Educational Administration and Supervision Commons^™

Teacher Blogging Redux: Post With Caution, Charles J. Russo, Marcus Heath

Educational Leadership Faculty Publications

In the December 2014 issue of School Business Affairs, this column (Russo 2014) addressed a case from Pennsylvania, Munroe v. Central Bucks School District (2014), that explored the free speech rights of public school teachers who blog on the Internet.

In Munroe, a school board in Pennsylvania dismissed a tenured high school teacher who posted controversial, derogatory remarks about her students and others on her personal blog. The Third Circuit subsequently affirmed that insofar as the blog entries were disruptive to school operations, the teacher’s dismissal did not violate the First Amendment (Munroe 2015).

Munroe highlights the need for school …

The Competitive Effects Of The Louisiana Scholarship Program On Public School Performance, Anna J. Egalite

Education Reform Faculty and Graduate Students Publications

Given the significant growth rate and geographic expansion of private school choice programs over the past two decades, it is important to examine how traditional public schools respond to the sudden injection of competition for students and resources. This article uses 1) a school fixed effects approach, and 2) a regression discontinuity framework to examine the achievement impacts of the Louisiana Scholarship Program (LSP). This targeted school voucher program has provided public funds for low-income students in low-performing public schools to enroll in participating private schools since the 2012-13 school year. The main findings of the competitive effects analysis reveal …

The Effects Of The Louisiana Scholarship Program On Student Achievement After Two Years, Jonathan N. Mills

Education Reform Faculty and Graduate Students Publications

The Louisiana Scholarship Program (LSP) is a statewide initiative offering publicly-funded vouchers to enroll in local private schools to students in low-performing schools with family income no greater than 250 percent of the poverty line. Initially established in 2008 as a pilot program in New Orleans, the LSP was expanded statewide in 2012. This paper examines the experimental effects of using an LSP scholarship to enroll in a private school on student achievement in the first two years following the program’s expansion. Our results indicate that the use of an LSP scholarship has negatively impacted both ELA and math achievement, …

Academic And Community Identities: A Study Of Kurdish And Somali Refugee High School Students, Franco Zengaro, Mohamed Ali, Sally Zengaro

Journal of Research Initiatives

This research examined the experiences of 11 high school students and their academic and social experiences in the U.S. using identity and agency in figured worlds. We collected data through interviews and field notes and analyzed them using constant comparative analysis. The findings revealed two main themes: the importance of continuity in promoting and maintaining a positive academic environment and the importance of support in creating positive identities. In addition, there was a strong awareness between being accepted, recognized, and encouraged at school and feeling accepted as a Muslim student. In the end, the participants experienced two different realities which …

The Journey To The Top: Stories On The Intersection Of Race And Gender For African American Women In Academia And Business, Deanna R. Davis

Journal of Research Initiatives

This research study was designed to determine how the intersection of race and gender identities contributed to the elements of leadership development as perceived by eight African American female executives in academia and business. The researcher sought to explore strategies future leaders might utilize to address leadership development and career ascendency for African American females who aspire to leadership roles. A phenomenological research method was most appropriate for this research study to capture the lived experiences of individuals from their perspectives and to develop themes that challenged structural or normative assumptions.

This research study examined leadership development of eight African …

The Role Of Black Colleges In The Development Of Mathematicians, Viveka Borum, Adriel Adon Hilton, Erica Walker

Journal of Research Initiatives

Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are home to almost 400,000 of the nation’s college and university population and account for nearly 25% of degrees conferred to African Americans, according to Hale (2006). They have been the launching pads for three-fourths of African Americans who hold doctorate degrees, three-fourths of Black officers in the military, and four-fifths of African American federal judges (Hale, 2006). In addition, fifty percent of African American faculty in predominantly White research universities received their bachelor’s degrees at an HBCU (Hale, 2006). These are significant percentages given the relatively small number of Black colleges and universities …

Professional Development Data: A Review Of Action Research And Data Analysis And Its Implications For Special Education, Jennifer Lee Suppo

Journal of Research Initiatives

In today’s world of accountability and budgeting constraints, schools are examining how they get the most “bang for their buck” in the area of professional development experiences. Professional development has traditionally been used to keep teachers and administrators abreast of current teaching strategies. In using the traditional model of professional development, typically the school or district would have a speaker, who was knowledgeable on a random topic of education, come in and conduct a one-day seminar. More often than not, there was little accountability to this traditional model; little if any data was taken to see if the knowledge obtained …

The Motivational Factors Of African American Men Enrolled At Selected Community Colleges, Ted N. Ingram, Lavon Williams, James Coaxum Iii, Adriel A. Hilton, Ivan Harrell

