Digital Commons Network^™

New Mexico Snap-Ed College Food Insecurity Report, Belinda E. Vicuña, Yvonnie V. Baik, Elena E. Martinez, Mahtab Soleimani, Camille R. Velarde, Theresa H. Cruz

Reports & Documents

In New Mexico, 58% of college students experience some form of food insecurity. The College Food Insecurity Project—conducted by the University of New Mexico’s Division of Prevention and Population Sciences with support from the New Mexico Health Care Authority and USDA SNAP-Ed—examined how campus food pantries address student food needs across the state. Using a mixed-methods design, the study included semi-structured interviews with food pantry coordinators and staff at 13 institutions of higher education, on-site assessments using the Nutrition Environment Food Pantry Assessment Tool Plus (NEFPAT+), and content analysis of 15 college food pantry websites.

Findings revealed that campus …

Higher Education Cybersecurity: A Vulnerability Assessment Of The U.S. South’S Institutional Websites, Zachary W. Taylor, Vivi Vo

Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice

As technology continues to advance, it is critical to understand how higher education institutions protect digital information of their stakeholders including students, faculty, and staff through cybersecurity measures. Although conceptual research has articulated various aspects of cybersecurity, no empirical research has explored the cybersecurity of higher education (.edu) websites through a vulnerability scan of these websites via an open PortScan and analysis. To fill a critical gap in the literature, this study conducted a vulnerability scan and open PortScan and analysis of all higher education websites in three of the lowest-income states in the United States: Louisiana (n=112), Mississippi (n=52), …

Power Of Meaningful Learning Moments: Relationships In Academia, Jillian Bollinger, Ots, Rebecca Loughran, Ots, Alexandria Krasin, Otd, Otr/L, Madison Via, Bs, Audrey L. Zapletal, Otd, Otr/L, Cla, Chse

Department of Occupational Therapy Posters and Presentations

Background

• The demanding nature of graduate-level coursework creates rigorous academic environments that can strain student-faculty relationships.¹⁻⁶
• Graduate students often come from diverse backgrounds, which shape their approaches to coursework, classroom engagement, comfort in accessing resources, and relationship-building with faculty.⁴
• In such settings, faculty may question students' academic integrity, potentially undermining mutual trust and camaraderie.¹
• However, fostering a culture of expressed gratitude in academia can help students acknowledge the meaningful contributions faculty make to their education while enhancing their learning and behavior. This, in turn, enhances faculty motivation and may reduce burnout.2,³,⁶
• By encouraging gratitude in academic environments, institutions can strengthen …

Leadership And Institutional Change And Their Impact On The Curriculum, Andi Koci, Alma Lama, Denis Celcima

UBT International Conference

Educational institutions need visionary leaders who can handle complex institutional changes because global educational systems keep evolving. The research investigates how leadership methods affect educational program development and institutional transformation through their influence on educational program structure and direction and their ability to maintain program relevance in the twenty-first century. Academic institutions face rapid changes in their environment because of technological progress and global trends and student requirements so leadership stands as the essential power for creating lasting educational transformations and updated curricula. The research bases its understanding of institutional change through transformational and distributed leadership theories which show that …

Motivation For English Language Learning Among Macedonian Academic Staff: Analyzing Key Motivational Drivers, Vesna Prodanovska Poposka

UBT International Conference

In a world where academia is more connected than ever, English proficiency has become the master key for Macedonian scholars seeking to unlock international opportunities. This study investigates the motivation for English language learning among academic staff in North Macedonia, focusing on the identification of the most and least influential motivational drivers. Based on the data collected from 72 respondents across public and private universities, an adapted Attitude/Motivation Test Battery (AMTB) was used to measure both instrumental and integrative motivation. The results indicate a clear hierarchy of drivers i.e. the highest scores for international career advancement ("useful in getting better …

Gec Meeting Minutes For October 22nd, 2025, A-State General Education Committee

General Education Committee Minutes

No abstract provided.

Decision-Making During A Crisis: A Case Study Of How A University Responded To The Covid-19 Pandemic, Ryan Joseph Iocco

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Scant research is available on how university leaders make decisions and communicate those decisions to their stakeholders during times of crisis. The purpose of this case study was to better understand the decision-making process used by administrative leaders at a higher education institution during a time of organizational crisis. This study examined decision-making by higher education leaders within and across different functional areas at a single higher education institution between February 2020 and September 2020, following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Data was collected through interviews and document analysis. Although research exists on decision-making during crises, there is limited …

Complicating Understandings Of Low-Income Students’ Financial Stress And Well-Being In Order To Inform Institutional Support, Khalilah R. Lauderdale, Ralitsa Todorova, Zoë B. Corwin

Journal of Student Financial Aid

This paper seeks to enhance understanding of how low-income students navigate financial stress by integrating the asset-based concept of financial well-being and including a focus on the institutional context. Data collected from 378 interviews with students from low-income backgrounds illustrate complex ways that students experience financial stress and financial well-being. By centering students’ perspectives in analysis while also accounting for programmatic and institutional contexts, the authors aim to push theory and practice toward a more nuanced understanding of how to best support students from low-income backgrounds as they navigate affording college and fostering financial well-being.

