Digital Commons Network^™

Bridging Language Barriers: How Secondary Teachers Support English Language Learners In The Classroom, Mason Daniel Smith

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

English Language Learners (ELLs) represent a growing student population in U.S. secondary schools, yet many educators feel underprepared to support their unique needs effectively. This mixed-methods study examines how Pennsylvania high school teachers approach the teaching of ELLs, focusing on their self-efficacy, instructional decision-making, and strategies for fostering an inclusive classroom community. Using an exploratory sequential mixed methods design, data was collected through surveys from a limited group of 40 high school educators followed by in-depth interviews with three participants. Findings revealed that while teachers express a strong desire to support ELLs, they often experience uncertainty and frustration due to …

The Impact Of Structured Weekend Group Therapy On Restraints, Seclusion And Length Of Stay On Inpatient Psychiatric Units, Victoria Grau

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

Group therapy is an essential part of inpatient psychiatric treatment, with documented positive effects including better medication compliance, lower readmission rate, and improved self- esteem. Patients who are admitted for an inpatient psychiatric stay have a small window of time in which behavioral health staff can work with them. Group therapy can help patients develop a plan for these issues and provide a foundation for successful discharge and symptom management. The project site is a mid-size teaching hospital in an urban community with higher rates of mental health diagnoses than the national average. Group therapy was conducted initially Monday – …

Screening For Relative Energy Deficiency In Sport (Reds) And The Female Athlete Triad In Female Undergraduate Collegiate Athletes: A Quality Improvement Project, Maria A. Marziano

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

This quality improvement (QI) project investigated female collegiate athletes’ knowledge and prevalence of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs) and the Female Athlete Triad (Triad). The increase in female athletics brings a growing concern for performance-related health risks, including low energy availability (LEA), menstrual dysfunction, and low bone mineral density (BMD). This study assessed the effectiveness of education and self-screening in identifying at-risk athletes and encouraging resource application for intervention. A mixed-methods design was employed, utilizing retrospective data along with pre- and post-intervention surveys. The study involved 33 female collegiate athletes from lean endurance sports, assessing knowledge, risk factors, and …

“We Love Our Kids Too” Black Parents Supporting The Academic Success Of Their Children In Affluent, Predominantly White School Districts, Janeane M. Davis

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

Using an endarkened narrative inquiry method, the author examined the narratives of Black parents about the experiences of their children on their academic journeys while attending school in affluent, predominantly white school districts, as well as the stories of how those Black parents support the academic success of their children in those school districts. Data collection strategies included one-on-one semi-structured interviews with parents. The researcher conducted the study using an endarkened narrative inquiry methodology and analyzed the narratives of Black parents in their efforts to support their children on their academic journeys. The researcher evaluated tools, techniques, and strategies that …

Flags As Symbols Of Place: Unpacking Geographic Meaning And Identity In Student Flag Designs, Carlos A. Morales-Ramirez

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

Flags have been around for centuries; however, vexillology, the study of flags, was not officially coined until the 1960s. Despite this, there is still a need for more scientific and empirical research. Using qualitative arts-based research (ABR) methodology, this study investigates the creative journey of students in an undergraduate geography course as they design a flag for a place of their choosing. Students were asked to interpret the concept of ‘place’ through their flag designs while also incorporating flag design principles. The results showed that participants selected places tied to themes such as hometown, family, love, memories, and culture often …

Failure To Launch: A Dissection Of Biking In Dallas, Brandon S. Austin

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

Dallas, Texas, has attempted to implement bicycle infrastructure for 50 years. Unfortunately, the measures have been rejected by the populace. This resulted in Dallas being ranked the worst city to bike in the United States three times in the last 17 years. This dissertation aims to understand why. Specifically, reviewing the factors that prevent residents from biking and what infrastructural changes would entice them to bike more. To achieve this, a 27-question online survey was created. This survey included both open-ended and closed-ended questions. The results aligned with much of the existing literature. The people of Dallas feel biking is …

Black Single Men Facing Repeated Eviction Threats And Housing Instability In East New York, Brooklyn: Is There A Significant Correlation Between Repeated Eviction Threats, Housing Instability, And Black Single Men?, Gregory Colimon

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

An eviction threat phenomenon is currently unfolding in East New York, located in Brooklyn, NY, and is drawing attention to specific individuals who have been marginalized and overlooked within society: Black single men aged between 24 and 55. This particular demographic group is currently facing significant challenges associated with repeated eviction threats, and housing instability within East New York, which is renowned for being one of the regions with high population density and urbanization. While eviction is commonly understood as a consequence of the failure of tenants to meet their financial obligations or fulfill their responsibilities, this simplistic understanding overlooks …

Distinguishing Symptoms Of Racial Trauma From Conventional Trauma, Michelle Yoong

