Digital Commons Network^™

A Brighter Future For Sms: Cultivating School Coherence Through A Shared Vision, Nicole K. Herndon, Heather Holcomb, Audra Krupp

Doctor of Education Capstones

Staunton City Public Schools submitted an RFA (Request for Assistance) to Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) to address concerns at Shelburne Middle School related to teacher satisfaction, student discipline, and student achievement. Document and data analysis, a site visit, and partner interviews surfaced issues of organizational fragmentation; the capstone team identified the need for a collaboratively constructed and implemented vision to better cohere the school. Through document analysis and stakeholder surveys, our mixed methods study aimed to understand stakeholder views on three aspects to support the work of the leadership team at SMS. First, the capstone team identified the needs in …

A Case Study Exploring William & Mary Military Alums' Experiences With Career Transition, Dirron Allen, Amanda Baldwin-Estep, Matthew Grinsell, Kimberly Lintag-Nguyen

Doctor of Education Capstones

Background: The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand William & Mary (W&M) Master of Business Administration (MBA) military alums’ experiences with their career transitions post-graduation and the influence of the program on their experiences.

Methods: This study utilized a case study design, including focus groups and interviews with 21 alums from the last 10 years and formal, semi-structured interviews with six current faculty and staff. We used Schlossberg’s (1981) individuals’ situation, self, support, and strategies to analyze data using thematic analysis, and then iteratively reducing codes into themes.

Results: Demographic findings showed a lack of diversity, such as …

Unmet: The Undergraduate Experience Of Basic Need Insecurity At An Uncommon University, Michelle C. Bair, Rachelle V. Blackwell-Stegall, Sara E. Rafuse, Ra’Meer J. Roberts, Sara E. Weinstein

Doctor of Education Capstones

Virginia Commonwealth University’s (VCU) Dean of Students office submitted a Request for Assistance with needs related to food and housing insecurity and lack of basic funds for students. To address this request, a doctoral Capstone team conducted a problem and context analysis, literature review, student focus groups, and an internal survey of departments. The goal was to explore the undergraduate experience of unmet needs and to identify gaps and overlaps in basic needs support and services already provided at VCU. Findings suggest that students do not know the resources available to them through the Dean of Students office, that students …

Intersect- On The Corner Of Princess Anne And William, Madison M. Goff

Theses and Dissertations

After a worldwide pandemic, perspectives towards personal space and private quarters have shifted. Social distancing procedures during COVID-19 altered the use of space, even after vaccinations have been administered. After limits on large gatherings and keeping 6 feet away from each other, what is the expectation that people hold now when in public?

Research will include interviewing the intended user groups (students and travelers), designers who are familiar with hospitality and hostel design, and hospitality professionals. The perspective on private and public space has shifted after the pandemic, so a survey will target hostel age groups that could help understand …

Sleep And Health Behaviors In A Safety-Net Primary Care Setting, Sahar Sabet

Theses and Dissertations

Nearly half of all premature deaths in the United States are attributable to preventable and modifiable health risk behaviors. For decades, the leading behavioral health contributors to morbidity and mortality are tobacco use, physical inactivity, and alcohol consumption. Medication adherence is a relatively less studied yet critical interrelated health behavior that is tied to health and treatment outcomes. Sleep, an important pillar of health, is a daily and modifiable behavior that shows promise as a health behavior facilitator. Better understanding the dynamics of these modifiable health behaviors is essential for the improvement of health promotion, particularly among underserved populations (e.g., …

Exploring The Relationship Between The Epigenome And Metabolism In Mycn-Amplified Neuroblastoma, Krista M. Dalton

Theses and Dissertations

High risk neuroblastoma (NB) is responsible for nearly 15% of all cancer related deaths in the pediatric population. The transcription factor MYCN is the most studied oncogene in NB, automatically conferring high-risk and has been found to be difficult to target. One way that MYCN amplification in NB functions to support tumorigenicity is through altered metabolism, satisfying the demand for rapid proliferation by increasing the nutrient flux through biosynthetic pathways. We performed an unbiased screen on select metabolic targeted therapy combinations and correlated sensitivity with over 20 subsets of cancer. We found that MYCN-amplified NB is hypersensitive to the …

United We Stand: A Case Study About Increasing Equity In The Capacity Building Grant Funding Process For United Way Of Greater Richmond And Petersburg, Katherine G. Hansen Dr., Heather D. Sadowski Dr., Martha C. Tomlin Dr.

