University Faculty Research Articles

Creating Collaborative Spaces for Community College Faculty and Staff to Discuss Pedagogy

ABSTRACT Research from undergraduate and K-12 environments suggests that providing meaningful support for Community College students requires faculty and staff to engage in ongoing self-reflection, peer support, and a commitment to research-based pedagogical shifts. Currently, California Community College (CCC) faculty and staff get very few of these opportunities. This study aims to address this issue through an intervention designed to provide opportunities for CCC faculty and staff to be part of a flexible, coherent professional learning community. The intervention is part of an NSF-funded research and development project at a community college in central California designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), with the goal of providing faculty and staff with tools and processes to support students toward higher retention and success in STEM by facilitating “micro-internships.” Micro-internships are designed to reduce inequalities inherent in the traditional internship paradigm by providing access to professional and research skills for students who do not have the opportunities and/or confidence to participate in a more traditional full-length internship. Conversations with participants showed how they embraced the design principles that were negotiated as a project team, and how one or more of the study interventions had played a powerful role in supporting their learning and development toward certain pedagogical shifts. Our results highlight the power of providing spaces such as summer workshops and ongoing “community of practice” meetings for collaboration, professional learning, and peer-to-peer mentorship.

Examination of the attitudes of prospective teachers toward the history of Turkish education course according to different variables

The History of Turkish Education (HTE) course is a course designed to present the transformation of the Turkish education system based on social, economic, and political changes for prospective teachers and ensure that prospective teachers interpret the present and the future accurately by understanding the past. As in other courses, it is needed to identify various qualities such as attitudes toward the HTE course, self-efficacy, interests, and beliefs and keep these qualities in mind during the conduct of the course. These qualities will increase efficiency in the learning and teaching process. This study aimed to investigate attitudes toward the HTE course, which is offered at faculties of education, according to different variables. The correlational method, which is a quantitative research method, was used in the study. The sample of the study consisted of 363 prospective teachers receiving education at various departments and various class levels at the education faculty of a state university in the 2022-2023 academic year. To identify the attitudes of the participants toward the HTE course, a personal information form prepared by the researchers, the “Attitude Scale regarding the History of Turkish Education Course”, and the “Maggie McVay Lynch Learning Style Inventory” were used. Frequencies, percentages, mean values, independent-samples t-test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and post hoc tests were used in the analyses of the collected data. According to the results of the study in general, prospective teachers had above-average positive attitudes toward the HTE course, their attitudes toward the course did not differ significantly based on gender, department, class year, or grade point average, but they differed based on their learning styles. The obtained results were discussed alongside the results of previous studies, and various recommendations were proposed.

Evaluation of Medically Reversible Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency.

To evaluate the clinical characteristics and treatment strategies of limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) patients managed with medical therapy. The study included 29 eyes of 21 patients with LSCD who were managed medically at Ege University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology between May 2013 and May 2023. LSCD stages before and after medical treatment were recorded according to the LSCD staging system published by the International LSCD Working Group. The medical records of patients showing improvement in LSCD stage with medical treatment without surgical intervention were evaluated. The mean age was 35.5±23.8 years (range, 5-71 years) with a male-to-female ratio of 6:15. The primary etiology of LSCD was ocular rosacea in 12 patients (57.1%), marginal keratitis in the setting of blepharitis in 8 patients (38.1%), and topical medication toxicity in 1 patient (4.8%). The mean baseline best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.25±0.26 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) (range, 0-1 logMAR). Pre-treatment LSCD stage was stage 1A in 5 eyes (17.2%), stage 1B in 12 eyes (41.4%), stage 1C in 4 eyes (13.8%), stage 2A in 4 eyes (13.8%), and stage 2B in 4 eyes (13.8%). Complete regression of LSCD was achieved in 6 eyes (20.7%) with medical treatment addressing the primary etiology. In the remaining eyes, after medical treatment, the severity of LSCD decreased below the surgical threshold, which is considered stage 2B. The mean final BCVA was 0.07±0.1 logMAR (range, 0-0.4 logMAR). This study highlights that LSCD can be completely or partially reversible with appropriate management, especially in cases with underlying limbal niche dysfunction, where inflammation plays a significant role. Although limbal stem cell transplantation is considered the main treatment approach for LSCD, localized and early-stage LSCD can be effectively managed medically without the need for surgical intervention.

