Education Commons^™

A Dissertation On Belonging In Occupational Therapy Education With Students From Historically Minoritized Identities, Quinn P. Tyminski

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation provides a comprehensive exploration of the phenomenon of belonging specifically tailored to students with historically minoritized identities (HMIs) within the Washington University Program in Occupational Therapy (WUOT). Employing qualitative methodologies including scoping reviews, theoretical conceptualizations, focus groups, individual interviews, surveys, and participant video diaries, the study delves into the multifaceted nature of belonging within the context of occupational therapy (OT) education. The dissertation is organized into four key articles. The first two articles lay the theoretical foundation by examining the historical context of education as forced assimilation for minority groups and the nuanced use of professional behaviors to …

A Historic Review And Empirical Revitalization Of The Stages Of Concern Questionnaire, Kent Anderson Seidel

School Leadership Review

This paper examines one of three central diagnostic tools of the Concerns Based Adoption Model, the Stages of Concern Questionnaire (SoCQ). The SoCQ was developed with a focus on K12 education. It has been used widely since developed in 1973, in early childhood, higher education, medical, business, community, and military settings. The SoCQ captures data about beliefs and intentions of individuals regarding their engagement with a new program or practice.

In our search of publications utilizing the SoCQ, we have found studies conducted across the world, with approximately 400 based in the United States 100 conducted outside the US. In …

Dismantling Inequities In The Faculty Evaluation System, Mary Petron, William Blackwell, Abbie Strunc

School Leadership Review

Qualifying for merit is a competitive and contentious process in higher education. Many merit structures are based upon traditional faculty evaluation systems which do not reflect the changing nature of higher education and thus, yield inequitable results. This article presents the case of a large department at a mid-size regional university that revised the system for merit and faculty evaluation to recognize undergraduate contributions and more equitably score the scholarship, service, and teaching of faculty members in the department. The case describes the relevant literature, the university and departmental context, the process for designing the new evaluation system, and lessons …

From Oral Traditions To Digital Screens: The Evolution Of Folklore In The Modern Age, Echo Padgett

Student Scholar Symposium

This research explores how folklore and oral traditions adapt within digital spaces, focusing on Native American Skinwalker narratives and Biblical parables. By exploring these stories’ transformation on modern platforms, we are able to see the impact of digital media on traditional storytelling. In Navajo mythology, Skinwalkers are individuals, typically male, who practice the Witchery Way, gaining the ability to transform into animals to cause harm and disrupt the natural order. However, modern media often portrays them as monstrous, alien-like creatures, stripping away their cultural significance. The rise of sensationalized narratives, such as those surrounding Skinwalker Ranch, further these misconceptions, linking …

Research Week 2025, Michael Schueth

Research Week

Welcome to Undergraduate Research Week at Collin College!

This week celebrates the innovative research and scholarly work of our undergraduate students across all disciplines. From our informative webinars to Cultivating Scholars, our student poster presentation, the week offers opportunities to explore new ideas, share discoveries, and connect with fellow researchers and faculty mentors.

We invite all students, faculty, and staff to participate in these events designed to highlight the importance of undergraduate research in academic and professional development. Whether you're presenting your work or simply curious about your peers' projects, your engagement helps foster our college's culture of inquiry and …

So Much More Than Summer Camp: The Importance Of Environmental Education At Nature Centers, Olivia P. Upton

Student Scholar Showcase

In conjunction with my Westover Honors Thesis, my Bonner Legacy Project focused on the development of environmental education curriculum and programming at Camp Kum-Ba-Yah Nature Center [CKBY]. Informed by a review of current climate education, lesson plans and activities were modified in collaboration with CKBY staff to be more climate-focused and aid in the development of systems thinking skills. Activities were compiled and edited to teach concepts, such as food webs, feedback loops, and the greenhouse effect, while also promoting team-building and critical thinking. Educational kits for each activity were created, which include all materials needed as well as a …

Exploring Internal Communication At United States Higher Education Institutions, Kimberly S. Marks

Doctor of Education Program Dissertations

Communication serves a crucial role in higher education institutions (Pineda et al., 2024) which can aid organizational performance when effective (Meirinhos et al., 2022). Change can also achieve necessary support through internal communication (Lemon & Towry, 2021) and higher education institutions are currently being challenged and require change (Abushawish, 2018). Although scholars (Johnstone & Schexnider, 2023; McClure, 2017; Moran, 2016) have named many sustainability strategies, Burukina (2021) indicates that internal communication plays a central role in higher education’s sustainability efforts. However, internal communication studies within higher education institutions remain limited (Burukina, 2021; Campbell, 2018; Clemmons, 2022). The purpose of this …

Literacy Alive: Kdp Makes An Impact On Our Local Community, Briana N. Mata, Macie R. Wright, Elizabeth Price, Caleigh E. Hauser

Student Scholar Showcase

Literacy is a foundational skill that impacts every aspect of a child's academic success and future opportunities. However, many children face barriers to literacy development, including limited access to culturally relevant books, literacy support, and positive community engagement. Research shows that when children see themselves and their cultures reflected in literature, they are more likely to engage with reading, which can lead to higher literacy achievement and a greater sense of belonging (Bishop, 1990; Ladson-Billings, 1995).

