Digital Commons Network^™

Using The Intercultural Development Inventory To Measure Intercultural Development For A High-Impact Global Community Engagement Program, Jennifer Crystle, Megan W. Moran, Diana G. Venskus

Journal of Global Education and Research

High-impact practices (HIPs) in higher education, such as global community engagement programs, enhance student learning and lead to increased levels of civic involvement among graduates. However, it is unknown if participation in a global community engagement/service-learning program affects the development of cultural competence. The purpose of this study was to determine if student and faculty participation in a two-week community engagement/service-learning program in Guatemala would result in intercultural development measured using the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) tool. Participants were recruited from a graduate physical therapy education program in the U.S. and completed a pre- and post-trip IDI. Data analysis revealed …

Virtual Control: A Comparison Of Methods For Hand-Tracking Implementation, Nathan Roberts

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

This thesis examines the design philosophy of modern virtual reality applications that utilize hand-tracking as a primary form of user input. The analysis presented hopes to provide ideas for future implementations of this technology so that more immersive experiences are developed. This analysis starts with the discussion of a modern example of successful hand-tracking implementation, then comparing that implementation to a recent senior design project. This comparison is primarily based on each experience’s ability to create interactivity and immediacy. Interactivity is the degree to which the user can quickly and reliably make changes to their virtual environment, while immediacy is …

Nebraska Department Of Transportation Strategic Audit, Chloe Hoover

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

The Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) is a state government agency that is responsible for the planning, development, design, construction, maintenance, and administration of the state highway system. Two strategic analyses are completed about NDOT: a PESTEL analysis and Porter’s Five Forces analysis. Both of these analyses showed that since NDOT is a state agency, it impacts foundational aspects of its strategy. NDOT’s strategy is influenced by its financial strategy, policies or political influence, and public importance. NDOT competes with other companies in its workforce and employees and/or applicants leaving NDOT for other companies. This report details NDOT’s strategy, competitive …

The Statue: Representing Queerness In Myth And Fairytale Through Animation, Alana Mcanulty

Postgraduate

There is a preexisting overlap of myth and fairytale, queer representation, and animated film. Many of the earliest animated films were adaptations of fairy tales, and those adaptations often included queer-coded villains. This is usually where the combination of all three of these elements ends, often falling short of meaningful representation (Baker, 2010). Fairytale and animation are synonymous in our modern cultural understanding (Holiday and Sergeant, 2018) after all, the first full length animated feature film was an adaptation of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937). Queer representation within the fairytale and mythology genre is not a new area …

The Dark Cloud : A Creative Exploration Of Anxiety Through 3d Animation, James Applegate

Postgraduate

Fear and anxiety are mundane and innately human experiences, and ones that everyone struggles with on occasion. However, approximately a third to a quarter of all adults will suffer from clinical anxiety disorders at some point in their lives. Of these, many will go undiagnosed, and of those that do, only a fraction receive proper treatment.

An Animation Production Extension Of Spirit Spider, Jayden Abbott

Postgraduate

The Spirit Spider project comprises two components, a creative work called Spirit Spider and this accompanying exegesis. This project exemplifies a deep exploration of the animation process, emphasizing the iterative nature of creative development over the interpretation of the final product. Through each phase, from initial storyboarding to overcoming technical challenges and refining skills in Blender, the project has adhered to a methodology that prioritizes creative problem-solving and adaptability.

This exegesis has examined the careful selection of tools, such as Blender, and the integration of newly learned techniques that continuously shaped the project’s direction. By dedicating focused time to both …

Predictors Of Belongingness In First-Year College Students: Examining Mental Health And Adjustment, Jordan D. Foreman-Black

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

The initial transition to college is a pivotal moment for emerging adults, often influencing whether a student will remain successful. Students face a significant challenge adapting to the new environment that has been compounded by their experiences through the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these challenges, a sense of belonging for students has been shown to be a key aspect of a successful transition to college. Students are often confronted with increasing levels of mental health challenges throughout the transition, specifically experiencing increasing mental health difficulties or challenges throughout their initial adjustment to college. Moreover, parents have become increasingly involved in students’ …

