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- Creator:
- Morris, Courtney Anna Ruth
- Description:
- Through stakeholder interviews and in-depth literature review this project explored the feasibility of creating, implementing, and maintaining a California elder abuse registry. This project aimed to formulate a white paper for the California Senior Legislature for future proposal development. Five stakeholders from across California were interviewed. Utilizing content analysis and grounded theory analysis, interview data were examined leading to the development of a model. The resulting model was a visualization of stakeholders’ knowledge and perceptions about elder abuse registry issues. The model contains three phases, integrated categories, and subcategories. The model was grounded in that data and supported by literature. The findings and resulting model support the feasibility of California creating, implementing, and maintaining an elder abuse registry. The Researcher concluded with three recommendations for future research and California elder abuse registry creation.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Bakersfield
- Department:
- Social Work
- Creator:
- Baeza, Diane L
- Description:
- Type 2 Diabetes mellitus (DM) has reached epidemic proportions in the past several decades due to the advancing age of the population, an increased prevalence of obesity, and decreased physical activity. One in every 14 Americans has diabetes, and another 40% of the population is at risk for developing the disease (Funnell & Kruger, 2004). Every year, diabetes accounts for more than 200,000 deaths, 82,000 amputations, and 44,400 new cases of end stage renal disease and up to 24,000 new cases of blindness in the United States (American Diabetes Association).Diabetes mellitus is characterized by recurrent or persistent hyperglycemia. Hemoglobin A1C measures nonreversible glycosylation of the hemoglobin molecule. HbA1c is a term often used in relation to diabetes; it is used for diabetes diagnosis and how it differs from blood glucose levels. For people with diabetes, an HbA1c level of 6.5% is considered good control, although some prefer numbers closer to non-diabetic levels. This result driven task is completed to determine the patient’s compliance level. Diabetes is a largely self-managed illness; diabetes education has long been viewed as an essential component of care. Primary care physicians provide clinical care for the majority of patients with DM but few primary care providers have the resources to assist patients to achieve the level of glycemic control needed to prevent long term complications (Graber, Elasy, Quinn, Wolff, & Brown, 2002). The purpose of this study was to identify best practices in diabetes education measured by lowering HbA1c levels. Teaching and Learning theories will help evaluate the measures of HbA1c levels in diabetes education. Areas of lifestyle behaviors assessed including health responsibility and self-management practices. A total of 64 articles were reviewed to determine and define best practices of diabetes education. The findings were that a significant improvement in healthy lifestyle practices and measuring of HbA1c levels through diabetes education. The results identified both diabetes education and intervention of clinical staff help support that diabetes education is measured through lowering HbA1c levels.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Bakersfield
- Department:
- Public Policy and Administration
- Creator:
- Steele, Bonita F. Eighmey
- Description:
- This work examines whether an increase in community or evidence-based mental health services for persons with a history of both mental illness and criminal justice system involvement would reduce the incarceration rate of this population. If such a correlation exists, significant savings in both systems is possible. This work is important to guide policymakers in making prudent investment of public dollars while achieving cost-effective and highly desired societal outcomes; not to mention the improved individual quality of life outcomes that might also result. A brief history of the mental health and criminal justice systems is provided in order to highlight the intertwining history and functioning of these systems. The literature review discusses the theoretical understanding of mental illness, deviance and criminality, legal standards of diminished capacity and the capacity to knowingly violate the law. The prevalence of mental illness and criminal behavior is provided as context for the demographics of persons with a history of both. The availability of mental health services within the state correctional system is discussed as well as diversion from the correctional system at time of arrest, prior to booking, before adjudication and at post-release, including several evidence-based best practices programs. Previous research has identified several personal attributes, societal characteristics and other factors that may influence the incarceration of persons with mental illness. Among these potential factors are: personal biological and cognitive attributes, prior criminal involvement as a juvenile or an adult, socio-economic status (including homelessness), crime and unemployment rates, and the improved correctional diagnosis of serious mental illness. Previous research has also identified mental health spending and utilization as directly controllable influential factors. Recently released URS state-level data for 2005 and 2006 are used to test the hypothesis that increased utilization of community based mental health services or evidence-based practice programs in 2005 would reduce the number of persons with mental illness incarcerated in 2006. Alternatively, a reduction in utilization of community based mental health services or evidence-based practice programs in 2005 would increase the number of persons with mental illness incarcerated in 2006. Regression analyses of the state-level URS data set revealed that a statistically significant relationship did not exist between the 2005 utilization of community based mental health services or evidence-based practice programs and incarceration in 2006.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Bakersfield
- Department:
- Public Policy and Administration
- Creator:
- Imura, Kayo
- Description:
- Optional Practical Training (OPT) is temporarily working in the United States on authorizations issued to international students. OPT allows students to remain in the country after completion of their education to obtain experiences in the professional workforce. Despite its advantages, several problems have restricted students from accomplishing the core goals of the OPT system. These problems lead more international students to stay in the county without a valid legal status. The purpose of this report is to propose a policy alternative to maximize the benefit of OPT system. Each option will be evaluated with its ability and acceptability as well as its efficiency. The final proposal is to create small agencies dedicated to support the current OPT practices.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Bakersfield
- Department:
- Public Policy and Administration
- Creator:
- Horn-Bunk, Sheri Marie
- Description:
- Many developments have kept the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act and the issue of undocumented college students in the news and on federal and state legislative agendas. There is an inevitable tide of growing undocumented students graduating from high school looking for college options. The paper examines the proposed piece of legislation called the DREAM Act. The DREAM Act would permit undocumented students to begin a six-year process leading to permanent legal status. Among other requirements, they would need to graduate from a U.S. high school and have entered the U.S. at least five years before the legislation is signed into law at the age of 15 or younger. To complete the process they would, within the six year period, be required to graduate from a community college, completing at least two years towards a four year degree, or serve at least two years in the U.S. military. These individuals would qualify for in-state tuition rates in all states during the six-year period. The DREAM Act would provide a path to legal residence for undocumented youth with a caveat; students would have to earn their legal status. It also would open the door to college for tens of thousands of students who have the knowledge, skills and aspirations to pursue a college degree or military training creating an available stream of educated employees as we move into the next century. The paper explores DREAM Act economic outcomes from increased high school graduation rates, legalized citizenship and work force growth. The paper recommends a change in the framing of these three outcomes and suggests with the promotion of the economic benefits of these outcomes the DREAM Act would become a law
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Bakersfield
- Department:
- Public Policy and Administration
- Creator:
- Pratt, Megan Renee
- Description:
- The concern of this research is that the welfare system is frequently abused and more specifically abused by individuals with drug abuse problems. According to research presented in Drug Use Among Welfare Recipients in the United States “Drug Use is 50% higher in households with welfare recipients than in nonwelfare households.” The issue with individuals with drug abuse problems receiving welfare is that it enables them to find employment and contribute to society. If welfare recipients are unable to pass a drug test for employment their chances of ever getting off welfare are slim to none. To better analyze and understand the severity and impact of drug abuse on the welfare system previous research will be examined concerning the number of individuals on welfare that have drug abuse problems. Also, to be examined is the impact of substance abuse programs on drug and alcohol use and what types of programs have higher success rates. Choosing the right substance abuse program will be critical to the over all success of this welfare reform. With the creation of a substance abuse program within welfare, caseworkers would have an appropriate place to send “troublesome substance-abusing clients.” Implementing a substance abuse program within welfare would be the best solution to this problem. Welfare recipients would periodically be drug tested. The key to transitioning people from substance abusing welfare recipients to employed and self-sufficient members of a community is a substance abuse treatment program. The at risk welfare clients would be identified with a mandatory drug test. Drug abusers are unemployable.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Bakersfield
- Department:
- Public Policy and Administration
- Creator:
- Garcia, Gladys
- Description:
- With the increasing number of charter schools opening throughout the United States, researchers have designed studies to explore the operation of charter schools and how they measure up to educational performance. The majority of charter schools are in urban areas and serve low income and minority students. Charter schools are public schools with autonomy to design curricula as they believe will better serve their students. Thus, because of the uniqueness of each charter school, it is difficult to measure the overall educational performance of charter schools. Despite the mixed outcomes of studies, as more data is available researchers have designed methodologies to appropriately measure the performance outcome of charter schools. Studies that use longitudinal student and school data and adjust for demographic conditions indicate that elementary charter schools are performing at or slightly above traditional public schools. Contrary to elementary charter schools, studies show that charter high schools are performing below traditional public schools. Subsequently, more research studies are necessary to determine the educational performance of charter schools in the nation. Meanwhile, current research studies serve as a framework for decision making of students and parents, administrators, state charter school regulators, and communities with charter schools.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Bakersfield
