Public Affairs Commons^™

Two Models Of Teacher Accountability Toward An Explanation For The Disappointing Results Of Some Market-Based School Reforms, Lenahan O'Connell, Juita-Elena (Wie) Yusuf

School of Public Service Faculty Publications

Accountability is a pivotal concern of applied social science. This article asserts that in many situations a full explanation of the sources of accountability requires the application of concepts from sociology and management science, in addition to those from the market-based approaches inspired by economics. The article describes the market-based approach to accountability exemplified by agency theory, applies it to school reform and derives several predictions about the likely success of market-based approaches to school reform, and documents the lack of evidence supporting the contention that programs for school choice will markedly improve teacher work effort and performance (as measured …

The Impact Of Disability: A Comparative Approach To Medical Resource Allocation In Public Health Emergencies, Katie Hanschke, Leslie E. Wolf, Wendy F. Hensel

Faculty Publications By Year

It is a matter of time before the next widespread pandemic or natural disaster hits the United States (U.S.). The international response to the 2009 H1N1 influenza stands as a cautionary tale about how prepared the world is for such an emergency. Although the pandemic fortunately proved to be less severe than initially anticipated, it nevertheless resulted in shortages of medical equipment, overburdened hospitals, and preventable patient deaths, particularly among young people.

A pandemic will inevitably lead to difficult decisions about the allocation of medical resources, such as who will have priority access to ventilators and critical care beds when …

Toward Coherent Federal Oversight Of Medicine, Patricia J. Zettler

Faculty Publications By Year

The conventional wisdom in U.S. health law and policy holds that states regulate medical practice – the activities of physicians and other health care professionals – while the federal government regulates medical products. But relying on states as the principal regulators of medical practice has, at times, driven law and policy in directions that are problematic from a public health perspective, as demonstrated by a deadly 2012 outbreak of fungal meningitis that was linked to a state-regulated practice known as drug compounding. This Article argues that the federalism concerns underlying the conventional wisdom are misplaced. It demonstrates that, contrary to …

Diffusion Of Locally Developed Applications Across The United States Judiciary, Edmund Warren Dieth

Public Affairs Dissertations - Archive

Current literature suggests that networks impact the diffusion of innovations. This dissertation seeks to uncover the reasons behind diffusion patterns of locally developed applications (LDAs) across the United States judiciary. Due to a lacuna in the relevant diffusion literature, the effects of professional networks on diffusion patterns are of particular interest in this study. Professional networks include inter-agency networks, national organizational networks, or external personal-professional networks. LDAs are products, mostly software, created within a judicial district to enhance its effectiveness or efficiency. Often these applications are developed to address an internal issue in a district. However, the issue is not …

Legislature’S Planning Committee 2015 Report, Tanya Cook, Paul Schumacher, Galen Hadley, Bob Krist, Heath Mello, Kathy Campbell, Mike Gloor, Merv Riepe, Ken Schilz

Past Publications

A message from Senator Tanya Cook, Chair of the Legislature’s Planning Committee 2015-2016

The Legislature’s Planning Committee serves a vital role in the Nebraska Unicameral. In an era of term limits, the Planning Committee provides future-focused, data-driven research for senators to use in crafting smart, effective policies.

The 2015 Database Update continues to highlight nine key benchmarks – Economy, Agriculture, Natural Resources, State and Local Government, Education, Health and Human Services, Public Safety, Transportation, and Telecommunications – that give a well-rounded picture of the state’s strengths, struggles, and opportunities.

The Planning Committee owes a debt of gratitude to Dr. John …

Nebraska Legislative District Quick Facts From The 2009-2013 American Community Survey, Center For Public Affairs Research (Cpar)

Past Publications

The Nebraska Legislature's Planning Committee was created in 2009 with the passage of LB 653 in order to help establish a process of long-term state planning with the Nebraska Legislature. The committee was created to assist state government in identifying emerging trends, assets and challenges of the state and the long-term implications of the decisions made by the Nebraska Legislature.

State Fertility Rates By Race/Ethnicity: 2011-2015 Averages, Center For Public Affairs Research (Cpar)

Past Publications

Sources: Table 11, Births: Final Data for 2011 (and 2012 to 2015), National Center for Health Statistics;
2016 Population Estimates by Age, Gender, and Race (AFF table PEPASR6H), U.S. Census Bureau.

