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Chapter 3- Improving The General Education Experience Through Equitable And Inclusive Pedagogical Practices, Cree Phillips Taylor

Habits of Mind

General education courses sometimes have the reputation among students of being obstacles to overcome, wastes of time, and a squander of tuition. In my opinion, student dislike of general education courses is fueled by two factors: 1) students’ misunderstanding of the purpose of general education and 2) general education instructors designing courses with a gatekeeping mentality. Traditionally, general education courses have served as the gatekeepers of the university experience by—intentionally or unintentionally—funneling out students who “don’t belong” through poor course design. Racially minoritized students, women, and first-generation college students are disproportionately affected by the gatekeeping mentality of general education instructors.

Chapter 2- Preparing Students With Habits Of Mind For The First Day Of Class, Jennifer Grewe

Habits of Mind

Students often come to university with preconceived but in many cases inaccurate notions of what the university experience is like. They have been told that they need to go to college to get a good job; that their professors do not care about how they do; and that they are now on their own. This can be an overwhelming perspective to have when starting a new chapter in life. College students, including those who may not have experienced even minor academic failures to this point in their lives, are particularly impacted by this mentality. It should come as no surprise, …

Chapter 22- Searching As Learning: A Scaffolded Approach To The Research Paper Assignment, Karin Dejonge-Kannan

Habits of Mind

Somewhere on a university campus, there is a hunched figure working at a computer. The person is surrounded by books, papers, beverage cans, and writing utensils. Their fingers tap on the keyboard, intermittently coming to a stop when the person’s gaze shifts from the screen into the distance. Their torso leans forward, their brow is tense. Frequent sighing can be heard.

Did you picture a student? An instructor? When it comes to the research paper assignment, this scene could feature either of them, frustrated and dispirited. While it may be worthwhile pondering how we got here (see, for example, Freedman …

Seas The Day! By Supporting Non-Traditional Students In Distance Teacher Preparation, Kristen R. Rolf

Special Education and Rehabilitation Counseling Faculty Publications

The persistent shortage of special education teachers, as well as increased demand for distance education, has led to an increase in online teacher preparation programs (Bonk et al., 2006; McLeskey et al., 2004; Rosenberg et al., 2007). Students who enroll in online distance teacher preparation programs tend to be non-traditional; they often work, have family responsibilities, and are older than traditional students (Childre, 2014). The Online Practical Teacher Training (OPTT) program is an online teacher preparation program resulting in a bachelor's degree and licensure in special education. In this presentation, I describe OPTT, discuss strategies for supporting …

Strategies To Secure Water For Great Salt Lake, Lisa W. Welsh, Joanna Endter-Wada, Karin M. Kettenring

Environment and Society Faculty Publications

Great Salt Lake is the largest saline lake in the Western Hemisphere (Wilsey et al. 2017) and plays an important role in Utah’s economy, environment, and ecology (Baxter and Butler 2020; Great Salt Lake Advisory Committee 2021). It has a long history of commercial and recreational activities including mineral production, brine shrimp harvesting, waterfowl hunting, boating, and sightseeing (Utah Department of Natural Resources 2013a, 2013b). The Great Salt Lake ecosystem supports over 10 million birds representing 338 species and acts as an important stopover for migratory birds between North and South America (Great Salt Lake Ecosystem Program; Wilsey et al. …

Correlates Of Christian Religious Identification And Deidentification Among Sexual And Gender Minorities: A U.S. Probability Sample, G. Tyler Lefevor, Lauren J. A. Bouton, Edward B. Davis, Samuel J. Skidmore, Ilan H. Meyer

Psychology Faculty Publications

Using a U.S. nationally representative sample of 1,529 sexual and gender minorities (SGMs), we examined the demographic and developmental correlates of Christian religious deidentification. We found that SGMs who were older, Black, cisgender men, and/or lived in the American South were more likely to identify as Christian in adulthood, relative to other SGMs. Those who were never Christian reported being more out to family and friends at earlier ages than those who were raised Christian. SGMs who were raised Christian, but did not identify as Christian in adulthood reported, more adverse childhood experiences and bullying than other SGMs. Sexual minorities …

The 2022 Utah College Sexual Behavior Survey: Initial Findings Report, Cris Meier, Julie Gast, Susannah Harris, Melissa Ferguson, Brittany Hansen, Moni Butte

All Current Publications

Purpose: The purpose of the 2022 Utah College Sexual Behavior Survey project was to use retrospective sexual behavior and education measures to gain a better understanding of the sexual behaviors and perceptions of sex education of Utah youth by asking students aged 18-21 years old about their sexual behaviors as youth.

