Digital Commons Network^™

Feeling At Home In The Basic Communication Course: A Qualitative Case Study Of Faculty And Student Perceptions Of A Connected Classroom Climate At One Midwestern University, Cynthia A. Grobmeier

Dissertations of Practice

The concept of a connected classroom climate considers that peer-to-peer interaction, not just instructor-student interaction, contributes to a sense of community in the classroom that can impact student outcomes. This qualitative case study considers both student and instructor perceptions of what contributes to that sense of connection in the classroom at a mid-size, four-year, Hispanic-serving university. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews and member checks with students and instructors who engaged in the first-year basic communication course during the Spring 2022 semester. Five themes emerged in this study: a) the communication classroom is uniquely positioned to create a sense of …

Impact Of Female And Male University Instructors Revealing Their High-Functioning Autism To Their Students, Gundars Kaupins, Tim Chenoweth

Management Faculty Publications and Presentations

High-functioning autism, informally known as Asperger’s, involves diminished social skills considered important for university instruction. In an experiment, 370 freshmen and sophomores mostly Caucasian students from a western U. S. university responded to a survey to investigate whether male or female instructors might equally benefit from higher initial student impressions of their teaching ability. Role Congruity Theory suggests that individuals will be supported when their characteristics align with their group’s social roles. The theory implies that women should follow female stereotypes involving more empathy and social skills and less systemization. Examples of social skills include smooth back-and-forth conversations, appropriate eye …

The Lived Experiences Of School Counselors And Ell Teachers Who Support Ell Students Who Exhibit A Symptom Of Mental Illness, Trenise Duckens

Dissertations

The current literature regarding the lived experiences of ELL teachers and school counselors who support ELL students who may exhibit a symptom of mental illness in high school is very limited. Research is available discussing school counselors and their role when supporting students who may exhibit a symptom of mental illness or may have mental health concerns. This study sought to add to the literature by exploring the lived experiences of ELL teachers and school counselors who support ELL students who may exhibit a symptom of mental illness. By adding to the literature, the researcher hopes to provide a better …

The Perceptions Of First Point Of Contact Roles In Primary Care By Pre‐Registration Students Of The Allied Health Professions, Emma Empson, Sue May

School of Health Professions

Aim: To develop a better understanding of the perceptions of first point of contact roles within primary care by pre-registration students of the Allied Health Professions (AHPs). Background: General practice in the UK is under growing pressure from declining general practitioner (GP) numbers and increased service demand. The National Health Service (NHS) is attempting to mitigate this demand by making more effective use of its highly experienced workforce through the creation of first contact practitioners (FCPs). Working in primary care, FCPs are highly experienced AHPs with three or more years of relevant clinical experience. Methods: An abductive qualitative research approach …

Differences In Student-Ai Interaction Process On A Drawing Task: Focusing On Students' Attitude Towards Ai And The Level Of Drawing Skills, Jinhee Kim, Yoonhee Ham, Sang-Soog Lee

STEMPS Faculty Publications

Recent advances and applications of artificial intelligence (AI) have increased the opportunities for students to interact with AI in their learning tasks. Although various fields of scholarly research have investigated human-AI collaboration, the underlying processes of how students collaborate with AI in a student-AI teaming scenario have been scarcely investigated. To develop effective AI applications in education, it is necessary to understand differences in the student-AI interaction (SAI) process depending on students' characteristics. The present study attempts to fill this gap by exploring the differences in the SAI process amongst students with varying drawing proficiencies and attitudes towards AI in …

When Would You Feel Like A Writer? Exploring Writing With Newcomer Students, Sinélia Peixoto, Thea Williamson

English Faculty Publications

The authors share a story of a middle school writer's experience navigating across languages in an English for Speakers of Other Languages support classroom.

The Effects Of Resilience On Bipoc Graduate Students' Mental And Physical Health, Shelby N. Wilson

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Graduate school can be a challenging and demanding experience, with many students facing considerable stress and adversity throughout their academic journey. For BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) graduate students, the challenges may be amplified due to systemic and social factors, which can increase stress levels, potentially affecting their mental and physical health. This study explored the role of resilience as a protective factor for BIPOC graduate students, examining the correlation between resilience, mental health, and physical health, and the importance of religion. The sample consisted of 132 BIPOC participants and 242 White participants. Regarding their academic status, 63.6% …

An Exploration Of The Experience Of Bipoc Students In Predominantly White Institutions, Lisanda Mojica