- Department:
- Public Policy and Administration
- Creator:
- Avila, Maria L
- Description:
- The purpose of this project is to create a psychoeducational curriculum for adolescents with type 2 diabetes. The desired outcome is for group participants to acquire knowledge, learn the management of the psychological effects of diabetes and to gain awareness of typical environmental stressors of the disease. Cognitive behavioral therapy will be utilized to treat psychological issues, such as grief and depression, in adolescent with type 2 diabetes. The overall purpose of this curriculum is to minimize psychological issues in adolescents with diabetes to reach optimal glycemic levels.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Bakersfield
- Department:
- Social Work
- Creator:
- Pollack, Kellie
- Description:
- Since the first organization ventured onto social media, the median has proven to be a tour de force. According to Stone (2009), “The age of social media has empowered amateur journalists and fledgling presidents” through 140-character Tweets and “status updates” it has the power to “recruit volunteers, spread awareness, and solicit donations.” Many nonprofits have experienced huge successes utilizing social media for just these purposes. Unfortunately, for some, experiencing success on social media has been an elusive endeavor. The following thesis is an investigation of three nonprofits’ social media campaigns in order to identify essential elements needed to experience successful outcomes on social media. The study identified four capacity requirements to fully utilize all of social media’s potential: (1) understanding the varied platforms and its intended use, (2) planning events, (3) dedicated writers, and (4) having a strategy. The study also discovered seven elements that have deemed to be the precursors of success: (1) tell a story, (2) interact, (3) diversify, (4) make sharing easy, (5) make donating easy, (6) give a call to action, and (7) transparency.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Bakersfield
- Department:
- Public Policy and Administration
- Creator:
- Aguirre, Julieta
- Description:
- Educators today are responsible for student growth within the classroom atmosphere, just as they have been since the profession began. That has not change. What has changed is the attitude, the dedication, and the devotion that each individual gives to their teaching profession. As time passes, more and more young adults are discouraged from taking a profession in education as they feel that it is a lot of work for little pay. Work ethic in the young adult has seen a decrease over the years. This program proposal will help to understand why that is and what school districts can do to encourage employees to give only their best and keep the focus where it should always be, the children.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Bakersfield
- Department:
- Public Policy and Administration
61. A Policy analysis on electronic health records: meaningful use incentive for eligible professionals
- Creator:
- Ram, Pritika
- Description:
- Electronic health care systems have mainly been utilized in professions other than health care such as customer relationship management and resource planning. However, up until recently more health care systems are exploring the pros and cons of an electronic record keeping system. The HITECH Act under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009, led by the CMS and ONC, proposes meaningful use among users of EHR systems in the U.S. health care delivery system as a critical national goal. In 2010, the Center of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published its EHR final rule regarding the incentive program for providers and eligible professionals. The CMS incentive program will provide incentive payments to eligible professionals, eligible hospitals, and critical access hospital (CAHs) or acute care hospitals as they adopt, implement, upgrade, and demonstrate meaningful use of certified EHR technology. Health information technology (health IT) will make it possible for health care providers to better manage patient care through secure use and sharing of health information including using EHR instead of paper based medical records (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2011). The certification process also helps providers and patients be confident that the electronic health information technology products and systems they use are secure, can maintain data confidentially, and can work with other systems to share information. This study intends to understand the significance of implementing health information technology and EHR systems policy in health care to further understand the basis of the CMS incentive programs for providers and groups. The goals of this policy analysis are to assess current status of information technology adoption, estimate EHR system market penetration, and evaluate the barriers to EHR implementation and the economic impacts of EHR implementation. The objective of this study is to improve quality of care and patient information sharing while lowering long term costs and errors among providers and health care organizations. Additionally, this study will identify measures to determine if current or future policies are appropriate in the adoption and implementation of EHRs throughout health care delivery systems and among types of care settings.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Bakersfield
- Department:
- Public Policy and Administration
- Creator:
- Quintana, Diana
- Description:
- The use of medical marijuana in the United States is a debatable issue due to the different perceptions the public holds. At the state and federal level, controversies also exist on marijuana’s therapeutic value. Under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), marijuana is classified as schedule I drug; meaning it may be highly abusive and has no connection with medical treatment. While the law has been in effect since 1970, sixteen states have passed medical marijuana laws allowing patients to consume the substance for certain medical illnesses. States have the power to execute these laws through the 10th Amendment. Consequently, the inconsistency of the laws has created issues between some states and the federal government. The federal government can interfere at any time with medical marijuana laws and prosecute anyone who is affiliated with the substance. In order to find a solution to this problem, the researcher has conducted in depth analysis of the existing laws and how they relate to the theory of federalism. In addition, the researcher has analyzed three alternatives and the status quo to find the most effective solution. Based on the alternatives, the researcher has selected the reclassification of marijuana to a schedule II drug as the best option. The alternative has been selected because it will create a uniform policy with the existing laws. In order for this alternative to be effective, the researcher suggests eight recommendations. The recommendations range from educating children and patients of the risks and benefits of the substance to prohibiting medically ill children from consuming the substance until more research is acquired. Additionally, the researcher advises that more research needs to be conducted on the potential effects of recreational use. This is because states may want to pass these laws in the future as it was seen in the state of California.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Bakersfield
- Department:
- Public Policy and Administration
- Creator:
- Moorhead, Margaret
- Description:
- School vouchers promise to improve parental choice in offering a higher quality education for their child. The primary effect of school vouchers or school choice is its tendency to increase the educational gap between the middle and upper-income and the low-income students. This policy analysis describes how the voucher system was intended to work and what is known about their actual effects on students, parents, and public schools in various areas. Research of literature regarding various implemented voucher programs in the United States and two other nations was conducted. The main purpose of this analysis was to determine if students who utilized school vouchers showed improved student achievement outcomes. The research also covers how data from the voucher programs was analyzed along with controversial analysis on the original findings. To conduct the analysis for this paper, I accessed third party information from scholarly journal articles after receiving approval from California State University, Bakersfield Instructional Review Board (IRB). The information gathered was from research articles on various voucher programs and analysis of those programs. The literature I studied revealed small but inconsistent effects of school vouchers. The programs varied by ethnicity, program structure and incentives. The research did not produce evidence that students’ achievements increased over a long-term. Recommendations developed from the analysis include: 1) changing the curriculum of the public schools or developing new academic programs; 2) getting back to basics; 3) lower the student-teacher ratio; and 4) target more resources toward states with a higher proportion of minority and disadvantaged students.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Bakersfield
- Department:
- Public Policy and Administration
- Creator:
- Bradford, Tanya
- Description:
- Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is infinite problem throughout the world. Women more so than men endure brutal assault by the men they love, trust and depend on. With regard to race in research of Intimate Partner Violence, African American women are under represented. Although findings suggest that African American women suffer higher rates of intimate partner violence over Caucasian women, African American women are more prone to the risk of violence than Caucasian Women due to many factors. Research fails to present the true extent of this serious threat and the leading factors such as poverty, unemployment, substance abuse, no education, no outreach programs and societal stress that allows IPV to run rampant in the African American Communities. Much more research is needed to reveal the depth of African American women experiences with intimate partner violence. IPV is a threatening problem that passes down to generation to generation. Beating women is an acceptable practice in the African American community that is over looked by many. African American women believe that they are powerless and thus do not seek help do to many reasons; racism lack of trust, undeserving, have low self esteem, are feeble, come from poor communities, have low or no education, and intergenerational effect, and shame. Although it is a crime to intentionally cause harm to another individual, African American women suffer needlessly by the hands of men they love. Society, the African American community, and the family fail to conceive that women of color are in danger from violent men by turning from the truth that IPV is a real threat. To remedy IPV, perpetrators ought to be accountable for their crimes against women by applying harsher punishment. Much more research is indeed a need to address the indisputable factors in regards to the different factors in the African American Communities that cause IPV and to reveal the true extent of IPV against African American Women.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Bakersfield
- Department:
- Public Policy and Administration
- Creator:
- Sweat, Hilary (Hilary L.)