Measures: The survey questions represented ten topical areas. These areas included questions about: basic demographics; non-penetrative sex; penetrative sex; contraceptive use and pregnancy and sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention; communication and consent; sexting; sex education; attitudes about sex; current sex behavior; and university programming.

Method: A one-time survey was …

Using Peer-Support Coaching To Improve Adherence To Online Act Self-Help For College Mental Health: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Korena S. Klimczak, Michael P. Twohig, Gretchen G. Peacock, Michael E. Levin

Psychology Student Research

Online self-help programs such as the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Guide address significant barriers to receiving therapy but suffer from low adherence rates. Peer-delivered coaching, using undergraduate students as coaches, is an innovative alternative to traditional coaching methods which may improve adherence in a more scalable format. To test the efficacy of peer-support coaching for college students using ACT Guide in a naturalistic setting, we conducted a pragmatic randomized controlled trial with three conditions (phone coaching, text message coaching, and a no support control group; N = 230). Participants were block randomized, and program adherence (i.e., number of modules …

Aspen Leaves As A "Chemical Landscape" For Fungal Endophyte Diversity - Can Nitrogen And Herbivory Shape The Community Composition In Controlled Conditions?, Johanna Witzell, Vicki Huizu Guo Decker, Marta Agostinelli, Carmen Romeralo Tapia, Michelle Cleary, Benedicte Riber Albrectsen

Aspen Bibliography

The endophytic microbiome may influence the ecological performance of plants, including forest trees. Various abiotic and biotic factors may shape the endophyte communities directly but also indirectly, by modifying the quality of host plants as a substrate. We hypothesized that potentially antifungal or fungistatic condensed tannins (CTs) would determine the quality of aspen (Populus tremula) leaves as a substrate for endophytic fungi. By subjecting the plants to nitrogen fertilization (N) or herbivory (H; leaf beetles) we aimed to change the internal “chemical landscape”, especially the CT levels, in aspen leaves. We expected that this would lead to changes in the …

Two Sides To Every Psyche: Implications Of Positive Psychology For "Mental Health" Research In Engineering Education, Muhammad Asghar, Angela Minichiello

Engineering Education Student Research

“Mental Health.” Throughout the 20th century, these familiar words have been quietly commandeered by a physiological model of health (Greenspoon & Saklofske, 2001). Unknowingly, society conspired to use these words—colloquially, academically, and scientifically—for the sole purpose of depicting (or implying) negative states of the human mind. Since the origins of psychological research over 100 years ago, our understanding of what mental health is has been conflated with notions of mental illness. Resultantly, we have tacitly agreed that the presence or absence of suffering is the sole implication of our mental health (Horwitz & Scheid, 1999).

Pests Of Hemp In Utah, Marion Murray, Macahl Evans, Claudia Nischwitz, Austin Taylor, Cody Zesiger

All Current Publications

This guide includes information on insect and disease pests of hemp, organized by pest group. Much of the content is a result of a two-year arthropod and plant disease survey of field-grown hemp operations in northern Utah. Some pests included in this guide were not found in that survey but may be likely to occur in the future. Beneficials and natural enemies are also covered, and information on pesticides is included.

Thermal Tolerance And Physiology Of Eleutherodactylus Coqui Along An Elevational Gradient In Hawai‘I, Karen H. Beard, Susannah S. French, Jack Marchetti

Browse all Datasets

The purpose of this study was to determine if the thermal tolerance and physiology of the coqui frog changed along HawaiÔiÕs elevation gradient. A short acclimation experiment was used to test the baseline thermal tolerance and physiology, and an extended acclimation experiment to test the acclimation ability of the thermal tolerance and physiology metrics of the coqui frogs collected from low (m), medium (350-550 m) and high elevations (>750 m).

How Healthcare Providers Can Support Timely Cervical And Breast Cancer Screenings For Individuals With Disabilities, Rachel Byers, Timothy Keady

All Current Publications

This fact sheet outlines how healthcare providers can apply current evidence and best practices in screening for cervical cancer and breast cancer in individuals with disabilities.

