View All Items

Title: CASE-SPECIFIC COUNTERTERRORISM POLICIES FOR ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALIST GROUPS.
Creator: Shoemaker, Jessica L, Sadri, Houman, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Since 9/11, counterterrorism policies have been one of the crucial policy issues facing the United States. After the attacks on the United States, counterterrorism in this country transformed. Fifteen years later, counterterrorism is typically organized as a one-size fits all approach. This approach generalizes all terrorist threats, trying to target terrorism as a whole. This thesis explains how this is an improper approach to counterterrorism. Instead, policies should be case-specific and...
Show moreSince 9/11, counterterrorism policies have been one of the crucial policy issues facing the United States. After the attacks on the United States, counterterrorism in this country transformed. Fifteen years later, counterterrorism is typically organized as a one-size fits all approach. This approach generalizes all terrorist threats, trying to target terrorism as a whole. This thesis explains how this is an improper approach to counterterrorism. Instead, policies should be case-specific and created in regards to the specific characteristics embodied by each terrorist organization. These characteristics include history and ideology, organizational and leadership structure, finances, and tactics and targets. These characteristics have been proven to comprise the composition of a one-of-a-kind terrorist organization. Each group expresses these characteristics differently, even if they share the same geographical location or religious background. Through research utilizing academic journal articles, current events, government publications, and published books, it is discovered how the unique characteristics displayed by Islamic Fundamentalist groups have counterterrorism policy implications. In order to portray this, this thesis analyzed characteristics of Al Qaeda, ISIS, and the Taliban. Through these case-studies, it was shown how distinct these groups are from one another and how these differences should be accounted for in counterterrorism policies. Once these differences are implemented into individualist counterterrorism policies, the United States can provide effective policies that target specific aspects of each terrorist organization instead of trying to combat terrorism as a whole.
Show less
Date Issued: 2016
Identifier: CFH2000117, ucf:46029
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH2000117

Title: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY OF SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLEPROCUREMENT ACTIVITIESIN THE EXPENDITURE OF PUBLIC FUNDSAT THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT.
Creator: McCarthy, Donna, Martin, Lawrence, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The aggregate annual expenditures of federal, state and local governments, in concert with universities and school districts represents incredible purchasing power and requires great prowess in its expenditure. Over the course of centuries, procurement has been used as a policy tool to improve society. This research delved into defining and determining the involvement of state and local governments in socially responsible activities related to the expenditure of public funds. Data collected...
Show moreThe aggregate annual expenditures of federal, state and local governments, in concert with universities and school districts represents incredible purchasing power and requires great prowess in its expenditure. Over the course of centuries, procurement has been used as a policy tool to improve society. This research delved into defining and determining the involvement of state and local governments in socially responsible activities related to the expenditure of public funds. Data collected in 2005 by the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing, Inc., was reviewed to determine if the expectations set for the private sector known as corporate social responsibility could be applied to the public sector. The study found that the definition as established for the private sector with regard to procurement social responsibility may also be employed in the public sector. A composite index of Public Procurement Social Responsibility (PPSR) was created as a benchmark for future comparison. Further, the presence of top-down management support for socially responsible initiatives in procurement in the areas of formal policies, goals and objectives and performance tracking mechanisms dictated higher PPSR scores for agencies. Mean Scores for PPSR were reviewed using independent variables of agency type, location, population served, procurement volume, and budget size. While top-down support of PPSR initiatives dictated strong involvement of an agency, there was no correlation between agency type, size, procurement spend, or population size on the mean score of a governmental entity, with or without the presence of PPSR drivers. The variables that influence the PPSR activities of an agency are similar across all demographics. What appears to drive the participation in socially responsible initiatives of government is the buy-in and mandate through regulation, policy and example set by management. This posture is emulated not only professionally, but the data indicates that it influences personal behavior as well. In order to bring about societal change, results are best achieved through the creation of policy for participation, establishing benchmarks for measuring success and integrating performance review milestones for achievement of goals and objectives related to PPSR.
Show less
Date Issued: 2006
Identifier: CFE0001486, ucf:47105
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001486

