Doctoral Dissertations
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Browsing Doctoral Dissertations by Department "Administrative and Educational Services"
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- An analysis and comparison of court holdings dealing with tort liability for injuries sustained in public school and higher education programs of physical education, athletics and intramural sports from 1977-1987McFadden, Owen M. (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1989)Physical education programs, athletic programs and intramural sports programs are a vital part of the American educational system. However, since the mid-sixties, there has been an increase in sports injury litigation against the teachers and coaches who direct and supervise these programs. The purpose of this study was twofold. First, the study was to report the legal liability of elementary, secondary and higher education physical educators, athletic coaches and intramural sports directors from 1977-1987. In addition this study compared the holdings of the court cases from 1977-1987 to the holdings of the court cases found in five unpublished manuscripts. From 1977 to 1987 there were 92 elementary and secondary lawsuits and 19 college lawsuits involving these professionals, including their supervisors. There were 41 cases involving liability against the boards of education and boards of trustees. The groups were found not liable in 23 of the cases. The primary reason for not being liable was their protection from suit because of the doctrine of governmental immunity. However, in states where the doctrine of governmental immunity did not exist boards of education and boards of trustees were found liable for improper supervision, lack of proper medical assistance and creating a dangerous situation or hazard. Sixteen cases were reported against school employees. In 10 of the cases the court rulings were held against these employees. The reasons included: improper supervision, failure to follow state athletic association rules and improper instruction. Cases held in favor of the school employees resulted when: employees were acting within the scope of their employment, the employees were providing adequate supervision and instruction and the students purposely disregarded safety rules. The results of this study, when compared to five previous studies, indicated that even though the number of cases reported were similar the present study showed an increase in the number of decisions favoring the plaintiff at the elementary and secondary level. Also, the present study revealed an increase of 250% in the number of lawsuits reported at the college level and a 23% increase in the number of cases favoring the plaintiff.
- A comparison of two strategies used to reduce the number of dropout-prone students in urban middle schoolsJones, Margaret Lewis (Virginia Tech, 1991-05-05)The primary purpose of this study was to compare academic achievement and behavioral characteristics of students enrolled in the Career Exploratory Middle School (CEMS), an alternative middle school, with the academic achievement and behavioral characteristics of students in a project called Building and Supplementing Instruction in the Core Skills (BASICS), a dropout prevention program within traditional middle schools. The independent· variable was CEMS. The dependent variables were SRA composite scores, absences, days tardy, grade point average and office referrals. Project BASICS was used as a comparison group. Another purpose of this study was to determine whether or not CEMS and Project BASICS had any effect on selected academic and behavioral criteria. A total of 120 subjects were analyzed from two groups. Each group consisted of 60 randomly selected students. An ex post facto research design was used. Descriptive analyses included mean, media, mode, range, variance and standard deviations. Analysis of covariance was used to determine significant relationships. T-tests were used to compare the performance within both comparison groups. A p<.05 level of significance was used. Based on the Pearson Correlation Coefficient there appears to be a highly positive relationship between student performance in 1986-87 and in 1987-88 for all behavioral variables. The t-test for Grade Point Average (GPA) indicated that the sample means were almost identical within each individual group. All other variables indicated significant within-group improvement. The results suggested that there were no significant differences between the Career Exploratory Middle Schools (CEMS) and project BASICS with regard to Science Research Association (SRA) composite scores, absences, days tardy, GPA and office referrals. This study is designed to compare the effectiveness of two strategies used to reduce the number of dropout-prone middle school students.
- The effects of the implementation of total quality management on the Rappahannock County, Virginia public schoolsChappell, Robert Thomas (Virginia Tech, 1993-11-05)In May 1993, 795 school district associates, students, and parents participated in a study to determine whether the implementation of TQM from 1990 to 1993 has made fundamental and significant changes and improvements in the district. In 1990-91, senior management of the district received 80+ hours of training and were certified as Quality Trainers by the Xerox Corporation and the Virginia Department of Education through a US Department of Education partnership grant. By September 1992, nearly 90% of all Rappahannock school district associates (employees) had received 30+ hours of training in quality management. The Xerox model of training includes components on defining quality, meeting needs of customers, interactive skills, working in teams, problem solving, and a quality improvement process. Over 60% of associates volunteered to serve on quality teams to address concerns targeted by customer surveys. In 1992-93, all associates served on required quality teams to improve instruction and support services. A couple of elementary school quality teams reduced numbers of students needing math remedial pullout services by 35% to 40%. The high school math team devised an improved process for team-teaching math and quality problem solving. Bus drivers, parents, teachers, administrators, and students served on a quality team to reduce 34% parent dissatisfaction with transportation services to 11%. The study found that since the 1990 introduction of TQM in the district: 89% of associates are using aspects of the quality training in their work with others; 72% of associates feel that administrators have increased their efforts to meet their needs; 66% of associates feel more empowered; 78% of students identify things that have improved; and 79% of parents feel that the schools have increased their efforts to meet their childrens’ needs. A "quality customer service in education" (QCSIE) scale was devised from the student survey items and responses. Seventy-eight percent of the district's students have positive QCSIE scores. The QCSIE scale can be used to help schools determine the level of student satisfaction with educational and support services. A similar scale found that 88% of students have a willingness to help produce, or coproduce their education.
- Strategic planning utilized in Atlantic Coast Conference intercollegiate athleticsSmith, Clarence Adrian (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1985)The purpose of this study was to determine if strategic planning was being employed by the intercollegiate athletic programs of the Atlantic Coast Conference. This research study was designed to examine the marketing procedures utilized by the athletic administrators of the Atlantic Coast Conference that would be beneficial in conducting a strategic plan for their organization. The population for the study consisted of the eight member institutions of the Atlantic Coast Conference. All eight of the intercollegiate athletic organizations participated in the study. The study consisted of two parts: (1) a written survey and (2) personal interviews with the administrators of five of the member institutions. Each of the following areas were examined: (1) formal plans, (2) macroenvironmental factors, (3) target markets, (4) pricing techniques, and (5) management information systems. These areas were selected after the review of the literature revealed that these areas were necessary components in the development of a strategic plan. Data were analysed using STAT PAC by Walconik Inc. and reported through the use of descriptive statistics consisting of frequencies and percentages. Data were also compiled from the interviews and reported in tabular and descriptive formats. Findings of the study revealed that the administrators of the Atlantic Coast Conference had the necessary tools to develop strategic plans but were not committed to developing any long range plans. Marketing tactics necessary for strategic planning are not perfected in the intercollegiate athletic programs of the Atlantic Coast Conference. The administrators had not acquired the necessary information to develop strategic plans for their organizations.