Digital Commons Network^™

“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 …

The Impact Of A Paid Work Experience On High School Students With Mild To Moderate Disabilities From The Parental Perspective, Lori Lee Schleinkofer

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to identify and describe how the parents/guardians of high school students with mild/moderate disabilities in Southern California perceive the impact that working while in high school has on their students with respect to confidence, independence, motivation, responsibility, self-advocacy, self-esteem, and social skills. The central research question was “How do parents/guardians of high school students with mild/moderate disabilities perceive the impact that working while in high school has on their students?” Methodology: Interviews were conducted with 11 parents of participants in paid work experience programs. A qualitative interview question development matrix was used …

Writing As Survival: Uncovering How Students Understand Antiracist Writing Assessment Practices In The Community College Composition Classroom, Jason Torres-Rangel

CGU Theses & Dissertations

The theory and practice of antiracist writing assessment ecologies (Inoue and Poe, 2020) emerged as a way to address and counteract the white, middle-class language norms that have dominated ethnically and linguistically diverse writing classrooms since at least the 1960s. Though social-justice and equity-focused teaching practices have emerged to empower ethnically and linguistically diverse students, writing studies scholars have observed the notion of Standard English or “academic language” still persists and privileges white, middle-class ways of languaging (Greenfield, 2011; Elbow, 2012; Inoue, 2014; Baker-Bell, 2020). At best, students of ethnically and linguistically diverse backgrounds learn they must code-switch for writing …

Jasmine Mata Diaz Honors Portfolio, Jasmine Mata Diaz

Honors Capstone Portfolios

Jasmine Mata Diaz's honors portfolio captured in May 2025.

7. Integrating Research Into Coursework: Fostering Inclusive Pathways To Student Success, Nalanda Roy, Lauren Mcmillan

Open Educational Resources For and As Assessment

The financial burden of course materials on students can be substantial. The chapter Integrating Research into Coursework: Fostering Inclusive Pathways to Student Success explores efforts to alleviate these costs and create more inclusive opportunities. By leveraging no cost materials and open educational resources (OER), students can achieve their educational goals without incurring additional financial strain. Accessing these resources through libraries or library guides allows students to prepare effectively at the start of the semester and complete their courses successfully, paving the way for graduation. The chapter details how the first author’s project served as a gateway to fostering an equitable, …

2025 Nsu Fact Book, Nova Southeastern University

NSU Fact Book

In 2025, NSU was recognized by the Carnegie Classification system as one of only 21 universities nationwide to hold all three of the following designations: Very High Research Activity (R1), Community Engaged Institution, and Opportunity College & University (OCU). Its R1 classification places NSU among the top tier of U.S. research universities, a milestone that reflects our continued growth and commitment to research that leads to real-world impact.. As an R1 institution, NSU is shining a new light on scientific discovery, medical breakthroughs, and technologies that advance quality of life: from pioneering treatments in neuro-immunology and cancer, to safeguarding coral …

Latine Students In U.S. Schools: An Interactive Resource Book For Educators, Melissa Colón

OER Textbooks

This interactive resource book provides educators with highly curated research, academic scholarship, and community-based materials to better inform and support their work with Latine students, families, and communities. Grounded in critical and culturally sustaining pedagogies (Rendón et al., 2014; Alim & Paris, 2017). This book encourages educators to cultivate a spirit of curiosity, collaboration, and continuous learning, recognizing that serving Latine students well requires both commitment and ongoing inquiry.

The Honors Beacon, Issue 23, 2024-2025, Honors Program At Minnesota State University, Mankato

Honors Beacon

2024-2025 newsletter of the Honors Program at Minnesota State University, Mankato.

