Digital Commons Network^™

Decreasing The Reading Gap In Upper Elementary, Carly L. Johnson

Masters Projects

Students are entering 4th grade well below grade level in reading, and the reading achievement gap continues to grow every year. When students are below grade level it can lead to other subject areas being more difficult on the student. The main factors of students struggling to read are low motivation to read and the lack of phonemic awareness. This project provides research explaining why students are below grade level and the best ways to address these problems. Teachers have the ability to aid students in reaching grade level when it comes to reading. Next, the project addresses strategies and …

Fighting For The Right To Learn: Exploring The Impact Of Discipline Policies On Black Female Students, Amyre E. Smith

Masters Projects

This study investigates the systemic biases and stereotypes that disproportionately affect Black female students in K-12 educational settings. The research aims to analyze how implicit biases and societal norms contribute to the unfair policing and mistreatment of Black girls in schools. Utilizing a combination of literature review, case studies, and interviews, the study explores the intersectionality of race and gender and its impact on disciplinary actions. Findings reveal that Black girls are often disciplined for subjective offenses, such as defiance and disrespect, rooted in implicit biases held by school personnel. The study also evaluates the effectiveness of restorative practices and …

Racial Disproportionality In Exclusionary Discipline Rates In The United States, Cara Crisostomo

Masters Projects

Racial disparity in exclusionary discipline rates in K-12 schools in the United States is a problem that was first written about in the 1970s. Unfortunately, it remains a problem nearly fifty years later and one that has not been addressed by school districts and schools. Schools have implemented programs such as restorative justice to address this disparity, but research shows that these programs center Whiteness. Disparity either does not improve with these programs or even increases. School staff’s cross-cultural differences from their students and staff’s implicit bias and subjectivity in the discipline process contribute to the disparity. Therefore, it is …

The Link Between Classroom Diversity And Academic Advancements, Mary Kuik

Masters Projects

Racially diverse classrooms are not being taught in racially diverse ways, adding to an ever-growing academic gap for students of color. Various studies have pointed to several root causes to this issue, including a lack of representation, bias, inequitable discipline, poor curriculum, and socioeconomic disparity. Due to these causes, students of color are projected to be less successful in state testing and school overall, less likely to obtain a higher education, more likely to be disciplined, more likely to feel a detachment to historical content in the classroom, and more likely to feel a social disconnect from their peers. All …

The Pervasiveness Of Censorship In American Prison Libraries, Brennen D. Stevens

Library Scholars Manuscripts

In the United States, prison libraries serve a vital role in the rehabilitation of prisoners. Despite this, there are ongoing measures to withhold entire genres of literature from the hands of prisoners, restricting the abilities of prison libraries to provide educational lessons using sensitive topics. These book bans can occur between the local to state levels and are difficult for prisoners to appeal. The issues that this can cause are often out of view of the public, and can only be addressed by encouraging public engagement for change. This editorial attempts to engage with a general audience by providing an …

Donor-Advised Funds And Impact Investing: A Practitioner’S View – With 2024 Prologue, Sam Marks

The Foundation Review

Editor’s Note: This article, first published in print and online in 2022, has been republished by The Foundation Review with minor updates.

Any discussion of foundations embracing impact investing must include some discussion of one of the largest — and growing — sources of philanthropic capital: donor-advised funds. These philanthropic accounts allow donors of all sizes to access many of the functions of a private foundation, including the potential to invest for impact. Sponsors of these funds, however, face unique challenges in catalyzing impact investments.

Like the larger institutional foundations that have led the way as mission investors, sponsors must …

Lost Causal: Debunking Myths About Causal Analysis In Philanthropy – With 2024 Prologue, Jewlya Lynn, Sarah Stachowiak, Julia Coffman

The Foundation Review

Editor’s Note: This article, first published in print and online in 2022, has been republished by The Foundation Review with minor updates.

What if philanthropic evaluations told us that changes in the world had occurred, as well as how and why they occurred, including whether what foundations funded and grantees did contributed to those changes? What if evaluations made change pathways more visible, tested hypotheses and assumptions, and generated new insights based on what happened in the “black box” of systems change strategies? This type of learning comes from causal analysis — inquiry that explores cause-and-effect relationships.

Yet currently in …

Systems Thinking For Social Change: A Practical Guide To Solving Complex Problems, Avoiding Unintended Consequences, And Achieving Lasting Results, Hilda Vega

The Foundation Review

Editor’s Note: This article, first published in print and online in 2015, has been republished by The Foundation Review with minor updates.

