For-Profit Education in the United States: A Primer

Higher education during the twentieth century underwent drastic changes as reformers forcefully argued education was the business of the state, and society could be improved by strong, publicly backed schools (Coulson 1999). Often proponents of state-sponsored education on the left argued the government should use education as a way to shape the minds of the nation's citizens, who were not responsible enough to take care of their own education properly (Coulson 1999). On the right, similar arguments were used as special interest groups saw the government as a means to influence what went on in the classroom. Consequently, the government stepped into the higher education arena, in part, by arguing people were not competent enough to oversee their own education. While the data for this period are scarce, it is safe to say for the period 1890 -- 1972, for-profit colleges were increasingly marginalized by the growth of highly subsidized public institutions (Breneman et al. 2006; Kinser 2006; Ruch 2001).Starting in the mid-1970s and accelerating through the 1980s and 1990s, for-profit education underwent a renaissance, due in large part to the 1972 reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, which increased the amount of government student aid available to for-profit schools (Kinser 2006; Turner 2006). During this era, the broadened scope of Pell Grants gave rise to an increasing number of for-profit universities offering associates, bachelors, and graduate degrees (Turner 2006). Since 1976, for-profit enrollment has grown at an annualized growth rate of about 11 percent, increasing by a factor of nearly twenty-three. For-profits'market share of higher education has gone from 0.4 percent to nearly 6 percent (U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 2006a). The robust resurgence of for-profit schools suggests America's nonprofit colleges are failing to meet fully the people's needs. As a result, for-profits are stepping in to meet market demands their highly subsidized counterparts have chronically failed to satisfy. These recent and rapid developments have once again brought for-profit education national visibility

A Model for the Delivery of Evidence-Based PSHE (Personal Wellbeing) in Secondary Schools

Personal Social Health and Economic (PSHE) education is a non-statutory school subject designed to facilitate the delivery of a number of key competencies relevant to health, safety and wellbeing. As well as contributing to learning objectives in regards to these topics PSHE education has been ascribed with weighty expectations for outcomes well beyond the classroom relating to physical, mental, sexual and emotional health and safety. This paper reviews a programme of research aimed at providing guidance for the evidence-based provision of PSHE education, including a summary of the major impediments and facilitators of evidence-based programming, as well as a model curriculum for the delivery of evidence-based PSHE. An extensive literature review was conducted along with a series of interviews with programme developers, researchers, teachers and other school practitioners with the aim of developing a cohesive rationale for PSHE education and identifying evidence-based programmes which could be implemented to contribute to PSHE aims. The proposed model curriculum is comprised of evidence-based programmes which are PSHE-relevant and applicable or adaptable to the PSHE-education implementation context. While the provision of evidence-based PSHE presents a number of challenges and is limited by a lack of resources and evidence of effectiveness, with appropriate guidance PSHE education can be improved so that a comprehensive syllabus of evidence-based programmes is enacted in secondary schools. This will increase the likelihood that PSHE has the intended effect on adolescent mental and physical health and wellbeing.Health education, social-emotional learning, life-skills, prevention

Flora London Marathon 2000 – the economic legacy

Since its inception in 1981 the London Marathon has developed into one of the largest mass participation events of its kind in the world. So much so, that for the Millennium Flora London Marathon (FLM) there were 32,620 starters. Apart from the mass participants, the FLM also attracts some of the top distance runners from around the world, making it a world class international event. Such major events can have potential benefits in the form of hidden economic impacts on a host city, local area and (in this case) even the United Kingdom’s (UK) economy as a whole. The current investigation utilises the robust methodology and model (developed by the Leisure Industries Research Centre; LIRC) for analysing the economic impact of major sport events (see UK Sport, 1999b), to produce an accurate estimate of the additional expenditure made in the UK (economic importance)and in London (economic impact) as a result of the FLM. This article demonstrates that one of the most prestigious and high profile events in the UK sporting calendar leaves a hidden but significant economic legacy in its wake. Not only is the Flora London Marathon a great sporting spectacle and a celebration of the human spirit, it is also a successful business venture. Such information is likely to be of interest to authorities’ formulating strategic plans around sports tourism

