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Developing a Classroom to Support Culturally Responsive Teaching: A Culturally Responsive Aspiring Teacher Assignment
No full textFollowing the development of the [State] Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading Standards (CRTL), one University teacher preparation program created an assignment to challenge aspiring educators to think critically about culturally responsive teaching. With structural challenges such as tracking and culturally biased standardized testing, the program needed to evaluate how aspiring teachers would address those challenges while delivering a diverse curriculum, connecting with home and families, and valuing different linguistic backgrounds. Within a course on cross-cultural education, we developed a four-part assignment aligned with the course textbook by Nieto and Bode (2018). First, candidates created a reasonably diverse classroom to simulate many student diversities. Second, candidates identified and developed learning materials representative of students’ diversities. Third, candidates developed classroom policies addressing structural issues to break the cycle of failure for students of color. Finally, candidates discussed how they would include families by creating a third space for school and community knowledge to be pooled together. This paper provides one strategy for educator preparation programs to build competence in CRTL
Water Contamination, Notions of Wellbeing, and Community: A Case Study in University Park
Full text linkThis research explores the effects of water lead contamination on everyday lived experiences in University Park, a town in the South Suburbs of Chicago. The project began as a class assignment for Qualitative Research Methods class in Anthropology & Sociology Program and grew into a qualitative examination of the effects of the water crisis that began with a “do not consumer” advisory in 2019. Through qualitative research methods—open-ended interview and observations—we examine the lingering effects of lead contamination on daily life, notions of wellbeing, and community relations. We ask: how have residents mitigated the damaging effects of water contamination on their everyday life? How do they understand uncertainty and in what ways have community networks been strengthened? Ultimately, this project sheds light on how community members respond to and move forward in light of environmental, racial, and class injustice
More Than A Score : Examining Racial Bias in Graduate Admissions Testing
No full textThe standardized, traditionally used admissions tests (i.e., GRE, LSAT, MCAT) for graduate school have been identified as racially biased. The present review explores the implications of using these tests for admission (Gomez et al., 2021; Hill, 2020; Gustafson et al., 2023). These tests are an important part of applicants advancing in their academic interests and yet due to bias, they are being unjustly excluded. In examining the use of standardized tests, such as the GRE and LSAT, there is growing concern that these tests may continue to sustain disparities in accessing graduate education for students of minority racial backgrounds (Gomez et al., 2021; Hill, 2020; Miller & Stassun, 2014; Woo et al., 2022). There are issues with GRE item constructions that are biased (Woo et al., 2022). Beyond this, arbitrary cut-off scores also negatively impact minority applicants (Gomez et al., 2021). This phenomenon not only occurs in these tests but also impacts medical school admissions through tests like the MCAT and the Computer-Based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics or CASPer (Gustafson et al., 2023). This is particularly concerning as the CASPer test was created to increase fairness in medical school admissions(Gustafson et al., 2023). These biases have consequences beyond the unequal representation in graduate schools as they also create a less diverse population in the field. However, testing is not the only resource graduate schools have for selecting qualified applicants. Through the use of more holistic practices, like interviews, admissions committees can begin to bring better-performing students into their programs (Miller & Stassun, 2014)
The Power of Partnerships: Transforming Special Education Through Collaboration
No full textThis poster presentation features a co-authored annotated bibliography that explores the facets and facilitators of collaborative service delivery to support K-12 students with disabilities. Effective collaboration among special educators, general educators, paraprofessionals, related service providers, and families is essential for ensuring student access, progress, and engagement. However, implementing sustainable and impactful collaborative models requires understanding the key factors that contribute to success. Our poster features 20 peer-reviewed research articles that examine evidence-based approaches to collaborative service delivery. Each annotation summarizes key findings, identifies facilitators that enhance collaboration, and highlights common challenges. A brief synthesis of the literature underscores how co-teaching, interdisciplinary teaming, data-driven decision-making, and culturally responsive practices can transform special education by fostering inclusive, equitable learning environments. Beyond summarizing research, this presentation provides practical recommendations for educators, administrators, and policymakers seeking to harness the power of collaboration. Strategies include structured co-planning, professional learning communities, shared leadership, and family engagement—all of which are critical for breaking down silos and creating meaningful, student-centered support systems. By integrating research-driven insights with actionable recommendations, this presentation aims to inspire educators and leaders to rethink and refine collaborative service delivery models as a means to transform special education and promote greater student success
Linking Sources of Knowledge about Wrongful Convictions to Support for Criminal Justice Reform: The Effect of Media and Social Connections
