Digital Commons Network^™

The Gut Microbiome, The Gut-Brain Axis, And College Student Well-Being, Idi Mckay

University Honors Theses

This literature review examines how diet, stress, environmental exposure, and food accessibility may influence college students' mental health and academic performance through the gut microbiome and the Gut-Brain Axis (GBA). Current microbiome research often focuses on early childhood development, clinical disease populations, or older adults, while overlooking college-age students who experience significant social, environmental, and biological transitions. College students frequently face food insecurity, irregular eating patterns, chronic stress, inconsistent sleep schedules, and reduced access to nutrient-dense foods, all of which may influence microbial diversity and overall gut health.

This thesis explores how modern campus environments and lifestyle factors may contribute …

The Perception Of Students Toward Post-Pandemic Online Graduate Programs At A Historically Black College & University (Hbcu) In The South, April Ivery

Dissertations

This study examined the perceptions of online graduate students regarding the accessibility and usefulness of support services (Online Academic Advising, Online Technical Support, Online Counseling Services, Online Library Resources, and Online Career Services) at a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in the southern United States. The study aimed to examine the attitudes of online students towards these support systems and to determine whether these attitudes played a role in their learning process. The primary research question was: What is the relationship between the accessibility of support systems and students' perceptions of those support systems in online graduate programs at …

The Future Of U.S. Higher Education: Equity Implications Of Shifting Immigration Policies, Research Institute For Social Equity Rise

Research Institute for Social Equity

This report examines the impact of U.S. immigration policies on higher education and international students from 2000 to 2025. It traces five major policy eras, from the post- 9/11 security overhaul and Obama-era expansion to the restrictive turns of 2017–2020 and 2025, and analyzes how shifting regulations have influenced enrollment patterns, economic contributions, and student well-being. Despite hosting more than 1.1 million international students in 2023–2024, the U.S. share of the global student market has fallen from 20% to 16%, underscoring how policy volatility and restrictive measures weaken national competitiveness. Drawing on federal data, scholarly research, and institutional reports, this …

End-Of-Rotation Objective Structured Clinical Examination: Proposal To Reduce Grading Bias In The Family Medicine Core Clerkship, Deborah R. Erlich, Amy L. Lee, Anita Mathews, Lauren Boehm, Anna Virani, Shweta Akhouri, Julia Bartolomeo, Lidya Wlasiuk, Molly Cohen-Osher, Tessa Rohrberg, Laurel Witt, Kathryn Rampon

Journal of Maine Medical Center

Problem Statement: In medical education, learner assessment drives learning and documents competency. A drawback of the traditional clinical performance assessment by a preceptor, however, is a potential halo effect. This effect is an unearned positive bias toward a student the supervisor likes, or conversely, a negative implicit bias about the student’s race, gender, or other aspects of identity. These biases, in either direction, can lead to unfair grading. A preceptor’s bias can be particularly problematic in a family medicine clerkship in which a student may be evaluated and graded by a single preceptor.

Background: An end-of-clerkship objective structured clinical examination …

The Earliest University Of Nebraska Graduate Degrees, 1886-1909, Mark A. Griep

Mark A. Griep Publications

This list of the earliest graduate degrees awarded by the University of Nebraska (NU) in Lincoln was assembled to learn about the university’s research activity that preceded its admission to the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU) in 1909.

An Exploration Of Students' Recollections After An Asynchronous, On-Site Academic Library Tour, Adrienne Warner

University Libraries & Learning Sciences Faculty and Staff Publications

Once an integral component to library instruction programs, tours of academic library spaces are less common despite students’ continued need for study spaces with various qualities. This study asks, "What do students remember after taking an asynchronous, on-site academic library tour?" Qualitative analysis finds that, while students value library study spaces, they also report predominantly positive feelings about the library and the tour itself. This research suggests that technical affordances can mitigate some historical drawbacks of tours while offering students a valuable library instruction experience.

The State Of Asian American Studies In Massachusetts High Schools, Christine Montecillo Leider, Christopher C. Martell

Institute for Asian American Studies Publications

This study included a statewide survey of over 150 high school humanities teachers in Massachusetts to gather data on how Asian American studies is being included in the curricula and to learn how prepared the educators feel to teach Asian American studies content. Expanding on the survey are case studies of five Massachusetts Asian American studies teachers and their approaches to teaching Asian American studies.