Title: HOME SCHOOL VERSUS OTHER APPLICANTS TO POSTSECONDARY INSTITUTIONS: ADMISSION POLICIES AND IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS.
Creator: Ashford, Rebecca, Pawlas, George, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: In this study, 94 colleges and universities in Florida were surveyed to determine what their admission policies were for home school applicants. Forty-six colleges responded to the survey. The results of the survey were analyzed to determine if there was a pattern of acceptance based on institution type--public, private, or proprietary. Further, the admission policies were analyzed to determine the extent to which they complied with the National Center for Home Education's (NCHE) recommend...
Show moreIn this study, 94 colleges and universities in Florida were surveyed to determine what their admission policies were for home school applicants. Forty-six colleges responded to the survey. The results of the survey were analyzed to determine if there was a pattern of acceptance based on institution type--public, private, or proprietary. Further, the admission policies were analyzed to determine the extent to which they complied with the National Center for Home Education's (NCHE) recommend college admission policies for home school applicants. The researcher found that public colleges were more likely to accept home school students than were private colleges. Also, public colleges had less stringent admission requirements for home school students than did private colleges. Further, home school admission policies in place in Florida's public colleges were more likely to comply with the NCHE's recommended admission policies for home school applicants. In addition to reviewing college admission policies for home school students, the standardized test scores and grade point averages of home school and public school students enrolled in a Florida, public community college were compared. The standardized test scores compared were the College Placement Test (CPT) and the Scholastic Achievement Test (SAT). The researcher found no difference in the mean grade point averages of home school and public school students enrolled in a Florida, public community college. Also, the researcher found no difference in the mean CPT algebra, CPT reading, or SAT mathematics scores of home school and public school students. There was, however, a significant difference in the CPT writing and SAT verbal scores for these two groups of students. Home school students scored significantly higher than public school students on the CPT writing and the SAT verbal tests.
Show less
Date Issued: 2005
Identifier: CFE0000601, ucf:46536
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000601

Title: REGISTERED NURSES' ATTITUDES TOWARD THE PROTECTION OF GAYS AND LESBIANS IN THE WORKPLACE: AN EXAMINATION OF HOMOPHOBIA AND DISCRIMINATORY BELIEFS.
Creator: Blackwell, Christopher, Kiehl, Ermalynn, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Discrimination and inequality encountered by gays and lesbians in the United States is profuse. A cornerstone of the gay rights movement, equality in the workplace has been a pivotal struggle for gays and lesbians. This study examined the attitudes and opinions of registered nurses (RNs) regarding homosexuals in general and the protection of homosexuals in the workplace through a nondiscrimination policy. The author measured overall homophobic and discriminatory beliefs of the sample using...
Show moreDiscrimination and inequality encountered by gays and lesbians in the United States is profuse. A cornerstone of the gay rights movement, equality in the workplace has been a pivotal struggle for gays and lesbians. This study examined the attitudes and opinions of registered nurses (RNs) regarding homosexuals in general and the protection of homosexuals in the workplace through a nondiscrimination policy. The author measured overall homophobic and discriminatory beliefs of the sample using the Attitudes Toward Lesbian and Gay Men (ATLG) Scale; the demographic questionnaire was infused with questions regarding a protective workplace policy. Using T-tests, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and structural equation modeling (SEM), correlations between independent variables (gender, age, religious association, belief in the "free choice" model of homosexuality, education level, exposure to homosexuals through friends and/or family associations, race/ethnicity, and support or non-support of a workplace nondiscrimination policy protective of gay men and lesbians) with the dependent variable of homophobia were explored.
Show less
Date Issued: 2005
Identifier: CFE0000599, ucf:46475
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000599

Title: WATER SANITATION AND WASTE MANAGEMENT IN LATIN AMERICA, COLOMBIA, AND CARTAGENA: A STUDY OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH, POVERTY, AND POLICY.
Creator: Sullivan, Andrea K, Sadri, Houman A., Bledsoe, Robert, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The objective of this research is to identify the need for stricter environmental standards and regulations in three areas of study. Organized by their level of analysis, these areas are Latin America (at the System-Level-of Analysis), Colombia (at the State-Level-of-Analysis), and the city of Cartagena (at the Sub-National-Level of Analysis). This research was accomplished in two phases. The first involved conducting an exhaustive literature search of sources, germane to the objective,...
Show moreThe objective of this research is to identify the need for stricter environmental standards and regulations in three areas of study. Organized by their level of analysis, these areas are Latin America (at the System-Level-of Analysis), Colombia (at the State-Level-of-Analysis), and the city of Cartagena (at the Sub-National-Level of Analysis). This research was accomplished in two phases. The first involved conducting an exhaustive literature search of sources, germane to the objective, published in Spanish and English. The second featured a site inspection conducted over a 10-day period during the month of May 2016 to Cartagena, Colombia. The purpose of the site inspection was to interview locals and to photographically document waste disposal practices. The results of this research determined that government at all levels (system, state, and subnational) play a significant and sometimes determinant role in managing waste and water pollution that are responsible for health problems primarily among the poor; these health problems are discussed in detail. This research discovered that the lack of government intervention is responsible for reducing the efficacy of waste management and water sanitation services. This research concludes with a discussion of how proactive waste management and water sanitation policies and practices can have a significant benefit not only to improving health but also has significant economic, social and environmental benefits that may reach beyond local levels.
Show less
Date Issued: 2016
Identifier: CFH2000150, ucf:45936
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH2000150

