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The Current - Volume 37 Issue 02, Nova Southeastern University

Student Newspapers

No abstract provided.

Faculty Insights On Teaching Self-Determination Skills In Postsecondary Education, Jacqueline Lubin

International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education

While self-determination skills may serve as a predictor of success in higher education, limited research exists on faculty attitudes toward teaching these skills to students with and without disabilities. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine faculty’s knowledge of self-determination and perception of teaching self-determination skills to all college students. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multivariate analysis of variance. Findings indicated that while the majority of participants were familiar with the term “self-determination,” and recognized its instructional value, their responses varied on their likelihood to teach skills. On average, faculty reported being somewhat likely to …

The Hidden Costs Of Accountability: Unpacking The Emotional Labor Of Student Conduct Work And Building Tools For Resilience, Tiffany Marlene Shierling

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

This dissertation explored the psychological challenges student conduct administrators (SCAs) face in higher education. These professionals have encountered significant emotional labor, vicarious trauma, and ethical dilemmas as they address student misconduct while striving to achieve educational and developmental outcomes. The study highlighted a research gap concerning the impact of these challenges on the mental well-being of SCAs, which hinders the development of effective support systems. This study aimed to address the mental health needs of SCAs by developing a comprehensive toolkit. Grounded in self-compassion theory and resilience theory, the toolkit provides resources for emotional self-regulation, supervisor training, and institutional recommendations.

The Current - Volume 37 Issue 01, Nova Southeastern University

Student Newspapers

No abstract provided.

Retention During Turbulent Times Of Higher Education: Modeling Intent To Leave Academia For Research University Faculty, Jordan Monroe Ball

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

University faculty operate as the lifeblood of any institution given that their job requires a “double duty” to develop both scholarly research and student minds. Due in large part to these expectations, research shows a long history of poor mental health for faculty, which ultimately results in faculty turnover. One model of faculty work motivation (Padilla et al., 2023) details the way in which the faculty work environment influences their mental health, and subsequently informs their job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and intent to leave academia, which serves as a proxy for turnover. Retention related issues have not been a pressing …

Exploring Student And Faculty Perspectives On Professionalism In Occupational Therapy Education, Mary Roduta Roberts, Jilaine Barton, Amy Janzen, Carolina Johnson, Lauren Painchaud

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

The development of professionalism is critical for occupational therapy (OT) students to become competent occupational therapists. This paper reports on the first phase of a multi-phase project to develop and pilot a situational judgement test to support teaching, learning, and development of professionalism in an OT program. The purpose of this study was to explore faculty and students’ perspectives on professionalism and OT. Twenty-two semi-structured interviews were completed with students (n = 18) and faculty (n = 4). The main insights shared included challenges in defining professionalism in OT, the importance of context, and differing perspectives on the effectiveness of …

Unveiling Unwritten Curricula: Enhancing Junior Faculty Development In Academic Emergency Medicine, Abagayle Bierowski, Casey Morrone, Erin Hoag, Ridhima Ghei, Michael Pasirstein, Julie Blaszczak, Dimitrios Papanagnou

Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty Papers

INTRODUCTION: The transition from resident to junior faculty in academic emergency medicine (EM) may be shaped not only by formal training and institutional policies but also by the "unwritten curriculum," a set of norms and expectations embedded in institutional culture. However, the unwritten curriculum and its potential to impact junior faculty development remains largely unexplored. Little is known about how junior faculty perceive, experience, and navigate these informal expectations, or the formal and informal structures that influence this process. In this study we aimed to explore junior faculty members' experiences with the unwritten curriculum in academic EM, with a focus …

Community Health Fair As Experiential Learning: Interprofessional Faculty And Student Perspectives, Sharon Stevenson, Martha Rojo, Jing Jin, Erickson Feliciano, Margaret Love, Scott Wright

Journal of Interprofessional Practice and Collaboration

Abstract

Background: Traditional, precepted clinical practice sites continue to decline. Community health fairs (CHFs), led by experienced interprofessional faculty, present a valuable opportunity. In addition, CHFs provide students with hands-on experience in real-world settings.

Aim: This study examined the perspectives and clinical experiences of interprofessional faculty and students participating in a CHF.

