In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic caused a mandatory shift from in-person instruction to online learning for many young children. Teachers needed to adjust to virtual teaching, children were isolated from their peers, and parents played a bigger role in learning during the pandemic. In 2021, the shift back to in-person learning occurred. Research has…

The COVID-19 pandemic prompted schools to transition to remote instruction during the latter half of the 2019-20 school year and continuing into the 2020-21 school year. National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) data trends indicate that there were statistically significant declines in students' mathematics and reading scores between 2020…

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has had drastic effects on K-12 teachers. Researchers partnered with a teacher advisory board to identify factors associated with K-12 teachers' consideration of leaving teaching during Fall 2020. METHODS: A web-based survey focused on teachers' working experiences was emailed to school union membership listservs…

The scope of the chemical engineering curriculum has increased over time with the addition of new content such as coding and sustainability. This study aimed to identify the specific career paths of 311 chemical engineering students from the University of Kentucky (Lexington and Paducah) over the past five years. We also explored job placement of…

Social network analysis (SNA) is a research method that, when applied to improvement science, can help leaders understand the strength of relationships within their organization. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a lasting impact on organizational norms, and it has interrupted relationship building efforts. This paper documents a case study of the…

The study of anatomy is a team-driven field in which anatomy instruction occurs in small groups in the laboratory with one faculty member guiding students through each anatomical region. One laboratory experience may include several small group instructors in one simultaneous learning session. In comparison, the education of future gross…

College food insecurity (FI) and poor psychosocial health are prevalent public health issues in the U.S., yet often overlooked. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, repercussions on these critical inequity issues remain unclear. During the summer months of 2020, this cross-sectional survey examined associations between students' self-reported FI and…

For the last decade or more, circulation numbers of physical materials have declined in academic libraries across the United States. In the spring of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic drastically altered society and daily life, not to mention library functions. In particular, fears of contagion via physical surfaces and transmission by contact led many…

In addition to promoting programs and services that improve academic outcomes, state education leaders identify ways to support the social and emotional health of students, parents, and educators. This topical brief summarizes social and emotional learning (SEL) needs and strategies in Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, as outlined…

Collaboration between colleges of liberal arts and sciences and health professional schools provide fertile ground for undergraduate programs focused on health education, advocacy, and research. Complex collaboration can sometimes challenge disciplinary boundaries and traditional processes, which may need to be updated to maximize student…

Has in-person learning and virtual learning produced equivalent results when it comes to student achievement? How can a district be flexible with learning options but also strategic with how to best achieve student learning gains? This case-study examines how one district leveraged virtual learning and flexible learning options during COVID-19 and…

During such an unprecedented time of the largest public health crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, nursing students are of the utmost concern regarding their psychological and physical well-being. It is important to identify and establish influences and associations within multilevel factors, including the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on…

In "Critical Conditions," Elaine Weiss, Bruce Levine, and Kimberly Sterin outline successful strategies for whole child and whole community support that can help school systems meet broader student needs in times of disruption. They take a deep look at Integrated Student Supports (ISS), an approach to education policy and practice…

Kentucky has the highest cancer incidence and mortality rates in the nation, with rates greatest in the Appalachian region due to poor health behaviors and inequities in social determinants of health. The Appalachian Career Training in Oncology (ACTION) Program at the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center engages 20 Appalachian-native high…

As parents, communities, educators, and policymakers continue to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on student learning in America, many have turned to recently released results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). NAEP measures what students know and what they can do in several tested subjects, including reading,…