The study was conducted to provide evidence-based findings to inform teacher education, education policy, and research about best practices for Asian American Studies in humanities classrooms. Three recommendations revolve around increased opportunities for teacher preparation …

The Benefits Of Experiential Outdoor Learning For Elementary School Students, Jillian R. Witt

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

This senior capstone research project aims to delve deeper into the benefits of experiential outdoor learning that contributes to the growing body of knowledge and practical applications of this dynamic educational approach of elementary school students. Through the use of literature review, interviews with program workers and school administrators and survey with educators and past students, the result findings indicated that experiential outdoor learning benefits elementary school students despite some cost challenges, but provided them with more opportunities to learn from outdoor activities to increase their academic achievement, improve their cognition, and enhance their social skills with a deeper sense …

Right To Education And Access To Schooling: Understanding The Role Of Students’ Transportation Challenges In Selected Junior Secondary Schools In Ilorin, Nigeria, Usman Bolaji Abdulkadir, Egbinola Temitope Anuoluwa

The Journal of Social Encounters

No abstract provided.

“Science Belongs Everywhere”: Outlooks On Post-Secondary Stem Education For Correctional Centers In Virginia, Shelita R. Augustus

Division of Strategic Enrollment Management and Student Success Publications

Virginia has an incarceration rate of 679 per 100,000 residents, the highest among independent democratic nations. This scoping review examines perspectives on post-secondary STEM education to promote STEM education within Virginia's correctional facilities, assesses programs to improve rehabilitation, reduce recidivism, and address systemic inequalities by developing the scientific potential of incarcerated individuals. The review finds that while STEM education in correctional facilities faces limitations, its potential benefits are being realized nationwide. Virginia has made strides through initiatives like House Bill 2158, which aims to expand higher education access for incarcerated individuals. Examples such as the programs at J. Sargeant Reynolds …

How Inclusive Are Degree Programs In Operations Research And Analytics In The U.S.?, Michael P. Johnson Jr., Tayo Fabusuyi, Elham Hesari, Salina Chu

Public Policy and Public Affairs Faculty Publication Series

Academic programs in colleges and universities in the United States have increasingly embraced principles of equity and inclusion to support student success and diversity within professions. Innovations in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in university programs require baseline data on students, faculty and administrators, curricula, and programmatic support. A review of data shows that underrepresented groups in the US workforce have limited visibility in operations research and analytics. A review of DEI-related research reveals some relevant insights including a gap in studies specific to operations research and analytics.

To provide evidence in support of DEI initiatives in OR/analytics, we describe …

Near And Far, Sarah Moss

The Voice

No abstract provided.

What Construction Management Students Are Looking For In A Job Offer, Michael D. Aceves

Construction Management

Many construction companies and construction management firms invest large amounts of time and resources into the acquisition of new talent directly out of college from universities such as California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly). Because of this, the knowledge of what incentives would be most enticing to a construction management student preparing to graduate would prove beneficial to the aforementioned construction management companies. In order to find a base level understanding of that knowledge this paper looks to report on a survey of construction management students at Cal Poly about how important a myriad of common job …

Uprooted But Unbroken: Exploring The Experiences Of Yemeni Students At Yemeni Schools In Cairo, Sumood Abdulhadi

Theses and Dissertations

To contribute towards filling the research gap on the experiences of uprooted Yemeni children in Egypt, this phenomenological research was designed to explore the experiences of uprooted Yemeni students in Egypt. Twenty male and female Yemeni students from four Yemeni schools in Cairo participated in semi-structured interviews. The findings revealed that these uprooted children face various economic, social, and academic challenges within the Yemeni schools in Cairo, which seem to hinder their educational progress. Moreover, Yemeni children face difficulties not only within the Yemeni schools in Cairo but also in the streets and Egyptian schools of Cairo. Nevertheless, they appeared …

Breaking Boundaries: A Model Of Student-Led Knowledge Exchange For Higher Education, D. R.E. Cotton, S. Bloxham, S. Cooper, J. Downey, M. Fornasiero

School of Nursing and Midwifery

Knowledge exchange (KE) is increasingly important in higher education internationally, yet relatively little attention has been paid to it as a pedagogic opportunity for students. This paper draws on 26 interviews with stakeholders within and outside HE to develop a model of student-led knowledge exchange as a guide for learning through KE. The model includes the following elements: Preconditions, Prior Knowledge, Planning and Place, Pedagogic Context and Product, and offers an analysis of different forms of KE which occur between individuals in a learning triad consisting of student, facilitator and external participant. The research foregrounds a social view of learning …

