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    4449 research outputs found

    Civilian Oversight Review Boards and Why They Are Essential in Modern Law Enforcement

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    Now, in the year 2022, more than ever, citizens are demanding that their law enforcement agencies be more transparent with their policies, procedures, and internal affairs investigative processes and consistently hold officers accountable for misconduct. Due to several recent high-profile incidents of officer misconduct, some citizens no longer have trust in law enforcement to conduct a non-biased investigation when an officer commits misconduct. Some citizens believe this causes officers not to be held accountable for their actions and further exacerbates the already strained relationship between the community and law enforcement. For these reasons, all cities should implement a civilian oversight review board for their law enforcement agencies. The implementation of civilian oversight review boards for law enforcement agencies will build trust between law enforcement and the community, increase law enforcement transparency, and increase officer accountability. Civilian oversight review boards will remain an important component in police reform as we continue to reimagine public safety in the United States.LEMI

    Latino Osteopathic Medical Student Audio Series – Saeed Menissy

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    Bridging Horizons: Audio Series on a medical career journey for undergraduate students with Saeed Menissy There is an undisputable need to increase Hispanic diversity in medical education and healthcare. Discover the inspiring world of medicine through "Bridging Horizons," an audio series designed to empower and guide Hispanic undergraduate students on their path to medical school. Delve into the personal stories and triumphs of Hispanic medical students, giving insights into their cultural perspectives on how to start the journey to becoming a medical professional. This audio series highlights the cultural attributes of medical students and their successful stories from navigating fears and uncertainties to initiating their medical career path up to their school’s admission. "Bridging Horizons" is a platform that celebrates the resilience, achievements, and contributions of Hispanic individuals in the initial journey to becoming medical professionals. Join us in fostering a supportive community for Hispanic prospective med students, offering practical advice on engagement to break down barriers, bridge cultural gaps, and provide a roadmap for aspiring Hispanic medical professionals. Tune in for a roadmap to success, from undergraduate studies to medical school admission.SHSU College of Osteopathic Medicin

    2023 TSUS Annual Online Education Report

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    An annual "state of the system" report concerning online education within the Texas State University System.For many years, the Texas State University System (TSUS) has embarked on an ambitious effort to expand and enhance its online education offerings. By offering a range of degree and certification programs online, the System has aimed to provide pathways toward credentials of value. Recognizing the transformative power of digital technology, the System’s online efforts have redefined the academic experience, making it more accessible and flexible for a broad spectrum of students. The success of these efforts is reflected in robust online enrollments and the wide variety of online course offerings. As of the Fall semester of 2023, TSUS institutions collectively offered 279 online programs and clocked over 318,000 student credit hours (SCH) in online courses. By bringing education into the digital realm, TSUS institutions have collectively advanced online education while responding capably to the increasing digitization of learning

    The Moderating Role of Marijuana Policies on the Association Between Social Bonds and Marijuana Use

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    Over the past century, there have been ongoing changes in marijuana policies, leading to evolving attitude towards its use and an increase in adolescent use (Goodwin et al., 2021; Hall & Weier, 2015; Hopfer, 2014; Martins et al., 2021; Wilkinson et al., 2016). This increase in usage poses risks, as it can adversely affect the physical and mental health of adolescents by hindering brain development and increasing the likelihood of mental health disorders. With the growing prevalence of adolescent marijuana use amid legalization efforts, it becomes crucial to understand the factors safeguarding them from involvement in marijuana use. Consistent criminological research indicates that adolescents with strong social bonds, such as strong parental attachment and commitment to school, exhibit lower tendencies towards substance use and delinquency (Bond et al., 2007; Dornbusch et al., 2001; Fairbairn et al., 2018; Hahlbeck & Vito, 2021; Hwang & Akers, 2017). However, what remains uncertain is whether the increased accessibility of marijuana undermines the effectiveness of these protective factors against marijuana use and delinquency. Therefore, this study employs a nationally representative sample of adolescents from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) to investigate whether state-level medical marijuana policies and perceptions of state-level marijuana possession penalties serve as moderators in the relationship between social bonds and marijuana use among adolescents

    The Need for Accreditation in Each of Today’s Law Enforcement Agencies

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    Communities expect their law enforcement agencies and employees to operate in a manner that is professional, efficient, and consistent with the needs of the community and the law enforcement mission. Failing to accomplish this can diminish not only the trust of that individual agency but the whole profession. This leaves law enforcement administrators with the daunting task of identifying and implementing policies and standards that they believe are correct. In Texas, there are very few statewide standards that must be met by a law enforcement agency. The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, the state’s law enforcement authority, monitors and enforces statewide hiring and credentialing records, but not agency practices or professional standards. Such state-wide standards are not currently mandated; however, they do exist in a voluntary setting in the form of law enforcement accreditation programs. Unfortunately, not many agencies voluntarily participate in these beneficial programs. Law Enforcement Accreditation provides a set of operational standards that each agency should maintain and follow, centered around the betterment of the profession and the organization’s operation. Agencies are required to develop a uniform set of written policies and procedures centered around known best practices and verify those through an independent inspection. Doing so builds community trust and provides agency administrators with the standards needed to ensure that the agency provides a quality professional service to their community. This is why all Law Enforcement Agencies in Texas should be accredited.LEMI

    The Level of Preparedness in Non-acute Healthcare Providers Can Impend Your Healthcare System Infrastructure in Disasters

