Digital Commons Network^™

Clark Magazine, Fall 2024, Clark University

Clark Magazine

The Fall 2024 edition of Clark Magazine. Clark Magazine is a twice-yearly publication primarily geared towards Clark University Alumni.

The cover story is 'Does the World Need Poets? Yes, historians and philosophers, too. But as the humanities evolve in the digital age, Clark is finding new ways to think, and research, and create'.

Why He Sings: An Action Research Study Using Counternarratives To Affect The Deficit Narratives Attributed To Students Of Color, Tiffany Jones Early

Theses and Dissertations

There is ample research that shows that students of color are less likely to graduate from college than their White peers. Meanwhile, the demographics of students who enroll in college continue to be more diverse than previous generations. As universities struggle to understand retention disparities, the voices of the students are often eliminated from the discussion. Many university staff members, instead, opt for a deficit narrative to blame what they believe students of color lack that inhibits them from persisting in college until graduation. The purpose of this study is to use narrative inquiry to better understand the educational experiences …

The Disconnect Between Student And Educator Perspectives On Effective Technology Usage In Higher Education, Matt Marino

Journal of Research Initiatives

This article explores the disconnect between student and educator perspectives regarding practical technology usage in higher education. As technology continues to play an increasingly prominent role in the educational landscape, understanding the differing viewpoints of students and educators is crucial for designing impactful technology integration strategies. Through a comprehensive literature review, this article examines the factors contributing to the disconnect and its implications for teaching and learning in higher education. Additionally, recommendations are provided to bridge this gap and promote a more aligned understanding of effective technology usage between students and educators.

.

In Kinship With The World: Developing A Novel Instrument To Assess Human-Nature Relational Values, Kimberly Post

Educational Studies Dissertations

In the nascent field of human-nature relational values, there is a growing body of literature suggesting their transformative potential in sustainability education. The ability to analytically distinguish relational values from other valuations can both inform pedagogical approaches and help to identify how people understand and value their relationships with the living and more-than-living biospheric inhabitants. To address this need, an overarching question was posited: Can a relational values-specific assessment instrument be designed and validated for use in post-secondary sustainability education? Through a survey of the literature, thematic analysis of validated human-nature connection instruments, and multi-method qualitative research, a pilot instrument …

Growing Identity Over A Decade: Asl-English Interpreter Education, Kimberly Hale

International Journal of Interpreter Education

The employment context of ASL-English Interpretation programs (ASLIPs) has not been analyzed in a decade. In this study, I compared the institutional type and disciplinary category of 38 ASLIPs operating in 2011 and 57 programs operating in 2021 to determine whether there had been a standardization of academic profile. Over half of the programs in 2021 are in doctoral/research granting institutions (52.6%) compared to only 31.6% in 2011. While the number of programs classified under Schools/Colleges of Education has nearly doubled (11 and 20, respectively), the proportion has remained steady (45.8% and 45.5%, respectively). The proportion of language and/or culturally-related …

Faculty Perspectives On Research Mentoring Across A Multi-Level Statewide Lsamp Alliance, Tokesha Warner, Shaniqua Nixon, Terrance Mcneil, Denise Green, John T. Robinson

The Journal of the Research Association of Minority Professors

In this, mixed-method exploratory sequential design study, we examined a multi-level state-wide mentoring program for underrepresented students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). This study examined faculty perspectives on the factors involved in, and the impact of, mentoring minoritized students at the critical retention-to-graduation stage. Between 2020 and 2022, an online survey and two rounds of focus group interviews were conducted with faculty members at participating institutions. Data were analyzed using an iterative, thematic coding method. Analysis of the comments from faculty focus groups and a faculty survey revealed eleven themes that codified the faculty member’s perspectives on mentoring. …

A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study Of College Students' Experiences With College-Provided Mental Healthcare Services, Adrian M. Campbell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand college students' perspectives on college-provided mental healthcare services. The framework guiding this study is the theory of planned behavior (TPB), developed by Fishbein and Ajzen. The TPB theory is based on attitude, social norms, perceived behavioral control (PBC), and intention. The central research question: What are college students' perspectives on college-provided mental healthcare services? The design of this qualitative study is hermeneutic phenomenology, a rigorous and well-established approach. A sample of twelve participants, carefully selected based on pre-determined criteria, was included in the study. The participants, a diverse mix of current …

Pursuing Reciprocity In Engaged Scholarship Partnerships Using Community Sustainability Certification Programs, Elyzabeth W. Engle, Michele W. Halsell

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

In recent years, there has been a proliferation of sustainability certification programs at the local, state, and national level to highlight the use of policies, programs, and infrastructure to achieve sustainable development outcomes within communities. In this paper, we use examples from Penn State’s Sustainable Communities Collaborative to demonstrate how institutions with community-engaged scholarship programs can use these certification programs to enhance program operation and reciprocity by identifying projects, engaging new disciplines, and improving relevance.