Argument Schema Of Undergraduate Engineering Students, Anu Singh

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Critical thinking is one of the most desired skills in the workplace, as it assists an individual in solving complex problems and making informed decisions, resulting in their workplace success. Argumentation is one instructional approach that provides students an opportunity to engage in higher-order thinking and improve their communication skills. Argumentative writing provides opportunities to engage in multiple perspectives of a problem, provide evidence for the claim, evaluate evidence, engage in reasoning, and acknowledge self-bias, which automatically engages students in critical thinking. Previous literature has shown that despite the use of interventions and scaffolding approaches, students' argumentative texts lack elements …

Help-Seeking For College Algebra Students' Success: A Phenomenological Mixed Methods Study, Colby Lamb

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Because the failure rate for college algebra is large and sometimes up to 50%, college algebra serves as a gatekeeper to STEM fields and degree completion. Therefore, it is critical to examine students who are at risk of dropping, withdrawing, and failing college algebra help-seeking behavior. The purpose of this mixed methods study was to focus on students’ perceptions of in-classroom and out-of-classroom activities and systems in a college algebra course designed based on principles of active learning and how those activities and systems are affordances or barriers to help-seeking. The research questions to be addressed were:

Central Research Question: …

Understanding Support For Former Foster Youth: Independent Living Coordinators Perspectives On Resiliency For Foster Youth In Higher Education, Aaron Abbott

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines the resilience of former foster youth in higher education, focusing on the perspectives of Independent Living Coordinators (ILCs) in Arkansas. The study explores the support systems and challenges that foster youth encounter, assessing factors that contribute to or hinder their educational success. Using a qualitative methodology with semi-structured interviews, it identifies key protective factors such as emotional support, stable mentorship, and institutional programs that promote resilience among foster youth. The findings suggest that tailored interventions and a strengths-based approach can significantly improve outcomes for this vulnerable student population. This research contributes to existing literature by offering insights …

December 2024 Bulldog Alumni & Friends News, Kari Jones, Garrett King

Bulldog Alumni & Friends News

December 13

Fall Commencement

January 16

SWOSU Near You - Music Mixer: Tulsa, OK

February 13-14

55th Annual SWOSU Jazz Festival

March 9-15

SWOSU Giving Week

April 4

North Family Lecture & Friends of Crowder Lake Dinner

April 10-12

52nd Annual SWOSU Rodeo

April 28

Everett Dobson Bulldog Golf Classic

May 9

SWOSU Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony & Dinner

May 10

SWOSU Spring Commencement

Students' Perspectives On Co-Creation Opportunities Within Bachelor's, Master's, And Doctoral Level Education Preparation Programs, Oana M. Manta

Dissertations

This study examines Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral students’ experiences with co-creation activities in education programs. Responding to voiced student concerns, it seeks to uncover ways in which students wish to share ownership of the learning process. Additionally, this study aims to contribute students’ thoughts to the existing co-creation literature. Incorporating evidence from a survey and multiple participant interviews, this study demonstrates that students across all three levels of study wish to experience an increase in co-creation activities, but the type and extent vary by level of study. It argues for instructors and overseeing institutions to negotiate, not prescribe, certain aspects …

Assessing Divergence And Convergence In The Design Process: Results From Two Experiments, Arlindo Silva, Tamas Makany, Matt Chiu

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

It is often assumed that the design process comprises divergent and convergent thinking cycles. Although many authors studied the design process in depth, a quantification of divergence and convergence is yet to be established. This paper attempts to quantify divergence and convergence in the design process for teams of design students. Student submissions from two independent design-related courses from two Universities are analysed for divergent and convergent thinking. Such an approach uses Natural Language Processing to harvest existing student submissions in written documents and converts them into a 'real-time' dashboard for feedback that can be used in multiple ways: searching …

Nonacademic Factors That Effect Early College High School Student's Resilency, Amy Draper

