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2. Optimizing Reverse Transfer Policies and Processes: Lessons from Twelve CWID States. Thought Paper
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Illinois University, Office of Community College Research and Leadership, Taylor, Jason L., and Bragg, Debra D.
- Abstract
In 2012, five foundations launched the Credit When Its Due (CWID) initiative that was "designed to encourage partnerships of community colleges and universities to significantly expand programs that award associate degrees to transfer students when the student completes the requirements for the associate degree while pursuing a bachelor's degree" (Lumina Foundation, 2012, n.p.), also known as "reverse transfer." Initially, 12 states (Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, and Oregon) were funded to develop and implement these reverse transfer programs and policies, and the Office of Community College Research and Leadership (OCCRL) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign was chosen as the research partner. In late 2013, three states (Georgia, Tennessee, and Texas) were added to bring the total number of states to 15. At least six additional states have legislation, pending legislation, or statewide initiatives related to reverse transfer. This thought paper describes changes that are occurring at the state, system, and institution levels with implementation of reverse transfer in the 12 original states. Using qualitative and quantitative data collected from the CWID Implementation Study, the authors describe efforts related to the optimization of reverse transfer in these 12 states. The authors define optimization as policy and program change at any level--state, system, or institution--that yields the largest number of students who are eligible for and able to benefit from reverse transfer. The initial results suggest that some states are piloting reverse transfer with a limited set of public community college and university partnerships, and others are striving for system-level reforms that eventually may impact all forms of transfer. Understanding what optimization means and how it works is possible because of this variation in implementation approaches among states, and this thought paper explores how states are implementing and optimizing reverse transfer.
- Published
- 2015
3. Communities of Practice: Improving Equity and Opportunity through Postsecondary Data
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State Higher Education Executive Officers (SHEEO), Colorado, Jessica, Klein, Carrie, and Whitfield, Christina
- Abstract
State postsecondary education data systems are vital assets for policymakers, researchers, and the public. The State Higher Education Executive Officers Association's (SHEEO) Communities of Practice project builds upon SHEEO's efforts to measure the capacity and effective use of state postsecondary data systems and provides states with opportunities to develop solutions to common system issues. The seventh Community of Practice convening, "Improving Equity and Opportunity through Postsecondary Data," was held September 28-29, 2022, in Denver, Colorado. The two-day meeting included more than 80 representatives from 17 states: Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawai'i, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Washington, and the District of Columbia. Teams included representatives from SHEEO agency academic affairs, workforce, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and research and data offices and their partners at state agencies and two- and four-year postsecondary institutions. Given the recent impacts on higher education from the COVID-19 pandemic, social justice unrest, and economic pressures facing the country, a focus on equity and opportunity was timely for this Community of Practice. SHEEO agency staff communicated a need to inform state attainment and economic goals through improved collection and use of postsecondary student unit record data. Within and across state teams, Community of Practice attendees were able to learn more about the nuances and impacts of equity-and opportunity-focused data collection, disaggregation, and visualization; to better understand how to effectively communicate and illustrate the need for and the contributions of equitable student success in their states; and to reflect on their capacity, partnerships, and resources available to effectively engage in this work. In this paper, SHEEO shares the presentations, resources, and team activities from the convening. This information can be used by SHEEO agencies to reflect on their current practices, plan and develop effective data policies, and better use data to improve postsecondary equity and opportunity outcomes in their states.