Title: EVALUATING THE QUALITY OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS PROVIDED BY STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WEBSITES AND THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN ADOLESCENT OBESITY AND SEDENTARY PREVALENCE.
Creator: McWilliams, Payton C, Valdes, Anna, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This research seeks to determine the relationships between the quality of physical education (PE) programs provided by state departments of education (DOE), obesity rates, and sedentary behaviors described as physical inactivity in adolescents ages 10-17 years old. A modified rubric based on the "Let's Move Active Schools Assessment" was created and used to quantitatively and qualitatively evaluate the PE programs and physical activity (PA) opportunities provided by websites of the state's...
Show moreThis research seeks to determine the relationships between the quality of physical education (PE) programs provided by state departments of education (DOE), obesity rates, and sedentary behaviors described as physical inactivity in adolescents ages 10-17 years old. A modified rubric based on the "Let's Move Active Schools Assessment" was created and used to quantitatively and qualitatively evaluate the PE programs and physical activity (PA) opportunities provided by websites of the state's DOE. A total of fourteen states were chosen to be assessed due to having either the highest or lowest obesity or physical inactivity rates. It was believed that the states with the highest obesity prevalence would have the highest inactivity and the lowest quality PE programs, and that those with lowest obesity prevalence would have lowest physical inactivity and high quality PE programs. After assessing the chosen states, no correlation was found between the quality of PE program as determined from the created rubric and the obesity or sedentary behavior rates of the state. The highest grade of all states assessed was 23 out of 27 with the lowest score being 7. The average scores of the states with the highest obesity was greater than the average for those states with the lowest inactivity, indicating that the quality of PE programs as provided by the DOE are not exclusively related to obesity and physical inactivity prevalence. Other determining factors such as nutrition, state funding, local policies, and societal factors may be more involved in the health of children than what is popularly believed. The data show that efforts are being made to decrease obesity throughout schools and the departments of education, however the efficiency of such efforts to increase physical activity and health are low. While states may post plans for PE and create standards for teaching, local levels of education are not required to enforce the policies or teach the curriculum suggested. Including students with special conditions and providing physical activities outside the school building is also lacking although it may seem like measures are being taken to provide such opportunities. More evaluations must be completed to get a stronger understanding of how to fix inadequate physical education and activity programs provided by the states' DOEs. Reviewing each DOE efforts as well as that of the community and individual school districts would help gain insight into where roadblocks reside and how to overcome destructive policies to offer better physical activity and education to children.
Show less
Date Issued: 2017
Identifier: CFH2000221, ucf:45982
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH2000221

Title: A COMPARTIVE ANALYSIS OF THE EVOLUTION OF FOREST MANAGEMENT IN THE UNITED STATES IN GENERAL, WITH A FOCUS ON OREGON, NORTH CAROLINA AND FLORIDA.
Creator: kelly , patrick, Kiel, Dwight, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: ABSTRACT The purpose of this paper is to evaluate and discuss the evolution of forest management practices in the United States. The paper discusses the trends in forest management that have occurred within the United States in general, and specifically within the western (Oregon) and southern (North Carolina and Florida) United States. The trends discussed include the three (3) to four (4) epochs of management and use that are generally accepted within the forest management literature, with...
Show moreABSTRACT The purpose of this paper is to evaluate and discuss the evolution of forest management practices in the United States. The paper discusses the trends in forest management that have occurred within the United States in general, and specifically within the western (Oregon) and southern (North Carolina and Florida) United States. The trends discussed include the three (3) to four (4) epochs of management and use that are generally accepted within the forest management literature, with the exception of North Carolina that is in the process of a fifth (5). The comparative analysis within the paper discusses the western model of management which tends to be distinctly different from the southern model in terms of regulatory approaches. The western model (i.e. Oregon) tends to be highly regulated, while the southern model is primarily voluntary, and quasi-regulatory in terms of using alternative mechanisms of regulation (i.e. Best Management Practices that regulate water quality). The paper also discusses the role of professionalism within the various forest services in each state, although the regulatory mechanism is the most important explanatory variable. In general, each state's forest services tend to be highly professional with licensing requirements, educational services and cooperative management. The two models are also distinctly different in terms of ownership, with Oregon being owned (nearly 50%) by the public, whereas the southern states are dominated by Nonindustrial Private Forest Owners (NIPF).
Show less
Date Issued: 2006
Identifier: CFE0001074, ucf:46770
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001074

