An Examination of Job Satisfaction Related to Generational Cohorts and Faculty Status of West Virginia University Extension Service County Faculty

Retention of county Extension faculty has been identified as a significant challenge facing the Extension Service system across the country (ECOP LAC, 2005). There are several influences that contribute to employee turnover in the Extension Service, including: burnout, dissatisfaction with pay related to the amount of time worked, downsizing, long and abnormal work hours including nights and weekends, balancing work and family, and job stress (Boltes, Lippke, & Gregory, 1995; Bradley, Driscoll, & Bardon, 2012; ECOP LAC, 2005; Ensle, 2005; Fetsch & Kennington, 1997; Kutilek, Conklin, & Gunderson, 2002; Rousan & Henderson, 1996). Within their positions, Extension personnel are required to fulfill a variety of roles including facilitator, negotiator, organizer, and primarily educator. Given the unique position descriptions and work assignments for county Extension faculty, there is a greater risk for job dissatisfaction.;This mixed-method study was completed with West Virginia University Extension Service county faculty. The study utilized document review of employment trend data at the West Virginia University Extension Service from the human resources department. An online questionnaire was implemented with county Extension faculty that included a modified Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ) Short-Form, questions on perceptions of the work environment, and demographics. Interviews were also completed with supervisors on their perceptions and experiences of supervising county Extension faculty members. The study utilized the Herzberg Motivation-Hygiene Theory (1966) comparing intrinsic and extrinsic motivation factors and discusses the results and significance of corrections with independent variables, including faculty tenure status and generational cohort groups. Results showed that West Virginia University Extension county are satisfied or very satisfied with their job. The county Extension faculty were more intrinsically than extrinsically motivated, which according to the Herzberg Motivation-Hygiene Theory, leads to greater job satisfaction. There was a significant relation between job satisfaction and recognition, and job satisfaction and supervision. Generational cohort and tenure status were not found to be predictors of job satisfaction for West Virginia University Extension Service county faculty. Qualitative differences were found on intrinsic and extrinsic job satisfaction based on county Extension faculty long-answer questions and supervisor interviews.;The results of this study will create a better understanding of how Extension faculty are professionally motivated in their work. The study findings will assist the West Virginia University Extension Service system by providing empirical data that will indicate the job satisfaction level, and extrinsic and intrinsic work factors of county Extension faculty. Results could assist the organization in learning how to best serve its\u27 employees by designing experiences that lead to improved employee satisfaction and an opportunity to reduce turnover

OPTIMIZING STUDENT RETENTION: MEASUREMENT AND ANALYSIS OF STRATEGIES IMPLEMENTED WITHIN TRADITIONAL BACHELOR’S IN NURSING PROGRAMS

This dissertation is an exploration of strategies that optimize nursing student retention. While college students experience a degree of personal and social challenges toward degree completion, nursing students experience higher incidences of attrition due to the academic rigors, clinical scheduling, and high stresses of nursing programs. While few institutional contributions can address personal and social issues impacting retention, nursing programs have a unique opportunity to develop interventions to strengthen social connections to the academic institution and facilitate early connections to the profession. These professional integration factors are central domains of the Jeffreys’ Nursing Universal Retention and Success (NURS) model and have been shown to improve student retention. Despite significant research addressing student success, little describes institutional strategies known to optimize student retention, and of these strategies, which are most successful. The first manuscript, Optimizing Undergraduate Nursing Student Retention: A Concept Analysis, provided a foundation to better understand how improvements or optimal solutions could be identified. Review of literature discovered an absence of valid instruments to measure all subscales of professional integration factors; therefore, the second manuscript, Development and Psychometric Evaluation of the Professional Integration Factors Retention Strategies Survey, outlines the process utilized for scale development while the third manuscript, Optimizing Student Retention: Measurement and Analysis of Strategies Implemented within Traditional Bachelor’s in Nursing Programs, presents the primary research study examining retention strategies implemented within traditional Bachelor’s in Nursing programs. In completing this dissertation, the researcher was able to contribute to the nursing education body of research on nursing student retention

Gamble mode: Resonance contact mode in atomic force microscopy

Active noise reduction has been accomplished in atomic force microscopy by applying a high frequency, low amplitude vibration to the cantilever while it is in contact with a surface. The applied excitation (>~ 200 kHz; ~ 1 nm) is acoustically coupled to the tip and dampens the resonance Q factors of the system. The applied frequency is well above the bandwidth of the acquisition system (50 kHz). We call this mode "gamble mode" or "resonance contact.

The Law of the Sea Conference: Dispute Settlement in Perspective

On March 15, 1976, the Third United Nations Law of the Sea Conference reconvened in New York City. The task of this Conference, drafting a new and comprehensive law of the sea treaty, is enormous. At the very least the new treaty will modify many of the traditional patterns for use and control of hydrospace. There is no doubt that coastal states will achieve the right to exercise control over all resources within 200 nautical miles of their coasts. If this contingency is not implemented by treaty, then it will be reached by unilateral claims to these zones. Agreeing on treaty provisions has been difficult because the issues are of immense value in economic, political, strategic, and psychological terms. Because the issues are of such importance, dispute settlement has been cast as an integral part of any new law of the sea convention. The dispute settlement issue will be examined in three ways. First, assertions about the importance of dispute settlement and its relationship to the mission of the Conference will be summarized. Secondly, specific proposals for dispute settlement provisions will be discussed. Thirdly, the situation at the Law of the Sea Conference will be compared with other dispute settlement situations

Noise reduction in atomic force microscopy: Resonance contact mode

Noise reduction has been accomplished in atomic force microscopy by applying a high frequency, low amplitude vibration to the cantilever while it is in contact with a surface. The applied excitation (>~200 kHz; ~1 nm) is acoustically coupled to the tip and dampens the resonance Q factors of the system. The applied frequency is well above the bandwidth of the acquisition system (50 kHz). We call this mode "resonance contact" mode. The nonlinear behavior of the tip–sample interaction allows the high frequency excitation to effectively broaden the frequency response of the system resonances

The 30/20 GHz fixed communications systems service demand assessment. Volume 2: Main report

A forecast of demand for telecommunications services through the year 2000 is presented with particular reference to demand for satellite communications. Estimates of demand are provided for voice, video, and data services and for various subcategories of these services. The results are converted to a common digital measure in terms of terabits per year and aggregated to obtain total demand projections

The 30/20 GHz fixed communications systems service demand assessment. Volume 1: Executive summary

Demand for telecommunications services is forecasted for the period 1980-2000, with particular reference to that portion of the demand associated with satellite communications. Overall demand for telecommunications is predicted to increase by a factor of five over the period studied and the satellite portion of demand will increase even more rapidly. Traffic demand is separately estimated for voice, video, and data services and is also described as a function of distance traveled and city size. The satellite component of projected demand is compared with the capacity available in the C and Ku satellite bands and it is projected that new satellite technology and the implementation of Ka band transmission will be needed in the decade of the 1990's