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

This dissertation explores the experiences of BIPOC students studying at predominantly White institutions (PWIs). Through in-depth interviews with a diverse group of participants, the study identifies seven categories that encompass the students' experiences: perception of the school, chosen community and friendships, academics and scholarships, exclusion and difference, relationships with professors, tokenization, and mental health. The findings suggest that BIPOC students at PWIs face numerous challenges, including feelings of isolation and exclusion, and being tokenized. Additionally, the study identifies protective factors such as professors. The study highlights the importance of creating inclusive and supportive environments for BIPOC students in higher education. …

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 …

Manual Qualitative Data Coding Using Ms Word For Students And Early Career Researchers In Resource-Constrained Settings, Kahabi Isangula, Susan Kelly, Joyce Wamoyi

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

In recent years, the field of qualitative data collection, management, and analysis has undergone significant evolution, with researchers worldwide increasingly leveraging technological advancements to streamline and simplify their practices. Despite the advantages of using qualitative data coding software, several challenges persist, particularly in resource-constrained settings. Issues such as the high cost of software licenses, the time required to learn and use these tools, and the complexity of advanced features often hinder researchers, especially students and early career researchers in low-income contexts, and contribute to the generation of poor-quality research evidence. This paper aims to provide a simplified, step-by-step guide to …

Building Reflection Into Community-Based Learning Classes, Terry Dolson

Other Publications

Reflection is the critical element of community-based learning (CBL) courses at the University of Richmond. Faculty who teach CBL courses design reflection assignments that weave academic content with community experiences, helping students discover their own assumptions and deepen their understanding.

This workbook is meant to be a practical introduction to designing reflection assignments through the modes of community-based learning utilized in University of Richmond courses. The Bonner Center for Civic Engagement offers a robust Course Support Grant program to assist faculty with the many needs arising in CBL classes and a requirement of the grant is to describe the reflection …

Supporting Those Who Support Us: An Exploration Of Strategies To Address Occupational Therapy Fieldwork Educators' Concerns And Needs, Karthik Mani, Diane M. Collins, Lima Ghulmi, Amy Boyd, Anita C. Zaricor

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Fieldwork (FW) education is integral to occupational therapy (OT) education and enables the transition of a student to an entry-level practitioner. Clinicians who serve as FW educators play a significant role in this process. To deliver OT education, universities must support FW educators and address their needs and concerns. This study surveyed OT FW educators who supervised entry-level OT doctoral students from a public university for Level I and/or Level II FW regarding strategies to address their concerns and needs. An anonymous survey was distributed to the FW educators (n=349) who supervised the students for FW between Spring 2021-2023. By …

Improving Dental Students' Knowledge And Confidence In Treating Tobacco Use, Victoria Pierce

DNP Projects

Background: Tobacco use can lead to numerous chronic health conditions. Healthcare professionals in the dental field are in a unique position to broach this issue with patients. Research shows that dental students do not feel equipped to provide tobacco cessation care, citing lack of education on the subject among their top reasons for this.

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to evaluate changes in dental students’ knowledge and confidence related to treating tobacco use after participation in an educational intervention about the 5A’s, behavioral counseling, and first-line prescription medications.

Methods: This quality improvement initiative utilized a quasi-experimental survey design …

2024 Merc Annual Report, David Naff, Jesse Senechal, Paula L. Ogston-Nobile

MERC Publications

This is the annual report of the Metropolitan Educational Research Consortium (MERC) in the School of Education at Virginia Commonwealth University for the 2023-2024 academic year. It includes vignettes depicting MERC activities in the past year that align with each of its five principles: research, relevance, rigor, multiple perspectives, and impact. It concludes with a discussion of MERC's commitment moving forward.

Secondhand Tobacco Smoke Exposure In Homes And Vehicles In Youth: Disparities Among Racial, And Sexual And Gender Minorities, Rajesh Talluri, Sahil S Shete, Surendra S Shastri, Sanjay Shete

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Secondhand smoke exposure (SHSe) among youth is a serious public health concern, leading to an increased risk of conditions such as asthma and respiratory infections. However, there is little research on SHSe among vulnerable populations, such as racial and sexual minorities. Understanding the factors associated with youth SHSe in homes and vehicles is crucial to developing better protective policies.

