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Educational Policies Committee Agenda September 7, 2023, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Subcommittee Reports

• Curriculum Subcommittee (Chad Simon)

• Academic Standards Subcommittee (Renee Galliher)

• General Education Subcommittee (Matt Sanders)

• Other Business

Curriculum Subcommittee Agenda September 7, 2023, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Approval of Minutes - April 6, 2023
• Program Proposals
• Semester Course Approval Reviews
• Other Business - New baccalaureate programs template and cross/dual listed info for the EPC handbook
• Adjourn: 3:00 pm

The Utah Statesman, August 28, 2023, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

Locust Borer, Marion Murray, Ryan Davis

All Current Publications

The locust borer, Magacyllene robiniae, belongs to the longhorned beetle family, referring to the long antennae of most of the species in this group. In Utah, locust borer has damaged black locust trees in most northern Utah counties. The only host is black locust; honeylocust and other trees are not affected by this pest. This fact sheet describes locust borer and its life cycle, symptoms, and control.

From Flames To Forage: How Wildfire Affects Elk Behavior And Abundance, Megan M. Whetzel

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni) is an ecologically and culturally important wildlife species in the Intermountain West, but it is facing habitat changes caused by increasing fire activity. Wildfire frequency is projected to continue to change into the future, yet increases in annual area burned and increases in area burned at high severity may actually represent opportunities for some species. Large herbivores like elk may benefit from increased access to regenerating areas where forage abundance and quality are often elevated. Therefore, effective management of wildlife populations may depend on quantifying how large ungulates, like elk, alter …

Target Markets For Renaissance Ag's Pasture Box, Chanden C. Westover

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

Renaissance Ag is an agricultural company that is committed to trying and increase productivity. Using the Pasture Box, they believe they can grow a feed source that uses less water and land than conventional agriculture. To better understand the benefits of their product, they have allowed Utah State University to conduct research on beef cattle by feeding their fodder. This paper will look into this research and its implications. It also explores various target markets and the benefits of targeting them.

Understanding Profitability Of Small-Scale Agriculture In Utah, Amanda Nelson

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

Small-scale agriculture production has increased in Utah. Utah has lost much of its farmable land due to increased development. The increased development and influx of people has increased the demand for food supply, resulting in many beginning to producing their own food. This increase in individuals producing their own food has inherently increased the number of micro farms within Utah. This increase in the number of small-scale operations has left many wondering if these operations are both profitable and worth the effort it takes to operate them. As such, this paper will analyze the budget for three activities: (1) raising …

Surface-Functionalized Silica Nanocarriers For Mitigating Water Stress In Wheat And Benefiting The Root Microbiome, Anthony Cartwright

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Changes in climate and shifting patterns of drought threaten the growth of important cash crops like wheat. The element silicon serves as a plant nutrient and shows promise for strengthening wheat against drought while remaining safe to both the crop and the positive bacteria that grow on its roots. Silicon can be added to wheat in the form of silicon-dioxide nanoparticles featuring protective coatings made from plant-beneficial nutrients. These nanoparticles can be engineered with high surface area or porous structures allowing them to be loaded with additional nutrients that can be delivered to crops. In a laboratory setting, such nanoparticles …

Consumption Of A Western Diet Enhanced Colitis-Associated Colorectal Cancer And Dysbiosis Of The Fecal Microbiome In Mice Notwithstanding Dietary Intervention Or Fecal Microbiome Transfer, Daphne Michelle Rodriguez Jimenez

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

In a rodent model of inflammation-associated colorectal cancer, consumption of a Western-style diet increases gut inflammation and enhances risk of developing colon tumors. The goal of this dissertation was to understand the contribution of bacteria within the large intestine on colon inflammation and colon tumorigenesis. Two pre-clinical animal studies were performed using two different intervention strategies to shift the microbiome, and potentially gut inflammation and tumor development: 1) an experiment using dietary supplementation with black raspberries, a functional food enriched in bioactive anthocyanins with purported antiinflammatory activity, and 2) an experiment using fecal microbiota transfer from mice fed a healthy …

Investigating Mitochondrial Influence On The Rate Of Anaerobic Glycolysis In An In Vitro Model, Mackenzie Jenna' Taylor

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The rate at which the muscle acidifies after an animal is harvested has a profound effect on the quality of the resulting pork. When acidification increases gradually, desirable pork quality characteristics are developed. In contrast, rapid acidification deteriorates pork quality, exemplified by the pale, soft, and exudative (PSE) pork defect. The rate of acidification is determined by the rate of anaerobic metabolism in postmortem muscle. Yet the processes controlling postmortem anaerobic metabolism are not well understood. Recent research suggests that mitochondria, the powerhouse of the cell, may influence this process by competing for substrate (pyruvate) with anaerobic metabolism, thereby reducing …

