Case study: The Community Development Trust taps Wall Street investors

Community development ; Housing - Finance ; Real estate investment trusts

Teacher Certification in Technology Education: Differences in Testing Scores of Alternative and Traditional Certified Teachers

New Jersey has utilized alternative certification to combat the shortage caused by technology education (TE) teacher attrition. Research has examined the effectiveness of alternative certification preparation programs for the core academic programs; however, very little research has been performed in the area of TE. The purpose of this study was to (a) evaluate the Praxis scores of teacher candidates in New Jersey seeking licensure in technology education, and (b) determine if there were differences between the TE among teachers completing different preparation programs. The theoretical framework that guided this quantitative study was rooted in Knowles\u27 theory of andragogy, which supported learning methods for the teacher as a learner. The guiding question of this study was whether there existed a significant difference in Praxis II test scores among group A (traditionally certified teachers) versus group B (alternatively certified teachers). This causal-comparative design took place among 164 TE teacher candidates from the 2 groups. Instrumentation was a praxis assessment for TE teacher candidates. Data collection included a random sampling of archival scores on the TE test that were analyzed with a t test. Findings revealed that teachers who completed the alternative route preparatory programs (group B) scored within a similar narrow range as compared to the TE teachers completing the traditional preparatory programs (group A). Implications for positive social change include providing the Teacher Advisory Mentor Program (TAMP) for TE teachers, which may reduce attrition of TE teachers and facilitate more effective teaching in the classroom

Prosecute and Punish: Curbing Political and Administrative Corruption in Kenya

Due to the inherent difficulties in curbing corrupt practices within the public sector, several countries in sub-Saharan Africa are today engaged in what can be described as experimentation with diverse and creative strategies. These strategies range from public education and awareness, to institutional and democratic reforms, economic liberalization, and the creation of ad hoc or permanent anticorruption agencies (Robinson 1998). In some countries such agencies are established through the acts of parliaments and in some by presidential decrees (Pillay and Dorasamy 2010). Often the rationale for such agencies are twofold: to investigate claims of corruption and to prosecute the perpetrators and to demonstrate to the general public that the government is acting accountably and responsibly by trying to do something about the vice

Intersectionality and Testimonial Injustice in Medical Records

Detecting testimonial injustice is an essential element of addressing inequities and promoting inclusive healthcare practices, many of which are life-critical. However, using a single demographic factor to detect testimonial injustice does not fully encompass the nuanced identities that contribute to a patient's experience. Further, some injustices may only be evident when examining the nuances that arise through the lens of intersectionality. Ignoring such injustices can result in poor quality of care or life-endangering events. Thus, considering intersectionality could result in more accurate classifications and just decisions. To illustrate this, we use real-world medical data to determine whether medical records exhibit words that could lead to testimonial injustice, employ fairness metrics (e.g. demographic parity, differential intersectional fairness, and subgroup fairness) to assess the severity to which subgroups are experiencing testimonial injustice, and analyze how the intersectionality of demographic features (e.g. gender and race) make a difference in uncovering testimonial injustice. From our analysis, we found that with intersectionality we can better see disparities in how subgroups are treated and there are differences in how someone is treated based on the intersection of their demographic attributes. This has not been previously studied in clinical records, nor has it been proven through empirical study

Chart Your Course

Library instruction is most effective when thoughtfully developed with faculty and integrated in a course. But how do you determine which faculty partnerships will have the most impact? In this poster, we discuss the process of curriculum mapping in an agriculture program, how it reveals new opportunities for library instruction, and pitfalls to avoid when charting your course. In fall 2016, librarians at the University of Tennessee Hodges Library and Pendergrass Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine Library developed learning outcomes for library instruction and services using feedback from staff and the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy. We mapped or coded the outcomes to learning objectives in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (CASNR) at the department and course level. We analyzed frequency patterns in the data to determine (a) which library outcomes are most important to CASNR undergraduate and graduate programs and (b) which departments and courses have the greatest overlap with library objectives. The patterns identified key players who would benefit most from additional library instruction, as well as gaps in instruction and resources. Finally, we developed visual mind maps to illustrate how library instruction supports the college and to serve as an outreach tool. Curriculum mapping is a useful exercise but not without challenges. Lessons learned include: be willing to train library staff on writing effective learning outcomes; investigate your institution’s ability and willingness to provide their objectives; and be flexible and consider alternative ways to connect with the curriculum

