Digital Commons Network^™

A Sweetgrass Method Of Bullying Prevention For American Indian/Alaska Native Part 2, M. Standing Eagle Baez Ph.D., C. Allison Baez Ph.D.

Journal of Indigenous Research

Bullying is widespread in the United States. Bullying negatively impacts all youth involved, including those who are bullied, those who bully others, and those who witness bullying, known as bystanders. The Sweetgrass Method (SGM) is a culturally responsive framework that empowers Native and non-Native practitioners working with American Indian/Alaska Native clients. The method focuses on the initial dialogue of building a healthy relationship through self-reflection, communication, and continuity. The SGM looks at weaving Western and traditional approaches into a tailored approach that is culturally responsive to the individuals they serve. The SGM provides a framework by weaving the three strands: …

Native American Elders’ Perspectives On Death And Dying, Ji Hong, Stephenie M. Wescoup, Gul Nahar, Rockey Robbins

Journal of Indigenous Research

This article employs a qualitative method to facilitate the expression of 16 Native American elders about their feelings about aging and death. They discussed resentments, acceptance of their life experiences, the inevitability of death, participation in the natural re-cycling of nature, and hopes they had for Native Americans in future generations. Throughout the study, theoretical and empirical findings in the field of psychology and Native American literature are cited to help interpret the participants’ remarks. An extended clinical implications section may be helpful to practitioners.

Weaning Beef Calves, David Secrist

All Current Publications

Weaning a beef calf is likely the most stressful event in the animal’s life. Future growth and reproductive performance can be compromised by health challenges encountered through the weaning process. Consequently, proper management aimed at reducing stress and preparing the beef animal for the next stage of production is critical to reach its genetic potential. Proper management involves applying good animal husbandry techniques, using sound science in developing health and feeding protocols, and implementing low-stress animal handling practices.

Utah Women And Mental Health: A 2025 Update, Sadie Wilde, Chloe Bhowmick, Kolene Anderson, Susan R. Madsen

Marketing and Strategy Faculty Publications

According to the World Health Organization, “mental health is a state of well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community.”¹ Based on a 2025 ranking from WalletHub, Utah is the 4th “Happiest” state in the nation, so one might draw the conclusion that Utahns experience good mental health. However, the rankings also reveal that Utah does not perform as well in the “Emotional & Physical Well-Being” category (in 27th place).² Because mental health is an important indicator of overall well-being, this report …

Environmental And Social Values Are Important To All Utahns, But Conservative Utahns Are More Likely To Prioritize The Economy, Sarah E. Wilson, Jessica D. Ulrich-Schad

Utah People and Environment Poll (UPEP)

In the political landscape of modern America, few would disagree that people on either end of the political spectrum exhibit differences in priorities and values. Since the 1970s, polarization between left and right-leaning individuals and decision-makers regarding environmental matters has grown significantly.¹ For example, a 2023 Gallup Poll found that 78% of liberals favored prioritizing the environment over economic concerns, compared to just 20% of conservatives - representing the largest partisan gap since Gallup began including the question in their poll in 1984.²

Transforming Care: An Academic And Community Symposium On Transgender Care And Experience, Alison Sutton-Ryan, Kimberly Van Vulpen

Transforming Communities

Background: Transgender experience is often excluded from education and training. An emphasis has been often placed on sexual identities instead of gender differences rendering transgender care invisible in the healthcare system (Gahagan & Colpitts 2017). Lack of education and training has created significant barriers to accessible gender-affirming care, contributing to disproportionately high levels of discrimination for transgender individuals seeking medical services (Redcay et al., 2021). Purpose: The Interprofessional Education Symposium on Transgender Care and Experience was an innovative initiative developed by the newly formed Transgender Interprofessional Care Team (TICT) at a medium-sized suburban university. This collaborative team, comprising key …

Nature's Medicine? The Associations Of Organized Youth Sport, Unstructured Physical Activity, And Land-Use Recreation With Children's Mental Health, Emotional Control, And Social Well-Being, Natalie Stagnone, Katherine Alexander, Kat V. Adams, Travis Dorsch

