1941 research outputs found
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Labor and Management Relations: Historical Perspectives and Current Trends
Full text linkCapstone paper from 2015 spring MPA program. Instructed by Allen Zagoren.Over the last 125 years, labor unions and management in the United States have had working relationships that have ranged from positive to co-existence to adversarial. In recent decades, declines in union membership, politically charged legislation seeking to limit union influence, and pressures on management to maintain profits in a global economy have introduced further strain on labor and management relations. In this paper we will examine the factors that impact labor and management relationships on a local level and what can be done to improve them. To provide a bigger context, the history of legislation and economic factors that have influenced labor and management relationships throughout their existence in this country will be explored. Additionally, interviews of labor and management leaders revealed generational differences, complacency, and lack of communication can negatively impact labor and management relationships. Solutions to these problems will be offered and include utilizing a “Problem- Solving, Relationship-Building” (PS/RB) approach. Although hard metrics for this approach are difficult to define, it has been used successfully on both an organizational level as well as on a regional level. Finally, we will describe the resources available to not only begin this approach with labor and management, but to sustain the effort and the benefits it offers
Corporate Governance: South Africa vs. The United States
Full text linkEditorially reviewed student paper. 20 page
Expanding Production of Cannabis in Iowa
Full text linkFollowing passage of Senate Bill 2360 “Medical Cannabidiol Act” in Iowa, possession of Cannabidiol Oil become legal for patients who suffered from intractable epilepsy. The law became effective July 1, 2014, however, patients who were diagnosed by neurologist and prescribed Cannabidiol were still unable to legally access the medication in Iowa. The Controlled Substance Act still lists Cannabis and any of its components, as illegal for possession per federal law. States such as Colorado, Minnesota, and Illinois have legalized production and growing in their individual states. However, unlike the other states, Iowa’s legislation still does not permit the production and distribution of Cannabidiol Oil in the state. Thus, attention is focused on raising awareness of the medical benefits of cannabis and finding a solution to allow patients and their caregivers to legally obtain this medication in the Iowa.Capstone paper from 2015 spring MPA program. Instructed by Allen Zagoren
Social Connectedness and Student Debt: Predicting College Retention at a Four-Year Private Liberal Arts Institution
Full text link130 leavesOf all the students entering a four-year institution of higher education, only 52.8% graduate
within five years (Noble & Sawyer, 2013). Over the years, American higher education has made
little progress toward improving the graduation rate and ensuring students entering college will
be successful. University leaders and policymakers have increased their academic success efforts
to improve retention and graduation rates (Bettinger & Baker, 2014). Using the theory of social
connectedness, the purpose of this quantitative study was to determine the extent to which
quality relationships with peers, faculty, and staff predict student retention and graduation at a
small, private institution located in the central United States. Hierarchical regression analyses
indicated financial debt as a statistically significant predictor of student retention. In regards to
graduation, no variables were found to be statistically significant. Seniors were significantly
more likely than freshmen to have quality relationships with peers. Females were significantly
more likely than males to develop quality relationships with staff. In this study, with financial
debt being the greatest predictor of retention, institutions could provide debt counselors to help
students navigate through any financial challenges they may encounter. Another option would be
to charge tuition as a complete package rather than paying per semester. Paying upfront could
increase the commitment level on behalf of the student and allow institutions to capture money
that is normally lost when a student leaves, allowing institutions to lower overall tuition. Further
details and additional recommendations for policy and practice are provided for students and
institutions
Polk County Juvenile Drug Court: Recommendations for the Future
Full text linkCapstone paper from 2015 spring MPA program. Instructed by Allen Zagoren.Polk County Juvenile Drug Court (“PCJDC”) has been operating since 2001, and has built a solid reputation within the state by addressing juvenile offenders with accompanying substance abuse problems. This paper examines the PCJDC with the hopes of identifying both what has made it successful and where improvements can be made to the program. Through interviews and surveys with current and former PCJDC staff and a review of current academic research, we offer some insight to best practices of similar programs and how they could be applied within the PCJDC program
Music Education in Iowa Public Schools
Full text linkCapstone paper from 2015 spring MPA program. Instructed by Allen Zagoren.Our paper discusses the status of music education programs in Iowa public schools. Music programs are often the first to be cut when school districts have financial difficulties. Therefore, we conducted further research on this topic.
Our research includes a short history of music and its importance in education. It is also shown to improve learning and have an effect on the human brain. Throughout the country many schools have dropped or reduced their music programs, mainly due to budget cuts and Common Core requirements.
