Mountain Scholar :: Browsing by Author "Bruyere, Brett, committee member"

Browsing by Author "Bruyere, Brett, committee member"

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Open Access
An examination of the value of community in natural resources education
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2014) Archie, Tim, author; Newman, Peter, advisor; Vaske, Jerry, committee member; Bruyere, Brett, committee member; Most, David, committee member
The Warner College of Natural Resources (WCNR) at Colorado State University has purposefully implemented a range of programs which emphasize social factors, such as sense of community, and are designed to increase the likelihood of student success. Typical measures of student success in WCNR (and higher education in general) have included student outcomes such as: retention, engagement, learning, and enhancing the overall student experience. However, little is known to what extent social factors such as sense of community have value in influencing student outcomes such as retention, learning, and students' overall experience. Therefore, the overall purpose of this dissertation was to examine the value of community in influencing student outcomes. This dissertation studied the role of community in influencing student outcomes in two types of academic programs (learning communities & fieldwork courses) and examined how students' level of social engagement within the WCNR community was related to their overall experience within the college. Chapter one outlines theories of student retention, experiential learning, and student engagement. Chapters two and three examined academic programs that have been shown to promote a sense of community: a residential first year learning community (chapter two) and fieldwork course (chapter three). In chapter four, the investigation of community was expanded beyond single programs and explored the extent to which students' social experience and participation in the WCNR community is related to their satisfaction with their overall experience within the college. Chapter five provides summaries of these studies and implications, limitations, and suggestions for future research. The first study examined sense of community in residential learning communities. Learning communities have been shown to effectively retain students and promote a sense of community, but it is unclear to what extent learning communities' effectiveness in retaining students can be attributed to sense of community. Therefore, the primary purpose of this study was to determine the value of the sense of community created by learning communities in influencing student persistence. The results of this study indicated that learning communities were effective in promoting a sense of community and students were generally not planning to leave the institution because their sense of community needs were not met. The second study examined the value of experiential learning in a fieldwork course at Pingree Park. Prior work has shown that fieldwork courses are effective in producing knowledge and skills that are transferable beyond the course, and a sense of community, but it is unclear to what extent the effectiveness of fieldwork courses in producing these outcomes can be attributed to a sense of community. The findings of this study indicated that sense of community had value in influencing knowledge and subsequently confidence in knowledge and skills gained in a residentially based field course. Additionally, sense of community had a significantly weaker effect on these outcomes, likely due to the less immersive social interactions with peers and the quality of sense of community they experienced compared to residential field course participants. The third and final study explored social engagement in the WCNR and the value of social engagement in influences student satisfaction. Social engagement was reflective of students' perceptions and level of participation of social components of the WCNR community. The findings of this study indicated that the more socially engaged a student is, the more satisfied they were with their WCNR experience. Additionally, active and collaborative learning, which is incorporated in many WCNR programs, was shown to positively influence social engagement. These findings suggest that the programs designed which incorporate active and collaborative learning have value in influencing students' perceptions and level of participation in the WCNR community and subsequently their overall satisfaction with WCNR.
Open Access
College students' transformative learning: an ethnographic case study of an alternative break program to Kenya
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2014) Gardenier, Karen, author; Makela, Carole, advisor; Jennings, Louise, committee member; Bruyere, Brett, committee member; Aoki, Eric, committee member
This study describes the processes and forms of college students' learning resulting from a non-credit-bearing, two week alternative break program to Kenya that took place December 2012 - January 2013. It is necessary to understand students' learning on short-term education abroad programs because of three national trends: 1) growing study abroad offerings of eight weeks or less, 2) increased popularity of programs to non-traditional locations, and 3) desire among universities, employers, and legislators to create globally engaged graduates. This exploratory study uses interviews, focus groups, and participant observation in an ethnographic case study design. Fourteen students, two group leaders, eight host community members, and the researcher participated in the study. Mezirow's transformative learning theory provides the theoretical lens through which research questions, observations, and conclusions are formulated and drawn. Research is presented in three journal articles bracketed by an introduction and conclusion. The introductory chapter describes the research purpose, questions, significance, theoretical perspective, delimitations, and the researcher's perspective. Chapter two seeks to uncover how students learn. Findings discuss five processes of student transformative learning, namely 1) learning as a journey, 2) experiencing discomfort, 3) reflecting and relating to one another, 4) building relationships with the community, and 5) receiving support from group leaders. Chapter three examines the forms, or outcomes, of student learning. It demonstrates that affective, behavioral, and cognitive forms of learning are possible and offers guidelines for practitioners who lead and administer short-term education abroad programs. It also explores students' reentry challenges. Chapter four recounts in-depth stories of two students as they recall the multiple ways the 2011-2012 program to Kenya impacted their actions, thoughts, and emotions and how it prompted them to return one year later. It pays particular attention to the ways students engaged in reflection and reframing. The final chapter provides linkage among chapters and results for the study as a whole. This study concludes that dialog, reflection, individualization of experiences, and relationship-building are essential to students' learning during and after an international experience.
