Group
Projects
PAD 6108
Fall 2011
Rethinking America’s Colleges and Universities
The issue of higher education has received much criticism the past
couple of years recently regarding funding, purpose, and competition. A
review of academic and professional books and journal articles reveals
that there are many arguments to be made for the revamping of the
entire higher education system in the United States.
As Universities in the United States continue to expand in student
population size, more graduates are competing to enter the work force
today than ever before. Examining the different roles that public,
private, two-year, four-year, and for-profit higher education
institutions play now and should play in the future will be the central
theme throughout this study.
The purpose of this research proposal is to determine the following:
How can Academies of secondary education in the United States whether
private, public, 2 year, 4 year, or for-profit approach the business of
educating young and older adults that culminates in the student finding
a job or being placed in a field that they desire? To answer this
question, the following sub-questions will be addressed:
1. What are the challenges that major public
universities face from competition such for-profit, vocational, and 2
year institutions?
2. Public institutions of secondary education
concentrate more vocational/hands on majors?
3. What should be the federal government’s role in
the future in regards to funding and regulating all institutions of
higher learning in the future?
Vincent Ademjumo
Amanda Edminston
Water Management Policy
Recently the best system for Florida’s water management has become an
issue of great debate. Two major water management frameworks are
currently competing to decide the future of Florida’s water management
system. The first, the Model Water Code, on which Florida’s current
system is based, lead to the creation of Florida’s current special
independent districts, alternatively, the proposal from the Council of
100, advocates for a more centralized (state level) control of water
policy decisions. In light of this conflict we propose to examine the
history of each theory of water management and to discuss which system
would better suit the needs of Florida today. Among the issues to
consider are: The benefits and drawbacks of a centralized vs. regional
water management approach. The effect of legislative and executive line
item veto control over water management district budgets. The proper
balance between environmental and industry concerns, and which model
best meets the needs of these groups. What, if any, degree of local
control should local regions have of their water resources? Would there
be any benefit to the election of either water management board members
or a Water Czar position, that would be directly accountable to the
public? Are there any improvements that could be made to either system
to increase the effectiveness of water management and planning in
Florida?
Robert Birrenkott
Chad Dorion
Ryan Smart
Rick Vanderoef
Rethinking
National Security and the TSA
Christine Brown
Lauren Kollar
Jenn Petion