The Flood

I wake and I am alive but the wine in my glass from the night before is dead

Mobilizing Alumni Constituents for Legislative Advocacy in Higher Education

Adequate funding has become a critical issue for institutions of higher education, affecting outcomes such as accessibility, affordability, and quality of education. The recent economic recession has been detrimental for state funding, resulting in budget cuts for higher education in a majority of states. Overall, state funding has not kept pace with the rising costs of education. Additionally, the issues of state governance and institutional autonomy have also become heightened. Thus, many higher education institutions are initiating advocacy programs with their external constitutions. Because alumni are integral group of an institution\u27s constituent base, and often exhibit the most passion for the institution, this group is identified as a primary focus to employ mechanisms of legislative advocacy. Thus study used a survey questionnaire as the instrument tool to collect quantitative data. 423 surveys were electronically distributed using a membership database of senior-most alumni professionals at four-year higher education institutions. From this sample, 89 surveys were completed and analyzed. The acceptable response rate of 21.5% was obtained for this sample. The survey collected information on strategies utilized for the intent of legislative advocacy. The frequency and level of perceived effectiveness were t he primary facets of the survey which were measured. The goal of this research was to provide information which would benefit administrators in their selection of methods to strengthen relationships with government officials and further promote the needs and benefits of higher education. This information is also useful for policy formation as administrators seek to augment higher education. The first research question determined the most frequently employed strategies of legislative advocacy. The most frequently employed strategy was to use the alumni association website as a tool to encourage participation or legislative advocacy. Several of the most commonly used strategies involved the alumni website and the alumni magazine, which emphasized the value of these two tools for methods of mass-communication. The second research question measured the perceived level of effectiveness for the strategies that were utilized. For this question, a Likert-type scale was used. The strategy with the highest mean score was for alumni to participate in a coordinated visit to the state capitol. Other strategies with high mean scores for perceived effectiveness included a visit to the state capitol by alumni leadership, as well as on-campus events for all alumni and alumni leadership to visit with legislators. The third research question compared the strategies utilized by institutional type. Category I represented baccalaureate/master\u27s institutions, and the most frequently used strategies from that category differed from the strategies most commonly used by Category II institutions (doctoral/research). None of the top three most employed strategies of Category I were in the top three most employed strategies of Category II. Category I represented 60.7% and Category II represented 39.3 % of the participant sample. Yet, in 22 of the 23 listed strategies, Category II yielded more yes responses than did Category I, which displays that Category II institutions are more prevalent in initiating strategies of legislative advocacy. The final research question assessed the policy implications for higher education institutions, leaders, and policy makers. Because legislative awareness was the most common characteristic of the strategies most often employed, agenda denial and problem definition should be common methods administrators undertake to propel issues to be placed upon or kept from reaching legislative agendas. This emphasizes the value of legislative advocacy to create policies that benefit higher education. Properly facilitated by institution administrators, advocacy programs can assist in policy formation

The Disconnect Between College and Reality

With formative assessments, teachers can more accurately determine student interests and aptitudes and drive achievement

Considering Vermont\u27s Future in a Changing Climate: The First Vermont Climate Assessment

The Vermont Climate Assessment (VCA) paints a vivid picture of a changing climate in Vermont and calls for immediate strategic planning to sustain the social, economic and environmental fabric of our state. The VCA is the first state-scale climate assessment in the country and speaks directly to the impacts of climate change as they pertain to our rural towns, cities and communities, including impacts on Vermont tourism and recreation, agriculture, natural resources and energy

Distributed satellite communications system design : first-order interactions between system and network architectures

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 2005.Includes bibliographical references (p. 159-165).Humanity now exists in the midst of the fast-moving Information Age, a period of history characterized by fast travel and even faster information transfer. As data becomes seemingly more valuable than physical possessions, the introduction of exciting applications for communications services becomes ever more critical for the success - and in some cases, survival - of businesses and even nations. While the majority of these innovations have occurred over cable and fiber, a number of the most socially significant have occurred due to the introduction of satellites. Terrestrial fiber and cable systems have a number of advantages, but the extent of their reach and the cost of installation - in terms of both capital and time - favor industrialized nations over more remote and underdeveloped communities. Even as satellites offer the only real chance for ultimate communications ubiquity and true global unity, there remains a significant cost-benefit barrier. Few commercial satellite systems have succeeded economically without first falling victim to bankruptcy. The upfront capital required to implement a satellite communications system is staggering, and historically satellite companies have failed to adequately match capacity and service options to the current and actual future demand. The design process itself is an inherent limiting factor to the achievable cost and performance of a system.(cont.) Traditionally, the first step toward designing satellite communication systems - as well as terrestrial, sensor web, and ad hoc networks - has been to specify the system topology (e.g., the orbits of the satellites and the locations of the ground stations) based on the desired market and then to design the network protocols to make the most of the available resources. Such a sequential process assumes that the design of the network architecture (e.g., protocols, packet structure, etc) does not drive the design of the system architecture (e.g., constellation topology, spacecraft design, etc). This thesis will show that in the case of Ka-band distributed satellite communication systems this fundamental assumption is not valid, and can have a significant impact on the success (cost, capacity, customer satisfaction) of the resulting satellite communication system. Furthermore, this thesis will show that how a designer values performance during the design and decision process can have a substantial impact on the quality of the design path taken through the trade space of possible joint architectures.by Jennifer E. Underwood.S.M