Embargo
Crystallizing change in a tourism-based economy during COVID-19: an intermountain western gateway case study of Nederland, Colorado
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2023) Branstrator, Julia, author; Cavaliere, Christina T., advisor; Bruyere, Brett, committee member; Cottrell, Stuart, committee member; Snodgrass, Jeffrey, committee member
The COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped mobility patterns within the tourism system uniquely stressing parks and protected areas (PPAs) and respective bordering gateway communities. Tourism research has explored changes related to PPAs since COVID-19 at the international (Spenceley et al., 2021), national (Lebrun, et al., 2021), and regional and local scales (Cavaliere & Branstrator 2023; Sohn et al., 2021). Recent scholarship in tourism has brought attention to the experiences and knowledge of residents living within communities bordering PPAs to understand the impacts of COVID-19 from local perspectives (Jones et al., 2021). However, tourism scholarship related to COVID-19 underrepresents the experiences of intermountain western gateway communities (IWGCs) - small communities within remote mountain regions bordering PPAs that often live with tourism-based economies (Stoker et al., 2021). Throughout COVID-19, IWGCs have lived through societal, political and health crises compounded by climate disasters such as wildfires and flooding. The remote geographic location and economic basis of tourism shapes the impacts, adaptations and needs of IWGCs, imperative to inform crisis and disaster management due to the presence and power of tourism-based economies. Residents from the Town of Nederland, Colorado hold lived, situated knowledge of changes experienced during COVID-19 which can further tourism scholarship of resiliency as related to the COVID-19 crisis. Therefore, this research aims to explore the relationships between changes experienced by Nederland residents hosting a tourism economy during COVID-19 through a narrowed scope of identity, affect, and technology use – each representing important components of crisis and disaster management needing further exploration. Three objectives are established to achieve the aim of this research. First, to further the critical and affective turns within tourism scholarship through an embodied research design exploring identities of Nederland residents. Second, to assess the role of technology in navigating spatial and social realities of the COVID-19 pandemic impacting identities. Third, cultural realignment is used as a tool of analysis to explore processes and agents of change revealing power dynamics within Nederland including community resilience and representation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Influential literature from social-ecological and psychological resiliency, embodiment and affect, biocultural knowledge, identities, and technology underpins this research. Through an embodied approach, the worldviews of myself as researcher and Nederland residents become new contributions to knowledge by considering the body as an intersecting point between affective, biocultural, and technocultural influences. A crystallization methodology is employed guided by a feminist new materialist epistemology to construct a robust representation of resident accounts through critical qualitative methods. Reflexive thematic analysis of semi-structured, in-depth interviews is complemented by field notes and secondary sources such as online featuring and representation of Nederland to conceptualize identities at the individual and community scale. This investigation of identities within crisis management and resiliency through the research context of Nederland, Colorado conducts holistic, empirical reflection upon resident agency and community resilience to changes during COVID-19. This methodological approach elicits rich knowledge to conceptualize identities of Nederland residents as complex, affective embodiments of multi-scalar changes mediated by tourism impacts during the COVID-19.
