abstract: The purpose of this study was to distinguish factors that influence the satisfaction levels of teachers in urban school districts. This work also distinguished factors that directly impacted teachers' level of satisfaction towards their work and their attitude towards the administration of their schools. Forty-one teachers from two kindergarten through eighth grade schools in the southwest region of the United States were given a modified version of the 2007/08 Schools and Staffing Survey, a federally recognized survey on the satisfaction levels of teachers in America, combined with a select number of questions created by the researcher in this study to address the research questions of this study. Data were collected and analyzed through Survey Monkey, an online data portal, and imported into SPSS for data analysis. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were compiled to provide answers to the research questions established for this study. Results from this study indicated that although a majority of teachers sampled were satisfied with their teaching positions (78%), kindergarten through fourth grade teachers were more satisfied than teachers in the older grades. For the whole group, salary was the most influential factor; however, the teachers with 11 to 15 years of experience were the only ones who chose salary as their primary choice to increase their satisfaction. This study found that the levels of satisfaction per subgroup (teachers' years of experience, level of education, gender, age, type of certification, and grade level) were different than the group needs as a whole. This study revealed that the needs of the whole group and the needs of the subgroups can differ, consequently individual differences of the staff need to be taken into consideration. To view the staff as a whole may discredit the needs of the individual. Even though data indicated that a significant number of teachers felt supported by their administration, this study revealed the need for administrative staff to address specific issues of subgroups in their schools. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ed.D. Educational Leadership and Policy Studies 2011

abstract: The importance of unsaturated soil behavior stems from the fact that a vast majority of infrastructures are founded on unsaturated soils. Research has recently been concentrated on unsaturated soil properties. In the evaluation of unsaturated soils, researchers agree that soil water retention characterized by the soil water characteristic curve (SWCC) is among the most important factors when assessing fluid flow, volume change and shear strength for these soils. The temperature influence on soil moisture flow is a major concern in the design of important engineering systems such as barriers in underground repositories for radioactive waste disposal, ground-source heat pump (GSHP) systems, evapotranspirative (ET) covers and pavement systems.. Accurate modeling of the temperature effect on the SWCC may lead to reduction in design costs, simpler constructability, and hence, more sustainable structures. . The study made use of two possible approaches to assess the temperature effect on the SWCC. In the first approach, soils were sorted from a large soil database into families of similar properties but located on sites with different MAAT. The SWCCs were plotted for each family of soils. Most families of soils showed a clear trend indicating the influence of temperature on the soil water retention curve at low degrees of saturation.. The second approach made use of statistical analysis. It was demonstrated that the suction increases as the MAAT decreases. The statistical analysis showed that even though the plasticity index proved to have the greatest influence on suction, the mean annual air temperature effect proved not to be negligible. In both approaches, a strong relationship between temperature, suction and soil properties was observed. Finally, a comparison of the model based on the mean annual air temperature environmental factor was compared to another model that makes use of the Thornthwaite Moisture Index (TMI) to estimate the environmental effects on the suction of unsaturated soils. Results showed that the MAAT can be a better indicator when compared to the TMI found but the results were inconclusive due to the lack of TMI data available. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S. Civil Engineering 2011

Brewing has a long history in this country--first making an appearance in 1620 with the landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth Rock in Massachusetts. Today, beers can be easily categorized into one of two types: 1) industrial, and 2) craft. The focus of this paper is on this second type, the "craft beer" and the so-called "renaissance" it experienced during the 1980s. In 1983, there were only 43 operating breweries in the United States--today there are over 3,000 (Brewers Association, 2014). The resource- partitioning model, established within the organizational ecology field, has been used to explain this rapid growth (Carol & Swaminathan, 2000). However, of particular interest to me, are the reasons for why craft breweries are so appealing to consumers. Pulling from literatures in Urban, Cultural, and Economic Sociology, I argue that the key characteristic that has allowed craft breweries to experience such success is their apparent "authenticity" (Zukin, 2010; Brown-Saracino, 2007; Peterson & Anand, 2004; Sherman, 2007). To date, the majority of analyses focused on "authenticity" have centered its creation within the realm of production (Johnston & Baumann, 2007). It is true that craft breweries cultivate a sense of "authenticity" based on their location, as well as the well curated image they project within their own space. However, I argue that it is through the consumption experience, in which both producers and consumers play a crucial role, that craft breweries are able to further cultivate this "authentic" image, as well as hold onto it (Jones et al., 2005; Sherman, 2007). The idea that "authenticity" is not only found within the realm of production, but also consumption (such as at coffee shops and restaurants), has been explored by sociologists such as Richard Lloyd and Sharon Zukin (Lloyd, 2006; Zukin, 2011). It is my intent to explore the ways in which this is the case at breweries, as well as the variables, such as space and place, that contribute to the experience of "authenticity."