The Impact Of True Crime Podcasts On Unsolved Homicide Cases: The Evolution Of True Crime Media, Narelle Hickmon

Masters Theses

True crime podcasts have risen in popularity following the release of Serial in 2014. Contrastingly, homicide case clearance rates have been declining since the 1990s. Many true crime podcasts detail both solved and unsolved cases, thus, podcasts may serve as useful tool for law enforcement. The current study aimed to identify victim and suspect demographics, as well as crime related themes within true crime podcast Crime Junkie. A content analysis of Crime Junkie homicide episode themes revealed white women were the primary victims covered in the episodes, males were the majority of the suspects and offenders, and firearms were the …

Study Of The Lack Of Student Ability To Repair Relationships Among School Peers, Brittany M. Parker

Masters Projects

Social-emotional skills and student relationships have been researched for years, yet there are still school systems who seek to punish students when they have conflict instead of teaching them the way to manage their emotions. To learn in school is to be social, there cannot be one without the other. In order for students to do their best learning, it is important for them to be able to handle conflict in a healthy way and repair peer relationships. This project examines the benefits of teaching social-emotional skills, in addition to implementing a peer mentoring program in an effort to equip …

Lanthorn, Vol. 58, No. 13, February 26, 2024, Grand Valley State University

Volume 58, August 7, 2023 - April 15, 2024

Lanthorn is Grand Valley State's student newspaper, published from 1968 to the present.

11 Trends In Philanthropy For 2024, Dorothy A. Johnson Center For Philanthropy At Grand Valley State University

Research, Reports, and Publications

When we think of “trends” in our everyday lives, we typically think of concrete things we can see, hear, or even eat. Popular songs, or brand names — the ubiquitous appetizer, the meme we can’t escape.

Over eight years of producing 11 Trends in Philanthropy, the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy has most often taken this approach to our annual review of the sector, as well. Our team has combed the landscape of nonprofits and foundations for the most visible signs of a trend — the increased grant dollars, the emerging networks, familiar voices speaking up.

This year’s trends …

With Thousands Of Incarcerated Students Enrolled In Higher Education, How Do We Measure Success?, Emily Doebler, Aaron Yore-Vanoosterhout

Research, Reports, and Publications

No abstract provided.

Gvsu Undergraduate And Graduate Catalog, 2024-2025, Grand Valley State University

Course Catalogs, 1963 - Current

Grand Valley State University 2024-2025 undergraduate and graduate course catalog. Course catalogs are published annually to provide students with information and guidance for enrollment.

An Analysis Of The Efficacy Of Disciplinary Methods, William Hewitt

Masters Projects

The practice of punitive discipline is the most common response to misbehavior in American school systems, despite having no evidence to support its continued use. However, there is research that demonstrates its active harm to students in multiple capacities. Punitive discipline has been found to only exacerbate students’ behavior issues, as well as negatively impact their academic performance. Additionally, research has pointed out that punitive discipline impacts students of minority demographics at a significantly higher rate than students belonging to majority demographics. More research in the way of alternative restorative policies, such as Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS), is …

A Framework For Creating Systems Change, William Brown, Wynn Rosser

The Foundation Review

This article draws on a system-change framework developed by the Nicholson Foundation as part of a 20-year initiative to substantively change the state of New Jersey’s health and social welfare systems, and modifies and expands a single case study on system change to align with related ideas and concepts. A results-based accountability approach is integrated into the model to draw attention to the importance of monitoring and evaluation of population-based outcomes.

Drawing on extensive literature from systems change and performance management, the discussion provides insight and perspective on contemporary frameworks in systems change and the role of grantmaking foundations. The …

Police And Cross-Cultural Psychology: The Impact Of Human Values On Violence, Claudio V. Torres, Sharon Glazer

Online Readings in Psychology and Culture

Researchers of police psychology must be well-acquainted with police work and culture both nationally and organizationally. However, most studies developed in police psychology do not fully account for the national context within which a study was done. In this article review, we discuss two social phenomena commonly studied by police psychologists: aggression and violence. Taking primarily a cross-national approach, we focus on the predictive role of individual values on aggression and violence. Schwartz’s (1992) values theory, at the individual level of analysis, was chosen due to its importance to cross-cultural psychology, as well as its implications on well-being (e.g., Sagiv …

Building Stronger Student-Teacher Relationships With Students Of Color, Diana Berlanga

Masters Projects

This project examines the racial disparity that exists among students of color and positive teacher-student relationships. Research shows that teacher bias influences teachers' perception of students of color. Teacher social identities play a role in how teachers build student-teacher relationships, which affects some students of color experience in school. For instance, students of color are less likely to experience academic recommendations and more likely to receive harsh discipline. However, research shows that teachers can improve their teacher bias by self-discovering their teacher’s social identity in the classroom. In addition, teachers could improve their interactions with students of color by exploring …

Lanthorn, Vol. 58, No. 08, November 27, 2023, Grand Valley State University

Volume 58, August 7, 2023 - April 15, 2024

Lanthorn is Grand Valley State's student newspaper, published from 1968 to the present.