Title: DOES HOPE VI DEEP-SIX THE POOR? ANALYZING THE EFFECTS OF DISPLACEMENT FORMER RESIDENTS OF DISTRESSED PUBLIC HOUSING IN A MID-SIZED SOUTHERN CITY.
Creator: Zeller, David, Wright, James, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Do downtown revitalization efforts detrimentally affect people who are displaced? HUD's HOPE VI grant program provides local housing authorities with funds to leverage private investment to demolish blighted, severely distressed public housing units and replace them with mixed-use, mixed-income units. In 2002, the OHA secured an $18 million grant to redevelop a public housing project then known as Carver Court. 212 units of public housing were razed and former public housing residents were...
Show moreDo downtown revitalization efforts detrimentally affect people who are displaced? HUD's HOPE VI grant program provides local housing authorities with funds to leverage private investment to demolish blighted, severely distressed public housing units and replace them with mixed-use, mixed-income units. In 2002, the OHA secured an $18 million grant to redevelop a public housing project then known as Carver Court. 212 units of public housing were razed and former public housing residents were displaced to make way for redevelopment. Interviews with 55 former residents of Carver Court are analyzed to determine the self-reported effects of the local implementation of federal housing policy. Outcomes measured include satisfaction with occupation, housing costs, neighborhood quality, crime, social interactions, access to public transportation, and quality of life overall, among others. In addition, the analysis uses Census data to examine the extent to which poverty deconcentration, a major policy goal of HOPE VI, has been accomplished. Implications of the findings are discussed in terms of HOPE VI's position in the history of American housing policy.
Show less
Date Issued: 2006
Identifier: CFE0000995, ucf:46701
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000995

Title: AMERICAN AGRIBUSINESS AND BIOTECHNOLOGY: A NEW ERA OF FARMING.
Creator: Ryan, Nicole M, Sadri, Houman, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: In the past fifty years there has been an incredible amount of change made to the agrarian system of the United States. New discoveries in the realm of biotechnology led to the adoption of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in agriculture, and transformed the industry. Due to regulatory policies set during the nineteen-eighties this technology was able to benefit from widespread commercialization. Today, we see the effects of this approach and are entering into a highly volatile political...
Show moreIn the past fifty years there has been an incredible amount of change made to the agrarian system of the United States. New discoveries in the realm of biotechnology led to the adoption of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in agriculture, and transformed the industry. Due to regulatory policies set during the nineteen-eighties this technology was able to benefit from widespread commercialization. Today, we see the effects of this approach and are entering into a highly volatile political climate in regard to GMOs. This paper aims to provide an analysis of the regulatory system in place and the discrepancies that exist in US policy. The factors evaluated through this thesis include the current US regulatory approach, advancements in biotechnology, and a comparative perspective on US and EU systems. In each of these reviews it is also relevant to mention consumer opinion on GMOs and the role of interest groups. It is important for every American consumer to understand the politics and technology behind their meals. Through the analysis of recent judicial decisions and the enactment of new laws this thesis explains how the use of GMOs in agriculture is causing an unprecedented change to the political structures in place.
Show less
Date Issued: 2016
Identifier: CFH2000035, ucf:45586
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH2000035

Title: ENTRENCHED IN CONTEXT: PERCEPTIONS REGARDING INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE AND VIABLE INTERVENTIONS AMONG UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS.
Creator: Montanez, Julio, Donley, Amy, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Many policies and programs have relevance to intimate partner violence (IPV), such as no-drop policies, firearm-related policies, mandatory reporting, mandatory arrest, and others. IPV affects persons from a multitude of demographics and statuses. Dating violence has its mark on college campuses. The present research studies both attitudes toward IPV and attitudes toward interventions that pertain to IPV. Attitudes toward IPV have been found to relate to a number of explanatory variables:...
Show moreMany policies and programs have relevance to intimate partner violence (IPV), such as no-drop policies, firearm-related policies, mandatory reporting, mandatory arrest, and others. IPV affects persons from a multitude of demographics and statuses. Dating violence has its mark on college campuses. The present research studies both attitudes toward IPV and attitudes toward interventions that pertain to IPV. Attitudes toward IPV have been found to relate to a number of explanatory variables: attributions, socioeconomic status, age, class standing, race/ethnicity, religion/spirituality, attitudes toward gender, violence in the family of origin, and previous IPV histories. Perceptions of IPV interventions have been found to relate to a number of explanatory variables as well: attitudes toward IPV, attributions, race/ethnicity, gender, age, socioeconomic status, education victim status, sexual orientation, attitudes regarding gender, and political variables. The present research administered a survey to undergraduate students at the University of Central Florida as a means to explore such perceptions.
Show less
Date Issued: 2015
Identifier: CFH0004903, ucf:45493
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004903

Title: COLLECTIVE NOBILITY: SPINOZA AND THE POLITICS OF EMOTION.
Creator: Uhlig, Ethan K, Strawser, Michael, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The intent of this thesis is to examine Spinoza's philosophy of emotion as it relates to groups of individuals, or collectives. These groups, especially political collectives such as nation-states, are evaluated through Spinozist understandings of virtue, nobility, and blessedness. From this analysis, a novel concept of "collective nobility" is used to create philosophical guidance for the emotional dimensions of politics and state action. Drug policy is used as a case study to understand how...
Show moreThe intent of this thesis is to examine Spinoza's philosophy of emotion as it relates to groups of individuals, or collectives. These groups, especially political collectives such as nation-states, are evaluated through Spinozist understandings of virtue, nobility, and blessedness. From this analysis, a novel concept of "collective nobility" is used to create philosophical guidance for the emotional dimensions of politics and state action. Drug policy is used as a case study to understand how emotion influences policymaking and vice versa, both negatively (as in the United States) and positively (as in Portugal).
Show less
Date Issued: 2019
Identifier: CFH2000556, ucf:45664
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH2000556