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative descriptive study was an exploration of how counselors in early college high

schools (ECHSs), administrators in ECHSs, and the technical coaches who support the ECHS

model contribute to students’ resilience toward academic recovery. Using semistructured

interviews and survey questions, a sample of 15 counselors, administrators, and technical

coaches shared factors that impact ECHS recruiting practices, attrition rates, and the educational

success of individual ECHS students. Three themes were extracted from a sample of educators’

descriptions regarding their perception of the ECHS environment and the benefits and challenges

they experienced while working with ECHS students. They included the combined …

Responsible But Powerless: Staff Qualitative Perspectives On Cheating In Higher Education, Rowena Harper, Felicity Prentice

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Teaching staff play a pivotal role in the prevention, detection and management of cheating in higher education. They enact curriculum and assessment design strategies, identify and substantiate suspected cases, and are positioned by many as being on the ‘front line’ of a battle that threatens to undermine the integrity of higher education. Against this backdrop, the experiences of teaching staff with contract cheating were investigated by a large-scale Australian survey across eight universities. This paper reports on the qualitative findings from the survey’s only open-text question: “Is there anything else you would like to tell us?”. Of the 1,147 survey …

Reframe, Rest And Restart: Understanding Holiday Grief And Coping Mechanisms, Staff

Browse All News

No abstract provided.

Study Abroad Angst: A Literature Review On The Mental Health Of International Students During Covid-19, Daisuke Akiba, Michael Perrone, Caterina Almendral

Publications and Research

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic presented unique and unprecedented challenges for international students, those studying at institutions of higher education outside of their home countries, due to their distinct circumstances and vulnerabilities. This literature review examines the multifaceted mental health burdens they experienced and highlights the need for targeted support and interventions. Methods: A rigorous search across three databases (i.e., PubMed, PsycINFO, and ERIC) yielded 50 empirical studies for inclusion in this literature review. A six-phase thematic analysis framework was employed to identify and synthesize key themes. Results: Seven prominent themes emerged: (1) academic and professional disruptions; (2) challenges navigating international …

Breaking Down Barriers To Opioid Use Treatment: The Beacon Act Clinic At Uab, Staff

Browse All News

No abstract provided.

Trials And Tribulations Of Cell Therapy For Heart Failure, An Update On Ongoing Trials, Staff

Browse All News

No abstract provided.

Treat Yourself! How To Maintain Healthy Eating While Enjoying Sweets This Holiday Season, Staff

Browse All News

No abstract provided.

November 26, 2024 Ereporter, University Of Alabama At Birmingham

eReporter (campus newsletter)

No abstract provided.

Colonising Creatitvity_Combined Final Script 2024_Published, Strutts Psyridis Med, James Thompson Phd

Staff Scholarship - Australia & Dubai

This paper examines the evolving landscape of contemporary screen education, with a focus on the impact of progressive, constructivist and vocational pedagogies, arguing that their convergence with digital surveillance and AI risks undermining student agency and creative ownership. The authors draw on philosophical and educational perspectives to contrast and critique artistic, scientific, and vocational models of creativity and highlight the twenty-first century shift to technocratic imperatives within these pedagogies. The paper contends that techno-centric, market-driven learning environments may counter stated student-centred aims, and colonise students’ creative consciousness. The authors conclude by advocating for renewed emphasis on embodied, experiential practice in …

A Thanksgiving Without Family: A Covid-19 Employer Dilemma Case, Michael Dobbs

Journal of the North American Management Society

Based on an actual organization in the Midwest, this case describes the Director of an alcohol and drug rehabilitation center located in the Midwest and her adoption of policies to address the threat of Covid-19 to employees, clients, and the community. Names have been changed, but the facts of the case are based on employee descriptions of the organization, its director, and its new policies. The case presents students with an opportunity to wrestle with real-world situations that they themselves have faced and with which they are familiar. In this paper, I present the case itself, the worksheet assignment for …

Social Capital, Post-Industrial Society, And Faulty Industry Experience: Higher Education’S Engagement Opportunity In Applied Disciplines, Asa B. Wilson, Steven A. Stovall, Edward Crowley

Journal of the North American Management Society

Higher education faces two currents - declining social capital support and the post-industrial transition. Both impact the academy and its students. The associated challenges are discussed as engagement opportunities for the academy in applied disciplines. Also, the instructional value of faculty industry experience (IE) is defined as an attribute of social capital. It fosters student engagement while building an experiential learning bridge from the classroom to the workplace. A composite case based on faculty social capital backgrounds illustrates how faculty IE augments program development, academic rigor, student readiness, research creativity, industry linkages, and community impact. Follow-up research opportunities are identified.

