Campus Organizations Research Articles

Writing Centers and Students with Disabilities: The User-centered Approach, Participatory Design, and Empirical Research as Collaborative Methodologies

► We integrated user-centered and participatory design approaches into our research. ► We used mixed methods research to collect data for our work on the Purdue OWL. ► We worked with participants using adaptive technologies to access the Purdue OWL. ► Results indicated that the Purdue OWL was accessible but not sufficiently usable . ► We used findings to improve the Purdue OWL and to work with campus organizations. This article discusses issues of accessibility and how user-centered and participatory approaches can inform empirical research to guide the Universal Design of virtual spaces and influence writing center efforts for students with disabilities. Because this article describes how to integrate usability/accessibility testing for online and in-person services, it can work as a model for writing centers struggling with the challenges of serving students with disabilities. Toward this end, the article discusses two generations of usability testing on a large, well-established online writing lab (the Purdue OWL), as well as the collaborative projects that emerged between the usability team and campus disabilities services as a result of this testing. The article concludes with heuristics and generative questions that may assist readers in developing similar projects tailored to their own contexts.

Spirituality Supports Student Leadership Development

Spirituality Supports Student Leadership Development

Developing Women Leaders on Campus

The Problem. Despite significant gains in the number of women leaders in higher education, there are still challenges for developing women leaders in higher education. The Solution. Effective collaboration between women’s centers and other campus organizations that support women’s leadership can provide opportunities to overcome these barriers. This article presents leadership development programs offered by the Women’s Center at the University of Minnesota, focusing on those facilitated in partnership with the university’s Office of Human Resources. Several lessons emerged from the review: the value of collaborative relationships, the importance of emphasis on individual and system-level leadership, and the need for ongoing assessment and evaluation of the climate for women leaders within postsecondary institutions. The Stakeholders. These lessons, and the principles used in implementing them, reveal practices that may be useful for other Women’s Centers, HR departments, and internal and external entities who seek to develop more women leaders in higher education.

Negotiating Multiple Identities: How African-American Gay and Bisexual Men Persist at a Predominantly White Institution

This consensual qualitative research (CQR) study explores factors contributing to the persistence of African-American gay and bisexual men at a predominately White institution (PWI). Eight participants consistently noted that involvement with an African-American community was crucial to navigating the challenges of attending a PWI. Participants reported that their racial identity was more salient than their sexual orientation in creating social support, and they described feeling uncomfortable using lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) resources. Implications, including education about sexual orientation within African-American campus communities, LGBT outreach to communities of color, and continued institutional support for African-American campus organizations, are discussed.

Pride and Prejudice: Employment Discrimination against Openly Gay Men in the United States

This article presents the first large-scale audit study of discrimination against openly gay men in the United States. Pairs of fictitious résumés were sent in response to 1,769 job postings in seven states. One résumé in each pair was randomly assigned experience in a gay campus organization, and the other résumé was assigned a control organization. Two main findings have emerged. First, in some but not all states, there was significant discrimination against the fictitious applicants who appeared to be gay. This geographic variation in the level of discrimination appears to reflect regional differences in attitudes and antidiscrimination laws. Second, employers who emphasized the importance of stereotypically male heterosexual traits were particularly likely to discriminate against openly gay men. Beyond these particular findings, this study advances the audit literature more generally by covering multiple regions and by highlighting how audit techniques may be used to identify stereotypes that affect employment decisions in real labor markets.

Intraracial harassment on campus: explaining between- and within-group differences

Using the National Longitudinal Survey of Freshmen (NLSF), we examine both between- and within-group differences in the odds of feeling intraracially harassed. Specifically, we investigate the effects of colleges’ and universities’ racial composition as well as the nature of students’ associations with non-group members, including involvement in racially homogeneous campus organizations, ethnoracial diversity of friendship networks, and interracial dating. Our findings suggest that although college racial composition appears to have little effect on experiencing intraracial harassment, the nature of students’ involvement with other-race students matters a great deal. For all groups, interracial dating increased odds of harassment. Among black and white students, more diverse friendship networks did as well. And among Asian and Latino students, involvement in any racially homogeneous campus organization was associated with increases in reports of intraracial harassment. Thus, we propose a baseline theoretical model of intraracial harassment that highlights the nature of students’ associations with outgroups.