- Published
- 2023
4. Competence of Faculty, Staff, and Administrators in Hispanic Culture: Evidence from Three Surveys of Personnel and Students at Hispanic-serving Institutions
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Preuss, Michael, Sosa, Eric, Rodin, Jason, Ramos, Jorje, Dorsett, Christine, and Burleson, Chenoa
- Abstract
Best practice in the field of communication, especially intercultural communication, emphasizes seeking to understand and enter your interlocutor's perspective. This practice would seem directly applicable to college faculty and staff when they interact with students, especially given the cultural and ethnic diversity in college student populations. Yet, faculty and staff can operate with substantial autonomy when interacting with students and there are few means of monitoring cultural responsiveness in their conversations. Because of this, little is known about the actual cultural competence of college and university personnel. Information about competence, in respect to Hispanic culture, of college and university faculty, staff, and administrators at Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) was gathered as part of an NSF-funded investigation that focused on the characteristics and programming of HSIs as well as the background and experiences of their students. A minimum of 44 HSIs in Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado were represented in the 403 usable responses gathered from faculty, staff, and administrators. Fourteen HSIs in New Mexico and Texas were represented in the student survey data gathered in 2018 and three in north Texas in the survey data from 2019. Responses from 213 Hispanic students were isolated from the 2018 student survey and 307 from the 2019 data. This material was used to verify and expand on the FSA results. A consistent and strong difference of opinion was found between Hispanic faculty, staff, and administrators at the HSIs and their non-Hispanic peers regarding information available to higher education professionals about Hispanic culture, the elements of Hispanic culture, and the characteristics and background of Hispanic students. Student responses confirmed, at many points, that the perspective of the Hispanic faculty, staff, and administrators was accurate. It appears, based on this information, that the non-Hispanic employees at HSIs are less well informed about a major portion of their student population than would be desirable. Being better informed about Hispanic culture would make these HSI employees--more credible, empathetic, relatable, and trustworthy? (Haupt & Connolly Knox, 2018, p. 538) when working with Hispanic students. The findings, while from the south-central United States, can inform multiple academic and support services at Hispanic-Serving Institutions and other colleges and universities as they detail gaps in competence regarding Hispanic culture among faculty, staff, and administrators at HSIs and the cultural orientation of Hispanic students attending the HSIs represented in the sample. [For the complete proceedings, see ED625798.]
- Published
- 2019
5. Multisectoral analysis of drought impacts and management responses to the 2008–2015 record drought in the Colorado Basin, Texas.
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Ferencz, Stephen B., Sun, Ning, Turner, Sean W. D., Smith, Brian A., and Rice, Jennie S.
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DROUGHT management ,DROUGHTS ,TECHNOLOGICAL innovations ,WATER security ,URBAN agriculture ,CITY dwellers ,ENVIRONMENTAL infrastructure - Abstract
Drought has long posed an existential threat to society. Engineering and technological advancements have enabled the development of complex, interconnected water supply systems that buffer societies from the impacts of drought, enabling growth and prosperity. However, increasing water demand from population growth and economic development, combined with more extreme and prolonged droughts due to climate change, poses significant challenges for governments in the 21st century. Improved understanding of the cascading multisectoral impacts and adaptive responses resulting from extreme drought can aid in adaptive planning and highlight key processes in modeling drought impacts. The record drought spanning 2008 to 2015 in the Colorado Basin in the state of Texas, United States, serves as an outstanding illustration to assess multisectoral impacts and responses to severe, multi-year drought. The basin faces similar water security challenges to those across the western US, such as groundwater depletion and sustainability, resource competition between agriculture and growing urban populations, limited options for additional reservoir expansion, and the heightened risk of more severe and frequent droughts due to climate change. By analyzing rich, high-quality data sourced from nine different local, state, and federal sources, we demonstrate that characterizing regional multisector dynamics is crucial to predicting and understanding future vulnerability and possible approaches to reduce impacts to human and natural systems in the face of extreme drought conditions. This review reveals that, despite the severe hydrometeorological conditions of the drought, the region's advanced economy and existing water infrastructure effectively mitigated economic and societal impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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6. Toward the Big Blur: State Governance of a Unified Education-to-Workforce System That Works for Everyone
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JFF (Jobs for the Future) and Cuevas, Erica
- Abstract
Jobs for the Future's (JFF) vision for the Big Blur calls for entirely new educational institutions and systems to better prepare 16-to-20-year-olds for college and careers. This paper examines the new type of governance needed to help states create more effective grade 11-14 schools and systems by erasing the arbitrary dividing line between high school and college to open opportunities for the learners the current systems leave behind. JFF makes the case for an entirely new type of public institution, neither high school nor college, designed to better meet the needs of 16-to-20-year-olds by enabling them to earn a postsecondary credential and prepare for a career--free of charge.