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

Trauma research in psychology has traditionally been shaped by a White-centric framework, leading to the underrepresentation of racial and ethnic minority experiences. This study aims to establish racial discrimination as a distinct traumatic stressor with significant psychological consequences by exploring the distinction between racial and conventionally recognized traumatic stressors and posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). It also aims to address inconsistent and exclusionary assessment methodology involving underrepresented racial minority (URM) populations, including the neglect of racial trauma and discrimination measures in trauma research. Participants consisted of URMs who sought enrollment in a clinical trial for opioid use disorder at a community …

Does The Relative Education Model Explain Turnout Across Racial And Ethnic Groups?, Ashley Grace Burkholder, Eric Hansen, Emily Wager

Political Science: Faculty Publications and Other Works

The relative education model holds that educational attainment reflects existing socioeconomic advantages that are associated with participation rather than spurring political participation on its own. Yet, emerging research on compensation effects suggests that greater educational attainment leads to increased political engagement among more marginal populations in which political socialization is less likely to occur outside of schools. We argue that the relative education model will better describe the relationship between education and voting patterns among more advantaged groups. We test our expectations by estimating the relative education model within racial and ethnic groups in the U.S. using data from the …

2025-2026 Seed Book, Nebrasa Crop Improvement Association

Nebraska Crop Improvement Association Seed Guides

2025-2026 seed book, Nebraska Crop Improvment Association.

A Personal Interview With William Patry: His Thoughts On Music, Ai, And Copyright

IP Theory

No abstract provided.

Where Honors Education And Faculty Development Meet, John Zubizarreta, Victoria M. Bryan

National Collegiate Honors Council Monographs

Development is a contradictory terrain, as seen in the persistence of multiple and conflicting goals, uneven and unequal outcomes, and varied definitions and approaches to teaching and learning in higher education. How might universities support faculty development as a process rather than as isolated educational events? This collection highlights inherent complexities and challenges in sustained professional development and presents new ways of supporting faculty and designing curricula to encourage learning-centered teaching, experiential learning, collaborative undergraduate research, progressive forms of assessment, and other dynamic, inspiring forms of instruction. Engaging in interdisciplinary thinking ranging from Education and Education Policy, Biochemistry, Philosophy, Environmental …

Honoring The First-Year Seminar: Exploring High-Impact Learning Experiences For The First Year In Honors, Anton Vander Zee, Trisha H. Folds-Bennett

National Collegiate Honors Council Monographs

Acknowledgments

Introduction: Strategies and Structures for the Honors First-Year Seminar, Anton Vander Zee

Westminster University: Program Profile, Richard Badenhausen

Keeping Company: Genuine Conversation as a First-Year Honors Seminar Pedagogy, Richard Badenhausen

Oregon Institute of Technology: Program Profile, Christopher J. Syrnyk Bringing the Idea of Ideas to Life, Christopher J. Syrnyk

College of Charleston: Program Profile, Trisha H. Folds-Bennett, Jesslyn Collins-Frohlich, and Robert Maynor

Disrupting Privilege: Community Engagement in the First Year, Trisha H. Folds-Bennett, Jesslyn Collins-Frohlich, and Robert Maynor

Virginia Commonwealth University: Program Profile, Christy Tyndall and Jacqueline Smith-Mason

Flourishing in the First Year and Beyond: Promoting Personal Wellbeing and …

Transforming Partnerships: Developing A Model For Experiential Learning In Honors, Grace Troupe, Tamy Burnett

National Collegiate Honors Council Monographs: Chapters

Although the collaboration between the University Honors Program (UHP) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) and UNL's Center for Transformative Teaching involves several elements, this essay focuses on one element with significant impact: the development of curricular components and co-curricular programming facilitating students’ engagement with experiential learning. Experience-based education is learning that occurs through direct, hands-on experiences such as internships, research, education abroad, and teaching practicums. When UNL moved toward requiring experiential learning for all undergraduate students, the partnership between UHP and CTT was transformational in facilitating UHP’s building on its existing framework for experiential learning and thus serving as …

Exploding The Silos: How Honors And Cetl Collaboration Can Transform Faculty Development, Christine Larson, Evren Celik-Wiltse, Kevin Sackreiter, Rebecca C. Bott-Knutson

National Collegiate Honors Council Monographs: Chapters

The Center for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning (CETL) at South Dakota State University (SDSU) developed the Faculty Fellows program in the fall of 2018 to provide faculty in each academic college with a peer mentor who would offer tailored professional development opportunities.

Professional Development Through Teaching In Honors: An Elon University Workshop, Mike Carignan, Lynn R. Huber, Deandra Little, Tom Mould

National Collegiate Honors Council Monographs: Chapters

Describes the Teaching in Honors Workshop, an annual, multiday event held at Elon University.