The University of Lynchburg’s chapter of Kappa Delta Pi (KDP) is committed to addressing these challenges by organizing Literacy Alive! events that connect university …

So Much More Than Summer Camp: The Importance Of Environmental Education At Nature Centers, Olivia P. Upton

Student Scholar Showcase

Education in the U.S. currently faces a deficit in the promotion and proper teaching of climate change curriculum. Oftentimes caused by a lack of clear teaching standards for environmental education, the American political machine stirring up controversy, or teacher preferences, there are obvious gaps in the teaching of climate change curriculum. As climate change is considered one of the greatest threats facing humanity today, there is a need to educate people, especially younger generations, in order to navigate future challenges and make informed decisions. Nature centers offer the ideal location for the promotion of climate change education based on their …

Free Palestine Occupation (End The U.S. War Machine), Oscar Lopez

Toyon: Multilingual Literary Magazine

No abstract provided.

Developing A Collaborative Study Resource For Craft Academy Students, Makayla Jones, Annika Marshall, Lucy Mcclung, Heather Ott, Donna Besant

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

The Stem-X Files is a collaborative study resources created with the mission of fostering academic excellence and collaboration among Craft Academy students at Morehead State University. This student-led platform was founded by Rebekah Jones and Donna Besant Fall 2023, who graduated from the Craft Academy in 2024. This project allows for high-performing students to share their study materials with present and futures students. These study materials include notes, study guides, syllabi, and more. By empowering students to contribute to and utilize valuable academic tools, The Stem-X Files strive to contribute to students enhanced learning, knowledge sharing, and success while maintaining …

Patient To Nurse Ratios And Their Effects On Patient Care, Katalina White

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

While working on a medical surgical unit at hospital A, I noticed that many nurses received upwards to 7 patients per shift. This led to many patient care activities not being able to be accomplished, unsatisfactory patient outcomes, nursing dissatisfaction, and nurse turnover rates increasing. Patient care was brought into question as the nurses on the unit felt overworked and understaffed. So the objective of this project is to introduce a 4-1 ratio of patients to nurses to improve patient safety, patient outcomes, and overall patient care. QSEN thrives for patient safety and quality improvement, so implementation of this standard …

Cataloguing Shadow (Phaeophyscia), Rosette (Physcia), And Cryptic Rosette (Physciella) Lichens Of Carter Caves State Resort Park, Payton A. Offill, Allen C. Risk

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

A lichen is a composite, symbiotic partnership of a fungus and photosynthetic algae or cyanobacteria. These organisms provide stability to ecosystems through provision of nutrients and microhabitats to fauna and absorption of pollutants and large particulates in the air, serving as great indicators of environmental conditions. The purpose of this research was to document the diversity of three commonly encountered, though not easily discerned, foliose lichen genera found in Carter Caves State Resort Park: Phaeophyscia, Physcia, and Physciella. These three lichen genera are found to be small to medium sized, greenish grey, olive, or brown in color, and inhabit various …

Effective Mathematics Instruction In High-Poverty Middle Schools: What Are The "Best" Teachers Doing?, Tye G. Campbell, Jordan Green

Teacher Education and Leadership Faculty Publications

While there is much literature devoted to mathematics teaching practices, most research does not consider the perspectives of effective teachers in high-poverty schools. This study offers unprecedented access into the teaching practices of the most effective middle school teachers who teach in high-poverty schools. By accessing a state-wide database of thousands of teachers in Utah (USA), we identified middle school teachers whose students consistently showed high growth on standardized assessments compared to other teachers in Utah and taught in high-poverty schools. Our analysis identified seven teachers. We invited these teachers to participate in interviews regarding their teaching practices, and all …

Climbs: Revisiting Big Bone Lick To Develop A Late Quarternary Climate Record For Kentucky, Margaret Alden, Jennifer O'Keefe, Tori Reid, Hannah Sprinkle, Avery Wasinger

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

CLIMBS P2 (Climate Learning, Prediction, and Building Response Systems Project 2: Paleo-perspectives) focuses on improving our understanding of historical flooding and landslide events in Kentucky using paired Holocene paleoclimate and sedimentary records. To date, few published paleoclimate records exist (Liu et al., 2013; Nunez Otano et al., in prep.). As an initial step in meeting the aims of P2, the OPaL lab at Morehead State University is focusing on completion of an in-progress latest Pleistocene - early Holocene palynology-based paleoclimate record derived from sediments in legacy Andrews/KGS cores from Big Bone Lick in Northern Kentucky. This region is the birthplace …

Effect Of Nordic Hamstring Exercise On Knee Flexor Torque In Female Athletes: A Pilot Study, Jarrod Plank, Lucy Singleton, Manuel Probst

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

PREVALENCE Female athletes experience Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injuries 5-6x more often than male counterparts.