A US academic library promotes pluralism with technology

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to share how a US university library used technology to promote pluralism after a desecrated Qur'an was found near the local Islamic Center in September 2010.Design/methodology/approachEfforts undertaken by library staff are described in this case study. Special attention is paid to the technology used by various library committees and units.FindingsInstitutional support for diversity enabled a swift and unified response. Partnerships with community and campus organizations enriched a library display and engendered a public program. LibGuides, QR codes, a public service announcement, social media, web features, and an audio recording were used to publicize and extend the reach of the exhibit and panel discussion.Originality/valueLibraries can promote pluralism through exhibits and public programming. Impact can be magnified through the use of technology.

Leveraging Partnerships to Develop a Strong and Diverse Workforce

ABSTRACT With new challenges facing academic health sciences libraries in the 21st century, the profession needs to develop a workforce capable of integrating more directly into the campus organization, the research enterprise, and the clinical setting. To ensure that the profession has an expanding pool of talent with leadership capacity, the National Library of Medicine (NLM) and its outreach partners focus attention on promoting careers in health sciences librarianship and informatics among college and postmaster's students. This article addresses how NLM joins forces with organizations and partners such as the Medical Library Association, the American Library Association, the Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries, and the Association of Research Libraries to sponsor recruitment programs, midcareer leadership training, and scholarships for library school students to achieve a diverse workforce.

Psychosocial and leadership identities among leaders of identity-based campus organizations.

In this article, we describe a qualitative study of identities of 18 college students leading identity-based campus organizations at 1 large public institution. Identity-based organizations are those registered student groups whose mission includes serving the educational, cultural, social, or other needs and interests of students from a given psychosocial identity (e.g., race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation). We observed 2 paths that students followed through their leadership experience: (1) A “parallel” path in which students experienced their psychosocial identity and their leadership identity separately, and (2) a “merged” path in which students merged these identities into a sense of being, for example, a “gay leader” or a “Latina activist.” Based on our findings that student leaders in identity-based organizations experience both psychosocial identities and leadership identities as salient—whether parallel or merged—we make recommendations for higher education practice, policy, and research.

Alternative Service Learning Approaches: Two Techniques That Accommodate Faculty Schedules

A primary barrier to the usage of the well-documented pedagogical technique of service learning is time. Successful experiences require faculty to devote significant time to facilitating the community partnership. Another challenge is student readiness for experiences, both in terms of knowledge and motivation. In this article, 2 adaptations are discussed that expand the opportunities for service learning while preserving faculty time. The first strategy identifies internal community members, such as campus offices and organizations, as potential partners. A second strategy is to collaborate on an end product. This strategy preserves the benefits of indirect service learning. This article discusses the pragmatics, trade-offs, and lessons learned from using each of these strategies in class projects.

Increasing Latino/a Representation in Math and Science: An Insider's Look

Recent Yale alumnus Jarrad Aguirre relates his experience creating MAS Familias,a campus organization that supports Latino/a undergraduates studying math and science. Alarmed by Latino/a students' academic struggles and the lack of Latino/a role models in the fields of math and science—and increasingly aware of the social benefits of a diverse scientific work force—Aguirre built MAS Familias to promote dialogue, offer support, and improve persistence for Latino/a undergraduates in math and science departments. Aguirre calls on undergraduates to work together across institutions, to work with youth to build strong networks of budding Latino/a scientists, and to share their stories, as he has done, in an effort to promote change.

Problem based learning and involvement in off campus organization enhance students’ critical participation behavior

Aim Developing students’ critical thinking and critical participation in solving patients’ as well as a community’s problem should become the concern of medical education. This study aimed to identify several factors related to medical students’ critical participation behavior. Methods The subjects consisted of students of Sultan Agung Medical School (Unissula), year entry 2005, 2006, and 2007. Critical participation behavior was assessed using modified EMI: Critical Thinking Disposition Assessment. Relative risks (RR) were calculated using Cox regression analysis with constant time. Results 64,6% (388 out of 600) of the students participated in this study. Those who were involved in PBL for two and three years, rather than one year, had twice as high good critical thinking behavior [adjusted relative risk (RR) = 2.07; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.37–3.14; and RR = 2.33; 95% CI = 155–3.49, respectively.] Students who were more involved in off-campus organizations had a good critical participation behavior; 75% higher than those who were not involved in off-campus organizations (RR = 1.75; 95% CI = 0.99–3.11). Conclusion Besides involving in PBL learning approach, students should be motivated to be involved in off-campus organizations in order to improve their critical participation behavior (Med J Indones 2009;18:215-20) Key words: critical participation behavior, PBL, off-campus organization