In order to see how Iowa is doing, we sent out surveys to all 338 public school districts and received 91 responses. Our results showed that in Iowa most school districts have retained their music programs and have found ways to keep music alive for their students. It also showed that Iowans are very proud of their music programs and are willing to support them
In The Same Room--The Lived Experience of College Faculty with their Administrators in a Shared Governance Environment
Full text link161 pagesThe tensions existing between faculty and administrators at colleges and universities have come to be an accepted part of postsecondary education. Calls from lawmakers for increasing federal and state oversight, decreasing enrollments, and diminishing resources are among the many issues facing colleges today. Faculty and administrators who work at colleges subscribing to a shared governance model of decision-making attempt to address these and other challenges together, in the same room. Finding ways to assure the success of the shared governance process can be a challenge for most colleges, but one on which the future of such governance relies. The purpose of this heuristic phenomenological, qualitative research study was to look at the phenomenon of faculty’s lived experience working in a shared governance environment at
small private liberal arts colleges. The researcher presents four themes that emerged from the primary data source, which
was three interviews of nine tenured faculty members at three different small, private liberal arts colleges in the Midwest. The four themes are: 1) the relationships between faculty and their administrators influence the level of faculty engagement in shared governance; 2) faculty value communication and transparency and recognize how it influences their participation in
decision-making; 3) the extent to which administrators value faculty input influences faculty morale and motivation to participate in governance; and 4) the complexities of power influence faculty engagement in governance. These findings could be used to aid faculty and administrators in the conversations about how to improve their own college’s practice of
shared governance
It’s Not Brain Science… Or Is It? How Early Second Language Learning Can Impact Future Achievement
Full text linkCapstone paper from 2015 spring MPA program. Instructed by Allen Zagoren.We live in a global economy, yet U.S. citizens lag far behind in the knowledge of other countries’ languages, cultures, customs, geographies and peoples. Equipping the next generation with foreign language skills as well as knowledge of other cultures and customs will not only provide increased career opportunities for individuals but also aid in the future success of the U.S. economy. The U.S. educational system does not stress the learning of language beyond English: K-12 curriculum is rigidly mandated, budgets are tight, class time and teacher training is limited, and language programs are often among the first to be cut during budget crises. There is a time period when a child’s brain is developing and most receptive to learning, and that is early childhood. If the seed were planted in a child before he/she enters kindergarten to learn the basics of a foreign language and culture, perhaps that knowledge could be nourished throughout the rest of their lives, preparing those children to embrace cultural differences, live and compete more successfully in an evolving and diverse world, and be better equipped for later education. Besides examining the current state of foreign language education in the U.S. and how learning occurs, the benefits of foreign language learning in relation to business and human relations are examined in this paper. Multiple solutions to solving the foreign language deficit are mentioned including a proposal for an early-learning language program
RETURNING TO SCHOOL, RETURNING TO LIFE: THE TRANSFORMATION OF DISPLACED WORKERS
Full text link177 leavesProblem: Worker displacement is a significant public policy concern. As structural changes in
the economy occur, displacement will continue to be an issue that will need to be addressed at
both the Federal and state levels, as well as by those who serve displaced workers. Many studies
address the quantitative aspects of worker displacement; however, there is a dearth of
information on the qualitative aspects of the phenomenon. This qualitative study explored three
questions. How does a displaced worker arrive at the decision to enroll in and complete a degree
or certificate program? Second, what factors influence a displaced worker’s decision to return to
school? Lastly, how has the completion of a college degree, or certificate program impacted a
displaced worker’s life?
Procedures: This case study explored the concept of transitions, both as displaced workers made
a the decision to go back to school, as well as the impact that school has on a displaced worker’s
life. A semi-structured interview protocol was created, then, interviews were conducted with
nine displaced workers. Participants were chosen through purposeful sampling methods. Data
analysis was conducted through the use of open and axial coding. Additionally, axial coding was
used to help establish how topics and ideas could be contextualized by Schlossberg’s 4S Model
of Transitions (Anderson et al., 2012). Triangulation of the data occurred through the
comparative analysis of the nine interviews, as well as interviews with the state’s workforce
development office.
Findings: I found that within the self component, a participant’s explanatory style was paramount
in displaced workers’ understanding of their transition process. Within the supports component,
my study found that family and faculty were important components in participants’ decision to
return to school and that institutional supports played a critically important role in participants’
decision to move from displaced worker, to student.
Conclusion: The importance of participants’ method of explaining their situation – their
explanatory style – was clearly instrumental in their decision to return to, and complete
schooling. In addition, and perhaps more tellingly, participants noted that institutional supports
were critical to their decision to return to school, a finding that was unexpected based on the
literature.
Recommendations: I implore leaders at both the federal and state level to recognize the
important role that institutional supports play in helping those who become displaced.
Recognition of the importance of Federal government programs is particularly salient, especially
in an era of budget constraints. In addition, post-secondary personnel and faculty can more
effectively facilitate and serve those displaced workers who are deciding whether or not to
matriculate, or those who have matriculated, but are struggling to complete schooling, with the
researcher-created list of questions for helping those who are transitioning from worker, to
student
Social Connectedness and Student Debt: Predicting College Retention at a Four-Year Private Liberal Arts Institution
Full text link130 pagesOf all the students entering a four-year institution of higher education, only 52.8% graduate within five years (Noble & Sawyer, 2013). Over the years, American higher education has made little progress toward improving the graduation rate and ensuring students entering college will be successful. University leaders and policymakers have increased their academic success efforts to improve retention and graduation rates (Bettinger & Baker, 2014). Using the theory of social
connectedness, the purpose of this quantitative study was to determine the extent to which quality relationships with peers, faculty, and staff predict student retention and graduation at a small, private institution located in the central United States.
Hierarchical regression analyses indicated financial debt as a statistically significant predictor of student retention. In regards to graduation, no variables were found to be statistically significant. Seniors were significantly more likely than freshmen to have quality relationships with peers. Females were significantly more likely than males to develop quality relationships with staff. In this study, with financial debt being the greatest predictor of retention, institutions could
provide debt counselors to help students navigate through any financial challenges they may encounter. Another option would be to charge tuition as a complete package rather than paying per semester. Paying upfront could increase the commitment level on behalf of the student and allow institutions to capture money that is normally lost when a student leaves, allowing institutions to lower overall tuition. Further details and additional recommendations for policy and practice
are provided for students and institutions