- Description:
- Significant changes are coming to the United States military. The repeal of DADT would call for the elimination of the military‘s ―Don‘t Ask, Don‘t Tell‖ policy and an official normalization of homosexuality within the U.S. armed forces, persons found to have a homosexual orientation will no longer be discharged from the military. The greatest challenge posed by the normalization of homosexuality within the armed forces is not the fact that homosexual persons will serve in uniform. Given the distribution of homosexuality within the population, courageous service of homosexual persons has been the case from the beginning. Successful implementation requires strong leadership, a clear message, and proactive training and education. The repeal of DADT will introduce conflicts and concerns. The purpose of this study is to do a policy analysis of the current policy and Repeal Act of 2010 to identify the issues the Leadership will be faced with and evaluate alternatives to investigate the best possible choice for the Leadership to effectively implement normalization of sexuality in the military. It is clearly going to be a major mission for leadership to implement this change in the military, whatever the change may be. However, by keeping the military a nonsexual zone, keeping sexual orientation as personal and private matter the implementation of normalization of sexuality in the military will prove to be a safe and fair option. By comparing consequences and looking at what constraints the future may hold along with the feasibility of each alternative the best decision can be made for the armed forces. The leadership will be able to educate and train all personnel in order for an effective implementation.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Bakersfield
- Department:
- Public Policy and Administration
- Creator:
- Blaylock, Theresa
- Description:
- The problem is the effectiveness of youth-offender programs. To gain consistent program outcomes that reduce recidivism rates there, the criminal justice system needs accurate measures of successful rehabilitation. Today youth-offender programs are not all effective in their treatment of youth offenders. When a youth comes in to the juvenile system, it is an opportunity to effect change and proactively prevent recidivism. Youth-offender programs that are not effective are causing harm to both the youth-offender and to the government or financial backer of that program to effect a decrease in youth-offender recidivism. The harm poor-quality youth-offender programs cause is in the youth-offender’s giving up on the idea of a life free of criminal activity. Further harm is in government budgeted funding to programs that are not producing a reduction in recidivism. This includes nonprofit agencies taking donated money for the benefit of youth offenders. Programs not reducing recidivism are causing further harm to the public perception of the troubled youth that are in these programs.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Bakersfield
- Department:
- Public Policy and Administration
- Creator:
- Archuleta, Samantha
- Description:
- America’s future rests in the hands of juveniles. It is important to put a stop to the number of crimes being committed by juveniles and effectively rehabilitate them. Recidivism rates of juveniles released from detentions centers continues to remain high throughout the state suggesting rehabilitation programs are not working. Many juvenile institutions have been kept at maximum capacity forcing them to release detained juveniles early when they receive a new juvenile that has committed a serious crime. Many institutions currently have programs in place that attempt to provide positive reinforcements and intervention, but have failed to make a significant difference. Many of the programs that have failed to make an impact and are still in place. There are many juveniles sent back to James G. Bowels Juvenile Hall to await another conviction and possibly another commitment program. The current programs at Juvenile Hall have kept juveniles busy during their time served, but the programs currently implemented have not rehabilitated juveniles. The increasing rate of juveniles returning to Juvenile Hall suggests that implementing other programs may be what is needed to increase the number of juveniles that leave rehabilitated and reduce recidivism rates. The purpose of this policy analysis is to present alternative programs focused on recidivism rates of juveniles being re-booked in Juvenile Hall and what is causing these juvenile offenders to recidivate. These alternative programs will help to identify beneficial programs and reduce the recidivism rate of juveniles returning to Juvenile Hall. If an alternative program succeeds then Juvenile Hall will be able to effectively rehabilitate more juveniles and start reducing the currently growing percentage of juvenile recidivism rates.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Bakersfield
- Department:
- Public Policy and Administration
- Creator:
- North, LaToya
- Description:
- The role of child welfare workers has been complicated with the task of treating juvenile sex offenders. With an increase in the number of juvenile sex offenders, this has become a specialty area and effective treatment requires focus beyond traditional counseling skills. This problem has been complicated since it has been challenging to find a consistent definition of juvenile sex offender. “There is not an accepted term or definition that is widely used to describe or refer to this population” (Moore, Franey, & Geffner, 2004, p.1). How can a worker learn evidenced-based treatment interventions when there is no clarity in the definition. This study reviewed the literature and developed preliminary resources for social workers and other professionals who will be working with clients who are juvenile sex offenders.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Bakersfield
- Department:
- Social Work
- Creator:
- Carlile, Julie A
- Description:
- According to Wyler (2008), weak and failing states are often in conflict, at risk of conflict, or newly emerging from conflict. Poor governance, corruption, and lack of basic public services impede their stability. They do not have effective control of their territory, military, or law enforcement. In addition, weak states are unable to achieve lasting economic development. As a result, weak and failing states become safe havens for terrorist and international crime organizations. They cause regional instability and facilitate those seeking Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD). These threats pose a danger to the United States and its national interests. Protecting the United States from these threats requires conducting successful nation-building operations. Nation building is critical to “winning the peace” and denying safe havens and networks to terrorists and insurgents. This is a means of integrating war and policy. According to Cohen (2005), there is reluctance to establishing stabilization and reconstruction metrics in order to measure nation-building progress. The concern is that the metrics will be manipulated to push political agenda. As a result, objective metrics for measuring the outcomes of nation building efforts in the Middle East have not been established. This study applies Cohen‟s (2006) proposed cascading model for measuring nation-building progress in the Middle East. Using this method, the metrics are linked to stabilization outcomes providing objective feedback on stabilization progress so mission planners can make better decisions. The metrics developed indicate the situation close to ground truth as possible. Additionally, this study recommends: that metrics be developed for the Transformation and Fostering phases; that outside auditors collect metric data; that metrics be critically analyzed; and that these analyses be used by decision-makers to determine nation-building progress and whether the current strategy is working.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Bakersfield
- Department:
- Public Policy and Administration
- Creator:
- Martinez, Priscilla
- Description:
- Because foundations have tax-exemption from the IRS, it is expected that they will meet a need that is not being met by the government. However, there are many who believe that there is a discrepancy in foundational giving in California because the perception is that foundational giving goes to select counties and others, especially those in the Central Valley, do not receive a fair amount of funding when considering similar populations and needs of the counties. To test this hypothesis, data on giving from four of the largest foundations in California for one year were gathered along with data on social needs indicators for every county in California to test whether there is a correlation between foundational giving and social needs.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Bakersfield
- Department:
- Public Policy and Administration
- Creator:
- Tate, Rachel
- Description:
