Digital Commons Network^™

Academic Clustering: A Longitudinal Analysis Of A Division I Football Program, Jeffrey J. Fountain, Peter S. Finley

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

As NCAA Division I coaches feel greater pressure to produce winning teams while ensuring that athletes remain eligible and progress toward degrees to avoid sanctions under the NCAA’s academic reform initiatives, concerns regarding the clustering of athletes into limited numbers of academic majors has increased. Academic clustering occurs when 25% or more of the members of one team share a single academic major (Case, Greer, & Brown, 1987). Recent studies have extended the analysis of clustering to include the disparate impact on white and minority football players in a single athletic conference (Fountain & Finley, 2009), as well as consideration …

Social Support And Minority Student-Athletes, Jason Thompson

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

Interpersonal relationships in the family are important to individuals, especially college students. A subgroup within the larger population of college students that calls for further examination is ethnic minority college student-athletes. The present study involved examining ethnic minority college student-athletes’ perceptions of social support they receive from their family as they attend a Predominantly White Institution (PWI). Findings indicated that student- athletes perceived various types of social support that they found beneficial to them both as student-athletes in general and as minority student-athletes in particular. Types of social support included emotional support, informational support, tangible assistance support, task appreciation support, …

Sport And Stigma: College Football Recruiting And Institutional Identity Of Ole Miss, Kristi M. Fondren

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

The identity and history of the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) has been the subject of immense political discussion and popular debate. Using a conceptual and analytical framework guided by stigma and stigma management, this study examines the debate through the lens of football recruiting at Ole Miss. Qualitative interviews with prominent football players and program administrators (i.e. coaches, recruiters) at Ole Miss, as well as prominent football players at Mississippi State University, highlight a number of negative recruiting strategies used by coaches from competing schools to portray Ole Miss in an unfavorable light when interacting with prospective student-athletes. In …

Reevaluating Prestige: The Influence Of History On The Decision To Reclassify To Division I: A Case Study, Anthony Weaver

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of an institution’s past on the administrative decision to reclassify the institution’s athletic department to NCAA Division I. The study focused on the environment that existed prior to the reclassification and the administrative rationale used to justify the move. Two universities, University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) and Elon University, were chosen for case study analysis. Data were collected and analyzed using case study methodologies and an adapted model of Pettigrew’s contextualist approach. Documents, archival records, semi-structured interviews, participant observations, physical artifacts, and direct observations from each institution were …

Corporate Motives For Sport Sponsorship At Mid-Major Collegiate Athletic Departments, Erianne Weight, Kevin Taylor, Jacquelyn Cuneen

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

Sport sponsorship has become an increasingly important part of intercollegiate athletic revenue generation as universities have been forced to seek new and creative ways to fund their programs. The purpose of this study was to explore the benefits, criteria, and company factors that lead local corporations to embark upon sport sponsorship agreements within a specific region of mid-major sized universities. Respondents were corporate decision-makers who had forged sponsorships with three mid-major schools. Results reveal that sponsors have clear motives and preferences when agreeing to sponsor sport. On-site signage and cost were identified as being the most important information listed. Additionally, …

The Dilemma Of The Senior Woman Administrator Role In Intercollegiate Athletics, Jennifer Hoffman

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

All National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) member institutions designate the highest-ranking woman in athletic administration the senior woman administrator (SWA). This role is “intended to encourage and promote the involvement” of women in decision-making, enhance the representation women’s experiences and perspectives, and support women’s interests in intercollegiate athletics (NCAA, n.d. [a]). However, previous research reveals inconsistency in the tasks and responsibilities associated with the SWA role. Furthermore, it is not well established if this role is a mechanism to advance women to leadership roles or a terminal position (Hatfield, 2009). To better understand the influence of the SWA role on …

Stakeholder Perceptions Of An Athletic Program’S Reclassification From Ncaa Division Ii To Ncaa Division I (Fcs) Membership: A Case Study, Brendan Dwyer, Terry Eddy, Cody Harvard, Lori Braa

