dc.contributor.author	Saitta, Joseph V. Jr.	en
dc.contributor.committeechair	Wiswell, Albert K.	en
dc.contributor.committeemember	Stubblefield, Harold W.	en
dc.contributor.committeemember	Rosenbach, William	en
dc.contributor.committeemember	McKeen, Ronald L.	en
dc.contributor.committeemember	Reio, Thomas G. Jr.	en
dc.contributor.department	Adult and Continuing Education	en
dc.date.accessioned	2014-03-14T20:22:05Z	en
dc.date.adate	1998-06-23	en
dc.date.available	2014-03-14T20:22:05Z	en
dc.date.issued	1998-06-09	en
dc.date.rdate	1999-06-23	en
dc.date.sdate	1998-06-09	en
dc.description.abstract	Researchers know much about the use of contract (or adjunct) instructor faculty in academe, but little about contract instructors in civilian federal training agencies. No one has determined the effective administrative support of instructional delivery or the professional development needs of these federal agency contractors. The National Fire Academy's mission is to promote the professional development of those fire personnel engaged in fire suppression, fire prevention, and allied functions. Each year approximately 3000 resident students complete a variety of two week training programs. Approximately 500 contract instructors conduct most of these on-campus programs. These instructors have widely divergent expertise, instructional competence and teaching experience. The research questions were: 1. What are the problems, if any, that NFA contract instructors have had that have implications for effective program delivery?</li> 2. What are the administrative support services, if any, that should be provided to contract instructors in the areas of: A. Orientation of new instructors? B. Program delivery? C. Evaluation processes? D. Professional development?</li> 3. What other administrative support services, if any, would assist contract instructors in providing instructional services?</li> 4. What are the problems, if any, that Program Chairs have dealt with that have implications for effective program delivery? All 536 resident contract instructors received a questionnaire about their perception of their administrative support and professional development needs; 45% responded (n=245). Eight of the ten Academy Program Chairs, who oversee the contract instructors, were interviewed about the types of problems and solutions they have used in dealing with these personnel. Analysis used both quantitative and qualitative methods. This research had a three-fold purpose. First, the research could determine the elements of effective support of instructional delivery for the Academy's contract instructors. Second, the research could provide the basis to make policy recommendations of such elements for the Academy. Finally, the research sought to determine what was required to support the professional development of contract instructors in any training organization. The results indicated that the responding contract instructors had several administrative support needs and concerns including keeping program content current, providing new instructors with an orientation and an instructor handbook, gaining access to classroom supplies, and improving the availability of program evaluations. There was also strong interest in three professional development options: preferred admission to other NFA classes, on-site instructor conferences, and a newsletter. Generally, Program Chairs' responses were supportive of these needs. The recommendations included the implementation of a contract instructor career path and the use of a government and contractor "shared responsibility management model."	en
dc.description.degree	Ed. D.	en
dc.identifier.other	etd-51798-134449	en
dc.identifier.sourceurl	http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-51798-134449/	en
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10919/30571	en
dc.publisher	Virginia Tech	en
dc.relation.haspart	titlepag.pdf	en
dc.relation.haspart	tablecont.pdf	en
dc.relation.haspart	chap1.PDF	en
dc.relation.haspart	chap2.pdf	en
dc.relation.haspart	chapter3.pdf	en
dc.relation.haspart	chapter4.pdf	en
dc.relation.haspart	chapter5.pdf	en
dc.relation.haspart	referenc.pdf	en
dc.relation.haspart	appena.pdf	en
dc.relation.haspart	appenb.pdf	en
dc.relation.haspart	appenc.pdf	en
dc.relation.haspart	append.pdf	en
dc.relation.haspart	appene.pdf	en
dc.relation.haspart	appenf.pdf	en
dc.relation.haspart	appeng.pdf	en
dc.relation.haspart	vita.pdf	en
dc.rights	In Copyright	en
dc.rights.uri	http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/	en
dc.subject	Career development	en
dc.subject	administrative support	en
dc.subject	contract instructors	en
dc.title	Determining the Administrative Support and Professional Development Needs of Contract Instructors at a Civilian Federal Training Agency	en
dc.type	Dissertation	en
thesis.degree.discipline	Adult and Continuing Education	en
thesis.degree.grantor	Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University	en
thesis.degree.level	doctoral	en
thesis.degree.name	Doctor of Education	en

Determining the Administrative Support and Professional Development Needs of Contract Instructors at a Civilian Federal Training Agency

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