Digital Commons Network^™

Academic Departments As Microfoundations Of Institutional Governance, Karley A. Riffe, Meghan J. Pifer

Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation Faculty Publications

Considerations of governance in US higher education do not typically include the academic department. This results in a knowledge gap about the role of these central organizing units of academic work in the governance of colleges and universities. Through the concept of microfoundations, we explore concrete ways in which departmental governance matters, how it may be challenging, and strategies for fostering effective governance within academic departments.

Critical Discourse Analysis Of Nil Policies: Examining Institutional Control And Economic Opportunities For Division I Football Athletes In Power Four Universities, Allen T. Alvarez

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation

The adoption of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) policies has redefined the economic landscape of collegiate athletics, expanding opportunities for student-athletes and reshaping institutional authority. This dissertation nvestigates how NIL policy language at Division I universities frames economic possibilities for football student-athletes and sustains systems of governance. Through a Critical Discourse Analysis of policy documents from Power Four and mid-major institutions, this study reveals that NIL participation is persistently conditioned by institutional approval, compliance monitoring, and ambiguous definitions, especially regarding boosters and collectives.

Policy language presents NIL as an opportunity but embeds institutional control through oversight structures. The analysis further …

The Operationalization Of Student Success: How Institutions And Divisions Of Student Affairs Define And Align Non-Academic Student Success With External Accountability Expectations, Madeline N. Trudeau

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation

This qualitative multi-case study investigates how higher education institutions and their divisions of student affairs publicly discuss and define non-academic student success through their strategic planning, within the context of external pressures from state legislatures and accrediting bodies. Grounded in Organizational Learning Theory, Transition Theory, and Theory of Student Involvement and Engagement, this study analyzes the alignment and divergence between external policy expectations and internal institutional and divisional strategic plans.

The findings reveal a fundamental tension; while external stakeholders increasingly demand quantifiable outcomes tied to economic productivity - like post-graduate wages and employability metrics - divisions of student affairs continue …

Digital Technologies And Calculus: Students’ Peaks And Pits, Ricela Feliciano-Semidei, Kevin A. Palencia Infante, Alcibiades Bustillo-Zarate

Faculty Articles, Papers, and Other Scholarship

Understanding calculus students’ perspectives can provide valuable insights into their learning needs and help develop strategies to enhance persistence in STEM programs. Numerous studies have shown that the use of digital technologies (DT) influences student engagement, motivation, and mathematics achievement. In this project, we explored students’ perspectives on using DT in calculus. We interviewed eight calculus students from a midwestern doctorate-granting institution in the United States and used thematic analysis informed by the didactical tetrahedron, accounting for internal and external factors that may influence the teaching and learning process. Students reflected on their use of technology, identifying various benefits, including …

Bringing Pandemic Science To The Classroom: Building Public Health Capacity At A Rural Kentucky High School, Sahar Alameh, Anna G. Hoover, James W. Keck, Scott M. Berry, Sagan Goodpaster, Savannah Tucker, Ashley Goodin

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education Faculty Publications

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, a multidisciplinary team at the University of Kentucky developed an interdisciplinary science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and environmental health unit—the Wastewater Assessment for Coronavirus in Kentucky: Implementing Enhanced Surveillance Technology (WACKIEST) Unit—for high school students in summer 2022. This case study outlines the WACKIEST Unit, which focused on wastewater surveillance and COVID-19, the obstacles faced during development and recruitment, and implementation of the WACKIEST Unit in conjunction with a rural wastewater surveillance initiative. The unit was implemented in spring 2023 at a rural high school in Kentucky, spanning 12 days and engaging 190 students. …

Chinese Athletes’ And Parents’ Motivations For U.S. Collegiate Sports Participation, Wenting Sun, Russell D. Ravert, Simran Kaur Sethi