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

At the highest level of intercollegiate athletics, successful programs have the potential to enhance public perception, increase visibility, and enrich prestige for an institution (Beyer & Hannah, 2000; Goff, 2000). Due to these potential benefits, university officials are willing to invest tremendous amounts of energy and capital, in the form of a division reclassification, just for the opportunity to compete at this level. This transition, however, is a complex process with substantial consequences for a university and its stakeholders. Employing a mixed methodology, this case study investigated the previous management decisions and current stakeholder perceptions of an institution’s recent reclassification …

2009 Bowl Championship Series Telecasts: Expressions Of Big-Time College- Sport’S Commercial Institutional Logics, Richard M. Southall, Crystal Southall, Brendan Dwyer

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

The Bowl Championship Series (BCS) is the preeminent National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) event. It consistently generates high television ratings and attracts millions of dollars of advertising spending. Given the limited analysis of the organizational conditions that frame these broadcasts’ production, this study examines the impact of influential actors on the representation process. Using a mixed-method approach, this paper investigates the production of 2009 BCS broadcasts, and examines the extent to which these broadcasts are consistent with college sport’s espoused educational mission. Through a critical examination of the dominant institutional logic that underpins their reproduction, this …

Academic Majors Of Upperclassmen Football Players In The Atlantic Coast Conference: An Analysis Of Academic Clustering Comparing White And Minority Players, Jeffrey J. Fountain, Peter S. Finley

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

Studies on graduation rates of college athletes have typically utilized subdivisions based on race, gender, and sport to allow for more transparent scrutiny of potential problem areas. However, subdivision by race has not been utilized when examining clustering of football players into academic majors. Clustering occurs when 25% or more of an athletic team shares a single academic major (Case, Greer, & Brown, 1987). Football media guides from Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) schools were utilized to determine the academic majors of upperclassmen to explore whether race could be a factor in academic clustering. The results showed that Minority players were …

Collegiate Sport Chaplaincy: Problems And Promise, Steven Waller, Lars Dzikus, Robin Hardin

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

Sport chaplaincy has been evolving since the latter half of the twentieth century, and many professional teams and professional organizations utilize the services of chaplains. Several licensing and credentialing organizations do train chaplains, counselors and mentors, but they are not necessarily aimed at sport chaplains. Chaplains have become more prominent in collegiate athletics as well and as such several training programs have developed for collegiate sport chaplains. Collegiate institutions, parachurch organizations and nonprofit faith-based organizations offer the programs that do exist. However, in collegiate athletics there is no governing body that oversees the training requirements or qualifications of chaplains. This …

Gender Role Stereotyping: A Qualitative Analysis Of Senior Woman Administrators’ Perceptions Regarding Financial Decision Making, Heidi Grappendorf, Andrea Pent, Laura Burton, Angela Henderson

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

This study examined the perceptions of Senior Woman Administrators’ (SWA) involvement in financial decisions through the utilization of open-ended questions. Additionally, this research analyzed the actual versus desired level of participation in financial decision making areas by (SWA) utilizing gender role stereotyping as a framework. Prior studies have indicated the importance of experience with financial decisions and budgets for SWA to advance their intercollegiate athletics careers. The qualitative analysis of the perceptions of the SWA indicated partial support for the desire to have increased involvement in key financial decision making. Furthermore, the quantitative analysis revealed in each of the decision …

Can The Faculty Reform Intercollegiate Athletics? A Past, Present, And Future Perspective, Bradley David Ridpath

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

The subject of academic corruption in intercollegiate athletics has been of significant concern and empirical inquiry for over 100 years. There are many character and ethical issues that pervade intercollegiate athletics such as academic fraud, cheating in recruiting, sense of entitlements, illegal inducements from boosters, and academic fraud. The author makes an argument that many of the problems relating to the culture of college sports and character development cannot be repaired without changing the culture with regard to academics and academic integrity. The faculty driven movement toward academic integrity in college sports is explored, along with the efforts of outside …

Intercollegiate Athletics: A Preliminary Study Examining The Opinions On The Impact Of The Academic Performance Rate (Apr), Keith Christy, Chad Seifried, Donna L. Pastore

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

The purpose of this preliminary study was to examine the opinions of athletic directors, faculty athletic representatives, senior women administrators, and head coaches regarding the impact of the academic performance rate (APR) in intercollegiate athletics. The participants of the study returned a total of 127 questionnaires, but only 75 were used due to non-responsive or incomplete answers to questions. The participants were asked one open-ended question about the impact of the APR in intercollegiate athletics. The data was analyzed for common themes and results found that overall, 64% of the participants felt the APR will have a positive impact on …

December 6, 2023 Faculty Senate Minutes, University Of South Carolina

Faculty Senate

No abstract provided.