- Published
- 2023
7. State of the States 2014
- Abstract
Presenters at the State of the States Roundtable session at the 2014 National Education Finance Conference in Louisville were invited to submit their papers for publication. These papers address the following topics: (1) State issues affecting P-12 and/or higher education funding; (2) Funding priorities/trends for P-12 and/or higher education; (3) Changes to funding formula for P-12 and/or higher education; and (4) Impact on school district or higher education budgets. States represented in this section include Alabama (Brenda Mendiola and Philip Westbrook), Arkansas (Steve Bounds), Colorado (Spencer C. Weiler and Gabriel R. Serna), Florida (Brittany Larkin, Jasmine Ulmer, and R. Craig Wood), Illinois (Joel R. Malin and Rene J. Noppe, Jr.), Indiana (Matthew R. Della Sala and Marilyn A. Hirth), Kentucky (Tyrone Bynoe), Nebraska (Barbara Y. LaCost), New Jersey (Luke J. Stedrak), New York (Osnat Zaken), North Carolina (Lisa G. Driscoll and Jim R. Watson), Ohio (Randall S. Vesely), South Carolina (Matthew R. Della Sala and Robert C. Knoeppel), Tennessee (Betty Cox), Texas (Ken Helvey and Dennis Womack), Virginia (William Owings, Leslie S. Kaplan, and Richard G. Salmon), and Wisconsin (Faith E. Crampton). (Individual state sections contain references.)
- Published
- 2015
8. Outcomes-Based Funding: Taking Stock
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National Center for Higher Education Management Systems (NCHEMS), Complete College America, and Jones, Dennis P.
- Abstract
This is the third paper on the topic of outcomes-based funding written by Dennis Jones for Complete College America. The first paper, "Performance Funding: From Idea to Action" (ED535356), proposed a set of design and implementation principles to help states develop and implement their own outcomes-based funding models. The second paper, "Outcomes-Based Funding: The Wave of Implementation" (2013) described features of models being implemented in states and the extent to which they conformed to the principles presented in the first paper. This third paper documents the continued spread of adoption with an increased focus in the field on whether outcomes are equitable across populations, with states disaggregating results by race, ethnicity, age and income and reporting those publicly. The additional purposes of this paper are threefold: (1) To reinforce the point that outcomes-based funding is but one component of the overall financing model for higher education in a state. The power of outcomes-based funding models is enhanced if the other components are designed so as to strengthen the alignment between funding streams and desired results; (2) To once again revisit the lists of design and implementation principles presented in the earlier document and (slightly) revise them in light of states' actions and experience; and (3) To describe the models that are being employed in implementing states and to assess the extent of conformance with the proffered set of design and implementation principles. This for the purpose of identifying areas of non-conformance to catalog potential weaknesses in models and questioning the applicability of certain of the principles. As with earlier versions of the document, the ultimate objective is to provide clear, straightforward guidance to policymakers who are searching for ways to better align their approaches to resource allocation with the educational outcomes that are of highest priority in their state.
- Published
- 2016
9. Early College for All: Efforts to Scale up Early Colleges in Multiple Settings
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Society for Research on Educational Effectiveness (SREE) and Edmunds, Julie A.
- Abstract
Given the positive impacts of the small, stand-alone early college model and the desire to provide those benefits to more students, organizations have begun efforts to scale up the early college model in a variety of settings. These efforts have been supported by the federal government, particularly by the Investing in Innovation (i3) program. This paper will describe current efforts to take the early college model and apply it in multiple settings and It will describe programs being supported by three i3 grants, focusing on the commonalities of these three efforts. The specific questions addressed by this paper include: 1) How are providers conceptualizing the scaling up of the early college model? 2) What adaptations are expected as the model is being scaled up? 3) What are early lessons learned from the scale-up efforts? The results report that one of the primary lessons learned by project and school staff was the importance of early and frequent communication about the goals of the project and the importance of working with leadership at both the district and school levels.