Surveying dentistry students' perspectives on anatomy education: A questionnaire-based study

Background/Aim: Anatomy plays a crucial role in medical and dental education, equipping students with vital knowledge for comprehending the human body and its clinical implications. The COVID-19 pandemic led to a significant transition to online learning, raising questions about the efficacy of virtual anatomy education. Additionally, recent natural disasters like earthquakes have disrupted traditional learning settings, highlighting the need for alternative methods such as online instruction. This study sought to investigate dentistry students' opinions on anatomy education, specifically comparing the perspectives of students affected by earthquakes with those who were not, to determine any disparities in their attitudes towards online anatomy courses. Methods: A voluntary survey was conducted on 135 first-year students at Çukurova University Faculty of Dentistry during the 2023-2024 academic year. A 5-point Likert-type survey with 21 questions was used for data collection. Results were presented as percentages and analyzed. The Likert scale ranged from 1 = Strongly Disagree to 5 = Strongly Agree. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 20.0, including Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Shapiro-Wilk Tests for normal distribution assessment and the Mann-Whitney U-test for non-normally distributed scores comparison (P-value <0.05). Results: Students directly affected by earthquakes showed a significant difference in their perception of online education compared to unaffected students, particularly in the question "Theoretical anatomy course can be followed online" (P=0.036). Conclusion: This study provides insights for enhancing education planning and development based on student feedback.

Predicting Prognosis of Early-Stage Mycosis Fungoides with Utilization of Machine Learning

Mycosis fungoides (MF) is the most prevalent type of cutaneous T cell lymphomas. Studies on the prognosis of MF are limited, and no research exists on the potential of artificial intelligence to predict MF prognosis. This study aimed to compare the predictive capabilities of various machine learning (ML) algorithms in predicting progression, treatment response, and relapse and to assess their predictive power against that of the Cox proportional hazards (CPH) model in patients with early-stage MF. The data of patients aged 18 years and over who were diagnosed with early-stage MF at Ankara University Faculty of Medicine Hospital from 2006 to 2024 were retrospectively reviewed. ML algorithms were utilized to predict complete response, relapse, and disease progression using patient data. Of the 185 patients, 94 (50.8%) were female, and 91 (49.2%) were male. Complete response was observed in 114 patients (61.6%), while relapse and progression occurred in 69 (37.3%) and 54 (29.2%) patients, respectively. For predicting progression, the Support Vector Machine (SVM) algorithm demonstrated the highest success rate, with an accuracy of 75%, outperforming the CPH model (C-index: 0.652 for SVM vs. 0.501 for CPH). The most successful model for predicting complete response was the Ensemble model, with an accuracy of 68.89%, surpassing the CPH model (C-index: 0.662 for the Ensemble model vs. 0.543 for CPH). For predicting relapse, the decision tree classifier showed the highest performance, with an accuracy of 78.17%, outperforming the CPH model (C-index: 0.782 for the decision tree classifier vs. 0.505 for CPH). The results suggest that ML algorithms may be useful in predicting prognosis in early-stage MF patients.

Kidney Health Consequences of Patients with Glomerulonephritis; Before and After SARS-COV2 Infection

Objective: The virus that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2) was first identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. Recent studies have proven that SARS-CoV-2 is also a nephrotrophic virus. Methods: Our study aimed to evaluate kidney function and general kidney health of patients with previously diagnosed glomerular diseases and follow-up after SARS-CoV-2 infection. For this purpose, the data of 36 patients who were diagnosed with and routinely followed up for glomerulonephritis and had SARS-CoV-2 infection at the Kocaeli University Faculty of Medicine Hospital nephrology outpatient clinics between January 2020 and January 2022 were examined before and after the infection. Results: No significant differences were observed in serum creatinine, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and 24-hour urine protein values after infection. There was an increase in platelet and albumin levels following the SARS-CoV-2 infection. A significant decrease was detected in 24-hour urine creatinine values. Conclusion: The results of the study showed that kidney function and general kidney health of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection diagnosed with glomerulonephritis were not different when compared to their condition before SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Research Buddy—From a Framework for Overcoming Language Barriers to the Development of a Qualitative Citizen Science Platform