The Lived Experiences And Perspectives Of Higher Education Faculty Regarding The Use Of Artificial Intelligence Writing Tools On Students' Coursework: A Phenomenological Study, Kalary T. Driggers

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences and perspectives of higher education faculty in the Southeastern United States on student use of artificial intelligence writing tools in their coursework. The theory guiding this study was Rogers’ diffusion of innovations, which considers the acceptance of innovations over time. The central research question for this study was, “What are the lived experiences and perspectives of higher education faculty regarding the use of artificial intelligence writing tools on student coursework in higher education?” This study employed a transcendental phenomenological approach, as the researcher sought to understand the …

A Discussion Of Community: An Ethnography Of Designing Asynchronous Video Discussions To Reveal Student Perceptions Of Digital Presence In Online Learning, Chad S. Garcia

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This mixed-methods digital ethnography investigates how video-based discussions (VBD) influence community building in asynchronous graduate education. Using the Community of Inquiry (COI) framework, this study looks at student experiences in a History of Higher Education class where traditional text-based discussions were replaced with video presentations and peer responses. The research explores how video discussions affect students' sense of presence, how video presence impacts engagement patterns, and which multimedia elements contribute to community development.

Data collection included semi-structured interviews with students and instructors, LMS analytics, video content analysis, and ethnographic observation throughout Spring 2024. Analysis revealed a notable disconnect between traditional …

Promising The First Amendment: (De)Regulating Speech In Higher Education, Max M. Schanzenbach, Kimberly A. Yuracko

Northwestern University Law Review

The war between Hamas and Israel has caused havoc in higher education. Amid student unrest, alumni pressure, congressional hearings, civil rights investigations, and student lawsuits, universities stand at a crossroads. The current situation, in which most private universities unevenly regulate student speech under ambiguous student codes, is not sustainable politically or legally. A tsunami of litigation and regulatory actions has already begun. One increasingly favored response is for private universities to more vigorously enforce existing codes or expand their scope. An alternative is for private universities to deregulate student expression and commit by contract to the First Amendment. This Article …

Faculty Senate Meeting Minutes Oct 3, 2025, A-State Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Minutes

No abstract provided.

Comparing Massed And Distributed Course Formats: Effects On Outcomes In A Graduate Augmentative And Alternative Communication Course, Brandon Scott Eddy, Alli Sauerwein, Leah Meloy, Eric Sanders

Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences & Disorders

The effects of massed versus distributed learning have been well studied in the verbal and motor learning literature, with findings suggesting enhanced outcomes from distributing learning over time. However, some studies have found limited evidence to support enhanced outcomes from distributed learning when applied to an entire academic course. The effects of course scheduling on student learning in speech-language pathology graduate coursework have received limited attention. This study compared learning outcomes between a one-week massed format and an eight-week distributed format in an online two-credit augmentative and alternative communication graduate-level course. Learning outcomes were assessed before students enrolled, immediately after …

Clark Magazine, Fall/Winter 2025, Clark University

Clark Magazine

The Fall/Winter 2025 edition of Clark Magazine. Clark Magazine is a twice-yearly publication primarily geared towards Clark University Alumni.

The cover story is 'Our Planet. Our Clark. A Special Issue', celebrating the new School of Climate, Environment, and Society.

Exploring Student Thriving: A Comparative Analysis Of First-Generation And Continuing-Generation Undergraduate College Students At A Private, Faith-Based University, Melissa A. Maisenbacher

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

This quantitative study explored the thriving of first-generation undergraduate students enrolled full-time at a mid-sized, private, faith-based, open-enrollment university in the southeastern United States. Using the validated Thriving Quotient™ instrument, this research measured thriving across five domains: engaged learning, academic determination, positive perspective, social connectedness, and diverse citizenship, along with three subscales: spirituality, sense of community, and institutional integrity. The study compared thriving perceptions of first-generation college students (FGCSs) and continuing-generation college students (CGCSs) to determine if generational status influenced students’ experiences of thriving. Despite documented challenges faced by FGCSs—including financial stress, limited familial guidance, and lower academic preparedness—this study …