Digital Divide In Rural Native American Homes: A Student Perspective, Chad R. Fenner, Cherie Noteboom, Omar El-Gayar

Research & Publications

Native American homes located in rural western North Dakota have seen increased availability of broadband and fiber optic Internet but continue to have low access numbers. Native American homes in the region located outside population centers continue to have difficulty accessing the Internet. Many households continue to struggle with economic factors compounded by the cost of a device to access the Internet for personal, educational, or employment use. A qualitative study with semi-structured interviews and the grounded theory method investigated the Native American home environment. Interviews were conducted with Native American students attending a state university with insight into diverse …

From Inside The House: Alumni Depictions Of Homeschooling, Family, And Childhood, Sara Dent

2025 Award Winners

No abstract provided.

The Phenomenological Meaning Of Activities Outside The Home: A Qualitative Solicited Diary Study Of Undergraduate College Students Experiences During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Thomas Nagle

West Chester University Master’s Theses

Dramatic changes to everyday life during the COVID-19 pandemic created a “frame shift” (Goffman, 1974), as mundane activities took on new significance among evolving norms. Our qualitative study explores the phenomenological meaning of engaging in activities outside the home during the first two years of the pandemic, through solicited unstructured diaries kept by college students. We selected n=33 diarists who met our inclusion criteria. Across the selected entries from each diary, emic coding revealed four types of activities discussed: taking care of necessities, navigating from A-to-B, socializing, and spending time in nature. While etic coding …

In-House Counsel(Or): The Case For Providing Integrated Mental Health Support Services To Law Students, Eric W. Shannon

Faculty Publications

While some American law schools currently provide onsite mental health support services to their student populations, many still do not. This essay is the first to argue that all law schools should provide onsite mental health support services to their students—ideally, by way of a mental health professional integrated within the law school’s staff (an “integrated mental health professional,” or “IMHP”) who is familiar not only with the unique pressures of law school generally, but also with the school-specific environment. It explores current data on law student well-being as well as external considerations including ABA recommendations and standards for law …

To What Extent Does Lighting Affect Students’ Preference For Seating In The Georgia Southern University Henderson Library?, Hailey M. Hawkins

Honors College Theses

This study highlights the importance of lighting in academic library spaces, specifically in relation to students' seating choices and overall experience. The research is significant as it emphasizes the role that environmental factors can play in creating a conducive learning environment for students. The study utilized a mixed-methods approach, which combines quantitative and qualitative data collection methods to provide a comprehensive understanding of students' lighting preferences. The quantitative data collected through open observations and the use of a light meter provided insights into the relationship between lighting and seating choices. The qualitative data collected through questionnaires helped to understand the …

Effects Of A Preventive Mental Health Curriculum Embedded Into A Scholarly Gaming Course On Adolescent Self-Esteem: Prospective Matched Pairs Experiment., Christopher Jenson, Sharon Fitzgerald Wolff, Libby Milkovich

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Positive self-esteem predicts happiness and well-being and serves as a protective factor for favorable mental health. Scholarly gaming within the school setting may serve as a channel to deliver a mental health curriculum designed to improve self-esteem.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the impact of a scholarly gaming curriculum with and without an embedded preventive mental health curriculum, Mental Health Moments (MHM), on adolescents' self-esteem.

METHODS: The scholarly gaming curriculum and MHM were developed by 3 educators and a school-based health intervention expert. The scholarly gaming curriculum aligned with academic guidelines from the International Society for Technology Education, …

Channel Morphology Of A Leaky Coastal Plain River: The Congaree River, Sc 1884-2022, William Nicholas Logan

Theses and Dissertations

Downstream changes in river planform can be associated with changes in geologic controls and often signal changes in channel geometry, bed slope, or bed material grain size. While previous studies documented downstream trends in channel geometry and planform for a variety of rivers, there is a gap in the literature on spatial and temporal trends in channel geometry on the fluvial part of Coastal Plain rivers, i.e., the not-tidally influenced part. The literature highlights the existence of crevasse splays in natural levees that allow floodplain inundation below bankfull conditions as unique feature of channels and floodplains in the Coastal Plain. …

