Minnesota State University, Mankato
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Samuel Christenson Honors Portfolio
Get PDFSamuel Christenson\u27s Honors Portfolio captured in December 2024
Cataloging Tabletop Roleplaying Games: Leveling Up Their Description and Discovery
Get PDFTabletop role playing games (TTRPGs) are a growing presence in the collections and programming of public and academic libraries alike. However, as Taylor Skelton Smith’s recent article A Dicey Situation examines, current major controlled vocabularies often provide insufficient and inaccurate description, to the detriment of a TTRPG’s discoverability. Using Smith’s article as a starting point, Mackenzie Johnson and Diane Robson will combine their respective tabletop games expertise, Diane’s recent experience cataloging TTRPGs, and Mackenzie’s scholarly enthusiasm to bring some of the unique attributes of TTRPGs to catalogers’ attention, and discuss potential solutions for cataloging them more effectively
A Mixed Methods Research Study Measuring the Impact of Restorative Practices on Discipline Data, Attendance, and School Connectedness of Students in Grades 4 and 5
No full textThe Gun Free Act, enacted in 1994, mandated a year’s expulsion for any student who brought a firearm to school without requiring academic instruction for the student. The Guns Free Act became the basis of zero-tolerance policies in US schools. Zero tolerance has since been used for less dangerous infractions, resulting in the overpenalization of marginalized populations. The effects of COVID-19 are still felt, and schools feel a sense of urgency to rebuild the school community to combat fractured bonds within. A $2.4 billion omnibus education bill passed in Minnesota in the Spring of 2023 requires the use of non-exclusionary discipline practices and multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS). Positive school relationships help to offset declining engagement and lagging academic growth. Implemented initially in the judicial system, restorative practices (RP), viewed within an MTSS format, is a philosophical belief that emphasizes relationships and respect, repairing harm rather than punishing misbehavior, and has roots in many Indigenous cultures. This mixed methods study sought to measure the impact of RP MTSS on attendance, discipline data, and connectedness of fourth and fifth graders in a suburban Minnesota elementary school during the 2023-2024 school year. An overview of the 1,188 students enrolled in Grades 3 and 4 during the 2022-2023 school year with an examination of
Mental Health Challenges and Resilience Among International Graduate Students in the United States
Get PDFThis research examines the experiences of international graduate students in the United States. It focuses on the challenges they face that can lead to mental health issues. I conducted in-depth focus group interviews through Zoom. Participants shared their stories, highlighting the stigma around mental health. I transcribed the interviews and analyzed them for themes. The findings show that international students deal with various difficulties, such as cultural differences and homesickness. They often find better support from informal peer networks rather than from institutional resources. The study highlights the importance of community engagement and cultural exchange in helping these students build resilience. Moreover, it suggests combining the Culture-Centric Approach (CCA) with Stigma Management Communication (SMC) to tackle stigma and improve health outcomes. vi This study acknowledges certain limitations, including a limited sample size of eight males and three females, as well as potential biases in participant selection, which could potentially affect the generalizability of the findings. Future research could explore gender differences in experiences and coping strategies, as well as how family dynamics affect mental health challenges
Volume 44, Number 3, September 2024 OLAC Newsletter
Get PDFDigitized September 2024 issue of the OLAC Newsletter
2024-06: Disability Wage Justice: Ending Subminimum Wages and Advancing Equality for People with Disabilities
Get PDFSubminimum wages are being paid to people with disabilities in Minnesota at a rate of almost 4 times higher than the rest of the nation, with some individuals making as little as .07 cents per hour. The subminimum wage is a discriminatory practice that violates peoples civil rights and contributes to disabled people being disproportionately poor. It is time for Minnesota to join the other 13 states that already ended paying people with disabilities a subminimum wage
The Budget Proposal as a Constructive Collections Engagement Tool and Practice
Get PDFAt Minnesota State University Mankato (MNSU), our story might sound familiar. After more than a decade of flat or decreased budgets, we have cancelled hundreds of journal subscriptions and numerous journal packages. We do occasionally add journals, but only by cancelling others. We often say we are “managing library decline,” and our primary objective is to cut cleanly and accurately, so that we can continue to support accreditation and an evolving curriculum. Over the years, we have developed various tools to guide our cuts and we have demonstrated these at NASIG and elsewhere. These tools have also served for collection evaluation purposes, including accreditation, and collection outreach, to communicate the value of the library. This year we began developing a new communication tool based on the idea of a “Zero Based Budget.” Simply called the “Budget Proposal,” this tool enables the library to put forth a positive and constructive vision for the journal collections. This project has led to progress with other goals, such as the development of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for journals and journal packages, as well as the development of one-sheeters, or brief reports, to improve how we communicate the value provided by the library for specific programs. We will demonstrate and discuss the Budget Proposal, our KPIs, and related materials
Centering Students of the Global Majority in United States Community College Critical Internationalization Programming: An Interpretive Phenomenological Study
Get PDFIn 2020, students categorized as Black, Hispanic, Asian, and two or more races comprised over 50% of community college enrollment nationwide. However, current internationalization models in community colleges are rarely intentionally designed for and with students of the global majority. This study addresses a gap in the research by exploring the priorities of students of the global majority regarding content and engagement in community college global education programming. I interviewed six students representing a variety of racial/ethnic backgrounds, ages, and genders at a community college in Minnesota. Using van Manen’s lifeworld existentials, I analyzed and interpreted the data in the interview transcripts. The students’ priorities regarding content and engagement in global education programs at their college can be summarized as interacting with diverse peers, nuanced and accurate representations of culture and history, curious and caring relationships with instructors and other adults on campus, and opportunities to engage with global realities beyond the classroom. These categories align with de Bie et al.’s pedagogical partnership approach, specifically the concepts of epistemic, affective, and ontological justice, a framework critical internationalization practitioners can use to enact emancipatory practices
Evaluating the Impacts of Microplastics on the Soil Biochemical Environment and Cherry Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) Productivity
Get PDFMicroplastics are a global contaminant with serious consequences for ecosystems and human health, yet their effects on terrestrial soil and plants are poorly understood. We conducted the systematic research to reveal the impact of polyethylene microplastics (PE MPs), polypropylene (PP) MPs and Mixture of PE + PP, size (0.1 – 1 vs 2 – 3.5 mm), concentration (1% vs 5%) on soil biochemical and physiochemical of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L) health. The results showed that the addition of MPs resulted in elevated soil pH, particularly at 5% concentration and size 2 – 3.5mm. There was a remarkable 30.6 – 47% decreased in soil respiration and inorganic nitrogen levels, after expose to PE, PP, and PE + PP, while plant height, chlorophyll content, and light adapted yield remained unaffected. Microplastics negatively impacted leaf production and fruit production, with 2- 3.5mm MPs sizes leading to 9-20% decreased in leaf number, fruit count and biomass. Additionally, MPs concentration played a role in shoot biomass, with 1% concentrations resulting in 9% reduced biomass. These findings are expected to provide valuable insights into the complex interactions between PE, PP, PP + PE on soil and plant health