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University Of Northern Iowa Faculty Senate Meeting Agenda, April 27, 2026, University Of Northern Iowa. Faculty Senate.

Documents - Faculty Senate

Meeting agenda from the Faculty Senate of the University of Northern Iowa.

Ai In Insurance Industry: Using Machine Learning To Improve Insurance Risk Predictions, Simbarashe Ngonyamo

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

• Insurance companies rely heavily on accurate risk prediction to identify potential customers, make marketing easier, and reducing the chances of loosing money.
• Traditionally, actuarial models such as logistic and Probit regression have been widely used because they are interpretable and statistically solid.
• However because of the rapid growth of data, insurance companies have started to shift from these traditional methods to machine learning techniques that can capture more complex and nonlinear relationships which traditional models may miss
• Therefore, this study investigates whether modern machine learning techniques—specifically Random Forest and XGBoost—can outperform traditional actuarial models in predicting customer interest in vehicle …

Aging Across Cultures: How Cultural Attitudes Shape Senior Care In Japan And The United States, Ella Gunn, Melinda Heinz

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

This study examines how cultural perceptions of aging influence the structure and delivery of care for older adults in Japan and the United States. By comparing cultural attitudes, this study identifies implications for senior care in each country. While cross-cultural studies comparing senior care systems exist, many lack the cultural context that shapes expectations about aging and care. This work focuses on this distinction. Results revealed 2 major themes: (1) Perception of burden with a subtheme of fear of burdening others, and (2) Perception of successful aging with a subtheme of aging as contentment vs. engagement. U.S. participants reflected an …

Teachers’ Perspectives On And Experiences With Using Ai In Education: A Comparative Study Between China And The Us, Dona Dinithi Ferdinando, Timea Chen, Yunhan Hwang, Leah Stoeger, Min A. Lee, Xumei Fan

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

This study examined how teachers in China and the United States perceive using AI in education, their experiences with using AI in teaching and facilitating student learning, and factors associated with AI use. Analysis of data from TALIS 2024 revealed that Chinese teachers reported more positive views of AI benefits, and American teachers had more concerns about using AI. A major reason for all teachers’ not using AI is due to their lack of knowledge and skills to teach using artificial intelligence. Teachers with a more positive view of AI benefits were more likely to report using AI in their …

Tradition, Transition, & Identity: Models Of Masculinity In Marvel Superhero Films, Mikey Brown

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

• Media & Film
  • Shapes cultural values, social expectations and ideas about identity
• Marvel Cinematic Universe
  • One of the most influential forces in todays pop culture (Johnson 2012)
• Masculinity & Adolescence
  • Adolescence use media to understand identity & social expectations

Missing Children: The Underrepresentation Of Youth In Mental Health Data, Sammie Mcdonald

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

While research continues to grow, it is apparent that there are still gaps in knowledge. This research was inspired by my ongoing internship at Allen Child Protection Center, where I have seen children left behind for not recognizing an outdated radio during cognitive testing, as well as my experience as a fraternal twin with a 10 year diagnosis gap between me and my brother. This led me to investigate diagnostic disparities in children’s mental health data.

To better understand if children are experiencing mental health diagnosis disparities, I am analyzing 9 waves of data from the Substance Abuse and Mental …

From Punishment To Public Health: Rethinking Addiction In The U.S And Portugal, Kenna Hall-Hoyt, Sarah Denin, Shelby Jenkins

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

Portugal's approach to combat substance use disorder has been a commonly discussed public health strategy over the last decade because it challenges the idea that punishing the drug user detours the drug issue. In 2001, the country decided to decriminalize substance use disorder and change addiction services to be under the Ministry of Health. The approach that Portugal is using in its research looks very different from places like the U.S., who over-medicate and then criminalizes drug users. Portugal, instead, steers individuals to local groups comprising of psychologists, social workers, and health professionals who work with them to find the …

Youth Social Media Access: Comparing The U.S. And Australia, Maddie Otto, Alyssa Dieckhoff, Brinley Cleveland, Katie Vandewoestyne, Jacey Rugg