METHODS: This study utilized 2020 data from the National Youth Tobacco Survey, a representative sample of middle- and high-school students in the US. The primary outcomes were youth SHSe at home and while riding in a vehicle. Multinomial regression models …

Diversity Across Disciplines: Student Response To Dei Content In College Curricula, Angela Pettitt

Theses and Dissertations

Discussion and inclusion of diversity-related topics in higher education are often confined to specific courses designated as fulfilling a university-mandated diversity requirement such as courses in women's studies, Black history or literature, Eastern religions, among others. Mainstream general education courses in disciplines such as psychology, chemistry, or communications typically do not address diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) topics as part of the curriculum, even if individual textbooks, courses, or faculty work to improve such courses' pluralism. However, as the U.S. population becomes both more diverse and segregated, and as DEI initiatives come under fire from state legislators, students receive conflicting …

Use Of Online Hybrid Supplemental Teaching In Field-Based Teacher Education Programs, Hank Bohanon, Wenjin Guo, Christopher Dickman

Education: School of Education Faculty Publications and Other Works

University faculty who implement field-based teacher education programs experience challenges providing instruction for clinical, site-embedded university-based students. These issues can include a lack of common times to meet with students, limited access to meeting space to provide direct instruction, and changes in the school schedule. A number of these barriers may be addressed by adding elements of online instruction to traditional in-person classes, making the course, in effect, a hybrid one. In this study, the researchers analyzed the perspectives of university-based, special education focused instructors and clinical partners on the barriers, needs, benefits, and content related to implementing hybrid instruction …

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 …

'Reading The Room': A Mixed Methods Study Of Midwifery Students' Perceptions Of Emotional Intelligence And Its Relationship To Midwifery, Kirstie Jayne Balding

Theses

Midwifery is emotionally challenging work; midwives provide care to women and families at one of the most significant points of their lives and this work is not without impact upon the midwives themselves. Midwifery students require more than just the cognitive ability to learn the requisite midwifery knowledge and competence at performing practical midwifery skills, the knowledge and skills that midwives require intersect with and are influenced by a wide range of emotions and emotional experiences. Emotional intelligence (EI) is the ability to identify and manage one’s own emotions, as well as the emotions of others and within other healthcare …

Case Study: Implementing Strategies To Meet The Needs Of English Language Learners, Sierra Brooks

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to provide an understanding of effective ways to meet the needs of English language learners. To focus its inquiry and gain a thorough understanding of the experiences and methods of teachers in various classroom environments, the study used a case study approach. Extensive interviews with the participants yielded interesting insights into the methods they use to tailor their instruction to the requirements of their students as well as the useful resources they include into their instruction. A thorough grasp of instructional dynamics was also made possible by the participants' permission for the researcher to observe …

Importance Of Wrap-Around Services In Primary Schools, Alyson Giunto, Liberty Posey, Elli Spicer

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Our project will include an explanation of wrap-around services available for primary students and their families. We will start by explaining what a wrap-around service is and why they are important. We will do this through a secondary literature review including grouping services into the tiers in Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. In three sections, we will focus on aspects of Maslow’s hierarchy and how the wrap-around services relate to those needs. The tiers include physiological needs, safety, love and belonging, esteem, and self-actualization. Physiological needs include food, water, and shelter. Safety makes sure that individuals can focus on their …

Meeting Students Where They Are: A Full Picture View Of Student Basic Needs In Montana, Kyra D. Merchen

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

This paper addresses the increasing challenges faced by colleges and universities in supporting students who are struggling with food insecurity, housing instability, and mental health issues. These basic needs, which are critical to student success, have been exacerbated in recent years, prompting institutions to reassess their role in supporting student well-being beyond academic requirements. Specifically, the paper explores how the Montana University System (MUS), a network of public higher education institutions, is addressing these issues and what further outreach is needed to support students holistically. The study seeks to answer the question: "How are colleges in Montana addressing student basic …

Access And Utilisation Of Open Educational Resources By Academics And Students Among Tertiary Institutions In Tanzania, Pamela Patrick Bulugu, Jaffar Msafiri Ponera Dr.

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This study investigated the use of open educational resources (OER) among academics and students at the Local Government Training Institute in Tanzania (LGTI). The study was premised on the pragmatism paradigm and deployed a mixed-methods research approach. An explanatory sequential design was used. The sample size comprised 55 respondents from LGTI who filled out questionnaires. Five library staff and two ICT staff were purposefully selected for interviews. Quantitative data was analysed using SPSS version 16, while qualitative data was thematically analysed based on the themes that emerged from the interview. The findings from the questionnaires and interviews established that academics …

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

2025 Award Winners

No abstract provided.