Tables Summarizing Births And Fertility Rates By Race And Ethnicity Of The Mother In The U.S. And Nebraska: 1989 To 2013, David Drozd

Past Publications

U.S. Fertility Rates Now Not that Different by Race and Ethnicity; Nebraska Fertility Rates Well Above U.S. Average

Table 1. Annual Estimates Of The Resident Population For The United States, Regions, States, And Puerto Rico: April 1, 2010 To July 1, 2015, Center For Public Affairs Research (Cpar)

Past Publications

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Discussion And Information On Public Support For Tax And Fee Increases For Transportation, Juita-Elena Yusuf, Lenahan O'Connell

School of Public Service Faculty Publications

This research note compares the effect on willingness to raise taxes and government fees of three common approaches to public consultation: (a) a telephone survey with no information or discussion, (b) a focus group with discussion but no information relating need to the proposed tax or fee, and (c) a focus group with discussion and such information. Our purpose is twofold: (a) illustrate the contribution of pertinent information to public acceptance of tax or fee increases, and (b) suggest a more comprehensive and informative approach to consultation with the public. We do so using the examples of raising the gas …

A Quantum Congress, Jorge R. Roig

Scholarly Works

This article tries to address the problem of a corrupt and broken electoral system that has been captured by special interests through big money spending in political campaigns, while at the same time preserving the spirit of the Free Speech Clause of our Constitution. In doing so, this article first reviews and summarizes the different alternatives proposed as potential fixes for the campaign finance problem. It then explains why none of the proposed alternatives can accomplish the dual goals set out above. Finally, the article briefly sketches a proposal for a fundamental reworking of our representative democracy by substituting legislative …

Fair Equality Of Opportunity: Reconceiving Affirmative Action Through A Rawlsian Lens, Janelle Garcelon

CMC Senior Theses

This paper examines common and past applications of affirmative action, including arguments for and against the application; presents John Rawls’ theory of justice, and proposes a framework using Rawls’ theory for future applications of affirmative action. The proposal relieves heavily on the principle of fair equality of opportunity, both as an indicator for when using affirmative action is appropriate as well as a tool to help identify the people that affirmative action programs should target. Using this framework, the public education system is identified as a sector of society that fails to provide fair equality of opportunity for all citizens, …

An Evaluation Of The Effectiveness Of The Use Of Social Media By United Way Of Westchester And Putnam, Dian Xi, Ziyun Gao

Master in Public Administration Theses

No abstract provided.

2015 January, Office Of Communications & Marketing, Morehead State University.

Morehead State Press Release Archive, 1961 to the Present

Press releases for January of 2015.

2015 Web Features, Office Of Communications & Marketing, Morehead State University.

Morehead State Press Release Archive, 1961 to the Present

Web features for 2015.

Racism Vs. Social Capital: A Case Study Of Two Majority Black Communities, Bruce W. Strouble

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Several researchers have identified social capital as a means to improve the social sustainability of communities. While there have been many studies investigating the benefits of social capital in homogeneous White communities, few have examined it in Black homogeneous communities. Also, there has been limited research on the influence of racism on social capital in African American communities. In this dissertation a comparative case study was used within a critical race theory framework. The purpose was to explore the role of racial oppression in shaping social capital in majority African American communities. Data were collected from 2 majority Black communities …

Efficiency Of Unified Vs. Non-Unified State Judiciaries: An Examination Of Court Organizational Performance, William Raftery

Theses and Dissertations

State court systems function in much the same manner as any other government agency in terms of organization and management to utilize public resources in order to provide a public service. The question posed in the late 19th century was whether the courts should be organized and managed as they had been for centuries as local entities locally controlled and operated or transferred to the state level. The desired end was a more efficient use of public resources to achieve faster disposition of cases. This reorganization, called unification, was made up of three individual components: 1) consolidation required the reduction …

Community Advanced Data And Research Analysis: A Mixed Methods Capstone Project, Michael Bernarndo, Brandie Green, Amber Konold, Kathryn Weavil

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The Community Advanced Data and Research Analysis project, or CADRA, is project that houses an interdisciplinary research team located at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. The vision of CADRA, as defined by its stakeholders, is to create positive community outcomes by encouraging and engaging nonprofit organizations, as well as student and professional researchers, to develop and evolve their data management practices. CADRA offers three program options including Nonprofit Audits, Program Development and Grant Writing, and Community Data Mining. The purpose of this program evaluation will be to evaluate the Community Advanced Data and Research Analysis (CADRA) Project, with a …

Notes From The Tuesday December 23, 2014 Release Of State Population Estimates As Of July 1, 2014 By The U.S. Census Bureau, David J. Drozd

Past Publications

The Census Bureau estimates the population of Nebraska as of July 1, 2014 to be 1,881,503. This is an increase of 12,534 from the July 1, 2013 estimate, or an increase of 0.67 percent. Nebraska’s most current annual growth is slightly (about 1,000) less than the gain of 13,482 or 0.73 percent in the prior year. Nebraska has now gained population for 27 straight years, with the last annual population loss occurring in 1987, amid the “farm crisis”.