Title: INSTITUTIONAL DESIGN AND ECONOMIC INEQUALITY: SOCIOECONOMIC ACTORS AND PUBLIC POLICY IN GERMANY AND THE UNITED STATES.
Creator: Hudson, Jennifer, Kinsey, Barbara, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: In this thesis I conduct a comparative analysis of the influence of socioeconomic actors, business and labor, on public policy in Germany and the United States, specifically public policy that has an impact on economic inequality. The objective of this study is to gain a better understanding of how institutional constructs may determine the level of influence by different socioeconomic actors on public policy. In particular, I examine the link between institutional design and economic...
Show moreIn this thesis I conduct a comparative analysis of the influence of socioeconomic actors, business and labor, on public policy in Germany and the United States, specifically public policy that has an impact on economic inequality. The objective of this study is to gain a better understanding of how institutional constructs may determine the level of influence by different socioeconomic actors on public policy. In particular, I examine the link between institutional design and economic inequality, specifically the relative influence of business interests in varying types of capitalist economies and democratic systems, and assess those facets of institutional design that may facilitate the channeling of business influence in policy making. I explore institutional changes in the German political and economic system beginning in the late 1980s to determine whether these changes have altered the policy making process over time, and analyze similarities with institutional changes that have taken place in the United States beginning in the late 1970s to present. Further, I examine whether shifts in institutional design indicate that the German system is transitioning towards a more liberal model similar to that of the United States, and consider what effects this may have on the level of economic inequality in Germany. To conduct my analysis I use the Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) framework; based on the IAD framework I create a conceptual map of the channels by which socioeconomic actors are involved in the policy making process. I evaluate the policy-making process in both formal and informal policy arenas. The policy areas analyzed include corporate governance, industrial relations, and tax, welfare and minimum wage policy during the selected time periods. The analysis shows that the institutional designs that produced the selected policies benefit business interests and may contribute towards economic inequality. The larger goal is to develop research that will build a theoretical foundation to help us identify how these systems may be improved to produce a more equitable allocation of economic resources.
Show less
Date Issued: 2014
Identifier: CFH0004690, ucf:45243
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004690

Title: Compiler Design of a Policy Specification Language for Conditional Gradual Release.
Creator: Kashyap Harinath, Manasa, Leavens, Gary, Turgut, Damla, Wang, Liqiang, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Securing the confidentiality and integrity of information manipulated by computer software is an old yet increasingly important problem. Current software permission systems present on Android or iOS provide inadequate support for developing applications with secure information flow policies. To be useful, information flow control policies need to specify declassifications and the conditions under which declassification must occur. Having these declassifications scattered all over the program...
Show moreSecuring the confidentiality and integrity of information manipulated by computer software is an old yet increasingly important problem. Current software permission systems present on Android or iOS provide inadequate support for developing applications with secure information flow policies. To be useful, information flow control policies need to specify declassifications and the conditions under which declassification must occur. Having these declassifications scattered all over the program makes policies hard to find, which makes auditing difficult. To overcome these challenges, a policy specification language, 'Evidently' is discussed that allows one to specify information flow control policies separately from the program and which supports conditional gradual releases that can be automatically enforced. I discuss the Evidently grammar and modular semantics in detail. Finally, I discuss the implementational details of Evidently compiler within the Xtext language development environment and the implementation's enforcement of policies.
Show less
Date Issued: 2018
Identifier: CFE0007205, ucf:52274
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007205

Title: The Path of Least Resistance: The Failure of Humanitarianism and American Foreign Policy in Sudan.
Creator: MacFarlane, Mark, Walker, Ezekiel, Crepeau, Richard, Herlihy, Kevin, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This thesis examines America's response to civil war, dispossession, and humanitarian disaster in Sudan from the end of the Cold War up until the second Darfur uprising. While the number of scholarly works examining the overall conflict and humanitarian crisis are immense, less has been written in regard to America's foreign policy in Sudan. The contemporary nature of the crisis and dearth of historical analysis does make establishing trends difficult; but recent works suggest a U.S. policy...
Show moreThis thesis examines America's response to civil war, dispossession, and humanitarian disaster in Sudan from the end of the Cold War up until the second Darfur uprising. While the number of scholarly works examining the overall conflict and humanitarian crisis are immense, less has been written in regard to America's foreign policy in Sudan. The contemporary nature of the crisis and dearth of historical analysis does make establishing trends difficult; but recent works suggest a U.S. policy that is ill informed and therefore ineffectual in halting both the conflict and crisis in Sudan. However, contrary to this opinion, the evidence may demonstrate that United States policy, rather than a series of misjudgments or being simply ineffectual, has been more systematic, informed and purposeful. This thesis argues that while the United States wished for peace in Sudan, the historical evidence suggests that the path taken by the United States knowingly prolonged the suffering of millions of Sudanese. Furthermore, American policy makers have entrusted peace in Darfur and in other disparate regions of Sudan, as well as along the newly formed borders with South Sudan, to the National Congress Party (NCP) a regime Congress has labeled untrustworthy and despotic. The bulk of the research used in this examination covered the period from 1989- 2008. However, the independence achieved by the Republic of South Sudan in the summer of 2011 is taken into account in the final analysis of the thesis. The secondary sources both cited and considered for the thesis were substantial; these included academic articles, studies, and texts published over several decades in several related fields of study germane to the thesis topic. While a wide range of primary sources were used, the thesis relied heavily on United States Congressional records from 1989-2008 for analysis. ?
Show less
Date Issued: 2012
Identifier: CFE0004247, ucf:49536
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004247

