Investigating the Future of Student Affairs Professionals

To date, we have the most diverse workforce in history. There currently four generations of professionals within our workforce: Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials, and Gen Z. Millennial and Gen Z professionals have recently overtaken Generation X and Baby Boomers as the largest generational cohort in the workforce. During this generational transition within the workforce, the Student Affairs field within Higher Education has experienced extremely high turnover, impacting colleges and university’s ability to sustain student support. If this trend continues, colleges and universities will have a limited pool of qualified candidates to fill current and future leadership positions. The study will examine if generational differences impact Student Affair professional’s perception of their job satisfaction. In addition, characteristics such as gender, race/ethnicity, education level, years of experience, salary, two-year and four-year institutions, and functional area will be assessed to determine potential impact on job satisfaction for Student Affair professionals as well. This study will also determine if the Student Affair Job Satisfaction Survey (SAJSS) tool can effectively measure job satisfaction of Student Affair professionals. If proven to be effective, institutions will have an assessment tool that can be used to measure job satisfaction of their Student Affair staff to identify areas of strength and weakness. Having such a diverse workforce, colleges and universities will need to ensure their fostering a work environment that is attractive to professionals of all backgrounds to retain the best Student Affair talent

Manuscript of Thomas de Quincey\u27s essay \u27Anecdotage\u27

Manuscript of de Quincey\u27s essay \u27Anecdotage\u27, which was first published in The London Magazine, March 1823. Available online at: http://books.google.com/books?id=gtcYAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA244https://scholarworks.umt.edu/whicker/1020/thumbnail.jp

The development of a surrogate soil to assist the revegetation and stabilisation of metal-mine tailings

Abandoned mines are considered among the most severe of environmental issues, and are a significant danger to environmental, animal, and human health (Mehta et al., 2020). To date, ~ 600,000 abandoned mines exist, the costly reclamation of which often falls to publicly funded bodies (Archer & Caldwell, 2004; Mayes et al., 2009). Traditional reclamation methods are financially unattainable at ~ £50 million per large mine (McKenna, 2002), and an alternative, lower-cost method is required (Garcia, 2008). One contemporary reclamation method found to be effective is that of capping mine waste with a soil cover (O’Kane & Ayres, 2012). In this research, an adhesive surrogate soil capping layer for the hydraulic application to steep-sided metal-mine tailings was developed at the cost of ~ £6 .m-² (at the time of writing). The surrogate soil was refined throughout a series of trials. A rainfall trial was conducted to develop an adhesive and erosion resistant soil material. A germination trial (N = 500) determined the soil materials which best assisted rapid plant establishment. The successful results of these laboratory-based trials guided a nine-month field trial on an abandoned Pb mine, Nantymwyn (UK) (N = 154). The field trial concluded that the surrogate soils effectively resisted erosion and supported the early (seven month) growth of metal-tolerant grass species. The grasses contained Pb, Zn, Cd and Cu concentrations at < 1% of the phytotoxic threshold. However, seasonal climatic events and a negative water balance ultimately led to complete grass mortality after nine months. Tailings bank destabilisation also influenced grass survival. The research revealed that the soil’s available water supply was of greater impact to plant survival than metal toxicity. The results indicated that should the soils water-holding capacity be improved, the application of a carefully designed surrogate soil has the potential to support vegetative cover on steep, bare metal-mine tailings

Retained Primitive Reflexes and ADHD: Examining Atypical Symptomology in the School-Aged Population

Purpose: Typical development begins in-utero and progresses throughout the lifespan. Jean Piaget authored a theory that encompasses core aspects of the lifespan stages related to typical development of sensory and motor systems. Piaget outlined the developmental stages as: sensorimotor stage, preoperational stage, concrete operational stage, and formal operational stage. Within these stages, the typically developing child learns to adapt and respond effectively to his or her environment (Cole & Tufano, 2008). Dr. Jean Ayres described a similar developmental process, termed Sensory Integration. This process is defined as the coordination of the sensory systems in order for an individual to effectively interact with his or her environment (Ayres, 1979). For this scholarly project, Piaget and Ayres’ theories will be used in parallel to create a framework of typical and atypical development throughout the lifespan. Another facet of typical development is the presence of primitive reflexes, which are initially used for protection against external stimuli, and later integrated into purposeful movement (Berne, 2006). The retention of certain primitive reflexes may cause sensory and motor dysfunction in the school-aged child (Goddard, 2002). Another cause of sensory and motor dysfunction in this population is attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which impacts approximately 9.5% of Americans under the age of seventeen (CDC, 2010, p.1439). ADHD is defined as “a disorder of childhood and adolescence manifested at home, in school, and in social situations by developmentally inappropriate degrees of inattention, impulsiveness, and hyperactivity” (Stedman, 2005, p. 136). Many of the characteristics of ADHD symptomology and retained primitive reflexes are very similar in presentation, and the purpose of this scholarly project is to explore possible correlations between the two (Konicarova & Bob, 2012; Konicarova & Bob, 2013; Taylor, Houghton, & Chapman, 2004). Methodology: An extensive literature review was conducted on typical human development, including primitive reflexes, and atypical developmental behaviors that may occur if these reflexes are retained. ADHD was also thoroughly researched, specifically with regard to how sensory integrative behaviors are presented throughout development. Research exploring any possible correlation between retained primitive reflexes and ADHD was reviewed and analyzed. Conclusions: A product was developed in the form of a scholarly article to explore a possible correlation of retained primitive reflexes and sensory-integrative behaviors in school-aged children diagnosed with ADHD. Included in the article is an explanation of atypical behaviors presented with retained primitive reflexes, ADHD and atypical behaviors, as well as research conducted on any possible correlations between retained primitive reflexes and ADHD. It is intended that this article will be submitted for publication in OT Practice, a scholarly magazine published by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). This scholarly article will be used to demonstrate the need for further research on this topic