Journal of Research Initiatives

This manuscript is designed to call attention to the realities that are specific to African American male community college students. Using a qualitative research design, focus groups were conducted with 14 African American male students enrolled in an urban community college. This study uncovered that their educational experiences are consumed with personal challenges and academic obstacles. Students were asked to explain their motivation toward persistence at the urban community college. Participants within the study noted that motivational factors such as: (a) improving their life status, (b) societal pressure, (c) “man of the house,” and (d) faculty and staff encouragement, provided …

Using The Culturally Proficient Continuum To Evaluate The Cultural Relevance Of Gifted And Talented Programs, Lisa Thompson, Lisa D. Hobson, Patricia A. Smith, Tyrone Tanner

Journal of Research Initiatives

This study examined the gifted and talented (GT) curriculum of a suburban school district in a southwestern state through the lens of Lindsey, Robbins, and Terrell’s (2009) Culturally Proficient Continuum (CPC) model. The study sought to determine if the district’s GT curriculum and program activities supported cultural proficiency, utilized any of the six CPC levels within the curricular and program practices, and examine how using the CPC model to evaluate other GT programs could be used. The primary evaluation sources used for collecting data for this study were: (a) document reviews, (b) inspection of school district external communication and (c) …

Friendships And Retention At A Historically Black University: A Quantitative Case Study, Mondrail Myrick, John A. Gipson Jr, Donald Mitchell Jr.

Journal of Research Initiatives

The retention and graduation rates of underrepresented minority, first-generation and low-income college students persist as problems in U.S. higher education. While researchers have documented the ways in which minority-serving institutions have been successful in serving these students, little is known about how friendships influence retention at these institutions. This study examines retention factors of first-year students who began college with close friends at a historically Black university. The researchers used exploratory factor analysis and binary logistic regressions to determine the factors and significance. In addition, the researchers used linear structural relations to estimate hypothesized causal models. Results of the study …

Impact Of Class Size On Learning, Behavioral And General Attitudes Of Students In Secondary Schools In Abeokuta, Ogun State Nigeria, Taofeek Ayotunde Yusuf, C A. Onifade, O S. Bello

Journal of Research Initiatives

Poor performance of university undergraduate students has been traced to their poor academic performance and attitudes in secondary schools. There was concern over whether class size was responsible for this. Researches on the effect of class size on academic performance and achievement exist. The study was carried out to investigate the impact of class size on students’ attitude to studies using four (4) selected secondary schools in Abeokuta, Ogun State Nigeria. Possible effect of class size on the general, learning and behavioral attitudes were considered. Its impact was also correlated with effect of other possible factors. Questionnaires were administered to …

Realizing The Dream: African American Males’ Narratives That Encouraged The Pursuit Of Doctoral Education, Ted N. Ingram

Journal of Research Initiatives

This article used personal narratives to discover factors affecting the decision of African American males to consider doctoral education. This study was based on qualitative interviews with 18 African American male doctoral students enrolled at predominantly white institutions as they reflected on their reasons for pursuing an advanced degree. The following were found to influence their decision: (a) need for faculty encouragement, (b) motivation to pursue a doctorate, and (c) their personal motivations. Recommendations are offered for increasing the numbers of African American male doctoral students.

A Phenomenological Study Of Cultural Responsiveness In Special Education, Kimberly M. Jones-Goods, Marquis Carter Grant

Journal of Research Initiatives

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the factors affecting elementary teacher’s ability to understand the academic needs of their racially, culturally, and ethnically diverse special education students and the ways in which their values and beliefs influenced their use of culturally responsive practices in the special education classroom. This study revealed five major reasons for the disproportionate number of Black students in special education as perceived by three White teachers in North Carolina: (a) the inadequate coursework in teacher education programs regarding teaching strategies to effectively teach racially, culturally, and ethnically diverse (RCED) students, (b) the cultural …

Research In Brief - Can They Teach Each Other? : The Restructuring Of Higher Education And The Rise Of Undergraduate Student “Teachers” In Ontario, Jennifer Massey, Sean Field

Journal of Critical Scholarship on Higher Education and Student Affairs

Changes to public funding regimes, coupled with transformations in how universities are managed and measured have altered the methods for educating undergraduate students. The growing reliance on teaching fellows, teaching assistants, and increasingly undergraduate peer educators (administering Supplemental Instruction [SI] programs) is promoted as a means toachieve a greater “return on investment” in the delivery of postsecondary education. Neoliberal discourses legitimating this downloading of teaching labour suggest it offers a “win-win” solution to the “problem” of educating growing numbers of undergraduate students. It proposes universities can deliver the same curricula, and achieve the same “outcomes” (primarily measured through grades and …

Quarterly Meeting Agenda & Packet, Wku Regents

Board of Regents Documents

Agenda and packet of items to be reviewed and approved at quarterly meeting of the WKU Board of Regents.