Human Development and Family Studies Student Research

Physical activity is well-established as beneficial for children’s physical and mental health, yet limited research has explored how different activity types impact psychosocial outcomes. This is a cross-sectional study that examined associations between youth participation in organized sport, unstructured physical activity, and land-use recreation and their psychosocial health. Survey data were collected from 3246 caregivers of children in the Intermountain West region of the United States. Respondents reported on children’s physical activity engagement and psychosocial outcomes, including mental health, emotional control, and social well-being. All three activity types were significantly associated with improved psychosocial health (p < 0.001). Compared to organized sport, unstructured physical activity and land-use recreation were associated with significantly higher levels of mental health and emotional control (p_adj < 0.001), although with a small effect size (η^{2 …}

Expansively Framing Mathematics And Computer Science Teaching With Digital Technology In Elementary Classrooms, Kimberly E. Beck, Jessica F. Shumway, Patrick Ocran, Jody Clarke-Midura, Mimi Recker

Publications

Expansive Framing (EF) is a theory and an instructional technique to facilitate connections between content and contexts. We employed EF as an approach to create a series of integrated mathematics and computer science (CS) lessons, using digital technology as a tool to leverage shared mathematical and computational ideas. We used deductive theoretical qualitative analysis of transcripts of classroom implementations to investigate how two fifth-grade teachers and one computer lab paraprofessional educator used EF during their teaching and what the EF approach looked like in practice. Findings suggested that educators engaged in EF principles when they were present in curricular materials, …

From Picturebooks To Play: Dialogic Pedagogy For Cultivating Agency And Social Awareness In Young Learners, Amanda Deliman

Teacher Education and Leadership Faculty Publications

This study examines how young children engage with picturebooks, discussion, dramatic inquiry, and writing to negotiate diverse perspectives and develop empathy in an early childhood classroom. Grounded in sociocultural and critical literacy theories, the research explores the role of dialogic pedagogy in fostering young learners’ agency and social awareness. Utilizing a qualitative single-case study design, data were collected over a full academic year in a second-grade classroom through video recordings, field notes, interviews, and student artifacts. Thematic analysis revealed that dialogic engagements supported students in developing a shared language about empathy, resolving classroom conflicts, and exploring actionable ways to support …

A First Look Into Parental Strategies, And Challenges Around Children’S Device Usage In Urban Nepal, Rizu Paudel, Prakriti Dumaru, Ankit Shrestha, Mahdi Nasrullah Al-Ameen

Computer Science Student Research

There have been substantial changes in the landscape of technology use by children in Global South during COVID-19, when the shift to online learning platforms necessitated parents to avail personal devices (e.g., smartphones, computers) for their children to fulfill their educational needs. However, the use of devices by children are not limited to serving educational purpose only. Our study positions itself in a critical post-pandemic period in Nepal, characterized by the increase in device use by children, while a little study to date, investigated parental mediation in this developing country. To this end, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 20 parents, …

The Paradox Of Choice: User Preferences And Completion Rates In Single-Session Vs. Multi-Session Digital Mental Health Interventions, Emily M. Bowers, Korena S. Klimczak, Ty B. Aller, Michael E. Levin

Psychology Faculty Publications

Digital mental health interventions (DMHIs) offer scalable solutions for addressing mental health needs, but low adherence remains a significant challenge. Single session DMHIs may offer a feasible alternative to address this issue, providing an accessible and low-effort option for users. The present study examines whether adding the choice of a single session DMHI in addition to a multi-session DMHI provides a feasible alternative for users who might otherwise disengage. This study examined naturalistic data from 509 university students who registered for a 12-session DMHI, single session DMHI, or both. The majority (58%) chose only the multi-session DMHI, while 24.2% chose …

Audiological Characteristics And Associations With Psychological Inflexibility, Karen Muñoz, Bailey Sorensen, Aryn Kamerer, Michael P. Twohig

