University Campus Research Articles

An assessment of the utilization of open spaces on university campuses: a case study of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana

An assessment of the utilization of open spaces on university campuses: a case study of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana

"Oh, are you gay?": An exploration of LGBTQ+ students' lived experiences with microaggressions and finding safety on a university campus

"Oh, are you gay?": An exploration of LGBTQ+ students' lived experiences with microaggressions and finding safety on a university campus

Familial and Individual Risk Factors, Sexual Assault, and Mental Health: A Comparison of Black, Hispanic, Asian, and White College Students.

Though sexual assault is prevalent among college campuses, there is a paucity of research on whether risk factors vary for different racial/ethnic groups. As such, this article examines familial and individual risk factors and three sexual assault types (coercive, physically forced, and incapacitated) with depressive symptoms and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms to see whether such risks vary for Black/African American, White, Asian, and Hispanic groups of college students. Data were gathered in 2019 to 2020 from 783 undergraduate college women and men at a large public university in the Midwestern United States. Results revealed that in terms of family background, Black/African American, Asian, and Hispanic students reported more experiences of child physical abuse and lower levels of warmth and support compared to White students. White college students, however, reported more frequent heavy drinking compared to Asian and Hispanic students. For sexual assault, Asian students reporting experiencing incapacitated sexual assault more so than White students, whereas Black/African American students reported experiences of physically forced sexual assault more so than White students. For mental health, Hispanic students reported more PTSD symptoms compared to White students while Asian students reported more depressive symptoms compared to their White counterparts. It is noteworthy that early experiences of child physical abuse and lower warmth and support continued to significantly impact both PTSD symptoms and depressive symptoms. Our results demonstrate the importance of going beyond the typical dichotomy of White and non-White to gain a more nuanced understanding of how risk factors vary for different racial and ethnic groups, which has implications for intervention and prevention when understanding sexual assault and mental health outcomes.

Food choice mimicry on a large university campus

Abstract Social influence is a strong determinant of food consumption, which in turn influences the environment and health. Purchasing mimicry, a phenomenon where a person copies another person’s purchases, has been identified as the key governing mechanism. Although consistent observations have been made on the role of purchasing mimicry in driving similarities in food consumption, much less is known about the precise prevalence, the affected subpopulations, and the food types most strongly associated with mimicry effects. Here, we study social influence on food choice through carefully designed causal analyses, leveraging the sequential nature of shop queues on a large university campus. In particular, we consider a large number of adjacent purchases where a focal user immediately follows another user (“partner”) in the checkout queue and both make a purchase. Across food additions purchased during lunchtime together with a meal, we find that the focal user is significantly more likely to purchase the food item when the partner buys the item, vs. when the partner does not, increasing the purchasing probability by 14% in absolute terms, or by 83% in relative terms. The effect is observed across all food types, but largest for condiments. Furthermore, purchasing mimicry is present across age, gender, and status subpopulations, but strongest for students and the youngest. We elucidate the behavioral mechanism of purchasing mimicry, and derive direct implications for interventions improving dietary behaviors on campus, such as facilitating pre-ordering to reduce detrimental interactions.

Demographic features or spatial structures? Unpacking local variation during the 2022 Iranian protests

Why do protests emerge and endure in some localities but not others? This study focuses on urban protests in the city of Tehran, Iran’s capital and largest city, during the 2022 uprising to explain why protests emerged and endured in some neighbourhoods but not others. Using an original geocoded dataset of 339 protest events at the neighbourhood level, I test two competing sets of demographic and spatial explanations. The results reveal that protests are more likely to emerge and persist in neighbourhoods with a higher percentage of educated citizens, closer proximity to university campuses and convenient access to metro stations. I provide theoretical explanations on how education boosts political awareness, university campuses act as networking hubs influencing surrounding areas and metro stations facilitate critical gathering points for protests. The findings remain consistent even when I control for a range of variables and use alternative specifications.