Abstract Students benefit from international study programmes in fields such as HCI. However, user-centred research in a foreign country has some challenges, especially language hurdles when going into the field and conducting ethnographic and participatory studies. A particular obstacle is added when targeting groups that do not speak English, such as in Germany, where English was not taught in schools until the 1970s. The task and challenge of the present project, ‘Research Buddy’, is to bring together young international students and older people as co-researchers in Germany. We describe the participatory development of the concept of a matching platform and its design. In focus groups with older people, university faculty and students, requirements for a collaborative research infrastructure were jointly identified and prototypically implemented. The empirical results focus on the possibilities the platform offers for qualitative citizen science in the field of age tech.

Quantification of training in educational methodology among teachers on the degree course in medicine: a pilot study

BackgroundMedical education has undergone significant changes over the last decades. Scientific and technological progress alongside contemporary society’s changing requirements have driven demand for highly trained, competent doctors. In response to this need, university faculties of medicine have sought innovative forms of teaching and evaluating the students on their degree courses. The aim of this study was to quantify the characteristics and extent of academic training in teaching methods, of participation in innovative teaching initiatives, and training in simulation and debriefing among the teaching personnel on the degree course in medicine at the University of Granada (Spain).MethodsThis transversal descriptive study was conducted among a population of 121 educators teaching on the medical degree course at the University of Granada, Spain. All responded to a specially designed CoRe-Content Representation questionnaire. This consisted of various parts: (a) demographic data; (b) teaching experience and qualifications; (c) specific information about training in teaching skills received. The Fisher test was applied whenever the dependent variable had two values (dichotomous) and the Chi-square test when it had more than two values (polytomic). Statistical significance was established with an alpha error of 5%.ResultsThe results showed that 87.60% of the educators had received no training in debriefing. There was a notable gender gap, whereby women held fewer management posts, fewer were engaged in clinical activity, and fewer had undergone training in clinical simulation. Teachers with degrees in medicine had undergone less regulated training than educators with other degree qualifications.ConclusionThe main areas of medical training that require improvement (and so present challenges to be met in the years to come) are as follows: a definitive solution to the existing gender gap, general implementation of new educational models and methods (especially learning based on clinical problem-solving and simulation), closing generation gaps, and improved training processes for educators with clinical attachment.

Knowledge sharing among academics in higher education: integrating positive and negative facets of organizational climate

PurposeKnowledge sharing is pivotal for the professional development among academics in higher education. However, little research has focused on understanding both the positive and negative facets of organizational climate in relation to knowledge sharing among academics. Based on the theory of planned behavior, this study aims to examine the impact of four facets of organizational climate, i.e. affiliation, trust, competition and individualism, on academics’ subjective norms and intentions regarding knowledge sharing.Design/methodology/approachSurvey data were collected from 532 university faculty staff in China and analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling.FindingsResults indicated that affiliation and trust had positive effects on subjective norms regarding knowledge sharing, whereas competition and individualism had negative effects on subjective norms. Furthermore, subjective norms were found to significantly enhance academics’ intentions to share knowledge.Practical implicationsPractical implications are provided on how to cultivate a supportive organizational climate to foster knowledge sharing among faculty staff for enhanced professional capital and competitiveness.Originality/valueThe study contributes to the literature by integrating both the positive and negative facets of organizational climate and highlighting the hindering effects of competition and individualism on knowledge sharing, which have not been fully investigated in the existing literature.