Methods: This study utilized qualitative and quantitative design. Fourteen participants (seven students, seven faculty) engaged in conversational interviews, and completed a faculty and student survey as well as a demographic survey. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the sample and survey responses, and thematic analysis was used to …

2026 Spring Commencement Program: Winona State University, Winona State University

WSU Commencement Programs

This is the Winona State University Spring 2026 commencement program. Commencement was on Thursday, May 7 and Friday, May 8, 2026.

During the Commencement event, a complete list of graduates was provided online. This program was not published during the Commencement event. This digital copy is maintained in the repository for archival purposes.

A Case Study Of Faculty Perspectives On Teaching Across Borders, Lucy Matthews, Diane R. Edmondson, Tammy Bahmanziari

Atlantic Marketing Journal

This study explores the differences between faculty who have and have not led study abroad programs at a southeastern U.S. public university. Using survey responses from 133 faculty members, the research examines professional and motivational variables that influence participation. Findings reveal that those who have led study abroad programs tend to be satisfied with their experiences, report higher perceptions of student cultural competency gains, and are more likely to recommend such programs to peers. Additionally, experiential learning emerged as a central theme, with faculty highlighting the pedagogical value of immersive global education. Barriers to participation were also investigated. The study …

Faculty And Academic Advisor Perspectives On Embedded Certifications Supporting Neurodivergent Learners, Katherine B. Watkins

Human Nutrition and Hospitality Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

This study explores the experiences, strengths, and challenges of neurodivergent individuals within educational and social environments, with a focus on promoting inclusivity and understanding. Neurodivergence, encompassing conditions such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other cognitive variations, is increasingly recognized not as a deficit but as a natural form of human diversity. The research examines how traditional systems often fail to accommodate diverse cognitive styles, leading to barriers in learning, communication, and self-expression. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study combines quantitative survey data with qualitative interviews to capture both broad trends and personal narratives. Participants reported that rigid structures, sensory overload, …

An Examination Of Student-Faculty Relationships As A Factor In Retention Of Students In The Department Of Agriculture, Macie C. Johnson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to discover the best approach in building academic relationships between students and faculty. Based on past research, student GPA, learning style, faculty relatability, and involvement were common factors in retention research. These factors contributed to the creation of statements used to analyze the best course of action in building academic relationships between students and faculty. Students and faculty in the Department of Agriculture at Stephen F. Austin State University were able to rank statements using a Quasi-Q-Sort. Results from the Quasi-Q-Sort were analyzed using cross-tabulation, descriptive statistics, Kendall’s W, and Mann-Whitney tests. Following these …

An Innovative Model For Graduate Medical Education Faculty Development Through Physician-In-Training Delivery, Daniel A. Nguyen, Dustin Wilkes, Marshall Hall, Michael Carletti, Stephen E. Weis

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Background

Faculty development is a core requirement for Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited residency programs. Successfully delivering content to faculty can be challenging. This pilot study aimed to assess expert-developed sessions delivered by resident physicians to faculty at the completion of their clinical rotations.

Methods

A prospective cohort project was conducted, involving precepting faculty and resident physicians in a dermatology residency program. Each resident, at the end of their rotation, delivered a faculty development program to their attending physician. Each resident participated in the program for 1-3 years. The faculty development programs were based on faculty development programs …

Quality Improvement Project: Impact Of An Escape Room Simulation Tool On Nursing Confidence, Farren M. Moore

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

This quality improvement project aims to address the need for innovative teaching strategies to meet the demands of licensure exams and the increasing complexity of patient care. Evidence supports simulation-based learning as an effective method to enhance critical thinking and clinical judgment; however, faculty members lack confidence in implementing innovative strategies in their courses. The purpose of this project is to determine whether a standardized escape room simulation tool would impact faculty’s self-confidence in developing and implementing simulation-based activities. Guided by the National League for Nursing (NLN) Jeffries Simulation Theory and Lewin’s Change Theory, the project evaluates the change in …

Solo Faculty Program Coordinators In Student Affairs-Related Graduate Programs, Phillip A. Olt, Mitch Nasser, Louise Michelle Vital, Steven Tolman, James G. Archibald, Mary Ann Bodine Al-Sharif, Blue Brazelton, Rozana Carducci, Michael Houdyshell, Tryan Mcmickens, Cara Meixner, Molly Mistretta, Amy Paciej-Woodruff, Richie Stevens, Ann Wendle, Claude E.P. Mayo