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    Developing and sustaining a healthcare emergency preparedness education and training program that integrates with a healthcare coalition and offices of emergency management will improve the healthcare infrastructure system to maintain operations during the effects of a disaster. Preparing and responding to disasters or a large-scale emergency within the healthcare system is a multi-layered approach. Non-acute healthcare providers pose a challenge for responding agencies. Most of these types of providers do not emphasis the importance of preparing for a disaster. Which in turn causes a trickle effect for responding agencies juggling multiple events simultaneously to meet the need of these providers. The project will demonstrate how a healthcare coalition collaborating with local offices of emergency management improves the overall response when preparedness initiatives are at the forefront of daily activities as compared to other areas without the resources to conduct preparedness activities. Examples of real-world emergencies will show the disparities of a prepared healthcare system vs. those that are minimally prepared that result on a cascading effect on the healthcare system and responding agencies. Information collected by (the SouthEast Texas Regional Advisory Council) SETRAC’s Special Populations daily activities and real-world disasters will be used to demonstrate the effectiveness of preparedness and response as it improved over the past 5 years. Historical response efforts after action reports will also be utilized to delineate the differences between utilization of dedicated personnel to reduce the implication of a cascading effect negatively impacting the healthcare system infrastructure

    DIFFERENCES IN STUDENT AFFAIRS PERCEPTION OF ASSESSMENT CULTURE AS A FUNCTION OF YEARS IN HIGHER EDUCATION

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    To better inform key stakeholders in student affairs divisions, an investigation was conducted to determine whether student affairs perceptions of assessment culture varied according to years of experience in higher education. A quantitative study was conducted to determine whether years of experience in higher education have any effect on the dependent variables (a) Clear Commitment to Assessment; (b) Assessment Communication; (c) Connection to Change; (d) Fear of Assessment (Fuller, 2013; Fuller & Lane, 2017; Fuller & Skidmore, 2014; Fuller et al., 2016). A stepwise sequential linear regression was used to examine the correlation between the independent and dependent variables to determine if any of the dependent variables could be predicted. The results indicated that Time as a Student Affairs Member had an effect on two of the four dependent variables regarding the perception of assessment culture. However, in future experiments, researchers should examine the effect of reported variations. Additionally, the discussion on how to use the findings of this study includes suggestions for additional research on this topic

    Armed Defenders in Texas Schools

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    From 2000 to 2022, there have been 520 active attacks across the United States (Texas State University, n.d.). Data clearly indicates a sharp increase in violence targeting children in schools annually over those two decades. Of the 520 attacks studied, schools were attacked 14% of the time, totaling 73 times (Texas State University, n.d.). In 485 or 93% of these mass acts of violence firearms were the weapons of choice by the attackers (Texas State University, n.d.). Pistols were used in 59% of the attacks while rifles and shotguns were utilized in 39% of the attacks (Texas State University, n.d.). The attackers wore body armor in 4% of the attacks (Texas State University, n.d.). Law enforcement stopped 31% of the attacks (Texas State University, n.d.). In the wake of the tragedy at Robb Elementary, in Uvalde, Texas, in 2022, parents and stakeholders across the State of Texas demanded action. In 2023, and at the direction of Governor Abbott, the 88th Texas Legislature took sweeping action with HB3, requiring school leaders to post armed defenders on every school campus in Texas. HB3 also expanded the options of armed defenders, and funding was appropriated to offset the costs of protecting children in schools (Mendez, 2022). Texas school districts should establish school district police departments and employ school peace officers as armed defenders on every campus.LEMI

    Ex Nihilo: A Case Study of Select Higher Education Apex Leaders and the Creation of a New College

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    Higher education institutions have experienced and will continue to experience opportunities and threats from many sources. Some leaders may be at the top of an organizational chart but report to others. In some higher education institutions, presidents report to and work with chancellors of a system. The apex leaders—those at the very top of a university’s organizational structure—may have opportunities to express leadership in an entrepreneurial manner, meaning assuming risk, changing the status quo, and implementing innovative ideas. This study explored, using a case study qualitative methodology, select apex-level higher education leaders at a selected institution of higher education when they created, developed, and sustained a new college. This study explored whether and how apex leaders behaved entrepreneurially, including managing risks, implementing new ideas, and setting a foundation for growth. Data were collected through interviews with a president and a chancellor who publicly worked together to create a new college

    Borrowing-as-Equality: Student Debt and Social Mobility Among Black Postgraduate Students

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    The rising growth of student debt among Black women postgraduates highlights an alarming trend impacting social class attainment and economic mobility. Federal loan programs increase college access for students of color; however, these programs also contribute to racial disparities that influence students’ academic outcomes and financial well-being. Black graduate students accumulate $25,000 more in debt compared to their White peers, perpetuating educational and wealth disparities (Chan et al., 2019). Despite extensive research on student debt, very few studies have examined the connection between student debt and social mobility for Black postgraduates. In particular, the relationship between Black women postgraduates’ student debt, barriers to social mobility, and psychological well-being remains underexplored. This qualitative study aimed to uncover the risks associated with student debt and its impact on social mobility, wealth attainment, and mental health wellness among Black women postgraduates. Utilizing Seidman’s structured phenomenological interviewing method, in-depth interviews were conducted with four participants to explore how student debt influences their educational pursuits, financial stability, and social mobility. The data analysis revealed five major themes: educational pursuits as a pathway to social mobility and family influence, self-guided financial aid understanding amid support gaps, myth of the American dream, educational disparities and financial barriers, and the emotional and psychological impacts of student debt. Findings showed that while education is often viewed as a route to social mobility, Black women face long-term financial challenges that hinder their ability to achieve the American Dream despite their academic achievements. The findings signal a call for policy and college and university reforms aimed at addressing economic inequality and reducing the burden of postgraduate indebtedness for Black women. Additionally, the emotional and psychological toll of student debt warrants further exploration, as participants described significant stress in managing debt while balancing career advancement and personal well-being. Researchers should continue to examine the intersectionality of race, gender, and economic policy in shaping postsecondary educational outcomes and the long-term effects of student debt on social mobility and wealth accumulation

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