Fundamentals Of A Sustainability Profile Of Students Based On Quantitative Community Building Analyses, Cormac Mcmahon, Julie Dunne, Catherine Barry Ryan, María J. Cantalejo, Carlos Vilches, Isabel Navarlaz, Maite Aldaya, Annapia Ferrara, Sabrina Tomasi, Chiara Mignani, Alessio Cavicchi, Sami Sami Ghnimi, Sghaier Chriki, Michael Murkovic, Barbara Siegmund, Lena Pfeiffer

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

In the context of a growing awareness of environmental challenges and the importance of sustainability values, practices, and choices, this article presents the key findings of the European co-funded NEMOS research project (A New Educational Model of Sustainability Competences through Service-learning) focused on defining the sustainability profile and competencies of students through service-learning in Higher Education. A community-building bottom-up methodology was innovatively applied to identify the competencies needed to define a sustainability profile of students in food-related degrees of five European Higher Education Institutions.The research findings highlight the need for a holistic understanding of students´sustainability, including economic, social, and environmental …

Predictive Model Of School Dropout In Higher Education Through Learning Analytics With Neutrosophic Plithogenic Hypotheses, David Núñez, Purificación Galindo-Villardón

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

Higher education dropout rates are an international problem, as many people abandon their studies, especially in the early years. This problem affects institutions, causing significant losses. In this context, it is essential to consider methods that allow for predicting dropout rates and taking rapid and effective measures. Objective: The main objective is to analyze prediction models using Learning Analytics, integrating neutrosophic plithogenic hypotheses, to identify early the risk of dropout in higher education. This provides institutions with useful tools to implement actions that help retain more students, considering uncertainty and complex interactions between academic and non-academic factors. Methodology: The method …

Navigating Towards Sustainability: The Case Of Ateneo De Manila University, Ma. Assunta C. Cuyegkeng, Abigail Marie T. Favis, Emmanuel D. Delocado

Reports

This case study shows how Ateneo de Manila, a private Philippine university, began its sustainability journey in 2008, maneuvered barriers to introduce collaborative academic programs in sustainability in 2015, and continues with its aspirations through committing to be a Laudato Si’ University in 2022. Stakeholder engagement and sustainability leadership were big factors in raising awareness, changing institutional practices, embedding sustainable technologies, and generating sustainability reports during the first seven years. The next seven years were influenced by increasing demand from industry to understand sustainability due to government requirements, which led to the introduction of new academic programs as well as …

Exploring Undergraduate Experiences In Physical Education And Health: A Photovoice Study Of Indonesian Students, Sunarno Basuki, Perdinanto Perdinanto, Akhmad Amirudin

Indonesian Journal of Research in Physical Education, Sport, and Health

Background: Research on undergraduate students in Physical Education (PE) and Health particularly in Indonesia and the Global South has predominantly relied on quantitative indicators, often neglecting students’ lived, embodied, and emotional experiences within demanding academic and physical environments. Objective: This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of Indonesian undergraduate students enrolled in PE and Health programs and to examine how these experiences can inform more responsive and inclusive educational practices. Methods: A qualitative participatory design was employed using photovoice. Eight undergraduate students documented their academic and personal experiences through photography over a two-week period, followed by reflective writing and …

A Cooperative Virtual Exchange Within The Economics Curriculum: A Pilot Study On Embedding Elements Of Global Competence Within An Economics Course, Amy Ehinomen Eremionkhale, Jana Sadeh, Yidi Sun

Business Analytics Faculty Publications

The increasing interconnectivity of the global economy has fuelled higher education (HE) efforts to promote international exchange projects; however, these are not an option for many students. Virtual Exchange (VE) projects have gained traction over the last decade and are now well-established in higher education as a tool to build intercultural communication and global competence (Dooly, 2022; Stevens Initiative, 2023). Building on this established practice, our study contributes to the literature by augmenting a VE with a cooperative group-based learning exercise embedded within an economics module (course), an intersection that remains underexplored in both theory and implementation, and one which …

Music And The Journey Of Black Male Phd Graduates In Counseling, Vincent Sears

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This transcendental phenomenological qualitative study explored the lived experiences of Black male PhD graduates from CACREP- accredited counseling education programs who are now professors within the academy. It examined the integration of music as a coping mechanism to address the psychological impact of isolation, tokenism, and hypervisibility connected to attending predominantly white institutions (PWIs/ HWIs). Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and participants shared bespoke musical playlists. The results of this study revealed three overarching themes and associated sub-themes: the impact of racism and systemic barriers (structural barriers and racial inequities); navigating predominantly or historically white institutions; and music as …

