Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Commons^™

Does Media Influence Public Perception Of Crime, Dylan Leach

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Media encompasses anything that can spread mass communication, such as news outlets, social media, music, etc. This study includes a review of various scholarly sources to determine the impact that various forms of media have for influencing public perceptions of crime in our nation as well as nations across the world. Initial findings implicate exposure to local news media and rap music influence public perceptions of crime, to include but not limited to increases in violence, concern about local crime rates, and negative perceptions of law enforcement. This study reports some of those results.

Is There A Relationship Between Drug Addiction And Incarceration?, Lindsey M. Lopez

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

The connection between drug addiction and incarceration has been widely debated. Many individuals who struggle with substance abuse will end up in the criminal justice system, mainly due to drug-related crimes or offenses committed under the influence like DUI’s. This study examines whether incarceration is effective in solving substance abuse issues or if alternative approaches such as rehabilitation, offer better results. The analysis explores the balance between punishment and treatment programs to determine what the most effective strategy is in reducing recidivism and addressing why drug addiction is high in the justice system.

The Effect Of Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation On Word Memory In Healthy Adults, Haylee Hurt, Cassandra Callahan, Olivia Galpin, Qiang Li

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) is a non-invasive technique that has been demonstrated to reorganize the brain neural network based on neuroplasticity. Research shows that tVNS may enhance cognitive performance such as verbal memory, as it may elicit the release of key neurotransmitters, Gamma-aminobutyric Acid (GABA) and Noradrenaline, that modulate cognitive performance and learning. The current study hypothesizes that verbal memory as an important cognitive skill in healthy adults will be improved after receiving tVNS. Results showed that compared to the control group, participants in the experimental group improved their verbal memory manifested in faster reaction times and higher accuracy …

Comparing Student Outcomes In Foundational Communication Sciences And Disorders Coursework: On Campus Versus Online, Blake Roth, Addi Campbell

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

With an increase in online learning, it is important to ensure quality instruction and positive student outcomes are maintained. This study investigated similarities and differences in on campus and online learning through the use of course examination scores as well as student ratings of perceived knowledge. Results indicated positive student outcomes in both on campus and online instruction modalities; however, there was a significant difference found in exam performance.

Implementing Standardized Patients In Simulation In Undergraduate Nursing Education, Taylor A. Murray

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Abstract

The integration of standardized patients (SPs) in simulation-based learning has emerged as a transformative approach in undergraduate nursing education. By providing nursing students with the opportunity to engage with trained actors simulating real-life patient scenarios, SPs offer a safe and controlled environment to develop essential clinical skills. This research explores the impact of SPs on promoting student confidence and enhancing their practical skills in nursing practice. Implementing SPs into nursing education not only supports students in refining their assessment and communication abilities but also prepares them for the complexities of patient care in real-world settings. Ultimately, this study aims …

Sonographic Evaluation Of An Urachal Remnant: A Case Report, Courtney Gushi

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Urachal anomalies are rare and often identified incidentally during diagnostic imaging studies, such as sonography. These anomalies are being detected with increasing frequency due to advancements in cross-sectional medical imaging. Sonography is a key diagnostic modality due to its lack of radiation, cost-effectiveness, and widespread ability. Urachal anomalies have the potential to undergo pathological changes, leading to inflammation, infection, and even malignancy. Therefore, it is imperative for sonographers to be proficient in identifying and understanding sonographic characteristics of urachal abnormalities.

Ai Meets Advocacy: A Pilot Study On Teaching Victim Advocacy Using Boodlebox Chatbot, Ziwei Qi

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly used in the criminal justice system, including crime prediction, sentencing, and victim services. While AI tools offer benefits—such as identifying intimate partner violence and child abuse—scholars caution against bias, lack of transparency, and victim-blaming, particularly in apps and risk assessment models. Building on these insights, a new pedagogical model was developed to train future victim advocates using AI simulations. Through platforms like Boodlebox, students engage in structured, trauma-informed dialogues with AI chatbots such as ChatGPT and “Ruth” from the National Domestic Violence Hotline. The curriculum focuses on experiential learning, client-centered practice, and ethical engagement with …

Forensic Evidence And Its Effect On The Criminal Legal System, Kelsie L. Winter, April Terry

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

The use of forensic evidence is a relatively new initiative, gaining momentum and popularity in the 1980s and 1990s, for its role in addressing wrongful convictions. Yet, with advancements still being achieved, mistakes have been uncovered. In the criminal legal system, inaccurate evidence and/or information can be a barrier for seeking justice. Collectively, estimates suggest forensic errors occur in anywhere between 46-100% of forensic cases, with varying errors occurring based on the type of evidence (e.g., forensic pathology vs. seized drug analysis). As such, this literature review outlines the unreliable aspects of forensic evidence, the misinterpretation of such findings, and …

