Digital Commons Network^™

Building A Better Office Of Sustainability: Promoting Sustainable Change And Educational Outreach At Wku, Andrew Salman

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

This research documented the transformation of the house at 503 Regents Ave. in Bowling Green KY into a model home of sustainability by the WKU Office of Sustainability as a case study. Using the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Core Concepts, the benefits of weatherization (window upgrades, insulation, sealants) to the building, the addition of a solar energy array and utility grid intertie, and the transformation of the back yard into an edible landscape and community garden to mitigate stormwater flooding issues were assessed. Collaboration between the Office of Sustainability, students, university entities, and community members were encouraged …

Assessment Of Horses For Therapeutic Riding Purposes: Comparison Of Physiological And Behavioral Parameters, Leah Catherine Turner

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Many accidents in the horse sector presumably happen due to a misinterpretation of horse behavior, and it is difficult to objectively determine the suitability of horses for therapeutic riding programs in regard to their temperament and reactivity. The animals in therapeutic riding programs come from tremendously varied backgrounds and are not always donated with honorable intentions. The horses undergo a training period during which they are evaluated for suitability before they begin working with disabled humans, but there is no requirement that additional desensitizing training be administered past this point. Our study aimed to assess, objectively, a horse’s suitability for …

Critical Analysis Of The Kenyan Healthcare System And Models For Improvement, Justin Wellum

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Global epidemics such as malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS plague developing countries in Africa. International aid has been given to these countries from public and private organizations in an effort to eradicate these health crises. My research focuses on Kenya as a model for assessing the current state of health care in these developing countries. The effectiveness of Kenya’s health care system was investigated at every level, including central, provincial, district, and rural, by visiting the country and performing specific research. Based on my research, I propose a model that I believe Kenya or any African developing country could adopt to …

It's A Long Story: A Collection Of Short Stories, Anna Beth Gillon

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

According to editor Alan Rinzler, “Short story collections are big business. Thousands of anthologies are in print with many more published each year. A quick look at Amazon shows 29,000 story collections listed.” Rinzler estimates that 3,500 of these are single-author collections. (Rinzler, 2009)[1]. With all of those short stories in print, it is no wonder that short story writing remains the focus of many university-level creative writing courses. Short stories are relatively quick and easy to read, and many are filled with insight, meaning, and some thrilling twists. Over the course of my college career, I have …

Meeting Minutes, Wku University Senate

Faculty Senate

Meeting regarding American Association of University Professors (AAUP), enrollment, academic quality, benefits, faculty handbook and president's salary.

Ua3/9/7 Commencement & 2013-14 Academic Year Wrap-Up, Wku President's Office - Ransdell

WKU Administration Documents

Email from WKU president Gary Ransdell to faculty & staff.

Meeting Minutes, Wku Graduate Council

Graduate School

Meeting minutes.

May Agenda, Wku Graduate Council

Graduate School

Meeting agenda.

Ua12/2/1 College Heights Herald, Vol. 89, No. 54, Wku Student Affairs

WKU Administration Documents

WKU campus newspaper reporting campus, athletic and Bowling Green, Kentucky news.

• Crumbie, Trey. Almost There – Downing University Center
• Williams, Joanna. Campus Undergoes Culture Shift with Downing University Center Renovation
• Harrison, Taylor. Challenges Loom with Student Health Services Privatization
• Prochazka, Tyler. Kentucky Retains Majority of Gatton Academy of Mathematics & Science Graduates Due to Financial Barriers
• Conniff, Ben. Spiderman Swings & Misses in New Sequel – Movies
• Pait, Ryan. 10 TV Episodes to Help You Not Do Anything – Television
• Allen, Whitney. Shave to Save Hosted in Honor of Greek Brother – Farmhouse Fraternity, Chris Hancock, Charity
• Rogers, Shelby. Circus …

Ua12/2/1 2014 Graduation Special Section, Wku Student Affairs

WKU Administration Documents

Special graduation edition of the College Heights Herald.

• Keyana Boka - Student Government Association
• Joanna Williams - College Heights Herald
• Paige Freeman - Spirit Masters
• Katie Honadle - Talisman
• Gary Ransdell
• Yulizza Henao Barragan – Latin American Students
• Then & Now - 2010, 2014

Ua12/2/1 College Heights Herald, Vol. 89, No. 53, Wku Student Affairs

WKU Administration Documents

WKU campus newspaper reporting campus, athletic and Bowling Green, Kentucky news.

• Burton, Kristina. WKU Costume Shop Brings Theatre to Life – Theatre & Dance
• Burton, Kristina. Center Stage – Theatre & Dance
• Lawson, Anna. Blind Student Finds Comfort on the Hill – Sam Moore
• Prochazka, Tyler. U.S. Department of Agriculture Grant Funds Agriculture Department Research on Food Safety
• Marsupial Awards
• Hunton, Ryan. Spiritual Health Means Finding Your Purpose
• Boyd, Kayla. Film Festival Returns to WKU – Journalism & Broadcasting
• Corum, John. Vice President Assistant to Retire – Judith Wimpee – Facilities & Campus Services
• Clark, Mike. Learning from the Best …

Ua61/3 Faculty Handbook, 8th Edition, Wku College Of Health & Human Services

WKU Administration Documents

Faculty handbook created by and for WKU College of Health & Human Services faculty.