PREDISPOSITIONAL FACTORS The Q-angle refers to the pull vector exerted by the quadriceps muscle on the patella which results in greater valgus load on the knee ligaments.2,3,4,5,6 Females also possess lower levels of testosterone which yield decreased ligamentous strain tolerances.

MUSCULAR IMBALANCES Sufficient hamstring contraction during the landing phase decreases ACL strain by >70%, thereby limiting anterior tibial translation (ATT) force exerted by the quadriceps. As stated by Hewett et al., females present an absence of increased hamstring/quadricep torque ratio compared to males, resulting in …

The Effectiveness Of Turn Teams In Reducing The Incidence Of Hospital Acquired Pressure Injuries, Abigaile Blackburn

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

It is commonly known in healthcare that pressure injuries (PIs) result in higher morbidity and mortality rates for the adult population. PIs include a range of intact, open, and deep tissue injuries related to prolonged immobility. To reduce the incidence of PIs, it is highly recommended to turn patients, usually alternating among the left side, the back, and the right side. Additionally, it is standard across most hospitals to enforce mandatory turning schedules, which is at least every two hours. The objective of the project is to investigate the effectiveness of using turn teams in hospitals and nursing homes. The …

Just Plain(S) Native: Isolating Experiences Of Non-Plains Native Students At A Primarily Plains Nasnti, Bryne Qavvik Croyle Johnson

Undergraduate Research Symposium 2025

Higher education institutions have historically underserved the needs of Native students, even when active efforts are made to the improvement of services and support. Sense of belonging is a particularly ephemeral point of student’s engagement with a campus community, and studies about Native students don’t always account for the vast cultural differences between the different tribes and villages. My aim with this study is to present for consideration the isolating effects of culturally nonspecific services and groups on Native students at the University of Minnesota, Morris, a Native American-Serving Non-Tribal Institution (NASNTI). Employing ethnographic interview methods and discursive analysis, I …

An Introduction To The Sphecidae Of Eastern Kentucky, Dawn Barnett, Kyah Brinegar, Gracie Burdette, Sean O'Keefe

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

The Sphecidae are solitary wasps that can be used to assess biodiversity on a larger scale. Sphecidae are called solitary because they do not live in colonies but rather in dirt burrows, constructed nests, and existing cavities. Their behavior reflects their name as they rarely sting people and do not mind them much, as they commonly nest near or on human dwellings. Sphecidae occur worldwide and include four subfamilies: Sphecinae, Crabroninae, Nyssoninae, and Philanthinae. Of the 10,220 known species, 1200 occur in North America. Sphecidae prey on various invertebrates, including spiders, caterpillars, and bees. Members of the subfamily Sphecinae genera …

Improving Fall Risk Precautions: A Safer Approach To Protect Patients, Dylan Fraley

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

The purpose of this project is to highlight current fall risk precaution flaws at facility XYZ and implement new changes that would increase patient safety. As a nurse, safety comes first for both patients and staff, with new guidelines and interventions we can decrease the number of preventable falls in the hospital setting. We would implement changes that have showed positive outcomes in evidenced based practice and prioritizes patient comfort and safety. These new precautions would be patient centered as their safety needs would be better met. Teamwork and collaboration are also essential as many of the interventions in this …

Impacts Of Local Clay On Ceramic Glazes, Emily Fischer, Abigail Morgan, Quinn Maher

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

This region of eastern Kentucky has an important and rich history of clay, from the brick companies like Haldeman, Louisville, and Granh, to the once-thriving Lee clay that employed a large percentage of the Morehead community and the surrounding areas of Appalachia. To further explore the rich history of local clay in Kentucky, this study analyzed the effects of using local clay on traditional glaze recipes. The purpose of our study was to prove that adding specific increments of local iron-rich clay to a basic glaze recipe would impact the glaze in one of the following ways: texture, opacity, color, …

Diversity/Adaptations Of The Galapagos Land Snails (Bulimulus) On The Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, M.E. Hargan, Charles Lydeard

