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Isso Weekly Newsletter, April 3, 2015, University Of Northern Iowa. International Students And Scholars Office.

ISSO Weekly Newsletter

Inside This Issue:

-- New Associate Director for ISSO
-- Lunch and Learn: Post Graduate and Summer Employment: OPT/CPT April 8
-- Easter-Holi with ISA TODAY!
-- Culture Fest with ISA April 9
-- Spring Diversity Showcase April 22
-- Spring Graduation and Farewell Reception April 30
-- Employment Opportunities
-- Pride Week April 6-10 - "Always Here, Forever Queer"
-- April's Student Health 101 is Now Available
-- Join Cat Crew
-- Summer Storage Space Available
-- Full-Time Enrollment Requirement
-- Income Tax Season
-- Optional Practical Training (OPT) for Eligible F-1 Students
-- Academic Training for Eligible J-1 …

Fusion, New Music For A New Age, April 3, 2015 [Program], University Of Northern Iowa. School Of Music.

Music Recital Programs

Program of a music recital given by faculty, students, or guest artists from the School of Music at the University of Northern Iowa.

University Of Northern Iowa Elementary Teacher Education Senate Meeting Agenda, April 2, 2015, University Of Northern Iowa. Elementary Teacher Education Senate.

Documents - Elementary Senate

Meeting agenda from the Elementary Teacher Education Senate of the University of Northern Iowa.

University Of Northern Iowa Elementary Teacher Education Senate Meeting Minutes, April 2, 2015, University Of Northern Iowa. Elementary Teacher Education Senate.

Documents - Elementary Senate

Meeting minutes from the Elementary Teacher Education Senate of the University of Northern Iowa.

Professional Development: A Key To Success In The Student Affairs Field, Lauren Wypiszynski

Annual Graduate Student Symposium

The purpose of the professional development plan is to provide the Department of Residence Life staff, at the University of Northern Iowa, with a tool to help professionals meet their goals and learning outcomes. At the start of the 2014-2015 academic year, professionals in the department were asked to complete a survey designed to evaluate the developmental opportunities in the Department of Residence, at the University of Northern Iowa, and outside of the University. The survey also provided professionals with an opportunity to indicate various methods for professional development, which they believed would be effective avenues for discussing various professional …

Teachers’ Interaction With A Young Child With Asd To Support Language And Communication Skills Development: Comparing Ipad And Non-Ipad Use, Saeed Almalki

Annual Graduate Student Symposium

The purpose of this study was investigating teachers’ interaction with a young child with ASD when they were using iPad to support language and communication skills development. A manipulation-free design was applied. Business-as-usual classroom interaction was analyzed. Utterances were divided into two conditions (iPad-use and non-iPad-use) to compare effectiveness on supporting the child’s engagement in teacher-child interaction. In addition, interviews with teachers were conducted to collect more information about their own perspectives regarding iPad use with the student with ASD. Results of the study indicate that child-teacher joint attention and teachers’ verbal assistance happened more frequently when iPad was not …

Impact Of Student Organizations On The Development Of Core Competencies, Stanley Somtochukwu Ebede

Annual Graduate Student Symposium

Higher education has a significant impact on the development of critical skills that improve students’ academic outcomes. However, academic institutions have not adequately focused more on the role of student organizations in supporting and improving student outcomes. The primary purpose of this study is to investigate students' perception of the development of core competencies during their experiences at comprehensive Midwestern university, specifically examining the differences of those involved in student organizations to those not involved.

The impact of student organizations on the development of core competencies will be assessed using a survey that was designed around the core competencies outlined …

The Effects Of Metolachlor Exposure In Thp-1 Alveolar And Monocyte And Macrophage Cellular Functions, Jared Parmater

Annual Graduate Student Symposium

The goal of this study is to examine and analyze the effects of a widely used herbicide, Metolachlor, on the normal functions and processes of human alveolar monocytes and macrophages. Specifically, it will examine the functions of phagocytosis, apoptosis and the production reactive oxygen species within these cells.

Suppression Of Stereotype Threat Negatively Impacts Self-Evaluations And Interpersonal Outcomes, Zheng Li

Annual Graduate Student Symposium

Stereotype threat is the situation when people under the pressure of confirming a negative stereotype that applies to them. Research shows that when people try to suppress the thought of being threatened, they tend to perform even worse. This study examines the effect of suppression of stereotype threat on females’ confidence on a gender-based stereotypical task (about spatial skills and science knowledge) and cross—gender interaction outcome. Participants first completed the moon task and then had a discussion with a male confederate before evaluating the willingness of future interaction and the perception of how the confederate views them. We hypothesized that …

Predictors Of Racial Prejudice: A Meta-Analysis Of The Influence Of Religion And Political Orientation, Kristin Broussard

Annual Graduate Student Symposium

The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of religion and political orientation on racial prejudice through meta-analysis. 153 independent studies were analyzed with a random effects model using the Robumeta package in R, and moderator analyses were conducted for year of data and region of the U.S.