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

Up to 95% of young people aged 13-17 report using a social media platform; this population encompasses over 38 million youths in the U.S. and 2 million youths in Australia. Reports show that this practice has a detrimental impact on the mental health and well-being of those who have access at a young age. Globally, a primary concern is that youth who have access to social media platforms that are not developmentally appropriate for their age level have issues around declining mental health, socialization, and self-esteem or body image concerns. Therefore, the main objective of this project is to examine …

Feminization Poverty: Comparing The United States And Afghanistan, Molly Cue, Carly Henrickson, Lauren Classen, Swarupa Evans, Lauren Huston

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

Feminization poverty is a prevalent worldwide issue containing many layers such as societal norms, single-mothered household, the gender wage gap, unpaid care work, and cost of childcare. When comparing the United States and Afghanistan, there are similarities in these issues. Both countries live in primarily patriarchal societies, which heavily contributes to feminization poverty. In the United States, over 14.8 million women are currently living in poverty compared to roughly 25 million women in Afghanistan. There are some strategic interventions utilized to fight feminization poverty in both countries. Therefore, the objective of this project is to compare the effectiveness of these …

Women's Access To Education: A Global Perspective, Olivia Clausen, Lillie-Kay Colby, Ellie-Lynn Colby

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

Access to education for women has been restricted in various ways across the globe throughout history. Many of these restrictions have led to gender disparities in access to work, which pushes women into more vulnerable situations, such as poverty, abuse, or forced marriages. The goal of this research is to raise awareness and knowledge about women’s and girls’ education in South Sudan, given its 93% illiteracy rate among women. According to UNESCO, among the 84% of countries that legally protect the right to education, only 57% explicitly guarantee it without discrimination on the basis of sex and/or gender. Education for …

The Importance Of Education: A Comparison Of Educational Systems In The United States And South Sudan, Allie Haughenbury, Faith Defenbaugh, Emma Randecker, Hadley Farrell, Haylea Tillman

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

The significance of education in creating opportunities for individuals has been established as important to both individual growth and national development. The purpose of this project is to assess the role of education by comparing the educational system in the United States with that of South Sudan in terms of structure, accessibility, and barriers. The U.S. has a well developed educational system with access to public education for (almost) all children, whereas children in South Sudan face significant challenges to receiving an education. These challenges include a lack of infrastructure, a lack of trained educators, a lack of resources, and …

College Student Perceptions Of Death, Shelby Brubaker, Melinda Heinz

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

The purpose of this study was to understand college student perceptions of death. Undergraduate students were invited to participate in a focus group about their perceptions of death. Three focus groups were held and a total of nine students participated, all of whom had majors in the social sciences. All participants were women and approximately 55% were non-religious and 55% reported they were spiritual. Braun and Clarke’s reflexive thematic approach was used to code focus group transcriptions. Three themes were identified: 1) Family and Religious Influences: One participant said, “I think it is less of how religion has shaped …

State-Corporate Crime In Agricultural Markets: The Lynch Livestock Fraud Case, Leah Blaine

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

• Livestock dealers connect farmers to markets
• Dealers control weighing and classification
• Farmers rely on dealer-reported measurements

Wellness Center, Alisa Friday, Davan Smith, Nikola Szlachta, Favian Zaragoza

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

A wellness center shaped by natural light and gentle biophilic cues creates an inviting sense of calm from the moment visitors arrive. For this wellness center, we wanted to create a welcoming and biophilic space where patients and caregivers can come to a community setting and feel connected to each other. A bright atrium anchors daily movement, while also providing enough spaces for rest. The wellness center blends wellbeing, inclusivity, and ease with architectural elements that tie our concept together.

The Role Of Google Translate In Supporting Writing Accuracy And Classroom Expectations Among Esl Students: A Qualitative Case Study, Thi Thu Ngan Ho

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

Google Translate Use in Intensive English Programs

• Widespread but Informal Use
  • Google Translate is widely used by English as Second Language learners, but often privately and without explicit classroom discussion.
• Benefits and Challenges
  • Students rely on Google Translate in different ways during writing, yet little is known about how they use it in real time.
• Critical Research Gap
  • Most studies examine Google Translate's outcomes, but very few explore how students actually use it during real-time writing.