The Qualitative Report

Many graduate programs in student affairs-related subfields employ just one full-time faculty member, who then also functions as the program coordinator. Program coordinator duties and compensation vary widely, but they are generally the person who ensures all aspects of the program function. Research shows that fulfilling these responsibilities in addition to teaching, research, and service is difficult; however, this study sought to expand on that literature to understand what it was like to coordinate a HESA program as the only full-time faculty member isolated in that subfield at the institution. We utilized the hybrid qualitative methodology of phenomenological polyethnography, wherein …

Resilience And Emotional Eating: Gender Differences In Undereating, Tinei Nyakuyedzwa, Patrick J. Cooper

Student Publications and Presentations

Emotional eating refers to eating in response to emotional states as opposed to hunger and is linked to stress, which is important for college students who experience unique stressors (e.g., academic, social, and interpersonal) in their college experience. It is also often found to be more prevalent in women, but not always. During the COVID-19 pandemic, females and males reported similar levels of emotional eating, but for different reasons: female emotional eating was linked to isolation and/or extra care-giving responsibilities, whereas male emotional eating was linked to reward seeking behaviors. The purpose of this study is to examine whether there …

Autonomous Motivation And Campus Mental Health Services Utilization, Vishwa Shukla, Brandy Whitford

Student Publications and Presentations

Mental health services are available across U.S. universities, yet many Generation Z students experiencing psychological distress do not make use of them. Researchers have identified stigma, limited mental health literacy, concerns about confidentiality, and negative past experiences as possible explanations for low engagement. Students move through several stages when using services, including initiating help-seeking, attending appointments, and continuing over time. Existing models tend to focus primarily on external barriers, giving less attention to internal motivational factors that influence whether students decide to engage at all. Self-determination theory offers a framework for examining this issue. When students do not see help-seeking …

April 24, 2026 Minutes, Swosu Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Minutes

No abstract provided.

Animal-Assisted Therapy, Stress Regulation, And Mental Awareness, Kimberly Montenegro, Brandy Whitford

Student Publications and Presentations

Mental awareness refers to a person's ability to focus, regulate emotions, and respond to stress. When these capacities weaken, daily functioning can become more difficult. They depend on the body’s stress response system, particularly the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and brain regions such as the amygdala and prefrontal cortex. When chronic stress disrupts these systems, individuals often experience reduced attentional control and emotional instability. Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) has gained attention as a possible approach to reducing stress. Research on human-animal interaction shows that spending time with animals can lower cortisol levels and increase oxytocin, both of which influence stress responses. Studies …

Second Phase Cohort And Principal Component Analysis To Characterize An Adlerian-Drumming Intervention Among College Students, Charles Benayoun, Rebecca Schaffer, Rebecca Mesidort, Jacklyn Markovitz, Megan Ramsey, Jon Sperry, Félix E. Rivera-Mariani

Student Publications and Presentations

Group drumming is a rhythmic intervention with potential to modulate mood states and physiological arousal. Understanding which participant characteristics are associated with differential pre-session mood profiles may inform how individuals engage with such interventions. This study, which is a 2nd phase cohort, employed principal component analysis (PCA) to identify the latent structure underlying mood states, physiological biomarker changes, and demographic characteristics in a sample of college students participating in an Adlerian-based group drumming session. 31 Participants completed a pre-session mood survey and a social interest index. Blood pressure and heart rate were recorded before and after a 45-minute Adlerian-based group …

The Current - Volume 36 Issue 9, Nova Southeastern University

Student Newspapers

No abstract provided.

Exploring Stress Contagion: The Effect Of Faculty Stress Levels On Occupational Therapy Graduate Students, Dana Kolbfleisch

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Research has indicated a relationship between faculty and students as it pertains to stress levels and subsequent well-being in occupational therapy (OT) programs (Grab et al., 2021), a potential indication of a stress contagion effect. This research aimed to determine if faculty stress levels affect student stress levels in OT graduate programs. The researcher used an ecological correlational study design with a nonprobability convenience sampling procedure. Faculty and students (n = 19 and n = 165, respectively) from 367 accredited OT graduate programs across the United States completed a survey consisting of demographic questions and the PSS-10. In addition, OT …

Celebration Of Scholarship And Creativity Magazine, 2024-2025, University Of Texas At Tyler

Celebration of Scholarship and Creativity Magazine

This annual review is compiled to promote scholarship and document a record of the published and creative works of The University of Texas at Tyler faculty for academic year 2024-2025. Information was compiled from Faculty180©, the university’s platform for faculty activity reporting.