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

The Galapagos Land Snails, scientific species name Bulimulus, are native to the Galapagos Islands off the coast of Ecuador. There is varying climates and geography throughout the islands and these snails evolved and adapted to these variances. On our experience abroad trip, the goal was to find our selected animal we researched and try to prove whatever hypothesis we found to be correct. I researched and found that depending on the island/area the snails where their cones were shaped different from each other although they were the same species they had variances. I had set out to see if this …

Battling Ventilator Associated Pneumonia, Kelsey Carrier

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

The purpose of this literature review is to address common or potential concerns that may contribute to the hospital setting where we are receiving practicum experience. A potent issue in hospitals today is the healthcare acquired infections that occurs worldwide. One of the biggest contributors to healthcare-acquired infections is ventilator associated pneumonia (vap). QSEN, which is Quality, Safety, and Education for Nurses is integrated into the literature review by enhancing the knowledge of Nurses and safety of the patients. By researching potential health concerns, it helps us better understand the issue and what we can do to prevent it.

The Potential Impact Of Overusing Isolation Precautions, Laci Johnson

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

While Isolation Precautions (IP) help prevent infections, excessive use can harm patients' mental and physical health. Research shows that prolonged IP increases anxiety, depression, and social isolation, leading to worsened outcomes and longer hospital stays. Overuse may also create stigma and communication barriers, reducing care quality. This poster highlights the need for a balanced approach to IP to protect both patient well-being and infection control.

Benefits Of Interdisciplinary Rounding For Better Patient Outcomes, Brooklyn Phipps

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

Interdisciplinary rounding in healthcare teams can significantly improve communication and patient care. Miscommunication often arises when multiple physicians and healthcare professionals are involved in a patient's care, leading to fragmented or delayed treatment. By adopting interdisciplinary rounding, healthcare teams can share expertise and knowledge, ensuring that all members are aligned on the patient's plan of care. This approach directly supports the QSEN competencies, including Teamwork and Collaboration, which fosters effective communication and mutual respect among team members, and Patient-Centered Care, which ensures the patient is a central part of the decision-making process. Furthermore, it enhances Safety by minimizing the risk …

Improving Patient Safety Through Bedside Shift Report, Madison Caudill

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

This project addresses the issue of nurses at Hospital A not participating in bedside shift report, often conducting report in hallways or at the nurses' station. This practice can compromise patient safety, communication, and continuity of care. The guiding objective is to implement bedside shift reporting to enhance patient safety, improve communication, and foster a more patient-centered approach. • Interaction of the six QSEN principles: • Patient-centered: Including patient in their care by including them in the report process. • Teamwork: Encouraging collaboration between outgoing and incoming nurses. Enables patients to take an active role in their own care. • …

Nurse-Patient Ratios And The Effects On Patient Outcomes, Mortality, And Costs., Martin Helms

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

Healthcare in the United States is constantly changing and adapting to the current health of the country. There are many considerations that play into providing quality, safe, and effective care. At the forefront of what is needed is nursing staff, that has seen a steep decline in recent years. One of the problems I see as a large influence on nursing is the ratio of patient's nurses are responsible for during their shifts. This research project is aimed at finding the relation between nurse-patient ratios and the outcomes on patients/hospitals. The study is focused on identifying improvement in patient-centered care, …

Entreprenurial Community Improvement Programempowering Students Through Experiential Learning For Community Impact, Kaylee Pionk, Olivia Robinson, Luke Seelye, Jachin Wilbur, India Young, Rachel Rogers

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

No abstract provided.

Risk, Religion, And Rivalry: How Religiosity Affects Competitive Intensity In U.S. Firm, Mara Wilson, Ahmad Hassan

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

Firms operate within cultural and societal contexts that shape their strategic decisions, with religion being a significant influence. Research shows that religious norms impact managerial decision-making and corporate practices (Chan- Serafin et al., 2013; Weaver and Agle, 2002). Even individuals who do not fully internalize religious values are influenced by local cultural norms, including religion (Spicer & Bailey, 2007). Religion plays a crucial role in shaping culture, which in turn affects economic behavior (Weber, 1905; Guiso et al., 2003). CEOs often look to religious teachings for guidance in navigating the secular business world (McCarthy, 1996; Nash, 2004). However, little research …

An Eye For An Eye: How Revenge Is Viewed As A Motive, Elizabeth Perkins, Talon Stallings

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

Motives behind crimes play a large role in sentencing. A motive being defined as “the reason for doing something.” (Oxford Dictionary, 2023) In criminal cases, this translates to the reason for committing a crime. It’s well known that different criminal motives elicit different reactions from members of the public. (Wolfgang, 1958) This often leads to differences in sentencing. One of the most well known motives in crime is revenge, which is the act of criminally retaliating against one who a criminal believes has wronged them. (Kivivuori, 2016) In this research study, public opinion was gauged on how revenge is viewed …