Academic Leadership

A True Underdog: The Contributions of Professor D. Barry Lumsden to Teacher Development in Higher Education

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 10:14:37 PST

The purpose of this article is to inspire others to pursue excellence in their role as a college teacher. This article chronicles the career of a professor who is admired by students he taught during his 28 year career at the University of North Texas. The name of this beloved professor is Dr. D. Barry Lumsden, currently serving as a senior research fellow at Texas A&M University-Commerce. Raised in a lower middle class family, Lumsden is an underdog in the truest sense of the word. This article describes Lumsden’s climb to prominence amidst the struggles of his personal life.

A SURVEY ON THE LEVEL OF SKILLS NEEDED AND THE SKILLS POSSESSED BY THE YOUTHS OF THE NIGER DELTA REGION OF NIGERIA FOR SELF RELIANCE

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:53:25 PST

The purpose of this research work was to identify the skills needed and the skills possessed by the youths in the Niger Delta Region. To do this, a sample of 210 (two hundred and ten) youths were purposively selected from the population. Out of the two hundred and ten questionnaires sent out, 207 (two hundred and seven) were returned in usable form. Two research questions were raised to give direction to the study. The instrument used for the collection of the data was an adapted list of skills identified by Niger Delta Development Commission N.D.D.C.(2003). Respondents were asked to identify the skills they possessed out of the 39 (Thirty-nine) skills identified as needed. The data collected were analysed using simple frequency counts and percentages.

Findings revealed a gloomy picture of skills possessed by the youths of the region. Males and Females put together possessed only 26%. Based on the findings, conclusions were drawn and recommendations were made; that skill acquisition centres should be opened to train youths which will help to alleviate some of the sufferings of the youths as a result of joblessness on completion of the programmes. Youths should also be given incentives such as starter packs as a way of reducing problems usually encountered during the early period of post skills acquisition period.

IMPORTANCE OF PROPER DRESSING IN MODERN LIVING IN NIGERIA

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:50:47 PST

The purpose of this study was to find out the importance of proper dressing in modern living in Nigeria. To this end, two research questions were raised to give direction to the study. The sample for this study consisted of 120 academic staff made up of 80 males and 40 females from the target population of 145 members of staff of the faculty of Education of a State university in Nigeria. The study adopted an ex-post–facto research design. The instrument used for data gathering was a structured questionnaire. The data gathered was analysed using means, frequency counts and percentages. Findings indicated that people were aware of the importance of proper dressing with a reported overall percentage of 85, while the common mistakes people made in dressing had a percentage of 15. Notable amongst the findings were proper dressing gave self confidence, commands respect and approval to the wearer, although some individuals were still ignorant about what, how, and when to wear clothes, thus giving room to some common mistakes made due to ignorance. Based on the findings, some recommendations were made to the effect that individuals need to be simple in dressing taking into consideration their figure, personality and occasion. They should learn to keep abreast of the fashion world by reading fashion magazines.

D.O. ARUBAYI

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:49:47 PST

Siti Akmar Abu Samah

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 09:34:03 PST

Solving the Problem: Improving Retention in Higher Education

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 15:31:15 PST

As our nation looks ahead in this new century, an educated workforce is more important than ever. Yet college retention is a major problem. Last year, for the first time in 20 years, retention to the sophomore year dropped in the nation’s four-year colleges (Bushong, 2009). For minority students on predominantly white campuses – that is, most four-year colleges and universities – the graduation rate is unacceptably low. For example, less than half of black males graduate from four-year college programs within six years – 20 percentage points less than their white peers (Carey, 2008). And student persistence in community colleges is chronically low, circling at about 50% (Lederman, 2009).

Conflict in the Community College Classroom.

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:48:13 PST

This manuscript displays the different types of conflicts that could, and sometimes do, arise in the community college classroom. Many people view college as an institution for higher learning, as well as they should; however, conflicts frequently arise in these classrooms among students. The manuscript will highlight how academic egos, social class, and high school locale can contribute or be the cause to conflict in the classroom. Also, suggestions to prevent and reduce these conflicts will be given.

Will Carpenter

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:46:09 PST

Dangerous Liaisons: Non-Western religious minority groups and American public education

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:44:15 PST

With diversity increasing amongst American students in the K-12 system, the need for cultural competency in public education has never been more important. In considering cultural competency, leaders in education must keep in mind that any knowledge gained regarding culture and cultural dynamics must be integrated into every facet of a school, program, or agency and leveraged to improve services to the unique subgroups being served. Staff must be trained to effectively utilize the knowledge gained (Olsen, Bhattacharya, & Scharf, 2006). More than this, educational leaders must develop policy that is responsive to the cultural diverse clientele being served. The bottom line is that institutionalized cultural knowledge can enhance an organization's ability to serve diverse populations, if something meaningful is done with it.

Steve Charbonneau

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:41:48 PST

Making the Most of Post-Tenure Review

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:38:40 PST

Post-tenure review has made little meaningful difference in higher education, perhaps mainly because it offers no more than a negative incentive. Proposed is an expansion of faculty ranks that could add genuine value to post-tenure review, offering recognition and reward for outstanding or consistently capable performance.

Don Noel Smith

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:36:49 PST

Teachers, Never Stop Learning Journal Article for Academic Leadership

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:32:54 PST

Amid the hours of instruction, personal attention to students, and piles of paperwork, how do teachers stay motivated, professionally challenged, and abreast of new research related to their field? As unrealistic as it may sound, they must become life-long learners. As adult learners, they will experience learning differently than when they were children or teenagers. As teachers, they will choose topics that inspire them and cause them to re-evaluate their practices. Understanding how adults learn, how learning theories benefit adult learning, and why teachers must remain learners will deflect boredom and stagnation and stimulate growth and job satisfaction.

Luanne Schnase

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:32:09 PST

Huang Lei

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:24:45 PST

Cheng Shenggao

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:23:44 PST

GANGNIBO NOUNAGNON CHARLES

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:22:49 PST

Antoine Sambou

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:21:44 PST

Engineering Leadership

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:17:34 PST

The increasing global competition in technology leads to a new concept called Engineering Leadership including leadership skills and engineering competencies.

They address the "Real Problems facing mankind" like Energy security , environmental stewardship , green manufacturing and resource sustainability .

( D. Apelian, 2007, pp. 21–30 )

In today’s ultra-competitive business world focusing on customer satisfaction, engineers must not only be technically competent, they must also have requisite interpersonal traits relating to the leadership insights to excel in a complex economy. In other words, World-Class engineering leaders are needed to increase productivity.

The curriculum of their approach features an innovative direction based on using technical knowledge and leadership skills. The issues in the 21^st century framework not only need depth understanding of non-technical perception but a successful experience of leading human resources is also vital.

Engineering Leadership consists of three principles named 3I: Innovation, Invention, and Implementation.( Ed Crawly& Joe Schindall , 2008 )

Desirable fields of leading companies such as product development, system engineering and integration and also project management need interdisciplinary themes of knowledge.

A successful engineering leader mentions individual competencies, use resource and technology in an organization frame getting profitable results .They also should be aware of work culture and organization informal relationship.

Omid Bagheri

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:16:49 PST