- The purpose of this project was to provide members of the California Senior Legislature information relevant to end-of-life services in correctional institutions. This information will be used to shape policies that ensure correctional end-of-life care is commiserate with community standards as mandated by the 1996 American Correctional Association. Integration of community standards in program design ensures protection of fundamental human rights. A thorough review and analysis of current policies and services areas requiring further development were identified and recommendations offered.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Bakersfield
- Department:
- Social Work
- Creator:
- Jacinto, Sarai
- Description:
- This case study analyzes the 2010 scandal in the Bell, CA regarding government salaries, property tax rates, and revenue collection practices. With an extensive literature review on transparency, accountability and access to public information, this study compares Bell’s administrators’ salaries to other cities in LA County. The case study explores tactics used by city administration to facilitate their ability to embezzle more than $5.6 million in public funds. The research indicated that residents in Bell did not act on their right to public documents that allowed city officials to operate Bell for personal gain. The City currently does not have enough money to cover core services. Recommendations that provide short and long term goals for the City of Bell are explored. The research also indicated that there is a need for a system of checks and balances at all government levels that would help reduce corruption in charter cities. Greater involvement from constituents in government affairs would be the best method to reduce corruption.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Bakersfield
- Department:
- Public Policy and Administration
- Creator:
- Snyder, Victoria
- Description:
- Individuals who struggle with a chronic and persistent mental illness can face many obstacles in coping with their daily lives. A community that embraces their mentally ill citizens can find that there can be a cohesive co-existence with these members. Taft, California is a community that reflects a successful cohesiveness in embracing their mentally ill citizens. Taft, unfortunately, does not have one important resource for their mentally ill citizens; there are no room and board or board and care facilities. This study will provide a guide and model for the establishment of the Westside Housing Consortium, a non-profit organization that will use both the payments from SSI of the individuals served and grants that will address the needs of the Consortium to establish and grow in the community. It will enable the community to better serve their mentally ill population and continue the cohesiveness that exists between the mentally ill and the rest of the community
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Bakersfield
- Department:
- Public Policy and Administration
- Creator:
- Amborn, Saxon James
- Description:
- The novel coronavirus (SARs-COV or COVID-19) pandemic was an unprecedented event in recent human history. Communities, schools, and businesses were forced to make rapid large scale changes in action and policy with little direction or empirical data to rely on. Institutions for mental diseases (IMDs), which provide inpatient care to people with serious mental illnesses, were also forced to make large scale changes to their treatment policies. This natural experiment assessed the effects of changes in treatment policies in response to the COVID-19 pandemic at Merced Behavioral Center (MBC), a locked IMD, on resident’s showering practices. Resident’s showering practices are an important aspect MBC’s treatment planning; therefore assessing the effects of large scale policy changes on resident’s showering practices may provide useful insights to administrative staff. The results of this natural experiment show that changes in treatment policies in response to the COVID-19 pandemic at MBC did impact resident’s showering practices, but only for resident’s who smoked cigarettes. It was also found that residents on lower functioning levels showered less when compared to residents on higher functioning levels. No other significant differences were found in the showering practices of any other demographic at MBC.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Stanislaus
- Department:
- Department of Psychology and Child Development
- Creator:
- Munoz, Candace Evette
- Description:
- In Law enforcement, there are dangers that police officers face on a daily basis. One stressor in particular, is an officer-involved shooting, also known as a critical incident. Currently, many law enforcement agencies are using a technique called Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD). However, there have been many studies showing the ineffectiveness of CISD, and despite these findings, law enforcement agencies are continuing its use. The research shows that many police officers manifest a slew of psychological and physical problems from the stress of law enforcement and, most importantly, an officer-involved shooting. There is an alternative to using CISD, which is called Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM), which is a more intensive recovery process. This paper will propose a program plan for the Bakersfield Police Department on how to implement a CISM program into the current CISD program it currently has in place.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Bakersfield
- Department:
- Public Policy and Administration
- Creator:
- Thompson, Natalie H
- Description:
- The Diamond Divas are an all-female roller derby team from Bakersfield, California. Established approximately in 2009, the Divas are composed of a diverse group of women from a variety of class, educational, and professional backgrounds; however, these women are united by their participation in this sport and the culture that revolves around it. Previous research has been primarily performed in the fields of sociology and philosophy, for only recently has much attention been paid to women's roller derby as an area of anthropological study, particularly in terms of gender, with little emphasis on the culture of roller derby itself. The present study examines the construction of the “roller girl” identity, a complex, and often contradictory, negotiation of more traditional conceptions of femininity, aggressive competition, and exaggerated expressions of sexuality. Some Divas function within the constraints of femininity (Hauser 2011), others actively challenge hegemonic femininity (Finley 2010), while still others are somewhere in the middle as suggest by Williams (2002) or fluctuate between these two realms depending on the situation at hand. Additionally, identity construction is also informed by the adherence, or lack thereof, to the socio-cultural norms and values of the specific geocultural context of Bakersfield. This research seeks to illuminate a growing subculture found in many cities and towns throughout the United States and documents a cultural movement that is quite active within this particular community. More importantly, it contributes to the rapidly accumulating pool of current cumulative research by presenting information from an anthropological perspective, widening our understanding of roller derby by contextualizing this specific team and these specific women, adding their voices to the ongoing dialogue concerning women and sports. 3
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Bakersfield
- Department:
- Anthropology
- Creator:
- Glasco, Misty
- Description:
- Tourism is a significant, sometimes vital part of a destination’s economy. Tourist spending supports jobs and helps cities thrive. For many years destination marketing and tourism promotion by Convention and Visitors Bureaus has been funded primarily through the collection of Transient Occupancy Tax. In recent years, the wavering economics of California has forced cities to explore different ways to fund Convention and Visitors Bureaus. Tourism Business Improvement Districts have become a key method of providing stable funding for destination marketing and promotion. The Bakersfield Convention and Visitors Bureau’s budget is currently funded by TOT, allocated by the city, and is not guaranteed. Fresno and Stockton are two of Bakersfield largest competitors. The cities of Fresno and Stockton have had success enacting TBIDs in recent years. This paper will look closely at the data from Fresno and Stockton to see if Bakersfield should consider implementing a TBID as the funding source for the Bakersfield Convention and Visitors Bureau. The purpose of this study is to identify the characteristics of Fresno and Stockton’s TBIDs to better understand the district formation process, and to understand the challenges and opportunities in forming a TBID. This data may serve as a general frame to determine what lessons these cities can offer Bakersfield and other cities considering a TBID funded CVB. TBID’s for Fresno and Stockton are providing a stable funding source for the cities CVBs free from political circumstances. A TBID funded budget gives relief to local government by providing a funding source that does not come from city collected taxes or general fund revenues. Bakersfield’s hotel revenue assessed for a TBID indicates that the Bakersfield CVB would have an average budget of $1.4 million. Stable funding of this amount would allow the Bakersfield CVB to market its destination and provides more exposure to its target audience. This would increase local events, meetings and tourism, leading to increased occupancy, TOT and sales taxes. This increase provides an overall better economic situation for the Bakersfield CVB, the City of Bakersfield and its residents.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Bakersfield