Psychology Faculty Publications

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Community-Engaged Learning For Online Courses, Marsha W. Maxwell Phd, Katarina Friberg-Felsted Phd, Jacqueline L. Eaton Phd, Megan R. Medina, Denise Crismon

Transforming Communities

This article explores how to ensure the quality of community-engaged learning (CEL) course outcomes for online courses. We share insights and knowledge of three instructors who have successfully integrated CEL into their online courses. Based on these instructors' experiences, this article discusses four key topics related to online CEL courses: finding mutually beneficial partnerships, managing expectations, managing student-partner interactions, and following up with students. While we have found that the benefits of CEL outweigh the drawbacks, adding CEL to the dynamics of an online course can prove complicated for instructors, who must consider the time commitment, communication challenges, and course …

Adapting The Comprehensive Assessment Of Acceptance And Commitment Therapy Processes (Compact) Questionnaire For Contextual Relevance In Uganda: A Comprehensive Approach, Joseph Mugarura, Khamisi Musanje, Michael E. Levin, Ronald Asiimwe, Morris Ndeezi, Simon Kizito, Ross G. White, Rosco Kasujja

Psychology Faculty Publications

The global utility of acceptance and commitment therapy highlights the need for adapting measures that can effectively capture the richness of psychological flexibility. One such instrument is the Comprehensive Assessment of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Processes (CompACT). We translated the CompACT into Luganda and adapted it for use in Uganda. The original CompACT was translated into the Luganda language and reviewed through a series of evaluations. Nine mental health professionals participated in one-on-one interviews, while a focus group of eight culturally competent laypersons provided further insights. Their feedback resulted in revisions to enhance the instrument’s clarity, relevance, acceptability and completeness. …

Enhancing Digital Accessibility For Deaf Or Hard Of Hearing Learners- Innovative Strategies For Inclusive Education, Felicia Rutledge Ph.D.

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

This research-to-practice brief explores innovative strategies to enhance digital accessibility for Deaf or Hard of Hearing (D/HH) learners, focusing on practical applications for inclusive K-12 education. Despite advances in digital learning, D/HH learners face unique barriers due to auditory-centered designs. Accessibility legislation such as the ADA, Section 504, and IDEA mandate educational inclusion for these learners. Key strategies include the integration of assistive technologies (e.g., captioning, ASL video interpretation), the application of the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) 3.0 guidelines, and adherence to WCAG 2.1 principles for accessible content design. The research-to-practice brief provides actionable insights for educators, administrators, and …

Enhancing Online And Blended Course Design Through Conversations And Observations: The Role Of Stakeholders, Chris Smith, Darlene Schaefer, Geetanjali Soni, Thomas Cooper, Meghan Mcgrath

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

Online course enrollment for K-12 students has increased dramatically since the early 2000s. This has resulted in promising opportunities for students with disabilities but also requires careful consideration of accessibility in course design and instructional delivery. This mixed-methods study investigated how stakeholder feedback influences the design of blended courses at North Carolina Virtual Public School (NCVPS), a graduation pathway for students with disabilities requiring significant support. Data was collected through surveys of NCVPS online teachers and co-teachers, analysis of course history documents, and the NCVPS student registration system. Findings revealed that educators often modify course templates to accommodate diverse learning …

Where Digital Accessibility Meets Universal Design: Transforming Classrooms For Multilingual Learners With Disabilities, Vitaliy Shyyan, Laurene Christensen, Swati V. Chauhan

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

Multilingual learners with disabilities comprise an important population of diverse students that need to be empowered with accessible instructional and assessment materials on their pathways to college, career, and community readiness. These students require integrated supports for both language- and disability-related needs. Conventional approaches to accessibility often fall short in addressing the diverse linguistic, cognitive, and cultural needs of multilingual learners with disabilities. This article examines the intersection of digital accessibility and principles of universal design to create more inclusive and equitable educational environments for these students. Universal design provides a flexible framework that accommodates diverse learning needs by offering …

