Examining the Lived Experiences of Successful Graduates of Color from Predominantly White Institutions (PWI) in Rural Environments

The demographics of students who enter colleges and universities across the United States have changed. These changes are seen in the increased numbers of students of color (SoC) that enter colleges and universities in the United States. The enrollment of SoC at predominantly White institutions (PWIs) has increased. Still, SoC disproportionately graduate at lower rates than their White counterparts. Administrators at PWIs continue to grapple with providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for students of color. Lack of academic preparation in their K-12 careers, and transition from larger urban cities to rural communities are challenges that students of color face. However, despite these well documented deficits, there are students of color at PWIs who are academically resilient and successful. Limited research had been conducted on what made a successful experience and what attributed to the success of SoC. To examine this phenomenon, interviews were conducted with graduates who were SoC from PWIs in rural environments. Nine participants shared that they experienced challenges with moving from an urban to a rural environment. Several themes emerged from the analysis. Three key findings emerged from the study. The first finding was that there is an inadequate transition or onboarding process for SoC at PWIs in a rural environment. The second finding revealed the importance of opportunity programs such as the Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP). Finding three emphasized the importance of relationships and their integral role in the success of SoC

North Carolina Future City Program: Increasing a Statewide Program Mission, Presence, and Participation to Ensure Institutional Legacy

The future was both the theme and purpose of this Consultancy Project (CP). Future City is an educational program supported by a national engineering organization. This program, with emphasis on engineering principles and activities, provides materials, processes, and structures that support a robust, project-based learning approach. Annually, students in sixth through eighth grade participate regionally, by creating cities of the future based on their solution to a challenge topic that changes yearly. The cycle culminates in a regional competition; regional winners compete in the national event in February. A group of engineers created a North Carolina chapter of the national Future City program in 2001–Future City North Carolina Region (FCNC). In 2013, FCNC became a partner of the North Carolina State University College of Engineering and is now an outreach program of The Engineering Place. The FCNC Steering Committee is made up largely of volunteers; volunteers run almost all aspects of the program. Members of FCNC are committed to the educational value of the program and want to ensure its future. How does FCNC grow in order to provide more students and teachers the opportunity to participate? How does the organization remain a relevant entity so as to promote this impactful learning enhancement? This CP provided a plan to answer those questions and included the following aspects: building a “band of participation” of counties across the state so as to spread awareness and program interaction, focusing on the purpose of the organization by creating mission/vision/values/belief (M/V/V/B) statements with aligned roles and responsibilities, and creating a comprehensive outward-facing communications plan leveraging social media platforms. Results that occurred from November, 2017 through May, 2019 were participation in the Regional Competition Cycle 18/19 increased 108% over the previous year intotal number of counties participating; M/V/V/B statements were created and, as a result, a new organizational structure was created; last, a comprehensive communications plan and social media policy were created and implemented. A sustainment statement including analysis, data sets, and recommendations was submitted to the steering committee. It provided action steps and suggestions to continue building a presence and ensuring program legacy across the state of North Carolina

Teachers\u27 Perceived Barriers to Using Computers and the Internet for Instruction

The purpose of this study was to identify the three most frequently reported barriers to using computers and the Internet for instruction. This descriptive, survey study used a 17-item survey to gauge the responses of 15 High School InTech educators at Macon State College in Macon, Georgia. The three barriers most frequently reported, among the Moderate barrier and Great barrier rankings, were not enough computers ; outdated, incompatible, or unreliable computers ; and lack of release time for teachers to learn, practice, or plan ways to use computers or the Internet. These perceived barriers must be addressed in order to increase the percentage of teachers who use computers and the Internet for instruction

Australian pharmacists' understanding of their continuing professional development obligations

Background: Adoption of mandatory continuing professional development (CPD) for pharmacists in Australia is relatively new. Difficulties have been reported with the introduction of CPD frameworks in other countries. There is limited information on how Australian pharmacists have engaged with the CPD requirements for registration. Aim: To explore Australian pharmacists' understanding and engagement with the CPD requirements for renewal of registration. Method: The Pharmacy Board of Australia's CPD requirements for registration was used to design an online survey to explore the level of understanding and engagement Australian pharmacists have with the CPD framework. Results: 278 pharmacists responded to the survey - 66% were female, 30% were male and 4% did not disclose their gender. 63% of respondents noted that it would not be difficult to acquire 40 CPD credits annually. Respondents identified that Group 1 activities were a preferred way of acquiring CPD credits. Majority of pharmacists (91%) believed that they knew the CPD requirements for registration and 77% noted that there had been sufficient guidance provided. Despite this, 26% of participants had never used self-directed learning plans and 38% did not know how to undertake self-directed learning. 76% of participants were under the common misconception that CPD is synonymous with continuing education. Conclusion: The majority of pharmacists believe they understand and can engage in the acquisition of CPD credits for renewal of registration. Some aspects of the CPD framework was not understood, such as how it aims to develop a pharmacist's practice. This aspect of the CPD framework will need to be further developed

Prognostic significance of short-term blood pressure variability in acute stroke

Background and Purpose— Blood pressure variability (BPV) may be an important prognostic factor acutely after stroke. This review investigated the existing evidence for the effect of BPV on outcome after stroke, also considering BPV measurement techniques and definitions. Methods— A literature search was performed according to a prespecified study protocol. Two reviewers independently assessed study eligibility and quality. Where appropriate, meta-analyses were performed to assess the effect of BPV on poor functional outcome. Results— Eighteen studies from 1359 identified citations were included. Seven studies were included in a meta-analysis for the effect of BPV on functional outcome (death or disability). Systolic BPV was significantly associated with poor functional outcome: pooled odds ratio per 10-mm Hg increment, 1.2; confidence interval (1.1–1.3). A descriptive review of included studies also supports these findings, and in addition, it suggests that systolic BPV may be associated with increased risk of intracranial hemorrhage in those treated with thrombolytic therapy. Conclusions— This systematic review and meta-analysis suggest that greater systolic BPV, measured early from ischemic stroke or intracerebral hemorrhage onset, is associated with poor longer-term functional outcome. Future prospective studies should investigate how best to measure and define BPV in acute stroke, as well as to determine its prognostic significance. </jats:sec