- Published
- 2016
10. A phylogeographic assessment redefines the distributions of Truncilla species (Bivalvia: Unionidae) in Texas.
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Saxon, Rachel, Randklev, Charles R, Roe, Kevin J, Robertson, Clinton R, and Smith, Chase H
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UNIONIDAE ,BIVALVES ,SPECIES distribution ,FRESHWATER mussels ,WATERSHEDS - Abstract
Truncilla macrodon ¸ the Texas Fawnsfoot, is currently considered to be restricted to the Brazos and Colorado river drainages in central Texas, USA. Subfossil specimens resembling T. macrodon from shell middens in the Trinity river drainage have raised questions about its presumptive range. Extant Truncilla populations occupying the Trinity river drainage are believed to be Truncilla donaciformis , the Fawnsfoot, but the species identity has not been assessed using molecular techniques. In this study, we set out to use phylogeographic and morphometric approaches to resolve the distribution of Truncilla spp. in Texas, with an emphasis on assessing species identity of Truncilla in the Trinity river drainage. Our molecular analyses indicated individuals from the Trinity river drainage are T. macrodon rather than T. donaciformis , and morphometric analyses using ratios of shell length, width and height supports this finding and showed differentiation among T. macrodon, Truncilla cognata and T. donaciformis. These combined findings suggest the range of T. macrodon is larger than previously recognized and includes the Colorado, Brazos and Trinity river drainages. The status of Truncilla spp. in the San Jacinto river basin remains unclear due to lack of information on historical or extant populations, but we recommend conservationists consider T. macrodon as part of the mussel fauna since the drainage shares an embayment with the Trinity river drainage. Molecular data also indicated the Trinity population of T. macrodon is distinct from, and more genetically diverse than, the Brazos and Colorado populations. This difference suggests the Trinity River population should be treated as a separate management unit from the Brazos and Colorado River populations to facilitate effective conservation and recovery planning. Our study adds to the growing body of literature highlighting the utility of molecular data in conservation and management of freshwater mussels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
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11. Measuring Forward: Emerging Trends in K-12 Assessment Innovation
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Aurora Institute, National Center for the Improvement of Educational Assessment, Inc. (NCIEA), and KnowledgeWorks Foundation
- Abstract
A significant movement is underway across the nation to design K-12 assessment systems that better equip stakeholders to provide an equitable and excellent education to each child. While some of these innovations emerged before the pandemic, the massive disruption to instruction fueled a new urgency to rethink the potential of assessments to drive better teaching and learning. States and communities are working together to create more balanced systems of assessment that better support instruction while still providing the information necessary to inform policy and resource decisions. There is much to learn from the ideas emerging across the nation--particularly where states are trying to innovate despite limitations of federal policy. The insights and innovations emerging from this paper have the potential to cast a new vision for K-12 assessment in the United States. This work details efforts across the nation to encourage, support and grow innovative state assessment systems, and represents a significant increase in recent state-level energy and action around new forms of assessment to provide deeper and more meaningful understanding of student learning. [Additional producers of this report are Center for Innovation in Education (C!E), Envision Learning Partners, and the Great Schools Partnership.]
- Published
- 2021
12. Combined portable free fall penetrometer and chirp sonar measurements of three texas river sections post hurricane harvey.
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Jaber, Reem, Stark, Nina, Jafari, Navid, and Ravichandran, Nadarajah
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HURRICANE Harvey, 2017 , *ANALYSIS of river sediments , *SONAR , *PENETROMETERS , *GEOMORPHOLOGY , *WATER depth , *SEDIMENT transport - Abstract
The US Gulf of Mexico coastal region has repeatedly been subjected to major flood events. Local geotechnical site characteristics and geomorphology can change due to sediment transport processes during such events. However, field measurements during extreme conditions are challenging. This paper discusses initial attempts at a combined geotechnical and geophysical site investigation of the uppermost layers of riverbeds following severe flooding events at three different rivers in Texas: the Guadalupe, Brazos, and Colorado Rivers in terms of sediment strength derived from a portable free fall penetrometer, backscatter intensity recorded by a chirp sonar, and soil sample characterization. Results show low strength sediments (<40 kPa) along the investigated sections of the Guadalupe and Brazos riverbanks. Although sediments in the center of the Brazos River were characterized with higher strength (>50 kPa) and larger grain sizes (d 50 ∼ 0.3 mm), sediment strength of the Guadalupe and Colorado Rivers displayed more variations around bridge piers. The spatial variations likely resulted from sediment remobilization processes and local scour under severe hydrodynamic conditions. Both, geotechnical and geophysical results, reflected the observed variations in the riverbed sediments; nonetheless, a quantitative correlation among the rivers was impeded by challenges primarily related to limitations of spatial accuracy and the significant riverbed heterogeneity, as well as shallow water limitations of the chirp sonar. • Combined geotechnical and geophysical site characterization at three Texas river sections • Measurements from small vessels and in areas of unknown riverbed conditions • Sediment dynamics were reflected in geotechnical and geophysical data • Qualitative relationship between portable free fall penetrometer and chirp sonar • Three river sections differed significantly in local sediment properties [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
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13. APEX-MODFLOW: A New integrated model to simulate hydrological processes in watershed systems.
