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Educational Policies Committee Agenda, February 2, 2023, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Approval of Minutes
• Subcommittee Reports
  • Curriculum Subcommittee
    • Course Approvals
  • Academic Standards Subcommittee
    • Minutes
  • General Education Subcommittee
    • Minutes
• Other Business
  • New English Prefix TCR
  • Research, Scholarship and Creative Inquiry (RSCI) Designation
• Adjourn

Curriculum Subcommittee Agenda, February 2, 2023, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Approval of Minutes - January 5, 2023
• Program Proposals
• Semester Course Approval Reviews
• Other Business
• Adjourn: 3:00 pm

Phytoremediation Is An Important Tool For Reducing Mining Pollution, Sabrina Allen

Research on Capitol Hill

In 2019, community fishponds were established near two towns in Eastern Uganda by Ideal Life Vision Uganda with the support of Rotary International. The ponds are stocked with African Sharp-tooth Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) and Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and are used as a source of both nutritious food and income for the local communities. Unfortunately, commercial and artisan gold mining in the surrounding regions have led to high amounts of mercury pollution within the ponds, negatively impacting both fish production and overall community health, presenting a major threat to the success and functionality of the ponds and the well-being of …

Landscape And Site Factors Drive Invasive Phragmites Management And Native Plant Recovery Across Chesapeake Bay Wetlands, Christine B. Rohal, Eric L. G. Hazelton, Eliza K. Mcfarland, Rebekah Downard, Melissa K. Mccormick, Dennis F. Whigham, Karin M. Kettenring

Watershed Sciences Student Research

Successful invasive plant management—where invaders are sufficiently reduced and diverse native plant communities recover—remains an elusive goal for land managers. The site- and landscape-scale drivers of variable management outcomes and vegetation recovery are poorly understood due to a lack of rigorous experiments that characterize longer term vegetation trends across contexts. We present the results of a five-year experiment across eight subestuaries of Chesapeake Bay, representing a gradient of watersheds with differing dominant land-use types and anthropogenic impacts, to evaluate invasive and native plant response to herbicide management. The focal invader, Phragmites australis (common reed), is one of the most aggressive …

Differential Effects Of Mindful Breathing And Loving Kindness Meditations: A Component Analysis Study, Sarah J. Bolognino, Tyler L. Renshaw, Mary L. Phan

Psychology Faculty Publications

Objective: Mindful breathing meditation (MBM) and loving-kindness meditation (LKM) are common components of effective mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs). This study examined the differential effects of MBM and LKM on purported therapeutic process variables and mental health outcomes via component analysis.

Method: The research design was a randomized controlled trial with four conditions: MBM, LKM, combined (MBM + LKM), and a relaxation control. All conditions consisted of 10-min. audio-recorded guided meditations that were self-implemented over the course of two weeks. Participants were college undergraduates (N = 52).

Results: Findings indicated statistically significant and very large main effects of time, regardless of …

The Utah Statesman, January 23, 2023, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus Planipennis [Fairmaire]), Emily A. Parent, Lori R. Spears, Ryan S. Davis, Ricardo Ramirez

All Current Publications

Emerald ash borer (Order: Coleoptera: Family Buprestidae) (EAB) is an invasive wood-boring insect that infects the true ash species (Fraxinus spp.). EAB is native to parts of China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and small areas of Russia and Mongolia. EAB was first discovered in North America in June 2002 near Detroit, Michigan, and Windsor, Ontario, Canada, and is thought to have arrived to North America via infested wood packing material. EAB is generally established in an area for several years before it is detected and can spread over large areas through active flight and human-mediated dispersal.

Weaving Together Indigenous And Western Knowledge In Science Education: Reflections And Recommendations, Zoe Higheagle Strong, Landon James Charlo, Francene Watson, Paula Groves Price, Kimberly Christen

Journal of Indigenous Research

The Culturally Responsive Indigenous Science (CRIS) project was a collaborative effort between three Tribal communities in the Pacific Northwest and faculty and students from Washington State University, many of who are Tribal citizens. The project was designed to integrate Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge (ITEK) and Western Knowledge into science curricula and professional learning opportunities. At the end of the 5-year grant project, members of the CRIS team (including Tribal and university partners) gathered to reflect on the work accomplished and the lessons learned about the process of integrating ITEK within science education. In this conceptual paper, the authors discuss four …

Stigma Communication Surrounding Nonmedical Opioid Use Among Affected Family Members, Emily Pasman, Sydney O'Shay, Danielle Hicks, Stella M. Hicks, Elizabeth Agius, Suzanne Brown