Sexual Minority Students' Negative Experiences In High School, Abena Pinamang

Masters Theses

Schools are supposed to be a safe space for learning and development for all students regardless of race or gender however, many sexual minority students experience extreme forms of victimization in school which results in poor academic performance, suicidal ideation, illegal drug use, alcohol use and weapon carrying on school property. The current study aimed to identify the school experiences of lesbian, gay and bisexual high school students and to determine whether they have the same school experiences as their heterosexual peers. Secondary data obtained from the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System was used for analysis. The results of …

Enhancing Long-Term Outcomes: Implementing Community Engaged Research To Augment Substance Use Disorder Treatment, Kevin M. Quinn

Masters Theses

The Universal Evaluation Tool is an intuitive self-assessment instrument to enhance long-term treatment outcomes for Guiding Light’s residential addiction rehabilitation program. Designed as a versatile method for collecting primary data, the Universal Evaluation Tool can be administered to clients at any point during the recovery program (i.e., intake to discharge). The data collected from the survey can be used as a framework to guide treatment decisions, develop personalized care plans, offer insight into a client’s progress, and collect baseline data (e.g., sociodemographic characteristics) on a treatment population for use in grant applications.

A pilot study to generate preliminary data was …

Building Climate And Culture With Stakeholders Through Restorative Discipline Practices, Venessa A. Bulk

Masters Projects

Exclusionary discipline has become a punitive-based response to frequent negative student behaviors. Exclusionary discipline is linked to lower academic achievement and lower personal achievement of students compared to those of their counterparts who are not experiencing exclusionary discipline (Gerlinger et al., 2021; Skiba et al. 2014) Integrating restorative practices into the school setting will work to decrease the amount of student delinquencies and increase student academic performance, social-emotional intelligence, and positive student engagement between peers and staff members. Key components for this program will be a professional development program for all school personnel as well as integration of preventative and …

Tfr 15.2 Full Issue

The Foundation Review

No abstract provided.

Systems-Change Philanthropy: It’S Essential, And It’S Our Responsibility, Emily Bhandari, Alison Mohr Boleware, Octavio N. Martinez Jr.

The Foundation Review

The Hogg Foundation for Mental Health’s mission is to transform how communities promote mental health in everyday life. Policy engagement — fundamental to improving the social and structural determinants of mental health — has always been a strategic priority for the foundation, which has become a trusted resource for mental health and substance use policy issues in Texas. Yet, the state’s mental health and substance use policy community is limited in size, capacity, and training.

To address that reality, the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health Policy Academy and Policy Fellow Initiative was launched to invest in a mental health policy …

Reducing Medical Errors For Patients With Substance Use Disorders With A Medical Information Card, Michael V. Hughes

Doctoral Dissertations & Projects

Background

Approximately 98,000 Americans perish annually due to medical errors and adverse events associated with the limited access to or incomplete pertinent patient health information (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2022; Obrien et al., 2021). Pertinent patient health information includes patients’ allergies, current medications, current medical diagnosis, blood type, insurance, and emergency contact. The purpose of this project was to examine the efficacy in using File of Life cards in reducing medical errors among patients with substance use disorders (SUDs), and the perception of patients and healthcare providers ease of use, satisfaction of using the File of Life …

Overrepresentation Of African American Children In Child Welfare, Mareeta M. Bracken

Masters Projects

African American children continue to be overrepresented in the child welfare system. This study will show how existing research illustrates how the systems are used to put many Black families and youth into the sights of the school-to-prison pipeline via this intervention. This specific issue is rooted in systemic and historical racism. The literature has revealed this and continues to show how teachers as mandated reporters play a role in shaping the outcome through how they perceive Black children to be subjected to abuse or neglect. The child welfare system is one of many institutional frameworks that has been shaped …

Lanthorn, Vol. 57, No. 28, April 10, 2023, Grand Valley State University

Volume 57, August 1, 2022 - April 10, 2023

Lanthorn is Grand Valley State's student newspaper, published from 1968 to the present.

Evidence Based Practices To Support Inclusion Of Students With Emotional Impairments, Christine Blomberg

Masters Projects

Students with emotional impairments (EI) often experience poor academic outcomes due to their impeding social, emotional, and behavioral needs and a significant achievement gap exists between students with emotional impairments and their non-disabled peers across all academic content areas (Popham et al., 2018). Overall, the research indicates that students with emotional impairments benefit from evidence-based practices in the general education setting such as positive behavior support plans, positive reinforcement, self-monitoring strategies, and peer mentors. A guide for the implementation of evidence-based practices and accommodations to support students with emotional impairments to engage with peers and in the general education curriculum …

Defining And Increasing Student Engagement Using Flexible Seating In Elementary Classrooms, Jacklyn Phillips

Masters Projects

Education has mostly stayed the same since the 19th century, yet students and teachers have changed. Teachers once defined student engagement as the time students spent working on the task assigned. However, today there are many definitions for student engagement; which is correct? Researchers have defined student engagement as anything from "time on task" to seven different levels of engagement (Merwin, 1969, as cited in Trowler, 2010, p. 34; Schlechty, 2011). There is no one standard definition for student engagement. The concern is how educators increase engagement. This project suggests that educators move out of the 19th-century classroom setting and …

Grand Valley Magazine, Vol. 22, No 3, Spring 2023, Grand Valley State University

Grand Valley Magazine

Grand Valley Magazine is a quarterly publication about Grand Valley State University produced by University Communications since 2001.