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Bailey, Ryan T., Tasdighi, Ali, Park, Seonggyu, Tavakoli-Kivi, Saman, Abitew, Tadesse, Jeong, Jaehak, Green, Colleen H.M., and Worqlul, Abeyou W.
- Subjects
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WATERSHEDS , *SNOWMELT , *GROUNDWATER flow , *WATER table , *HYDROLOGIC models , *GROUNDWATER recharge - Abstract
APEX (A gricultural P olicy/ E nvironmental e X tender) is an oft-used agroecosystem model but has limited use in groundwater-driven watersheds due to a simplistic representation of groundwater processes. This paper presents the linkage of APEX and the groundwater flow model MODFLOW into a single modeling code. The mapping of recharge, groundwater head, and groundwater-surface water interactions are handled internally via subroutines. The APEX-MODFLOW model is applied to three watersheds in the United States for testing code accuracy and hydrologic state variables and fluxes: the Animas River Watershed, Colorado and New Mexico (3543 km2); the Price River Watershed, Utah (4886 km2); and the Middle Bosque River Watershed, Texas (470 km2). Whereas the hydrology of the Animas River and Price River watersheds is driven by snowmelt and spring runoff, the hydrology of the Middle Bosque River Watershed is driven by summer thunderstorms. The model can be used for scenario analysis in groundwater-driven watersheds. • New integrated hydrologic model links APEX model to MODFLOW model. • Model passes recharge, water table elevation, and gw-sw flux rates internally. • APEX-MODFLOW applied to three watersheds in Utah, Colorado, and Texas, USA. • Model results show importance of including physically based groundwater flow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
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14. Holocene progradation and retrogradation of the Central Texas Coast regulated by alongshore and cross‐shore sediment flux variability.
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Odezulu, Christopher I., Swanson, Travis, and Anderson, John B.
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HOLOCENE Epoch ,SEDIMENTS ,LITHOFACIES ,COASTS ,SEDIMENT transport ,BEACH ridges ,SHORELINES ,SHORELINE monitoring - Abstract
Fifteen transects of sediment cores located off the central Texas coast between Matagorda Peninsula and North Padre Island were investigated to examine the offshore record of Holocene evolution of the central Texas coast. The transects extend from near the modern shoreline to beyond the toe of the shoreface. Lithology, grain size and fossil content were used to identify upper shoreface, lower shoreface, ebb‐tidal delta and marine mud lithofacies. Interpretations of these core transects show a general stratigraphic pattern across the study area that indicates three major episodes of shoreface displacement. First, there was an episode of shoreface progradation that extended up to 5 km seaward. Second, an episode of landward shoreline displacement is indicated by 3–4 km of marine mud onlap. Third, the marine muds are overlain by shoreface sands, which indicates another episode of shoreface progradation of up to 5 km seaward. Radiocarbon ages constrain the onset of the first episode of progradation to ca 6.5 ka, ending at ca 5.0 ka when the rate of sea‐level rise slowed from an average rate of 1.6–0.5 mm/yr. Results from sediment budget calculations and sediment transport modelling based on reasonable estimates of an ancient shoreline shape and wave climate indicate that the first progradation was a result of sand supplied from erosion of the offshore Colorado and Rio Grande deltas. The transgressive phase occurred between ca 4.9 ka and ca 1.6 ka and coincided with a major expansion of the Texas Mud Blanket, which resulted in burial of offshore sand sources and the shoreface being inundated with mud. The second, more recent episode of shoreface progradation began ca 500 years ago with a maximum rate of ca 6 m/yr. This most recent change signals a healing phase of coastal evolution from the late Holocene transgressive event. Currently, the shoreline along the central Texas coast is retreating landward at an average rate of 0.30 m/yr, indicating that the second progradation event has ended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
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15. Planning and Designing Academic Library Learning Spaces: Expert Perspectives of Architects, Librarians, and Library Consultants. Project Information Literacy Research Report. The Practitioner Series
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Project Information Literacy and Head, Alison J.
