Digital Commons Network^™

University Students & Faculty Would Like More Knowledge About Using Ai In Academics, Tessa Richardson

Research on Capitol Hill

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is prevalent in every aspect of human life. Understanding both faculty and student attitudes and behaviors toward AI in education allows governing boards and lawmakers to effectively discuss and make informed decisions regarding policies that impact its usage.

Latinx People In Cache Valley Are Limited In Their Opportunities For Expression, Ella White

Research on Capitol Hill

My work has focused on the experiences and traumas of Latinx individuals and artists from Utah, specifically Cache Valley. Some of these experiences include: 

• Discrimination due to ethnicity  
• Criticism of religious beliefs 
• Lack of equal opportunity 
• The invisibility of their experiences.  

This research is an attempt to bring to light the minorities in our community who have continued to be marginalized.

Overlooked Habitats Buffer Spawning Opportunities For Cutthroat Trout, Autumn Zierenberg, Skylar Rousseau

Research on Capitol Hill

Temporarily available streams account for roughly 79% of streams in Utah alone. Intermittent streams are often overlooked as suitable habitats but are inundated during Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii) spawning season.

Staff Training Increases Success For Veterans And Service Members In Engineering, Samuel Shaw, Allison Miles

Research on Capitol Hill

Previous research developed four stages of support that staff can offer SVSM. The hope is through effective training, faculty, staff, and administrators can become “aware” and seek to further their ability to provide support. Increased support directly improves student success and academic belonging among SVSM.

Evaluating Invasive Plant Management To Keep Bear Lake Clear, Blue, And Deep, Tia Lawrence, Ola Adeyemi

Research on Capitol Hill

Eurasian watermilfoil grows more rapidly in Bear Lake water, producing more shoots per plant and growing taller (bottom left). In greenhouse settings, herbicide treatment was unable to provide complete control of plants when applied in Bear Lake water. Plants are grown and tested in galvanized feed tanks (right) in USU’s greenhouses.

Arrowhead-Shaped Shock Angle Influence Leading Edge Equation Influence Aircraft Outperform Other Structures At Hypersonic Speeds, Jacob Wiberg

Research on Capitol Hill

Hypersonic (at least 5 times faster than sound waves can travel) aircraft are quickly becoming a solution for fast travel for commercial and defense purposes.

Microbes From Native Plants Promote Growth And Drought Tolerance In Non-Native Plants, Ty Wilson

Research on Capitol Hill

With growing populations, shrinking farmland, and increasingly dry climates, preserving our agricultural land is of highest importance.

The Majority Of Usu Students Lack Adequate Access To Food, Janna Cook, Sarah Makar

Research on Capitol Hill

13% of households in Utah were considered food insecure at some point in the year 2023.

A New Crispr System Uses Energy Storage Indiscriminately, Brendon Guinn

Research on Capitol Hill

CRISPR systems are Immune systems used by bacteria to defend against viruses. Recently, tools such as CRISPR Cas9 that are derived from CRISPR systems have been developed as a powerful tool to treat disease. 

Here we are studying a different CRISPR system related to the one used to develop the Cas9 tool. We study this system to discover new proteins that may be used to develop tools to cure diseases and diversify our arsenal of disease-fighting genetic sequences. 

The Story Of Utah Soils Influences Land Use And Management, Kylie Hansen

Research on Capitol Hill

The purpose of this study was to investigate how soil minerals vary across Cache Valley with respect to this lake. This helps us understand the history of these soils and explains variation in land use possibilities.

Saving Money Encourages Usu Students To Accept Suboptimal Produce, Micaela Garcia

Research on Capitol Hill

About 50% of edible fresh produce is wasted annually in US farms and retail stores because consumers seek produce that meets aesthetic standards like a nice shiny color or no scars.

Infrared Sensors Provide A Reliable And Economic Alternative For Emissivity Testing, Owen Brent Graham

Research on Capitol Hill

Emissivity is a material property that describes how well a material absorbs and emits electromagnetic radiation.

Photographs Tell The Story Of Bear Lake To Raise Awareness Of Its Importance To Utahns, Annora Madden, Kennedy Fry

Research on Capitol Hill

The work aims to create a visual record of Bear Lake's unique ecological, historical, agricultural, and recreational features.

Integrating Interdisciplinary Learning In Social Studies Helps Create Engaged Citizens, Emma Griffin

Research on Capitol Hill

We designed a curricular unit that brings together social studies, computer science, and Indigenous education.