Antimicrobial Peptides In Transgenic Silkworm Silk, David Jaden Turner

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Overview: People in India and China have produced silk textiles for thousands of years. Silk is a biodegradable, biocompatible compound used in the production of clothing, bedding, furniture, industrial materials, and medical applications. Over the last 30 years, research has increasingly investigated silk’s antimicrobial effects and how to augment its natural abilities. Antimicrobial peptides, or AMPs, are also an area of increasing interest as the rise of antibiotic resistance reduces the efficacy of current treatments. This project plans to systematically synthesize a fusion protein that incorporates the beneficial properties of each constituent into commercial silkworms.

Innovation: This project seeks to …

Statistical Graph Quality Analysis Of Utah State University Master Of Science Thesis Reports, Ragan Astle

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Graphical software packages have become increasingly popular in our modern world, but there are concerns within the statistical visualization field about the default settings provided by these packages, which can make it challenging to create good quality graphs that align with standard graph principles. In this thesis, we investigate whether the quality of graphs from Utah State University (USU) Plan A Master of Science (MS) thesis reports from the years 1930 to 2019 was affected by the rise of graphical software packages. We collected all data stored on the USU Digital Commons website since November 2021 to determine the specific …

Exploring Body Image Related Cognitive Fusion As A Maintenance Mechanism Of Eating Disorder Pathology, Jennifer L. Barney

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions that can have serious negative effects on a person’s physical and mental well-being. These disorders are typically complex, and individuals are often struggling with one or more comorbid mental health problems, making them difficult to treat. To address this complexity and hopefully improve treatment outcomes for those with eating disorders, psychology research examining individual differences that appear to be related to differential treatment responses is needed. Better understanding how these factors relate to each other can help treatment providers identify the treatment methods most likely to work best for a specific individual based …

A Mechanistic Examination Of Interspecific Competition Between Wild And Domestic Herbivores, Courtney Check

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Large herbivores, such as mule deer and cattle have similar life histories and likely compete for resources. However, quantifying the extent to which these species compete and the specific resources they compete for has proved challenging. My research examines if cattle influence deer abundance and behavior due to competition for forage, competition for shade, and/or by affecting the predation risk of deer. Using a grid of autonomous trail cameras, I was able to determine if cattle abundance influences local deer abundance in relation to specific resources and habitat features. Using GPS data from collared deer, I was also able to …

The Influence Of Secondary Principals' Perceived Trust Of Assistant Principals And Central Office Supervisors On Principal Self-Efficacy For Instructional Leadership, Cody J. Reutzel

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Although self-efficacy has been studied widely in education, variables associated with the self-efficacy of principals have received relatively limited attention. The current study investigated the relationship between secondary principals’ perceptions of trust in their assistant principal and central office supervisor and their own self-efficacy for instructional leadership. Surveys were collected from 80 secondary principals. Open-ended questions were utilized to gain greater understanding of the behaviors contributing to principals’ perceptions of trust and feelings of self-efficacy. Data were analyzed using correlation and multiple regression. Quantitative results revealed that no statistically significant relationship is present between trust perceptions in the relationships investigated …

Greater Sage-Grouse Response To Tree Canopy Removal: Habitat Vegetation Composition And Sage-Grouse Use 10–15 Years Post Treatment In The Southern Periphery Of The Species Range, Benjamen Donnelly

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Pinyon juniper woodland expansion into Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus, hereafter ‘sage-grouse’) habitat in southern Utah continues to threaten sage-grouse survival. Habitat restoration after pinyo-juniper removal treatment is key to the continued persistence and survival of sage-grouse along the southern edge of their range. Few long-term studies are available that examine sage-grouse use of areas treated to remove pinyon-juniper forests (i.e., ‘restored habitat’). The purpose of this research was to determine if sage-grouse used ‘restored’ areas in the long-term, as a measure of the actual effectiveness of pinyon-juniper woodland control treatments. I compared vegetation composition, shrub height and shrub …

An Evaluation Of Stress Tolerance In Restoration Plant Species In Response To Fire, Drought, And Invasive Plants Through The Lens Of Functional Traits, Adam M. Clifford