Open Access
I. Seed dispersal by the critically endangered Alala (Corvus hawaiiensis). II. Integrating community values into Alala (Corvus hawaiiensis) recovery
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2011) Culliney, Susan Moana, author; Pejchar, Liba, advisor; Savidge, Julie, committee member; Bruyere, Brett, committee member
Species loss can lead to cascading effects on communities, including the disruption of ecological processes such as seed dispersal. The endangered Alala (Corvus hawaiiensis), the largest remaining species of native Hawaiian forest bird, was once common in mesic and dry forests on the Island of Hawaii, but today exists solely in captivity. Prior to its extinction in the wild, the Alala may have helped establish and maintain native Hawaiian forest communities by dispersing seeds of a wide variety of native plants. In the absence of Alala, the structure and composition of Hawaii's forests may be changing and some large-fruited plants may be dispersal limited, persisting primarily as ecological anachronisms. I fed captive Alala a variety of native fruits, documented behaviors relating to seed dispersal, and measured the germination success of seeds that passed through the gut of Alala relative to the germination success of seeds in control groups. Alala ate and carried fourteen native fruits and provided germination benefits to several species by ingesting their seeds. My results suggest that some plants rely heavily on Alala for these services. In captivity, juvenile birds displayed seed dispersal behaviors more often than adult birds for most fruiting plants in my study. I introduced captive Alala to two large-fruited, dry forest plants, not previously recorded as Alala food resources, but which may have once been part of their natural diet. The seed dispersal behavior that Alala displayed towards these species supports the inclusion of dry and mesic forests in Alala habitat restoration plans and adds weight to the idea that plant dispersal limitation may contribute to the rarity of these plants. My study provides evidence that Alala have the capacity to play a vital role in maintaining the diversity of fruiting plants in native Hawaiian forests through seed dispersal and enhanced seed germination, thus adding greater urgency to efforts to restore Alala to their former range. Incorporating community values and perspectives into endangered species recovery programs is generally underutilized but can be an important tool for achieving conservation success. Species recovery programs adjacent to human communities can particularly benefit from integrating local perspectives on nature into program goals and practices. The Alala or Hawaiian Crow (Corvus hawaiiensis) is currently extinct in the wild but once possessed great cultural value to ancient Hawaiians and may have played a pivotal role as a seed disperser in Hawaii's forests. Past efforts to restore this charismatic bird to its historical range failed in part due to human conflict. I conducted focus group interviews in two communities bordering Alala historical range to assess participants' ability to recognize the Alala, and to understand how these community members value natural resources. I found that although very few participants recognized the Alala, many expressed curiosity and concern for the species. Participants demonstrated predominantly utilitarian views towards natural resources but these value orientations were steeped with cultural significance. Alala recovery efforts will benefit through emphasis of both the utilitarian and cultural value of this species. Reintroduction projects in Hawaii and elsewhere should dedicate a portion of their resources towards understanding the perspectives of the human communities surrounding future reintroduction sites. This approach will help avoid potential conflicts before they arise and maximize the likelihood of success by building programs based on shared values.
Open Access
Influencing Leave No Trace behavioral intentions in frontcountry visitors to national and state parks
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2013) Lawhon, James B., author; Newman, Peter, advisor; Vagias, Wade, committee member; Payne, Sarah, committee member; Bruyere, Brett, committee member
Resource degradation resulting from visitor behavior continues to be a significant concern for land managers, and effective educational messages such as those promoted through Leave No Trace, which target depreciative behaviors, are imperative. This thesis examined psychological and knowledge variables that were hypothesized to influence Leave No Trace behavioral intent of visitors to national and state parks. While knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and behaviors of outdoor enthusiasts in the context of Leave No Trace have been studied in backcountry visitors, research pertaining to frontcountry visitors is limited. Chapter 1 examined specific factors that influence Leave No Trace behavioral intent in visitors to Rocky Mountain National Park. Data were obtained from an on-site survey administered to individuals (N = 390, response rate 74%) in the Bear Lake corridor of the park. Results of a regression analysis revealed that perceived effectiveness of Leave No Trace practices is a significant predictor of future behavioral intent (B > .21, p < .001, in all cases). Frontcountry visitors like those at Bear Lake are more likely to practice Leave No Trace if they perceive the practices to be effective at reducing impacts. Chapter 2 examined variables that were hypothesized to influence Leave No Trace behavioral intent in state park visitors. Data were obtained from an on-site survey administered to individuals (N = 346, response rate 93%) in three Wyoming state parks and historic sites. Results suggest that both attitudes and the perceived effectiveness of Leave No Trace practices are meaningful predictors of behavioral intent in state park visitors, and that messaging targeting these variables can be effective at influencing behavioral intent. Both chapters in this thesis provide specific managerial implications that could strengthen Leave No Trace educational efforts in frontcountry locations by targeting specific attitudes and perceptions about recommended Leave No Trace practices in order to influence behavioral intentions. Furthermore, the results indicate that visitors to national parks and state parks could generally benefit from a more uniform approach to Leave No Trace education, which is likely to enhance overall adoption of Leave No Trace by land managers across the agency spectrum.