Outcomes Based Assessment of Universities

This study summarizes recent and continuing research conducted by the Center for College Affordability and Productivity (CCAP) on the metrics used for measuring college performance. Unlike other rankings, this study does not concentrate on the inputs of college education such as endowment size, number of faculty, or the educational preparation of students as measured by SAT scores, etc. Instead, it focuses on the outputs, namely the success of students after graduation. Using the names of entrants in Marquis Publishing's 2008 edition of Who's Who in America as our standard for measuring high levels of success, we collected the names of over 5,200 individuals, along with their educational background.This is more than a 5 percent sampling of all names listed in this standard reference work. From this sample, we then calculated which colleges produced the most successful graduates. The results thus far have been both fascinating and surprising.We have found that while going to top ranked schools as measured by standard college rankings does correlate with success, it is a weaker relationship than many may have previously believed. The study reveals that the "industry standard," U.S. News & World Report (USNWR) rankings, on the whole, is only weakly related to graduate success. This suggests that the characteristics contributing to the value of a student's education differ substantially from what is typically assumed. The goal of this study is not to serve as a definitive source for ranking and comparing colleges. Rather, the research presented herein will hopefully serve as both an impetus and road ma

Doctor of Philosophy

dissertationCognitive control mechanisms were examined through depletion and restoration manipulations common in self-regulation literature. In this within-subjects, double-blind placebo controlled experiment, 33 participants performed three blocks of a high-congruency version of the flanker task while their EEG signals were recorded. Cognitive fatigue was induced in participants by lengthy flanker blocks, and they received either glucose or a placebo so we could examine the effects of metabolic restoration. Overall, there was a main effect of cognitive fatigue on flanker accuracy and on error-related event related potentials (ERPs). Participants had more accurate responses in the third block of the flanker task when they drank glucose as compared to the placebo. Additionally, the error-related negativity (ERN) waveform increased in amplitude during the third block of the flanker task when participants drank glucose. These findings suggest that there is overlap between the bodies of literature on cognitive control and self-regulation, specifically when measuring the activity in the anterior cingulate cortex during conflict paradigms

Master of Science

thesisThe present study investigates individual differences in information processing following an error. Participants with high working memory capacity (WMC) and with low WMC performed a high congruency version of the flanker task under both speedand accuracy-stress. We recorded event-related potentials and behavioral measures of accuracy and response time (RT) in the flanker task with a primary focus on processing following an error. We compared WMC groups on the error related negativity (ERN) and the positivity following an error (Pe) associated with both task goal and working memory capacity. Those with a high WMC had a larger ERN compared to those with lower WMC. In addition, accuracy stress reflected a larger ERN than speed-based trials. The data suggest the error related negativity was modulated by task goals and working memory capacity. The Pe was modulated by task goals, but not by WMC. However, a significant interaction demonstrates an increased awareness of erroneous responses for high WMC subjects under accuracy-stress. Additionally, both groups exhibited greater posterror slowing under accuracy-stress as compared to speed-stress. This indicates that both WMC groups were able to adjust their behaviors according to the constraints of the task goals following an erroneous response

PATTERNS OF CONNECTIVITY IN CORAL REEF FISHES ACROSS THREE SPATIAL SCALES

Ph.D

Measuring player development outputs in European football (2005-06 to 2015-16)

Purpose The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) legislative intervention around “home-grown” player quotas came into effect for the 2006-2007 season, aiming to protect playing opportunities and the development of indigenous talent. Previous research has identified clear differences between clubs and club types regarding opportunities for academy players. This paper aims to examine the outputs from six European leagues (France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Spain and England), identifying differences between national associations, club type, and on an individual club level. The paper investigates different league structure (in terms of allowing reserve teams in the professional leagues) and assesses UEFAs legislation in relation to programme theory (expected outcomes). Design/methodology/approach The study is based on playing data from 200 clubs and 3,329 indigenous players making their debut in one of the six leagues since 2006, and includes ten seasons of competition to 2015-2016. Findings The number of players produced and playing opportunities offered since 2006 are more prominent in the Spanish, The Netherlands, French and German leagues compared to Italy and England. For those clubs competing in all ten seasons, a similar pattern emerges with those four nations producing greater outputs. Four clubs significantly outperform others in terms of producing players reaching any top-six league first team, and for their own academy graduates. Additionally, the four leagues allowing reserve teams in their professional structure have a higher level of “output” for their academy players. Originality/value The paper discusses issues in the design of the legislation (not making nationality a factor and being unable to control other dominant variables) as key weaknesses to influencing change, and achieve the rationale cited by UEFA for its introduction

The \u27Lack of Separation\u27 Revisited: Small Business Owners and Risk

The close link between the personal financial affairs of a small business owner and his or her firm has been noted in prior research. This article compares attitudes toward risk on the part of small business owners (SBOs) and non-small business owners (NSBOs). In addition, it compares the personal balance sheets of SBOs to those of NSBOs to determine if SBOs hold a higher level of risky assets. Results reveal that small business owners express a greater willingness to accept risk and hold a higher level of risky assets in their personal portfolios. This finding is consistent with small business owners\u27 willingness to own and operate small firms which are, by their very nature, risky