Conversations On The Wall: Using Public Art To Destigmatize Discussions Of Death, Hope Thurm, Melinda Heinz

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

Starting as a participatory mural in New Orleans, Candy Chang’s Before I Die project has been recreated in over 75 countries. Inspired by her work, the purpose of this project was to encourage students to reflect on mortality and life aspirations publicly. A temporary mural on a college campus was built as part of an honors gerontology class, Families and End-of-Life Issues to encourage interactive reflections about mortality. The mural was up for one week, each side was stenciled with “Before I Die, I Want To ___” and blank white lines for the public to fill in their aspirations with …

The Impact Of Teacher Burnout On Learning Ability In Elementary Children With Aces, Kassidy Lake Patterson

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) impact individuals both psychologically and physically into adulthood. Children with ACEs often face challenges in learning, emotional regulation, and behavioral outbursts. Consequently, teachers supporting these students may experience Secondary Traumatic Stress and burnout. This examines the relationship between teacher burnout and students' ACEs. Using a mixed-methods approach guided by the Transactional model, the research discusses Allostatic Load and Toxic Stress theories. Teachers in the Waterloo area (n=10) completed the Professional Quality of Life Survey and the Trauma Informed Education Knowledge Survey. Findings indicate that teachers exhibit moderate burnout levels and possess high trauma knowledge, particularly those …

Examining Burnout In Early- And Late- Nurses, Emily Forsyth

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

Burnout from one's job due to chronic stress at work and is common in helping professions (Maslach, 2001). Burnout is categorized as experiencing emotional exhaustion, depersonalization (cynicism) and reduced personal accomplishment (inefficacy). (Maslach, 2001). Early-career nurses (i.e., < 20 years of experience; Berlin et al., 2023) and post-master’s counselors (Cook et al., 2021) experience burnout at higher levels than those in their late-career.

Geotree Center Drone Photography, Modeling And Analysis Across Uni Campus, Tim Conlon, Harriet Quarshie, John Degroote

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

No abstract provided.

Academic Ai Use And Willingness To Pay For Premium Subscriptions, Haley Ceruzzi, Tucker Langenberg, Mojtaba Alfardan, Jiuqing Cheng

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

This study examines how college students use AI tools for academic purposes and how usage patterns influence willingness to pay for premium AI services. Using survey data from 75 students at the University of Northern Iowa, results show that perceived value of AI tools is the strongest and most consistent predictor of willingness to pay. Academic AI usage frequency predicts short-term subscription intent, while academic workload and employment hours are not statistically significant predictors. These findings indicate that AI companies should prioritize premium features that clearly improve academic productivity and performance.

We Don't Get Our Voices Heard, We Work: Power, Perception, And The Working-Class, Jadin Grieser

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

What dynamics influence the working-class to vote against their economic interests?

By performing thirteen interviews with working-class Iowans about their perceptions of politics and feeling of power over politics, this project found a pattern of powerlessness caused by a disconnect with government officials. Through examining how the dimensions of power with people’s internal feelings of powerlessness, this project offers a look into how the working-class has become powerless and how this powerlessness interacts with their perceptions of politics.

My main finding was that people perceive business interests have power over politics, with this being the same for conservatives, moderates, and …

Predictors Of Prejudice Towards People With Tattoos, Jordan Smith, Helen Harton

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

Tattoos continue to hold negative connotations, despite the increasing popularity of tattoos. In this study, we investigated potential correlates of negative attitudes toward tattoos to better understand this bias. Perceptions that people with tattoos were a threat and different from participants were better predictors than personality, similar to research on correlates of other prejudices.

Maternal Glow And Family Solutions Organization, Catherine Wanyana, Maud Gladys Quaye, Mawora Plaxcedes

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

No abstract provided.