Call to Action: Responding to COVID-19, Racism, and Student Mental Health on University Campuses

ABSTRACT The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic initiated a cascade of stressors that occurred concurrently with increasing issues of racism and racial injustice events. These compounded healthcare and societal stressors significantly impacted the mental health of individuals worldwide, including university students. To address the needs of students, a survey was administered to undergraduate, graduate, and professional students at a large public university in the southeastern United States. Qualitative data were collected regarding student mental health, recommendations for institutional resources, and support needs therein. Thematic analysis of qualitative responses from 1050 university students indicated six areas students stated they wanted the university to address to support their mental health needs: (1) Communication, (2) Academic Concerns, (3) Mental Health Resources and Connections, (4) COVID-19 Safety, (5) Social Injustice, and (6) Financial Concerns. To address these areas, we propose a set of evidence-based recommendations within the Social-Ecological Framework for colleges and universities to adopt to support student mental health considering all races, backgrounds, and experiences. Additionally, we propose strategies for university and college counseling centers to provide an essential leadership role on campuses to move these recommendations forward and positively impact the mental health of students.

Students’ Perception Towards Solid Waste Management and Environmental Sustainability of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Campus, Awka

Nigeria’s rising population makes waste generation an inevitable endeavour. In the journey of national development, waste generation is static. With a population of over 170 million, Nigeria produces a staggering volume of solid waste, of which less than 20% is collected through a formal system. Waste generation on the Nnamdi Azikiwe University campus, Awka, has remained contentious as generated waste is neither categorised nor recycled for re-usage purposes. The survey research method was adopted for this research, with the questionnaire utilised as research instrument. This study included the entire population due to size manageability. Statistically, descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were fit for purpose and, hence, utilised. Findings revealed that biological processing of waste and environmental waste management education would result in the environmental sustainability of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University campus, Awka. This study recommends that the university management prioritise building a biological waste processing facility and champion the creation of environmental waste management education awareness for improved harmful waste generation and control.

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Reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through renovation of the existing building stock is high on national and international agendas, but a broader understanding that includes building inventory and the circular economy is not often included. By 2028, the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) plans to consolidate university campuses and rehabilitate up to 45 000 m2 of buildings. There are some signs of circular economy at the university in institutionally established practices such as waste sorting, and green procurement, but there exists a greater potential. In 2021, the authors organised a living lab at the university, aiming to investigate whether further measures could be implemented to reduce the consumption of university inventory, such as furniture and computer equipment. We found that reuse, in contrast to the centralised administrative provision of inventory, encouraged practices of care. The experiments in the living lab addressed the dominant homogeneity and standardised character of university fixtures and fittings, provoking enthusiasm for previously discarded and unwanted objects and offering opportunities for new caring relationships. The paper asks, in what ways caring practices are performed in efforts to reduce consumption and achieve sustainability goals in complex organisations such as universities. Data was collected during experiments organised as part of the living lab. The caring practices that we identified are context-aware, empowering, egalitarian, and avoid prioritising some kinds of practices and objects over others.

College Students’ Anticipated Bystander Intervention Actions Against Male Supremacism: “Something More Needs to be Done”

Male supremacist groups and ideas are an increasing threat to the positive development of young people, including college students. This study examines actions students proposed taking when presented with a scenario in which a male classmate displayed warning signs of having been exposed to male supremacist ideas online. We conducted 16 semi-structured interviews with undergraduate students involved in sexual violence prevention efforts on college campuses, who acted as key informants. Participants were ages 18 to 23, female or non-binary, and attended geographically diverse U.S. colleges. More than 50% held marginalized racial and/or ethnic identities, and more than 50% held LGBTQ+ identities. We analyzed students’ responses using critical thematic analysis informed by social justice youth development and antifascist violence prevention. Students suggested direct intervention strategies to encourage change in the hypothetical classmate, and identified peers, faculty, and staff who they would talk to about the warning signs. Students also identified barriers to intervention, including personal safety risks and wanting proof of harm. Findings indicate the need for: institutional resources for options other than peer bystander intervention that can promote individual change; support for students to assess their safety when choosing intervention strategies; and antifascist community-building.

Abstract 4126895: Bridging the Gap in San Joaquin Valley LGBTQ+ Cardiovascular Disease and Mental Health Disparities