Optimizing Accessibility Training By Prioritizing Cognitive Needs Of Students With Disabilities, Lio Jones, Kari Goin, Megan Mcfarland

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

Despite the significant enrollment of students with disabilities in higher education, research and practice rarely center the voices and leadership of these students, particularly in accessibility training efforts. This paper addresses this gap by presenting an autoethnographic study of a digital accessibility training initiative co-led by a student with multiple disabilities. Using a process that combines participatory research and first-person narrative, this study outlines the development and implementation of faculty training on accessibility that centers the experiences of a student with cognitive disabilities. We propose a new framework for understanding "dynamic disability," a concept that recognizes the complex and evolving …

Editorial: Digital Accessibility Practices Guided By Past Models And Modern Research, Cynthia Curry, Jared Smith

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

No abstract provided.

Digital Accessibility: A Critical Imperative For Inclusive Information Access, Matt Wappett

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

No abstract provided.

Broadening Impact Of Community Engagement Through A Community-Partnered, Project-Based Service-Learning Community, Ashley N. Egan, Hans Armstrong, James Cox, Abbigale Baum, Emily Lara Harding, Cole Paul, Daxton Deleeuw

Utah Conference on Community Engagement

Learning communities (LCs) are a designated high-impact practice (HIP) defined as "a group of people who share common academic goals and attitudes and meet semi-regularly to collaborate on classwork" – a shared goal unites members. In higher ed, LCs are often presented as cohort-based, inter-disciplinary learning experiences, such as first-year learning communities, where the student membership defines the community. Here, I propose that an LC can be defined by a community-partnered, project-based service-learning endeavor that broadens the impact of community engagement by bringing together a diverse set of students, professors, courses, and community members to produce lasting social impact via …

Sevier County Adventures - Poster Presentation, Jori Kloosterman, Anna Gilliam

Utah Conference on Community Engagement

"The Sevier County Adventures is a community engagement series of events that are fun for all and center on 4 community-identified needs; mental health, substance abuse, suicide, and parenting/family relationships. Once a quarter in 2025, the USU Sevier County Extension Office and the Central Utah Health Department, in conjunction with other entities, will hold community events to provide resources and information that highlight a specific need from the 4 community-identified needs. 1-Mental Health Game Night – Participants will be given a resource packet with information on local providers and teams will play an escape room game box. 2-Home Run for …

Design, Implementation, And Reflection From An Interdisciplinary Course In Museum Studies, Brenna L. Decker

Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence

Access the online Pressbooks version of this introduction here.

In Spring of 2023, I developed a special topics course titled Collection Material Handling to introduce students to museum management using Utah State University collections on the Logan, UT campus. The cross-listed upper-level course brought 16 USU students together from two disciplines: anthropology and natural sciences. The publication details how I used various learning theories to guide the creation of course content and how I structured and implemented activities in the classroom and in the collections. Examples of worksheets, activities, student feedback, and recommended improvements to assignments are provided. I encourage …

Learning A Little Bit Harder: The Intersecting Experiences Of First-Generation And Single-Mother College Students, Natalie Lecy, Elizabeth Hendrix, Brian A. Droubay

Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence

Access the online Pressbooks version of this introduction here.

This study examines the experiences of nine first-generation, single-mother college students, focusing on these intersecting, double-jeopardy identities. Participants’ difficulty navigating college varied; contributing factors included family background, social capital, the type of college attended, and whether they established a mentor. The following themes were established: 1) realizing college is an option, 2) caught between two worlds, 3) college wasn’t designed for us, 4) economic barriers, and 5) disparities in social capital. Our findings indicate colleges were unprepared to meet the unique challenges faced by this group. We present recommendations for the …

The Role And Influence Of Faculty As Predictors For Retention And Satisfaction Among Generation Z, Katelyn Romsa, Stephani Jarecke, Jessie H. Hendricks, Bryan Romsa

Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence

Access the online Pressbooks version of this introduction here.

