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