Medically Unexplained Symptoms And Mental Well-Being: A Comparative Study Between University Students And Members Of The General Population, Alice Marler

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Research has consistently established an association between medically unexplained symptoms (MUS) and mental health concerns, such as anxiety and depression. Due to the ongoing student mental health crisis, the current study predicted MUS would be highly prevalent for this population; an issue which has not yet been explored. It aimed to establish differential prevalence rates of MUS between students and non-students, and to further explore the relationship between MUS and mental health. It was predicted that mental health concerns and MUS would correlate with each other, and that both would occur more in student participants. To test this, the Depression …

Impact Of Response To Intervention On Achievement, Aimee Leigh Dennis

Education Theses and Dissertations

The Improvement Science Dissertation in Practice focused on an initial comprehensive assessment of the Response to Intervention (RtI) framework, implemented in a district in East Texas, and its impact of student achievement. Following the evaluation, a subsequent improvement iteration concentrated on the impact of RtI, with the use of job-embedded professional learning, on student achievement. Both iterations utilized a mixed-methods case study using an embedded experimental model with a one-phase approach. The findings highlighted that student achievement did improve with statistically significant results except for in the second iteration where there was not statistically significant results in fifth and sixth …

College Of Graduate Programs And Honors Studies Newsletter - May 2023, College Of Graduate Programs And Honors Studies, Wright State University

College of Graduate Programs and Honors Studies Newsletter

A nine page newsletter created by the College of Graduate Programs and Honors Studies at Wright State University. This newsletter includes a upcoming events, message from the dean, and more.

Effectiveness Of A Question Formulation Rubric With Second-Year Medical Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Jonathan D. Eldredge, Melissa A. Schiff, Jens Langsjoen

Publications

OBJECTIVE: The FAC (Focus, Amplify, Compose) rubric for assessing medical students' question formulation skills normally accompanies our Evidence Based Practice (EBP) training. The combined training and assessment rubric have improved student scores significantly. How much does the rubric itself contribute to improved student scores? This study sought to measure student improvement using the rubric either with or without a linked 25-minute training session.

METHODS: Randomized Controlled Trial. The authors tested the hypothesis that a 25-minute training session combined with use of a rubric would lead to higher scores than a brief explanation of this rubric alone. All 72 participating second-year …

Shaping Sustainability In Classroom Curricula In Singapore: Educators And Students As Collaborative Change Agents, Anna Fromson-Ho

International Studies Honors Projects

Climate change is a global crisis, and in Singapore, a low-lying city-state, its geography makes it susceptible to extreme weather events and zoonotic diseases. Singapore's alignment with global commitments like the United Nations Agenda for Sustainable Development is elevated by its presence as a leader in urban sustainability. Using a mixed-methods approach, this paper explores sustainability as a classroom concept and educators' role in translating curriculum standards into learning that informs, educates, and empowers students to become agents of change. Sharing these perspectives will help develop collaborative learning programs that center educators and students, improving understanding of this important field.

2023 Champions For Justice 1-27-2023, Roger Williams University School Of Law

School of Law Conferences, Lectures & Events

No abstract provided.

School District Demographic Change Through The Lens Of High School Students: A Phenomenological Case Study, Isaac S. Solano

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Over the past two to three decades, inner-ring suburban school districts in certain areas around the United States have experienced significant demographic change. These shifts influence who lives in these communities, as well as who attends schools in these K–12 school districts. In a metropolitan area, in the Rocky Mountain West Region of the United States, numerous school districts are experiencing such shifts. Although past empirical research has examined shifts through the lens of school leaders and teachers, few studies have explored how students experience this change.

This qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological case study examines how high school students experience these …

Disconnected, Frustrated And Withdrawn: Institutional Policy Implications For Equity In Student And Faculty Community, Jessica Marie Welsh

Dissertations and Theses

DFW rates at intuitions of higher education for students from underrepresented populations trended higher than majority students. A single explanatory case study provides insight to the factors impacting DFW rates in first-year gateway courses at a four-year, public, comprehensive institution. The study employed the use of focus groups of students, non-tenure-track faculty, and tenure-track faculty. In addition, institutional data was collected and used to triangulate to the data collected from focus groups. The inductive results showed multiple institutional barriers causing DFW rates among first-generation, Pell Grant, and/or students of color. Using Turner and Angulo’s (2018) theoretical framework of high-risk decision-making …