This study investigates the relationships between demographic characteristics, perceptions of the academic climate, and the employment continuation plans of tenured and tenure-track faculty of color in CORE accredited rehabilitation counselor education (RCE) programs. Furthermore, this study aims to identify which factors best predict the employment continuation plans for this population. Participants were administered The Faculty Retention Questionnaire (FRQ) to examine these relationships. The sample in this study consisted of 63 tenured and tenure-track faculty of color employed by CORE accredited RCE programs. Due to the small sample size and the violation of the assumption of normality, bootstrapping techniques were used to resample the data. A univariate general linear model (GLM) was conducted to determine if the demographic characteristics (self-reported race, ethnicity, gender, country of origin, and tenure status) could predict the employment continuation plans of tenured and tenure-track faculty of color in CORE accredited RCE programs. Results of the GLM indicted that demographic characteristics were non-significant predictors. Multiple linear regression analysis was utilized to determine if the regression scores for the perception of academic climate components (role as researcher, tenure/promotion opportunities, workplace conditions, social climate, faculty/student relationships, role clarity, inter-role conflict, and person/role conflict) could predict the employment continuation plans of faculty of color in CORE accredited RCE programs. Results of the multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the linear combination of regression scores predicted 28.5% of the variance in the employment continuation plans. Inter-role conflict was the only statistically significant predictor. Consequently, understanding how perceptions of the academic climate by faculty of color affect their employment continuation plans will add to existing body of literature pertaining to retention of faculty of color in counselor education. Additionally, the results of this study may assist in the development and implementation of retention strategies and policies that are supportive of faculty of color.

The retention of engineering students has received an abundance of attention in universities and scholarly literature. The National Academy of Engineering (NAE) reported, "Only 40-60 percent of entering engineering students persist to an engineering degree, and women and minorities are at the low end of that range" (p. 40). The retention of ESL (English as a second language) students in undergraduate engineering programs has not yet been comprehensively examined. The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics, retention rates, and GPAs of ESL students in an undergraduate engineering program. Furthermore, ESL students' retention rates and GPAs were compared to native English speaking students. This study utilized retention data and grade point averages (GPAs) to examine ESL engineering student retention and success. A secondary data analysis examined retention rates and GPAs for ESL students and the comparison group of native English speaking students. Percentages were used to compare retention data from ESL and native English speaking students, and t-tests were utilized to compare their GPAs. The findings of this study revealed that ESL students were retained at a higher rate and maintained higher GPAs compared to native English speaking engineering students. It is anticipated the findings of this study will provide a foundation for future research on ESL students. Based on the findings, researchers can have a basis for comparisons of ESL students' GPAs and retention.

Ample evidence exists establishing the relationship between pregnancy during high school and subsequent educational difficulties, yet little research has investigated the relationship between pregnancy during college and subsequent educational difficulties. The purpose of this study was to determine if a relationship exists between pregnancy in undergraduate college students and educational attainment and to determine the strength and direction of said relationship. A quantitative research approach composed of historical medical and retention data was utilized. Vincent Tinto’s theory of student departure was applied to frame the use of experience of pregnancy diagnosis as a variable related to retention. Findings indicate a negative relationship between pregnancy diagnosis and educational retention, with specific ages and ethnicities at increased risk.