- Abstract
This paper identifies approaches, challenges, and best practices related to planning and designing today's academic library learning spaces. As part of the Project Information Literacy (PIL) Practitioner Series, qualitative data is presented from 49 interviews conducted with a sample of academic librarians, architects, and library consultants. These participants were at the forefront of the same 22 recent library learning space projects on college and university campuses in the US and Canada between 2011 and 2016. Most library projects had allocated space for supporting at least one of these four types of academic learning activities: collaborative, individual study, tutoring by campus learning partners, or occasional classes taught by campus instructors. Successful collaboration between the architect and the librarian was fostered by their shared commitment to meeting users' needs, though few stakeholders systematically collected input from users beyond standard usage statistics and gate counts. Most interviewees reported facing some common challenges during their project planning and implementations. One challenge was translating design goals into tangible designs while trying to resolve issues of noise mitigation, shared space allocations, and providing enough electrical power for IT devices. Another challenge was ensuring effective communication practices with planning teams as well as campus-wide constituents throughout projects. Additional challenges included building consensus, compensating for project interruption and inadequate knowledge about both architecture and library IT issues, and having too few a priori evaluation metrics for linking learning outcomes to goals of the library space projects. Taken together, the success of library learning space projects depends upon shared knowledge and understanding of the sweeping learning, pedagogical, and research changes facing the academy. Librarians and architects need to work together to apply that knowledge and understanding to the unique environment and learning and teaching needs of their specific institution. Contains a list of further readings. [Funding from a Strategic Research Grant from the University of Washington Information School helped to make this report possible.]
- Published
- 2016
16. Pushing partnerships: corporate influence on research and policy via the International Life Sciences Institute.
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Steele, Sarah, Ruskin, Gary, and Stuckler, David
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BUSINESS partnerships ,LIFE sciences ,CONFLICT management ,FREEDOM of information ,WORLD health ,ASSOCIATIONS, institutions, etc. ,RESEARCH ,FOOD industry ,RESEARCH methodology ,PRIVATE sector ,MEDICAL cooperation ,EVALUATION research ,ENDOWMENT of research ,CONFLICT of interests ,COMPARATIVE studies ,RESEARCH funding ,NUTRITION policy - Abstract
Objective: There are concerns that some non-profit organisations, financed by the food industry, promote industry positions in research and policy materials. Using Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, we test the proposition that the International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI), one prominent non-for profit in international health and nutrition research, promotes industry positions.Design: U.S. Right to Know filed five FOI from 2015 to 2018 covering communications with researchers at four US institutions: Texas A&M, University of Illinois, University of Colorado and North Carolina State University. It received 15 078 pages, which were uploaded to the University of California San Francisco's Industry Documents Library. We searched the Library exploring it thematically for instances of: (1) funding research activity that supports industry interests; (2) publishing and promoting industry-sponsored positions or literature; (3) disseminating favourable material to decision makers and the public and (4) suppressing views that do not support industry.Results: Available emails confirmed that ILSI's funding by corporate entities leads to industry influence over some of ILSI activities. Emails reveal a pattern of activity in which ILSI sought to exploit the credibility of scientists and academics to bolster industry positions and promote industry-devised content in its meetings, journal and other activities. ILSI also actively seeks to marginalise unfavourable positions.Conclusions: We conclude that undue influence of industry through third-party entities like ILSI requires enhanced management of conflicts of interest by researchers. We call for ILSI to be recognised as a private sector entity rather than an independent scientific non-profit, to allow for more appropriate appraisal of its outputs and those it funds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2020
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17. Constitutional Obligations for Public Education. 50-State Review
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Education Commission of the States and Parker, Emily
- Abstract
Within the constitution of each of the 50 states, there is language that mandates the creation of a public education system. The authority for public education falls to states because of a 1973 Supreme Court case which determined that the federal government has no responsibility to provide systems of public education. These constitutional education provisions vary from state to state, with some states specifically laying out the foundation of their education system while others leave the details to the legislature. Because some state constitutions date back centuries, constitutions can contain outdated language, which can decrease the relevance of the constitution to current-day policy issues. State constitutions vary on whether they include language about public school funding, religious restrictions, the education of disabled students, the age of students, the duration of the school year, and the establishment of state higher education systems. The table in this paper provides a 50-state overview of the constitutional foundation for public education in each state. It includes the location of the foundational language, which is hyperlinked to that section in the constitution. Additionally, the table looks at whether the constitution includes language on the following topics: (1) public school funding; (2) religious restrictions; (3) the education of disabled students; (4) the age of students; (5) the duration of the school year; and (6) the establishment of state higher education systems. [This report is an update to the 2002 report, "Constitutional Language: State Obligations for Public School Funding."]