Ua66 Ogden College Of Science & Engineering Newsletter, Cheryl Stevens, Dean

Ogden College of Science & Engineering Publications

No abstract provided.

Synthesis And Characterization Of Some Thallium Salt Complexes, Levi Dopierala

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Research into conductive organic and organometallic polymers began in 1977 when Heeger, Macdiarmid, and Shirakawa first doped polyacteylene with Iodine. They found that this doping granted the polymer metallic properties increasing conductivity by 11 orders of magnitude.[1] Unfortunately, polyacteylene is highly air-sensitive making it difficult to work with and limiting its applications. Therefore, current research is focused on synthesizing new organic and organometallic conductive polymers. The drive to discover these new polymers stems from their application flexibility and their low production cost.

Reported here is the synthesis of novel organometallic polymer precursors. Lead by Dr. Chad Snyder a library of …

Neither (Fully) Here Nor There: Negotiation Narratives Of Nashville's Kurdish Youth, Stephen Ross Goddard

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Nashville, Tennessee, is home to nearly fifteen thousand ethnic Kurds. They have come in four distinct groups over the course of two decades to escape the hardship and horror of brutal central government policies, some directed toward their extinction. Many of that number are young people who were infants or toddlers when they were whisked away to the safety of temporary way stations prior to their arrival in the United States. What that means is that these youth have spent the majority of their formative years within the context of the American culture. This thesis is a study of how …

The Adaptation Of A Situational Judgement Test To Measure Leadership Knowledge In The Workplace, Ebo K. A Osam

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

In recent times, situational judgment tests (SJTs) have emerged as an instrument of choice in organizations. This emergence is partly due to the high costs associated with developing and conducting high fidelity simulations such as assessment centers, coupled with the recent economic downturn affecting many organizations. The current study sought to validate an SJT as a low cost, alternate form of assessing leadership within an organizational context. A content validation study was carried out by retranslating items into eight dimensions and calibrating item responses. This study resulted in a content valid measure of leadership knowledge. Future studies should focus on …

Catholic School Faculty Meetings: A Case Study Linking Catholic Identity, School Improvement, And Teacher Engagement, Daryl Craig Hagan

Dissertations

While research on faculty meetings is limited, existing literature suggests that meetings could be an arena where schools can address their common challenges (Brandenburg, 2008; Michel, 2011; Riehl, 1998). The purpose of this case study was to gain an understanding of the perceptions of Catholic school teachers on teachers in a high-performing Catholic school regarding their own faculty meetings and to explore how faculty meetings engage teachers in the work of promoting Catholic identity and school improvement. This dissertation builds on the work of Macey and Schneider’s (2008) Model of Employee Engagement, as well as McGrath’s Model of Group Effectiveness …

College Organizational Structure And Its Impact On Accessible Distance Learning For Students With Disabilities, Mana Kariman

Dissertations

This research focuses on the impact of organizational structure in colleges on accessibility in distance learning for individuals with disabilities. Research remains limited on the effect of the organizational structure that supports online/web-based courses regarding accessibility. Policies that outline the laws guide faculty to ensure the published online courses are accessible to everyone, including students with disabilities. Further, types of accommodations available to students with disabilities are discussed. Accessibility needs to be addressed by trainings for all faculty who provide accommodations. In conclusion, the accessibility laws affect the organizational structure in institutions and the impact of policy implementation.

Combining Quantitative Eye-Tracking And Gis Techniques With Qualitative Research Methods To Evaluate The Effectiveness Of 2d And Static, 3d Karst Visualizations: Seeing Through The Complexities Of Karst Environments, Elizabeth Katharyn Tyrie

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Karst environments are interconnected landscapes vulnerable to degradation. Many instances of anthropogenic karst disturbance are unintentional, and occur because of the public's lack of understanding or exposure to karst knowledge. When attempts are made to educate the general public about these landscapes, the concepts taught are often too abstract to be fully understood. Thus, karst educational pursuits must use only the most efficient and effective learning materials. A technique useful for assessing educational effectiveness of learning materials is eye-tracking, which allows scientists to quantitatively measure an individual's points of interest and eye movements when viewing a 2D or 3D visualization. …

Identifying The Relationship Between The Map And Wj-Iii Reading Tests To Make Instructional Decisions Within A Rti Framework, Lauren Brittany Martin

Dissertations

The current study explored the relationship between the reading tests of the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP), a screening test, and the Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement, Third Edition (WJ-III), a diagnostic academic achievement test. By examining the relationship between these two tests, more reliable instructional decisions within a Response to Intervention (RTI) framework can potentially be established. Reading scores were collected for 234 students who completed the MAP three times per year both in first and second grades. One hundred of those students were randomly selected and administered the five reading subtests of the WJ-III in the spring of their …

Teachers' Perceptions Of Working Conditions: The Difference Between Static And Improving Schools In Kentucky, Amy Bryant Allen