THE TYBEE ISLAND, GEORGIA BLACK HISTORY TRAIL: A COMMUNITY APPROACH to BLACK GEOGRAPHIES

ABSTRACT Tybee Island, Georgia, was a colonial borderland between Spanish and British America before evolving into a middle-class, seaside resort in the 1800s. It continued as a popular vacation spot in the twentieth century. However, research has highlighted the island’s troubling history of racial segregation, particularly surrounding events like the Orange Crush Beach Party. Previous studies also underscored the Historical Society ignoring the island’s Black history in its exhibits. Building on this, a collaborative project emerged in 2021 involving a Georgia Southern University faculty member and undergraduate student, Tybee MLK Human Rights Organization, and Tybee Island Historical Society. The goal was to create a Black History Trail highlighting a rich yet ignored Black history and culture on the island and addressing the exclusion of Tybee’s Black population from museums and markers. This project integrates community geography, focusing on resolving problems like social exclusion, and exploring spatialities of Black life, social oppressions, and resistance. Utilizing archival research, oral history interviews, and ArcGIS, the project developed a 13-stop virtual tour using ESRI Story Maps. We conclude our paper by highlighting the lessons learned during the trail’s development, the multitude of ways the trail embodies the theory of Black geographies in practice, and the broader challenges in honoring Tybee’s Black geographies. Keywords: community geography, Black geographies, Tybee Island, tourism, memory

A Study on Veterinary Faculty Students' Opinions on Ethics Education and Career Choices: A Case of Ondokuz Mayıs University.

Veterinary ethics is a multifaceted element of the veterinary profession as it deals with various ethical issues related to medical practice, animal welfare, professional behaviour and societal expectations. By focusing on teaching ethics in veterinary medicine education, it will be possible to guide future veterinarians through the ethical dilemmas and conflicts they may encounter in their careers. To evaluate the opinions of the Ondokuz Mayıs University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine intern students about ethics education in veterinary medicine. Evaluation and comparison of the perspective on ethics education and career choice. A cross-sectional descriptive survey design was used to collect data via a questionnaire. Data obtained from 87 out of 119 students in the intern programme were evaluated. Responses were analysed by statistical methods. In the study, it was determined that pet veterinary services (private sector) and government veterinary services (public sector) were the leading career choices of intern veterinary students; female and male students wanted to turn to different fields of work; and the difference in career preferences did not change the views on ethics education. It was observed that students needed applied teaching and measurement-evaluation methods in ethics education and sought role models in developing ethical attitudes and behaviours. In addition to gaining ethical knowledge in veterinary education, it was observed that they attach importance to professional and legal obligations. This study is one of the few studies on veterinary ethics education and career choice in Turkey. The study results provide information to guide the development of veterinary ethics education to prepare future veterinarians for the complex ethical issues they will face in their careers.

Comparison of orexigenic and anorexigenic neuropeptide levels in hyperemesis gravidarum patients with normal pregnant women: A prospective cohort study.

The aim of this study was to determine whether orexigenic neuropeptides, orexin and galanin, and anorexigenic neuropeptides, alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) and cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART), are implicated in hyperemesis gravidarum (HG). Fifty pregnant women who had been diagnosed with HG between April 2022 and February 2023 at the Siirt University Faculty of Medicine Training and Research Hospital (tertiary center) were recruited for this study. An equal number of pregnant women without an HG diagnosis were included in the study as the control group. Participants' age, pregnancy history, medical history, thyroid function test results, complete blood count results, and electrolyte levels were recorded, and their orexin, galanin, α-MSH, and CART serum levels were analyzed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. No statistically significant differences in orexigenic neuropeptides (orexin and galanin) were observed between the HG and control groups. A statistical difference was found between an anorexigenic neuropeptide (α-MSH) and the control group (P = .012). Based on a receiver operating characteristic analysis, the α-MSH parameter was statistically significant for distinguishing between participants with an HG diagnosis and those without, with a sensitivity of 63.6%, specificity of 65.9%, and cutoff value of 11769.3 pg/mL (P = .012, area under curve: 0.655). Based on the severity classification of ketonuria (ketonuria levels of +1 or +2 were classified as mild, whereas levels of +3 or +4 were classified as moderate to severe), the anorexigenic CART neuropeptide was found to be a statistically significant diagnostic indicator of severe ketonuria (P = .020). α-MSH and CART levels were found to be related in HG patients and in HG patients with severe ketonuria.

Influence of personal and career burnout on female employers' subjective evaluation of workplace acoustic environment.

