Digital Commons Network^™

Preparing For Life After College: The Career Skills Learned By Resident Assistant Alumni, Kala Cousineau

Masters Theses

According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), there is a high value placed on college graduates who acquire skills that can be utilized to attain their professional goals (2015). On college campuses, the resident assistant (RA) role is one of the many opportunities the residence life department has that can help develop students and their career readiness (Peck, 2017). There is a lack of research looking at what transferable skills students in the resident assistant position acquire and then use in their careers post-graduation. This qualitative study utilized semi-structured interviews to explore what skills former RAs learned …

Speaking To Power: An Exploration Of College Students’ Experiences With Student Lobbying, Catie Witt

Masters Theses

The United States is currently experiencing an increase in student activism compared to recent years (Jason, 2018). While research on student activism is vast, there is little research that has examined student activism through student-run lobby groups. Research seems to be non-existent when it comes to exploring the experiences of students involved in student lobbying as a form of activism. Studies also often focus on the outcomes of student activism, rather than the student activists themselves. This qualitative study utilized semi-structured interviews to explore the experiences of students who had been involved in a student-run lobby group at a rural …

Examining The Relationship Between Acculturative Stress And Religion/Spirituality Among International Students, Ly'jerrick Ward

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between acculturative stress and religion/spirituality of international students. This study utilized Sandhu and Asrabadi’s (1994) Acculturative Stress Scale for International Students (ASSIS) as well as the Santa Clara Strength of Religious Faith Questionnaire (SCSORF) created by Plante and Boccaccini (1997). Much research exists on how international students adapt and acculturate to a host country. This research will add to the body of literature that exists regarding how international students use their religion/spirituality to deal with acculturative stress. Students in this study were asked a number of questions from the ASSIS …

Immediate Response Of Black Basses To Dam Removal Is Determined By Habitat Preference, Reuben Frey

Masters Theses

Dams affect the abundance of fish species in lotic systems by altering flow regime and available physical habitat. Removal of dams may mitigate these effects and generate a change in species abundance and fish community structure. Understanding the effects of dam removal on gamefish species is essential in making management decisions. I investigated how populations of Smallmouth Bass (Micropterus dolomieu), Spotted Bass (M. punctulatus), and Largemouth Bass (M. salmoides) were affected by the presence and removal of two low-head dams in a Midwestern river system. I used data collected during fall and spring from …

An Exploration Of The Perception Of Faith Development At A Midwestern Public Institution, Zachary Sandoval

Masters Theses

Despite research indicating benefits to religious or faith involvement, there is an increase in individuals that claim to have no religious affiliation. Additionally, most research that has investigated faith development of college students has been conducted at private religious institutions. This qualitative study utilized semi-structured interviews to examine students’ perceptions of various interactions on their faith development at a public, rural Midwestern institution. Moreover, this study investigated how the institution of interest can better support spirituality on campus and the role student affairs can have on spiritual development. Thematic material was developed through Parks’s (2000) theory of faith development. Results …

Development Of Fluorescence Microscopy Approaches To Study Subcellular Protein Transport And Enzymatic Activity, Anchal Singh

Masters Theses

Understanding the subcellular localization of proteins and their activity is important in understanding their normal function in eukaryotic cells. Fluorescence cellular imaging techniques can selectively and sensitively visualize subcellular biochemistry. Using this approach, two different methods were employed in this thesis. The first focused on studying protein import into peroxisome and the other on monitoring the activity of an endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-localized enzyme, human carboxylesterase 1 (CES1).

Peroxisomes are mainly known as the center for long chain fatty acid b-oxidation as well as the production and detoxification of hydrogen peroxide. Proteins which are needed in the peroxisomes are encoded in …

Relationships Between Parent-Child Interactions And Sexual Attitudes, Behaviors And Online Activity In Young Adulthood, Emily Donar

Masters Theses

The current study examined correlations between parent-child relationships and its relationship with the sexual attitudes and behaviors of young adults. Participants were asked to report on their perception of communication and quality relations with their parents. The findings indicate there was a relationship between the perception of high-quality parent-child relationships, likelihood of having extensive sexual experience, tendency to hold specific sexual attitudes and the frequency of online sexual behaviors. Explanations regarding the discrepancy between previous findings and the current study were discussed, including the sexual fluency of those with conservative attitudes. The consideration of gaps in literature incorporating online sexual …

Metal Complexes Of Bis(Pyrazolyl)Methane-Based Ditopic Ligands, Pubudu Nuwan Perera Hapuarachchige

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Xylan-Derived Carbon Nutrient Acquisition By Caulobacter Crescentus, Rhoda Ekuama Inkoom

Masters Theses

Bacterial decomposition of xylan and uptake of xylan-derived carbon compounds require a combination of enzymes, proteins, and complex molecular mechanisms. Bacteria have evolved molecular mechanisms for its utilization depending on its environment and source of xylan. Caulobacter crescentus, a Gram-negative bacterium which lives in an aquatic oligotrophic environment, exhibits asymmetric division which is an adaptive feature for its nutrient poor habitat. Although aromatic hydrocarbon and cellulose-derived mono-, di- and oligosaccharide utilization has been reported in literature, its xylan-derived carbon compound utilization is yet to be characterized. In this study, C. crescentus utilizes xylan-derived monomers arabinose, xylose and acetate as …

Chemical Diversity And Antimicrobial Properties Of Spike-Rush Species And Related Genera (Genus Eleocharis, Family Cyperaceae), Yiru Zhang

Masters Theses

The focus of this research was to explore the chemical diversity and antimicrobial properties of Eleocharis dulcis. By using methanol as a solvent to extract phytochemicals, qualitative comparisons were made between HPLC chromatograms from Eleocharis species and other genera. Meanwhile, this study also examined the antimicrobial properties of phytochemicals extracted from various tissues of Eleocharis dulcis in two different solvents (water or methanol) against two Gram-negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli) and two Gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus) using a disc diffusion assay. The results suggested that the extracts had limited antimicrobial properties at up to 100 …

Daily Eastern News: December 10, 2020, Eastern Illinois University

December

No abstract provided.