Publications

A growing body of research demonstrates the role of language in stigma toward nonmedical opioid use (NMOU). Terms like “substance abuser” perpetuate stereotypes and evoke punitive judgments. This study examines how affected family members (AFMs) communicate stigma when discussing their loved one’s NMOU. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 34 adults with a close family member with a history of NMOU. An iterative approach was used to analyze instances when stigmatizing terms or messages were used. AFMs described people engaged in NMOU as underweight, “dirty,” or “nodding off,” and often labeled these individuals “addicts” or opioid “abusers.” Responsibility for the NMOU …

The Utah Statesman January 16, 2023, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

Age-Race-Ethnicity Segregation In The United States: Where Do Minority Older Adults Stand?, David W. S. Wong, Debasree Das Gupta

Kinesiology and Health Science Faculty Publications

A recent study shows that among the three age groups of youth, adult and older adult, youth-older adult has the highest age segregation while youth-adult has the lowest. Similar to many previous age segregation studies, racial-ethnic differences, an important population axis in segregation studies, were not considered. Prior studies are also limited to using two-group measures, failing to compare multiple groups together. We explore the complexity in measuring intersectional segregation focusing on the two axes of age and race-ethnicity and propose a conditional approach to measure age segregation by racial-ethnic groups, and racial-ethnic segregation by age groups. Using this approach, …

N-Back Accuracy And Neural Activation In Dld, Ronald Gillam

Browse all Datasets

The present study was designed to explore the general cognitive mechanisms in WM that are often found to be impaired in children with DLD. A continuous auditory N-back task was used to probe cognitive abilities such as sustained attention, storage, updating, and inhibition in monolingual TD children and children with DLD. FNIRS was used to examine the hemodynamic response patterns in the left DLPFC and IPL as children performed 0-back, 1-back, and 2-back tasks. The 0-back task was used in our analysis as a control for sustained attention. The research questions were: 1) Are there differences in N-back response accuracy …

Exploring The Impact Of Coaches’ Emotional Abuse On Intercollegiate Student-Athletes’ Experiences, Katherine N. Alexander, Kat V. Adams, Travis E. Dorsch

Human Development and Family Studies Student Research

Despite widespread anecdotal accounts of coaches’ emotional abuse in intercollegiate sports, empirical literature is lacking. To address this gap, the present exploratory study was designed to explore how former intercollegiate student-athletes interpreted experiences of emotionally abusive coaching. Former female NCAA and NJCAA student-athletes (N = 14; M_age = 25.3 years) took part in semi-structured, in-depth interviews. Data were interpreted using a constructivist grounded theory approach. The final product of the research was a three-stage grounded theory explaining how former student-athletes interpret their experiences of emotional abuse over time organized into sections on antecedents to abuse, experiences and actions …

Assessment Of Carbon Productivity Dynamics In Aspen Stands Under Climate Change Based On Forest Inventories In Central Siberia, Andrey Andreevich Vais, Valentina Valerievna Popova, Alina Andreevna Andronova, Viktor Nikolaevich Nemich, Artem Gennadievich Nepovinnykh, Pavel Vladimirovich Mikhaylov

Aspen Bibliography

The aim of the present research was to study the dynamics of growth and conditions of aspen stands under climate change, according to different periods of forest inventory. The study was conducted in modal aspen forests growing in the subtaiga/forest steppe region of Central Siberia. Aspen forests grow intensively at young age, which allows them to realize maximum carbon sequestration potential. The research was based on forest inventory data from 1972, 1982, 2002, and 2021 (the study was conducted on a limited territory). There was a steady increase in temperatures in the growing season from 1982 to 2002. The amount …

Faculty Senate Agenda, January 9, 2023, Utah State University

Faculty Senate & Faculty Senate Executive Committee

• Call to Order
• Approval of Minutes - November 28, 2022
• University Business
• Information
• Educational Policies Committee - December 1, 2022
• Reports
• Council on Teacher Education Annual Report
• Scholarship Advisory Board Annual Report
• USUSA Annual Report
• Old Business
• Athletic Spending
• New Business
• Divestment Proposal

Intro To Primary Sources, Katie Strand, Jen Kirk, Dan Davis, Lara Petersen

All E-Learning Resources

Attention: As of 2026 updated versions of this item will no longer be available on Digital Commons. Please contact [email protected] for more information.

The Identifying Primary Sources tutorial teaches students how they find, evaluate, and use primary sources in their own research. Along the way, they'll learn about some great places to start researching when looking for primary sources.