Ua3/9/7 President Gary A. Ransdell To Retire In 2017, Wku President's Office - Ransdell

WKU Administration Documents

Email from WKU president Gary Ransdell to faculty & staff regarding his retirement.

Nu Strategic Planning Framework 2014-2016 Accountability Measures, Nu System

Mission/Vision/Leadership

NU Strategic Planning Framework 2014-2016 Accountability Measures.

January 29, 2016 Minutes, Swosu Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Minutes

SWOSU Faculty Senate January 29, 2016 Approved Minutes

Ua12/2/1 College Heights Herald, Vol. 91, No. 2, Wku Student Affairs

WKU Administration Documents

WKU campus newspaper reporting campus, athletic and Bowling Green, Kentucky news.

• Kast, Monica. Kappa Sigma Investigation Comes to End – Fraternities and Sororities
• Dick, Jacob. The Burden of the Budget – Politics, Matt Bevin
• Mathews, Carly. Photojournalism Professor Wins Prestigious Award – Tim Broekema
• Collins, Emma. WKU Launches New Design of Website – Information Technology
• Mayo, Marcel. Student Government Association Announces Pub Name Change, Introduces Safety App – Topper Tavern & Grill
• Kast, Monica. Financial Aid Residual Disbursement Delay Begins Spring Semester
• King, Jennifer. Editorial Cartoon I Hate Winter
• Murrer, Erick. Letter to the Editor – Student Financial Aid
• Winstead, …

Minutes, Arts & Sciences Faculty Meeting, Thursday, January 28, 2016, Arts & Sciences Faculty

The College of Liberal Arts Faculty Minutes

No abstract provided.

Ua3/9/7 Governor Matt Bevin's State Of The Commonwealth Address, Wku President's Office - Ransdell

WKU Administration Documents

Email from WKU president Gary Ransdell to faculty & staff regarding the budget.

2016 January 27 - An Overview Of State And Institutional Policy Conversations - Considerations And Implications For East Tennessee State University, Office Of The President, East Tennessee State University

Office of the President Speeches

No abstract provided.

Map Grants – Letter To Students, Eric Jensen

Remarks and Messages

No abstract provided.

Strategic Planning Steering Committee Minutes - January 27, 2016, Strategic Planning Steering Committee

Steering Committee

Minutes from the January 27, 2016 Strategic Planning Steering Committee meeting.

Ua12/2/1 College Heights Herald, Vol. 91, No. 1, Wku Student Affairs

WKU Administration Documents

WKU campus newspaper reporting campus, athletic and Bowling Green, Kentucky news.

• Collins, Emma. Winter Storm Causes Delays in Campus Construction – Snow, Weather
• Kast, Monica. Snowmaggedon – Winter, Weather
• Kast, Monica. Housing & Residence Life Enacts Temporary Ban on Hoverboards for Campus Housing
• Mayo, Marcel & Jacob Dick. Smoking Ban to Remain Voluntary Policy – Student Government Association
• Potter, Abby. Two Friends & A Camera – Israel
• Mayo, Marcel. WKU’s Active Shooting Video Finished – Faculty Senate
• King, Jennifer. Editorial Cartoon Money for Students
• It’s Our Money & We Need It Now – Student Financial Aid
• Hardin, Scout. How to …

Ua3/9/7 2016 Spring Semester Welcome Message, Wku President's Office - Ransdell

WKU Administration Documents

Email from WKU president Gary Ransdell to faculty & staff.

Uno Calendar Event-Cfe-Cheating Lessons Book Discussion, Uno Center For Faculty Excellence

Business/Finance/Operations

Cheating Lessons examines entrenched conditions within the classroom that promote cheating and makes on argument for rethinking the way we approach teaching to ameliorate those conditions.

2016 January 25 - Faculty Senate Agenda And Minutes, Faculty Senate, East Tennessee State University

Faculty Senate Agendas and Minutes

No abstract provided.

Uno Strategic Planning Forum (Spf) Minutes Friday, January 22, 2016, Uno Office Of Institutional Effectiveness

Strategic Planning Forums

UNO Strategic Planning Forum (SPF) Minutes Friday, January 22, 2016.

Uno Strategic Planning Forum Jan. 22, 2016, Uno Spsc

Mission/Vision/Leadership

UNO Strategic Planning Forum Agenda.