Incorporating Faculty Development Workshops At James Madison University, Fawn-Amber Montoya, Felix Wang

National Collegiate Honors Council Monographs: Chapters

Since there are no permanent faculty positions, the honors college at James Madison University has created an environment where faculty teaching honors courses can come together to share their vision of an honors education and the strategies and practices to manifest these ideals in their respective classrooms. Accordingly, the honors college began hosting annual faculty workshops in May 2021 to create a community of faculty members. During the past three years, these workshops have created opportunities for faculty to interact with each other to discuss what an honors education is, how to create safe spaces for students, and how to …

Virginia Commonwealth University: Program Profile, Christy Tyndall, Jacqueline Smith-Mason

National Collegiate Honors Council Monographs: Chapters

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) is an urban, public research university located in Richmond, Virginia. VCU is among only eighty-four R1 universities with a Carnegie Community Engagement classification, which is a testament to VCU’s strong commitment to integrating community engagement through teaching, research, and service to address societal challenges and improve the quality of life for all. The university enrolls more than 28,000 students, representing over one hundred countries. Eighty-five percent of students are Virginia residents, and more than half of all students represent ethnically diverse populations. Thirty-seven percent of all fall 2024 freshmen were first-generation college students. More than two …

The Impact Of Daybook Reflection Practices In The Honors First-Year Seminar, Michelle Miles, Rita L. Bailey

National Collegiate Honors Council Monographs: Chapters

The National Collegiate Honors Council contends that an “honors college or program [should provide] opportunities for measurably broader, deeper, and more complex learning-centered and learner-directed experiences for its students than are available elsewhere in the institution.” We feel that this philosophical premise indicates the importance of incorporating semi-structured written reflection practices into first-year honors seminar courses. Furthermore, the primarily affirmative response of both students and instructors to the usefulness of Daybooks, in terms of internal and external course application, indicates that by incorporating written reflection into a course designed to acclimate first-year students to honors methodology, instructors are optimally positioning …

Nebraska Seed Focus, September 2025, Nebraska Crop Improvement Association

Nebraska Seed Focus

Nebraska Seed Focus, September 2025

Timber Talk, Vol. 63, No. 1, March 2025

Timber Talk: Nebraska Forest Industry Newsletter

Timber Talk, Vol. 63, No. 1, March 2025

Timber Talk, Vol. 63, No. 2, June 2025

Timber Talk: Nebraska Forest Industry Newsletter

Timber Talk, Vol. 63, No. 2, June 2025

Interprofessional Collaboration To Create Visual Supports In Preschool Classrooms: Perspectives Of Speech-Language Pathology Graduate Students, Shelby Klick

Brehm Scholars Research

No abstract provided.

Elementary School-Based Speech-Language Pathologists' Perspectives On The Management Of Pediatric Feeding And Swallowing Disorders, Kelsi L. Szakovits

Brehm Scholars Research

Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) frequently serve autistic students in the school setting. Research reveals a relationship between autism, sensory processing, and pediatric feeding disorder (PFD). As a result, autistic students may have compromised nutritional health and safety, which stands to impact their ability to access the curriculum. PFD is under the scope of the school-based speech-language pathologist’s practice. However, data has shown a perceived lack of confidence and a limited number of support and resources in the educational setting for SLPs to carry out interventions. This qualitative study will seek to understand the perspectives of elementary school-based SLPs regarding the implementation …

Exploring Slp & Special Education Clinicians' Readiness For Diversity, Amiya Carreras

Brehm Scholars Research

No abstract provided.

Developing A Roadmap For Green Port In Timor-Leste, Emanuel Da Silva Maia

World Maritime University M.Sc. Dissertations

On that matter, this study aims to analyze the current status of Timor Port as the gateway port in the country, accommodating ocean-going vessels from various countries, which poses a significant pollution to the atmosphere.

Moreover, this study also examined current energy management, the drivers and barriers, to transform Timor port to shift towards a more environmentally responsible approach.

However, this study identified some challenges that could hinder the implementation of green port practices in Timor Port, such as policy, regulatory, and framework issues, high capital costs, limited awareness and expertise, technology uncertainty and incompatibility, including leadership commitment and political …

Noaa Oceanic And Atmospheric Research Ocean Carbon Observing Science Plan Fy25 To Fy35, United States National Oceanographic And Atmospheric Administration

National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration: Technical Reports and Related Materials

United States National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration oceanic and atmospheric research ocean carbon observing science plan for fiscal years 2025 through 2035.

At The Farm In Battery Park Assignment, Karen Williams

Open Educational Resources

No abstract provided.

The History Of Urban Life Textbook, Samuel Finesurrey

Open Educational Resources

No abstract provided.

Case Studies In The History Of U.S. Empire And Society, Samuel Finesurrey, Gary Greaves

Open Educational Resources

These case-studies in U.S. history attempt to break away from the white racial frame that too often is used to tell the story of America's past. These resources explore the United States from the vantage of the enslaved, exploited, persecuted, conquered and occupied who made possible the realization of others' wealth and dreams.