- Department:
- Public Policy and Administration
- Creator:
- Hughes, Jina D'Ann
- Description:
- Underrepresentation of African-American males as grade level rises is a major concern in education (Duggins & Acosta, 2017; Howard, 2010; Husband, 2012; Tatum, 2006; Washington, Patton-Terry, & Siedenberg, 2013). Prior studies have placed the blame on African-American males in grades k-12 for their lack of academic progress. In an effort to understand why slow achievement still exists with this subgroup, research on the struggle experienced by African American male students lacks a critical analysis of the quality of educational practices and the perceptions of teachers. Teacher expectations and perceptions can shape the engagement and self-esteem of students. Many African-American male students have been negatively impacted by unjust criticism and treatment based on teacher biases and assumed stereotypes. This case study utilized qualitative methods to examine the relationship between teacher and administrator perceptions and the performance and well-being of African-American males in third through eighth grade in a suburban school district. The goal of this study was to encourage educators in this small, southwestern school district to make well-informed decisions that promote academic growth by recognizing perceived factors that may impact overall student performance and well-being. Triangulation of participant interviews, survey results, and archival data was accompanied by a six-phase analysis method. The results of this study revealed a possible relationship between educator perceptions and the performance and well-being of African-American males in third through eighth grade in this suburban district.
- Resource Type:
- Dissertation
- Campus Tesim:
- Bakersfield
- Department:
- Educational Leadership (DPEL)
- Creator:
- Wright, Jamal Tyrone
- Description:
- This study focused on the policy impact of SB 1456 (2012) on students enrolled in rural community colleges in California. SB 1456 (2012) was signed into law with the intent to increase student success rates that ultimately resulted in the completion of educational goals for students in California Community Colleges (CCC). In order to examine the implications of this measure, the following research questions were utilized to guide this study: 1) Is there a statistically significant interaction between race and academic year for school belonging? 2) Is there a statistically significant interaction between race and academic year for campus support? This pre-experimental study used data from the Community College Survey of Student Engagement (CCSSE) to assess SB 1456 (2012). The analyses of the data were structured using a cohort model to evaluate variances in response between the 2011 and 2014 academic years. Furthermore, the data were disaggregated by race to identify whether African-American and Latinx student responses varied from their White counterparts. As a result, race and academic year were the two factors which were considered in this study. The two outcomes for the study, support for learners and sense of belonging, were two of the five benchmarks that CCSSE measures for. To determine if there were significant interactions between the factors and outcomes, a two-way ANOVA (2 X 2) was used. Along with a two-way ANOVA (2 X 2), the researcher incorporated the Crtitical Race Theory to effectively interpet the responses of minority students. Upon running the tests, the results concluded that there were no statistically significant interaction effects between cohort years and school belonging or between race and academic year. These findings suggest that the programs, workshops, and initiatives funded by SB 1456 (2012) did not increase minority students’ sense of belonging on campus. Additionally, the results show that the programs implemented in 2012 did not lead to more minority students utilizing support services. The data also revealed that there is still a significant gap between how White students view their campus and how minority students feel on campus. However, noteworthy differences were observed in student-faculty interactions. In contrast to current literature, the data showed that minority students had enriching and constructive relationships with faculty members. Nevertheless, a greater emphasis on high-touch interaction must be included into the marrow of SB 1456 (2012). In doing so, more minority students will utilize the resources which they desperately need, which will, in turn, lead to a reduction in educational and emotional achievement gaps.
- Resource Type:
- Dissertation
- Campus Tesim:
- Bakersfield
- Department:
- Educational Leadership (DPEL)
- Creator:
- Campos-Hughes, Laura
- Description:
- There is an average of 6500 active cases which California Children’s Services (CCS) case manages for medical processing. CCS continues to use traditional paper charts and there is no tracking system to show which one of the over 50 staff members may have the chart or if the chart has been filed in the chart room. On a daily basis CCS may receive at least 125 faxes requesting medical authorizations ranging from procedures, medication or equipment. There are four Office Services Technicians who process all faxes, locate the paper chart and forward to the correct staff for review. The current system of receiving and processing faxes often causes delays in processing as the charts cannot be found. In addition, CCS spends 42% of their yearly office supply allocated budget on paper and toner. CCS has acknowledges the need to transition into a paperless system is important and has spent over $76,000 towards implementation but has fallen short of completing the transition. After reviewing literature regarding implementation of a paperless system, expenses which CCS has incurred and estimating cost of office supplies as well as staff loss of productivity it is recommended CCS immediately restore implementation process of transitioning from the current paper chart to a paperless system.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Bakersfield
- Department:
- Public Policy and Administration
- Creator:
- LaPierre, Kish
- Description:
- This thesis describes and interprets a large rock feature complex and associated artifact caches from the Mirror Point site (CA-SBR-12134/H) located on the east side of Searles Lake within the boundaries of the South Range, Naval Air Weapons Station (NAWS) China Lake, California. The objectives of this investigation: to access the lifeways of the inhabitants that once occupied this site; activities of the occupants at this site; time period(s) when this site was occupied; and purpose or function of rock features and associated artifact caches. Archaeological investigations of CA-SBR-12134/H included four surface scrapes and the excavation of eight test units, mapping of the overall site surface, and analysis of recovered materials. Artifacts recovered from this site include large obsidian bifaces, glass, silver, and shell beads, a bow fragment, pottery, debitage, historic bottles, mining debris, and several types of projectile points. Because the rock features and artifacts seem to serve no utilitarian purpose it is assumed that this site was visited for ideological reasons. Diagnostic artifacts span from the Early Period (before 6600 BP) to Historic times (circa 1900). It is possible if not likely that these artifacts were collected from other sites and brought to CA-SBR-12134/H as part of a ritual offering and that the site was visited from prehistoric to historic times.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Bakersfield
- Department:
- Anthropology
- Creator:
- Lorenzi, Georgina
- Description:
- Government agencies throughout California face complicated issues with public employee defined benefit pension plans. Market earnings on pension investments have plummeted with the decline of the U.S. economy. This market downturn increases pension costs for governmental agencies. As pension costs continue to command a significant allocation of governmental funding, services offered to citizens may decline to levels unsatisfactory to various stakeholders – citizens, elected officials, government agencies, private sector, and employees of these government agencies. However, salaries and benefits not comparable with the private sector and other governmental agencies may fail to attract qualified personnel to provide these very same services to citizens and the community. Public employee pension plans create political and emotional arguments by a myriad of stakeholders that may compromise and inhibit objective decision-making. Therefore, unbiased and objective analysis and interpretation is required even more with the politics and emotions inherent with this issue. This study explores pension costs, as reported within the General Fund, for the City of Bakersfield. The City of Bakersfield’s pension costs increased from a low of $3.7 Million in Fiscal Year 2000/01 to a high of $24.7 Million in Fiscal Year 2011/12 – a 562% increase. In addition, the actuarial value of the City of Bakersfield’s PERS plan assets, inclusive of all funding sources, over the accrued liability was $94 Million to the good in Fiscal Year 1998/99. For Fiscal Year 2009/10, the accrued liabilities exceeded plan assets by approximately $149 Million. Literary review of issues impacting public employee pension plans is also included in this study. Recommendations to curb public sector pension costs abound. This study focuses on recommendations offered by the Little Hoover Commission and Governor Brown’s “Twelve Point Pension Reform Plan.” This study then concludes with suggestions dealing specifically with rising costs for the City of Bakersfield’s defined benefit pension plans. At this point, a disclosure is necessary to address potential bias on the author’s part. The author of this study is currently a 26-year employee with the City of Bakersfield and is a participant in the Miscellaneous defined benefit pension plan.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Bakersfield