Student veterans organizations

AbstractInvolvement in campus organizations can be an important factor in student success. Student veterans organizations are becoming common on college campuses as students who have served in the military seek the sense of community that comes from joining with other veterans in shared purpose. Addendum.

Live interactive group-specific normative feedback reduces misperceptions and drinking in college students: A randomized cluster trial.

This research evaluated the efficacy of a live and interactive group-specific normative feedback intervention designed to correct misperceptions of alcohol-related group norms and subsequently reduce drinking behavior. Campus organizations (N = 20) containing 1,162 college students were randomly assigned to intervention or assessment-only control conditions. Participants in the intervention condition attended an intervention during their organization's regular standing meeting. Data were gathered in vivo using computerized handheld keypads into which participants entered personal responses to a series of alcohol-related questions assessing perceptions of normative group behavior as well as actual individual behavior. These data were then immediately presented in graphical form to illustrate discrepancies between perceived and actual behavioral group norms. Results indicated that compared with the control group, the intervention group reduced drinking behavior and misperceptions of group norms at 1-month and 2-month follow-ups. Changes in perceived norms mediated the reductions in drinking. Results demonstrate the effectiveness of a novel, technologically advanced, group-based, brief alcohol intervention that can be implemented with entire groups at relatively low cost.

Strategies for Recruiting Middle Eastern-American Young Adults for Physical Activity Research: A Case of Snowballs and Salaam

Recruitment of minorities into health studies is a process that has been the subject of recent research effort. The prevalence of hypokinetic disease in the fast growing Middle Eastern-American community is higher than whites and some minority groups and descriptive research is needed to further quantify morbidity status and antecedent behavior. To date, we know of no study that reports recruitment methods of Middle Eastern-American young adults, a demographic group that is transitioning into an at-risk stratum for ethnically associated morbidity. We report and analyze a multi-method approach used in recruiting 240 young adults of this ethnic group into a 1-week study of physical activity utilizing activity logs and pedometers. Participants were primarily recruited through snowball sampling (48.3%), flyers (15.8%), presentations to university campus organizations (15.4%), and graduate research assistants (10.8%). Access was facilitated by assistants who were community insiders; active recruitment was more successful than passive recruitment; and different techniques appealed to different group segments based on gender and religion.

The role of self-consciousness in the experience of alcohol-related consequences among college students

Heavy drinking among college students is a well-established national concern. An in-depth look at the characteristics and traits of heavy drinking students is an essential precursor to the development of successful targeted interventions with at-risk students. The current study examines the role self-consciousness (private, public, social anxiety) plays in the experience of alcohol-related consequences among a sample of 1,168 student members of campus organizations. Male gender predicted drinking in the sample, while both private self-consciousness and social anxiety predicted less drinking. Public self-consciousness predicted alcohol-related consequences over and above the variance explained by drinking for both males and females. Additionally, both gender and social anxiety moderated the effect of drinking on problems. Heavier drinking female students and heavier drinking students high in social anxiety appear more susceptible to the experience of negative consequences. These results highlight the direct and indirect impact that self-consciousness and gender have on college students' experience of alcohol-related negative consequences.

A Pilot Trial To Assess College Student's Willingness To Donate Blood.