Elevation Influences The Microhabitat Use And Baseline Physiology Of Coqui Frogs In Hawai‘I, Karen H. Beard, Susannah S. French, Jack Marchetti

Browse all Datasets

The purpose of this study was to determine whether elevation in HawaiÔi affects the coquiÕs microhabitat use such as substrate choice and height off the forest floor and physiological metrics such as osmolality, oxidative status, and energy metabolites (glucose, free glycerol, and triglycerides).

Asian Giant Hornet (Vespa Mandarinia Smith), Lori R. Spears, Carson Wise, Ryan Davis

All Current Publications

This fact sheet describes Asian giant hornet and reviews similar-looking insects, its life cycle, predatory strategies, monitoring and management, and the related public health concerns.

Invasive Pests Of Landscape Trees In Utah, Lori R. Spears, Ann Mull, Anna Fabiszak, Marion Murray, Ryan Davis, Diane G. Alston, Ricardo Ramirez

All Current Publications

This guide provides an overview of the Utah First Detector Program and how to submit samples. The guide reviews the diseases and insects that affect landscape trees in Utah.

Invasive Species Handbook: A Resource For Educators - Grades 3-8, Natalie D'Souza, Marion Murray, Lori R. Spears

All Current Publications

This handbook includes six chapters that discuss invasive species and their environmental, economic, and health impacts. It also reviews pathways of invasive species spread and prevention, monitoring, and control. The handbook is a resource for educators teaching children in grades 3 through 8. Learning objectives, activities, and vocabulary are also included.

The Utah Statesman, December 12, 2022, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

Addressing The Dangers Of The Online Alt-Right, Paul Harrison

Fall Student Research Symposium 2022

This presentation aims to establish how the online alt-right phenomenon is a problem for the United States and propose multiple potential solutions to that problem.Evidence was gathered through online academic databases and media organizations' publications of personal accounts of people who have had encounters with the alt-right or experienced the problems it causes.The online far right is built on violence and extremism, far from mainstream American politics. In appealing to young American men through the alt-right pipeline, far right online communities are harmful to American society because of their spreading hateful messages against minorities and their promotion of violence, which …

Intimate Partner Violence Against Women In Southern Punjab, Pakistan: A Phenomenological Study, Tehmina Sattar, Saeed Ahmad, Muhammad Asim

Sociology and Anthropology Student Research

Background: Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) refers to behavior by an intimate partner that can cause physical, sexual, or psychological harm; is a common global public health issue requiring immediate attention. IPV is the most common form of violence in rural areas of Punjab, Pakistan.

Methods: This qualitative phenomenological study collected 46 in-depth interviews from married women who experienced IPV in the rural areas of South Punjab. A semi-structured interview guide was used for data collection. These women were selected through a snowball sampling technique from October 2018 to March 2019. Researchers accessed the study setting with the help of gatekeepers …

Faculty Senate Executive Committee Agenda, December 12, 2022, Utah State University

Faculty Senate & Faculty Senate Executive Committee

• Call to Order: Approval of Minutes- Nov 14, 2022
• University Business
• Information: Educational Policies Committee
• Reports: Council on Teacher Education; Scholarship Advisory Board
• Old Business: Athletic Spending
• New Business: Divestment Proposal
• Adjourn

Keep Calm And Carry On: The Relationships Between Cognitive Flexibility, Social Support & Anxiety In Students Transitioning To College, Max Buck, Rebecca Thornley, Mara Smuin

Fall Student Research Symposium 2022

The current study sought to understand the correlations between cognitive flexibility, social support, and anxiety. A hypothesized model, developed using the Social Skills Deficiency Vulnerability Framework, was tested and verified using bivariate analysis. The findings of this research indicate that increased cognitive flexibility is correlated with decreased symptoms of anxiety and increased perceived social support. Additionally, increased social support is found to correlate with decreased symptoms of anxiety. Keywords: cognitive flexibility, social support, anxiety

Social Media's Effect On Youth, Joshua Gardner

Fall Student Research Symposium 2022

This paper goes in depth about social media and the effect it has had on the mental health of youth in todays society. Compiling research from several peer reviewed journals and personal experiences, the conclusion reached seems to point that there is a correlation between social media and less emotional stability, toxic and harmful body image comparisons, as well as higher rates of depression depending on the amount of time spent on social media platforms. Although there are consistent studies demonstrating that social media has a negative impact, there are also studies showing that social media provides healthy outlets, more …