Building The 21st Century Legal Resource Center & Law Library, Portland State University. Hatfield School Of Government. Center For Public Service, Mark G. Harmon, Shannon Grzybowski, Bryan Matthew Thompson, Stephanie Cross

Center for Public Service Publications and Reports

A Report on the Current Status of the Multnomah County’s Law Library and Recommendations for Addressing the Needs of Current Patrons.

Cpaf Updates Vol. 15 Issue No. 12, Rowena Dt. Baconguis, Josefina T. Dizon, Chris Estallo, Cristeta A. Foronda, Blanquita R. Pantoja

CPAf Updates

In this issue:

• CPAf bags 2014 Parolan awards, 1
• Christmas Messages, 2

2014 Population Estimates Table 1, United States Census Bureau

Past Publications

Table 1. Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for the United States, Regions, States, and Puerto Rico: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014

Rankings Of Poverty Data By Race And Ethnicity For The 100 Most Populated Metro Areas At The Time Of The Data Release: 2000 Census, 2006‐10 American Community Survey, And 2009‐13 American Community Survey, David Drozd

Past Publications

Summary: The long form of the 2000 Census collected income information from which poverty data are calculated. The long form was sent to a sample of households, with about 1 in 6 households across the United States receiving the long form. The 2000 Census had full (100%) nonresponse follow‐up with those households that did not return the long form questionnaire.

Rankings Of Poverty Data By Race And Ethnicity For The 100 Most Populated Metro Areas At The Time Of The Data Release: 2000 Census, 2006‐10 American Community Survey, And 2009‐13 American Community Survey, David J. Drozd

Past Publications

The long form of the 2000 Census collected income information from which poverty data are calculated. The long form was sent to a sample of households, with about 1 in 6 households across the United States receiving the long form. The 2000 Census had full (100%) nonresponse follow‐up with those households that did not return the long form questionnaire.

Selected Characteristics For Nebraska Legislative Districts From The 2009-2013 American Community Survey, Center For Public Affairs Research (Cpar)

Past Publications

On December 4, 2014, the U.S. Census Bureau released five‐year American Community Survey (ACS) estimates for the combined years of 2008 through 2012, making available social, economic, housing and demographic statistics for Nebraska’s Legislative Districts. Also available are estimates for every community and county in Nebraska and the nation.

The charts and tables in this report are based on the Legislative District boundaries for the 103rd Legislature that were approved by the Legislature in 2011 and were based on data from the 2010 Census. Because of changes in Legislative District boundaries, the charts and tables in this report are not …

Nebraska Legislative Planning Committee 2014 Report: Policy Briefs, Center For Public Affairs Research (Cpar)

Past Publications

The Nebraska Legislature's Planning Committee was created in 2009 with the passage of LB 653 in order to help establish a process of long-term state planning with the Nebraska Legislature. The committee was created to assist state government in identifying emerging trends, assets and challenges of the state and the long-term implications of the decisions made by the Nebraska Legislature.

Efforts during the first two years of the committee focused on the development of a database. The goals and benchmarks included in the database were developed and approved by the Legislature's Planning Committee to present a common-sense and data-driven assessment …

Attributes Of Successful Communities For Metropolitan And Nonmetropolitan Nebraskans, Rebecca Vogt

Past Publications

Both the Nebraska Metro and Rural Polls asked residents how essential or necessary various characteristics are in order for them to have a high quality of life.

Deliberative Democracy And The American Civil Jury, Valerie P. Hans, John Gastil, Traci Feller

Cornell Law Faculty Publications

Civil jury service should be a potent form of deliberative democracy, creating greater civic engagement. However, a 2010 seven-state study of jury service and voting records found no overall boost in civic engagement following service on civil juries, whereas jurors who served on criminal cases did show increased civic engagement following their jury service. This article reports a project that augments the civil jury data set with information about jury decision rule, jury size, defendant identity, and case type and examines whether specific types of civil jury service influence postservice voting. Taking into account preservice voting records, jurors who serve …

2014 December, Office Of Communications & Marketing, Morehead State University.

Morehead State Press Release Archive, 1961 to the Present

Press releases for December of 2014.

U.S. State Department International Law Internship And Employment Presentation And Discussion, Michael E. Thurston Famu Diplomat-In Residence

Environmental and Animal Law

The Center for International Law & Justice presents a discussion and presentation by Michael E. Thurston, a Senior Foreign Service officer, who is currently serving as Diplomat-in-Residence based at Florida A & M University in Tallahassee. Mr. Thurston has served in Afghanistan, Burma, various locations in Africa, Australia, Sri Lanka, and Mexico.