The Benefits Of Implementing Medication Administration Simulation In The Undergraduate Nursing Pharmacology Course, Ogulbagt Narova

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Medication administration is one of the most critical tasks for nurses. Yet, it can also be a source of anxiety and errors, especially for nursing students who are still building their skills. Many new nursing students struggle to feel confident and competent when administering medications in real clinical settings. Simulation-based learning offers a powerful way to address this challenge. Using realistic, hands-on scenarios, students can practice medication administration in a safe environment without harming patients. This approach helps students build critical skills, gain confidence, and reduce the likelihood of medication errors. Incorporating medication administration simulations into nursing pharmacology courses will …

Evolving Connections: Exploring A Non-Traditional Relationship Label Through Thematic Analysis, Nevaeh P. Copenhaver, Whitney Whitaker

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Introduction: Every generation makes its mark on society as it comes of age—introducing novel terminology, challenging preexisting norms, and shifting cultural paradigms. Due to social media’s far-reaching influence, this process has been expedited. Some neologisms such as “just talking” and “situationship” have become widely recognized; despite their prominence, concrete definitions have not yet been established.

Purpose: The present study aimed to provide insights into how the current generation of emerging adults views and manages relationships with non-traditional labels.

Methods: Via an online survey, participants (N=221; mean age=26.47) described newer, non-traditional relationships labeled “just talking.” The researchers conducted a multi-phase qualitative …

State Of The Grid: Cybersecurity Best Practices For The Utility Industry, Corban Garcia

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Developing a strong cybersecurity posture is essential for protecting critical infrastructure, especially in the utility industry. This study analyzes a multi-layered cybersecurity approach that integrates risk management, technology, governance, and workforce training. Based on an examination of industry literature, six key steps were identified. These include assessing security posture, developing policies, implementing security controls, employee training, incident response planning, and regular audits. Each step plays a vital role in mitigating cyber threats and ensuring operational resilience. A comparative analysis of cybersecurity frameworks and real-world incidents highlights the necessity of proactive security strategies. Without these foundational steps, organizations face greater risks …

Online/Hybrid School Psychology Student Perceptions Of Distance Program Modalities, Allyson Baloga, Kelsie Arch, Amy Drinnon, Angie Howard

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

NASP (2021) provides recommendations for distance education (DE) in school psychology, however, this guidance lacks input from students with lived experiences. To address this gap, a survey was completed by 106 current and recently graduated online/hybrid graduate students in school psychology. Descriptive statistics, qualitative trends, and comparative analyses were utilized to examine responses. Findings illuminate student perceptions of preparedness and highlight the need for, and impact of, the flexibility and convenience afforded by DE.

The Effect Of Peer Mentoring On Stress Levels Of First-Semester Nursing Students, Sara K. Myers

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Abstract

Due to the immense complexities of nursing education, students in a program of nursing experience higher levels of stress when compared to other disciplines, which can lead to negative learning outcomes and attrition resulting in significant financial losses for academic institutions. Peer mentoring is an evidence-based strategy to support students by engaging in a mutual relationship, yielding positive learning outcomes through stress reduction for the mentee and the mentor. A quasi-experimental quantitative-qualitative study design will be performed to investigate the effects of a well-organized, supported peer mentoring program between first-semester nursing students and fourth-semester nursing students at Wichita State …

Easternmost Limit Of Sevier Orogeny, East-Central Utah Revisited, Kenneth R. Neuhauser

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Integrative field mapping combined with published and unpublished seismic profiles, support an inferred, easternmost limit of Sevier thrusting during Late Cretaceous foreland deformation in east-central Utah. East-verging thrust faults, drag folds, and chatter marks within Jurassic and Late-Cretaceous exposures at Ketobe Knob along the western margin of Cedar Mountain in the northwestern and central parts of the San Rafael Swell and within the western zone of the Colorado Plateau provide evidence for a more easterly expression of the Sevier Thrust Front. Offset is accomplished by bedding-parallel slippage along less competent shales and siltstones and by oblique ramping across more competent …

Quality Control Of Transportation Construction Aggregate Using Laser Scanning – Kdot Part 1, Kenneth R. Neuhauser

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Laser scanning of transportation aggregate materials provided a means to identify aggregate types, sources, and quality in near-real time. A multi-state project led by the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) and facilitated by Chesner Engineering (Coeymans, New York) used laser ablation breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) to determine whether the technique could be used to predict durability (D)-cracking aggregate susceptibility and whether LIBS could be evaluated to ensure that the source materials were all derived from approved materials. This poster focuses only on the Kansas portion of the project. Six years of study indicates that LIBS may be used as a quality …

