Other Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

College Savings Plan Accounts At Birth: Maine's Statewide Program, Margaret M. Clancy, Terry Lassar

Center for Social Development Research

The Harold Alfond College Challenge offers $500 to every child in the state enrolled in Maine’s NextGen college savings plan within 1 year from birth. As the first U.S. example of a statewide Child Development Account, the Alfond Challenge is a laboratory to study and learn from Maine’s experience. This CSD policy brief provides an overview of the Alfond Challenge, examines administrative and enrollment challenges, and offers recommendations and federal and state policy directions.

Conceptualizing Success In Therapeutic Wilderness Experiences: The Creation And Maintenance Of Instructor-Participant Relationships, Chelsea I. Ambrozaitis

Honors Scholar Theses

Researchers have noted that relationships created between instructors and clients in therapeutic wilderness experiences are unique (Russell, 2003; Russell & Phillips-Miller, 2001; Sklar, Anderson, & Autry, 2007; Taniguchi et al., 2009), but little research has been done to explore these relationships. The present study is an investigation of how instructors build and maintain relationships with participants, conceptualize these relationships, and define success in these tasks. Nine instructors from a wilderness program for at-risk youth participated in interviews. Data were analyzed using a line-by-line coding technique. Results of this study add to existing research on wilderness therapy and therapeutic wilderness experiences, …

Building Steprelationships: Emerging Adult Stepchildrens' Perceptions And Experiences Of Their Stepparents, Luke Thomas Russell

Honors Scholar Theses

A grounded theory study was conducted with ten (7 female, 3 male) emerging-adults in stepfamilies to examine their perceptions and experiences of their stepparents, and what factors influence the development and maintenance of these steprelationships. Three primary categories emerged from the data: (1) Stepchildrens' perceptions of their stepparents presence in their lives, including both physical closeness and physical and emotional involvement (2) The perceived level of authenticity within the steprelationship, and (3) The level of clout stepchildren afforded to their stepparents' position within their lives and families.

Additional factors found to influence the levels of presence, authenticity, and clout were …

Leadership And Innovation Program, Connie I. Reimers-Hild

Kimmel Education and Research Center: Presentations and White Papers

No abstract provided.

All- Star Sports Honors Analysis, Daniel Reed

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

As requested, I have read and analyzed the case, “Decision Making at the Top: The All- Star Sports Catalog Division.” This case detailed an issue that many organizations face at some point as many organizations tend to make changes to its decision making process. The All-Star Sports Catalog Division (ASC) is one of three divisions within the All-Star Sports organization. Since its establishment in 1990, the division has performed well and expanded greatly. Much of this success resulted from the decision making process developed by ASC President, Don Barrett. The process is very fundamental and wellstructured, which has allowed the …

Govt 430 – Comparative Economic And Political Ideas, Steven Alan Samson

Faculty Publications and Presentations

No abstract provided.

Relating Bike Racks And Bike Ridership, John Sens

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Abstract The purpose of this thesis was to investigate the relationship between bicycle ridership and bike racks in a given area. The goal was to discern whether or not the density of bike racks determines the number of riders in the area. I predicted that there would be higher ridership in the areas with a denser bike rack concentration. To investigate this point, I set up five different areas of varying sizes with a similar number of bike racks, and then observed them over a period of 5 business days. By using a simple tally of the bikes found on …

Staying On Course: The Effects Of Savings And Assets On The College Progress Of Young Adults, Sondra G. Beverly, William Elliott Iii

Center for Social Development Research

Staying on Course: The Effects of Savings and Assets on the College Progress of Young Adults

Staying On Course: The Effects Of Savings And Assets On The College Progress Of Young Adults, William Elliott Iii, Sondra G. Beverly

Center for Social Development Research

Increasingly, college graduation is seen as a necessary step toward achieving the American Dream. However, large disparities exist in graduation rates. This study examines the college progress of young adults. Findings suggest that 57% of young adults between the ages of 17 and 23 are “on course,” that is, are currently attending or have graduated from college. Those with family assets and savings of their own are more likely to be on course. In multivariate analysis, both net worth and youth school savings are strong predictors of college progress. Youth school savings and parental savings for youth are strong predictors …