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Sagebrush communities in the Great Basin face many threats. Cheatgrass, a winter annual from Eurasia, has invaded these communities, increasing wildfire and lowering species diversity. Additionally, climate models project warmer and drier conditions throughout much of the Great Basin, likely increasing drought, cheatgrass invasion, and wildfire. Intact stands of native and introduced perennial grasses have been shown to limit invasion by cheatgrass and restore ecosystem functions. The objective of this research was to identify the functional traits and growth characteristics needed by restoration species to survive periods of drought and to evaluate varieties of commonly used restoration species for establishment, …

Mountain Lion (Puma Concolor) And Feral Horse (Equus Ferus) Interactions: Examining The Influence Of A Non-Native Ungulate On Predator Behavior In A Semi-Arid Environment, Peter C. Iacono

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

A non-native is a species that evolved in one ecosystem and has established within another. Non-native species can thrive in new ecosystems as they can spread quickly, outcompete and replace native species, and disrupt food webs. Domestic horses were brought to North America by Europeans in 1493. They are now found in 11 states across the western United States. Feral horses can negatively impact vegetation, endangered species habitat, compete with native species, and be important prey for mountain lions under certain conditions. But do feral horses affect the food web? Feral horses are managed by large removals to reduce the …

Plant Stem Undergraduate Symposium, David Britt

Biological Engineering Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Reimagining Disability: A Call To Action, Paritosh Joshi, Julia Pappageorge

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

This article focuses on how the medical profession, organizations, and universities should incorporate the social model of disability into their regulations and policies to advance justice for individuals with disabilities. Traditionally, disability has been viewed through the medical model, which postulates that one’s individual body or mind is medically impaired and diminishes the person’s quality of life. The model overemphasizes individual difference or disability diagnosis as something that should be treated at an individual level through medical intervention, and ignores social factors that impact the development of physical and mental conditions. Moreover, this pervasive attitude towards disability permeates institutions and …

Assessing The Needs Of Utah Dairy Farmers To Inform Extension Programming, Bruce F. Richards, Lendel Narine, Justin Clawson, Kalen Taylor, Jacob Hadfield, Jody Gale

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

A needs assessment was conducted by the Utah State University Dairy Extension Team to identify the most urgent issues faced by Utah dairy farmers. The assessment found that the top five priority needs were implementing new technology, improving public perception of water use, managing risk, succession planning, and reducing feed costs. The results will guide dairy Extension programming in Utah. Several workshops and events have already been planned to address these needs. Overall, the assessment will help USU Extension provide research-based educational programs to meet the needs of the dairy industry in Utah.

Rhaphiolepis Indica Fruit Extracts For Control Fusarium Solani And Rhizoctonia Solani, The Causal Agents Of Bean Root Rot, Ahmed A. Heflish, Said I. Behiry, Abdulaziz A. Al-Askar, Yiming Su, Ahmed Abdelkhalek, Mohamed K. Gaber

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Numerous strategies have been suggested to reduce dependence on synthetic products, such as physical, microbial, and natural methods. Among the natural remedies, plant extracts have emerged as a popular option owing to their eco-friendly character, ease of degradation, and harmless nature to humans. In our study, we used the acetone and hexane extracts of Rhaphiolepis indica fruit to combat two fungal pathogens that were isolated from infected bean plants and showed root rot symptoms. The two pathogens were confirmed to be pathogenic by pathogenicity assays conducted in vivo. The morphological and molecular identification by ITS-region sequencing revealed that the two …

Research Development & Early-Career Faculty: Catalysts Of Change For Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion In Stem, Monica Castañeda-Kessel, Idalis Villanueva Alarcón, Ryan Berke

Office of Research Faculty and Staff Publications

Problem Statement: Early-career science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) faculty members are often challenged when identifying authentic diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) goals, objectives, and tasks for their research grant proposals. Advancing DEI has not been one person’s job but rather the responsibility of a highly organized network within a system. Research development professionals have been and will continue to be critical resources for developing DEI plans and broadening participation. Their value is partly due to relationship-oriented processes that research professionals cultivate and shepherd as well as the inherently cross-disciplinary nature of the day-to-day work. Observation: In FY 19, 53% …

Implementing A Hearing Screening Readiness Assessment Tool For Preterm And Term Neonates In The Newborn Intensive Care Unit: A Pilot Project, Mckenzie Blatt, Adrienne Johnson, Jennifer L. Hamilton, Carly Alston, Belinda Chan

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

Newborn intensive care unit (NICU) patients are at risk for hearing loss. Early detection mitigates consequences of speech and language delay. The Joint Committee on Infant Hearing (JCIH) recommends hearing screening (HS) on all infants by 1 month of age. Often hearing screening is performed around the time of NICU discharge, often beyond JCIH recommendations. Automated auditory brainstem response (AABR) screening can be performed once an infant reaches 32 to 34 weeks corrected gestational age (GA). Our project aimed to reduce HS delay among NICU infants. We created and implemented a HS assessment tool defining gestational age and medical stability …

Journal Of Early Hearing Detection And Intervention: Volume 8 Issue 1, Pages 1-68

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

No abstract provided.