Open Access
International development in two rural Kenyan villages: a transnational feminist approach
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2014) Marweg, Abby Christina, author; Bubar, Roe, advisor; Souza, Caridad, committee member; Bruyere, Brett, committee member
This qualitative study explores the perspectives and stories of the women who live in the villages of Umoja and Unity in the northern Samburu region of Kenya and the impacts of Western driven international development projects in their communities. Through semi-structured interviews conducted in the villages of Umoja and Unity this thesis outlines the complexities of international development organizations and their relationship to the women, their access to resources, and the economic structures affecting their lives. This study augments transnational feminist theory with that of international development and economy to argue that the current system of development is inadequate. This study will show that this insufficiency in development initiatives is due to a failure by the Global North, global feminists, and development organizations to address the structural intersectionality that affects the women in Umoja and Unity and their lives.
Open Access
Investing in tomorrow's natural resource stewards: how understanding target audiences can improve efforts to reconnect youth with nature
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2012) Thomas, Rebecca, author; Teel, Tara, advisor; Bruyere, Brett, committee member; Davies, Timothy, committee member
This thesis presents two manuscripts that explored how conservation education efforts could be improved through development of more targeted educational initiatives informed by research. The overall research and outreach initiative, upon which these manuscripts were based, encompassed the ideals of the "No Child Left Inside" movement, which grew in part from Richard Louv's (2008) best-selling book Last Child in the Woods. Underlying this movement are linkages between time spent outside as a child and overall mental and physical health and well- being as well as future commitment to environmental stewardship. Broad scale societal and demographic changes (e.g., urbanization, economic growth, increasing levels of income and education, and population growth, among others) impact how children and families interact with nature. Environmental education can contribute to addressing these changes by facilitating interactions with nature. The overall purpose of this thesis was to evaluate environmental education programs offered by state fish and wildlife agencies that would account for public values toward wildlife by reaching out to diverse target audiences, making both methodological and theoretical contributions to the field of environmental education. The purpose of the first paper was to evaluate the Lincoln Safari, an established, successful program developed to encourage families to explore natural and cultural heritage sites within an urban area. The objectives of evaluating this program were to 1) assess the diversity of participants in the program in terms of their values toward wildlife, 2) document how participating in the Lincoln Safari influenced conservation behaviors, and 3) understand key elements that attracted families to participate in the Lincoln Safari. Data were collected via a mixed-methods approach that included an on-site survey administered to participants in the 2010 Lincoln Safari program in Lincoln, Nebraska, monthly follow-up surveys administered via e- mail, and focus group interviews with a select group of participating families. Results indicated that the Lincoln Safari has been successful in attracting a variety of age groups and wildlife value orientation types. Quantitative analysis of engagement in environmental stewardship behaviors showed that there was a link between the number of years a family had participated in the Lincoln Safari and the amount of time they reported spending outdoors as a family over the past year as well as their engagement in recycling behaviors. Furthermore, individuals with certain value orientations toward wildlife were more likely than others to report increases in other environmental stewardship behaviors. Focus group interviews corroborated these findings, revealing, for example, that Lincoln Safari participation resulted in increased mindfulness of the environmental impact of daily decisions. Additionally, these focus group interviews revealed elements of the Lincoln Safari that made it particularly appealing to families. Overall, families found it attractive because it awakened a sense of adventure, facilitated multigenerational learning, and helped families to create memories. The second paper documents a methodological approach for studying outcomes of youth participation in an environmental education program that included service learning and integration of cultural heritage values in the Ka`u region of the Island of Hawai`i. The purpose of this study was to learn about how the integration of cultural heritage values into the program affected how participants related to nature, and to develop a methodological approach for evaluating environmental education programs for underserved groups in culturally sensitive areas. This study was based in part upon previously conducted interviews with key elders in the community that highlighted the importance of building upon existing partnerships, working with local residents already connected within the community, and integrating cultural heritage values into environmental education programs in Ka`u in order to maximize interest and participation in programs in this region. Researcher observations, photovoice, document analysis and semi- structured interviews were then used to assess a recent 2011 offering of the Imi Pono No Ka Aina (Seeking Excellence for the Land) program in Ka`u. Participants' program portfolios, which consisted of participants' written program materials, researcher observations, photographs and interview transcriptions, were analyzed to better understand the impact of the program on participants' views of nature and wildlife. Analysis showed that incorporating cultural heritage values into the Imi Pono no ka Aina program in Ka`u was successful in connecting Hawai`ian youth from Ka`u to nature, and that employing a mix of qualitative methodologies yielded a more holistic understanding of the participants' experiences than relying on a single data source.