Field Brown Cultural Research and Engagement Fellows Presentation

Presentation by Field Brown, MSU alumnus and PhD Student in English at Harvard University, on the meaning of Juneteenth and the ongoing work of freedom. Part of the Juneteenth events at the JL King Center in Starkville, MS. Sponsored by the Cultural Research & Engagement Fellows (CREF) Program. The CREF Program at Mississippi State University explores the social and cultural dimensions of food systems, food access, land in majority-Black, historically agrarian rural communities by engaging youth at the nexus of food access, farming, and culture. The CREF program is made possible by a grant from the Office of Research & Economic Development (ORED) and the Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion (OIDI) at Mississippi State University

Molecular Technique Utilising Sputum For Detecting Wuchereria bancrofti Infections In Malindi, Kenya

Background: Lymphatic filariasis is a tropical parasitic disease which has been identified for elimination by 2020 through mass drugs administration. There is a major problem in its diagnosis and sensitive surveillance methods for monitoring the disease elimination programs need to be sought. Objectives: To establish and evaluate the usefulness of a Polymerase Chain Reaction, PCR assay employing sputum for diagnosis of Wuchereria bancrofti infections in an endemic location. Design: Community based samples collection and a molecular laboratory technologies study. Setting: Mpirani, Malindi District and Centre for Biotechnology Research and Development, Kenya Medical Research Institute. Subjects: Sputum samples were obtained from 304 willing and consenting participants, aged between 5 and 73 years resident in Mpirani, Malindi District. Results: Prevalence of W. bancrofti infection was found to be 42.8% (130/304) by PCR assay employing sputum compared with 22.0 % (67/304) and 38.8% (119/304) respectively for microfilaria counts and ICT. The sensitivity and specificity of the PCR sputum assay was 97.5 and 92.4% respectively. Predictive values were 89.2 and 98.3% for positive (PPV) and negative (NPV) respectively while accuracy was 94.4%. Conclusions: The molecular PCR assay using sputum was found to have a great potential for use in mass diagnosis and in epidemiological studies in patients with W. bancrofti infections East African Medical Journal Vol. 85 (3) 2008: pp. 118-12

Oral History with Dr. Sylvia Goss & Dr. Willie Goss

The Cultural Research & Engagement Fellows (CREF) Program at Mississippi State University explores the social and cultural dimensions of food systems, food access, land in majority-Black, historically agrarian rural communities by engaging youth at the nexus of food access, farming, and culture. The CREF program is made possible by a grant from the Office of Research & Economic Development (ORED) and the Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion (OIDI) at Mississippi State University

STEM Bridges: Evolution of an Academic Library STEM Outreach Program

Big Orange STEM Saturday (BOSS) is a sustainable model of outreach that fosters the STEM cycle of discovery and learning experiences. Through this program, the library creates and reinforces a bridge between secondary educational experiences and higher education that facilitates the transfer of knowledge from the classroom to the world. Local high school students are able to engage with experts in several different ways to explore what STEM has to offer and to look beyond their current experiences. This approach creates a venue for STEM teaching spaces outside the school classroom for enrichment and innovation. Over the past 5 years, the variety of experiences offered at BOSS have expanded and the reputation of the program has grown. This article explores the challenges, lessons, and impact that this program has had on its constituents, with a particular focus on the impact the library can have when exploring nontraditional areas of support and outreach