Doctor of Education Capstones

In response to a problem of practice presented by the United Way of Greater Richmond and Petersburg, this case study addresses equity in the grant funding and capacity development processes and how small, emergent, grassroots, minority-led nonprofit organizations in one Virginia region are affected. Through the lens of Systems Informed Positive Psychology (SIPP), a convergent mixed-methods approach was used to holistically explore the challenges and needs that these particular nonprofits face. Data was obtained through community conversations which included focus groups, individual interviews, and an online questionnaire coupled with Shumate et al.’s (2017) Nonprofit Capacities Instrument, a validated 45-item survey …

Designing An Eco-Resilience Community In Brentwood, Washington D.C., Nadya Syazsa

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Capstone Projects

As the world urbanizes at a dangerously rapid pace, this Professional Plan helps with addressing the need for urban resilience – the ability of a city’s systems to withstand and adapt to the shocks and stresses it may endure, such as natural disasters.

The purpose of this Plan is to design a network of green infrastructure projects (GIs) as part of establishing an eco-resilient community in Brentwood, Washington D.C. These projects are meant to be low-impact developments (LIDs) in order to minimize disruption to the existing fabric of the Brentwood community, yet still aid residents by increasing their capacity to …

Advancing Social Equity And Promoting Black Self-Determination: A Community Garden Opportunity Plan For Richmond, Va, Alessandro U. Ragazzi

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Capstone Projects

Urban agriculture provides a variety of economic, environmental, and social benefits. Recognizing these benefits, the City of Richmond administers a community garden program known as “Richmond Grows Gardens.” Through this program, underutilized city properties are permitted for use as community gardens. However, an emerging concern is the potential for community gardens to perpetuate underlying structures of social and racial inequality through displacement and social exclusion. Considering these concerns, this plan investigates the implementation of community gardens in Richmond and establishes a methodology for ranking existing and available community garden sites based on the social and racial demographics of their surrounding …

Design Enhancement Plan For Waverly, Virginia, Ankita Parekh

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Capstone Projects

Waverly is experiencing some challenges like population decline, loss of businesses, and losing the importance of its community. The primary reasons behind this are traffic, road circulation issue, and urban design and aesthetic conditions in some of the areas in Waverly. This plan address strategies to provide traffic solutions and create effective road circulation, safety concerns, and functional and aesthetical improvements by providing design recommendations. The study area for this plan includes the significant intersection of U.S. Route 460- Route 40 and its connections with Waverly downtown. The existing condition of the study area comprises the poor truck traffic situation …

Developing Agrihoods: The Context For Petersburg, Brandon L. Archer

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Capstone Projects

Petersburg has an extensive history of navigating through challenging times. From its inception, African Americans have played an important role in the development of the city, and today that spirit is still present. As evidenced by an extensive network of community support and stakeholders, the Petersburg Youth Farm has matured into a resource for not just the residents of the neighborhood but of the city as a whole. By incorporating some innovative planning techniques and building a housing development truly dedicated to community needs, we can improve lived experiences in the city.

By adopting the recommendations set forth in this …

Revitalization Strategies For Downtown Luray, Va, Trinity L. Waldron

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Capstone Projects

The Town of Luray seeks a better understanding of its foundational challenges that contribute to off-season economic growth and development. This plan examines existing conditions to identify existing assets and missing linkages that can improve downtown economic development. Data analyzed through market analysis will provide information in examining spending patterns and business potential.

Trolley Line Trail Creative Placemaking Plan, Courtland Caldwell

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Capstone Projects

The Trolley Line Trail is a planned multi-use trail along the historic Richmond-to-Ashland Trolley corridor. The purpose of this plan is to identify potential creative placemaking locations and installations to highlight the trolley's unique past and present. This plan sets forth a vision for creative placemaking by gathering community feedback, analyzing properties along the Trolley Line Trail, and making recommendations for placemaking and public art. Ultimately, the recommendations laid out in this plan aim to preserve and acknowledge the community's unique identity while creating a safe, accessible experience for all users.

Business Highway 29 Overlay, City Of Danville, Sean Clendening

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Capstone Projects

The development of a casino in the city of Danville will alter the city's economic conditions. This plan focuses on creating design guidelines and development recommendations for a business highway corridor that will be directly impacted by its arrival.

Windmill Ridge Park: A Sustainable Park Design, Sean Benson

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Capstone Projects

This plan proposes designing and developing a new park in Chesterfield County that will promote sustainability in its design and implementation, as well as provide a stepping stone to promote these practices throughout Chesterfield County parks. This plan achieves this by providing research, concepts, and recommendations centered on the three Es of sustainability: environmental quality, social equity, and economic efficiency.