While previous research has established that faculty and their interactions with students have had the greatest impact on student retention and satisfaction for centuries, limited studies have been done to understand how faculty are influencing Generation Z, our newest generation of students in higher education. This study examined how the quantity of faculty interactions is impacting student retention and satisfaction among 342 Generation Z first-year college students at a public land-grant institution in the Midwest using the National Survey of Student Engagement instrument. In a Mann-Whitney U test, significant difference was …

Full Issue: Journal On Empowering Teaching Excellence, Volume 9, Issue 1, Spring 2025

Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence

The full-length Spring 2025 issue (Volume 9, Issue 1) of the Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence

Access the online Pressbooks version (with downloadable EPUB format) here.

The issue includes five articles addressing challenges in higher education: faculty-student interactions with Generation Z students, experiences of first-generation single-mother college students, implementation of an interdisciplinary museum studies course, guidance for creating educational videos, and a book review on resistance to change in higher education. The journal emphasizes practical strategies for effective teaching, inclusivity, and innovative approaches to pedagogy across various educational contexts.

Making Visible Leadership Characteristics And Actions In Fostering Collective Teacher Efficacy: A Cross-Case Study, Donald R. Mendenhall, Suzanne H. Jones, Leann G. Putney

Teacher Education and Leadership Faculty Publications

Poverty can contribute to students' struggles with academic success, yet these struggles may be mitigated in schools with high levels of collective teacher efficacy (CTE). The purpose of this study was to identify effective Title I-eligible schools, serving a high percentage of financially disadvantaged students, while also maintaining high levels of CTE. Two schools were selected for cross-case analysis to explore how leadership characteristics and actions nurtured and sustained schoolwide CTE. The methodology used in this study was a qualitative cross-case analysis. The researchers purposefully selected the schools as cases based on the level of CTE existing in the schools. …

Advancing Faecalibacterium Prausnitzii Growth To Mitigate Psychological Stressors In Space, Alina Loseva, Lane Law

Utah Space Grant Consortium

Isolation and Confinement are two of the five main hazards of human spaceflight identified by NASA, leading to sleep loss, circadian desynchronization, and mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. These conditions can impair intestinal barrier function and decrease populations of butyrate-producing bacteria like Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, increasing the risk of stress-related brain disorders. Different fiber sources in diet can affect the growth and butyrate production of F. prausnitzii. This study reviews existing data on F. prausnitzii's fiber response and suggests new fiber combinations for testing, aiming to prevent reductions in F. prausnitzii populations and mitigate psychological disorders in astronauts, …

Transportation’S Influences On Wellbeing: A Literature Review And Scoping Framework, William Bouck, Patrick Singleton, Louis Alloro, Kim Clark

Curiosity

This study investigates the relationship between transportation and wellbeing: the conditions humans need to flourish at all levels. Using the results gleaned from our literature review of 44 articles, we found correlations linkages between transportation elements and components of physical, psychological, economic, and social wellbeing. These transportation factors affected overall wellbeing, not merely wellbeing during travel. We find that active travel, followed by public transit, are the best travel modes for wellbeing, and that congestion, pollution, and transport disadvantage harm wellbeing. Our findings also indicate that multimodal, people-focused infrastructure corresponds to higher wellbeing. Generally, the four areas of wellbeing we …

Art Historical Research Of The Intercession Of Christ And The Virgin, Attributed To Lorenzo Monaco, Lauren Watts

Curiosity

This research examines The Intercession of Christ and the Virgin, a painting attributed to Lorenzo Monaco. The painting is tempera on canvas, and is housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This research looks at the painting through a phenomenological lens in context of its original site, iconographic themes, and feminine spirituality. The research posits that the painting’s intercessory figures—Christ and the Virgin Mary—construct a narrative amplifying themes of feminine spirituality, challenging the misogynistic structures of quattrocento Florentine ecclesiastical culture while remaining within the bounds of contemporary orthodoxy. Studying the painting at Metropolitan Museum facilitated in-depth visual analysis, supplemented by …