Gig Drivers Need Access To Affordable Electric Vehicles (Evs) And Accessible, Fast Chargers, William Bouck

Research on Capitol Hill

Compared to gas cars, EVs are cheaper to fuel and maintain, and they don’t pollute Utah’s air. But they aren’t used on a scale big enough to make a difference. We asked gig drivers (people who work for Uber, Grubhub, etc.) why EVs aren’t catching on, since they spend 30+ hour driving per week. Addressing their problems will enable increased EV use, making travel cheaper and cleaner.

A Mammoth Pain In The Back: Diagnosing Advanced Bone Disease In Two Columbian Mammoths, B. Shaun Bryner

Research on Capitol Hill

Two Columbian mammoth specimens, one in California and one in Utah, show signs of advanced bone disease. 

Observations of these specimens allow us to learn more about the progress of these diseases on surviving bone specimens. We can then apply this knowledge to our understanding of diseases that affect modern elephants.

Drought And Lack Of Water Are Among The Top Environmental Concerns For All Utahns, Sydney Fisk

Research on Capitol Hill

Rural populations are often left out of research, so we wanted to highlight rural Utahns and their opinions on the environment.

Specific Bacteria In Commercial Cheddar Cheese Can Cause Rubbery Texture And Poor Taste, Jordan Bond

Research on Capitol Hill

Unexpected pH changes often lead to a rubbery texture, off flavor and poor taste in commercially produced Cheddar, negatively affecting the quality of the cheese. Use of fast-acid producing (thermophilic) starter cultures in cheese manufacture is becoming common. 

Our goal was to discover the cause(s) for this pH variation. Knowing what causes pH changes will save Utah cheese manufacturers’ money, allowing them to pass the savings on to consumers and reduce waste. We posit that excessive use of fast acid producing thermophilic bacteria (S. thermophilus) can be the cause for pH variation.

Recess Gives Students A Chance To Act Freely: So Why Are Utah Kids Missing Out?, Rebecca E. Elwood

Research on Capitol Hill

Recess is a regularly scheduled period in the school day for unstructured physical activity, play, and socialization and is recommended for all students, K-12.  

Recess benefits students' physical and social health, behavior, emotional state, and academic achievement.

Introduction To Drones, Shawn Barstow, Justin Wyatt Clawson, Shalyn Drake, Eric Galloway, Michael Pate

All Current Publications

Unmanned aircraft have advanced so much that they are completing tasks and integrating into all aspects of our lives. They deliver, survey, collect data, and complete assigned tasks with more efficiency and lower cost than many currently used techniques. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) completely supports UAS in the National Airspace System (NAS) and continually updates information in this new and exciting field. This fact sheet will help you identify how you can legally fly drones and become an integral part of aviation’s vast and ever-progressing world.

Wild Licorice (Glycyrrhiza Lepidota) Identification And Management In Pastures, Jacob Hadfield, Taun Beddes, Michael Caron, Corey Ransom

All Current Publications

Wild licorice, also known as American licorice, is a perennial legume native to North America, commonly found in the western United States. Wild licorice reproduces rapidly through seeds and rhizomes, leading to large infestations, particularly in pastures. The low preference of livestock for wild licorice results in overgrazing of other plant species, leaving them at a competitive disadvantage, further promoting the spread of wild licorice and contributing to pasture infestations. This fact sheet reviews the identification and management of wild licorice in pastures.

What Do Utahns Think About Global Warming And Climate Change?, Scott Hotaling, Kendall Becker, Lendel K. Narine, Jessica Ulrich-Schad, Roslynn Mccann, Peter D. Howe

All Current Publications

In Utah, there is widespread consensus that global warming is happening, and the strength of this consensus has been steadily rising since 2010. Over the last 14 years, some public opinion metrics have risen dramatically while others have been largely stable. The degree of climate impacts in Utah will depend on residents’ perceptions of climate change and support for implementing policies to help the state adapt to warmer temperatures, more extreme weather events, and other associated changes. In this fact sheet, we integrate multiple data sources to summarize the status and trends of Utahns’ opinions on climate change.