Midlothian Community Special Area Plan Alternative Stormwater Management Plan, Bradley T. Pleasants Iii

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Capstone Projects

This plan is used as a guide for increasing alternative stormwater management practices in Chesterfield County, Virginia. This plan proposes various alternative stormwater management practices like green roofs, rain gardens, and permeable pavers in new development and redevelopment in Chesterfield County, Virginia.

#Notalllibraries: Toxicity In Academic Libraries And Retention Of Librarians, Samantha Guss, Jennifer Stout, Sojourna Cunningham

VCU Libraries Faculty and Staff Publications

No abstract provided.

Doing A Good Search: Basic Rules And Search Tips, Roy E. Brown

VCU Libraries Faculty and Staff Publications

This handout is an update of a previous handout and should be used as a reference for those learning how to search databases effectively. The handout covers the basic rules of doing a good search in order to search more efficiently and effectively. The revised handout includes information related to Boolean operators, types of questions, and a list of potential databases to be searched for various clinical questions.

Clinical Inquiry Question Development Checklist, Roy E. Brown

VCU Libraries Faculty and Staff Publications

The Clinical Inquiry Question Development Checklist is a handout used in instructional sessions with nurses about the clinical inquiry process. This process includes evidence-based practice, performance improvement, and research. The revised handout contains information related to the performance improvement process and various other aspects of the clinical inquiry process.

The Clinical Inquiry Process Diagram Question Development Checklist, Roy E. Brown

VCU Libraries Faculty and Staff Publications

The Clinical Inquiry Question Development Checklist is a handout used in instructional sessions with nurses about the clinical inquiry process. This process includes evidence-based practice, performance improvement, and research. The revised handout closely aligns with the 4^th version of the Clinical Inquiry Process Diagram and contains information related to the performance improvement process and various other aspects of the clinical inquiry process.

Strategies For Addressing Chronic Absenteeism In The Post-Pandemic Era, David Naff, Fatemah A. Khawaji, Morgan Meadowes, Kim Dupre, Zehra Sahin Ilkorkor, Jill Flynn, Jean Samuel, Christina Tillery, Meg Sheriff

MERC Publications

Although chronic absenteeism has been an enduring concern in PK-12 schools, it has doubled since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. To explore strategies for addressing this issue, this MERC research and policy brief answers five questions: 1) What are trends in chronic absenteeism pre and post-pandemic?, 2) What factors contribute to chronic absenteeism and which student groups are particularly vulnerable? 3) What are the connections between chronic absenteeism and other student outcomes? 4) What strategies are effective in reducing chronic absenteeism?, and 5) What are policies at the state and school board level intended to help address chronic absenteeism? …

Addressing School Bullying Since The Onset Of Covid-19: A Merc Research And Policy Brief, David Naff, Morgan Meadowes, Kim Dupre, Alicia Gaston, Fatemah A. Khawaji, Christina Tillery, Makeba Lindsay D'Abreu, Lauren Powell, Deanna Fierro

MERC Publications

Among the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic is a shift in the nature and intensity of school bullying, perhaps symptomatic of the rapid changes and stressors that PK-12 students have endured since 2020. In this MERC research and policy brief, we explore how school bullying has changed since the onset of COVID-19 as well as research-based strategies for how educators and division leaders can best respond to it. The brief answers the following questions: 1) What is the nature of school bullying since the onset of COVID-19? 2) Which students have been particularly impacted by bullying since the pandemic? …

Understanding The Implications Of Work Based Learning For Students Pk-12 School Systems Institutions Of Higher Education And Hosting Organizations, David Naff, Amy Corning, Meleah Ellison, Albion Sumrell, Zehra Sahin Ilkorkor, Jennifer Murphy, Ciana Cross

MERC Publications

This literature review by the Metropolitan Educational Research Consortium (MERC) and Institute for Collaborative Research and Evaluation (ICRE), in partnership with the Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership (V-TOP) and State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) explores work-based learning and its implications for PK-12 institutions, institutions of higher education, and hosting organizations (e.g. employers). The report also provides background information about the foundations of work-based learning and concludes with a series of recommendations for practice, policy, and future research related to work-based learning. There is also an accompanying podcast episode where report authors discuss the key takeaways with …

Economic Evaluation Of Teacher Induction Programs: A Report, Jonathan D. Becker, Elisa Tedona, Matthew Togna

MERC Publications

Research shows that teacher induction programs can be effective as measured by a number of outcomes. However, research also shows that teacher induction programs vary greatly from one district to another. Furthermore, there is no research that examines teacher induction programs with respect to costs and benefits. Educational leaders and stakeholders do not need to wait on formal institutional research to do such an economic evaluation.

