Digital Commons Network^™

Organic Management Of Pillbugs And Sowbugs In Strawberries And Other Fruits, Briger Carey, Marion Murray, Emilie Demard, Jennifer R. Reeve

All Current Publications

Pillbugs and sowbugs are collectively known as isopods that typically feed on soil organic matter, but under certain conditions, they can be a pest of many young plants and berries. This fact sheet reviews identification, life cycle, damage, and organic management strategies for pillbugs and sowbugs.

Faculty Senate Minutes March 30, 2026, Utah State University

Faculty Senate & Faculty Senate Executive Committee

• Call to Order
• Approval of Minutes - March 2, 2026
• University Business
• Faculty Senate Business
• Reports
• Budget and Faculty Welfare
• Faculty Development and Educational Leadership
• Sustainability Council
• Information
• EPC Report - March 5, 2026
• Employee Benefits
• Task Force Report
• Additional Business
• President Elect Nominations
• Faculty Senate Spotlight
• 2026-2027 Faculty Senate Calendar
• Adjourn - 4:39

Teaching Children Money Management, Melanie Jewkes, Amanda Christensen, Andrea Schmutz, Vincenza Vicari-Bentley, Kelan Combe, Rochelle Allen, Lauren Olsen, Jenny Weller, Mckenzie Walsh

All Current Publications

Don't fret if, as a parent, you don't feel qualified to teach your children about money. Talking about money and choices made with money (for better or worse) is a great place to start. This publication covers what and how to teach children about money management skills, and gives every-day parents ideas to start the conversation.

Impacts Of Biochar And Fe/Zn-Doped Biochar On The Degradation And Transformation Of Pfas In Wastewater Biosolids Compost, Chase Fry, R. Ryan Dupont, Joan Mclean

Spring Runoff Conference

Background

• >5.8 million dry metric tons of biosolids were produced in 2018.
• It is difficult & expensive to landfill all biosolids produced.
• Biosolids are increasingly used as an agricultural fertilizer and soil amendment.

Water Needs And Recovery Pathways For The Great Salt Lake, David Tarboton, Sarah Null, Bethany Neilson

Spring Runoff Conference

Main Points 

• Levels of GSL inherently fluctuate because of variability in precipitation and temperature that drive inflow and evaporation 
• Reductions in inflows due to water use are superimposed on this variability 
• Consistent delivery of conserved water offers the opportunity to shift the range of lake levels upwards reducing the occurrence of serious adverse effects and increasing the potential for healthy lake levels 
• Adding 250 thousand-acre ft/year reduces the occurrence of serious adverse effects from 61% to 28% over the long term 
• Adding 800 thousand-acre ft/year shifts the mean of variable lake levels to the lower end of the healthy lake …

Microplastics As Physical Hubs Amplifying Antiobiotic Resistance Under Mixed-Contaminant Selection In Wastewater Systems, Liyuan Hou

Spring Runoff Conference

Microplastics (MPs) are tiny plastic particles within the range of (0.1 mm to 5 mm) in size

Great Salt Lake Basin Integrated Plan – Longterm Actions, Jake M. Serago

Spring Runoff Conference

GSL’s water level is in long-term decline. Water users face shortages and challenges. Increased temperatures, greater precipitation extremes and population changes are stressing water supplies in the basin. 84% of Utah residents think the Government is accountable for resolving issues facing GSL.

The Do-It-Yourself Guide To Backyard Drip Irrigation, Jaydee Gunnell, Taun Beddes, Burdette Barker

All Current Publications

This guide promotes efficient backyard drip irrigation as a vital strategy for water conservation in Utah, the third-driest state in the U.S. It explains evapotranspiration (ET), drip system components, and provides formulas to calculate a plant’s water needs. The guide provides practical advice on converting traditional irrigation systems to drip systems, particularly in flower beds and around shrubs and trees. By implementing drip irrigation, homeowners can contribute to water conservation while enhancing the health of their landscapes.

