In 2013, one of the largest community college districts in the nation set forth a set of policies intended to improve the persistence and academic achievement of its sizable student population. Policies such as a new student orientation, course placement testing, and academic advising were now required of all first-time students who had their sights set on a degree or transfer to a four-year institution. One policy, however, was only applicable to those students who failed to demonstrate preparedness in the areas of reading, math, or English. For this cohort of students, an additional student success course was mandated that was intended to give these students the academic skills and confidence to persist that they were presumed to lack. While the student success course had been available in the district since the 1980s, it had never been a required course in the district even though many other higher education institutions had adopted it as such. There was no clear rationale as to why this course needed to be required starting in 2013, or why it was being required only of underprepared students. Further, little in the way of preparation occurred or resources provided to ensure the smooth and complete implementation throughout the ten-college district and there were no plans to evaluate the course's effectiveness other than measure each college's compliance to the policy. Thus the stage was set for a multi-lensed analysis of an entire policy lifecycle rather than the typical summative assessment of a policy's implementation. From formation to implementation to effectiveness, this single policy intervention in a single community college district is evaluated formatively. While each substantive formative analysis' content could stand alone, it is the intent of this dissertation to suggest and demonstrate that all are necessary for a complete evaluation of an educational policy.

This case study examines the James 1:27 Trust as an information, communication and technology response to the plight of orphans and vulnerable children within the context of an HIV and AIDS epidemic. The James 1:27 Trust demonstrates how social networks can be mobilized in support of children at risk. The use of business information and management systems to administer concepts such as “virtual adoption” is deemed an important innovative contribution. The James 1:27 Trust and its model is studied as a contributor in finding solutions to scale and multiply levels of care by community and faith-based organisations to orphans and vulnerable children. The James 1:27 Trust is located at the Innovation Hub in Pretoria, Africa’s first internationally accredited science park. / Social Work / M.A. (Social Behaviour in HIV/AIDS))

This case study examines the James 1:27 Trust as an information, communication and technology response to the plight of orphans and vulnerable children within the context of an HIV and AIDS epidemic. The James 1:27 Trust demonstrates how social networks can be mobilized in support of children at risk. The use of business information and management systems to administer concepts such as “virtual adoption” is deemed an important innovative contribution. The James 1:27 Trust and its model is studied as a contributor in finding solutions to scale and multiply levels of care by community and faith-based organisations to orphans and vulnerable children. The James 1:27 Trust is located at the Innovation Hub in Pretoria, Africa’s first internationally accredited science park. / Social Work / M.A. (Social Behaviour in HIV/AIDS))