The Effects Of True Crime Media, Zoe Patton

Fall Student Research Symposium 2022

True crime is a media genre of growing popularity, and also of growing controversy. Recent media production has sparked debate over how the genre affects the public's perception on crime, as well as how it affects the victims family. I wanted to discover how true crime media can be a genre that helps the public more than it hurts, and offers information and education rather than romanticization of terrible people and events, and discover all the ways that it can cause harm, so we can learn how to stop and understand the parts that can be harmful. Research was conducted …

The Effects Of Raising A Child With Companion Animals, Abby Murcray

Fall Student Research Symposium 2022

What were the effects on children who were raised with companion animals? As someone who has grown up with companion animals most of my life, I wanted to learn what impact the animals had on my growth and development. The research was conducted using library and internet resources to locate both primary and secondary resources. For this study, I looked at specific studies done on children that are surrounded by companion animals versus those that are not, using mostly Utah State's Academic Search Ultimate to find my sources. Raising a child with a domestic animal benefits a child in many …

Homelessness Among Utah Women, Candice B. Pierucci, Emily S. Darowski, Susan R. Madsen

Marketing and Strategy Faculty Publications

In 2020, the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness reported that an estimated 3,131 Utah residents experienced homelessness on any given day.¹ And, according to data shared by the Office of Homeless Services under the Utah Department of Workforce Services,² 24,037 people accessed homelessness services in Utah sometime during 2021. Clearly, homelessness is a grave concern for many Utah women and families. As the Utah Women & Leadership Project seeks to strengthen the impact of all Utah girls and women, understanding homelessness for female residents is important. This research snapshot focuses on three key areas:

1. An overview of …

Temporal Expectations In Delay Of Gratification, Jeremy M. Haynes, Mariah E. Willis-Moore, D. Perez, Devanio J. Cousins, Amy L. Odum

Psychology Faculty Publications

We examined how temporal expectations influence preference reversals in a delay of gratification task for rats based on a hypothesis of Rachlin (2000), who suggested that preference for a larger-later reward may shift in favor of a smaller-immediate reward as a result of changes in when that larger reward is expected. To explore Rachlin’s hypothesis, we pre-exposed two groups of rats to the delays associated with a larger-later reinforcer from a delay of gratification task. One group experienced the delays as a function of their choices in an intertemporal choice task and the other group experienced delays yoked from the …

Music Therapy As An Alternative To Traditional Therapy, Andrew Rasmussen

Fall Student Research Symposium 2022

I have always been fascinated by music and its ability to help myself focus and influence my mood. I never knew there was a specific therapy based on music itself. Originally I had planned to make an essay around if music was helpful for dementia research, which sadly was proven to be one hundred percent true and there was no room for an argument. In response I looked more into music therapy, and realized just how viable this form of therapy is. I personally evaluated around 20 sites worth of material, this allowed me to form a strong idea of …

Inter-Step Height Variation And Observations Of Fall-Related Events During Stairway Negotiation, Shandon Poulsen

Fall Student Research Symposium 2022

INTRODUCTION: Variation in step height within a stairway could negatively impact safe stairway negotiation by decreasing step height predictability, and consequently, increasing stair users' fall risk. Unfortunately, inter-stairway step height variability is common, particularly in older stairways, but its impact may be lessened by highlighting steps' edges using high-contrast stripes on the top front edge of each step. Such contrast enhancement may draw greater attention to the steps' edges and potentially enhance the precision of the edge's estimated location. PURPOSE: To determine (1) if fall-related events are associated with greater inter-step height variation, and (2) if such fall-related events are …

Latinx Culture Centers At Utah Universities: An Analysis Of Services And Web Presence, Vanessa Garcia Vazquez

Fall Student Research Symposium 2022

Many universities offer culture centers for their minority students to support them as they navigate school. The purpose of this research is to see what student services are being offered to minority students, specifically Latinx students, at public universities in Utah. The universities analyzed were Utah State University, Weber State Univeresity, University of Utah, and Utah Tech University. The argument is framed using an analysis of the websites of the centers at these 4 universities, and interviews of staff and faculty overseeing these centers in the state of Utah. The findings of this research should push for future discourse about …