Community College Student-Parents: Experience, Persistence, and Outcomes

Adults who occupy both the role of student and parent represent a unique population within the American higher education system, as they must balance their dual responsibilities in the classroom and at home. Unfortunately, little research on “student parents” exists regarding the additional challenges they face as they balance their responsibilities and the degree of success they find in their academic careers.Thus, in partnership with the Connecticut Early Childhood Alliance (CECA) and Capital Community College, we endeavored to answer the question of what differences exist between the experiences of parent and non-parent students in regards to their attendance, persistence, and experience in community college, as well as how student parents navigate their long-term educational goals versus the immediate responsibilities of parenthood. I used a mixed methods approach, using qualitative interviews of two parents as well as data from the 2012-17 Beginning Postsecondary Student Survey from the National Center for Educational Statistics to answer these questions. As Connecticut is one of two states that severely restricts access to childcare subsidies to only parents on TANF, this study will help the CECA, who seeks to use the results to help pass legislation in the upcoming Connecticut Sessions

Community College Student-Parents: Experience, Persistence, and Outcomes

Adults who occupy both the role of student and parent represent over twenty percent of the American undergraduate population. Unfortunately, little research exists about the experience’s student-parents have balancing their dual responsibilities and the challenges they face while enrolled in post-secondary education. Thus in partnership with the Connecticut Early Childhood Alliance and Capital Community College, we endeavored to answer the questions of what differences exist between the experiences of community college parent and non-parent students in regard to their attendance, persistence, and outcomes in community college, as well as how student-parents navigate their long-term educational goals versus the immediate responsibilities of parenthood. I utilized a mixed-methods approach, using the 2012-17 Beginning Post-Secondary Student survey from the National Center for Educational Statistics as well as qualitative interviews of two community college parents to analyze student-parent experiences. A sizable achievement gap exists between the attendance, persistence, and success rates of parents and non-parents enrolled in community college. Additionally, parents report both an emotional and logistical challenge in balancing their dual roles in the classroom and at home that challenged their academic success. As student-parents make up a sizable portion of the higher education system, their long-term success is crucial for the changing demands of the modern high-skill economy

Identifying spatial efficiency-equity tradeoffs in territorial development policies : evidence from Uganda

In many countries, place specific investments in infrastructure are viewed as integral components of territorial development policies. But are these policies fighting market forces of concentration? Or are they adding net value to the national economy by tapping underexploited resources? This paper contributes to the debate on the spatial allocation of infrastructure investments by examining where these investments will generate the highest economic returns"spatial efficiency", and identifying whether there re tradeoffs when infrastructure coverage is made more equitable across regions"spatial equity". The empirical analysis focuses on Uganda and is based on estimating models of firm location choice, drawing on insights from the new economic geography literature. The main findings show that establishments in the manufacturing industry gain from being in areas that offer a diverse mix of economic activities. In addition, availability of power supply, transport links connecting districts to markets, and the supply of skilled workers attract manufacturing activities. Combining all these factors gives a distinct advantage to existing agglomerations along leading areas around Kampala and Jinja. Infrastructure investments in these areas are likely to produce the highest returns compared with investments elsewhere. Public infrastructure investments in other locations are likely to attract fewer private investors, and will pose a spatial efficiencyequity tradeoff. To better integrate lagging regions with the national economy, lessons from the WDR2009"Reshaping Economic Geography"calling for investments in health and education in lagging areas are likely to be more beneficial.Transport Economics Policy&Planning,E-Business,Banks&Banking Reform,Non Bank Financial Institutions,Economic Theory&Research

Exercise Regimen Recommendations in Type II Diabetics and Their Effects on Glucose Control

The most effective non-pharmacologic method of reducing the hemoglobin A1c (HgbA1c) levels in type II diabetic patients is still debated. Clinicians evaluating and treating Type II Diabetics (T2DM) generally recommend diet and lifestyle modifications as initial therapy. The medical literature comparing different types of exercise and their effects on glucose control was reviewed with the goal of determining whether aerobic or resistance exercise was more effective for reducing HgbA1c levels in type II diabetics. The more effective form of exercise, if any, could then be recommended in addition to diet and other lifestyle changes. Although the studies were heterogeneous in their methods of comparison, no significant differences in their overall reductions in HgbA1c measures were found between aerobic and resistance training. Moreover, the greatest decreases in HgbA1c levels changes were observed with a combination of aerobic and resistance training. More extensive research is needed to determine the long-term effects of exercise programs on HgbA1c levels