Effective Engagement In Online Asynchronous Graduate Courses: How Students Perceive Engagement In Their Graduate Programs, Matthew A. Galeota, Robert M. Mangione, Stephanie M. Foote

New York Journal of Student Affairs

An increase in online learning has created a set of new challenges for higher education institutions. Institutions seek to retain students and ensure they are engaged in their courses. This paper examines forms of engagement that traditional and nontraditional students perceive in their online asynchronous graduate courses at a public flagship university. The authors examined relevant literature and surveyed students across several online graduate education programs. The survey shows that collaborative engagement, specifically the indicator of connecting to institutional opportunities, is the lowest tallied. This suggests that online graduate programs should seek to implement more collaborative engagement indicators. The survey …

Structurally Framing Service Learning As Teaching Excellence: An Examination Of Collaborative Efforts Between Community Engagement And Faculty Development Centers, James Morgan Lewing, Lisa Bunkowski

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

This study explores collaborations between faculty development centers and service learning and community engagement structures at public institutions awarded the Carnegie Classification for Community Engagement. Utilizing semi-structured interviews with five chief academic officers, none of the respondents stated intentional collaborations were present at their respective institutions. The study underscores the need for strategic alignment to institutionalize community engagement, avoiding siloing and enhancing sustainability through faculty development initiatives that promote teaching excellence.

Carry On: A Multi-Campus Faculty Perspective On The Barriers And Facilitators To Implementing Service Learning Curriculum During A Global Pandemic, Adrianne Widaman, Kirsten Leisses Tuck

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

Service learning (SL) faculty faced substantial and unique challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this study was to explore SL faculty perspectives during the crisis. Higher education faculty who taught SL designated courses during 2020/2021 identified and prioritized challenges and strategies to teaching SL courses without direct person contact. A total of 144 unique responses were collected from 16 faculty from 5 universities using the nominal group technique, a qualitative and quantitative method. Highly ranked themes included the emotional burden felt by the faculty, decreased student learning, a lack of faculty time, the need for alternative assignments, and …

Promoting Healthy Aging Through An Intergenerational Service-Learning Course, Tricia Pierce, Eric Hubbard, Shalini Persaud

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

This case study examines combining service-learning (SL) with an intergenerational exercise program using undergraduate kinesiology students. The purpose was to explore how SL increases confidence, social responsibility, and leadership growth while addressing community needs. Students led biweekly exercise sessions for older adults over six weeks. Reflections demonstrated mutual benefits, including improved activity levels, reduced social isolation, and strengthened community connections.

Case Managers As A Compass: A Strategy For Influencing First-Generation College Student Success, James Riley

Student Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of case managers who use case management as a strategy for improving first-generation student retention at higher education institutions in the United States. Case managers are college or university staff members who provide non-clinical one-on-one student support, including interventions, advocacy, referrals and follow-up services for students who are experiencing significant difficulties. Guided by Tinto’s Theory of Student Departure (1975) and Pascarella’s Model for Assessing Student Change (1980), this study involved interviews with 11 case managers from institutions across the United States and a subsequent review of 24 …

Exploring Students' Perceptions Of Genai Tools In Higher Education: A Case Study, Dina Mansour Tbaishat, Maha Waleed Elfadel

All Works

As artificial intelligence transforms the educational landscape, generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools have become influential in enhancing learning experiences. Despite their growing presence in higher education, limited research explores how university students, especially learners in non-Western contexts, perceive these tools. This study investigates students' perceptions at a university in the UAE, focusing on five dimensions: perceived benefits, institutional support, technological self-efficacy, ethical considerations and user satisfaction. The findings reveal that students generally expressed strong agreement regarding the benefits of GenAI, demonstrated a clear sense of ethical awareness and felt confident in their technological abilities. While satisfaction levels were generally high, …

Introduction, Rosalind Latiner Raby

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

No abstract provided.

Full Pdf Issue 17(4) 2025

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

No abstract provided.

Decolonizing Colombian Foreign-Language Classroom Assessments: A Meaningful Framework, Patricia Grillet Rodriguez

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

In Colombia, foreign-language evaluation validity appears to be mainly related to the analysis of instruments, leaving aside students’ characteristics, affective schemata and expectations. Drawing from critical pedagogy, this study aimed at raising authenticity and meaningfulness in the development of valid foreign-language assessments in a higher education classroom. Framed in the sociocultural perspective, the teacher/researcher and her students obtained substantial gains by adapting a syllabus and evaluation system to better respond to the needs of their context. It was a collaborative process that implied contextualizing contents, establishing a concept of language ability, and including students’ voices in the design of assessments, …