- Department:
- Public Policy and Administration
- Creator:
- Chaves, Lisa
- Description:
- Student behavior continues to be a significant concern among administrators and teachers. Traditional suspension and expulsion practices have failed to reduce negative behavior and prevent discriminatory practices. This study investigated secondary administrators’ perceptions and opinions regarding the implementation of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS). Participants were interviewed individually using questions developed by this researcher relating to experiences and perceptions of high school administrators regarding the implementation of PBIS. Common themes that were identified through the analysis of the interview data included teacher resistance during the transition from zero tolerance to the implementation of PBIS, integration of campus intervention and counseling programs, the acknowledgement of less student offenses including changes that address positive student behavior due to PBIS teaching strategies, and the need to support staff by offering more professional development.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Stanislaus
- Department:
- Department of Advanced Studies in Education
- Creator:
- Shahrokhshahi, Rita
- Description:
- Purpose of the Study: This thesis examines the patriarchal wounding of my Slavic mother line and follows the healing journey I took to transform wounds to enrich my self-identity in my pursuit toward wholeness Procedure: My study follows the motherline. The motherline is the maternal lineage of a woman backward through the generations. I explored the wounding of my motherline by using an autoethnographical narrative. Autoethnography is an autobiographical form of qualitative research that uses self reflection to explore personal stories and experiences within a cultural context. I used self-reflection to aid my stories and employed a Jungian psychological framework. Through the myth of Inanna, I embarked upon a metaphorical descent and met the dark goddess Ereshkigal. I relied on depth techniques to track and interpret my dreams, guide my active imaginations, and create spontaneous healing rituals. I made a pilgrimage to Montenegro to further assist my inquiries and overall depth experience. Findings: I found that healing occurs in the reflective process of sharing my journey of personal and cultural wounding. Healing is not a means to an end but is rather an ongoing process toward a quest to achieve wholeness. I found that my personal female individuation process is a continuous stream of engaging with the rhythms of life, death, and rebirth as a continuous cycle in my developmental pattern. My mother line wounds provided deep layers of meaningful experiences to happen that continue to offer value for me to expand my quest toward wholeness. Conclusions: Suffering from personal wounds affords the opportunity to examine the soul through a process of individuation. The connection with the motherline and one's cultural lineage is a way to further understand self and create wholeness. For women, the sacred feminine is a source for greater meaning. In the quest toward female individuation, a goddess-centered spirituality is an opening to assist the exploration of vast realms and qualities that lives inside every woman.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Sonoma
- Department:
- Psychology
- Creator:
- Bynum, Steven Lance
- Description:
- Social media has permeated almost every aspect of the lives of anyone who utilizes the internet. Teachers and students are no exception. Students are most likely to use social media sites such as MySpace, Facebook and Twitter. This research focuses on best practices related to augmenting school curriculum to utilize these tools to increase student engagement which is critical in taking the education of school-age children to the next level. Some research shows that children today spend an inordinate amount of time, upwards of 40+ hours weekly, interacting with social media. Educators must embrace this new technology and find new ways to integrate social media into the classroom, because they will be more able to connect with children in a medium that they are utilizing daily; thus increasing their engagement. Although some problems such as digital divide and other limitations do exist, this cannot be a deterrent to utilizing this type of new technology.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Bakersfield
- Department:
- Public Policy and Administration
- Creator:
- Guest, Suzanne B
- Description:
- A 2004 article in the Bakersfield Californian detailed the relationship the community of Kern County had with what the writer calls “throw away” animals. A subsequent series of articles revealed approximately 25,000 animals were being killed in the local shelter annually. This number was considered by many in the community to be too high. Many of these 25, 000 unwanted animals were healthy and adoptable, yet they were still being euthanized by Kern County Animal Control every year (Burger, 2004). The facts presented in these articles brought the high euthanasia rate to the public’s attention. Now that the problem was highlighted, it inspired many community members to volunteer at the shelter, donate money to animal welfare organizations, and prompted them to do whatever was necessary to alleviate this. The Kern County Animal Control Department also added additional programs to address this problem. Despite the raised awareness and all of the efforts and progress that have been made by the County shelter and the community, the numbers of animals euthanized today remains relatively the same. The numbers of animals killed are still 15,000 to 20,000 annually (2004). This program evaluation will attempt to answer why Kern’s euthanasia rates are still high, and will also examine the Political and Institutional theories that supported the implementation of the programs. The methods used to gauge the effectiveness of shelter programs will use a non-experimental Comparative Cross Program design to show if the outcome numbers have changed during a five year time frame, and will attempt to evaluate whether the shelter programs affected these numbers. Lastly, the evaluation will determine if maintaining the status quo, of keeping many of the programs in place, is an appropriate response to the shelter problems. The evaluation will suggest new strategies for lowering the killing rates, and will also propose new ideas for funding a permanent no/low cost spay/neuter program.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Bakersfield
- Department:
- Public Policy and Administration
- Creator:
- Hernandez, Jaime
- Description:
- This policy analysis describes the current expenditures for inmates in California. Expenditures for inmates have not reduced since the state of California has cut back on many programs throughout the state to close the deficit. The goal of this policy analysis is to assess the expenditures of inmate cost in rehabilitation, medical health care, and the current expenses associated in California. The study will identify current problems in the correction system, advantages, and disadvantages for alternatives. Policy alternatives will be measured by effectiveness and feasibility. The policy alternatives are to improve rehabilitation services and reduce medical care costs. Rehabilitation services have not worked in California. Recidivism is still high with offenders violating their parole (California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, 2010). It is important to take a closer look at rehabilitation services and measure their effectiveness. Considering effectiveness and feasibility, the best alternative is through reducing costs related to inmate health care during tough economic times. This could be accomplished by an established well-organized primary health care system to provide effective medical services to inmates. Managed health care systems have reduced costs in other states and have avoided lawsuits (Chan & Speier, 2004). In addition, the careful evaluation of each patient when inmates request to see the doctor avoids unnecessary tests and expenses. Proper evaluation and preventative care have controlled expenditures for inmate’s medical health care (Office of The General Inspector, 2008).