Introduction: LGBTQ+ adults experience discrimination and violence that lead to stressors in daily life. Homophobia affects the mental health of the growing San Joaquin Valley (SJV) LGBTQ+ community leading to psychological distress and mental health concerns which can further lead to High Blood Pressure (HBP) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). SJV has a growing rate of LGBTQ+ migrants from the Bay Area who may be at risk for psychological distress and CVD. With a diverse community of low income and minority groups, the lack of physicians do not represent the workforce of SJV. Objectives: Trainees conducted Kessler psychological distress tests, HBP and CVD screenings across college campuses and community events to reduce the risk of CVD and spread awareness about mental health, CVD and its implications in the LGBTQ+ population due to environmental racism in the most underserved region for health care, SJV. Methods: I trained and provided mentorship to medically ambitious diverse low-income high school to instill a passion in them to come back after their medical education to practice medicine and promote LGBTQ+ health equity in SJV. Students conducted weekly Kessler psychological distress tests, HBP screenings and serve as a health technology coach. Each student monitored 2 hypertensive and psychological distressed patients. Kessler psychological distress tests and CVD screenings were conducted at college campuses to spread awareness about LGBTQ+ mental health and heart health and track psychological distress and HBP in the LGBTQ+ community. Findings: -About 88% (98 of 112) experienced some form of discrimination from a health care professional -About 57% (64 of 112) of SJV LGBTQ+ population are at risk for CVD -About 14% (16 of 112) of SJV LGBTQ+ population are Stage 1 hypertensive -About 76% (83 of 112) of SJV LGBTQ+ population are at risk for hypertension and are psychologically distressed Direct Outcomes: -Youth learned the value of empathy and service to disadvantaged LGBTQ+ communities through the program and volunteering -LGBTQ+ empowerment and students are determined to pursue medicine and address community concerns -Awareness, education among LGBTQ+ community for better heart and mental health -Better understanding in how to manage and seek referral for mental health and health systems concerns -Students learned about SJV health disparities and applied precision medicine to their own health inequity projects in SJV -Improved LGBTQ+ patient provider trust

Prepare for the worst: Make evacuation plans accessible

The 2024 hurricane season had more than its fair share of hurricanes, tornadoes, and tropical storms. Hurricanes Beryl, Debby, Ernesto, Helene, and Milton caused tens of billions of dollars in property damage, including damage to college and university campuses, plus hundreds of deaths. These hurricanes, as well as other natural disasters, serve as a reminder for postsecondary institutions to engage in emergency planning.

Physiological changes in shrub species due to different sources of dust pollution in an urban environment.

Plants effectively filter ambient air by adsorbing particulate matter. The correct selection of landscape plants can exert greater dust retention benefits in different polluted areas. However, few studies have focused on the dust retention ability and related physiological responses of plants under continuous dust pollution from different dust sources. Here, we assessed the particle retention dynamics and plant physiology (chlorophyll content, soluble protein content, soluble sugar content, and peroxidase activity) of six shrubs (Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea, Ligustrum vicaryi, Rosa multiflora, Sorbaria sorbifolia, Swida alba, and Syzyga oblata) under continuous dust pollution from different dust sources (industrial sources: area below the direction of the coal-fired thermal power plant in Chengyang District, Qingdao, China; traffic sources: both sides of the road in each direction at the intersection of Great Wall Road and Zhengyang Road, Chengyang District, Qingdao, China; clean sources: Qingdao Agricultural University Campus, Qingdao Olympic Sculpture Park). The results showed that R. multiflora had the highest dust retention per unit leaf area of 3.27 ± 0.018g·m-2 and 2.886 ± 0.02g·m-2 in the experimental treatments of fuel source dust and clean source dust, respectively. The chlorophyll content of the tested shrubs significantly decreased due to the influence of dust treatment time, the range of cellular osmoregulatory substances (soluble sugars, soluble proteins, proline) tended to first increase and then decrease, and the antioxidant enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase, peroxidase) tended to increase and then decrease after continuous dust treatment. The greatest physiological changes were observed in plants within the industrial dust treatment area. The peroxidase activity and chlorophyll could be used as sensitive indicators of dust pollution in plants. R. multiflora showed better resistance to dust and had a greater dust retention capacity than other shrubs, making it more suitable for planting as a greening tree in industrial and traffic-polluted areas. S. alba and S. sorbifolia are sensitive to dust pollution, so they can be used as sensitive tree species to indicate atmospheric dust pollution. Our results may help design a feasible approach for urban shrub greening.