Kinesiology and Health Promotion Faculty Publications

To gain an understanding of international student recruitment and retention in collegiate athletics, this study examines the motivations and decision-making processes of Chinese high school athletes and their parents in pursuing U.S. collegiate sport opportunities. Using the push–pull framework and an ecological perspective, it explores how individual aspirations, family priorities, institutional resources, and national policies shape transnational mobility. Semistructured focus group discussions with 10 athletes and eight parents revealed six key motivational themes and highlighted the influence of recent collegiate sport-related policy changes in China. The findings suggest that while both groups value U.S. sport pathways, athletes and parents may …

Caring For Your Heart During Survivorship After Pediatric Cancer: A Visual Education Guide On Chemotherapy-Induced Cardiotoxicity, Bryona Rose Hamilton

Theses

Chemotherapy is an effective weapon in the fight against pediatric cancer. However efficient, treatment can lead to side effects that last long after a patient finishes their last round of chemotherapy. This thesis examines current research on chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity, a side effect of chemotherapy treatment caused by a class of chemotherapy drugs called Anthracyclines (such as doxorubicin and daunorubicin). While effective chemotherapy agents, these drugs have been known to cause late long-term heart damage when used to treat pediatric cancers such as Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) and Pediatric Sarcoma. A written portion of this thesis project …

A Novel Nephron: 3d Visualization Of Glomerular Filtration In The Kidney, Cassie Young

Theses

Renal physiology, particularly the process of glomerular filtration, remains one of the most conceptually challenging topics in medical education due to its microscopic scale, dynamic pressure relationships, and structural complexity. Understanding how plasma passes through the glomerular filtration barrier requires spatial reasoning across multiple levels—from the gross anatomy of the kidney to the ultrastructure of capillaries, podocytes, and the glomerular basement membrane. This thesis addresses these challenges through the development of a scientifically accurate three-dimensional (3D) animation that illustrates glomerular filtration within its anatomical and physiological context. Designed as a visual teaching aid, the animation aims to improve comprehension of …

Understanding Computer-Mediated Human Experience In Digital-Physical Hybrid Space, Jiangnan Xu

Theses

With the rapid development of mobile and immersive technologies, the boundary between the digital and real world is increasingly blurred, giving rise to hybrid spaces. Hybrid spaces have permeated daily life and reshaped spatial meaning-making and social interaction. Despite their growing prevalence, empirical understanding of human experiences in hybrid spaces remains limited. If left unexamined, hybrid spaces risk becoming technology-centered rather than human-centered environments that overlook socio-cultural dimensions, potentially leading to harmful consequences for individuals and society. To investigate human experience in hybrid spaces, this thesis comprises five studies and uses gameful systems as research probes. Prior literature identifies collaboration …

The Impact Of Artificial Intelligence And Technology On Online Learning In The Higher Education Sector, Afra Alqemzi

Theses

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and technology into education has become an inseparable part of online education transforming the landscape of the higher education, which has provided a chance to experience flexible learning patterns according to personal needs, individualized and optimized instruction strategies and more effective and purposeful student involvement. Knowing how such technologies evolve in institutions with increasing implementation of AI-driven platforms is therefore critical to strategic and long-term planning. This paper aims at examining the effects of AI in the advancement of online learning in higher education, including the following aspects; improvements of outcomes, compliance with the …

Unleashing Mass Entrepreneurship: Firm-Level Evidence On The Impact Of China’S Registered Capital Reform, Wei Cui, Mengying Wei

All Faculty Publications

A 2013 amendment of China’s Company Law allowed limited liability companies to form without any minimum equity requirement. Using a confidential taxpayer dataset, we causally identify the reform’s impact on the composition of new firms and their financing choices. Firmentry surged by 33%. Newfirms started with 31.6% lower assets but operated at similar scales as prior firms. While entrants’ average profitability remained the same, smaller entrants saw increased profitability post-reform, indicating entry by productive butwealth-constrained entrepreneurs. Consistent with a preference for debt over equity, new entrants displayed a 94% decline in equity and large increases in liabilities. This indicates that …

The Ideological Work Of Penal Reform: How Reformers Justify Penal-Welfare Hybridization, John Halushka, Brandon Miller