Raising A Bottle-Fed Calf On A Cow/Calf Operation, Reganne K. Briggs, Katelyn Barsnick, Cheyenne Reid, Ashley Longmore

All Current Publications

Having bottle-fed calves on the ranch is common for beef producers. The most likely scenarios are a cow has died, a cow isn’t giving enough milk, or a twin has been rejected. All these scenarios are likely to happen, which results in an orphan calf. Bottle-feeding a calf is straightforward; however, there are limited resources, specifically for beef producers, looking for bottle-fed calf management strategies. When bottle-feeding a beef calf, there are some things to consider, such as feeding colostrum, selecting and using milk replacers, and weaning the calf. Many of the resources on bottle-calf management come from the dairy …

Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (Nas): What You Need To Know, Maren Wright Wright Voss, Amelia Van Komen, Emily Hamilton, Aarica Cleveland, Jaclyn Miller

All Current Publications

National overdose deaths continue to rise, with 2021 marking the first time U.S. overdose deaths topped 100,000 in a 12-month timeframe. Substance use, such as alcohol, cocaine, opioids, and marijuana, during pregnancy is also increasing. As the U.S. struggles with harmful substance use, a growing number of infants are born with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), a harmful outcome of fetal exposure to substances. This fact sheet will talk about why and what to do, with recommendations for safe treatment and support during pregnancy.

Contributors, David Law, Nora Domínguez

Making Connections

List of contributors for Making Connections: A Handbook for Effective Formal Mentoring Programs in Academia.

Isokinetic Dynamometer Leg Extensor Peak Torque Measurement: A Time-Delayed Reliability And Score Selection Analysis Study, Brennan J. Thompson, Jennifer Xu

Kinesiology and Health Science Faculty Publications

The reliability of isokinetic peak torque (PT) has been reported mostly using a short-term ( < ~10 day) inter-trial testing time frame. However, many studies and programs utilize a long-term (several weeks to months) inter-trial testing period. Additionally, the methods by which the PT value is selected and reported from a multiple rep testing scheme have not been well investigated for both reliability and PT absolute performance comparisons. The purpose of this study was to investigate the long-term reliability of isokinetic and isometric PT of the leg extensors with an emphasis on the differences among several PT score selection methods. Thirteen men and women (age = 19.5 years) underwent two testing trials separated by 28.8 (±1.8) days. Testing included maximal voluntary contractions of three sets of three reps for two isokinetic contraction conditions of 60 (Isok60) and 240 (Isok240) deg/s velocities, and three sets of one rep of isometric contractions for the leg extensors. The PT score was derived from seven different methods (see text for descriptions). Reliability as assessed from intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) varied widely across contraction conditions and PT score selection parameters. The Isok60 velocity overall had lower reliability (ICCs = 0.48–0.81) than Isok240 (0.77–0.87) across the conditions whereas the isometric PT variables showed moderate reliability (0.71–0.73). Overall the set 1 PT score selection parameters were generally lower (p ≤ 0.05) than those that involved sets two and three. Systematic error (p ≤ 0.05) was shown for 6 out of the 17 PT selection variables. On a subjective interpretation basis, when taking everything into account the best overall combination of time/trial efficiency, reliability, best/highest PT score parameter, and reduced risk of systematic bias appears to be the PT variable that uses the average of the highest two reps of the first two sets of three reps—i.e., averaging the highest two values of the six total reps from the first two sets.

Optimizing Nitrogen Use For Continuous Recycling In Closed Life Support Systems, Noah J. Langenfeld, Bruce Bugbee

Utah Space Grant Consortium

Nitrogen (N) is needed by plants in the highest amount among root-zone-derived nutrients. Closed life-support systems for space missions will rely on in-situ food production for long-term sustainability, but high resupply and N fixation costs necessitate N recycling to support human nutrition for extended mission durations. We studied combinations of four N forms [ammonium, nitrate, urea, and N-fixing bacteria (protein)] for their use as an optimal N source for lettuce (Lactuca sativa) grown in peat moss in two container sizes (1.7 L and 8 L). Plants grown with ammonium nitrate consistently had the highest mass. When ammonium, urea, or microbial …