This report, in combination with a How-to-Guide, the Teacher Induction Program Cost Matrix and the Teacher Induction Program Benefit-Cost Workbook, comprises a toolkit designed to allow school and district leaders to conduct …

Molecular Target And Circuitry Underlying The Preclinical Effects Of Psychedelics In Models Of Opioid Use Disorder, Alaina M. Jaster

Theses and Dissertations

Opioid use disorder (OUD), like other substance use disorders (SUD), is characterized by maladaptive behavioral allocation away from other rewarding aspects of life following prolonged use, as well as large rates of relapse. While pharmacotherapies exist for OUD, they tend to only target the opioid receptors rather than the underlying mechanisms behind the maladaptive behaviors. Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) is involved in modulation of cravings and regulation of motivational reward-related behaviors, thought to be due to a top-down processing method of external and internal stimuli. Serotonin 2A receptors (5-HT_2AR) are widespread throughout the brain and most densely populate layer …

Emergent Trends Of Contemporary Dramatic Recontextualization: An Exploration Utilizing Eugene O'Neill's Mourning Becomes Electra, Cameron M. Nickel

Theses and Dissertations

The art of adaptation in the realm of drama has undergone an easily recognizable evolution in the past couple of decades, from the work of Sarah Ruhl to Branden Jacobs-Jenkins. This evolution has opened doors to an altogether new form of adaptation in the theatre: dramatic recontextualization. While the two forms are built upon a foundation of shared aspects, there are certain observable and quantifiable delineations between the two artistic forms. As this trend continues to grow exponentially in the world of theatre, it is important to further research the origins and methodologies of contemporary dramatic recontextualization, both to provide …

Provider Racial Concordance And Medical Mistrust In Pediatric Dentistry, Chinelo Eke

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: Studies have drawn varying conclusions on the importance of a racially concordant patient provider relationship. Medical mistrust has continued to garner attention as healthcare enterprises thread equity, diversity and inclusion throughout their organizational policies, practices and systems.

Methods: Parents/caregivers of pediatric patients at VCU Pediatric Dentistry were invited to participate. Surveys included questions about demographics, racial concordance, language preference, and the validated Group-Based Medical Mistrust Scale.

Results: A total of 246 guardians completed the survey. For guardians, 40% reported Black or African American, 31% Hispanic, and 19% Caucasian. Seventy-one percent of guardians reported speaking English, 18% Spanish, and 11% …

The Use Of Silver Diamine Fluoride In Dentistry In Virginia, Jessica Eisenberg

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this research was to determine the use of silver diamine fluoride (SDF) in dentistry in Virginia and the factors that affect the practitioners’ decision. Methods: A survey was sent to the members of the Virginia Dental Association (VDA) by email and posted on the VDA social media accounts. The survey questions measured the practitioner’s demographics, knowledge, and factors that affect their utilization of SDF. Results: Most providers were general dentists (77%). The most common clinical situations for SDF use were to arrest caries in children with behavioral issues (77%), to delay restorative treatment (73%), in medically …

The Age And Primary Reason For The First Dental Visit In Children With Special Health Care Needs, Amanda Dickerson

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: The aim of this project is to evaluate the average age and primary reason for the first dental visit among patients with special health care needs as well as to examine socioeconomic factors and other barriers related to children with special health care needs accessing care.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional survey that was distributed to caregivers of children with special health care needs. Study data was collected through REDCap, a secure web-based survey application. The inclusion criteria for participating in the survey included having a child with a special health care need that presented for a recall or …

Children With Special Healthcare Needs: The Cost Of Medical Care, Kasey Dye

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore factors that impact children with special healthcare needs’ (CSHCN) health insurance coverage and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The Ecological Model for Health Promotion developed by McLeroy et al. (1988) was the guiding theoretical framework for this study. Using data from the 2020 National Survey of Children’s Health, I conducted descriptive statistics, logistic regressions, and multilevel modeling analyses to determine if health insurance coverage and out-of-pocket expenses for CSHCN differed by individual, family, and community, organization, and policy factors. Results indicated that race, gender, disorder category, insurance type, and family’s federal poverty level were …