Digital Commons Network^™

Western News, June 21, 2018, Western Michigan University

Western News (1972-2018)

Story highlights: WMU part of student mental health effort; Valley Dining Center achieves LEED Gold status; Physical plant upgrades expected to cause few disruptions; On Campus with Monica Liggins-Abrams.

Complete Issue, Christopher W. Tremblay, Patrick O'Connor

Journal of College Access

No abstract provided.

Preparing Students Experiencing Homelessness For College: Considerations For Counselors And Other Supportive Personnel, Stacey A. Havlik, Carrie Sanders, Emma Wilson

Journal of College Access

This article describes the unique college and career preparation challenges faced by students experiencing homelessness (SEH), framed using a Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT) lens. The experience of homelessness presents barriers for secondary students, which can impact their college self-efficacy, outcome expectations of attending and succeeding in college, and goal setting towards college. In this conceptual paper, background on homelessness and research related to the college planning process of SEH is provided, as well as implications for school and career counselors, as well as other educators.

Conceptualizing Latina/O College-Going Behavior In High School, Victor B. Saenz Ph.D., Anna P. Drake Ph.D., Claudia Garcia-Louis Ph.D., Wonsun J. Ryu, Luis Ponjuan Ph.D.

Journal of College Access

This study examined the influence of participation in school and extracurricular activities on Latino males’ intention to pursue a bachelor’s degree in relation to their Latina peers. Using nationally representative High School Longitudinal Study data from 2012, researchers developed two factors and three dichotomous variables focused on academic, non-academic, or pre-college activities and ran multivariate regression models to determine the effect on intention to pursue a bachelor’s degree. After accounting for background characteristics, being female retained a strong positive effect on intention to pursue a bachelor’s degree. Two factors were positively associated with Latino males’ bachelor’s degree intention: Hours on …

Connections, 06/2018, College Of Health And Human Services

College of Health and Human Services Newsletter

• Advanced technology enhances learning at CHHS
• Major gift supports adult wellness lab
• University invited to two celebrations on July 27
• Creating a functional therapy space with giant blocks
• Inaugural MPH cohort included in June 2018 commencement
• AHEC summer newsletter

June 2018 News Items, Office Of Vice President For Research

Research and Discovery News

• Intellectual Property for Statups
• WMU engineer receives ADVANCE proof of concept grant
• Opioids Innovation Networking Session
• Dear Colleague Letter: Removal of Deadlines for the Core Programs in the Directorate for Engineering

June 2018, Global News, Haenicke Institute

Global News

• Professor starts endowment to strengthen department's multiculturalism
• Perryman-Clark named associate dean of Lee Honors College
• Three diversity and inclusion VP candidates to visit campus
• WMU becomes part of national student mental health effort
• Area families needed to host international visitors
• Student group recognized by world's largest HR association
• Student awarded Critical Language Scholarship to study in Japan

Effects Of Multi-Day Music Enrichment On Salivary Cortisol And Cage Behavior In Shelter Dogs, Stacy D. Engerbretson

Dissertations

Rehoming shelters provide their animals with environmental enrichment with the expectation that modifying the physical space will improve kennel-related stress and subsequently abate undesirable behaviors. Although enrichment has shown moderate success at improving in-kennel behavior, increased use of physiological measurements of stress, such as cortisol, has garnered doubt as to which canine behaviors are truly elicited by a biological state of distress. Consequently, it is unknown if past examples of successful kennel enrichment decreased biological stress in addition to affecting behavior. This study explored music’s effect on salivary cortisol and music’s potential as a long-term, kennel enrichment strategy. Shelter dogs …

Effects Of Instability On Core Muscle Activation In A Side Bridge, Erin E. Kishman

Masters Theses

Training the musculature of the core continues to be perceived as an essential component of conditioning and rehabilitation settings (11). A popular way to train the core is with the use of instability devices, such as Swiss ball or suspension trainer. However, there is limited research on the effects of these devices on core muscle activity. The purpose of this study was to examine core muscle activity during side bridge variations with and without instability devices (Floor, Swiss Ball, and TRX) through electromyography (EMG) of the rectus abdominis, external oblique, erector spinae, and latissimus dorsi. 39 participants performed three variations …

Instructor Sense Of Community And Instructional Practices As Predictors Of Student Sense Of Community: A Hierarchical Linear Modeling Analysis, Laurie K. Burgess

Dissertations

A positive sense of community (SoC) in the college classroom supports student learning and increases student engagement and motivation. While previous research has examined SoC, studies have typically investigated students’ perceptions. This quantitative cross-sectional study investigates both instructor and students’ perceptions of SoC in traditional undergraduate classrooms. Study participants include full-time instructors, and students from 36 undergraduate classes in three institutions located in a Midwestern state. Students completed Rovai’s (2002a) Classroom Community Scale; instructors completed a remodified Classroom Community Scale and the Postsecondary Instructional Practices Survey (Walter, Henderson, Beach, & Williams, 2016).