Sustainable Campus Landscapes In The United States And China: A Comparative Analysis, Zhaofang Zhang, Jing Zhou, Deanna Schmidt, Kathleen Garland

The Geographical Bulletin

This paper explores landscapes of sustainability. Universities across the world have incorporated sustainability into their curriculum, research, infrastructure operation, and resource management. However, campus landscapes are relatively unexplored assets to promote university sustainability. As the physical embodiment of university values as well as an enduring legacy, campus landscapes offer the potential to integrate sustainability into the fabric of universities for generations to come. The paper presents findings from an empirical study of two universities: China T hree Gorges University, Yinchang City, Hubei province, China, (CTGU) and the University of Houston, Clear Lake, Texas, United States (UHCL). The research utilizes landscape …

Exploring School Of Education Faculty Emotion, Attitudes, And Experiences Related To Student Mental Health, Jesse Mossholder

The Interactive Journal of Global Leadership and Learning

Student mental health concerns among adolescents and young adults are continuing to rise (Reis et al., 2023, Ashoorian, 2018; Burns et al., 2017; Davies et al., 2016). The purpose of the present study was to explore teacher preparation faculty perceptions of student mental health concerns. The author adapted Stine Ekorne’s (2016) Perceived Competence Scale to score each participant's perceived competence, responsibility, and emotions related to addressing student mental health concerns. The 27-item Qualtrics questionnaire was distributed to faculty and academic staff in the School of Education at a midwestern public university. Participants were recruited through email. Participants included tenured and …

Acquisitions Unit Annual Report 2023-2024, Andrée J. Rathemacher

Technical Services Reports and Statistics

Annual Report of the Acquisitions Unit, University Libraries, University of Rhode Island for FY2024. Covers personnel, work flow, special projects, and serial, monograph, and e-resource acquisitions. Supplemental files include data on library materials expenditures by a number of variables as well as important working documents from the year.

Exploring The Lived Experiences Of Mentees Involved In A University Transfer Program In A Two-Year Technical College: A Qualitative Case Study, Jason Ray Whiteside

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the lived experiences of mentees involved in a University Transfer program in a two-year technical college. The theory guiding this study is Bandura’s (1986) social cognitive theory. Bandura postulated that learning occurs in the social context through observing and emulating a mentor (model), thus creating the opportunity for the mentee (observer) to acquire new practices and skills. The study consisted of 10 mentees who participated in individual interviews and focus groups and maintained a reflective journal to share their personal experiences with their assigned peer mentor during the mentorship. The …

Bearing The Woken Bear: Kazakhstani Educators Making Sense Of The Russian Invasion In Ukraine And Its Consequences For Internationalization Of Higher Education In Kazakhstan

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

Special Issue

Student Perceptions And Academic Performance When Taught With Multiple Active Learning Methods In A High Enrollment Undergraduate Human Physiology Course, Kate Ireton Walker

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

When instructing very large groups of students in science, it can be difficult to engage all students in the content and measure their understanding. A major unaddressed challenge in science instruction is how specifically to design and implement strategies that engender active learning particularly in high-enrollment undergraduate courses. Active learning, which represents a diverse set of strategies, may include student engagement as part of instruction through discussions, active movement, and application (Bernstein, 2018; Cavanagh, et al. 2016; Michael, 2006 & Wilke, 2003). This study was designed to provide data addressing the gap in the literature regarding how the continual implementation …

Antiracism In Higher Education: An Integrated Psychological Perspective, Rhea E. Nesbitt

Dissertations, 2020-current

Antiracism is a complicated and important term with prominent, influential voices claiming that systemic equity and the reconfiguration of white identity are the central solutions to eradicating American racism. Within the profound sociocultural effects of the existing antiracist rhetoric, there is vagueness, conflict, and incoherence. Language serves as a fundamental aspect of human experience, facilitating individual meaning-making and comprehension. Effective communication hinges on the ability to articulate subjective experiences and justifications clearly, a challenge evident in discussions surrounding antiracism. Despite advocating for antiracism as crucial and unending work, scholars recognize significant hurdles, including unclear responsibilities for implementation and entrenched structures …