The Arab Woman In Israel In A Tight Spot: Academia And Career Versus Marriage And Family

This study concentrates on the impact that marriage has on the personal development of Israeli Arab women in the field of higher education and employment. These women are a minority within a minority as they belong to Israel’s Arab ethnic community but are also a gender-segregated minority within their patriarchal society. Whereas other studies touch on the overall struggle of Arab women to reach personal fulfillment despite intense family life, the focus of this study is specifically the marriage itself as a watershed in the young Arab Israeli woman’s life. To fully understand the challenges constructed by marriage, 25 Israeli Arab women were interviewed in-depth on a university campus. The findings indicate the negative effect that traditional marriage has on these women’s personal futures. The study concludes on the optimistic note that the interviews also revealed a deep awareness among young Arab women of their personal rights and liberties.

Creating a “sense of belonging” for Indigenous students: identifying supports to improve access and success in post-secondary education

Indigenous post-secondary students face cumbersome barriers to educational attainment. This article explores those barriers and presents findings from a survey of Indigenous students conducted at Algoma University in Sault St. Marie, Ontario, Canada. For First Nations’ students surveyed in 2016 ( n = 36), funding was identified as a major barrier and, considering that nearly half of students had dependents, finding affordable housing and childcare was a significant challenge. The transition to an urban area from living on-reserve is also difficult for many students. The Anishinaabe Initiatives Division at Algoma University hosted culturally affirming events for Indigenous students. We found this to be an effective tool universities can use to bolster student resilience and foster a sense of belonging. We also propose that funding on university campuses must increase to support Indigenous students’ educational attainment goals.

Social disorganization theory and the college campus periphery

AbstractObjectiveThis study tests the idea that neighborhoods on the periphery of large U.S. university campuses are socially disorganized and thus higher in crime relative to those that do not border university campuses. Social disorganization theory predicts that crime in these neighborhoods is elevated due to their high rate of residential mobility, relatively low socioeconomic status, and high levels of ethnic heterogeneity.MethodsTo test this hypothesis, data from the National Neighborhood Crime Study 2000 were analyzed. The data set contains a representative sample of U.S. neighborhoods with variables measured at the tract level. A series of t‐tests note the difference in crime rate means for campus and non‐campus areas, and ordinary least squares (OLS) regression analyses further test the hypothesis.ResultsWe find support for the main prediction using basic social disorganization models containing composite measures plus tract and city‐level controls.ConclusionThe theoretical and practical implications of this research are discussed along with the study's limitations and the potential for future research.

Case Study: Impact Analysis of Roof-Top Green Infrastructure on Urban System Sustainability in San José, CA

This paper presents results from a case study focusing on analyzing impacts of Green Infrastructure (GI) on sensible and latent heat fluxes, urban microclimate and the subsequent water–energy nexus components of an urban infrastructure system. The case study, focusing on the campus of a public university in San José, CA, aimed to quantify the pre- and post-conditions for a hypothetical GI implementation, which is in support of San José State University’s (SJSU) robust sustainability initiatives, which are also aligned with Silicon Valley’s broader strategic goals. The results revealed that a reduction of 0.3 °C in the average daily peak maximum temperature on campus could be achieved by the GI implementation. Air-conditioning related energy use was projected to decrease by 1.28%, monthly water use by 7052 m3, and it would result in an estimated reduction of approximately 2800 kWh in the water–energy nexus. In addition to lowering the campus’s carbon footprint, GI therefore offers significant economic and environmental benefits in terms of reductions in the urban air temperature, energy usage and water demand. This study provides valuable information for policy makers and low impact development water infrastructure managers considering GI implementation.

Human-made sounds in informal learning spaces on a university campus

The university property management department has been facing a challenge with the strategic management of campus spaces due to the need for informal learning spaces (ILSs) to facilitate students’ independent studies. However, there’s limited research on how these ILSs perform, particularly concerning human-made sounds. This study delves into the impact of human-made sounds on students, considering their individual differences and positive experiences in various types of ILSs within an Australian university campus. The investigation includes open-ended questions to delve deeper into students’ positive experiences with human-made sounds across different ILSs. The research findings demonstrate that the impact of human-made sounds on students is influenced by certain individual characteristics. Additionally, the study identifies three types of positive experiences regarding human-made sounds in ILSs for students: a sense of relaxation induced by human-made sounds, the sound-masking effect, and increased motivation for learning. This study could assist university property managers in understanding students’ perceptions of human-made sounds and aid in strategic management of campus space that aligns with students’ needs and preferences for ILSs, improving the overall learning environment and support student success.