Research report / At the time of this study, South Africa found itself in an economic growth phase. This was coupled with an acute shortage of engineers in the country, as well as in a number of foreign countries, who found themselves in similar growth phases. Foreign firms actively embarked on campaigns to recruit South African engineers to alleviate their shortage, to the detriment of the donor country. The objective of this study is to determine the propensity of engineers to emigrate and the main drivers for this in order to provide information to craft strategies to combat and mitigate the shortage of engineers. The research process involved the consultation of relevant local and international literature regarding the skills shortage, the extent of emigration from South Africa and the main drivers for this. Data were collected by means of self-completed questionnaires in order to gauge the sentiment of graduate engineers towards emigration. One hundred and fifteen responses were received. Key associations and relationships were then analysed. The study found that the engineers most likely to emigrate were either in their late twenties or were older than 55. They are likely to be white males from either the public or private sector, or who are self-employed. Approximately 10% of graduate engineers are likely to leave South Africa within a short period of time (less than one year) as they have already taken some measures in order to do so, 16% may leave within two years and 27% may leave within the next five years. Australia is by far the most popular destination for South African engineers, followed by Canada, Europe and the United Kingdom. The main country-related drivers causing South African engineers to consider emigration are crime and violence, confidence in the South African government and political uncertainty. The main work-related driver causing engineers to consider emigration is the policy of affirmative action. Of the engineers with a “high” emigration potential, just over half indicated that they would emigrate permanently. In order to at least retain existing engineers in South Africa, the factors causing them to consider emigration should be addressed. In order to increase the number of engineers in the country, more emphasis should be placed on mathematics and science at school, thereby increasing the number of candidates who qualify for admission to engineering courses. It also needs to be ensured that universities have the capacity to train the increased number of engineers required on an ongoing basis.

The aim of this research was to determine the factors that influence retention of personnel at Cor Jesu College in the Philippines and establish guidelines for effective staff retention. A qualitative research design involving the descriptive sample survey method to collect data by means of self- administered structured questionnaire was adopted. The sample consisted of 70 Cor Jesu personnel. The information was statistically analysed with the aid of a computer after which it was interpreted. Results indicated that teachers were not satisfied with their jobs and that their retention was affected by several aspects of their work. Working conditions emerged as the major source of dissatisfaction while interpersonal relations were a principal retention factor. / Educational Studies / M.A. (Education Management)

The objectives of the study were: (1) to determine whether staff and leaders differ significantly in terms of their perceptions of leaders’ emotional intelligence and retention factors; (2) to investigate the relationship between personality types (as measured by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator), emotional intelligence (as measured by the Emotional Competency Profiler), and retention factors (as measured by the Retention Factor Scale); and (3) to determine whether demographical groups differ significantly in terms of the retention factor variables. A non-probability purposive sample of 160 working adults from an organisation within the asset management industry participated in the study. The research findings indicated that there is a difference in terms of leaders’ and staff’s perceptions of leaders’ emotional intelligence and retention factors. There is a relationship between leaders’ personality types, emotional intelligence and retention factors. Biographical groups (gender, race and age groups, and business units) differed in terms of the retention factors. The findings contributed valuable new knowledge that may be used for organisational retention practices. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology

The purpose of this dissertation is to help sending churches of all sizes confidently reclaim their biblical role of member care to the missionary families they send. Chapter 1 introduces the concept of member care and establishes the local church as primary care giver in missions. It also shows the purpose, definitions, limitations and delimitations, and research methodology. Chapter 2 looks at the history of member care starting with William Carey and Lottie Moon and the beginnings of Baptist missionary care. The chapter then looks at the past fifty years of member care. This chapter also looks at preventable and non-preventable attrition and special issues in care including re-entry and the missionary kid. Chapter 3 surveys the Scriptures to build a case for a biblical mandate for care to its sent ones. It starts by looking at biblical precedent for such care using the churches at Antioch and Philippi as examples. Chapter 4 examines six leading member care churches in the US and surveys their best practices in care culture to families. Through the research obtained in these interviews, I offer a list of best practices in care ministry to families. Chapter 5 offers suggestions for sending churches to start care well by accessing, training, and mobilizing families with care in mind. In this chapter I summarize the research and make recommendations for the twenty-first century sending church.