Building A Better Future For Christian Higher Education, Maria Ll Lam

Journal of the North American Management Society

This paper is an exploratory study concerning the perceptions of 16 diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) officers at nine Protestant evangelical Christian universities and six Catholic universities. Among these 16 DEI officers, 15 are people of color. 13 possess Ph.D. degrees and hold the highest administrative positions at their institutions. They are often required to address justice issues in their diversity initiatives if they don’t want to reproduce systematic institutional injustices in historically white-dominated Christian universities. They are working across multiple boundaries (i.e., boundary spanners) for institutional-level diversity changes. They all voice motivations to make institutional changes and 11 DEI …

Journal Management, Administration, And Promotion: The Power And Impact Of The Jnams Relaunch, Michael Dobbs, Heather S. Mcmillan

Journal of the North American Management Society

No abstract provided.

Through Their Eyes, Austin Dixon, Ty-Ie Fuller

Journal of Access, Retention, and Inclusion in Higher Education

This qualitative case study explored the perceptions of success and experiences of nine minority male participants in a men-of-color-themed first-year learning community (MCLC) at a Hispanic-Serving Institution. Focus groups and individual interviews revealed four major themes: the importance of strong instructor relationships, the subjective nature of success, the value of affinity spaces, and the positive impact of the learning community on development and motivation. Participants emphasized the role of instructor rapport, defined success through the lens of personal empowerment, and highlighted the significance of culturally relevant peer connections. The findings indicate that MCLCs can foster a sense of community, identity …

Counseling Center Collaboration To Bridge The Gap For College Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Stephanie Sibley Psy.D., Kristen Mehr Ph.D.

Journal of Access, Retention, and Inclusion in Higher Education

As more individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) enter college, increased efforts should be made by university counseling centers to provide support and help ensure the success of these students. This article reviews the unique needs of college students with ASD and highlights the benefits of proactive, collaborative, and individualized mental health support. An existing outreach relationship between a university counseling center and that university’s Autism support program is described, and recommendations for how other counseling centers can develop similar programming are discussed. It is believed that efforts to effectively address the mental health needs of college students with ASD …

Covid-19 Impacts On College Students’ Basic Needs Insecurity, Megan K. Schraedley Ph.D., Ashlie B. Delshad Ph.D.

Journal of Access, Retention, and Inclusion in Higher Education

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, data clearly documented that college students experience a higher rate of basic needs insecurity, including food insecurity, than the general US population. COVID-19 both expanded the rate of basic needs insecurity and decreased the range of resources students had access to. In this study, we examined the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on college student basic needs insecurity through a qualitative photovoice study. Our research draws upon Yosso’s Community Cultural Wealth model and the concepts of navigational and social capital specifically. The findings indicate that students experienced heightened levels of basic needs insecurity during the …

Collaborative Development Of Machine Learning Algorithms For Student Success At John Jay College, John Harnisher, Sumaya Villanueva, Dana Prieto, Ricardo Anzaldua, Katie Beem

Journal of Access, Retention, and Inclusion in Higher Education

Improving graduation rates is a crucial goal in higher education, but understanding who is at risk of dropping out is resource intensive, creating barriers to effective retention interventions. Thus, identifying factors that predict drop out risk is increasingly of interest, yet current approaches often lack transparency and accessibility. To aid in this effort, DataKind collaborated with John Jay College of Criminal Justice (JJC) to co-create a data-assisted student success tool, utilizing machine learning to identify students at risk of drop out and centering the role of advisors in supporting students. The insights from this tool are used by JJC to …