Glacial Resource Analysis – Castner Glacier, Alaska, Logan Erichsen

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Glaciers cover much of the 49th U.S. state of Alaska. While many of these are deep blues, just as many are “rock” glaciers which means the glacier is covered in sediment. This sediment can be transported many miles through the mountain ranges. With the current climate melting these glaciers they are receding. Sediment and rock samples can now be safely collected from different locations where glaciers have released sediment that was locked in the ice for an untold number of years. Much of the USGS data comes from the 1940’s through 1960’s due to the size and remoteness of Alaska. …

Volcanic Ash In Lincoln County, Kansas, Logan Erichsen

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

This report outlines the analysis of Pearlette volcanic ash in Lincoln County Kansas. Both field and lab methods were used to compile this report. Fort Hays State University alumni Dr. Ron Whitmer allowed use of his property on which the ash is found. Auguring was utilized as the main form of field work which allowed mapping of the subsurface ash layer. The ash was analyzed by UMKC using their scanning electron microscope (SEM). At Fort Hays, the SEM reports were compared to thin sections of the ash using plane and cross polarized light in petrographic microscopes. The ash is comprised …

Frontier Lab For Ai Readiness (Flair) Project, Cj Gibson, Magdalene Moy

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

The Department of Teaching Innovation and Learning Technologies (TILT) at Fort Hays State University aims to establish the “Frontier Lab for AI Readiness” (FLAIR) to harness innovative artificial intelligence methods for the growth and development of Northwest Kansas. This initiative would position FHSU as the epicenter for AI training, education, and advancement on the Great Plains. FLAIR's objectives are threefold: First, it will offer educational opportunities to FHSU students and the Northwest Kansas community, including certificates, badges, and apprenticeships, through genuine interdisciplinary collaborations. This lab will equip learners for an AI-focused workforce. Second, FLAIR would connect with the community to …

Cognitive Fusion, Self- And Other-Blame, And College Adjustment Outcomes, Olivia Tipton, Stephanie Weigel

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

A significant portion of college enrollees drop out of college before their degree is awarded, and college persistence is lower in students from challenging backgrounds. The college environment can bring increased academic workload, financial stress, and social stress for first-time enrollees. Several factors may contribute to difficulties in emotion regulation during this time, making it more difficult for college students to respond adaptively to novel stressors. Cognitive fusion is a concept proposed by acceptance and commitment therapy to describe a state in which one believes the literal content of their thoughts, even when those thoughts may be irrational or emotionally …

Climatology Of Tornadoes In Kansas, John P. Wasinger, Todd Moore

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Recent studies report changes to the climatology of tornadoes in the United States (US). Changes with the most supporting evidence include an increase in the intra- and inter-annual variability, increased concentration of tornadoes in bigger outbreaks, and a geographic shift of the densest tornado activity away from Tornado Alley in the Great Plains and toward the Great Lakes and Southeast regions of the US. Broad, national-level changes are valuable, but they can mask changes occurring at the state and sub-state levels where mitigation efforts are most effective. Kansas is of interest due to its reputation as a hotbed of tornado …

Analysis Of Body Material For Electric Car, Alan L. Parker Jr.

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

The FHSU electric vehicle design team is nearing the completion of a new car

build to be raced in upcoming electro rally races. One of the final tasks associated

with the new car build is determining the best material to use for the body of the

car. The aim of this research was to determine the most suitable material for use in

an electric race car among six commonly used materials: ABS, PVC, carbon fiber,

fiberglass, 2024 aluminum, and 304 stainless steel. The team chose to perform an

analysis of the characteristics of these materials to determine the best material …

Boeing Bats Baseline Survey In Wichita, Ks, Samantha Zimmerman, Lorelei E. Patrick

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Collecting baseline data on species or taxa of interest is crucial prior to conducting targeted restoration or management activities to determine if such actions had the desired outcomes. The purpose of this project was to acoustically identify the species of bats present at the former Emery Landfill site in Wichita Kansas. Data collected will serve as a baseline for future monitoring and restoration activities at the site. Three SM4Bat acoustic detectors were deployed at the site from June-October, 2023. The recorded bat calls were analyzed using Kaleidoscope Pro software and will be compared to the acoustic data collected in 2021-2022 …

2023-2024 Online Student Survey Of Priority Issues, Heather D. Flick

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

The purpose of the 2023-2024 Online Student Survey is to provide research backed priorities for the incoming elected senate for the 2024-2025 academic year. Each year the survey is revised based on newly obtained knowledge from coursework as an FHSU Online student as well as past years survey results.