Perceptions Of Money In Politics: Analyzing The Connection Between Knowledge Of Congressional Campaign Fundraising And Political Trust In The United States, Trina Schmadeke

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

This study focuses on the link between knowledge of campaign finance and trust held by Americans in political institutions and members of Congress. Political trust makes a significant impact on political support and democratic stability. The existing literature on the topic suggests that knowing that a congressional candidate has accepted large donations harms political trust. I used a self-administered online survey to examine the connection between perceptions of congressional campaign funding and political trust. My survey results demonstrate a significant relationship between trust and perceptions about campaign fundraising. Specifically, the more money that the average congressional candidate was believed to …

Effects Of Race & Tattoo Status On Criminality Judgements, Gabriella Haddad, Madelyn Wells, Helen Harton

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

310 Prolific participants viewed eight AI-generated images of men who appeared to be Asian, Hispanic, Black, or White who were "suspects in an ongoing investigation." Participants viewed one of the two targets for each ethnic group, one with an arm tattoo and one without. Participants rated each target on characteristics such as intelligence, competency, and trustworthiness, and rated how likely they think it was that the target was the perpetrator. Men without a tattoo were rated more positively than those with a tattoo across all four racial/ethnic groups. Hispanic men, with or without a tattoo, were rated the most negatively. …

Patricia A. Tomson Center For Violence Prevention Spring 2026 Newsletter, University Of Northern Iowa. Patricia A. Tomson Center For Violence Prevention.

Patricia A. Tomson Center for Violence Prevention Newsletter

Contents:

--- MVP Student Retreat
--- Spring 2026 MVP Workshop
--- Dan Marburger MVP Advocacy Award Ceremony
--- Youth Workplace Violence Prevention Council Summit
--- UNI COE 2026 Social & Emotional Learning Conference
--- Iowa Safe Schools Annual Governor's Conference
--- Stand Up Guy Panel Event
--- Tomson Scholars
--- Rape Prevention & Education Grant Administrators for Iowa

International Panther Monthly, April 2026, University Of Northern Iowa. Office Of International Engagement.

Office of International Engagement newsletter

Contents:

--- From the Director's Desk
--- Last Month With OIE
--- Student Spotlight
--- UNI's World Window
--- Did You Know?
--- Behind the Scenes
--- Next Month's Activities
--- Additional Opportunities
--- Get Involved

Ica Newsletter, Spring 2026, Iowa Communication Association

ICA Newsletter

Contents:

--- President's Note
--- 2026 ICA Conference: Sept. 25-26
--- Westphal Student Paper Call - 2026
--- Call For Outstanding Adjunct Teacher Award
--- Call for Outstanding New Teacher Award
--- ICA Book Club
--- Going to CSCA? Check out ICA members’ presentations in Minneapolis
--- Iowa Journal of Communication Call for Submissions: Volume 58.1
--- Iowa Journal of Communication Call for GIFTS Submissions: Volume 58. 2
--- Our ICA Board

Iowa Waste Reduction Center News, April 2026, University Of Northern Iowa. Iowa Waste Reduction Center.

Iowa Waste Reduction Center Newsletter

Contents:

--- MSEI Final Day Reminder
--- UNI Day of Service
--- Advisory Board Meeting Recap
--- Industry News

Csbs Kudos, Spring 2026, University Of Northern Iowa. College Of Social And Behavioral Sciences.

CSBS Kudos

Contents:

--- Faculty Accolades
--- Retirements - Ken Atkinson, Gregory Bruess, Todd Evans, Mark Grey, James Hall, Wallace Hettle, Mary Losch
--- Promotions - Disa Cornish, Tyler O'Brien, Jayme Renfro, Eran Hanke, Kyle Endres
--- In Memoriam - Mary Louise Franken, John Johnson, Susan Welch, Charlotte C. Wells
--- $1.22 million grant to UNI’s Center for Civic Education
--- University of Northern Iowa receives $2.4 million grant to launch Humanities Hub
--- UNI announces restructuring to strengthen humanities and public service education
--- UNI launches online non-thesis Master of Arts in Geography
--- UNI teacher education program continues to boast …