Mid-level African-American women administrators in higher education institutions : struggles and strategies.

Mid-level management is often overlooked in studies of higher education administration. African-American women mid-level administrators are studied even less. This research study focuses on the experiences of African-American women administrators (Program Directors and Deans) in higher education institutions, the obstacles they face in pursuit of upward mobility, the support networks they use and strategies they implement. The research study methodology consisted of a mixed-methods approach for the gathering of data. The first method, qualitative, was implemented through conducting in-depth interviews with a small sample (7) of African-American women administrators from varying types of higher education institutions in the northeast region. The second method, quantitative, consisted of administering a survey questionnaire to a larger sample (101) of African-American mid-level women administrators in higher education institutions in the northeast region. From this, a total of 93 usable surveys were returned. From the qualitative and quantitative research data the researcher identified eight common themes. These themes are: institutional climate and culture; barriers faced, supports used; coping and advancement strategies; skills needed; racism and sexism; how African-American women are perceived; and mentoring. Each theme is supported with quotes from the qualitative data and number and frequencies of responses provided from the quantitative data. These themes serve as a framework for discussing the policy and practice implications of the data for institutions of higher education. Implications for the African-American female administrator are addressed also. Lastly, recommendations for future research are provided

5th national survey of Australian secondary students and sexual health 2013

Results of the fifth National Survey of Australian Secondary Students and Sexual Health provide a picture of teenagers demonstrating similar sexual behaviours to those in previous surveys, with individuals generally acting responsibly and being mostly happy about the choices they make. The survey has been carried out by La Trobe researchers at regular intervals since 1992 and is the most comprehensive of its kind into the sexual behaviour, attitudes and health of young people at secondary school.  It involved more than 2,000 students in years 10, 11 and 12 at Government, Catholic and Independent schools in all states and territories. 50% of young people expressed significant dissatisfaction with sex education at schools, citing irrelevance to their real experiences, lack of relationship advice and lack of discussion of same-sex issues as problems. 36% of students commonly asked their mother about sex, 41% asked a female friend. 86% of teenagers said the last time they\u27d had sex they\u27d used a condom if one was available. 23% of sexually active students had sex with three or more people in the past year. 25% of sexually active students reported an experience of unwanted sex of some kind. 50% of those who had not had intercourse felt good about this decision, with religion, culture and pressure from parents being less important than personal decision making. Overall low numbers reported frequent cyber bullying

Faculty as Learners: Developing Thinking Communities

The shifting demographics of faculty ranks, expansion of faculty work, and the expectations of accountability and revenue production place new demands on today\u27s faculty. Collaborating with other faculty members is one option for easing workload demands and reinvigorating faculty members in the conduct of their teaching and research. In this article we discuss the importance of collaboration among faculty members in deriving new strategies for the classroom and approaches to research, and we provide suggestions for moving beyond short term collaborations and toward the creation of thinking communities that have the potential to re-energize faculty members and bring passion back to their work

Methods for comprehensive experimental identification of RNA-protein interactions

The importance of RNA-protein interactions in controlling mRNA regulation and non-coding RNA function is increasingly appreciated. A variety of methods exist to comprehensively define RNA-protein interactions. We describe these methods and the considerations required for designing and interpreting these experiments

In the Middle: Career Pathways of Midlevel Community College Leaders

The leadership crisis in community colleges has led to speculation on who will lead these colleges in the future and how best to prepare leaders for these positions. Traditionally, little research occurred regarding midlevel administrators despite the fact that the majority of presidents come from within the ranks. The findings from this research show that midlevel administrators have little desire to move into top-level positions. Colleges need to consider how to make leadership more attractive and begin developing leaders for future openings

Preparing community college leaders to meet tomorrow’s challenges

Aim/Purpose: This article reviews the leadership development literature and posits that a learning centered approach will best support the development of community college leaders. But, it is important to recognize that community colleges have differing needs due to size, location, and the communities they serve. Background: American community colleges have received a great deal of attention over the last decade as institutions poised to contribute to the education of the workforce and to increase the number of citizens who possess a certificate or degree. Concurrently, community colleges also received attention due to the warnings about a pending presidential leadership crisis in the sector. As more and more sitting leaders retire, the demands of the job increase, and fewer individuals seek out top-level leadership positions, it is important to address how to develop community college leaders. Contribution: The review of leadership development literature provides the backdrop for creating new programs to develop community college leaders. A multi-faceted approach is required in which succession planning occurs, graduate programs are revamped, and both individuals and organizations engage in the development of community college leaders. Findings: It is important to recognize that community colleges have differing needs due to size, location, and the communities they serve. Graduate doctoral programs targeting community college leadership and national training programs can help prepare leaders, but they need curricular and program alignment targeting development of authentic leadership and ways to bridge theory with practice. Establishing succession planning can build a robust leadership pipeline that supports networked leadership and nurtures contextual competencies. Impact on Society: Understanding better how to prepare leaders to face the challenges now facing community colleges requires questioning current practices and building different leadership development programs.</jats:p

Impact of mirabegron extended-release on the treatment of overactive bladder with urge urinary incontinence, urgency, and frequency

Overactive bladder is a highly prevalent disorder with a significant impact on quality of life. Antimuscarinic agents are commonly used, but persistence is limited due to unsatisfactory efficacy and/or tolerability. Mirabegron is the first beta-3 adrenoceptor agonist approved for the treatment of overactive bladder syndrome. This paper reviews the pharmacology, mechanism of action, efficacy, and safety of mirabegron. A PubMed search of all English articles pertaining to mirabegron was performed. An alternative to antimuscarinics, mirabegron has a unique mechanism, improves overactive bladder symptoms and quality of life, and has limited adverse effects and few contraindications