Open Access
Native bee watch: assessing the efficacy of a citizen science project monitoring native bees in Fort Collins, Colorado
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2018) Mason, Lisa, author; Kondratieff, Boris, advisor; Seshadri, Arathi, advisor; Bruyere, Brett, committee member
As the world's human population continues to grow, urban areas continue to expand, and natural spaces become more fragmented leading to dilution and loss of natural resources. Of the organisms that depend on natural resources, pollinators could face significant impacts including habitat loss, fragmentation, and deterioration. Pollinators provide substantial ecosystem services such as plant reproduction and food production for human and animals. However, urban areas are rapidly expanding and understanding its impact on insects, such as bees, is critical. One method to understand the effects of urbanization on ecosystems is to involve urban residents in exploring the components of the ecosystem around them by engaging, educating, and empowering urbanites through citizen science. Citizen science is defined as involving non-scientists in collecting data for a scientific or research project and many times contribute to a large database. Scientists are capitalizing on citizen scientist availability and enthusiasm to increase capacity, address funding shortcomings for research and satisfy the need to meet an outreach-related component. Data accuracy is one of the main concerns that scientists have with citizen science programs. Several studies have assessed the quality of citizen science data to comprehend the underlying problems and devise effective future protocols. However, the consensus is that researchers do not yet fully understand the error potential in citizen science data possibly because data accuracy does not have a reliable definition and there are few consistent metrics on data accuracy. Knowing that pollinator conservation is an attractive issue for urban citizens, and recognizing the hurdles encountered with citizen science data, we launched Native Bee Watch, a citizen science project on urban pollinators in Fort Collins, Colorado, USA, specifically to determine whether citizen scientists can collect accurate data on native bees and develop a protocol that yields accurate data. Three gardens were monitored from the last week of May through mid-September in 2016 and in 2017. Citizen scientists completed a two-hour training and spent time with the researchers in the field to ensure data accuracy. Data was collected by using the Focal Plant Sampling Procedure that was modified from animal behavior studies. Citizen science data was compared with data collected by professional researchers. Both used the exact same methods to collect data. Spearman's Rank Correlation was used to compare the citizen science data and the researcher-only data. An Urban Bee Habitat Quality index was obtained by multiplying rarified morphospecies estimate with abundance for each sampling period to determine the habitat quality using eight morphological groups of bees. Results show citizen science data was comparable to the researcher-only data. Spearman's Rank Correlation coefficients ranged 0.88 to 0.98 indicating a strong correlation between citizen science and researcher data. The habitat quality of citizen science data and the habitat quality of researcher data was not significantly different. The results indicate that the training protocols for citizen scientists were effective in having them collect comparable data to researchers. The Urban Bee Habitat Quality Index demonstrates that data collected by citizen scientists at a broad-level such as morphological categories can be used to evaluate habitat quality. Part of the training protocol for citizen scientists was continuous volunteer engagement through trainings, newsletters, and researchers working individually with citizen scientists. Results suggest the training protocols in this study were effective since the data collected by citizen scientists was significantly comparable to researcher data, indicating that citizen science can be a valuable tool to monitor native bees at a broad scale in urban areas.