Influx Of Child Immigrants To The United States: Policy & Practice Implications, Megan Vogt

Annual Graduate Student Symposium

This qualitative study helps individuals to recognize what the United States and the state of Iowa are doing for the children coming from the countries of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. Through interviews, the research was able to identify what other resources are still needed in helping the children capture a better life.

Suicidal And Non-Suicidal Self-Injury, Taylor Ash

Annual Graduate Student Symposium

A literature review over the differences between suicidal and non-suicidal self-injury in adolescents. This review looks into several factors and differences about why adolescents engage in the behaviors, reactions they receive when asking for help, and implications for future practice.

An American’S Paris: Tourism And The American Consumer, 1947-1961, Margaret Nervig

Annual Graduate Student Symposium

In 1947, a group of twenty-two farmers from the state of Iowa traveled to Europe for a month-long trip around the continent’s top destinations. Their primary mission, as outlined in Life Magazine, was to investigate European farming practices, particularly agricultural methods and food needs in the postwar period.The article included photos of the Iowans visiting French farms and speaking with farmers but also included a full-page photo of the Iowans at a Parisian nightclub, complete with scantily clad women. Despite their agriculturally-based intentions, these Midwestern farmers could not resist a taste of Parisian culture.

This type of imagery is only …

Rock Against Reagan: Punk Rock, Politics, And The 1984 Presidential Election, Jonathan Kyle Williams

Annual Graduate Student Symposium

Punk Rock was more than just a style of music, but instead a cultural and political movement. During the 1984 Presidential Election punks from across the U.S. gathered at "Rock Against Reagan" concerts to demonstrate their opposition to not just the president but also the ideology of the New Right.

Identification Of Sluggish Cognitive Tempo By Teachers, Rachel Meisinger

Annual Graduate Student Symposium

Children with Sluggish Cognitive Tempo (SCT) are characterized by a hypoactive, sluggish behavior pattern that does not fully fit the conceptualization of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) as was previously believed. Interest in this topic has surged recently, perhaps due to the fact that many researchers now view SCT as a construct that exists outside of ADHD (Barkley, 2014). SCT is associated with unique etiology, impairment, and comorbidities. Unlike ADHD, SCT represents a more passive form of inattention that may not disrupt the classroom. Thus, SCT may go unnoticed despite the fact that it is related to many academic and social …

Adolescents And Sexting: The Various Consequences And Strategies For Schools To Respond, Scotti Hagensick

Annual Graduate Student Symposium

Cell phone usage is at an all-time high among teenagers (Lenhart, 2009). As more adolescents utilize cellular devices to communicate, behaviors such as “sexting” have dramatically increased. Known as the sharing of sexually explicit photos, messages, or sexual content, students often report the motivation to sext focuses on gaining popularity or status with the opposite gender (Vanden Abeele, Campbell, Eggermont, & Roe, 2014). Unfortunately, for many teens, sexting often results in serious consequences including potentially registering as a sex offender and/or facing child pornography charges. In many cases, individual states are not clear on sexting and its legality for minors, …

Mindfulness Tools For Veterans With Ptsd, Amy Davison

Annual Graduate Student Symposium

This is a literature review on mindfulness tools to enhance coping skills for veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Traditional and modern techniques were studied extensively.

Assessing Vulnerability Mapping Of Nitrate Contamination Among The Private Well Owners Of Black Hawk County, Ia, Junu Shrestha, Sushil Tuladhar

Annual Graduate Student Symposium

The main objective of this study is to find potential sites that might be vulnerable to nitrate contamination by doing weighted overlay analysis using ArcGIS Software and compare those sites with current nitrate contaminated sites.

1:1 Technology Programs Impact On Iowa Schools, Kong Chen, Palmer Scott, Noor Albayat, Ghader Albayat, Danielle Stubbs

Annual Graduate Student Symposium

The purpose of this research is to examine school-based use and student outcomes of 1:1 technology initiative. Qualitative methodology was used to understand one district’s process implementing 1:1 technologies. Guiding this exploration was an interpretivist paradigm that facilitated understanding the district’s intent, motivation, planning, and results of 1:1 implementation.

Lifeguard Fitness Readiness: Certification Vs. Qualification, Jacob Rasmussen

Annual Graduate Student Symposium

Among lifeguard certifying bodies, there is a lack of minimum cardio and strength requirements. Once certified, it is assumed that a lifeguard is physically able to perform rescues. This study will review in-service logs for cardio and strength components within lifeguard training to design appropriate in-service fitness readiness guidelines.