Understanding The Link Between Conflict Profiles And Team Affective Outcomes Using Lpa And Nlp Techniques, Francisco Cima, Pilar Pazos-Lago

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

Team conflict is a naturally emerging phenomenon resulting from individuals' interactions during project execution. Cross-disciplinary teams can experience higher levels of conflict than single-discipline teams because of the increased diversity of knowledge and perspectives. Research has shown that team conflict can emerge from different types of disagreements (cognitive and interpersonal), which have different implications for team functioning. Past empirical research has focused on the impact of both conflict types independent from each other while overlooking their combined effects. This work examines the conflict profiles resulting from the combined levels of interpersonal and cognitive disagreements and their association with team outcomes. …

Development Of A Conveyor-Based Practice Performance Assessment Tool With Android Control To Improve Vocational High School Students' Work Readiness, Fanani Arief Ghozali, Fatwa Tentama, Bambang Sudarsono, Arief Syamsuddin, Barry Nur Setyanto, Wirayudha Pramana Bhakti

Elinvo (Electronics, Informatics, and Vocational Education)

The unemployment rate for vocational high school graduates is still very high. Unemployment occurs because the level of work readiness is still low. Work readiness can be improved by applying competence mastery-oriented learning. Competence that is complete requires measurement tools or assessment of student work competencies to measure competency success. Therefore, this study aims to: (1) produce a product in the form of a practical performance assessment tool for students in the conveyor-based pandemic era with android control; (2) know the quality and performance of the developed tools; This research is development research using the method of combining the waterfall …

Harm Reduction In Undergraduate And Graduate Medical Education: A Systematic Scoping Review, Kelsey R. Smith, Nina K. Shah, Abby L. Adamczyk, Lara C. Weinstein, Erin L. Kelly

Department of Family & Community Medicine Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Substance use increasingly contributes to early morbidity and mortality, which necessitates greater preparation of the healthcare workforce to mitigate its harm. The purpose of this systematic scoping review is to: 1) review published curricula on harm reduction for substance use implemented by undergraduate (UME) and graduate medical education (GME) in the United States and Canada, 2) develop a framework to describe a comprehensive approach to harm reduction medical education, and 3) propose additional content topics for future consideration.

METHODS: PubMed, Scopus, ERIC: Education Resources Information Center (Ovid), and MedEdPORTAL were searched. Studies included any English language curricula about harm …

The Faculty-To-Faculty Mentorship Experience: A Survey On Challenges And Recommendations For Improvements, Sarvenaz Sarabipour, Natalie M Niemi, Steven J Burgess, Christopher T Smith, Alexandre W Bisson Filho, Ahmed Ibrahim, Kelly Clark

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Faculty at research institutions play a central role in advancing knowledge and careers, as well as promoting the well-being of students and colleagues in research environments. Mentorship from experienced peers has been touted as critical for enabling these myriad roles to allow faculty development, career progression, and satisfaction. However, there is little information available on who supports faculty and best ways to structure a faculty mentorship programme for early- and mid-career academics. In the interest of advocating for increased and enhanced faculty mentoring and mentoring programmes, we surveyed faculty around the world to gather data on whether and how they …

Describing The Evidence Linking Interprofessional Education Interventions To Improving The Delivery Of Safe And Effective Patient Care: A Scoping Review, Tamara Cadet, Joseph Cusimano, Shelley Mckearney, Julie Honaker, Cynthia O'Neal, Reza Taheri, Virginia Uhley, Yingting Zhang, Margaret Dreker, Judith S. Cohn

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Empirical evidence indicates that collaborative interprofessional practice leads to positive health outcomes. Further, there is an abundance of evidence examining student and/or faculty perceptions of learning or satisfaction about the interprofessional education (IPE) learning experience. However, there is a dearth of research linking IPE interventions to patient outcomes. The objective of this scoping review was to describe and summarize the evidence linking IPE interventions to the delivery of effective patient care. A three-step search strategy was utilized for this review with articles that met the following criteria: publications dated 2015–2020 using qualitative, quantitative or mixed methods; the inclusion of healthcare …

An Evaluation Of A Student Allied Health Professions’ Social Prescribing Scheme, Kirstie A. Goodchild, Anya De Iongh

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Social prescribing is a core part of healthcare policy within the NHS and requires support and contributions from all healthcare professionals, including Allied Healthcare Professionals (AHPs). The well-established medical student-led social prescribing student champion scheme (SPSCS) has been expanded to include AHPs, and AHP champions were recruited to deliver peer-led activities focused on social prescribing. This article aimed to evaluate the impact of the scheme's expansion on AHP students. Method: Fourteen AHP champions ran 21 activities that reached 524 students. Those participating in the champion-led activities were asked to complete pre- and post-session surveys to capture the impact of …