This study uses hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) to …

Hybrid Model - Statistical Features And Deep Neural Network For Brain Tumor Classification In Mri Images, Mustafa Rashid Ismael

Dissertations

A brain tumor is the most common disease that affects the central nervous system (CNS), the brain, and spinal cord. It can be diagnosed using the safest and most reliable imaging modality, the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), by radiologists who may use the assistance of computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) tools. Automated diagnosis is sought because it is essential to overcome the drawbacks of the manual diagnosis, such as time and the stress of viewing MRI images for long hours, and the human error potential. Image analysis and machine learning algorithms are tools that can be used to build an intelligent CAD …

Exploring The Role Of Semi-Supervised Deep Reinforcement Learning And Ensemble Methods In Support Of The Internet Of Things, Mehdi Mohammadi

Dissertations

Smart services are an important element of the Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem where insights are drawn from raw data through the use of machine learning techniques. However, the pathway to develop IoT smart services is complicated as IoT data presents several challenges for machine learning, including handling big data, shortage of labeled data, and the need to benefit from the spatio-temporal relations hidden in the training data.

In this dissertation, after reviewing the state-of-the-art deep learning (DL) and deep reinforcement learning (DRL) techniques and their use in support of IoT applications, this study proposes to extend DRL to semi-supervised …

The Catholic Church And Its Impact On Public Policy In Contemporary Democracies, Dawid Tatarczyk

Dissertations

The overarching aim of this dissertation was to examine the extent to which the Catholic Church is still a significant public policy actor in 35 economically developed democracies. The research design used in this project draws on three distinct approaches, each addressing a different puzzle but when integrated together they provide an answer to the main question. Taken together these three approaches show that the Catholic Church continues to be an important political institution with considerable influence even in economically developed democracies.

The rational choice institutionalism paradigm is used to explain the political behavior of the Catholic Church. The paradigm …

The Effects Of Peer Observation On Teacher Intervention Integrity, Garrett D. Warrilow

Dissertations

The observer effect is a term used to describe a process during which an observer's behavior changes as they measure the behavior of another individual. The observer effect has been widely studied in organizational behavior management but has limited research with teachers in schools. The current study sought to use the observer effect as part of a teacher training package by evaluating the effects of peer observations on an observing teacher's implementation integrity of components of a Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) system. Participants were four middle school teachers of students in general education classrooms. The primary dependent variables …

The Effect Of Maternal Employment On Family Well-Being, Bezawit Teshome Agiro

Dissertations

This dissertation is composed of three essays on the effect of maternal employment on family well-being using data from Early Childhood Longitudinal Study: Kindergarten Class of 2010-11 (ECLS-K: 2011). In general, the findings from this study suggest that the effect of maternal employment on children’s weight status and cognitive development is not significant, but it is significant on mothers’ overall health and psychological well-being.

The first essay re-examines the effect of maternal employment on child obesity by taking a sample of grade 2 children who had at least one younger sibling from the spring 2013 cohort. The study makes use …

An Integrated Decision Support Framework For Life-Cycle Building Asset Management, Maha Reda Alkasisbeh

Dissertations

Building assets are essential to the economic, cultural, and historical growth of any nation. Examples of buildings include shelters, entertainment facilities, living spaces, teaching facilities, civil offices, parking structures, police buildings, libraries, and service areas used to accommodate human activity. Deterioration of building assets, inadequate renewal budgets, climbing deficits, and increasing demand levels are difficulties that face owners when managing building assets. The role of asset management has recently become significant in municipal governments for strategic, operational, and financial reasons. The main functions of an asset management system include assessment of the current condition, prediction of future deterioration, asset prioritization, …

Alumni Unscripted: Navigating Life's Transitions, Kameron Kampen

Haworth College of Business News

No abstract provided.

Faculty Retirement Recognition Dinner Photo 2018, Western Michigan University

Faculty Recognition

Faculty Retirement Recognition Dinner Photo

May 21, 2018

Back Row, left to right

• Edmund Tsang - College of Engineering & Applied Sciences, and Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
• Jane Thornbury Baas - Lee Honors College, and Dance
• David Little - Music
• Denise Bowen - Physician Assistant
• Michael Barcelona - Chemistry
• Richard de Peaux - Art
• Robert Felkel - Spanish

Front Row, left to right

• Rameshwar Sharma - Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
• John M. Dunn - President Emeritus, and Human Performance & Health Education
• Walter Burt - Educational Leadership, Research & Technology
• Edward Montgomery - President, Western Michigan University
• Linda Harrison Zoeller …

Faculty Retirement Recognition Dinner 2018, Western Michigan University

Faculty Recognition

Faculty Retirement Recognition Dinner Program

May 21, 2018

Honored Guests:

• Jane T. Baas
• Michael J. Barcelona
• Bruce E. Bejcek
• Debra S. Berkey
• Denise J. Bowen
• Walter L. Burt
• Janet L. Coryell
• Douglas V. Davidson
• Richard dePeaux
• Alice J. DeYoung
• Linda A. Dove
• John M. Dunn
• Robert W. Felkel
• James A. Gilchrist
• James M. Hillenbrand
• David G. Houghton
• Miranda Howard
• Barbara S. Liggett
• Steven N. Lipkin
• David E. Little
• Robin E. McKinney
• Rameshwar P. Sharma
• Edmund Tsang
• Linda H. Zoeller

Transfer Student Orientation Welcome, John M. Dunn

WMU President John Dunn

No abstract provided.

Western News, May 10, 2018, Western Michigan University

Western News (1972-2018)

Story highlights: Wisconsin educator to lead HHS college; WMU preparing for switch to consolidated dispatch; Two geological research efforts garner rare national recognition; On Campus with Debbi Hands Kreps.

Students Honored For Entrepreneurial Innovation, College Of Education And Human Development

Family and Consumer Sciences News

Two Western Michigan University student entrepreneurs are being recognized for their original business ideas.

Western News, May 24, 2018, Western Michigan University

Western News (1972-2018)

Story highlights: Ball State business dean named provost; Seita foster youth effort garners national acclaim; Leadership openings result in appointment, ongoing searches; On Campus with Justine Foster.

Connections, 05/2018, College Of Health And Human Services

College of Health and Human Services Newsletter

• Wisconsin educator will lead CHHS
• Dean Washington recognized by nursing association
• Empower Success program complete successful first year
• Faculty member named AGHE Fellow
• PA student attends leadership summit

53rd International Congress On Medieval Studies, Medieval Institute, Western Michigan University

International Congress on Medieval Studies Archive

The printed program of the 53rd International Congress on Medieval Studies (May 10-13, 2018), including the Corrigenda.

May 2018 News Items, Office Of Vice President For Research

Research and Discovery News

• WMU geology efforts lead to national recognition, two publications
• Dr. Erika Calvo-Ochoa awarded National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Biology
• New proposal submissions policy expected to benefit campus researchers

May 2018, Global News, Haenicke Institute

Global News

• Montgomery to speak at upcoming community breakfast
• First WMU student interning with Parker Hannifin in Germany
• WMU search for diversity and inclusion VP is in full swing
• WMU geology efforts lead to national recognition, two publiciations
• Student awarded prestigious study abroad scholarship
• WMU's Seita foster youth effort garners national acclaim
• Canadian scholar wins WMU's 2018 Gründler Prize
• Early registration extended for livable communities conference
• Sales program again nationally recognized for excellence
• Take advantage of global engagement opportunities in June
• Center for Fostering Success announces new partner, transition plans

What's Wrong With The Tap? Examining Perceptions Of Tap And Bottled Water At Western Michigan University, Lindsey Makos

Honors Theses

Distrust in tap water seems to be increasing in the United States with a consonant increase in single-use bottled water. As a result, I was intrigued to explore the behaviors and opinions of Western Michigan University (WMU) students in Kalamazoo, MI towards bottled water. Specifically, I initiated a study to examine student’s perceptions and use of tap water and bottled water. To study water consumption habits on WMU’s campus, I replicated a Purdue University study from 2011. In addition, because of the high profile of the Flint Water Crisis, particularly in Michigan, I added a section that focuses on the …

Impact Of 2001 - 2016 Supreme Court Establishment Clause Cases, Nicole Cumming

Honors Theses

This study will look at United States Supreme Court Establishment Clause cases from 2001-2016. During those 16 years, the Court decided 1,276 cases. Only 10 of those cases dealt with the establishment clause.

At an absolute minimum, the Establishment Clause was intended to prohibit the federal government from declaring and financially supporting a national religion, which existed in many other countries at the time of America's founding. This idea has become vital to the values Americans hold dear. Throughout history, religious freedom and tolerance have been celebrated, and most of that is due to the Establishment Clause. However, there is …

The Rhetoric Of Landscape: Through Oil And Water, Alexandrea Davis

Honors Theses

“The Rhetoric of Landscape: Through Oil and Water” analyzes five water resources—Lake Erie, Lake Powell, the Aral Sea, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Great Barrier Reef—and uses the visual rhetoric introduced by an accompanying series of oil pastel illustrations to compare how the beauty of the landscapes equates to their true states. This project discusses the harmful effects of human activities on water bodies, first through direct pollution and ultimately through anthropogenic climate change. Furthermore, a final summary covering the history of environmental initiatives in the United States and the idea of “wicked problems” offers an overview of reasons …