Technological, economic, and emission analysis of the oxy-combustion process

AbstractThe high concentration of polluting emissions, and in particular of CO2 in the atmosphere, determines the greenhouse effect, therefore it is necessary to reduce its quantity as much as possible. For this reason, a strong commitment is underway to obtain effective technological improvements and to study adequate operational measures. One measure among these may be the oxy-combustion process.Many researchers have studied this process, its characteristics, and operating conditions but what is not known in the literature is the economic feasibility of a plant employing this technology and its environmental impact. There are few plants powered by oxy-combustion and many of these are still pilot plants, for this reason using Retscreen it was possible to evaluate and optimize the technical and financial feasibility of an oxy-fuel cogeneration plant for a university campus in such a way as to demonstrate the cost-effectiveness and lower environmental impact that an oxy-fuel system causes compared to a traditional system. It was evaluated the return on investment for the cogeneration plant as the economic parameters varied: in almost all cases analyzed the investment turned out to be convenient and the minimum calculated payback time was 2.5 years.With this software, it was also possible to determine the environmental impact of this technology which corresponds to a reduction of approximately 3700 tons/year of carbon dioxide compared to a traditional type of system. This work will encourage the investors and corporate sector to embrace this alternative technology for decreasing polluting emissions from the process.

The Influence of Building Surroundings and Glass Cover in Bird Collisions

The characteristics of building surroundings can influence the number of bird deaths caused by collisions with glass structures. Thus, this study investigated whether the number of trees, the distance to the nearest tree, the number of fruit trees, and the glass area influenced the number of bird collisions on a university campus in Brazil from March 2017 (breeding and non-breeding seasons) to January 2018 (breeding season). Twenty-four birds died due to collisions with the windows in the one-year sampling. Among the factors evaluated, the number of trees and the area of the glass predicted the number of deaths from collisions. The greater the number of trees and the glass area, the greater the number of bird collisions. This suggests that the more vegetation there is near windows, the more birds are attracted, and the less visible the glass barrier becomes, possibly due to the appearance of trees in reflections or scenes viewed through the glass, making it difficult for birds to distinguish the real landscape from the reflected environment. If large expanses of glass are placed on buildings near vegetation, including trees, more bird collisions will occur. Thus, to reduce bird collisions, building designs should reduce the amount of glass used on building exteriors near vegetation and ensure the glass is treated with visual markers.

Validation of DEQ-5 unidimensionality and differential item functioning of Saudi adult populations

Objective: The Dry Eye Questionnaire (DEQ-5) is a questionnaire for dry eyes vital for assessing ocular surface disease severity in dry eye disease (DED). This analysis aimed to comprehensively evaluate its precision, reliability, unidimensionality, and differential item functioning (DIF) irrespective of age and gender. Methods: This cross-sectional research was carried out between March 2021 and March 2022. A systematic random sampling technique selected participants (n=634). The DEQ-5 questionnaire was used in the King Saud University campus clinic and Kingdom Hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Statistical analysis was performed using statistical software (SPSS version 28 SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL; for Windows). Standard deviations (SDs), percentages, and averages are used to show the data reliability analysis to test Cronbach's coefficient, which calculated the scale's internal consistency, McDonald's coefficient, and item-rest correlations. Moreover, Rasch Analysis has been performed to check if the DEQ-5 can distinguish different levels of dry eye symptoms. Results: The study revealed that the DEQ-5 performed well in various aspects. At 2, the person separation index (PSI) was satisfactory, indicating good reliability (0.80). Items separation revealed outstanding reliability (1.00), with mean square data for attire and infit within acceptable ranges (0.545-1.674 and 0.578-1.698, respectively). The high-reliability precision (77%) suggests the questionnaire's ability to elicit accurate responses. The analysis confirmed unidimensionality; the first contrast's eigenvalue for unexplained variance is less than 2 (1.79). DIF analysis stratified by age showed that participants aged 16-26 performed better on @3QUESTION than those aged 27-40. Similarly, based on gender, males outperformed females in @1B and @2QUESTION. Furthermore, with a Cronbach's coefficient of 0.767 and a McDonald's coefficient of 0.828, the DEQ-5 demonstrated adequate internal consistency, reaffirming its reliability. Conclusions: The DEQ-5 is a robust instrument for evaluating DED severity, as evidenced by its acceptable precision, reliability, unidimensionality, and DIF analysis results. Understanding its performance across different age and gender groups provides valuable insights for its use in clinical and research settings, ensuring accurate assessment and diagnosis of DED.