The survey intended to gain insight on what issues are priorities to Fort Hays State University (FHSU) Online students to allow the Online Student Government Association (OSGA) to focus on the most important issues FHSU Online students experience. This is an annual survey which has been evolving each year to best …

Computational Modeling Of Retinal Damage Thresholds, Payton Hoffman, Eos Shapland, Alan Enriquez

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

The Scalable Effects Simulation Environment(SESE), is the computational Biophysics software contracted by Nanohmics we used for our research. The goal was to find the minimum energy necessary to damage the retina from 2 laser sources, a 532 nm He-Ne source, and Supercontinuum Laser(SCL) source at 400-1400nm. We needed a 10 times damage ratio for significance. Our data did not show this trend.

Economically Affordable And Ecologically Sustainable Oil Spill Treatments: Review Of Recent Literature, Yue Fan, Jeanne Sumrall

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Devastating impacts on organisms and the environment are brought by marine oil spills.

Superhydrophobic foams, sponges, aerogels, and biomass materials have been used as absorbents for oil spill treatment.  Among all, Polydimethylsiloxane multi-walled carbon nanotubes Polyaniline Polypropylene felt (Referred to as p-CNT/PANI@PP felt in the following parts) exhibits high absorption selectivity and capability, along with the ability to conduct in harsh environments and the ability to make use of solar/Joule-heating in absorbing a wide span of oil types with high viscosity.

Thus, p-CNT/PANI@PP should be considered as a potentially effective way to address the problem of marine oil spills.

Games To Grades: Evaluation Of Psychological Capital, Emotional Intelligence, And Virtual Team Performance Among Project Teams, Ryan Will, Brent J. Goertzen, Magdalene Moy

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Group projects are frequently used in higher education courses to facilitate collaboration; however, group effectiveness can vary greatly, resulting in individual stress and poor academic performance. To alleviate this, some instructors utilize peer evaluation. While instructors are well intentioned these rubrics rarely, if ever, are grounded in the constructs of collaboration that they wish to foster. This research poster reports on an ongoing project to develop a self and peer evaluation grounded in psychological capital and emotional intelligence, the EQ-PSY Evaluation. These constructs were selected based on their dimensions for individual and social capacities to capture effective teamwork.

This poster …

An Exploratory Study On The Use Of Artificial Intelligence For Tourism Marketing In The Midwest, Callyn Anderson, Marisol Banda, Katie Hale

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Rural tourism plays a significant role in fostering economic development, preserving cultural heritage and promoting sustainable practices. It creates employment opportunities for local residents, both directly in the tourism sector and indirectly in supporting industries. Marketing tourism in rural communities requires a strategic approach that highlights the unique aspects of the area, promotes sustainable practices, and engages potential visitors. A strong understanding of marketing tools and techniques are critical in the usage of marketing ("); border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; background-size: 5px; font-size: 18pt; font-family: "Book Antiqua", "Book Antiqua_EmbeddedFont", "Book Antiqua_MSFontService", "Book Antiqua_MSFontService", Calibri, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px; font-kerning: normal; line-height: 6px; …

Art Mindfulness Initiative, Margaret Dunn

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

The Art Mindfulness Initiative was a student-led 4 week workshop focusing on providing other students with affordable ways to use art to destress, center oneself, and take a break from the hecticness of life. Each week, students gathered to learn about psychology and mental health from the NAMI and Psych Club then learned a new craft from art students. At the end of the workshop, everyone’s work was put together to make a conjoined piece to be displayed in the April Art Walk.

The Art Of Motion, Audrey Caleb, Selina Shang

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Animation is an integral part of our daily lives. From entertainment, to advertisements, to medical visualizations and everything in between, it permeates our world. But what makes animation so compelling? Why do we connect with it so well? And what makes it visually appealing?

Humans are story driven creatures, and so we gravitate towards time-based media—it’s the perfect vehicle for telling stories. Our goal was to explore the variety of styles and tools used in animation, research the 12 principles, understand the process of creating a work from start to finish, and successfully demonstrate the science and art of animation.

Perceptions Of Social Belonging Within Higher Education Students, Sydney Hicks, Magdalene Moy

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

The purpose of this research was to investigate the efficacy of a student-centered social media platform for higher education students. Social belonging significantly influences educational success, as heightened feelings of belonging among students correlate with increased motivation to stay engaged and learn (Marler et al., 2021). The conceptual framework for this study uses the intersection of social presence and social capital as resulting in social belonging. Social capital refers to the networks students build through interactions with others that could prove to be valuable resources (Lefebrve et al., 2016). Social presence looks at the interaction and relational aspects of these …