Open Access
Photovoice as a technique to understand the perceptions of local people neighboring Tarangire National Park in Tanzania on the risks caused by migratory animals
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2013) Sumay, Gloria, author; Boone, Randall, advisor; Bowser, Gillian, advisor; Wittemyer, George, committee member; Bruyere, Brett, committee member
What is the impact of wildlife on communities neighboring national parks and protected areas? Understanding perceptions of risk by local communities on wildlife can help conservation efforts and the development of acceptable policies for parks and protected areas. This study examines communities along the eastern boundary of Tarangire National Park using a combination of Photovoice techniques and individual interviews to determine how these communities perceive risk from wildlife to their agriculture, livestock and economies. Here Photovoice was used to articulate participants' perception of risks to their livelihoods from migratory wildlife that transversed the national park. Three villages (Terrat, Narakauwo and Emboreet) were chosen based on their proximity to wildlife migration corridors and 12 participants from each village were asked to document their perceptions of risk from wildlife using digital cameras. Photovoice uses images taken by participants on a pre-determined topic, followed by interviews of the participants on the photographs to determine themes. In addition, twenty participants from the same villages were interviewed on their perception of risk from wildlife damage using survey questions and narratives. The characteristics of each village (size, distance from each other and distance from park boundary) were determined using GIS and satellite imaginary. The villages had different perceptions (p = 0.003) based on the three categories of risk: wildlife damage, crop damage and shared resources. Village size had no influence on the peoples' perceptions of risk; however land use patterns (farm land and associated activities) showed some influence on perceptions of risk. Changes in land use for two of the villages, Emboreet and Narakauwo, indicated a large increase in farming activities, which are likely to influence peoples' perception of risk. In Emboreet village, which has more farm land, the greatest risk was perceived as crop damage. The results of this study demonstrate the complex relationships between protected areas, migratory wildlife and community villages. To balance the needs to protect highly migratory species such as the wildebeest, conservation managers need to incorporate the perceived risks among villages and the factors that influence those perceptions.
Open Access
Public perceptions of the Colorado State Forest Service
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2014) Peterson, Courtney L., author; Vaske, Jerry, advisor; Bruyere, Brett, committee member; Timm, Katherine, committee member; Schultz, Courtney, committee member
This Master's Thesis explored three main research questions pertaining to Colorado resident's perceptions of the Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) and forest management practices. Data were obtained from a public perceptions of the CSFS survey (n = 416), which provided the first step to understanding Colorado residents' attitudes toward the agency and different forest management practices. Results from the public perceptions of the CSFS survey indicated that (a) Colorado residents' aesthetic evaluations of the nine forest management practices had a larger impact on their approval of those practices than their familiarity with them, except for creating wildfire defensible space, windbreaks, and fuelbreaks; (b) social trust is the largest predictor of overall satisfaction with the CSFS; and (c) level of education, household income, ethnicity, familiarity with the CSFS and forest management practices, and total knowledge of the CSFS were related to Colorado residents' awareness of their proximity to the wildland-urban interface (WUI). The results from the public perceptions of the CSFS survey will help the agency focus its outreach efforts to more effectively communicate with Colorado residents about the valuable services the agency provides. Only with effective outreach and education will the CSFS be able to change Colorado residents' attitudes about forest management practices and work to achieve the stewardship of Colorado's diverse forest ecosystems for the benefit of present and future generations.
Open Access
Social-psychological factors influencing community engagement in urban biodiversity conservation
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2023) Champine, Veronica Murielle, author; Niemiec, Rebecca, advisor; Balgopal, Meena, committee member; Bruyere, Brett, committee member; Jones, Megan, committee member; Solomon, Jennifer, committee member
As the human population grows and we continue to see rapid biodiversity loss, conserving natural resources in urbanized areas has become increasingly important. Motivating people to engage in pro-environmental behavior is one of the many strategies to address biodiversity. Strategic human action can help shape social norms and generate social movements that influence the social systems that intensify environmental degradation. This dissertation builds on the existing pro-environmental behavior literature and explores the motivators and barriers to different types of urban biodiversity conservation actions. These include personal-sphere behavior (i.e., participating in an action by oneself), social diffusion behavior (i.e., actions that disseminate information or behavior via social networks), and civic action behavior (i.e., citizenship actions to address a collective issue). In three articles, I use cross-sectional, experimental, and audience segmentation methods to compare the drivers of distinct behaviors, evaluate the impacts of theory-based outreach strategies, and identify target audiences for biodiversity conservation behaviors related to native plant gardening in the United States. Findings from this research can inform outreach strategies that promote greater community engagement in urban biodiversity conservation to support native wildlife and human wellbeing in urbanized areas.