Turn Out, Having Latinx Faculty Doesn't Mean The School Sucks: The Faux Relationship Between Latinx Saturation Rate And Institutional Prestige, Julianne Pena

Posters - 2026

• 25% or more full time students that are of Latinx decent (U.S. Department of Education) • Since 1992, enrollment and attendance of students increased (Vela & Gutierrez, 2017) • Latinx students more likely to enroll in HSIs over non HSIs (Vargas et al., 2019) • Latinx faculty to Latinx students 146:1, White faculty to White students 10:1 (Vargas et al., 2019) • Overrepresentation of White faculty and Underrepresentation of Latinx faculty (Robertson, 2023) • Diverse faculty is impactful (Contreras, 2017; Dayton et al., 2004; Turner & Gonzales, 2014) Purpose: The purpose of this topic is to bring awareness to …

The Current - Volume 36 Issue 8, Nova Southeastern University

Student Newspapers

No abstract provided.

Caring For Future Caregivers: Using The Faculty Toolkit Of Teaching Strategies To Support Well-Being For Health Sciences Students, Erica Sciarra, Alice M. Teall

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Current literature supports the positive impact creating a culture of wellness has in promoting individual and organizational wellbeing. Faculty and institutions of higher learning have a responsibility to create a physically and psychologically safe learning environment. Modeling effective ways for students to prioritize their mental health and wellness within the context of the ten dimensions of wellness is paramount. The National Wellness Action Alliance (NWAA) Workgroup recognized and responded to the need to provide faculty with valuable strategies to promote wellness among health sciences students that can be implemented by individual faculty members as well as serve as a springboard …

Examining The Relationship Between Transformational Leadership Behaviors And Faculty Job Satisfaction At Hbcus: An Explanatory Correlational Study, Demissie L. Karorsa, Monica E. Allen

Journal of Research Initiatives

By inspiring followers to pursue and attain exceptional levels of performance, transformational leadership (TL) has been associated with high levels of follower job satisfaction and organizational commitment (Asencio, 2016; Banks et al., 2016; Bass & Riggio, 2006). The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine faculty perceptions of transformational leadership behaviors of their department chairs and their own job satisfaction at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the southeastern United States. The transformational leadership dimensions examined were idealized attributes (IA), idealized behaviors (IB), inspirational motivation (IM), intellectual stimulation (IS), and individualized consideration (IC). Data were collected using …

Institutionalizing A Culture Of Respect For Teaching And Professional Faculty, Laura E. Sponsler

Higher Education: Faculty Scholarship

The University of Denver has made great strides in improving faculty work and culture with the creation of full time non-tenure track lines – the Teaching and Professional Faculty. In 2015, DU’s faculty senate and Board of Trustees approved and created professional pathways with promotion, longer term contracts, and defined responsibilities for Teaching and Professional Faculty. Compared to other universities and colleges, our current strengths include multi-year contracts, participation and leadership in university governance, opportunities for advancement and promotion, and collegiality amongst faculty members.

This white paper serves to examine the institutionalization of these lines and the current status of …

The Current - Volume 36 Issue 7, Nova Southeastern University

Student Newspapers

No abstract provided.

Disruptive Academic Behaviors: The Dance Between Emotional Intelligence And Academic Incivility, Tracy Ann Hudgins, Diana M. Layne, Celena E. Kusch, Karen Lounsbury

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

This presentation aims to share the findings from a recent study that identified student and faculty perceptions of academic incivility, share the adapted Conceptual Model for Fostering Civility in Nursing Education, and discuss identified strategies for improving civility based on our findings (Authors, 2022; Authors, 2023). This study was conducted at a regional four-year university in the southern United States and focused on the diverse, often under-resourced, and/or first-generation students who make up most students in regional universities but are typically a minority in major research institutions. While the study was not planned to occur during a highly stressful academic …