Burnout is an increasingly common problem in modern work settings that significantly affects people's health and well-being. Several studies have emphasized the impact of career burnout on employees' performance and efficiency. It is unknown whether career burnout mediated by personal burnout may affect employees' perception of their workplace physical environment attributes. This research aims to understand if personal and career burnout can affect employers' acoustic environment evaluation of their workplace. Considering commonly experienced or highly experienced personal and career burnout among working women, the study targeted female university faculty members. The research involved stratified sampling and employed data from 272 individuals across five public and private universities in Tehran. Collected data were analyzed using SmartPLS (latest release 4.1). The results revealed a significant link between personal and career burnout and the subjective evaluation of workplace acoustic environment. Career burnout mediated the relationship between personal burnout and negative evaluation of the workplace acoustic environment. This study provides compelling evidence that experiences of burnout, whether related to personal or career aspects, substantially impact the subjective assessment of the acoustic environment within the workplace. The results underscore the complex interplay between an individual's degree of burnout and their subjective perception of the acoustic dimensions of their work environment. The findings extend our understanding of how psychological factors might shape our interpretation of the physical workplace.

Retrospective Assessment of Legal Capacity After Death: Experience of Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Forensic Medicine

Retrospective Assessment of Legal Capacity After Death: Experience of Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Forensic Medicine

Demographic influences on students’ self-efficacy for LGBTQ+ inclusion: a quantitative study in higher education in Sri Lanka

ABSTRACT The increasing demand for LGBTQ+ inclusive education has made it a significant area of contemporary higher education research. Understanding self-efficacy and its complexities is pivotal for effectively planning and executing LGBTQ+ inclusion initiatives in higher education settings. This study aims to assess the level of self-efficacy among students within a selected faculty of a state university in Sri Lanka regarding fostering LGBTQ+ inclusion. Additionally, this research explores whether demographic factors significantly influence undergraduates’ self-efficacy in promoting LGBTQ+ inclusion. Inspired by the positivist paradigm, the study employed a survey strategy to gather quantitative data on students’ self-efficacy to foster LGBTQ+ inclusion across various demographic factors. Conducted at the faculty level, researchers administered a structured questionnaire to collect responses from 324 participants. The findings revealed a moderate level of self-efficacy among undergraduates in interacting with LGBTQ+ peers. Moreover, students’ gender, sexual orientation, English language proficiency, and educational upbringing significantly impacted students’ self-efficacy in promoting LGBTQ+ inclusion. Conversely, ethnicity and religion showed no significant influence on self-efficacy in this context. These results underscore the critical role that universities can play in fostering inclusivity and support for LGBTQ+ individuals in Sri Lanka. The results suggest that universities can enhance the self-efficacy of undergraduates through the implementation of targeted interventions, supportive policies, and comprehensive training programs. Accordingly, this research promotes LGBTQ+ inclusion and contributes to the development of a more inclusive and equitable educational environment for everyone.

Redesigning for Open Educational Practices: A Faculty-Librarian Collaboration

Open educational practices (OEP) are rarely explored in LIS education, despite its alignment with many of the core values in library science. Recent scholarship on LIS pedagogy does speak to the merits of OEP, which can include open and equitable access, real-world learning experiences, and principles of social justice. However, there is little discussion about what this looks like in practice and within the LIS curriculum. This thought piece examines the practical aspect of using OEP in the LIS graduate classroom and describes the collaborative reflections of an LIS faculty member, librarian, and university librarian to prepare to implement OEP at a regional comprehensive university. This collaboration found that OEP is a good fit for the library science curriculum, but that there are important support considerations which need to be secured before implementation, such as access to participatory technology, training on intellectual property and staffing. In addition, the dynamic nature of OEP addresses some of the challenges associated with the current landscape of online learning in higher education, including delivering more engaging pedagogy, increasing student digital literacy and student involvement in the scholarly communication process.