- Published
- 2016
18. Measuring the Alignment between States' Finance and Accountability Policies: The Opportunity Gap
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Della Sala, Matthew R. and Knoeppel, Robert C.
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The research described in this paper expands on attempts to conceptualize, measure, and evaluate the degree to which states have aligned their finance systems with their respective accountability policies. State education finance and accountability policies serve as levers to provide equal educational opportunities for all students--scholars have called for the alignment of education finance and accountability policies as a means for states to meet the demands of educational adequacy. A metric titled the "opportunity gap" was developed, calculated, and tested to represent the degree of misalignment between the equity of states' finance systems and the intended equity of student performance outcomes defined in accountability policies. School finance and student performance data from nine states were collected for this analysis. Findings indicated that none of the states were delivering simultaneous equity in finance and accountability systems- none of the states provided both equity of finance inputs and equity of student performance outputs. Implications for future research on measuring the alignment between finance and accountability policies are provided by the authors.
- Published
- 2015
19. A Comparison of Care Delivered in Hospital‐based and Freestanding Emergency Departments.
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Pines, Jesse M., Zocchi, Mark S., and Black, Bernard S.
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DIAGNOSIS of abdominal pain ,CHEST pain diagnosis ,RESPIRATORY infections ,CLINICS ,CONFIDENCE intervals ,CLINICAL pathology ,ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHY ,HOSPITAL care ,LENGTH of stay in hospitals ,HOSPITAL admission & discharge ,HOSPITAL emergency services ,HEALTH insurance ,MEDICAL care ,MEDICAL care use ,PATIENTS ,QUESTIONNAIRES ,SPIRAL computed tomography ,ULTRASONIC imaging ,X-rays ,COMORBIDITY ,DIAGNOSIS - Abstract
Abstract: Objective: We compare case mix, hospitalization rates, length of stay (LOS), and resource use in independent freestanding emergency departments (FSEDs) and hospital‐based emergency departments (H‐EDs). Methods: Data from 74 FSEDs (2013–2015) in Texas and Colorado were compared to H‐ED data from the 2013–2014 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey. In the unrestricted sample, large differences in visit characteristics (e.g., payer and case mix) were found between patients that use FSEDs compared to H‐EDs. Therefore, we restricted our analysis to patients commonly treated in both settings (<65 years, privately insured, nonambulance) and used inverse propensity score weighting (IPW) to balance the two settings on observable patient characteristics. We then compared ED LOS and as well as hospital admission rates and resource utilization rates in the IPW‐weighted samples. Results: Before balancing, FSEDs saw more young adults (age 25–44) and fewer older adults (age 45–64) than H‐EDs. FSED patients had fewer comorbidities, more injuries and respiratory infections, and fewer diagnoses of chest or abdominal pain. In balanced samples, LOS for FSED visits was 46% shorter (60 minutes) than H‐ED patients. Hospital admission rates were 37% lower overall (95% confidence interval = –51% to –23%) in FSEDs and varied considerably by primary discharge diagnosis. X‐ray and electrocardiogram use was significantly lower at FSEDs while others measures of resource utilization were similar (ultrasound, computed tomography scans, and laboratory tests). Conclusion: In this sample of FSEDs, a greater proportion of younger patients with fewer comorbidities and more injuries and respiratory system diseases were evaluated, and almost all patients had private health insurance. When restricted to < 65 years, privately insured, and nonambulance patients in both samples, LOS was considerably shorter and hospital admission rates lower at FSEDs, as well as the use of some diagnostic testing. This study is limited as diagnoses codes may not fully capture severity and patients who perceived greater need of hospital admission may have chosen a H‐ED over FSEDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2018
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20. State of the States 2017
- Abstract
