorne

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

When a Black woman persists in a STEM undergraduate academic space as the only Black woman in that space, how is she shaped as a human being? How does she fare? How does the experience influence her decision making as she contemplates graduate school applications? Does the experience guide her decision to stay or leave STEM? In this study, the author used Black Feminist Thought to provide cultural and critical oversight of her engagement with Hermeneutic Phenomenology. Hermeneutic Phenomenology requires this oversight because the methodology’s theoretical foundations are grounded in Heidegger’s Nazism and should be critiqued if and when appropriate …

Galvanizing Community, Support, Well-Being, And Self-Efficacy: Supporting Doctoral Candidates Throughout The Dissertation Writing Process, Njeri M. Pringle, Jamie L. Workman

Journal of Graduate Education Research

Recent data published by the Council of Graduate Schools indicates approximately 40% of students who begin doctoral coursework do not complete their degree. This asserts the need for graduate schools to examine ways in which they can support their doctoral student population, particularly through the dissertation writing process. The purpose of this autoethnographic study was to explore two methods of dissertation writing support: a dissertation writing group sponsored by a graduate school and independent dissertation coaching services. The article highlights key findings from each support system and provides implications for dissertation writing group facilitators, dissertation coaches, and graduate schools.

Self-Efficacy And Burnout Of Nursing Faculty: The Mediating Role Of Fear Of Negative Evaluation, Sarah Murray Kelly

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The contents of this manuscript include a dissertation of a survey research study using the theoretical models of self-efficacy and burnout. The quantitative study used mediation analysis to explore the relationship between self-efficacy and burnout, with fear of negative evaluation as a mediator. Fear of negative evaluation was measured using the Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale-Revised; self-efficacy was calculated using the General Self-Efficacy Scale; and burnout was measured using the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory. The study drew a sample of 98 academic nurse educators (N = 98) who were evaluated by student evaluations of teaching. The sample included educators who …

Exploring Student Perceptions Towards Using Generative Ai Tools In Higher Education, Mariam Jacobs-Basadien, Juliet Saleh, Keiran Nel, Prince Mulea

African Conference on Information Systems and Technology

Artificial intelligence (AI) has swiftly revolutionised the world, significantly transforming higher education as new technologies are integrated into teaching and learning activities. Generative AI (GAI) offers numerous benefits to students. Despite its benefits, several factors influence students’ perceptions of using these tools in their educational pursuits. Understanding students’ perceptions is crucial for universities to determine how these technologies can be effectively integrated into their teaching and learning environment. Based on the foregoing, this study conducted a systematic literature review to investigate students' perceptions of GAI tools in their learning practices. The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), together with social influence and …

The Effect Of Group Counseling On Hope With Diverse Undergraduates During Sustainability-Focused Internship, Hailey Spinks, Michael D. Hannon, Matthew Murray, Nina M. Goodey, Lora Billings, Amy Tuininga

PSEG Institute for Sustainability Studies Publications

Many adolescents report feeling overwhelmed, depressed, anxious, and hopeless in the face of global climate change. These feelings are both valid and antithetical to the necessary hope and courage it takes to address real-world environmental crises and contribute to meaningful societal impact. The Green Teams Program, an internship-based experiential learning initiative, prepares young professionals with skills and knowledge needed to address these challenges and provides an intentionally inclusive and safe environment for students from all backgrounds to do so. This structured environment includes psychoeducational group counseling among other supports. Intern self-assessments revealed significant gains in measures of Hope, Agency, …

Retention Of Evidence-Based Practice Skills And The Association Between Beliefs, Behaviors, And Workplace Culture, Angela M. Lis, Lauren Snowdon

Journal of Innovation in Health Sciences Education

Introduction: Guidelines for teaching evidence-based practice (EBP) in Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) curricula have been published. There is limited evidence on the role of workplace culture in retaining these skills in entry-level clinical practice. This study evaluated the retention of self-perceived EBP skills, and the association of EBP beliefs and behaviors with cultural readiness once graduates join the workforce.