Spatiotemporal Analysis Of Wildfire Activity In The Tundra Biome Using Modis Data (2000-2014), Arif Masrur

Annual Graduate Student Symposium

Although tundra wildfires have an important impact on arctic ecosystems, there is comparatively little knowledge about their geography and characteristics. I have been using MOSID-derived active fire data to analyze spatial and temporal patterns of tundra wildfires between 2000 and 2014.

Self-Enhancement In Relation To Ptsd Stigma, Corina Klein

Annual Graduate Student Symposium

The majority of the population will experience at least one potentially traumatic event (PTE) in their lifetime, however, only about 10-20% of those people will develop a chronic, adverse reaction to the event. One factor that may help to explain resistance to PTSD is self-enhancement. Self-enhancement is a tendency to view oneself in an overly positive manner, even despite evidence to the contrary. Although this has been found to work as a barrier against PTSD, it may also perpetuate the biggest barrier to PTSD treatment: public stigma. This study examined the multiple ways that self-enhancement functions within the realm of …

Injunctive And Descriptive Norm Effects On Physical Activity, Monica Ehn

Annual Graduate Student Symposium

The purpose of the current study was to test the application of the focus theory of normative conduct (Cialdini, Kallgren, & Reno, 1990) on exercise; specifically how normative feedback (i.e., descriptive and descriptive plus injunctive norms) affects levels of physical activity using a non-self-report measure of physical activity.

Fifty-two participants between the ages of 18 and 23 were randomly assigned to either the descriptive or descriptive plus injunctive condition. The participants completed the first phase of the study individually, outside of the lab via Qualtrics. The participants completed a demographic questionnaire to obtain a sample description and the International Physical …

The State And Terrorism: Nigerian Immigrants’ Perspectives On Boko-Haram, Diane Orefo

Annual Graduate Student Symposium

The Boko-Haram Islamic terrorism is one of the biggest security issues facing Nigeria. Today, many Nigerians live in dread of what Boko-Haram might do to them. Are Nigerians who have migrated to other lands equally concerned about Boko-Haram? I tried to answer this question in my research paper.

Welfare Dependency In America: Myth Or Social Problem? A Public Opinion Analysis, Toluwani Johnson

Annual Graduate Student Symposium

This research seeks to identify public attitudes towards welfare policy and welfare dependency. The results tell us how society feels about the welfare system, especially about its beliefs and values.

Audio Jack Data Communication On Smartphones, Ziyuan Li

Annual Graduate Student Symposium

By choosing adequate modulation and demodulation schemes on a smartphone and a client device, via the audio jack of the smartphone we can achieve a data transmitting rate of about 1k bits per second from the smartphone to the client device and 7.35k bit per second from the client device to the smartphone, which is sufficient for the smartphone to control and collect data from the client device.

Stanley Ebede - Boys And Girls Club Of The Cedar Valley, Stanley Ebede

Robert and Yvonne Koob Fund for Student Community Engagement Recipients

I was assigned to conduct the Passport to Manhood program for 10-12 years old boys. The program was a success because I conducted and completed the 14 sessions of the Passport to Manhood program.

Emily Seehusen - Grout Museum District, Emily Seehusen

Robert and Yvonne Koob Fund for Student Community Engagement Recipients

I worked with the Education and Programing Department of the Imaginarium throughout the entirety of my internship. I assisted with the coordination of the Waterloo Middle School Science Fair and the Nation History Day Competition. I shadowed many Grout Museum district employees and had the opportunity to assist with tasks such as program presentations, program development, and I helped facilitate a wide variety of monthly children’s activities and implemented marketing strategies to promote new museum programs.

Michelle Wilke - Center For Violence Prevention, Michelle Wilke

Robert and Yvonne Koob Fund for Student Community Engagement Recipients

As a student intern in the beginning my focus was to assist in the area of Group Travel and how to get more diverse groups into the museum, especially Veterans from the community and surrounding areas. As things started flowing together while working, I learned the basics of how the Grout Museum controls their group travel, and how they market themselves to certain populations and locations around the Midwest. Another big portion of group travel is how to get groups from the community to the museum, to which I focused on more so. Learning ways to entice community visitors and …

Emily Kriegel - Volunteer Center Of Cedar Valley, Emily Kriegel

Robert and Yvonne Koob Fund for Student Community Engagement Recipients

The main projects I helped plan and execute Appetite for Service, 20th Anniversary celebration of the Volunteer Center, and the Mayors’ Volunteer Awards. I also worked on different tasks as assigned. Additional tasks included: press releases, updated volunteer data base information, spreadsheet development, and marketing and design work.