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Guide to the Educational Opportunity Program records
Get PDFThese records document the functions of the Educational Opportunity Program at the University of San Diego. Among these materials are publication materials about the EOP, orientation information, correspondence from University administrators about the program, and newspaper clippings regarding minority students at USD.
Finding Aids are tools used to aid research by describing the materials in a collection. University Records Finding Aids include historical and/or biographical information along with a description of the collection and a folder listing of the content.
To view this collection please email University Archives and Special Collections staff at [email protected]://digital.sandiego.edu/findingaidsur/1035/thumbnail.jp
How Free Should Campus Speech Be?
No full textThe general topic to which this piece is devoted concerns how non-governmental entities and individuals may and should respond to the speech of other non-governmental entities and individuals. The emphasis on private, non-governmental actions removes the discussion from the ambit of the First Amendment’s constitutional right of free speech and, indeed, removes the discussion from issues of legality, more generally. Although such normative discussions can result in recommended legal actions, in the first instance at least such discussions are about the morality—as opposed to the legality—of the negative responses by private persons to the speech of others.
The particular focus of this Article is on how private university administrators should respond to controversial and in some cases wrongful speech by their students. A convenient example was afforded in April of 2024 in the much-publicized interruption of a dinner hosted by UC-Berkeley law Dean Erwin Chemerinsky at his home near the Berkeley campus. Dean Chemerinsky and his wife, Professor Catherine Fisk, hosted one of their traditional dinners for graduating Berkeley law students to celebrate the completion of those students’ legal studies at Berkeley. One of those students, Ms. Malek Afaneh, sought to interrupt the dinner at its inception by speaking through a microphone and amplifier about the oppression of Palestinian people by Israel. She was physically prevented from doing so by Professor Fisk and ordered to leave the premises by Dean Chemerinsky. The questions we wish to explore about such cases are four. First, when are students such as Ms. Afaneh wrongful in saying what they are saying in the time and place that they are saying it? Second, when might such students nonetheless have a moral right to so speak—a “right to do wrong” —such that they should be left at liberty to say things they ought not to say? Third, what are the morally appropriate responses available to audience members or other private individuals to such wrongful speech? And fourth, does the appropriateness of responses to wrongful speech differ between private individuals and those who administer private universities?
This paper is part of a Symposium on “Free Speech Beyond The Constitution” published in 27 Journal of Contemporary Legal Issues (2025)
Building Peace from Afar: Women-Led Peacekeeping from the Diaspora (Case Study: Afghanistan)
No full textThis case study examines the challenges, tactics and tools of Afghan women activists in the UK in their peacebuilding efforts for Afghan women and girls post-Taliban takeover. It shows how operating from exile, these activists employ innovative strategies to amplify Afghan women’s voices, advocating internationally and providing support despite facing complex security, funding, and community unity issues.https://digital.sandiego.edu/ipj-research/1116/thumbnail.jp
Improving Perioperative Nursing Residency Student Retention: Identifying and Mitigating Factors Causing Attrition in a Nursing Residency Program
No full textAbstract
Background: The nursing workforce decreased by 100,000 nurses from 2021 to 2022. Such a drop has not been seen in the last 40 years of the nursing profession. The frequency of job turnover among newly hired nurse graduates is troublesome. Research reveals 30% to 69% of new graduate nurses voluntarily leave their positions within a year of employment. Nurse residency programs help new graduate nurses’ transition from advanced beginners to competent professionals and focus on areas critical to new graduate success. The cost of training a new graduate nurse to be a competent perioperative nurse may be upwards of $120,000. That significant financial burden on facilities is only expected to grow as surgical volumes steadily increase, attrition rates remain high, and more staff are needed to be trained.
Purpose: The objective of this evidence-based project is to systematically identify the factors that contribute to the increased risk of attrition among perioperative nurse residency students. Through the administration of a structured survey, data elucidates the various factors influencing student retention within a community hospital’s perioperative nurse residency program. The project will also support targeted interventions designed to address the identified factors of attrition. The goal of this project is to enhance the overall success of nurse residency students, thereby increasing program graduation rates.
Methods: Upon hire to the Perioperative nurse residency program, and every seven days thereafter, until graduation or attrition, students participated in a survey derived from evidence-based antecedents and correlations of employee turnover. The design and implementation identified students at risk. The dashboard provided automation and logic for notification to stakeholders for intervention actions, if required.
Evaluation of Outcomes/Results: The dashboard identified three students in the first cohort at week one, as at risk for attrition and focused interventions were implemented to mitigate on an individualized level. The risk levels decreased weekly with intervention until week 4 for all at risk students. Compared to previous cohort graduation rates of less than fifty percent, the cohort who were participants in the project graduated 100%.
Conclusion: To optimize outcomes for both students and institutions, it is essential to implement comprehensive processes and interventions that facilitate the early identification of at-risk nursing students. By providing tailored resources and support, we can enhance student success rates while fostering the financial stability and organizational effectiveness of nursing programs.