E-Gaming: An Active Learning Pedagogy For Engaging Learners In A Private University In Karachi, Pakistan, Laila Akber Cassum, Syeda Sadia Fatima

School of Nursing & Midwifery

There is a radical shift in teaching and learning pedagogies to engage the learners in healthcare profession. It was a tough challenge for Pakistani educators of an esteemed university to motivate and assess the learners for concept absorption and critical reasoning using creative approaches. Teaching and learning styles have changed fundamentally from conventional teacher centred to inquiry-based student-centred approach. Classroom teaching in recognised nursing and medical institutes in Pakistan have transformed to blended and entirely online methodologies with the integration of diverse active learning strategies. The educators grapple to engage the millennials and to encounter this, gaming technological platform was …

Open Educational Resources In Higher Education, Teisha Robertson

Alabama Libraries

Open Educational Resources (OERs) are materials such as books, articles, videos of lectures, and other resources provided to students free of charge. The increase in textbook costs has caused students to depend upon OERs. OERs are excellent teaching resources for students and instructors because they are free or low-cost and easy to adapt to instructor curricula. Furthermore, they can help students from low-income families save money. This paper will discuss the importance, challenges, and benefits of open educational resources in higher education institutions.

Learning The Landscape: An Active And Applied Lesson On Landscape Ecology For General Ecology Courses, Erin G. Rowland-Schaefer, Brianna Negrete Mcginley, Heather E. Bergan-Roller

Faculty Articles, Papers, and Other Scholarship

Landscape ecology is an important subtopic of ecology. As a field, it is inherently interdisciplinary and provides opportunities to teach not only content, but transferable ecological and geographical skills. Given the broad spectrum of topics in general ecology courses, landscape ecology is often relegated to a single lecture or not covered at all, meaning that there is a need for concise, effective lesson content for teachers. Here, we present an adaptable, active lesson on landscape ecology that can be implemented to help address this gap and support student engagement and the application of content knowledge to local systems. Students are …

Transformative Pathways: Implementing Intercultural Competence Development In Higher Education Using Kotter’S Change Model, Owura Kuffuor, Sakhi Aggrawal, Aparajita Jaiswal, Ronald J. Smith, Pamela V. Morris

Purdue University Libraries Open Access Publishing Fund

This study explores the efficacy of Kotter’s eight-step change model in fostering intercultural competence among faculty and staff within a large Midwestern public university. Recognizing the need for intercultural development in higher education, this research applies a structured change framework coupled with the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) assessment tool to guide the change process. The development of intercultural competence among faculty and staff is crucial for creating inclusive learning environments, as they play a pivotal role in modeling intercultural competence and fostering students’ skills necessary to navigate an increasingly diverse and interconnected world. This study employs an instrumental case study …

A Hermeneutical Phenomenological Analysis Of Cross-Race/Cross-Ethnic Academic Advising First-Generation Latina/O Students Attending A Predominantly White Institution, Aisha A. Alvarez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to explore the experiences of first-generation Latina/o students with non-Latina/o academic advisors at a Predominantly White Institution, Pink Ivy University. It is important to identify policies and practices for academic advising that can strengthen the relationship between first-generation Latina/o students and non-Latina/o academic advisors. Miller’s relational-cultural theory (RCT) guided this study. RCT was used to shape the sub-research questions and was used to frame the data analysis. First-generation Latina/o students over 18 who have completed at least one full year at the selected PWI and have used the services of their non-Latina/o …

Social Reproduction On Campus: Quantitative Investigations Into The Reproduction Of Gender And Socioeconomic Inequality Through Higher Education, Ned William Tilbrook

Dissertations and Theses

This dissertation examines two key axes of inequality in higher education -- gender and socioeconomic status (SES) -- in terms of differences in college persistence and college major using the nationally-representative High School Longitudinal Study of 2009. While gender differences in terms of STEM majors has been oft-studied, this dissertation contributes to this body of literature by advancing Health & Social Sciences (HSS) majors as a separate category and examining the ways in which men and women may be sorted into these different types of major before and during college, despite the strong overlap in science and math related content. …

Wfldi: Women Faculty Leadership Development Institute, Hannah Regan, Angela Clark-Taylor, Emily Creamer