Open Access
Strategic fundraising communication plan for the Office of International Programs at Colorado State University
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2017) Gerber, Anna Sprunger, author; Martey, Rosa Mikeal, advisor; Seel, Peter B., committee member; Bruyere, Brett, committee member
As a globally-focused American institution of higher education, Colorado State University aims to bring international education opportunities to all 33,000 of its students. In 2017, CSU had more than 2,000 international students from 110 countries studying on-campus in Fort Collins. Nearly 17 percent of CSU students have an international experience – study, research, internship or service-learning opportunity abroad – before they graduate. To participate in international programs, students often incur substantial costs beyond what is required for regular class enrollment, including airfare and travel, fees, and additional tuition. These costs prevent some students from participating, and often result in higher student debt upon graduation for those who do. Additional financial resources, beyond those currently provided by the university, will allow the Office of International Programs to expand its offerings and services, increase program access to include more students, and ease the financial burden on participants. To sustain and grow CSU's international programs long-term, private funding from alumni is crucial. To facilitate fundraising that supports initiatives within the Office of International Programs and contributes to CSU's overall fundraising goals, OIP must work to solicit funds from donors through a cohesive, theory-driven fundraising communication strategy and plan for implementation. At present, communication from the university does not tap into the overwhelmingly positive experiences of CSU's education abroad alumni. This affinity group is willing to give so that future students can have international experiences, but they do not know how – more than a third do not realize that their financial support can make a difference. Using theories of fundraising success, donor motivation, and persuasive media as a foundation, this project investigated ways to engage potential donors to financially support initiatives of the Office of International Programs at Colorado State University. Research methods included informal meetings with project stakeholders, an analysis of existing data related to international student satisfaction, and the collection of an original survey that examined attitudes toward international experiences and fundraising among 499 education abroad alumni. This research determined that focusing on alumni attitudes and social norms is the most effective path to stimulate philanthropic behavior. The study found that 46% of participants think that financial contributions from people like them help make education abroad possible for CSU students, and 55% would give to the Office of International Programs if they could. Further, almost all participants had overwhelmingly positive experiences abroad, and more than 95% of them would recommend the experience to future students. These insights and others were used to develop a theory-driven, empirically-based communication plan that lays the groundwork for a successful and sustainable fundraising campaign. The plan focuses on engaging participant attitudes toward education abroad and seeks to change attitudes about giving, including social norms around giving. It proposes an approach that relies on storytelling in its communication materials to tap into alumni emotions and nostalgia. The present report provides conceptual background and previous research, an analysis of data collected for this project, and recommendations for implementation and future expansion. A separate communication plan document provides key findings and recommendations for CSU administration and staff so that they can integrate the goals and strategies of the university's overall communication, fundraising, and international strategies.
Open Access
The effects of alternative spring break on the color-blind racial attitudes of undergraduate college students
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2015) Johnson, Jennifer J., author; Jennings, Louise, advisor; Bruyere, Brett, committee member; Gloeckner, Gene, committee member; Kuk, Linda, committee member
Many Americans cite the election of Barack Obama in 2008, the country's first non-White President, as proof of the arrival of the United States as a post-racial nation (Harlow, 2008). Despite this, according to an Associated Press Poll in 2012, racist attitudes in the United States have worsened since 2008 among American adults age 18 and older. Recent events, such as the killing of Black teenager Michael Brown in Fergusson, Missouri by a White police officer in August 2014, the death of Eric Garner, a Black man, at the hands of a White New York City police officer in July 2014, and the subsequent demonstrations and riots following grand jury decisions not to indict the officers reinforce the notion that racial issues are alive and well in the United States today. Service-learning experiences, including alternative spring break, are an especially relevant venue for exploring race and racial attitudes as students often engage in service across racial differences and study systems of oppression. The purpose of this mixed-method, explanatory sequential study was to describe the effect of alternative spring break on color-blind racial attitudes of undergraduate students at four institutions of higher education in the United States. The overarching research questions of the project are as follows: (a) What is the effect of alternative spring break participation on undergraduate students' color-blind racial attitudes as measured by the Color-Blind Racial Attitudes Scale (CoBRAS)?; (b) What factors influence the color-blind racial attitudes of undergraduate students participating in alternative spring break as measured by CoBRAS?; (c) How do alternative spring break program coordinators interpret CoBRAS scores of students from their institution? The Color-Blind Racial Attitudes Survey (CoBRAS) was utilized as the instrument to measure color-blind racial attitudes. Students participating in alternative spring break were given the instrument prior to spring break and after spring break. Additionally, alternative spring break coordinators had the opportunity to interpret the results from their institution. Students who participated in alternative spring break showed statistically significant lower total CoBRAS scores, as well as statistically significant lower CoBRAS scores on all three CoBRAS constructs (Unawareness of Racial Privilege; Unawareness of Institutional Discrimination; Unawareness of Blatant Racial issues). Lower CoBRAS scores indicate a reduction in color-blind racial attitudes. Factors that influenced lower scores on the instrument included host institution, issue focus of trip (people vs. animal/environment vs. mix of people/animal/environment), and gender of student participant. Through their interpretation of the quantitative results, program coordinators at the four participating institutions suggested that a) training, b) diversity of participants and leaders, c) community partners, d) developmental level/skill of trip leaders, and e) current events could have influenced the scores.