No full textThis study employed moderated mediation regression analysis to test whether exposure to knowledge about wrongful convictions through media and social connections influences public perceptions of wrongful convictions and support for criminal justice reform. The empirical results confirm the theoretical arguments about the effect of the media on public perceptions, finding a strong connection between the number of media sources used to acquire knowledge about wrongful convictions and public perceptions of the criminal justice system’s performance. The results also find strong support for the significance of social connections in shaping public views about the criminal justice system’s performance, suggesting that when knowledge about the errors of criminal justice is acquired from multiple sources that involve family. The findings suggest that people who are more exposed to information about the wrongful conviction issue from various media sources and through social connections are more likely to support reform. The empirical findings also shed some light on factors influencing public attitudes toward the criminal justice system, revealing the connection between the perceived rate of wrongful convictions and beliefs that the criminal justice system should be reformed due to the severity of the issue. They also indirectly point to the need for greater government transparency, suggesting that to increase public understanding of the criminal justice system’s performance, the government should provide sufficient, objective, and relevant information about the errors of justice to media outlets
Antibiotic Resistance Testing and Enumeration of E. coli, Coliforms, and Salmonella in Canada Geese Feces Based on Natural Water Sources and Retention Ponds
Full text linkCanada Geese (Branta canadensis) are migrating birds. They can transmit antibiotic resistant bacteria when they are traveling. They do this by ingesting antibiotic resistant bacteria that is on the food they eat in one area, and then excrete some of it at the next place they travel to. Retention ponds have increased amounts of antibiotic-resistant bacteria that Canada geese can pick up if they stop there while migrating. Canada geese that land at a retention pond should have an increased amount of antibiotic resistance compared to landing at a natural water source. Their feces were tested in eight different areas to determine the amount of bacteria and antibiotic resistance present. Any Escherichia coli and Salmonella that inhabit and grow in the feces were counted. The natural water sources did not grow Salmonella, but E. coli was found in everything. The E. coli was then tested with five different antibiotics to see if E. coli is resistant, intermediate, or susceptible based on where it was found. The data then determined that Canada geese are more prone to ingesting ampicillin antibiotic resistant E. coli when they land at a retention pond versus near a natural water source
The Effect Temperature and Time Has On The Survival of Inoculated Salmonella Typhimurium on Romaine & Green Leaf Lettuce
No full textSalmonella colonizes the surface or internal area of leafy greens and the issue of contamination in leafy greens with pathogenic microorganisms has not been fully understood. Temperature can have an important impact on microorganism growth and persistence on ready to eat (RTE) produce. The objective of this study was to determine how 5 Degrees Celsius (Refrigeration Temp) and 21 degrees Celsius (Room Temp) effects the survival and potential growth levels of Salmonella Typhimurium on Romaine and Green Leaf lettuce surfaces. The abundance of Salmonella remaining after inoculation and incubation at the two temperatures was compared between replicates. It was hypothesized that of the two selected leafy greens, Romaine will maintain the highest levels of Salmonella abundance based on previous studies. It was also hypothesized that the 21 Degrees Celsius (Room Temp) will have the highest amount of remaining cells/area of leaf. The Romaine Lettuce exhibited the highest sustained Salmonella numbers during Weeks 2 & 3, especially after 3 weeks. The two temperatures did play a significant role into how many cells remained where 21 degrees Celsius in both leafy greens had the highest survival the Romaine lettuce maintained bacterial levels that were twice as high as the Green leaf lettuce numbers. While the 5 degrees Celsius prevented survival amount as expected in the first two weeks, the third week also showed significantly higher levels of Salmonella. These results emphasize proper refrigerator temperature storage that is not advisable for longer than two weeks with the RTE lettuce types examined here
Promoting Recovery in Academic Workplaces: Resources for University Faculty and Staff
No full textHigher education has an increasing diversity in relation to various social identities one of the identities that remains under studied is faculty and staff with substance use disorders (SUDs). This study evaluates the support services across Illinois\u27s 12 public universities for employees experiencing SUDs or maintaining recovery. Through a systematic content analysis of human resource documents, employee handbooks, and university websites, we assessed current support mechanisms, identified areas of service gaps, and examined barriers to access. The findings demonstrate considerable differences in workplace accommodations, employee assistance programs, and leave policies. Most institutions do not have overarching policies that allow for workplace support and recovery-oriented accommodations, thereby restricting access to needed resources. The study highlights the need for standardized and equitable support systems across institutions. The study will help provide avenues for universities to respond to assisting their staff with SUDs
University Park Water Crisis
No full textThe water in University Park was legally undrinkable for two years. On June 14, 2019, Aqua Illinois, the private company that provides water to University Park and many other municipalities across the state, issued a Do Not Consume order due to lead levels in the water reaching far above the EPA limit. The water did not comply with federal standards again until December 31, 2021. During this period, residents were able to get free bottled water, provided by Aqua Illinois, from distribution centers with inconvenient operating hours, often in jugs that were too heavy for residents to transport without help. They were given minimal explanation about efforts to prevent lead leaching into the water, leading to even greater concern, confusion, and distrust. University Park serves as an example of how communities of color are impacted by water privatization. This poster presentation will examine the history of University Park and their water utility, causes and developments of the water crisis, and the lasting impacts of the water crisis on the residents in University Park