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Bakersfield
- Department:
- Public Policy and Administration
- Creator:
- Saso, Morgan
- Description:
- The state of California has made tremendous budget cuts in the last year. Many of these cuts have affected the education of our children. In Bakersfield, CA a state funded women’s center wants to open up a children’s center for the women who have children under the age of four. The Alliance Against Family Violence and Sexual Assault is part of the Bakersfield Homeless Shelter in Bakersfield. The Alliance Against Family Violence and Sexual Assault provides care and opportunities for women who have been abused. This facility offers a place to stay, food and assistance with employment to help women become a positive part of society. For the women with young children, The Alliance Against Family Violence can give a positive support and healthy developmental learning environments. The purpose of this project was too host a 5K Fun Run fundraiser, which will support the learning environments for the children, helping them to receive the same educational opportunities as other children.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Bakersfield
- Department:
- Teacher Education
- Creator:
- Love, Wenzel Deseen
- Description:
- The policy analysis was conducted to find that the use of cell phones while driving causes drivers to be distracted mentally, and visually causing an increase in automobile accidents. According to the findings the use of a cell phone while driving leads to injury and/or death to motorists, their passengers or pedestrians. However, the policy analysis also provided information about driver safety education concerning cell phone use and laws (e.g., SB 1613, SB 28, & SB 33) in other states (e.g. New York) that ban the use of cell phones while driving. Statistics pertaining to dangers of distracted driving and automobile accidents are provided. Finally, my descriptions of policy alternatives that I feel are realistic solutions to increase driver safety, reduce the number of accidents, causalities, and deaths in California. Recommendations The specific recommendations that I would make about the resolution of the problem that led me to conduct the policy analysis consist of; 1) Completely ban the use of any kind of cell phone while driving. A violation should impose an infraction with a fine of $200 for first offense and $250 for each subsequent offense plus court cost; 2) Report the infraction to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), but first offense would not count as a point against the person's drivers license or insurance record. However, for every infraction after the first offense, drivers would receive 2 points on their driver's license and insurance record; and 3) Police, fire, and rescue personnel, including public and private ambulance drivers are exempted from this law, and any person can use a cell phone while driving for “only” an emergency situation. Overall, in order to get my policy proposal enacted, it takes cooperation from the community, major stakeholders and legislation.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Bakersfield
- Department:
- Public Policy and Administration
- Creator:
- Anderson, Ian J
- Description:
- When a child is placed into foster care, the courts and dependency care systems focus on finding a safe haven for the child which means that the child’s education is often overlooked. The long-term effects of not considering the child’s educational needs are devastating to the child the longer they stay within the system. To address these issues California Assembly Bill AB 490 was implemented in January 2004. One key element of this legislation was the implementation of an education liaison. The research presented will show that due to a lack of funding, enforcement and clearly outlined implantation AB 490 has not been able to fully address the problems of educating foster youth. Kern County foster youth suffer from the same educational disparities of those in the rest of California. In order to address this the following program proposal will demonstrate how the creation of a volunteer education liaison program run through the Kern County Network for Children will help to correct these disparities for Kern County Foster youth.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Bakersfield
- Department:
- Public Policy and Administration
- Creator:
- Padron, Magda
- Description:
- Bridges Academy is an alternative education program designed to assist high-risk juveniles who are on probation in obtaining a high school education. This study was conducted in order to evaluate this programs effectiveness in reducing truancy. Past attendance rates, and present attendance rates were collected from 15 students from Bridges Academy. In addition, attendance rates from four alternative schools in Kern County were also collected as comparison. End results found student attendance significantly increased since their enrollment in Bridges Academy. Furthermore, Bridges Academy had a higher mean attendance rate than the four comparative alternative schools in this study. Future studies are encouraged to evaluate other components of this program and search for alternate sources of funding.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Bakersfield
- Department:
- Public Policy and Administration
- Creator:
- Barajas, Daniel E.
- Description:
- Continuation high schools serve students for multiple reasons. Among them are low credit attainment, excessive absences, probation status, and discipline problems. Students in these programs often have many educational gaps. In the state of California, continuation high schools have been an educational option for this vulnerable student population since 1919. This segment of the school system seeks to offer students with diverse educational challenges and obstacles a second opportunity to complete their education. Presently, there is little research connected to the success of continuation high school graduates’ level of persistence in any type of higher education. This study examined the influence teacher-student relationships had on a particular group of continuation high school students who, in spite of challenges associated with continuation-education deficit mindset, were able to attain academic success in higher education. The study sought to explore how the practices of comprehensive high school sites intersected with those of a specific continuation high school. Social Capital and Critical Race Theory provided the conceptual lens to analyze teacher–student relationships. The researcher captured students’ and teachers’ perceptions in order to analyze how their interactions and relationships could be strengthened to ensure student academic success and provide continuation high school students with options upon high school graduation.
- Resource Type:
- Dissertation
- Campus Tesim:
- San Marcos
- Department:
- Education
- Creator:
- Grimm-Hager, Margaret
- Description:
- In the field of public policy it is important for cities to make choices that provide safety and security for its citizens; to give them a place to live that offers housing, employment and amenities to enjoy. Cities should be fiscally responsible by maintaining balanced budgets with enough financial reserve to see themselves and their residents through the tough times. Palmdale has cut back on services to their residents and has been through several rounds of layoffs in addition to freezing positions. This doesn’t benefit the residents of Palmdale or its employees. However, since the recession began in 2007 the city of Lancaster has, relatively speaking, appeared to thrive. The city recently completed renovation of their main boulevard and is attracting new business to the area. While they have had to freeze positions, there have been no layoffs. With both cities facing similar business, residential and political situations, it appears that differences in fiscal soundness between Lancaster and Palmdale must lie in differing policy decisions made by each city. This paper will look closely at the Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports (CAFR) of Palmdale and Lancaster to see if there are any differences between the two cities that will help to explain the difference in outcomes. This paper focuses on the CAFR’s because they are the audited reports and show the actual monies earned and spent. The purpose of this study is to analyze the key decisions and policies of these two cities and determine what policies or decisions made the key difference between the outcomes of the two cities. This may serve as a general frame for assessing fiscal strategies and outlooks of these and other cities.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Bakersfield
- Department:
- Public Policy and Administration
- Creator:
- Pitcher, Jenifer Mikel
- Description:
- The purpose of this study is to address the different ways in which female and male candidates are combating gender stereotypes in political campaigns. Society has led us to believe that masculine qualities are the qualities in which make good leaders; feminine qualities are seen as weaknesses if found in those seeking leadership positions. The general stereotypes held by society convey a hierarchical system of beliefs in leadership capabilities that place men above women, masculine above feminine. I investigate these stereotypes by conducting interviews with male and female political candidates and/or political office holders within Kern County. The findings in this study support existing evidence that females face “double standards” in the political arena and therefore must counter certain stereotypes associated with femininity by the voting public. This study also finds that male candidates have had to change the way in which the campaign in order for voters to see them as more “approachable;” however, the hurdles for female candidates are much more consistent and more difficult to overcome in order to be successful within the predominantly masculine world of politics.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Bakersfield