Open Access
Wildlife value orientations among diverse audiences in the American Southwest: helping state wildlife agencies broaden their constituent base
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2013) Chase, Loren, author; Teel, Tara, advisor; Manfredo, Mike, advisor; Bruyere, Brett, committee member; Boone, Randall, committee member
There is growing recognition among wildlife professionals in the United States that although their decisions largely focus on topics biological in nature, the social, political, and economic ramifications of these decisions are considerable as well. As a result, social science is increasingly being included in the wildlife management decision-making process. At the same time, the constituencies that entrust state wildlife management agencies are diversifying, in terms of both their cultural heritage and their wildlife-related interests. To improve the effectiveness of agency efforts aimed at maintaining support from long-established stakeholders while simultaneously embracing emerging publics, there is a need to better understand the characteristics of diverse audiences. Wildlife value orientation (WVOs) theory offers an advantageous framework for systematically understanding the wildlife-related beliefs and interests of various segments of society. This dissertation investigates WVOs and their application across three diverse spectra: culture, methodology, and generations, each addressed in its own manuscript and through research conducted as part of a series of case studies occurring in Arizona. In Chapter II, WVOs are compared across cultures; specifically, this chapter explores possible differences and similarities in WVOs between Latinos and Caucasians. In addition to measuring WVOs, this study collected information about life values, wildlife-related attitudes, subjective norms, and behavioral intentions. Results indicated that Latinos perceive wildlife differently than Caucasians; however there was significant heterogeneity within Latino communities in the way they interacted with and related to wildlife. These findings provide managerial insight into engaging Latino communities in wildlife conservation issues as well as offer theoretical contributions by expanding the application of the WVO concept cross-culturally. In Chapter III, we introduce and test a mixed methods approach for measuring WVOs within Latino communities. As agencies are increasingly charged with managing wildlife for a broader clientele, including people of diverse demographic and cultural backgrounds, it raises questions about the potential limitations of traditional survey methodologies for cross-cultural WVO assessment. In the interest of addressing this concern we examined WVOs in Latino communities in Arizona using two quantitative and two qualitative methodologies. We found evidence that traditional quantitative WVO surveys may still be reliable for diverse audiences; however, we also identify scenarios wherein other methodologies may be advantageous. In Chapter IV, WVOs are compared across generations. As various cohorts of people across time experience different societal conditions believed to play a role in WVO formation, they can be grouped according to similar formative experiences. These generations experience various levels of urbanization, affluence, education, and technology, all contributing to distinctive life values. Concurrent with modernization is a value shift that is altering the way people perceive and interact with wildlife, specifically increasing the egalitarian perception that wildlife may serve as potential companions capable of trusting relationships with humans and who deserve caring and rights similar to those of humans. We confirmed there is a differential in the way generations perceive wildlife, suggesting agencies may want to consider engaging each cohort differently, according to how they relate to wildlife. These findings may assist agencies as they continue to engage broader constituencies and attempt to remain salient to younger generations. Overall, we found WVO theory to be a functional and robust framework for examining people's perceptions of wildlife across cultures, methodologies, and generations. Because of its durability, WVO theory shows promise for unifying research on human-wildlife relationships in a way that transcends space, time, and contextual situations. Additionally, WVOs have the practical utility of helping agencies understand the social context of wildlife conservation, and may assist agencies in comprehending changing societal conditions so they may be better prepared for the future of wildlife conservation.

Browsing by Author "Bruyere, Brett, committee member"

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