2023 Working Conditions Of New Teachers In South Carolina, Angela Starrett

Infographics

SC TEACHER’s Spring 2023 South Carolina Teacher Working Conditions Survey (SCTWCS) collected information from more than 17,000 teachers to gauge workplace satisfaction and engagement. As part of SCTWCS, teachers stated whether they had worked in SC public schools for five years or fewer. Respondents were then categorized as new teachers (i.e., five years or fewer) or experienced teachers (i.e., more than five years). This brief addresses the workforce profile of new teachers in SC who responded to the survey: where they are located, di erences in perspectives around job demands and resources, and experiences with an assigned mentor, when applicable.

The Daily Gamecock, November 2023, University Of South Carolina, Office Of Student Media

November

No abstract provided.

2023 Teacher Working Conditions In South Carolina Rural And Town Schools, Angela Starrett, Svetlana Dmitrieva, Alyssa Raygoza, Brian Cartiff, Ruiqin Gao, Shea Ferguson, Beatrice Quiroz, Henry Tran

Reports

This report builds off of the 2023 SC Teacher Working Conditions Survey to better understand nuances in teacher perceptions by location. Using National Center for Educations Statistics (NCES) designations of “town” and “rural,” key questions investigate how school profiles and working conditions vary within these categories to potentially inform distinct improvement strategies.

Observations On The Past, Hope For The Future: The Aftermath Of A Library Renovation Project, John H. Barnett

South Carolina Libraries

After experiencing the final weeks and immediate aftermath of a library renovation project at the University of South Carolina Upstate, the Dean of the Library relates what he believes turned out well and what did not. He offers guidance on issues to consider as well as how to improve communication and manage expectations as libraries move forward with their renovations.

Re-Envisioning Our Future: The Library Master Planning Process At The University Of South Carolina Beaufort, Ann Holderfield, Kimberly Kelley

South Carolina Libraries

The authors relate their experiences with participating in a master planning process for the multi-campus University of South Carolina Beaufort Library.

The Relationship Between Cancer Screening Utilization And Racial Discrimination: A Systematic Review, Priya Small, Amanda M. Hinson-Enslin, Timothy Crawford, Joanna Anderson

Journal of Ideology

Objective. To assess literature about cancer screening and cancer screening adherence among people of color and how discrimination impacts cancer screening and cancer screening adherence outcomes among patients of color.

Methods. PRISMA guidelines were used for the systematic review. EBSCO/MEDLINE, Web of Science, and CINAHL were searched and articles were uploaded in to Rayyan Systematic Review software. Three independent reviewers identified additional articles by searching reference lists of relevant articles; they completed the screening process and reviewed the included articles.

Results. Nine eligible studies were included, among which two were qualitative and seven were quantitative. Studies included one cancer screening …

November 1, 2023 Faculty Senate Minutes, University Of South Carolina

Faculty Senate

No abstract provided.

Looking Back To Look Forward: Exploring Crenshaw’S Political, Structural, And Representational Intersectionality In Sport, Allison Anders Ph.D., James M. Devita, Leslee A. Fisher, Chris Corr, Christina L. Myers

Faculty Publications

Engaging with Kimberlé Crenshaw’s concept of intersectionality, the authors (re)turn to its genesis in critical race theory (CRT) and specifically, its forms of structural intersectionality, political intersectionality, and representational intersectionality. Discussing each form in relation to contemporary issues in sport that Black women and women of Color navigate, they argue that Crenshaw’s intersectionality provides additional compelling layers of engagement with existing intersectional scholarship and scholarship about activism in sport, invites structural and discursive change through intersectional policies and practice, and promotes coalition building toward intersectional racial justice in sport.