Background: Nationally, African Americans are significantly underrepresented in community blood donation programs. The need to understand the willingness to donate blood among African Americans is essential. In this study, we explore factors that serve as motivators and barriers to blood donation identified by college students at two Historical Black Colleges/Universities (HBCUs).Methods: HBCU students at least 18 years of age were given the opportunity to complete a paper-based or on-line 41-item questionnaire to assess the participant's demographic background, donation frequency, motivators and barriers toward donation, knowledge and beliefs regarding blood donation, and specific behavioral practices. No personal identifiers were used. Univariate and bivariate analyses were conducted to describe the sample.Results: 409 individuals completed the survey. 95% self-identified as African-American and 45% of college students reported previously donating blood. Student's felt that incentives, personal requests to donate from blood centers, blood drives sponsored by campus organizations, and the university involvement in promoting blood drives were significant motivating factors for donating blood (p<.05). Significant barriers against blood donation included believing donation was too painful, fear of feeling faint, dizzy, or nauseated, losing valuable time from school or work, too time consuming, and fear of deferral (p<.05).Conclusions: College students are willing to donate blood based on convenience, accessibility, and support from their university. Campus-based recruitment methods geared towards students, specifically those of African American descent, may prove beneficial for increasing the general pool of African American blood donors.Significant relationships between barriers, motivators, and donor statusΧ2Sig.Barriers against blood donationToo painful60.20.000Would feel faint, dizzy, or nauseated42.15.000Will lose valuable time from school/work16.82.002Previously been told not to donate8.49.004Takes too long37.41.000Motivators toward blood donationIncentive for donating14.56.006Personal request to donate from blood center10.15.038Blood drive sponsored by campus organization26.29.000University involvement in promoting blood drives5.36.021*p<.05

Assessment of perceived and actual alcohol norms in varying contexts: Exploring Social Impact Theory among college students

The social norms approach to college drinking suggests that students misperceive the drinking behavior and attitudes of their peers. While much is known about these misperceptions, research is sparse regarding the context in which perceived and actual norms are assessed. As social influence is pronounced in college, the principles of Social Impact Theory may contribute to differences between assessments performed individually and those completed when surrounded by members of one's salient reference group. The current study examines 284 members of campus organizations in two contexts (online and group) to determine if individuals endorse different responses to questions of perceived and actual drinking norms across contexts. All participants endorsed higher responses on questions of actual and perceived group behavior and of perceived group attitudes towards drinking during the group assessment. Men and students in Greek organizations may be more influenced by the proximity of their peers when presented with questions regarding perceived alcohol use. These results suggest that context of assessment needs to be considered when collecting self-report data from college students.

Get it in writing: MOUs and library/IT partnerships

PurposeIncreasingly academic libraries are partnering with other campus units to improve efficiency and to better serve students and faculty. This paper aims to focus on the importance of developing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to foster a relationship between an academic library and IT unit. It seeks to identify what the MOU should include, pitfalls to be avoided, and lessons learned. It also proposes demonstrating how the MOU has been used as a model for other alliances and how, because of the MOU, a partnership has flourished.Design/methodology/approachThis paper will outline the steps taken that led to the successful MOU created by the Indiana University Bloomington (IUB) Libraries and University Information Technology Services (UITS.)FindingsThe paper finds that a well‐crafted MOU that allows for flexibility in ongoing decision making by service stakeholders permits partnerships to evolve and mature and creates the avenue for continued success and innovation.Practical implicationsThis paper describes the execution and ongoing evolution of a successful partnership based on a MOU and commitment by the IUB Libraries and the central technology organization, UITS.Originality/valueLibraries interested in entering into or strengthening partnerships with IT or other campus organizations can use the Indiana University experience and MOU as a model.

Libraries and student affairs: partners for student success

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide strategies that libraries and other campus organizations, especially student affairs offices, can employ to overcome common barriers to building partnerships, and to establish, maintain, and nurture effective cross‐campus collaboration.Design/methodology/approachA brief history of the development of student affairs is provided, as well as concrete examples of collaborative services and projects developed by a campus student affairs office and an undergraduate library at a large, public research university. A review of relevant literature highlights collaborative relationships, guiding principles for success, and maintaining and nurturing partnerships.FindingsBecause librarians and student affairs professionals operate outside the curricular structure, these partnerships allow for more flexibility and creativity in programming. Services and programs that meet the needs of students and fulfill the individual missions in these areas are easily attained by identifying potential campus partners and common goals, and establishing priorities.Practical implicationsAlthough extensive research on collaboration between libraries and faculty can be found in the literature, a dearth of research exists on collaborations between libraries and student services. This paper provides valuable tools and lessons for librarians and student affairs professionals for establishing successful and sustainable cross‐campus programs and services.Originality/valueThis paper serves as one of the first comprehensive reviews of cross‐campus collaborative projects between an undergraduate library and a campus student affairs office.