Title: THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDANCE, SCHOOL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES AND PRINCIPALS' EMPHASIS ON ATTENDANCE ISSUES IN SELECTED FLORIDA SECONDARY SCHOOLS.
Creator: Arnett, Michael, Bozeman, William, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Much of the historical research that has taken place over the past 50 years regarding student absenteeism has focused on influences on students over which the principal had very little control such as student demographics, family characteristics and the student personal or psychological factors. Researchers have begun analyzing school climate and its effect on student attendance from the perspectives of students and teachers. School climate is the one aspect that influences a student...
Show moreMuch of the historical research that has taken place over the past 50 years regarding student absenteeism has focused on influences on students over which the principal had very little control such as student demographics, family characteristics and the student personal or psychological factors. Researchers have begun analyzing school climate and its effect on student attendance from the perspectives of students and teachers. School climate is the one aspect that influences a student attendance patterns and can be modified by the principal. This study sought to identify if there was a relationship between the high school principalsÃ‚Â' perspective on student absenteeism and the percentage of average daily attendance of the school. Much of the emphasis placed on improving attendance has been examined at the school level. This study, though focused on student absenteeism from the principalÃ‚Â's perspective, was also approached in regard to actions within the schoolÃ‚Â's control. It may well be, that districts need to take a stronger leadership role with respect to attendance. Providing more information to principals could contribute initially to improving principalsÃ‚Â' desire to be proactive in regard to attendance. District officials should examine carefully the support they provide that will result in proactive policies in the schools. It would seem appropriate that district level and building level policies would be examined by district and building leaders with a goal of establishing policies that not only support building leaders but also support individual teachers and encourage them to be proactive in their approach to attendance for every student in the class room.
Show less
Date Issued: 2010
Identifier: CFE0003434, ucf:48377
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003434

Title: THOMAS JEFFERSON AND THE EXECUTION OF THE UNITED STATES INDIAN POLICY.
Creator: Lewis, Daniel, Sacher, John, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This work investigates the American-Indian policy between 1790 and 1810 through the vehicle of the American government, focusing on the Ã‚Â"white, sincere, religious-minded men who believed intensely in both American expansion and positive relations with the Indians.Ã‚Â" While Indian reaction comprises an important piece of the native-white cultural encounter in the West, this study questions if scholars have the ability to address this problem in more than...
Show moreThis work investigates the American-Indian policy between 1790 and 1810 through the vehicle of the American government, focusing on the Ã‚Â"white, sincere, religious-minded men who believed intensely in both American expansion and positive relations with the Indians.Ã‚Â" While Indian reaction comprises an important piece of the native-white cultural encounter in the West, this study questions if scholars have the ability to address this problem in more than a very general way. In truth, each tribe was unique and different in their reaction to white legislation and settlement. There was no pan-Indian movement against settlement, and for the same reason, there is no pan-Indian history. However, it is possible to write of the white Americans as more of a single entity. They were closely united both in outlook and in goals. They had a single program which they meant to apply to all the Indians. This work will attempt to assess the piece of this policy regarding the fur trade and the Northwest. This study also links the Republican policies of Thomas Jefferson with the platforms of his federalist predecessors. Thorough investigation reveals choices in Western settlement were made by both government officials and settlers. Settlement of the Western frontier did not follow a predetermined path; private settlement and frontier violence were not predestined. Many junctures existed where it could have shifted. Lewis and Clark can be used as a case study with which to assess Jeffersonian policy. First, the men followed direct orders from Jefferson, instructed to act as the Ã‚Â"forward voiceÃ‚Â" of his anticipated policy. Second, the men recorded almost the entirety of the voyage, and thoroughly captured the initial contact between whites and natives. Moreover, this contact occurred in region without previous contact with whites. As such, the Lewis and Clark expedition affords a unique opportunity to eliminate some of the inherent biases which were amassed during the colonial period of contact, both with the British and the American colonies.
Show less
Date Issued: 2010
Identifier: CFE0003004, ucf:48350
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003004