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

This article uses the Santa Clara County Reentry Resource Center (RRC) as a case study to explore the cultural content of penal reform. Specifically, we explore the discourses that officials use to publicly justify projects of penal-welfare hybridization, or the linking of state systems of punishment and welfare to manage criminalized populations. Our qualitative analysis draws on a dataset consisting of county planning documents, budgets, videos, press releases, and newsletters published online between 2011 and 2023. By examining these materials over time, we are able to chart patterns of consistency and variation in how officials justify hybridization. We find that …

Availability And Utilization Of School Library Resources And Its Impacts On The Academic Excellence Of Secondary School Students In Edo State., Iyobosa Ewere Mrs., Ben Asuquo, Glory Mbah Mrs.

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The study examines availability, and utilization of school library resources and its impacts on the academic excellence in secondary school libraries in Edo state. The descriptive survey research was adopted for the study. The population of the study was 2162 senior secondary school students from Idia Girls’ College, Boiling Point Academy and UNIBEN Demonstration Secondary School. The sampling techniques used for the study was Random Sampling Technique, a total of 216 respondents was used as the sample size representing 10% of the total population. A well structured questionnaire was designed and distributed to respondents .A total of 216 copies of …

Technical Skills And Their Roles In Agribusiness Supply Chain Management Education, Ryan Loy, Logan L. Britton, F. Bailey Norwood

Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Faculty Publications and Presentations

The integration of advanced technical skills and supply chain management (SCM) tools is critical for the evolving demands of agribusiness. This study identifies the technical competencies, software proficiencies, and educational strategies essential for preparing students to excel in modern SCM roles. Through semi-structured interviews with 26 SCM professionals across US agribusiness sectors, the study highlights the demand for expertise in tools such as SAP, Power BI, and SQL alongside capabilities in data-driven decision-making and adaptability. Despite theoretical preparation, graduates often lack practical experience with industry-standard technologies, underscoring a gap in academic curricula. The findings suggest that agribusiness programs should emphasize …

Creating Community Through Walking The Talk For Dementia, Kate Irving, Fernando Aguzzoli Peres, Walter D. Dawson, Jonathan Adrián Zegarra-Valdivia, Lingani Mbakile-Mahlanza, Iracema Leroi, Sherril B. Gelmon

Institute on Aging Publications

Objectives

Creating community is not only therapeutic—it has been described as essential. This study explores a process of community-building among people with lived and professional experience in the dementia field, during Walking the Talk for Dementia (WTD), a week-long, immersive event on the Camino de Santiago in Spain. Absence of community can lead to fragmented support for both people living with dementia and their care partners and for those working in the field. Achieving a sense of community, however, can be complex.

Methods

A qualitative evaluation was conducted with 79 participants from 27 countries, incorporating pre-, during and post-event reflections. …

Dean's Update, January 2026, Neil W. Schluger

SOM Dean's Research Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Hydesville Goose Prairie: Early Pioneers And The Making Of A Town, Jack Mchenry, Paula Gundlach Mchenry, Janet Corbett Mattson

Trade & Scholarly Monographs

This book is laid out as a timeline beginning when Hydesville was first being settled. Included are not only happenings in the area, but also events that were occurring outside the area that would have affect-ed or been of interest to Humboldt County residents. Great care has been taken to preserve the history of the area, to learn who the families were, their reason for coming to the area, and from where they originated. This book was compiled through the effort and interviews of the entire community. The McHenrys began collecting Hydesville history some sixty years ago. Jack McHenry wrote …

The Statewide Standard, 2026, Illinois State University, College Of Education

The Statewide Standard

Annual newsletter of the Illinois State University College of Education

Sox11 Overexpression Restores Embryonic Pro-Growth Transcription In Mature Corticospinal Tract Neurons, Eliazbeth Batsel, Zimei Wang, Elizabeth Otten, Syed Roshan, Rabia Mohammad, Paula Pascual, Darby O'Shea, Jose Rosas, Pantelis Tsoulfas, Murray G. Blackmore