Peer Mentoring In Education: Academic And Social Outcomes For Students With Disabilities, Mackenzie Peterson

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the academic and social outcomes of peer mentoring for students with disabilities, as well as the outcomes for peer mentors themselves. Through a review of research, the findings indicate that peer tutoring and mentoring have significantly improved academic outcomes in various areas, including reading comprehension, math problem-solving, and increasing content knowledge in subjects such as social studies, for students with disabilities. Peer mentoring also fostered greater social inclusion by reducing bullying behaviors, improving student engagement, and classroom behavior. It was also found that peer mentors themselves experienced personal growth with greater leadership skills, self-esteem, empathy, and positive …

A Study Of Math 1 Students At Two Eastern High Schools In North Carolina, Employing An Explanatory Design, Anthony Mark Tracey

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This study examined the instructional experiences of Math 1 students in the Green Valley (pseudonym) County School District during the 2022-2023 academic year. Using an explanatory sequential mixed methods approach grounded in constructivism (Bruner, 1960; Vygotsky, 1978), behaviorism (Skinner, 1938), universal design for learning (CAST, 2021; Meyer et al., 2014), multiple intelligences (Gardner, 1983), and Piaget's (1954) stages of development, this study explored how students' lived instructional experiences impact academic outcomes. Data, analyzed descriptively and thematically in Qualtrics, revealed a widespread dissatisfaction among students regarding engagement, instructional pace, preparation, and classroom disruptions. Qualitative insights particularly underscore issues with a passive, …

The Application Of 4e Cognition To Counseling And The Intersectional Experiences Of Black Individuals With Disabilities, A. Albright, Clarence K. Bumpas, Jeff Moe

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

Black Americans with disabilities experience a range of inequities including barriers to access, social stigmatization, and health outcomes that are greater than both their White and their nondisabled peers. This conceptual article explains in detail these inequities. The authors provide an overview of the existing models of disability used in counseling, healthcare, research, and educational settings, as well as a rationale for why they are limited. The authors then suggest a 4E cognitive framework rooted in cognitive sciences, philosophy of mind, and neuroscience. The authors explain why a 4E cognitive framework may be better suited than existing models to conceptualize …

Human Papillomavirus Knowledge, Beliefs, And Behaviors Among Community College Students: Why Should It Matter?, Eric Pittman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States (U.S.). Approximately 42.5 million individuals in the U.S. are infected with disease-associated HPV, and 13 million new cases occur every year. It is estimated that 85% of sexually active adults will be infected with HPV at some point during their lifetime. Most individuals infected with HPV are asymptomatic and clear the virus without any complications. However, in some individuals, the virus persists. Prolonged HPV infection has been associated with six different types of cancer and genital warts. There are approximately 37,000 cases of HPV-associated cancers …

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 …

The Predictors Of Self-Censorship On College Campuses, Henry I. Long

CMC Senior Theses

Across U.S. colleges, speech climates are poor. Self-censorship and discomfort expressing views are common. At the same time, we find wide variation in speech climates across different institutions. This study is the first to identify factors that predict variation in speech climates. Drawing on data from multiple sources, including a survey of 58,807 undergraduates across 257 colleges and universities from the Foundation from Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), this study constructs a first-of-its-kind dataset to test three core theories of self-censorship found in the literature—student-centric theories, faculty-centric theories, and administrator-centric theories. We find moderate evidence to support each theory. Overall, …

Tyler Steffen Honors Portfolio, Tyler Steffen

Honors Capstone Portfolios

Tyler Steffen's honors portfolio captured in May 2025.

Underrepresented Medical Students: Perceptions Of Academic Persistence And Successful Completion Of Medical School, Nicholas Dakota Bibbs

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Less than one percent of the United States population’s workforce are physicians. The road to becoming a medical doctor is long, complex, and taxing. Individuals desiring to become physicians must have large amounts of grit, persistence, patience, and a hard work ethic just to get to medical school. The students who are accepted into medical school come from various backgrounds with differing degrees of access to resources and opportunities to prepare them before and during their medical education. Studies show that students who are categorized as underrepresented in medicine often face the most challenges to achieving academic success. Understanding what …

Teachers' Perceptions Of Their Self-Regulated Learning Practices In Elementary School Classrooms, Stephanie Greenquist-Marlett, Linda Bol, Courtney Hill

STEMPS Faculty Publications

Self-regulated learning (SRL) is associated with adaptable, critical, lifelong thinking skills. Teachers are essential to promoting SRL in learners, yet infrequently teach these learning strategies in classrooms. We addressed three research questions: (1) How do K–5 teachers implement SRL in their teaching?, (2) How is the use of SRL strategies linked to their self-efficacy or confidence in teaching?, and (3) How do teachers differ in their use of SRL depending on school type (public vs. private)? Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 primary in-service teachers, sampled equally from one public and one private school, to explore their SRL practices. They …