Title: An Analysis of High School Homework Guidelines in One Urban School District.
Creator: Larsen, James, Taylor, Rosemarye, Baldwin, Lee, Doherty, Walter, Fritz, Ronald, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The purpose of this study was to evaluate homework guidelines according to criteria identified in the literature. Further the researcher attempted to determine the relationship, if any, between homework guidelines and student achievement results as measured by 2014-2015 high school graduation rates, American College Test (ACT) scores for reading and mathematics, and Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) scores for reading and mathematics for high schools in one urban school district.A document...
Show moreThe purpose of this study was to evaluate homework guidelines according to criteria identified in the literature. Further the researcher attempted to determine the relationship, if any, between homework guidelines and student achievement results as measured by 2014-2015 high school graduation rates, American College Test (ACT) scores for reading and mathematics, and Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) scores for reading and mathematics for high schools in one urban school district.A document analysis was conducted focusing on curriculum guides, faculty handbooks, parent handbooks, student handbooks and school websites. Any reference to the identified criteria was recorded in the Homework Criteria Matrix. The next step was to interview the 19 high school principals based on the same criteria. These results were also included in the rubric. An analysis of the data was conducted on the overall presence of elements found for each of the 19 high schools. The elements were quantified and a Pearson r correlation was run to determine the relationship between the presence of homework elements and student achievement results that were being looked at. Data showed that there were few guidelines that were made available to parents and students. The majority of the written homework guidelines were located in the faculty handbook. The other major source of information on homework was the principal interview. Of the sources reviewed, 86% of the homework guidelines that were articulated were found in the faculty handbook and conversations disseminated to the faculty through faculty meetings and Professional Learning Community (PLC) meetings.There were no significant relationships found between homework guidelines and student achievement results as measured by the 2014-2015 high school graduation rates, American College Test (ACT) scores for reading and mathematics, and Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) scores for reading and mathematics.
Show less
Date Issued: 2016
Identifier: CFE0006342, ucf:51557
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006342

Title: Three Essays on Compensation and the Board of Directors.
Creator: Cherry, Ian, Gatchev, Vladimir, Turnbull, Geoffrey, Schnitzlein, Charles, Roberts, Robin, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: In my first essay, I find a statistically and economically significant director-specific component in CEO pay following the enactment of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX). In the cross-section of firms, directors that award relatively higher (lower) CEO pay in one firm also award relatively higher (lower) CEO pay in other firms of whose boards they are members during the year. Based on my estimates, the director-specific component is responsible for around (&)#177;3.5% of total CEO pay or...
Show moreIn my first essay, I find a statistically and economically significant director-specific component in CEO pay following the enactment of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX). In the cross-section of firms, directors that award relatively higher (lower) CEO pay in one firm also award relatively higher (lower) CEO pay in other firms of whose boards they are members during the year. Based on my estimates, the director-specific component is responsible for around (&)#177;3.5% of total CEO pay or around (&)#177;$230,000 per CEO-year on average. In addition to affecting CEO pay levels, the director-specific component also has a significant effect on the changes and the composition of CEO pay, thus affecting CEO incentives. I pursue two potential explanations for our findings(-)changes in board composition and changes in director behavior after SOX. I do not find evidence that the director-specific component in CEO pay is due to changes in board composition. Instead, I find evidence that the director-specific component in CEO pay is due to changes in director behavior related to the additional risks and employment concerns imposed on directors after SOX. My findings are consistent with the view that SOX discourages directors from taking risks when awarding CEO pay and so directors award CEO pay that they can more easily justify through direct experiences in other firms. These findings have wide implications about the importance of directors in setting CEO pay, the existence of agency problems within the board, and the consequences of regulation in general and SOX in particular.My second essay concerns the compensation of directors themselves. I find that institutional ownership is positively related to the level of director compensation and the proportion of equity based compensation that directors receive. These results are consistent with the interpretation that institutions prefer stronger links between firm performance and board compensation and are willing to pay higher levels of compensation for better governance. I also investigate the difference between the effects of active versus passive institutional investment and find that active institutions appear to have a larger economic impact on director compensation. However, I do not find a statistical difference between the effects of active and passive ownership.My third essay studies the strategies that firms follow when apportioning incentive compensation within the board of directors. Firms tend to preserve the structure of director incentives over time so that firms using equal (variable) incentives in one year are more likely to use equal (variable) incentives in the following year. I further examine whether the structure of director incentives within the board affects acquirer performance in corporate acquisitions. I find that the five-day announcement returns of firms awarding equal director incentives are around 1% higher than the returns of firms that award variable director incentives within the board. These results are robust to standard controls related to acquirer returns, to different lengths of the announcement window, and to alternative incentive strategy classification schemes. Overall, my findings are consistent with the idea that director incentives play a significant role in corporate performance and with the idea that equal director incentives dominate variable incentives in circumstances where the success of the outcome is likely to depend on the board as a whole.
Show less
Date Issued: 2015
Identifier: CFE0005588, ucf:50265
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005588