Transfer Effects Of A Multiple-Joint Isokinetic Eccentric Resistance Training Intervention To Nontraining-Specific Traditional Muscle Strength Measures, Steven Spencer, Brennan J. Thompson, Eadric Bressel, Talin Louder, David C. Harrell

Kinesiology and Health Science Faculty Publications

Relatively few investigations have examined the transfer effects of multiple-joint isokinetic eccentric only (MJIE) resistance training on non-specific measures of muscle strength. This study investigated the transfer effects of a short-term MJIE leg press (Eccentron) resistance training program on several non-specific measures of lower-body strength. Fifteen participants performed Eccentron training three times/week for four weeks and were evaluated on training-specific Eccentron peak force (EccPF), nontraining-specific leg press DCER one-repetition maximum (LP 1 RM), and peak torques of the knee extensors during isokinetic eccentric (Ecc30), isokinetic concentric (Con150) and isometric (IsomPT) tasks before and after the training period. The training elicited …

Voices Of Usu: An Anthology Of Student Writing, Vol. 16, Utah State University Department Of English

Voices of USU

This collection of student writing represents the voices of over 2,000 students who enroll each academic year in Utah State University’s second-year composition course, Intermediate Writing: Research Writing in a Persuasive Mode. Voices of USU celebrates excellence in writing by providing undergraduate students of diverse backgrounds and disciplines the opportunity to have their work published.

A Case Study Comparing The Life Skills Development And Knowledge In Youth Participants Of Horseless And Traditional Horse Programs In Utah, Haley M. Johnson, Kelsey L. Hall, Benjamin Scow

Applied Sciences, Technology and Education Faculty Publications

This study compared four horseless and seven traditional horse participants from Washington County 4-H in Utah for horse knowledge gained and for the development of 10 life skills from Hendricks's Targeting Life Skills Model: leadership, teamwork, self-responsibility, personal safety, problem-solving, decision-making, critical thinking, goal setting, communication, and concern for others. This study's mixed methods design employed interviews to learn about life skill development and quantitative data from a 20-item horse knowledge quiz and demographic survey. The traditional horse youth showed greater development of leadership, self-responsibility, decision-making, goal setting, and communication than the horseless youth. Roughly half of the participants in …

Sheep Ingestive Behavior And Tannin Selection In Pampa Grassland And Feedlot, Marina Terra Braga

Green Canyon Environmental Research Area, Logan Utah

The Pampa grassland biome has high plant biodiversity, some with significant secondary compound concentrations such as tannins. Tannin inclusion in ruminant diets may improve meat quality and productivity. However, voluntary intake of this phenolic compound can be a challenge. This dissertation includes three studies within this context. The first study documented whether sheep consume tannin-rich Desmodium incanum (DI), the most common Pampa herbaceous legume species. The second study evaluated how forage tannin and protein concentration influenced sheep feedlot feed selection and the diet affects performance parameters. The third study evaluated sheep feeding behavior in a Pampa native pasture, and how …

Upep 2023 Executive Summary, Community & Natural Resources Institute

Utah People and Environment Poll (UPEP)

Utah's people and environment are currently experiencing significant changes as the population continues to grow, droughts and flooding pose threats to agriculture, air quality leads to health concerns, energy needs rise, and public lands see increased use. Action is needed to address these changes, especially given how rapidly they are occurring. Political leaders, environmental organizations, Tribal Nations, and universities play a critical role in ensuring Utah’s environment, economy, workforce, and underserved communities have a sustainable path forward. Understanding residents’ views, values, and concerns can help better craft the policy, inform infrastructure, and identify the services needed to do so. With …

Future Of Great Salt Lake Survey, Lisa W. Welsh, Joanna Endter-Wada, Karin M. Kettenring, Anna Mcentire

Reports

The Future of Great Salt Lake Survey was conducted in fall 2022 when state and global attention on Great Salt Lake was ramping up, following record lows of the elevation of lake water levels. In the survey, we asked Utahns their opinions on securing water for Great Salt Lake and focused on strategies that individuals, local communities, and the state of Utah could pursue. When it comes to how water is used and managed in Utah, there are multiple actors and institutions who all make decisions and have authority or ability to take different actions. While the state of …

2023 Report To The Governor And Legislature On Utah's Land, Water & Air, Janet Quinney Lawson Institute For Land, Water & Air

Reports

This report serves as a 2023 snapshot of key issues and concerns with Utah’s shared resources. It highlights gathered data that is available to provide context to these issues, as well as identifies areas where more study is needed. Addressing these challenges will enable Utah policymakers to make informed decisions for the future. Under the authorship of 43 researchers and experts and the general guidance of 49 advisory committee members, the report outlines 32 issues and trends to pay attention to in the coming months and years.