Daily Eastern News: November 19, 2020, Eastern Illinois University

November

No abstract provided.

Daily Eastern News: November 18, 2020, Eastern Illinois University

November

No abstract provided.

Daily Eastern News: November 16, 2020, Eastern Illinois University

November

No abstract provided.

November 12, 2020, Caa

Minutes

No abstract provided.

Daily Eastern News: November 11, 2020, Eastern Illinois University

November

No abstract provided.

Daily Eastern News: October 30, 2020, Eastern Illinois University

October

No abstract provided.

Daily Eastern News: October 30, 2020, Eastern Illinois University

October

No abstract provided.

Daily Eastern News: October 27, 2020, Eastern Illinois University

October

No abstract provided.

Daily Eastern News: October 27, 2020, Eastern Illinois University

October

No abstract provided.

Daily Eastern News: October 23, 2020, Eastern Illinois University

October

No abstract provided.

Daily Eastern News: October 23, 2020, Eastern Illinois University

October

No abstract provided.

Daily Eastern News: October 20, 2020, Eastern Illinois University

October

No abstract provided.

Daily Eastern News: October 20, 2020, Eastern Illinois University

October

No abstract provided.

Built-In @ Booth: Dei As A Library Priority, Kirstin Duffin, Stacey Knight-Davis, Beth Heldebrandt, Zach Newell

Together We RISE (Making Excellence Inclusive)

Booth Library has been working as a cross-disciplinary partner to facilitate critical conversations and has been acting as an ally in advancing diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Booth has also prioritized its work with DEI by recently completing a strategic plan. One of the main goals of the strategic plan is to build in and sustain DEI initiatives as part of a holistic effort to ally Booth with campus and community partners in advancing this goal. The presenters will discuss how Booth has been positioned as a model and hub for promoting DEI on campus. Among the initiatives to be …

Level Up On Diversity, Inclusion And Equity, Jack Blahnik

Together We RISE (Making Excellence Inclusive)

This presentation will detail practices and procedures faculty and staff can take in a virtual environment to be more equitable, inclusive and diverse minded. Now more than ever, it is integral to not only advocate for our underserved student populations, but actively support and engage these students in practices that equitable and inclusive for all. Now more than ever, it is vital that institutions across the US recognize the injustices that often plaque our communities of color and underserved populations; thus, it is critical that faculty and staff make a conscious and intentional effort to do better. As the people …

Incorporating Brain-Based Learning Into Virtual Career Support And Delivery, Angela Evans, Hannah Nicolaisen, Mildred Wallace

Together We RISE (Making Excellence Inclusive)

Career development is a life-long, continuous process with many complex factors and interplay. This is also reflected in what makes up the learner of today and the demands of the current pandemic on flexible learning styles and modes of delivery to prepare for success. An eclectic toolbox is needed to meet and adapt to one’s unique strengths, needs, abilities, and preferences via different modes of communication. A purposeful and enhanced focus on experiential learning strategies may be achieved by using pseudo-flipped career training and brain-based learning. Some tenets include emotional intelligence, cognitive behavior therapy, and stages of readiness which may …

The Nexstem Program: A Community Assets Program That Fosters The Next Generation Of Stem Leaders, Maggie Evans, Sheri L. Glowinski, Pennie Gray, Rebecca Roesner

Together We RISE (Making Excellence Inclusive)

Underrepresentation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields by individuals with low socioeconomic status (SES) is a long-standing concern. Funded in late 2018, the NexSTEM Program (the “Program”) is a National Science Foundation multi-institution consortia S-STEM grant-funded program at Illinois Wesleyan University (IWU), Illinois State University (ISU), and Heartland Community College (HCC) with the goal of reducing barriers for low SES students from Central Illinois enrolling in and completing STEM degree programs at the three institutions and identifying effective, and sustainable, programmatic components. To help address barriers, the Program awards 2- and 4-year scholarships to academically successful students with …

Assessing Motivation And Utilizing Motivational Interviewing In Introductory College Biology For Improved Student Success, William Martin

Together We RISE (Making Excellence Inclusive)

Student motivation, metacognition and engagement are strong predictors of academic success in the undergraduate biology classroom. Implementation of diverse active learning strategies results in increased student engagement and improved student performance. Instructors direct students on behaviors aimed to promote self-reflection and self-efficacy towards academic success yet see varying follow-through from students. This research study assesses motivation in students in two separate but parallel, introductory biology courses required for majors. Students in one course, with traditionally high attrition and serving students from diverse majors, will be compared to a second with low historical attrition and serving a single pre-professional program at …

Daily Eastern News: October 09, 2020, Eastern Illinois University

October

No abstract provided.