Title: Florida Local Government Conservation Planning: Variability, Drivers, and Policy Implications.
Creator: Pannozzo, Pamela, Noss, Reed, Quintana-Ascencio, Pedro, Hinkle, Charles, Knox, Claire, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This study examined the quality of Florida county government conservation planning. To assess conservation planning quality, a theoretical model of conservation planning as prescribed by the conservation science literature was first developed. A plan evaluation coding protocol was applied to local comprehensive plan Conservation Elements to determine the extent to which county-level conservation planning met the theoretical model. A high degree of variability in conservation planning quality...
Show moreThis study examined the quality of Florida county government conservation planning. To assess conservation planning quality, a theoretical model of conservation planning as prescribed by the conservation science literature was first developed. A plan evaluation coding protocol was applied to local comprehensive plan Conservation Elements to determine the extent to which county-level conservation planning met the theoretical model. A high degree of variability in conservation planning quality was found. Highest quality conservation planning occurred in the Gulf coast counties of southwest Florida. Lowest conservation planning quality occurred in the Florida Panhandle counties. The quality of conservation planning of coastal counties was significantly higher than that of inland counties. Significant regional differences were also found, where conservation planning quality in South Florida counties was significantly higher than conservation planning quality in Panhandle counties. Geographic differences in conservation planning quality were likely attributable to significant differences in socioeconomic variables among counties, including differences in education, wealth, and urbanization. Multiple regression analysis using an information theoretic approach was employed to develop a predictive model of conservation planning quality of Florida local governments. The two most plausible predictors in the model were education level of the public and total resources. Local and global spatial autocorrelation analysis were next applied to county conservation planning scores to investigate spatial patterns of conservation planning quality, which were found to be related to the policy process of diffusion. Lastly, current local government conservation planning policy was analyzed for effectiveness and policy recommendations were made. Improving the effectiveness of local conservation planning will require changes in statutory provisions of the state Florida Forever and Growth Management statutes. It will also require a greater commitment on the part of the state of Florida to protect the state's biological resources over the long term.
Show less
Date Issued: 2013
Identifier: CFE0005041, ucf:49971
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005041

Title: SOFT POWER AND HARD POWER APPROACHES IN U.S. FOREIGN POLICY: A CASE STUDY COMPARISON IN LATIN AMERICA.
Creator: Weinbrenner, John, Dolan, Chris, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of soft power versus hard power in U.S. policy towards Latin America. In recent years America's unipolar moment has been challenged from populist leaders in the region to its inability to get a handle on the flow of illegal immigrants and illicit drugs that reach its shores. This thesis is a step to understanding the difference between power and influence as well as the effects of hard power and soft power in U.S. foreign policy. A...
Show moreThe purpose of this study was to examine the effects of soft power versus hard power in U.S. policy towards Latin America. In recent years America's unipolar moment has been challenged from populist leaders in the region to its inability to get a handle on the flow of illegal immigrants and illicit drugs that reach its shores. This thesis is a step to understanding the difference between power and influence as well as the effects of hard power and soft power in U.S. foreign policy. A historical comparative case study analysis has been conducted utilizing the cases of FDR's Good Neighbor policy and Reagan's contra war policies. This qualitative approach examined specific short-term and long-term goals of each policy and analyzed each strategy's ability to achieve those stated goals. The results of the study reveal that both soft and hard power approaches can have positive as well as negative effects on American influence in Latin America.
Show less
Date Issued: 2007
Identifier: CFE0001600, ucf:47175
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001600

Economic policy (15)	+ -
policy (12)	+ -
Foreign Policy (7)	+ -
United States (6)	+ -
Policy (5)	+ -

foreign policy (5)	+ -
Public Policy (4)	+ -
Education Policy (3)	+ -
Education Reform (3)	+ -
Florida (3)	+ -
Germany (3)	+ -
Japan (3)	+ -
Military policy (3)	+ -
Politics and government (3)	+ -
Socialism (3)	+ -
education (3)	+ -
evaluation (3)	+ -
policies (3)	+ -
public policy (3)	+ -
Afghanistan (2)	+ -
Brazil (2)	+ -
Communism (2)	+ -
Domestic Violence (2)	+ -
EU (2)	+ -
Education (2)	+ -
English learners (2)	+ -
European Union (2)	+ -
Evidently (2)	+ -
Five year plan (1928-1932) (2)	+ -
Foreign policy (2)	+ -

ETD Collection (87)	+ -
Honors Collection (29)	+ -
PRISM: Political & Rights Issues & Social Movements (21)	+ -

United States (10)	+ -
Soviet Union (7)	+ -
Palestine (1)	+ -

1917- (1)	+ -
1918-1945 (1)	+ -
1928-1932 (1)	+ -
1933-1937 (1)	+ -
1938-1942 (1)	+ -

Search In

Pages

Pages

Sort Results By:

Narrow results by:

Topical Subject

Collection

Geographic Subject

Temporal Subject

Genre

Type of Resource

Language

Creator

Format

Owner