The final Academic Enrichment Day highlights work within the Undergraduate Research Program, the Honors Program, and more.

Student research examining the legacy of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the socialization goals of Black and white parents in America, and the relationship between social media use and dietary habits are among the presentation subjects on deck for La Salle University’s third and final Academic Enrichment Day of the spring semester.

Where the semester’s first two Academic Enrichment Days invited participants to use rest as a form of resistance against racism and focus on various aspects of wellness, this academic showcase-themed day—set for Thursday, April 22—highlights research projects from students representing multiple disciplines from La Salle’s School of Arts and Sciences, School of Business, and School of Nursing and Health Sciences.

“Academic Enrichment Days are designed to give members of the La Salle community a respite from classes, Zoom meetings, and other academic and professional commitments and instead devote their energies to mindfulness and self-reflection,” said Steven F. Siconolfi, Ph.D., interim provost and vice president of academic affairs.

Most of the programming for the April 22 installment will be presented virtually through the Gather platform. Gather’s cutting-edge technology allows users to become avatars with the ability to roam throughout the virtual conference and pose questions to the presenters.

Here is an overview of the Academic Showcase events:

Student Research

9:30–11:30 a.m.

Nearly 30 students from La Salle’s Undergraduate Research Program, overseen by Juith Musser, Ph.D., and students from other departmental student research programs will present research on topics ranging from the impact of vaping among La Salle students; sexual health and discrimination among Afro-Latinx adults; the impact of double patenting standards on the pharmaceutical industry; levels of toxic materials in soil and more. Students will deliver their presentations from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. via Gather.

Honors Program exhibit

10–11 a.m., 2–3 p.m.

From the Lower Level of Connelly Library, students in the literature section of the Honors Triple will present an exhibit on 16th and 17th century books from La Salle University’s Special Collections. Overseen by Claire Busse, Ph.D., the students and their exhibit will focus on what can be learned about the past from approaching books as material objects. At two separate times, students will discuss their findings and the process of developing their exhibit—between 10–11 a.m. and again from 2–3 p.m.

Capacity is limited due to social distancing restrictions and masks are required of all in-person attendees. A pre-recorded version of the students’ presentation is available, too.

—Patrick Berkery