Elementary School Teachers' Perceptions Of The Common Core State Standards For Mathematics, Rebecca Potts

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

This dissertation examines elementary school teachers' perceptions of the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSS-M), focusing on evaluating their views on developmental appropriateness and identifying challenges encountered during implementation. Rooted in the broader historical context of educational reforms in the U.S., the study investigates whether the adoption of CCSS-M adequately integrates research on child development, learning trajectories, and cognitive neuroscience. Using a mixed-methods design incorporating surveys and semi-structured interviews, this study gathered insights from kindergarten through fifth-grade teachers and mathematics interventionists. Findings reveal mixed perceptions among educators regarding the developmental appropriateness of the CCSS-M, highlighting concerns that some standards …

The Effects Of A Seizure Safety Program Implemented In Non-Public Schools On Teacher Knowledge And Confidence In Managing Seizures, Laura Brockman

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

This study investigated the impact of a seizure safety training program implemented in non-public schools on teachers’ knowledge and confidence in managing seizures. Utilizing a pre-course, post-course, and three-week follow-up design, the research assessed educators' seizure-related knowledge, first-aid preparedness, and shifts in perception through quantitative questionnaires and self-reported confidence measures. Results demonstrated increased knowledge and confidence immediately following the intervention, with retention sustained at follow-up. Both live and virtual formats were effective, though virtual participants showed slightly higher immediate post-training scores. Participants reported reduced misconceptions and increased preparedness, emphasizing the value of structured and recurring professional development. These findings support …

Fluency-Based Staff Training On Restraints To Improve Safe And Accurate Implementation In The School Setting, Jaclyn Leotta

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

This study examined the effects of fluency-based training on staff implementation of crisis management procedures in a center-based public school serving students with exceptionalities. Using a single-case multiple baseline design across three targeted skills—1-Person Stability Hold, 2-Person Stability Hold, and Forward Transport—the study measured changes in staff accuracy, confidence, and injury frequency. Six staff members participated, all of whom were Registered Behavior Technicians or Personal Care Assistants certified in Safety-Care® procedures. The intervention incorporated Behavior Skills Training (BST), enhanced with repeated trials and immediate feedback until participants achieved fluency, which was defined as five consecutive error-free trials. Results demonstrated immediate …

The Student Functional Unit: Revisiting How We Conceptualize Students In Higher Education, Jamie Herman

Prindle Faculty and Staff Publications

Philosophers of education rely on a set of concepts. They refer to students, teachers, learners, schools, classrooms, etc. to theorize about what education is and ought to be. In employing these concepts, however, two ambiguities arise: variation among conceptualizations and gaps between a conceptualization of a thing and the normative valence it holds. A concept can refer both to the thing as it is and the thing as it ought to be. The author proposes a different approach that, rather than resting on a normative account of higher education institutions--about which institutional actors can reasonably disagree--looks to what is true …

College Students' Identity Differences In Offline And Online Learning Environment And Their Effects On Achievement Motivation, Sang-Soog Lee, Jinhee Kim, Seung Won Yu, Na Li

STEMPS Faculty Publications

The unprecedented evolution of educational technologies has transformed the learning landscape, creating distinct experiences in offline and online learning environments (OLE). However, little attention has been given to exploring students’ identities in the online learning context and how they can influence academic trajectories, limiting the development of a holistic understanding of the nature, effects, and areas of improvement in students’ identity formation in OLE. This study aims to investigate how students’ identity subcomponents differ among offline and OLE students via propensity score matching (PSM) in China, which allows us to find a doppelganger to estimate the counterfactual situation for making …

Impact Of An Online Teaching Faculty Development Course On Student Social Engagement, Preston P. Bennett

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Ample evidence supports the impact of greater student social engagement on student success outcomes, particularly for first time in college freshmen students (Avison et al., 2007; Tinto, 1997; Wilcox et al., 2005). Keeping students engaged socially online can be challenging for some faculty due to reliance on strategies that worked previously within face-to-face environments (McQuiggan, 2012). At the University of North Florida, a Teaching Online (TOL) certification course provides instructors with evidence-based online pedagogy aimed at bolstering social engagement.