Methods: Two cohorts of DPT students completed a baseline questionnaire at graduation and a 12-month follow-up. Participants’ beliefs about EBP, implementation behaviors, and the organizational culture to support EBP were assessed using short versions of the EBP beliefs, implementation, …

Criminal Adult Perceptions Of Transition Services Following Histories Of Physical Abuse As Children, Kimberlyn Sherie Crook

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

It is possible that childhood abuse and neglect could be linked to adult crime and delinquency. Intervention services' apparent ineffectiveness worries social workers, law enforcement, and policymakers. The literature found that abused children are more likely to commit crimes as adults without intervention and prevention, which harms society and abused children. Research suggests child abuse and adult crime may have early roots. The purpose of this qualitative study was to address adult victims firsthand accounts to identify intervention service gaps and suggest improvements. The qualitative design was used to address adult criminals who were abused as children and their unique …

Ai Is Not The New Dei: Academia’S Addiction To The Next Big Thing, Essraa Nawar

Library Articles and Research

"Every August, as campuses come back to life across the country and the world, I notice the same rhythm: new policies announced, committees formed, webinars scheduled, and fall conferences themed around the latest 'big thing.'

This fall? No surprise. The wave is artificial intelligence.

AI task forces are meeting weekly. Universities are drafting 'responsible AI' policies. New centers and certificates are being launched. Syllabi are being rewritten. Symposia and faculty retreats promise that AI will 'redefine the future of education.'

It is bold. It is ambitious. But it is also deeply familiar."

Embedding Internationalization At Home – What Do Irish Heis Need?, Nidhi Piplani-Kapur, Don O'Neill, Helen Murphy, Suzanne Denieffe

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

In Irish higher education, only four percent of learners have benefited from mobility opportunities. Whilst mobility continues to be accessible to a limited few, Irish higher education institutions (HEIs) increasingly realize the need to engage in 'Internationalization at home (IaH)' to provide international experiences to all learners. However, as evident from the literature review, IaH has been underdeveloped and understudied to date in the Irish context. Grounded in organizational and curriculum design and change management theories, this study critiques the development of IaH and suggests strategies to embed a culture of IaH in Irish HEIs. It adopts a constructivist-interpretivist methodology …

Innovating Higher Education - A Case Study Of Challenger Universities In Africa, Andrea Lane

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 seeks to provide accessible and affordable higher education by 2030. While traditional universities in Africa evolve slowly to meet this goal, challenger universities are emerging to disrupt higher education. Examining the innovation practices of two of these institutions, this case study identifies four key practices: financial innovation, the Hub and Spoke model, competency-based online education, and the application of emerging technologies. Drawing on innovation management and higher education theories, the study draws new insights into how challenger universities address Africa’s unique challenges.

Trans* Student Experiences In Higher Education, Megan Chaffee, Deborah King

New York Journal of Student Affairs

This paper reviews literature on trans* students' experiences in higher education, examining their obstacles and institutional approaches to inclusion. The study investigates challenges regarding chosen names and pronouns, access to facilities, extracurricular involvement, and the impact of increasing anti-trans* legislation. Despite growing visibility, trans* students continue to report harassment, discrimination, and a decreased sense of belonging. The paper explores current Title IX interpretations and recommends that higher education administrators develop inclusive policies, enhance professional development, and create supportive campus environments that foster trans* students' academic success and overall well-being.