Upep 2023 Overview, Jessica Schad, Elizabeth Brunner

Utah People and Environment Poll (UPEP)

Utah's people and environment are currently experiencing significant changes as the population continues to grow, droughts and flooding pose threats to agriculture, air quality leads to health concerns, energy needs rise, and public lands see increased use. Action is needed to address these changes, especially given how rapidly they are occurring. Political leaders, environmental organizations, Tribal Nations, and universities play a critical role in ensuring Utah’s environment, economy, workforce, and underserved communities have a sustainable path forward. Understanding residents’ views, values, and concerns can help better craft the policy, inform infrastructure, and identify the services needed to do so. With …

Chapter 7- Learning Beyond Content: Using Weekly Reflection To Promote Student Confidence And Lifelong Learning, Nichelle Frank

Habits of Mind

During an intake survey in my introductory-level history courses, my students select from a series of answers to respond to the question, “What do YOU believe are the goals of a college-level history class (select ALL that apply)?” The possible answers are “teach information about people, places, and events in the past,” “teach critical thinking skills,” “practice oral communication,” “practice written communication,” “memorize lists of dates and facts,” and “expose students to diverse points of view.” I have used this question as part of a pre-course assessment since fall 2021. The top three answers, which 70% (or more) of the …

Chapter 10- Mindful Teaching, Leadership, And Reflection Practices, Jessie Koltz

Habits of Mind

Feeling confident and excelling personally or professionally may come off as a challenge for educators and students who do not have stress-reducing skills to fall back on. Negative academic or professional stress could then have effects on many aspects of an individual’s life, such as mental health, substance use, sleep, physical health, lackluster achievement in academics and/or personal success, and even school dropout or professional burnout (Proctor, Guttman-Lapin, & Kendrick-Dunn, 2020). How can we engage our students in pedagogical practices focused on how to support mindfulness-based learning, leadership strategies, and reflection practices within higher education settings? How can educators integrate …

Chapter 12- Weaving Purposeful Worlds Of Discovery: Merging Cliftonstrengths® With Habits Of Mind For Low-Income, First-Generation Students, Kimberly Hiatt, Kelsey Bushman, Heather Lyman, Sarah Gosney

Habits of Mind

Utah State University (USU) Blanding is a non-tribal institution with close to 70% of its student population originating from the Navajo Nation, Dinétah. Located 388 miles southeast of the main campus in Logan, Utah, USU Blanding serves a population of students living in geographically remote areas, including the largest Native American–populated region in the United States. This vast territory—encompassing some 13,300 square miles, which exceeds the combined area of Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, and Rhode Island—is classified as “frontier.” With a population density of 2.0 persons per square mile and a poverty rate of 33% (as compared to the …

Chapter 17- Tiktok Is Not Peer Reviewed: Modifying Assignments To Nurture Habits Of Mind, Rachel Robison-Greene

Habits of Mind

During any given semester, my most engaged students send me materials related to what we are discussing in class. I always appreciate students’ excitement about the course content and the opportunity to experience different forums for conversation with my students. As the years have passed, however, more of the material students pass along comes in the form of YouTube videos. These videos will often star popular YouTube personalities who create content that has millions of views. Sometimes, the ideas the students pass along come in the form of short TikTok videos. This is all fine and even entertaining until this …

Examining Spaces For Integrating Physics And Computing Through Classroom Inquiry, Colby Tofel-Grehl, Kristin Searle, Douglas Ball, Soojeong Jeong

Teacher Education and Leadership Faculty Publications

As computing becomes an essential component of professional practice across science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, integration of computing across content areas in K-12 classrooms is also becoming important. Particularly within science classrooms, computer science and computational thinking (CS/CT) are novel and necessary skills for modeling, working with data, and other foundational science skills. Finding ways to engage students in practicing and learning CT within authentic science learning is challenging for most teachers. In this article, the authors report on one teacher’s efforts to engage high school students in maker-based physics education, integrating computational thinking by designing and building …

On-Boarding Experienced Teachers In A New School, Emma Mecham, Joseph Kozlowski, Felicia Messervy, Cami Player, Joel Lopez, Laura Reina, Nathan Justis

Teacher Education and Leadership Faculty Publications

Each year school administrators find themselves in the position of hiring new teachers and onboarding them to the unique expectations and context of the school. Such work most often happens while these new teachers are actively doing the work of teaching, with few contracted hours of training available. Limited research has focused on the experience of onboarding for teachers who are experienced in the field, but new to a particular school. Recognizing this challenge, this team of researchers and participants set out to examine the flow of information in one school for four teachers in their first year of teaching …