Home, Health, Community, & Allyship 2025: Utahns' Awareness, Understanding, And Attitudes, Susan R. Madsen, April Townsend

Marketing and Strategy Faculty Publications

During the fall of 2023, Utah Women & Leadership Project (UWLP) researchers conducted a statewide study to establish a baseline for public perceptions related to the awareness, understanding, and attitudes about challenges that Utah women and girls face. In early 2024, we published 20 short research summaries¹ that shared the results of this comprehensive study (see Nos. 9–28). Next, in the fall of 2024, we administered this survey, with slight changes, around the state of Utah for the second time. Six comprehensive research white papers were then published on the results (see Nos. 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, and …

Faculty Senate Executive Committee Minutes March 16, 2026, Utah State University

Faculty Senate & Faculty Senate Executive Committee

• Call to Order
• Approval of Minutes
• University Business
• Faculty Senate Business
• Reports
• Budget and Faculty Welfare
• Faculty Development and Educational Leadership
• Sustainability Council
• Information
• EPC Report
• Center for Civic Excellence
• Employee Benefits
• Task Force Report
• Additional Business
• 2026-2027 Faculty Senate Calendar
• Adjourn: 4:41 PM

Black Medic (Medicago Lupulina) Identification And Control In Residential Landscapes, Michael Caron, Taun Beddes, Corey Ransom

All Current Publications

Black medic (Medicago lupulina) is an herbaceous winter or summer annual broadleaf landscape weed. This fact sheet provides a weed description and describes suppression and control options.

Seeds Of Change - Building Community And Resilience With Plant Guilds, Roslynn Mccann, Liliane Dionne, Kevin White

All Current Publications

The goals of this Grade 6 living systems/biodiversity curriculum are to highlight Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, and Inuit) contributions to science, technology, and sustainable agriculture, with a focus on relational worldviews, permaculture practices, and respect for Mother Earth. Students will conduct plant experiments, learn Indigenous stories, make corn husk dolls, create a recipe, and enjoy eating their soup creation.

Sunflower Cut Flower Production In Utah, Calee Garn, Alison Bingham, Melanie Stock, Claudia Nischwitz

All Current Publications

Sunflower is low-maintenance, full-sun crop that is well-adapted to Utah’s hot and dry conditions. Single-stem cultivars are most popular for cut flower production. This fact sheet provides information on sunflower production, including cultivars, site preparation, germination, irrigation, pests, and disease, nutrient management, harvest and storage, postharvest bed management, and economics.

Educational Policies Committee Minutes March 5, 2026, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

Approval of Minutes – February 5, 2026

Subcommittee Reports

• Curriculum Subcommittee
• Program Proposals
• Academic Standards Subcommittee
• General Education Subcommittee

Center for Civic Excellence

Other Business

Adjourn: 4:00 pm

Curriculum Subcommittee Minutes, March 5, 2026, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Approval of Minutes - February 5, 2026
• Program Proposals
• Semester Course Approval Reviews
• Other Business
• 2025-2026 Curriculum Totals
• Draft Graduate Certificate Policy
• Adjourn: 3:01 pm

Educational Policies Committee Agenda March 5, 2026, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Approval of Minutes - February 5, 2026
• Subcommittee Reports
• Curriculum Subcommittee
• Academic Standards Subcommittee
• General Education Subcommittee
• Center for Civic Excellence
• Other Business
• Adjourn: 4:00 pm

Curriculum Subcommittee Agenda March 5, 2026, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Approval of Minutes - February 5, 2026
• R401 - Program Proposals
• Semester Course Approval Review
• Other Business
• Draft Graduate Certificates Policy
• Adjourn: 3:00 pm

Women, Finance, & Education 2025: Utahns' Awareness, Understanding, And Attitudes, Susan R. Madsen, April Townsend