On February 24, 2017, all of the authors of the state-of-the-state manuscripts published in the "Journal of Education Finance" met in Cincinnati, Ohio, to participate in a roundtable discussion focused on recent legislative actions in 38 states. A majority of those papers were revised to reflect a final report on legislative actions impacting the funding of P-12 and higher education. Overall, adequate funding for education continues to be an issue many states are struggling with. There is reason to be hopeful, as several states have seen increases in per pupil funding and teacher salaries. When facing funding shortfalls, some states have begun considering alternate sources of funding for public education. In complicated fiscal times like these, it is anticipated that an increasing number of states will look to novel forms of raising revenue for public schools. The following contents are included: (1) The Good, the Bad, and the Alarming: Commentary on the 2017 State of the States Submissions (Brittany Larkin, Christine Kiracofe, and Spencer Weiler); (2) Alabama (Philip Westbrook and Brenda Mendiola); (3) Alaska (Amy Dagley); (4) Arizona (David G. Martinez and Oscar Jimenez-Castellanos); (5) Arkansas (Steve Bounds); (6) California (Henry Tran); (7) Colorado (Gabriel R. Serna and Spencer C. Weiler); (8) Connecticut (Lesley A. DeNardis); (9) Florida (Megan Lane, Jolande Morgan, and R. Craig Wood); (10) Georgia (David G. Buckman and Tommy Jackson); (11) Illinois (Christine Kiracofe); (12) Indiana (Scott Rodger Sweetland); (13) Kansas (Thomas A. DeLuca); (14) Kentucky (Tyrone Bynoe); (15) Louisiana (Arvin Johnson, Venice M. Adams, and David G. Buckman); (16) Massachusetts (Tyrone Bynoe); (17) Michigan (Brett A. Geier); (18) Minnesota (Nicola A. Alexander); (19) Mississippi (Spencer D. Stone and Joshua A. Money); (20) Nebraska (Barbara La Cost); (21) Nevada (Deborah A. Verstegen, Oscar Jimenez-Castellanos, and David Martinez); (22) New Hampshire (F. Frank Ayata and Jeremy M. Anderson); (23) New Jersey (Luke J. Stedrak); (24) New Mexico (David G. Martinez and Oscar Jimenez-Castellanos); (25) New York (Osnat Zaken); (26) North Carolina (Walter Hart, Jim R. Watson, and Lisa G. Driscoll); (27) Ohio (Barbara M. De Luca, Krystel H. Chenault, and Randall S. Vesely); (28) Oklahoma (Jeffrey Maiden and Channa Byerly); (29) Oregon (Michael C. Petko); (30) Pennsylvania (Jeremy Anderson and F. Frank Ayata); (31) Tennessee (Lisa G. Driscoll and Betty Cox); (32) Texas (Ken Helvey); (33) Virginia (William Owings and Leslie S. Kaplan); (34) West Virginia (Drew Milligan); (35) Wisconsin (Michael C. Petko); and (36) Wyoming (Joshua M. Cohen). [For the previous year, see EJ1170086.]
- Published
- 2018
21. Largest municipal bond deals coming from Texas, Colo. and Calif.
- Author
-
Albano, Christine and Barnett, Chip
- Subjects
MUNICIPAL bonds ,RATE of return ,INVESTORS - Abstract
Municipal bonds finished steady on Friday ahead of next week's $7.8 billion new-issue slate while high-grade paper trades up in the secondary. Investors are looking for stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
22. Investigation of Combustion Properties and Soot Deposits of Various US Crude Oils.
- Author
-
Singh, Gurjap, Esmaeilpour, Mehdi, and Ratner, Albert
- Subjects
PETROLEUM ,RAILROAD accidents ,SOOT ,KEYSTONE pipeline project ,COMBUSTION ,LIQUID fuels - Abstract
The oil boom in the North Dakota oilfields has resulted in improved energy security for the US. Recent estimates of oil production rates indicate that even completion of the Keystone XL pipeline will only fractionally reduce the need to ship this oil by rail. Current levels of oil shipment have already caused significant strain on rail infrastructure and led to crude oil train derailments, resulting in loss of life and property. Treating crude oil as a multicomponent liquid fuel, this work aims to understand crude oil droplet burning and thereby lead to methods to improve train fire safety. Sub-millimeter sized droplets of Pennsylvania, Texas, Colorado, and Bakken crude were burned, and the process was recorded with charge-couple device (CCD) and complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) high-speed cameras. The resulting images were post-processed to obtain various combustion parameters, such as burning rate, ignition delay, total combustion time, and microexplosion behavior. The soot left behind was analyzed using a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). This data is expected be used for validation of combustion models for complex multicomponent liquid fuels, and subsequently in the modification of combustion properties of crude oil using various additives to make it safer to transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2019
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
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