Biomedical Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Neurons in the central nervous system (CNS) display a high capacity for axon growth during early development but lose this ability at a pivotal differentiation stage marked by synaptic maturation, circuit integration, and a profound shift in gene transcription. Once mature, most CNS neurons fail to reverse this transcriptional switch after axon injury, fundamentally constraining their intrinsic capacity for axon regeneration. Here, we show with single-nucleus RNA sequencing that forced expression of the transcription factor Sox11 in mature corticospinal tract (CST) neurons produces large-scale and stable changes in gene expression that are highly enriched for growth-relevant processes, and which strongly …

Efficient Preservation Of Old Methane-Derived Organic Carbon In Deep-Sea Surface Sediments, Rui Bao, Yangli Che, Mingzhi Liu, Naiyu Zhang, Yang Zhou, Lihua Dong, Shen Li, Owen A. Sherwood, Min Yu, Zongheng Chen, Shengxiong Yang, Nan Wang, Longhai Zhu, Jiawang Chen, Mutai Bao, Haoshuai Li, Luonan Chen, Weifeng Wu, Haiyue Ma, David J. Burdige

OES Faculty Publications

Methane released from the subseafloor is significantly attenuated during upward migration, yet the preservation of methane-derived organic carbon (OC) in global deep-sea sediments remains poorly understood. Here, we measured carbon isotopes coupled with temperature-ramped analyses on various methane seepage sediments. Our results reveal a correlation between the radiocarbon (¹⁴)C) content in deep-sea surface sediments and sulfate-methane transition depth. Notably, our findings suggest that a substantial amount of (¹⁴)C-depleted OC may originate from deep-seated methane and is efficiently preserved in surface seepage sediments. We propose that the efficient OC preservation is related to microbial-mediated aggregate formation at the seawater-sediment interface, where …

Empowering Students To Engage With Climate Change Action: A Project-Based Module For Artificial Intelligence Literacy And Sustainability Thinking, Gabriel Granco, Yu Chen, Heather Macias, Yunfei Hou, Frank A. Gomez

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

There is a growing need to prepare students to address complex environmental challenges, particularly climate change and the expanding role of artificial intelligence (AI). This article examines the adaptation of the Artificial Intelligence for Social Good (AI4SG) Ideation module, a pitch- and project-based teaching framework designed to integrate AI literacy and sustainability education. Implemented in an upper division climate change course, the module combines project-based learning, culturally responsive pedagogy, and geographic thinking to guide students in developing community-oriented AI proposals aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Students were encouraged to approach their communities not through deficit lenses, …

Federal Protections For Farmworker Health In The United States: A Scoping Review Of Three Decades Of Research, Kaitlyn Alvarez Noli, Stephane Labossiere, Becca Berkey, Joseph G. Grzywacz

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Objectives: This scoping review characterizes the scope, methods, and framing of empirical research evaluating the Field Sanitation Standard (FSS) and Worker Protection Standard (WPS) of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Labor respectively. Methods: Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, we identified empirical studies (1990–2024) assessing elements of either the FSS or WPS. Two reviewers screened and extracted study characteristics, designs, populations, and regulatory elements. Framing analysis of 1226 segments, identified using a large language model, from the studies' abstracts and introductions examined how authors conceptualized farmworkers' need for protection. …

Generation Of Impact Factor-Driven Security Rating Questionnaire Using Llms For Aiot Applications, Yuna Han, Simon Shim, Deva Kumar Gajulamandyam, Yeji Choi, Hyunwoo Lee, Hangbae Chang

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Industry 4.0 has transformed industries by accelerating the adoption of artificial intelligence of things (AIoT); however, it has also led to security risks, such as data leakage. Existing data protection research focuses on network layers, whereas application-layer rating systems rely on subjective evaluations, limiting consistency and applicability. This study proposes a scalable and objective AIoT security rating framework that clarifies ambiguities in the five-question rating system of the Korean Intellectual Property Office and unifies fragmented managerial and technical rating systems. By leveraging large language models (LLMs), the framework integrates a security rating model based on 14 impact factors with automated …