The Mystery Of Baselevel Controls In The Incision History Of The Central Colorado Plateau, Natalie M. Tanski, Joel L. Pederson, Alan J. Hidy, Tammy M. Rittenour, James P. Mauch

Geosciences Student Research

Erosion can remain active and changing in landscapes long after tectonic drivers have ceased, potentially due to local‐geologic controls, climate changes, or geodynamics. We present new fluvial incision‐ rate histories and terrain analyses of the Colorado River system through the central Colorado Plateau to understand what has caused the variable erosion across this post‐orogenic landscape. Results from new cosmogenic and luminescence dating of fluvial terrace and upland gravel deposits in Glen and Meander Canyons establish incision‐rate histories that are marked by an Early‐Middle Pleistocene erosion hiatus, followed by ∼200 m of rapid incision over the last ∼350 kyr. Projection of …

Stanag 4575 Cst M35, Will Scheirer, Lee Sublett, George Weiss, Tina Howell, Ben Hill, Jared Sanders

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

General Information

➢ Provides a standardized “direct data download” capability from any NADSI compliant ISR data acquisition recorder to a compliant ground station

➢ STANAG 4575 Ed.4 became a mandated DISR standard for US DoD organizations on 24 April 2018; STANAG 4575 Ed. 5 is currently under JCGISR silence procedure until 14 February

➢ Magnetic Disk, Solid State, Complete Units, or Removable Media Modules (RMMs); Non-proprietary Directory and File Structure

➢ Based On Commercial Gigabit Ethernet Standards TCP/IP and Fiber Channel

Ongoing Efforts

➢ Working NADSI Ed.5 implementation with various national and international industry partners and manufacturers

➢ Further NADSI …

Exploring The Instructional Effectiveness Of High-Growth K-2 Teacher Teams In Foundational Reading, Jake Downs, Katie Martz, Kathleen Mohr

Teacher Education and Leadership Student Research

This study examined high-performing teacher teams in Title I elementary schools that demonstrated significant student growth in foundational reading skills. Using an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design, we identified K-2-grade-level teams within a district with the highest growth on Acadience Reading. The study explored (1) student growth and proficiency outcomes in these high-growth teams and (2) how teachers described their instructional practices and outcomes. Focus group interviews were conducted, and thematic analysis revealed key factors, including collaboration, data responsiveness, professional development, and content/pedagogical knowledge. Recommendations and directions for future research are discussed.

Elevated Root-Zone P And Nutrient Concentration Do Not Increase Yield Or Cannabinoids In Medical Cannabis, Julie A. Hershkowitz, F. Mitchell Westmoreland, Bruce Bugbee

Plants, Soils and Climate Student Research

Elevating nutrient input is thought to increase yield and cannabinoid concentration of medical cannabis, but increased legalization has heightened awareness of the environmental impact of overfertilization. Elevated levels of phosphorus (P) are of particular concern. Here we report the effects of increasing P above levels adequate for other crops (15, 30, 45, 60, or 90 mg per L) and the interactive effects of elevated P with elevated nutrient solution concentration (electrical conductivity; 2 and 4 mS per cm). We used closed-system hydroponics to continuously quantify rootzone nutrient concentrations. The concentration of P in leaf tissue doubled and flower P concentration …

Women’S Safety & Security: Utahns’ Awareness, Understanding, And Attitudes, Susan R. Madsen, Kolene Anderson

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 summaries that shared the results of this comprehensive study. Then, in the fall of 2024, we administered the survey, with slight refinements, around the state of Utah. We now share the results of the 2024 data by releasing six white papers; this is the third in the series.

Overall, this comprehensive study was designed …

Faculty Senate Executive Committee Minutes February 18, 2025, Utah State University

Faculty Senate & Faculty Senate Executive Committee

Call to Order

University Business

Faculty Senate Business

Information

Report

Old Business

New Business

Adjourn - 4:23

Faculty Senate Executive Committee Agenda February 18, 2025, Utah State University

Faculty Senate & Faculty Senate Executive Committee

• 3:00 Call to Order
• Approval of Minutes
• 3:05 University Business
• 3:20 Faculty Senate Business
• 3:35 Information
• EPC Report
• Emergency/Risk Survey
• 3:40 Report
• Professional Responsibilities and Procedures Committee
• School of Graduate Studies
• Parking Committee
• Old Business
• New Business
• Adjourn 4:30

Your Healthiest Year Yet: Practical Tips For Mental And Physical Well-Being, Aaron Hunt

All Current Publications

As a new year begins, it’s important to prioritize our health. In a world that continues to evolve, maintaining mental and physical wellness is key to thriving in both personal and professional life. Small, intentional changes can lead to transformative results, improving not only how we feel but also how we connect, grow, and succeed. This guide presents actionable tips for fostering mental clarity, physical strength, and overall balance, all grounded in evidence-based practices. Whether you're looking to boost your fitness, reduce stress, or enhance your daily routines, these strategies will empower you to make this year your healthiest yet.