Building A Ladder To Access, Amie D. Freeman, Elyssa M. Gould, Jennifer A. Mezick

Faculty and Staff Publications

The University of Tennessee (UT) Libraries and the University of South Carolina (USC) Libraries drafted documents to guide licensing practices during 2020 and 2021. In 2021, the Association of Southeastern Research Libraries (ASERL) developed licensing principles for its members, including UT and USC. With the principles completed, both institutions moved on to implementation in 2022. This paper outlines the steps taken to develop licensing principles at UT, USC, and ASERL, and discusses plans to incorporate these principles into regular negotiations and licensing agreements at UT and USC. Readers will learn important considerations for implementing licensing principles at their own institution …

Web-Based Presence For Social Connectedness In Long-Term Care: Protocol For A Qualitative Multimethods Study, Anna Garnett, Halyna Yurkiv, Richard Booth, Denise Connelly, Lorie Donelle Phd, Rn, Fcan

Publications

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic and resultant restrictions on social gatherings significantly impacted many peoples' sense of social connectedness, defined as an individual's subjective sense of having close relationships with others. Older adults living in long-term care homes (LTCHs) experienced extreme restrictions on social gatherings, which negatively impacted their physical and mental health as well as the health and well-being of their family caregivers. Their experiences highlighted the need to reconceptualize social connectedness. In particular, the pandemic highlighted the need to explore novel ways to attain fulfilling relationships with others in the absence of physical gatherings such as through the use …

Understanding The Tensions Of "Good Motherhood" Through Women's Digital Technology Use: Descriptive Qualitative Study, Danica Facca, Jodi Hall, Bradley Hiebert, Lorie Donelle Phd, Rn, Fcan

Publications

BACKGROUND: Research suggests that expectant and new mothers consult and value information gathered from digital technologies, such as pregnancy-specific mobile apps and social media platforms, to support their transition to parenting. Notably, this transitional context can be rich with profound physiological, psychological, and emotional fluctuation for women as they cope with the demands of new parenting and navigate the cultural expectations of "good motherhood." Given the ways in which digital technologies can both support and hinder women's perceptions of their parenting abilities, understanding expectant and new mothers' experiences using digital technologies and the tensions that may arise from such use …

Challenges And Opportunities In Recruiting Research Participants Using Facebook: Lessons Learned From An Exemplar Study, Sarah Ashfield, Lorie Donelle Phd, Rn, Fcan, Maxwell Smith, Ève Dubé, Panagiota Tryphonopoulos

Publications

BACKGROUND: Facebook is a prominent social medial platform frequently used for business marketing. Researchers are starting to recognize the utility of this platform for developing research awareness, information dissemination, and more recently participant recruitment. PURPOSE: This paper will provide an overview of methods used in Facebook recruitment through an exemplar study. It will highlight successes and challenges and provide insight into future opportunities for its' use. METHODS: Two methods of Facebook recruitment are outlined in this paper: the use of Facebook groups and paid advertising. A step-by-step guide highlights how researchers can implement these specific methods of Facebook recruitment. RESULTS: …

The Daily Gamecock, October 2023, University Of South Carolina, Office Of Student Media

October

No abstract provided.

Garnet & Black Fall 2023, University Of South Carolina, Office Of Student Media

Garnet & Black Magazine

No abstract provided.

Sparx: Elucidate Single-Cell Spatial Heterogeneity Of Drug Responses For Personalized Treatment, Ziyang Tang, Xiang Liu, Zuotian Li, Tonglin Zhang, Baijian Yang, Jing Su, Qianqian Song

Publications

Spatial cellular authors heterogeneity contributes to differential drug responses in a tumor lesion and potential therapeutic resistance. Recent emerging spatial technologies such as CosMx, MERSCOPE and Xenium delineate the spatial gene expression patterns at the single cell resolution. This provides unprecedented opportunities to identify spatially localized cellular resistance and to optimize the treatment for individual patients. In this work, we present a graph-based domain adaptation model, SpaRx, to reveal the heterogeneity of spatial cellular response to drugs. SpaRx transfers the knowledge from pharmacogenomics profiles to single-cell spatial transcriptomics data, through hybrid learning with dynamic adversarial adaption. Comprehensive benchmarking demonstrates the …

October 4, 2023 Faculty Senate Minutes, University Of South Carolina

Faculty Senate

No abstract provided.