Posture - A Framework With Measures And Mediating Effects In Support Of A Structural Model For Attitude In Identity Formation, Christopher Kyle Prather

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation develops a framework and new, valid, abbreviated instruments for researching engineering identity formation as an evolving relational and attitudinal development process rather than a fixed outcome. The framework centers on “posture”, a mediating effect analogous to physical posture in human factors engineering. The investigation was unique, and developed evidence for a structural model using an interdisciplinary, systems-oriented approach. Methodologically, a clinical measure of internal emotional states from the Marriage and Family Therapy literature was administered alongside existing scales for perseverance, perceived workload, and psychological ownership. This study used the broad coverage of the clinical instrument to search for …

Oral History Interview With Timothy Clark (Part 2), Timothy Clark

Oral History Collection

The interview covered:

• Teaching and Curriculum
• Research
• Challenges & Future
• Personal Reflections
• Libraries
• Advice
• Advice for Students

A Developmental Evaluation Of A Dental Hygiene Program And A Community Health Partnership, Laura Jacob

Higher Education: Doctoral Research Projects

Today, dental hygiene education commonly occurs in community college settings which are removed from dental schools thus dental hygiene students graduate with relatively little to no exposure to dentistry or directly with a clinically practicing dentist. With dental hygiene workforce shortages at an extremely high level, locally and nationally, it is imperative to matriculate students who are poised to be successful in the changing landscape of healthcare.

The purpose of this program evaluation was to investigate via the developmental program evaluation model, the perceived benefits of a potential collaboration between the Colorado Mountain College (CMC) dental hygiene program and a …

Examining Whiteness: A Narrative Inquiry Into Racial Identity Among White Women In Study Abroad Programs, Audrey Moreno Townsend

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this narrative inquiry study was to better understand race in contexts both domestically and abroad through the perspectives and experiences of white women who studied abroad outside of Europe and the Anglosphere. The investigation explored on how these experiences shaped white women’s understanding of racial identity upon returning to their home institutions. The research question which was addressed was: How do white women experience study abroad programming? Research highlights a critical gap in existing literature on this topic. While white women are centered in the study, it is contextualized considering how People of Color experience the world. …

The Residual Impact Of Slavery On How Enslaved Black Females Defined And Made Meaning Of Sexual Violence: A Content Analysis, Suzanne R. Bates

Dissertations

Thompson-Miller & Picca (2016) and Feimster (2023) argued that enslaved African American women, and even free African Americans after the Civil War were victims of non-consensual sexual activity and rape. The NISVS report revealed that before the age of 18 years old, 35.5% of African American women experienced contact sexual violence, 29.5% experienced non-contact unwanted sexual encounters, and 20.7% experienced rape (Basile et al., 2022). Researchers of slave scholarship have made the case for the importance of including discourse on slavery and enslaved Black females’ experiences when discussing present day sexual violence among Black women in the US today (Balfour, …

Challenging Life Events Of Undergraduate Students, Kristi Lewis, Gayle Roux, Catherine Dingley

The Qualitative Report

College students often face many difficult or stressful personal life events such as academic pressure, financial worries, family stress, or a relationship breakup. These events can impact their mental health and academic performance. Amid the growing mental health crisis on college campuses, it is important to explore the strategies that college students employ to tackle challenging life events. The purpose of this study was to (1) explore the experience of college undergraduates as they navigate challenging life events; and (2) examine strategies and resources utilized by the students. We conducted a qualitative descriptive study informed by phenomenology (Giorgi, 2009) using …

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

Staff Council Minutes

No abstract provided.

Nevada Medical Residencies, 2025, Olivia K. Cheche, Caitlin J. Saladino, William E. Brown Jr.

Health

This fact sheet highlights medical residency data for the 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 graduating classes of the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) and the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) School of Medicine. This fact sheet presents data on residency program matches at the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV and the UNR School of Medicine, shows where Nevada medical school graduates pursue their residencies, and updates findings from a 2024 fact sheet exploring 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 graduating class data.

20250821: Intramural Sports, 1930-1981, College Of Education And Professional Development

Guides to University Archives

These items include materials from the College of Education and Professional Development at Marshall University from 1930-1981. Items were received likely sometime in the 1980s and were processed in 2025 and include notable materials outlining Marshall's Intramural Sports program. During this era, Intramurals may have been taught as part of the Physical Education Program housed with College of Ed. Please download the finding aid for a full list of contents.