International Volunteerism In The United States, 2008, Benjamin Lough

Center for Social Development Research

Over one million individuals reported volunteering internationally in 2008. Young or middle-aged, White, college graduates with higher incomes, employed full-time, and married without dependent children were the most frequent candidates for volunteer service abroad. The majority of international volunteers served with a faith-based organization. Data for this report were gathered from the September 2004 through September 2009 volunteer supplements to the Current Population Survey (CPS)—a monthly survey of approximately 60,000 households. The volunteer supplement includes questions about service performed domestically and abroad. Two items specifically assess the rate and frequency of international volunteer service. More detailed information about sampling, definitions, …

Analysis Of Binge Drinking Among Students At California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, Jonathan Dally

Agribusiness

The perception of binge drinking among students is skewed to an extreme that provides an excuse for consuming excessive amounts of alcohol. Recent tragic events pertaining to binge drinking steer this study towards clarifying the clouded perceptions students have of alcohol consumption. It is important to understand variables that may affect understanding and decisions that lead to abusing alcohol. It is intended to present factors that can help prevent circumstances and situations that put students’ health at risk. The objective of this study is to assess the drinking habits of students who attend California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo. …

Asset Building In The South: Organizations And Services, Gena Gunn, Jennifer Heffern, Karen Edwards

Center for Social Development Research

Asset Building in the South: Organizations and Services

Assets And Liabilities, Race/Ethnicity, And Children's College Education, Min Zhan, Michael Sherraden

Center for Social Development Research

Assets and Liabilities, Race/Ethnicity, and Children's College Education

Assets And Liabilities, Race/Ethnicity, And Children's College Education, Min Zhan, Michael Sherraden

Center for Social Development Research

This study examines the extent to which household assets and liabilities are related to disparities in children’s college attendance and college graduation among White, Black, and Hispanic families. Results indicate that, after household assets are considered, a substantial portion of the Black-White gap in college attendance and college graduation disappears, and a small portion of the Hispanic-White gap in college graduation also disappears. Separate analyses of children from each racial/ethnic group further indicate that family income and financial assets are related to White children’s college attendance and graduation, but nonfinancial assets and unsecured debt are associated with college attendance and …

Earned Income Tax Credit (Eitc) Utilization In Native Communities, Kristen Wagner, Amy Locklear Hertel

Center for Social Development Research

Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Utilization in Native Communities

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (Vita) Sites In Native Communities, Kristen Wagner, Amy Locklear Hertel

Center for Social Development Research

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Sites in Native Communities

Savings And Financial Services In Native Communities, Kristen Wagner, Kristen Wagner

Center for Social Development Research

Savings and Financial Services in Native Communities

Toward More Inclusive College Savings Plans: Sample State Legislation, Terry Lassar, Margaret M. Clancy, Sarah Mcclure

Center for Social Development Research

A number of states have created inclusive 529 policy strategies to make college savings plans more accessible and easier to use for families at all income levels. These strategies include facilitating enrollment and contributions, removing saving disincentives, increasing saving incentives, and strengthening tax benefits. In this report, we examine these inclusive state policy strategies, describe their application through legislative and administrative means, and point to specific examples.A related policy brief by the same title is also available.

Toward More Inclusive College Savings Plans: Sample State Legislation, Terry Lassar, Margaret M. Clancy, Sarah Mcclure

Center for Social Development Research

A number of states have created inclusive 529 policy strategies to make college savings plans more accessible and easier to use for families at all income levels. These strategies include: facilitating enrollment and contributions, removing saving disincentives, increasing saving incentives, and strengthening tax benefits. In this brief, we highlight these inclusive state policy strategies, describes their application through legislative and administrative means, and points to specific examples. A related policy report by the same title is also available.

The Role Of Savings And Wealth In Reducing "Wilt" Between Expectations And College Attendance, William Elliott Iii, Sondra Beverly

Center for Social Development Research

The Role of Savings and Wealth in Reducing "Wilt" Between Expectations and College Attendance