Mather Center Research Briefs

A program description and evaluation of the Women Faculty Leadership Development Institute: What's Next? Program

Students With Learning Disabilities In A Postsecondary Education Setting: Identifying The Most Significant Supports, Daniella F. Giordano

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenology was to understand the perceptions that postsecondary students with learning disabilities have in receiving academic supports and accommodations from their institutions in alignment with their educational goals. A significant disparity has occurred between the number of students with disabilities in higher education and the support services available to them. The central question of this study is: What are the experiences of students with learning disabilities in receiving academic support services from their institution? The theory that supports this central question and guided this study is Deci and Ryan’s self-determination theory. The design of this study …

Taming The "Dartmouth Animal", Kira Lynn Parrish-Penny

Sociology Undergraduate Senior Theses

Reflecting on Dartmouth College’s tumultuous early years of coeducation in the 1970s, former president John Kemeny remarked that several students “took it on as a sort of mission to make life miserable for women students when they first arrived… from verbal abuse to … raids on women’s dormitories and… doing everything possible that a minority of students can do to make the women feel unwelcome.” Using archival data from the Rauner Special Collections Library, this thesis explores two questions: (1) how were norms and values around masculinity constructed at Dartmouth? (2) How did this construction of masculinity shift over the …

The Influence Of Play As Positive Emotion On Engagement And Self-Regulated Learning In An Online Higher Education Classroom, Kim Frost

Interdisciplinary Studies

Student demand for online learning is at an all-time high, making the identification of practical strategies for supporting student success in online learning more vital than ever. Positive emotion has been shown to promote self-regulated learning (SRL) and engagement, both evidenced predictors of student success. However, little is known about designing online learning environments to elicit positive emotion in students. The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of play-infused learning design on SRL and engagement in an online, higher education classroom. This study is based on the premise that play is a positive affect emotional system that …

Supporting Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder And Neurodivergence: University Of San Diego Accommodations And Resources, Carina Mendoza

M.A. in Higher Education Leadership: Action Research Projects

This research focuses on better understanding the unique classroom experiences faced by autistic and neurodiverse students at the University of San Diego (USD) and offers recommendations to improve their college experience. Through a well-studied literature review and data collection through semi structured interviews and focus groups, the overall goal was to have a more holistic understanding of the current support services from faculty and staff that are available for students at USD. The study will provide unique challenges and curated recommendations for students with autism spectrum disorder and neurodiverse identities. This research also identifies specific areas where the USD can …

2024 Nsu Undergraduate Commencement Program, Nova Southeastern University

NSU Commencement Programs

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Microbiology Undergraduate Students' Academic Performance At The University Of Texas At Arlington, Mohamed S. Abdalati

2024 Spring Honors Capstone Projects - Archive

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought unprecedented challenges to higher education, impacting students' academic performance. This study investigates the effects of the pandemic on microbiology undergraduate students at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) A retrospective cohort study design was employed, analyzing academic records of 3,059 microbiology undergraduate students from 2020 to 2022. Results indicate a significant decline in academic performance for both cohorts of general and nursing microbiology students during spring 2020 and 2022. A literature review explored the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and academic performance during the pandemic. Literature shows students of lower economic status experienced more …

What “Doing The Work” Is Taken To Mean: Higher Education Faculty’S Conceptualizations Of Deij Work, Denise Susanne Desrosiers

Doctoral Dissertations

Many U.S. higher education institutions invest significantly in diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ)-oriented professional development (PD) to help faculty develop knowledge and skills for serving diverse student populations. However, evidence is mixed regarding the effectiveness of DEIJ PD in helping institutions make progress on educational equity issues. Little is known about why DEIJ PD efforts may not have the desired effects. This study examines one potential answer to this question, interrogating the role of “Therapeutics” in DEIJ learning experiences, a Western cultural pattern that emphasizes self-reflection and attention to individual dispositions and emotions, as opposed to community orientations. Thirty-two …

Examining The Sexual Assault Grievance Process Through The Lens Of Title Ix Personnel On College Campuses, Kate Law

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Institutions of higher education (IHEs) have been federally mandated to prevent and respond to reports of sexual violence on campus via Title IX for over 30 years as the trauma that results from campus sexual assault is considered prohibitive to accessing education. Yet, students may not be the only parties harmed when sexual violence is perpetrated. Title IX personnel tasked with responding to campus sexual assault are also at risk of experiencing the negative effects of campus sexual assault in fulfillment of their job. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how Title IX personnel talk about their …