This dissertation investigated whether and how faculty implementation of TOL design principles impacted freshmen students’ social engagement with both peers and …

The Continuing, Resistance Popularity Of Critical Race Theory- Informed Pedagogy, Kaavonia Hinton, Karen Chandler

Teaching & Learning Faculty Publications

The article focuses on the ongoing commitment of educators to incorporate critical race theory (CRT)–informed pedagogy in English classrooms despite legislative efforts to suppress it. Topics include the historical and political context of anti-CRT policies, the personal and professional responses of educators to these restrictions, and student-centered strategies used to navigate and resist such limitations in meaningful and legally cautious ways.

Exploring The Educational Gap Of Virginia English Language Learners: Challenges And Opportunities For Academic Success, Amanda Purcell, Sochitl Rodriguez Kauffman

UROP Posters

English Language Learners (ELLs) in the state of Virginia have significantly lower scores in the Standards of Learning (SOL) assessment exam than those of their English-speaking peers. The SOL measures students’ mastery of knowledge and skills taught in the classroom, and over the last decade, passing rates of the assessment’s core subjects amongst ELLs have continued to decrease and remain relatively low. In the 2023-2024 academic year, the average passing rate for ELLs who took the Writing SOL was only 26%, with Science being not much higher at 29%, and Reading at 33%. For the non-ELL student body, average rates …

Information Literacy & Library Research Skills: What Faculty Think Fy Students Know - A Pilot Study, Julia Warga

2025 Faculty Bibliography

No abstract provided.

Belonging And The Lived Experiences Of Underrepresented Occupational Therapy Students, Daniel Cezar Da Cruz, Angela Murphy, Zara Mahmood

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Belonging has been explored in research in higher education with a focus on student engagement or performance and the impact of psychological aspects on individuals' learning. Few studies focused on underrepresented occupational therapy students’ belonging. Our research aimed to explore the lived experience of occupational therapy students regarding belonging at university. This phenomenological study was conducted with six occupational therapy students from the United Kingdom who volunteered to participate in semi-structured interviews. Data analysis was carried out through Reflexive Thematic Analysis (RTA). Three themes were constructed: Theme 1: Representation and belonging - “I was the only non-white person in the …

Contemporary Pain Neuroscience Knowledge And Attitudes Among Students: A Cross-Sectional Study, Sue F. Curfman, William J. Best, Molly T. Williams, Kathryn Schmidt, Amy Rasmussen, Gary P. Austin

Funded Scholarship

Purpose: Healthcare education programs often provide limited training in contemporary pain neuroscience, leaving future professionals ill-prepared to address the pervasive and biopsychosocial problem of chronic pain. Exploration of the level of understanding of contemporary pain neuroscience and the attitudes toward people in pain among university students may help educators identify appropriate roles for students in pain-related interprofessional education. This study assessed and compared knowledge of contemporary pain neuroscience and attitudes and beliefs toward individuals experiencing pain among university students.  

Design: Cross-sectional observational study. Methods: 284 undergraduate and graduate, healthcare and non-healthcare students completed the revised Neurophysiology of Pain Questionnaire and …

The Impact Of Professionalism Education And Formative Feedback In Doctor Of Physical Therapy Students Utilizing The Abbreviated Cpi Feedback Form In The On-Campus Clinic Environment, William L. Scott

Dissertations

Problem

The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) developed the Clinical Performance Instrument (CPI) to assess the professional behaviors required for a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) student to be considered "entry level" in their clinical training. Feedback from our clinical partners has indicated that, historically, students from the Andrews University DPT program have scored lower than students from other programs in several areas of the CPI during their clinical experiences. According to subjective reports from our clinical partners, these areas included safety, professional behavior, accountability, communication, and critical thinking. These five areas have been the focus of our efforts in …

Perceived Social Support And Religious Attitudes As Correlates Of Spiritual Well-Being Among Senior Undergraduate Students At Northeast Brazil Adventist University, Hebert Davi Liessi

Dissertations

Problem

Even though the study of spirituality has been a recurrent theme in academia, in Brazil there has been little emphasis on the analysis of spiritual well-being in the context of university students. Few studies have examined the correlation of spiritual well-being with perceived social support or religious attitudes among university students, and most of these have been in the fields of health care or health recovery. Some research has indicated that religious attitudes may be partially disconnected from improvements in the level of spirituality. -- This study aimed to verify whether this disconnection is real or relevant, and assumed …