Bridging the Climate Information Gap: A Framework for Engaging Knowledge Brokers and Decision Makers in State Climate Assessments

Large-scale analyses like the National Climate Assessment (NCA) contain a wealth of information critical to national and regional responses to climate change but tend to be insufficiently detailed for action at state or local levels. Many states now engage in assessment processes to meet information needs for local authorities. The goals of state climate assessments (SCAs) should be to provide relevant, actionable information to state and local authorities, and to generate primary sources, build networks and inform stakeholders. To communicate local climate impacts to decision makers, SCAs should express credibility, salience and legitimacy. They can provide information (e.g., case studies, data sets) and connect stakeholders to the NCA and its process. Based on our experience in the Vermont Climate Assessment (VCA), we present a framework to engage decision makers in SCAs using a fluid network of scientific experts and knowledge brokers to conduct subject area prioritization, data analysis and writing. The VCA addressed economic, environmental and social impacts of climate change at local scales to increase resiliency and manage risk. Knowledge brokers communicated VCA findings through their own stakeholder networks. We include a qualitative impact evaluation, and believe our framework for interaction among scientists, knowledge brokers and stakeholders to be an effective structure for SCAs and a transformative experience for students

Nurses’ Knowledge and Attitudes toward Implementation of Electronic Medical Records

With the growth of Faith Community Nursing (FCN), one topic that needs further exploration is documentation. This includes the use of electronic medical records (EMRs). Nurses play a vital role in the planning and implementation of EMRs in the acute care setting and will also play a key role in Faith Community Nursing Programs that stand alone or partner with a health care agency. Individual computer expertise and/or attitude and knowledge of EMRs could be important in the successful implementation. Researchers utilized a modified version of the EMR questionnaire designed by Beiter and colleagues to examine nurses’ knowledge and attitudes regarding EMRs. Findings indicated as age increased, the level of experience regarding EMRs decreased. No difference was noted between the computer skills of RNs with an ADN and RNs with a BSN degree, but LPNs rated themselves as having higher computer skills than RNs. No statistical significance was noted regarding thoughts on saving time and reducing cost and other variables. Licensed practical nurses, more than RNs, indicated believing that EMRs have a positive effect on nurse-patient relationships. As implementation of EMRs occurs, plans for more training might be needed for certain groups of employees

Implementing a hybrid cognitive-behavioural therapy for pain-related insomnia in primary care : lessons learnt from a mixed-methods feasibility study

Objectives: To test the feasibility of implementing a brief but intensive hybrid cognitive behavioural therapy (Hybrid CBT) for pain-related insomnia. Design: Mixed-methods, with qualitative process evaluation on a two-arm randomised controlled feasibility trial. Setting: Primary care. Participants: Twenty-five adult patients with chronic pain and insomnia. Intervention: Hybrid CBT or self-help control intervention. Primary and secondary outcome measures: Primary outcomes measures were the Insomnia Severity Index and interference scale of the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI). Secondary outcomes measures were the present pain intensity rating from the BPI, Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and EQ-5D-5L. Results: Fourteen participants were randomised to receive Hybrid CBT, 11 to receive the self-help control treatment. Of the 14 in the Hybrid CBT group, 9 (64%) completed all four treatment sessions (4 discontinued due to poor health; 1 due to time constraints). Adherence to the self-help control treatment was not monitored. The total number of participants completing the 12-week and 24-week follow-ups were 12 (6 in each group; Hybrid CBT: 43%; self-help: 55%) and 10 (5 in each group; Hybrid CBT: 36%; self-help: 45%). Based on the data available, candidate outcome measures appeared to be sensitive to changes associated with interventions. Thematic analysis of pre-postintervention interview data revealed satisfaction with treatment content among those who completed the Hybrid CBT, whereas those in the self-help control treatment wanted more contact hours and therapist guidance. Other practical suggestions for improvement included shortening the duration of each treatment session, reducing the amount of assessment paperwork, and minimising the burden of sleep and pain monitoring. Conclusion: Important lessons were learnt with regard to the infrastructure required to achieve better patient adherence and retention. Based on the qualitative feedback provided by a subset of treatment completers, future trials should also consider lowering the intensity of treatment and streamlining the data collection procedure. Trial registration number: ISRCTN17294365

Cross-cultural effects on drivers' hazard perception

Hazard perception tests are used in several developed countries as part of the driver licensing curriculum, however little research has been done in developing countries where road safety is a primary concern. We conducted a cross-cultural hazard perception study to examine the transferability of hazard perception skills between Malaysia and the UK, using hazard clips filmed in both countries. The results showed that familiarity with both the driving environment and type of hazard facilitated drivers' ability to discriminate hazards in a timely manner, although overall drivers viewed and responded to hazards largely similarly regardless of origin. Visual strategies also appeared to be moderated mainly by the immediate driving environment rather than driver origin. Finally, Malaysian drivers required a higher threshold of danger than UK drivers before they would identify a situation as hazardous, possibly reflecting the more hazardous road environment in Malaysia. We suggest that hazard perception testing in developing countries requires a test where performance cannot be confounded with differing thresholds for hazardousness

Reading problems of the bottom third: grades one through six

Thesis (Ed.M.)--Boston Universit