Perceptions of Annual Research Evaluations as Preparation for Future and Early Career Faculty

Thousands of university faculty complete annual evaluations to determine their yearly productivity. These assessments often determine the ability of a faculty member to continue in their current position (Zahneis, 2024). Evaluations play a crucial role in shaping the careers of early career tenure track professors. Given the importance of annual reviews, this poster presents the preliminary results of a study designed to examine how departments assess faculty research productivity and to understand their perceptions of the processes used to evaluate them. Providing these results to doctoral students and new faculty can help prepare them for the annual review process. Concerns emerged among the participants regarding the evaluation process. For instance, some participants noted that the quantity of publications was valued more than the quality, and there were no clear research quality standards. Another stated that some colleagues do little research and still receive positive evaluations. Faculty members were more satisfied with reviews when policies clearly outlined expectations. They liked it when alternative publication methods were valued. Participants believed research with students should be equally important to solo or collaborative projects with other faculty. Additionally, the participants appreciated it when their deans and chairs understood and celebrated their research. Participants shared factors that affect their research productivity. Time to complete research was a frequent response. Answers further indicated that support from research and teaching assistants saved them time. Funding to complete studies and research space was instrumental in their success.

Reflecting on vulnerability, skill-building, and identity in an interdisciplinary SaP project

Launched in 2021 by a team of undergraduate students, university faculty, associate researchers, and community partners collaborating as genuine equals in a diverse team, the Together Time Story Sacks intergenerational literacies program forms part of an ongoing action research project aimed at understanding and addressing barriers that residents of rural regions face in accessing literacies programming. In this paper, six team members who co-imagined, co-designed and co-implemented Together Time but occupy different roles on and beyond university campuses reflect on the ways the students-as-partners (SaP) model, through which we brought Together Time to life, shaped both our process and our outputs during the project’s pilot phase (September 2021–August 2022). We suggest that empowering humans with diverse academic and lived experiences through the SaP model is an Invigorating, messy, and, at times, nerve-racking process but an eminently fruitful enterprise that, in our opinion, produces rich research with and for our community while transforming our understanding of education and ourselves.

Gender Characteristics of the Psychoemotional Status of Students with Different Levels of Academic Performance

The study of the health of student youth remains one of the important areas in scientific research, since the task of higher educational institutions is not only to instill professional skills, but also to form a full-fledged personality. Neuropsychiatric adaptation is one of the keys, so it is important to identify the factors that influence its formation. 120 students of the medical faculty of the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University were examined: 1) young men (n=30) and 2) girls (n=30) with high academic performance; 3) young men (n=30) and 4) girls (n=30) with low academic performance. We evaluated emotional intelligence according to the N. Hall scale, aggression according to L. G. Pochebut, the level of depression according to the Tsung test, emotional orientation according to B. I. Dodonov, level of self-esteem, style of behavior in conflict. Young men with high academic performance compared to similar girls are more likely to have a low level of emotional intelligence, high self-esteem, face mild depression, show more physical aggression, and have lower scores in communicative and aesthetic emotional orientation. Among those with low academic performance, girls, in comparison with young men, manage their own emotions worse, do not have high self-esteem, and have higher scores in communicative, hedonic and aesthetic emotional orientation. Sex differences in the psycho-emotional sphere are more clearly manifested among students with a high level of academic performance. The study of gender features in more detail assesses the psycho-emotional state of students, makes it possible to predict possible violations and timely carry out preventive or correctional measures, and, therefore, increase the success of adaptation.

Building Resilience during Compassion Fatigue: Autoethnographic Accounts of College Students and Faculty

Compassion fatigue (CF) is a well-researched topic in the fields of mental health and nursing. However, studies on CF in the fields of primary, secondary, and higher education are very recent and scant. Compassion fatigue (CF) can be defined as the empathic strain or general exhaustion experienced by helping professionals such as psychotherapists, nurses, social workers, healthcare workers, family caregivers, and elderly caregivers. In this paper, utilizing the Double ABC-X Stress Model, we explored the antecedents, experiences, and consequences of compassion fatigue among college students and professionals who have previous personal experiences with stress and trauma, work with children and families, and work in higher education to prepare professionals to work in such fields. This study uses an autoethnographic approach, where the five authors of the study were also the participants. Utilizing the lifespan and ecological perspectives, we examined the symptoms preceding compassion fatigue and preventative strategies, as well as risk factors and protective factors. This study covers a breadth of compassion fatigue, from predisposition to onset and recovery, and considers alternative strategies for coping, including creating meaning from difficult experiences.