Keywords: nursing retention, nurse attrition, surgical nurse residency, determinant factor
Playa Sediment Bioaccessibility presents previously unknown risks to population health in a water-stressed region undergoing lake desiccation: Salton Sea, USA
No full textGlobally, drylands are expanding, and endorheic basins are in rapid decline. Saline lake desiccation exposes lakebed playa likely to become dust, posing potential health risks to surrounding communities. Studies investigating health risks from playa dust exposure often focus on health effects associated with the presence of airborne particulates, but fewer studies investigate health risks associated with dust source chemistry. This study examines dust source particle composition in a desiccating inland sea in a water-stressed agricultural region of California. Specifically, chemical bioaccessibility of bound trace elements uncovers risks to children, adults, and agricultural worker health. Arsenic exposure via sediment ingestion poses cancer risk values 1-2 orders of magnitude above U.S. EPA cancer risk thresholds for children, adult residents, and outdoor workers, and excess non-cancer risk to children \u3c 6 years old. Arsenic exposure via sediment inhalation poses excess risk to adult residents within the same order of magnitude as the EPA threshold. Cancer and non-cancer calculations for As, Cr, Se, and Cu ingestion and As, Se, and Mn inhalation resulted in risk values below thresholds. Gaps in standardized health risk assessments prevented exploration of chronic Cu, and Pb ingestion and inhalation, and Mn ingestion risks, and eye exposure due to a lack of methods to quantify the risk of metal-dust eye exposure. Due to the likely increases in playa sourced dust associated with endorheic lake desiccation, and the unique health risks posed by lakebed chemistry, investigating health risks associated with desiccating endorheic lakes becomes increasingly important in the context of global public health
Methodological Approaches For Enhancing the Energy Efficiency of Waste-to-Energy Biogas Systems
No full textDiversifying the sources of energy production is a key issue as the world looks to transition to more sustainable energy sources. Anaerobic digestion (AD) of organic waste is one example of waste-to-energy (WTE) methods for energy production that is of particular interest in this clean energy transition because of benefits to both waste management and energy production, supporting the development of circular economies. In this work, I used geographic information systems and experimental methods to identify ways to both minimize the energy inputs and maximize the energy production of WTE biogas systems, to create energy efficient and sustainable systems. I focused on transportation as a controllable variable to reduce energy inputs and investigated cider wastewater as a potential feedstock for AD to broaden usable feedstocks and support more resilient operations. I found that mixtures of cider wastewater, beached kelp seaweed, and fish waste can effectively support biogas production, expanding the range of viable feedstocks for AD and potentially increasing biogas production. Furthermore, I found that the coastal San Diego region is particularly well suited for these feedstocks, reinforcing the importance of using localized waste sources to improve energy efficiency. Finally, the methodologies established here provide a foundation for the ongoing development of sustainable WTE biogas systems of varying scales in San Diego and beyond
Building an Inclusive Workforce: Closing Equity Gaps in Community Colleges and Vocational Schools With Elliott’s Embodied Inclusion 360 Framework
No full textCommunity colleges and vocational schools serve as critical access points to higher education and upward mobility, yet historically marginalized neurodiverse students—particularly men of color—continue to face inequitable outcomes in retention, completion, and career readiness. Despite rising enrollment in career and technical education programs and increasing workforce demand, institutional practices often rely on fragmented supports that overlook the interplay of physiology, environment, culture, trauma, and instructional design. Closing these equity gaps requires a holistic, embodied approach informed by neuroscience, trauma studies, and culturally responsive pedagogy. Elliott’s Embodied Inclusion 360 (EI 360) Framework offers such a model, integrating five interdependent domains—physiological, relational, environmental, instructional, and transcendental—to address the full spectrum of learners’ needs. Through application of EI 360 within the I C.A.N. (Increasing Career Access through Neurodiversity) initiative, community colleges and vocational programs can transform into engines of inclusion, cultivating belonging, reducing structural barriers, and leveraging neurodiverse strengths as drivers of innovation, persistence, and workforce opportunity.https://digital.sandiego.edu/ceen-inclusion-postseced/1000/thumbnail.jp
CEEN 2025 Impact Report
No full textThe 2025 year has been one of meaningful impact, shaped by dedicated partnerships, bold conversations, and an unwavering commitment to creating neuroinclusive spaces for learning and living. From our immersive trainings to our pioneering programs, we’ve seen the ripple effects of this work transform classrooms, communities, and systems that serve neurodiverse youth and families.
We have compiled a comprehensive look at our center’s collective reach and accomplishments.https://digital.sandiego.edu/annualimpactreports/1000/thumbnail.jp
2024 State of Nonprofits and Philanthropy Annual Report
Get PDFThe 2024 State of Nonprofits and Philanthropy report provides a comprehensive analysis of the current landscape of the nonprofit sector in San Diego County. The broader purpose of this report is to inform and inspire nonprofit leaders, employees, funders, and policymakers as they work together to strengthen the sector and enhance its impact on the community. By highlighting key trends, challenges, and opportunities, the report aims to support strategic decision-making and foster collaboration across the sector. The findings underscore the strength of the nonprofit sector in San Diego County in the face of ongoing economic and social pressures, while also identifying areas for growth and improvement. This report serves as a resource for understanding the current state of nonprofits and philanthropy in San Diego and for guiding future efforts to build a more sustainable and impactful sector.
In previous years, insights about the health and well-being of the workforce were exclusively drawn from secondary data sources and from the perspective of executive management. Based on feedback from our community to better capture the perspective of staff at all levels of an organization, this year’s report expands its scope to include insights from both executive leaders and employees, offering a more holistic view of the sector\u27s health and challenges.https://digital.sandiego.edu/npi-stateofnp/1020/thumbnail.jp
An Integrated Approach to Supporting Undergraduate Students Through Wellness and Community
Get PDFStudents experience mounting levels of stress due to the demands of balancing academics and social relationships. These influences can cause negative effects on the mind and body. Empowering students with resources for holistic wellbeing could relieve stress, create a nurturing environment, and impact their overall success at University of San Diego (USD). My project assisted in a course where undergraduate students develop skills to thrive personally beyond their time at USD. The research question that drove my study was: How can I help develop a successful holistic wellness course to support students in relieving stress? I completed three cycles which included: pre- and post-surveys, interviews, a focus group, observations, and a reflective community circle. Findings from this research include increased knowledge on health topics, improved confidence in stress management, and a deeper understanding of the value of meaningful connections. Recommendations include using creative methods to increase student interactions and considering a wellness course for graduate students