Breaking The Cycle: Rethinking Bar Exam Scoring And Portability For Nextgen Examinees, Steven Foster, Nachman Gutowski

Scholarly Works

The development of the NextGen Bar Exam presents a crucial opportunity to address longstanding challenges in both bar exam scoring and portability concerns. The reliance on recent graduates' performance on the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE) as a baseline for setting future standards is flawed due to relative scoring and scaling. In addition to concerns regarding how the future bar exam is scored, there are also concerns regarding how the new scoring metric on the NextGen bar exam will be used for portability and, more specifically, what will happen between 2026 and 2028 as the NextGen bar exam is progressively adopted …

Civil Rights Microviolations, Michael Kagan, Alissa Cooley Yonesawa

Scholarly Works

No abstract provided.

Legal Ethics Of Ai Snake Oil: Navigating The Hype, Harm, And Hope Of Legal Ai, Drew Simshaw

Scholarly Works

This paper argues that the legal ethics of AI extend far beyond competence and hallucinations. It shows how AI often functions as a mirror, exposing deeper ethical questions about institutional incentives, lawyer wellbeing, access to justice, and AI's broader social and environmental impacts.

Memoir: The Brain, Neuroethics, And Bioethics, Leslie C. Griffin

Scholarly Works

This Essay examines how developments in neuroscience (or brain science) affect our views of law, medicine, ethics, and religion. Part I shows how lack of clarity about brain death can lead to premature organ donation. Part II argues that health care too often provides inadequate brain care and incomplete rehabilitation. Part III explains why recovery may be possible for those braininjured patients who are told it is not. Part IV demonstrates how the fear of a brain-injured patient oddly affects my perspective on Tort and Criminal Law, which are being influenced by neuroscientific advances. Part V examines the new developments …

From Passive To Powerful: Creating Engaging Resident-As-Teacher Modules, Anna E Rueda, Stephanie V Sherman, Sherita J Love, Glenn C Bridges, Wesley A Mayer, Mark J Harbott, Teri L Turner, Bani M Ratan

Faculty and Staff Publications

Background: We aimed to design, implement, and evaluate three novel institutional resident-as-teacher (RAT) e-modules for postgraduate year (PGY) 1, 2, and 3 and compare them to previously utilized online trainings.

Methods: We utilized PICRAT, a model examining both students' relationship with technology (passive, interactive, creative) and instructors' use of technology (replaces, amplifies, or transforms) to create interactive experiences that amplified teaching methodologies. We compared evaluations of the previous and new trainings with an unpaired t test. New modules were assessed with one-way analysis of variance for specialty-based acceptability and content analysis of two open-ended questions.

Results: Response rates averaged 93.2% …

Cerebellar Motor And Non-Motor Contributions To Dystonia Pathophysiology And Treatment, Linda H Kim, Cheryl Brandenburg, Roy V Sillitoe

Duncan NRI Faculty and Staff Publications

Dystonia is a complex neurological disorder characterized by sustained or intermittent abnormal movements and/or postures. However, dystonia's non-motor symptoms, particularly the sleep disturbances, are critical yet underexplored concerns that affect all ages. Here, we synthesize current knowledge on the motor and non-motor domains of dystonia, emphasizing the functional interconnections and plasticity within cerebellar motor, cognitive, and sleep-associated circuits to motivate more comprehensive and effective treatments that improve overall quality of life.

Can I Get A Witness? The Ethical Dimensions Of Family Presence In Patient Suffering, Jennifer Blumenthal-Barby, Trevor M Bibler, Holland Kaplan, Adam Omelianchuk, Joanna Smolenski

Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy Staff Publications

For patients who are suffering, the bedside presence of a family member can provide comfort, and many people hold that there is moral value in being present with a conscious, suffering patient. Yet what is the moral significance of the absence of family members when a patient is minimally conscious or unconscious and not aware of their absence? Clinicians are often troubled when family members and surrogate decision-makers who are able to spend a significant amount of time at an unconscious, seriously ill patient's bedside do not do so. Clinicians feel frustrated that they must bear the burden of witnessing …