Dissertations

The primary purpose of this study was to identify the changes concerning teachers’ perceptions of working conditions within Kentucky’s District 180 Priority Schools. The District 180 Priority Schools comprises of 41 secondary schools that ranked in the bottom fifth percentile on the Kentucky School Report Card. Schools were divided into two categories, static or improving, based upon student achievement changes from 2009 until 2013. The study utilized results from the 2011 and 2013 TELL Kentucky Survey to determine whether changes in teachers’ perceptions of working conditions were statistically significant from 2011 to 2013 in the areas of instructional time, availability …

Functionalization And Modification Of Naphthaquinone Analogs As Her2 Kinase Inhibitors, Divya Jyothi Lella

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

HER2 overexpression in breast cancer tumors predicts lower overall survival. Because of the aggressive nature of HER2 tumors and the association with metastatic disease, the HER2 receptor holds great promise as a therapeutic target in metastatic breast cancer. We are developing small molecule inhibitors that bind to the ATP binding site of the tyrosine kinase domain in order to inhibit tyrosine auto-phosphorylation. This process controls biological pathways that mediate the cell growth. In normal cells this process is highly controlled. We are targeting the modification of the side chain of the hydroxy methyl group of 2-Hydroxy methyl-5,8-dimethoxy-1,4-naphthaquinone. These compounds should …

Evaluation Of An Elementary Pbis Bully Prevention Program, Heather Bakari

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

School bullying has become an international source of concern. The media has captured the attention of the public with coverage of incidents such as the Columbine massacre. On April 20, 1999, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold walked through their school, shooting particular students they found. One victim asked why they were doing it. They said it was a dream come true and “payback” for being ostracized by their peers (Kalish & Kimmel, 2010). Until such devastations acted out in schools, bullying was considered a rite of passage. For the most part, parents and faculty did little to prevent it. In …

The Ancient Art Of Smile-Making, Elizabeth Ann Garrett

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

If I am anything, I am a Kentuckian, which means I appreciate a good storyteller. In my writing, I hope to bring back some dignity to the “lost cause” of the good values from a broken culture. While I am not quite “southern” enough to qualify as a writer of Southern Gothic fiction, I can relate to this brand of identity crisis in which someone wants to maintain an archaic mindset in a culture charging towards “progress.” As technology and corporate success take precedence over a genteel and pastoral soul, our collective competitiveness has crippled a quaint future of back …

Kentucky Warbler (Vol. 90, No. 2), Kentucky Library Research Collections

The Kentucky Warbler

No abstract provided.

Ua12/2/1 Stressbusters, Wku Student Affairs

WKU Administration Documents

Special finals week edition of the College Heights Herald.

• Hilltop Horoscopes
• Color Me Gary Ransdell
• 2014 Spring Semester Final Exam Schedule

Ua45/6 Commencement Program, Wku Registrar

WKU Administration Documents

Commencement program listing graduates.

Ua12/2/1 College Heights Herald, Vol. 89, No. 52, Wku Student Affairs

WKU Administration Documents

WKU campus newspaper reporting campus, athletic and Bowling Green, Kentucky news.

• Rogers, Shelby. Gary Ransdell to Push for 4.8% Tuition Increase
• Phillips, Jonah. Bill Powell Survives Rough Waters to Carry on Legacy – Swimming
• Parker, Jacob & Jackson French. Student Pulls Gun by Bates-Runner Hall, Arrested on Campus – Michael Dearborn
• Conniff, Ben. Five Films to Induce Finals Procrastination – Movies
• Pait, Ryan. HBO’s Veep Continues to Find Its Identity Amid Stand-Out Writing – Television
• Holloway, Kae. Mean Girls Celebrates A Fetch Tenth Anniversary – Fashion
• French, Jackson. Crimes Remain Steady on Campus – WKU Police
• Mathews, Mackenzie. Professors Discuss …

Staff Perceptions Of Work-Environment Factors Affecting Morale In Southeastern Registrar's Offices, Rheanna Plemons

Dissertations

Studies on morale are prevalent in industry, healthcare, and public educational systems. However, morale studies are limited within higher education and focusing on the support staff at universities. This qualitative study used focus groups to identify themes among support staff in selected Registrar’s Offices in the Southeastern region of the United States. Institutions were chosen based on comparable enrollments and similar organizational structure. The researcher asked participants to discuss their perceptions on current morale levels in the office and how different work responsibilities affect morale. In addition, participants were asked to discuss motivators used by leaders and whether those motivators …

An Analysis Of Acculturative Stress, Sociocultural Adaptation, And Satisfaction Among International Students At A Non-Metropolitan University, Hajara Mahmood

Dissertations

This quantitative descriptive study was designed to analyze levels of acculturative stress and sociocultural adaptation among international students at a non-metropolitan university in the U.S. in relation to college satisfaction and certain demographic characteristics. Surveys were used to measure international students’ levels of acculturative stress, sociocultural adaptation, including five subscales of sociocultural adaptation, and college satisfaction (N = 413). Demographic questions included gender, age, country of origin, length of stay in the U.S., degree level, and English language comfort. Results indicated a negative correlation between students’ levels of sociocultural adaptation and acculturative stress. In particular, increased competency among the five …