ScholarWorks@UMassAmherst

Gardening with native and near-native plants can help gardens and nearby ecosystems adapt to our changing climate, supporting their future biodiversity and resilience. Here, we provide updated and expanded state lists of “climate-smart” commercially available native and near-native plants that are expected to grow in the Northeast with continued climate change.

Purpose In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, US post-secondary institutions enacted policies that imposed spatial restrictions in order to reduce viral spread. Acting quickly to impose restrictions on campus environments often designed to foster interaction, decision-makers knew little about how student experience of learning and of community would be impacted. In this study, analysis and interpretation of interview data from young adults undergoing spatial confinement are considered, as well as interviewees’ dynamic meaning-making and resilient responses to evolving environmental conditions. Design/methodology/approach This empirical qualitative study comprised two phases of in-depth interviews with on-campus residential students. Phase I was conducted during a period of campus restrictions (Spring 2021); Phase II was conducted one year later when restrictions were lifted (Spring 2022). Findings Findings show that spatial restrictions negatively impacted student well-being resulting in a blurring of time and space, dysregulation, and mental health declines. Further, the lack of spatial differentiation and spatial transitions between activities contributed to decreases in energy, motivation and productivity. However, students demonstrated resilience by engaging in purposeful routines, seeking out varied environmental stimuli and expanding their networks through novel activities to contend with spatial and social isolation. Originality/value This study compares initial and follow-up interviews to find that agency plays a fundamental role in dynamic constructions of place-meaning. The findings suggest the importance of spatial flexibility and agency in maintaining well-being, and calls for greater sensitivity to the importance of spatial and sensory variety in human environments.

This reflective essay delves into the complex experiences of a Black woman who is a mother navigating graduate school during the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper uses a personal narrative framed as a letter to analyze the systems that sustain racial and gender disparities in graduate education. The research enhances our understanding of the intersectional challenges faced by Black mothers in doctoral studies and offers practical implications for fostering well-being in higher education.