Marketing and Strategy Faculty Publications

During the fall of 2023, Utah Women & Leadership Project (UWLP) researchers conducted a statewide study to establish a baseline for public perceptions related to the awareness, understanding, and attitudes about challenges that Utah women and girls face. In early 2024, we published 20 short research summaries¹ that shared the results of this comprehensive study (see Nos. 9–28). Next, in the fall of 2024, we administered this survey, with slight changes, around the state of Utah for the second time. Six comprehensive research white papers were then published on the results (see Nos. 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, and …

Evaluating The Impact Of A Lend-Based Family Mentorship Program For Pre-Service Professionals, Matthew Bogenschutz, Sarah Lineberry, Jackie Robinson Brock, Flip Grey, Kathryn Flinn

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

Family-led pre-professional mentoring programs have been shown in past literature to have multiple positive outcomes, including better provider communication, increased sensitivity to the needs and contributions of family members in clinical settings, and better understanding of disability policy contexts among professionals. Yet there have been relatively few examples of exemplary programs that have developed successful models for family mentoring of pre-service professionals. Using qualitative evaluative data from one such program, a component of a Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) program, this study shares the experiences of both families and trainees. Common themes shared between these two groups …

A Context-Aware Computer Vision-Based Approach For Post-Earthquake Damage Assessment Of Bridge Inventories, Parham Bakhtiari, S. Ratna Pandey, M. Zaker Esteghamati

Civil and Environmental Engineering Student Research

Post-earthquake damage assessment is crucial to evaluate the safety and serviceability of bridges after an earthquake. Conventional screening methods rely on manual inspection, which is costly, time-consuming, and poses safety risks to inspectors. To address these challenges, this study presents a context-aware vision transformer framework for integrating structural element details into multi-defect identification through a late-fusion approach. The model is trained on a post-earthquake image dataset collected from three major earthquakes in Italy, consisting of 356 images. Five structural elements of reinforced concrete bridges are selected, where concrete spalling and reinforcement corrosion were chosen as target defects. The framework achieved …

Faculty Senate Agenda March 2, 2026, Utah State University

Faculty Senate & Faculty Senate Executive Committee

• 3:00 Call to Order
• Approval of Minutes February 2, 2026
• 3:05 University Business
• 3:20 Faculty Senate Business
• 3:35 Report
• Parking and Transportation
• 3:40 Information
• EPC Report - February 5, 2026
• 4:00 Old Business
• 4:05 New Business
• Special Faculty Forum
• Adjourn: 4:30 pm

Workforce Needs And Labor Market Trends In Utah [Special Report], Lendel K. Narine, Paul Hill, Andree' Walker Bravo

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

This study examined Utah employers’ perceptions of workforce preparedness, hiring challenges, and emerging skill needs. Data were collected from 226 employers across different industries to identify priority competency gaps in the state’s workforce. Results revealed that Utah employers perceive the largest skill gaps in time management, critical thinking, conflict resolution, and ethical judgment, competencies essential for effective leadership and collaboration. Employers placed the highest value on experiential learning opportunities, particularly work-based projects, internships, and mentorships, as the most effective means of preparing graduates. Employers emphasized communication, teamwork, and analytical problem-solving as the most critical skills for the next five to …

Identifying Priorities To Guide Extension Water Quality Programming In Utah, Clare Entwistle, Sarah Erwin, Stephanie Vaughn

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

Utah State University Extension water quality faculty conducted a statewide water quality needs assessment to identify priority contaminants and resource gaps. The results found that elevated nutrient levels and sedimentation were the top concerns where additional resources would be beneficial. In addition, insufficient funding for improvements and low public engagement were identified as key challenges in addressing water quality issues. Results revealed current unmet needs with regional variation to inform Extension resource allocation and programming.

Bridging Gaps In Data Utilization: An Evaluation Of The Rural Utah Data Symposium, Paul A. Hill

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

This study evaluates the effectiveness of the Rural Utah Data Symposium, an event designed to address data-driven decision-making among rural leaders. The symposium features expert-led presentations on the rural economy, healthcare, housing, mobility, broadband, and wellbeing. Data were collected through an online exit survey with a 67% response rate (n = 35). Attendees rated presentation quality, learning outcomes, and overall satisfaction. Findings show high ratings and positive learning outcomes, demonstrating the symposium’s value in empowering informed decision-making. Recommendations include increasing interactivity among attendees, broadening content scope, and expanding statewide representation to further support data utilization in rural Utah.

