Exploring the Experiences of International Student-Athletes

According to the latest National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Student Athlete Ethnicity Report, there are 17,653 non-US citizen student-athletes competing in various sports in universities across the country, yet there is very little research to understand their experiences (NCAA, 2010). Previous research has focused on recruitment practices (Bale, 1991; Pierce, Popp, & Meadows, 2011), satisfaction (Trendafilova, Kim, & Hardin, 2010), and adjustment and transitional factors (Pierce, Popp, & Meadows, 2011; Popp, Love, Kim, & Hums, 2010; Ridinger & Pastore, 2000), with a void in examining their overall experiences. Therefore, purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the experiences of international student-athletes in the United States within their athletic department and universities, as well as in the country. Participants were solicited by email, and ultimately six (n = 6) international student-athletes from a Division-I university chose to participate in the study and represented two different countries of origin, Canada and Norway. Participants completed a semi-structured interview, consisting of one broad open-ended question followed by a series of specific follow-up questions. Content analysis revealed that most participants did not consider their experiences different than domestic student-athletes. Challenges shared by most athletes included language barriers, balancing their time, and homesickness. Results also revealed the importance of interpersonal connections, especially with coaches and athletes from the international student-athlete's home country, in ensuring a positive overall experience. Implications of this study are that individuals and professionals working in campus offices associated with international student-athletes should be mindful of their unique roles within the university in order to foster positive experiences and retention.

Sights for Sounds: The Roles of Illuminated Initials in Italian Music Manuscripts

The scholarship on illuminated initials is substantial, yet there is a significant absence of information when discussing the initials found in music manuscripts specifically. In this paper, I endeavor to supplement the current scholarship by focusing my research on music manuscripts produced in Italy between 1250 and 1500 A.D. in order to provide examples of the relationships between image, music, and text in the context of use. I use mainly iconographic research methods, though a considerable amount of background information is reliant on the research of other authors in the field of medieval philosophy and theology. Through my research I have concluded that the use of illuminated initials in medieval Italian music manuscripts enhances the function of the manuscript by providing another layer of understanding which audience members could use to aid them in their meditation, prayer, and in the performance of the music.

Developing a Citizen Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program for the Flathead Basin in Northwestern Montana for the early Detection and Prevention of the Introduction of Zebra Mussels and other Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS)

Preventing the introduction of aquatic invasive species (AIS) like zebra and quagga mussels in the U.S. is a high priority. This Capstone demonstrates zebra and quagga mussels are of concern as aquatic invasive species and a volunteer monitoring and intervention program is an effective means for early detection of AIS. This Capstone developed an AIS citizen volunteer lake monitoring program consistent with other programs concerned about AIS prevention and early detection. This Capstone concludes implementing such a voluntary program will help reduce the spread of zebra and quagga mussels and will provide early detection information to appropriate agencies empowered with response actions if species are found.

The Role of Citizen Participation in Wildlife-Sensitive Transportation Projects

An extensive and growing road system in the United States bisects vital wildlife habitat and is causing deleterious ecological effects on many wildlife species. The primary impacts include collisions between wildlife and vehicles, altered movement patterns within habitat, and/or the complete blockage of movements between vital habitats. The increasing size of the road network and number of vehicles will only intensify the problem unless proactive wildlife mitigation measures are developed to minimize these adverse effects. Therefore, this capstone project examines the role of citizen advocacy for promoting wildlife protection in the planning and development of wildlife-sensitive transportation projects in the United States. Based upon a data analysis of 21 questionnaires from qualified participants, it was determined that citizen participation is an important component associated with the development of wildlife-sensitive transportation projects. However, four major barriers to facilitating effective citizen participation processes were identified. 1) A lack of awareness. Citizens are only minimally aware of wildlife and transportation issues, including: a) the ecological impacts of roads, b) the solutions available to mitigate these impacts, and c) the opportunities to advocate for the protection of wildlife during transportation planning processes; 2) Public apathy or a lack of citizen interest in wildlife and transportation issues; 3) Ineffective citizen participation techniques and processes; and 4) Poor communication with citizens. Four recommendations were provided to assist in overcoming these barriers and to help define a better role for citizen advocacy in protecting wildlife from the growing road network.