Reliability and Validity of Scores on a Measure of Stigma of Loneliness

The purpose of this study was to validate the use and interpretation of scores derived from the Stigma of Loneliness Scale (SLS) with a sample of college students from a large, Midwestern university. A two-factor oblique solution with 10 items was selected through exploratory factor analysis and cross-validated through confirmatory factor analysis. Correlational evidence was demonstrated through positive correlations with loneliness and shame scores, and a negative correlation with social connectedness scores. Construct evidence was demonstrated through positive correlations with self-concealment and depression scores, and a negative association with distress disclosure scores. For incremental validity, items on the SLS accounted for additional variance in predicting contingent self-worth based on approval from others, shame, self-esteem, and social self-efficacy above and beyond scores on a measure of loneliness. The internal structure of the SLS was invariant across gender groups and across Time 1 and Time 2 assessments.

Practicing What We Preach

Creating inclusive classrooms is a challenge in general education. To prepare new teachers for diverse K-12 classrooms, faculty at one Midwestern university redesigned their education program to prepare preservice teachers for dual licensure in general and special education. The redesign required middle childhood faculty to learn more about complex conceptual frameworks that are prioritized in school districts across the country. One of these, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), became a non-negotiable component of the new program. An essential learning outcome became preparing pre-service teachers to utilize UDL. After the program was approved, content-area faculty questioned whether they were prepared to implement the framework. Having varied expertise in UDL, faculty wondered if they were teaching UDL effectively, and questioned whether they were modeling UDL concepts with fidelity in their own teaching. Thus, the Dual Licensure Implementation Team (DLIT) was born. This case study describes the process and product of the team's effort to implement UDL with fidelity.

Addressing Sexual and Gender Diversity in an English Education Teacher Preparation Program

Teacher education programs as a whole do little to prepare graduates to create and maintain classroom and school cultures that recognize and affirm lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning/queer + (LGBTQ+) identities. This chapter describes how an English education program chair at a Midwestern university has integrated the study of sexual and gender diversity alongside English language arts pedagogy in three different courses, including specific texts and learning activities, as well as student responses to the in-class experiences. Recommendations for future study and curriculum design are addressed.

Graduate Lean Leadership Education

A midwestern university in the USA implemented a Lean Leadership Graduate Certification Program in the 2018-2019 academic year for current and emerging leaders seeking to extend, enrich, or establish leadership knowledge, skills, abilities in the workplace. The purpose of this chapter is to share the results of an evaluation on the effectiveness of this Lean Leadership Graduate Certificate Program. The results from this case study on the Lean Leadership Graduate Certification Program indicated a need to market to a larger group of emerging leaders. Leadership development findings suggest the need to further advance knowledge development in Lean students and consideration for program goals that include strategies having a significant impact on Lean student's emotional well-being in meeting leadership challenges. A continuous need to reinforce Lean Leadership competencies as a core dimension of the program resulted in the largest impact of the program with the Lean Leadership students.

COVID-19, Distance Learning and the Digital Divide: A Case of Higher Education in the United States and Pakistan

This multiple case study describes the experiences of students, faculty and administrators with distance learning during this pandemic in the context of a Midwestern University in United States and an elitist University in Lahore, Pakistan. The participants were invited to talk about their experiences through a Zoom interview. Data were analyzed thematically and the findings revealed that the issue of the digital divide was as much as problem in higher education as in K-12. Digital divide in Pakistan is far greater due to lack of investment in educational technology. The paper ends with acknowledging the potential limitations and making recommendations for leadership and teaching practice.

Can Respectful Employees Create Equitable Institutions? Promoting a Culture of Respect in the Higher Education Workplace

This paper describes challenges to changing the culture around yellow zone sexual harassment in the higher education workplace. The yellow zone comprises harassment that is often undetected or misunderstood but nonetheless is harmful. Based on a random sample, we surveyed 4554 staff and faculty at a large Midwestern university after they completed a mandatory online training module, assessing perceptions of sexual harassment, reactions to the training, and workplace personal experiences. Findings are that a majority of respondents know where to report incidents and that the training improved knowledge about sexual and gender-based harassment. However, almost half reported problematic workplace experiences.

“The Paper Is White”: Examining Diversity Issues With the Next Generation of Journalists

Although the lack of diversity in newsrooms and reporting remains a serious issue in the journalism industry, college journalism education and student media provide a critical opportunity for change. Yet prior research has found notable diversity gaps in both. This study analyzed the state of diversity at a Midwestern university student newspaper and found significant gaps in coverage of diverse populations. The findings suggest the need for more comprehensive diversity education within the college classroom and campus media advising. This is important not only for more representative student media, but also for the future of journalism.

Sexual Identity in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer or Questioning Emerging Adults: The Role of Parental Rejection, and Sexuality Specific Family Support

The present study provides critical contributions to the study of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer or questioning (LGBTQ) emerging adults by examining the role of family and sexuality specific family support, as well as the moderating effect of gender, on sexual identity development. Specifically, the role of mother and father rejection and sexuality specific family support on both affirmed identity and identity struggles of students were assessed. Using a sample of 338 LGBTQ emerging adults at a midwestern University, findings illustrate that for sexual identity development, mother and father parental rejection positively influenced identity struggles while sexuality specific family support positively influenced affirmed identity. Also, moderation by participant gender was not supported. Limitations and future directions are discussed.