Building Youth Resilience Through Adventure-Based Learning, Lisa M. Schainker, Abby Julian, Caitlyn Rogers

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

To build resilience skills among Salt Lake County youth, Utah State University (USU) Extension - Salt Lake County partnered with the Utah National Guard to host a daylong camp at Camp Williams called Resilience Education Adventures for Life (REAL) Day. REAL Day included both experiential classroom learning and outdoor activities, such as positive risk-taking activities like rappelling and obstacle courses. Survey results from 84 youth participants (n = 84) showed increases in self-reported skills and attitudes related to resilience, including confidence, a growth mindset, and stress management.

Time, Vastness, And Belonging: Outcomes From A Teen Dark-Sky Curriculum Pilot In Colorado, Troy Allan, Sadie Wilde, Anna Gilliam, Aaron Watson

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

This article reports on a program evaluation of Skyward – Part One, a Utah State University Extension curriculum that promotes adolescent mental well-being through immersive, awe-based dark-sky experiences. Findings indicate the program effectively supported emotional regulation and perspective-taking, demonstrating strong potential for replication of awe-based youth mental-health programming across non-formal educational settings.

Farmers Markets As Community Infrastructure: Evidence From A Three-Year Statewide Data Project In Utah, Jaclyn Pace, Roslynn Mccann, Blue Cook, Steven Price, Lorali Smith, Dianna Parkynn, Joshua Cafferty

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

Utah farmers markets play a critical role in food access, small business viability, and community connection, yet limited statewide data document their impact. The Utah Farmers Market Network (UFMN) and Utah State University (USU) Extension conducted a mixed-methods evaluation (2023–2025) and found that farmers markets make valuable contributions to the community.

Results From Jail-Based Substance Use Treatment In Tooele County, Matthew Huntington, Shianne Anderson

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

This article describes the development and outcomes of a jail-based substance use treatment program in Tooele County, Utah. The program addresses the elevated overdose risk among individuals leaving incarceration through education, peer support, and coordinated reentry planning. Program outcomes include reduced recidivism and improved connection to recovery supports.

Impulsivity In Nrcam Ko Mice Is Reduced By Nmdar Antagonist Mk-801 But Not By Ampar Antagonist Cnqx, Mona Buhusi, Catalin V. Buhusi

Psychology Faculty Publications

The neuronal cell adhesion molecule NrCAM is widely expressed in the nervous system across the lifespan and has important physiological functions in the development of neuronal circuits through axonal growth and guidance and formation and maintenance of synapses in the cortex. NrCAM gene polymorphisms are associated with vulnerability to neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, as well as vulnerability to substance use disorders. We investigated the effects of acute and chronic stress and the effects of systemic administration of AMPAR antagonist CNQX and NMDAR antagonist MK-801 on delay discounting in male NrCAM knockout (KO) mice and their wild-type littermate controls (WT). …

Utah Farmers Markets Impact Report: Strengthening Local Food Systems, Economic Resilience, And Community Well-Being, Jaclyn Pace, Steven Price, Roslynn Brain-Mccann, Joshua Cafferty, Blue Cook

All Current Publications

Utah's farmers markets are more than places to shop — they are essential community infrastructure. With more than 60 markets in operation across the state, people rely on their local market for food, leisure, and community connection. From 2023–2025, the Utah Farmers Market Network (UFMN) and Utah State University (USU) Extension led a three-year, mixed-methods evaluation to document the economic and social contributions of farmers markets across the state. Over three market seasons, more than 230,000 customer responses were collected at markets in St. George, Cedar City, Hurricane, Ogden, Murray, Wheeler Farm, Millcreek, Downtown Salt Lake City, and Price — …