- Department:
- Sociology
- Creator:
- Alexander, Jacen Rynae
- Description:
- Reading “The Clerk‟s Tale” can be a frustrating experience, for it seems to mean something, but—even barring modern sensibilities from the analysis—it seems confused or even self-contradictory in its conclusions. Is it the ideal marriage or not? A little overboard or a lot? And what of Walter‟s thematic connection to God, if there is any? For that matter, does Griselda equate Job? Is she to be emulated or not? What of the Clerk? Yet analysis of the primary characters and their narrator can yield some interesting points about marriage, love, entitlement, sovereignty and, ultimately, despotism: the wife‟s unthinking acquiescence to the husband‟s tests justifies spousal abuse, and as royalty their twisted dynamic justifies the worst kind of tyranny. Therefore, this thesis will use theories and examples of modern tyranny and abusive relationships to examine Walter's disturbing power over Grisilde.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Bakersfield
- Department:
- English
- Creator:
- Iverson, Rebecca Anne
- Description:
- The textual, biographical and historical inquiry into Charlotte Bronte's novel Jane Eyre will center on the explicit and implicit Christianity of the novel and how it was possibly influenced by Charlotte Bronte's own unconventional religious perspective. The questions that I will explore deal with the brand of Christianity and social idealism with which Bronte was brought up, and how this is reflected in the text. Biography here is used to evaluate Bronte's attitudes concerning a multitude of Christianities, both prevalent and fledgling during the mid-eighteen hundreds. I will contextualize her faith, in hopes of broadening and enhancing our understanding of the text, and thus challenge aspects of the readings by critics who see her apparent feminism as a direct challenge to Christianity, (which they construe as a singular and monolithic social phenomenon). In chapter one I will contextualize Charlotte Bronte through the religious and social climate of her time and her own beliefs as they are revealed in her biography and letters. I will focus on the varying religious motifs of the novel as they are exemplified in the main characters. Chapter two will center on the character of St. John Rivers. Chapter three with Edward Rochester. Chapter four concerning Jane Eyre. At this point in my research, I have come to believe that Bronte studies in the recent past and present (1970's on) focus mainly on the feminist aspect of Jane Eyre while the Christian component is often marginalized or misunderstood.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Bakersfield
- Department:
- English
- Creator:
- Stock Stotler, Darlene
- Description:
- A study of equivocation will yield that this practice commanded a vast amount of attention during the Renaissance, the time period of 1450-1600, in which Jesuitical equivocation was an ongoing phenomenon. The practice became part of the Renaissance era's ideology; however, since the Greek suffix "logy" signifies "the study of," the term ideology is not as specific, nor does it explain the role ofJesuitical equivocation in relation to the Renaissance as accurately as another term: the episteme. A brief discussion of the episteme is necessary to discover its relevancy to the puns William Shakespeare used in his Porter Scene in the tragedy Macbeth. An episteme (Greek for "knowledge") is most clearly defined by the new historicist scholar Michel Foucault as a verbal device that involves "[a] network ofdiscursive practices--of thoughts, concepts, and cultural codes-dominant during a given historical period; and ... the rules governing the transformation of those practices" (Murfin 149). Placing an emphasis on the phrase "rules governing" is extremely illuminating in identifying the interplay between the Jacobean monarchy that held public disdain, and executions of, Jesuits. The persecutions forced subjugated Jesuits to the point that ordinances, such as confessions, needed some form of protection, hence Father Henry Garnet's treatise regarding equivocation . This imbalanced reciprocity of a monarchy instilling fear in religious leaders illustrates Foucault's "transformation of ... practices" and is the basis of the Foucauldian concept of the episteme. Applying Foucault's theory to the Porter Scene reveals the way Shakespeare's satirical puns mirrored the Jacobean episteme of the blatant hatred directed at Catholics and the Jesuits.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Bakersfield
- Department:
- English
- Creator:
- Sergi, Stephanie Lynne
- Description:
- In this thesis, I seek to resolve the debate over Tiresias’s ability to unify The Waste Land by offering a new perspective—Tiresias as a Modernist Maypole. I propose that Tiresias’s inability to perfectly coalesce the different voices and themes within the poem is not due to an authorial failing but is instead an imperfect unification that may suggest a modernist view of unity. In short, the thesis focuses Tiresias in regards gender, prophecy, and mythology. This thesis argues that Tiresias fails to completely unify The Waste Land; nevertheless, it also maintains that he can, in fact, fuse the poem’s fragments in an unusual way. Tiresias allows for a nuanced view of the poem’s structure by suggesting incomplete connections hidden in the numerous vignettes. An image of a maypole can illustrate this modernist view of unity. A traditional maypole consists of a fixed pole that has ribbons or streamers extending down from the top, and the end of each ribbon is held by a person. Then, the people dance around the pole weaving the ribbons together. In contrast, a modernist maypole would lack some of these ribbons, and others may be frayed or torn. In The Waste Land, Tiresias is the stationary maypole; however, some of the ribbons connecting him to the other characters in the poem are either torn or missing. In true modernist fashion, the maypole, Tiresias, unifies the work by suggesting what it might have been.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Bakersfield
- Department:
- English
- Creator:
- Martinez, Lauren Elizabeth
- Description:
- Originally published in 1898 in serial form, The Turn of the Screw has undergone many incarnations. The short story was published again, complete with a preface, in Henry James’s New York Edition, 1907-1909. The version I have chosen to use, edited by Robert Kimbrough, is based directly on this edition: “The first section of the present volume contains the only critical edition of The Turn of the Screw ever published and is the first modern text to follow the New York Edition, the one which had James’s final authority” (Kimbrough, ix). Kimbrough includes the notes that accompanied the serial version, as well as several of James’s personal letters about the story as well. Rather than choose sides and argue for or against the Governess’s sanity, I am studying James’s stylistic choices not to solve the debate over the ghosts’ existence, but to determine how, lingusitically and rhetorically, James created this unanswerable dilemma. Richard A. Lanham’s Analyzing Prose will serve as a starting point for my stylistic analysis, and I supplement with Aristotle’s theories of rhetoric. James wrote in his New York edition preface that this story is “a piece of ingenuity pure and simple, of cold artistic calculation, an amusette to catch those not easily caught (the “fun” of the capture of the witless being ever but small), the jaded, the disillusioned, the fastidious” (120). My interest lies not in what ambiguity he created, but rather in how.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Bakersfield
- Department:
- English
- Creator:
- Hernandez, Trang Manny
- Description:
- There is a possibility to eradicate infectious diseases with antibiotics. However, new infectious diseases are continually being identified and some known pathogens are again becoming a threat because of antibiotic resistance. Amphibians mostly live in a moist environment which is the best condition for the growth of bacteria and fungi as well. Antimicrobial peptides produced by serous glands in the amphibian skin play a key role in limiting microbial growth and preventing infections with pathogenic microorganisms. In addition to the antimicrobial peptides produced by serous glands, microbial symbionts on the bullfrog skin are also a source of antimicrobial peptides that can protect the amphibian against diseases. In this research, we investigated whether cutaneous bacterial species isolated from Rana catesbeiana (North American Bullfrog), an amphibian species that is resistant to chytridiomycosis, produce secondary metabolites that could be used to inhibit the growth of three species of dermatophytes (Microsporum gypseum, Epidermotphyton floccosum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes) which are known to cause skin infections in humans. The isolated bacterial species from R. catesbeiana may be useful as producers of antifungal metabolites that kill, or inhibit the growth of, dermatophytes known to cause topical or subdermal skin infections in humans.
- Resource Type:
- Masters Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Bakersfield
- Department:
- Biology