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Papers by Keanan Barbour-March

This report summates review of CORE Susquehanna AmeriCorps site and member descriptions in prepar... more This report summates review of CORE Susquehanna AmeriCorps site and member
descriptions in preparation for integration of Healthy Futures, a CORE imitative based on AmeriCorps National Performance Measures H4 of Pilot Year 2 (see: https://www.nationalserviceresources.org/national-performance-measures/healthy- futures-year2). The performance measure of changed or improved behavior and knowledge is specific to CORE’s internal assessment and development.
The purpose of this review and report are to assist CORE in structuring its programs, documents, resources, and trainings to best assist those AmeriCorps members (hereinafter, ‘members’) placed at membership sites (‘sites’) in tracking, evaluating, and reporting on those in health education programs.

The 2010 Union-Snyder Community Action Agency (US-CAA) AmeriCorps evaluation seeks to explore and... more The 2010 Union-Snyder Community Action Agency (US-CAA) AmeriCorps evaluation seeks to explore and evaluate CORE Susquehanna’s effectiveness in promoting member retention in the past three completed program years. Current and past members were surveyed through online communication as well as a focus group with hopes of identifying key factors, qualities, and interests of members in joining and completing a service term with AmeriCorps. The study returned education and job exploration, personal interest in serving and giving back to the community, as well as connections within the community and local service provider as deciding and influential factors in joining and continuing service. Problems of recommitting to another service term or reasons for members leaving without recommitting centered on the amount of the federal stipend, health and other benefits, as well as job and educational opportunities.

This paper examines literature on the transition period into college of first year college studen... more This paper examines literature on the transition period into college of first year college students. Promoting development and success during a student’s entry to college, known as the transition period, is critical. Research suggests that colleges and universities must use information on incoming students, including demographics and diversity, to provide proper transition programming and to promote success. However, there is a lack of research regarding student affairs programming for students in transition. As success in college can be determined by their first semester, and even the first few weeks, creating programming to assist transitioning students is necessary to promote and enhance their cognitive and intellectual development and success. Student affairs programming should emphasize total inclusion at the institution as student success includes integration into the campus community. This can be accomplished through academic and social programming, with special attention to diversity, technology, and preparing students for the job market after college.

Controversies over the Higher Learning Commission’s (HLA) accreditation of the for-profit America... more Controversies over the Higher Learning Commission’s (HLA) accreditation of the for-profit American InterContinental University placed accreditation in the spotlight of American higher education, as AIU was accredited even though the Commission was concerned on the value of some of its program’s credits (Kelderman, 2010). More recently, questions on the value of degrees awarded with regard to the continuing education program at Elizabethtown College place credibility and accountability in question (Dr. T. Scheiding, personal communication, April 28th, 2011). President Obama’s focus on college accreditation and accountability questions even if some accrediting bodies should still be in business (Kelderman, 2010). Further, critiques bringing into question the validity of the accreditation (e.g. Contreras, 2007; Kelderman, 2010) place it into the national view, as regional and national accrediting bodies have differing standards and sometimes even lax requirements (Kelderman [b], 2010). A higher education accreditation bureau or organization would be able to provide the accountability required for a growing and transforming education market. This paper briefly examines accreditation of colleges, and suggests the need for a nationally controlled board or accrediting bureau to uphold and support institutional accountability.

Modern schools and organizations view the Middle East region with both an intellectual and educat... more Modern schools and organizations view the Middle East region with both an intellectual and educational viewpoint as well as a strong investment opportunity. By tapping the region’s strong cultural heritage of education, as well as its strong monetary foundations and assets, many western universities hope to build successful branch campuses throughout the Middle East by creating partnerships with local governments, organizations, and companies (Krieger, 2008). This paper will examine the opening and closing of George Mason University’s branch campus in the United Arab Emirates’ Ras Al Khamiah.

The changing education and workforce markets require a persistent monitoring and evaluating appro... more The changing education and workforce markets require a persistent monitoring and evaluating approach for countries to remain qualified and competitive in a globalizing world. For the stance of remaining competitive and marketable globally, using international comparisons as public policy tool is necessary. Countries and institutions need comparison to continue competing and remaining marketable in a globalizing world, not only in the workforce but in how they educate.

An overview of accreditation in the United States and Europe, with suggestions pulled from the Bo... more An overview of accreditation in the United States and Europe, with suggestions pulled from the Bologna Process for an overhaul of the USA system. With a national accreditation system focused on the output of students and information available to students, colleges and universities would be better suited to both produce quality and qualified workers as well as properly support the students they are designed to serve.

Talks by Keanan Barbour-March

This paper examines literature on the transition period into college of first year college studen... more This paper examines literature on the transition period into college of first year college students. Promoting development and success during a student’s entry to college, known as the transition period, is critical. Research suggests that colleges and universities must use information on incoming students, including demographics and diversity, to provide proper transition programming and to promote success. However, there is a lack of research regarding student affairs programming for students in transition. As success in college can be determined by their first semester, and even the first few weeks, creating programming to assist transitioning students is necessary to promote and enhance their cognitive and intellectual development and success. Student affairs programming should emphasize total inclusion at the institution as student success includes integration into the campus community. This can be accomplished through academic and social programming, with special attention to diversity, technology, and preparing students for the job market after college.

This paper seeks to examine social media profile presentation and if it relates to the ways in wh... more This paper seeks to examine social media profile presentation and if it relates to the ways in which people choose to connect their Facebook profiles with social justice or political issues, such as taking part in, engaging with, being a member of, and being active with petitions, donations, and organizations. It asks if self-promotion and self-esteem affect an individual’s online membership to organizations, and examines if people are more likely to be members of, sign petitions for, and donate to organizations if they are able to use their activity to self-promote their online identities and profiles.

Pairallel is a software-based company that provides products to facilitate educational and corpor... more Pairallel is a software-based company that provides products to facilitate educational and corporate communication, presentations, and services. It was developed to facilitate individual and group work and collaboration. In addition, the product combines multiple existing technologies and new initiatives to create a streamlined, cross-platform, universal workspace available to individuals, schools, and the business world.

Previous research has examined the effects of educators on political identity, but there is a lac... more Previous research has examined the effects of educators on political identity, but there is a lack of research of the effects of the quantity of education. This research examines the relationship between years of formal education (K-12) and political knowledge, understanding, and identity. Data was obtained from the General Social Survey (GSS), using the year 1996 for political comprehension and understanding, 2002-2004 for educational effects on political identity. The sample size for the 1996 data was 1242 and the sample size for the 2002-2004 data was 2636. Results from this research support the hypotheses, showing that more education increases an individual’s confidence in their own political understanding and comprehension. Individuals with the highest level of education were 18.2 percent (p<.000) more likely to agree that they had a good understanding of politics and comprehension than those with the lowest level of education. In addition, those with the highest level of education are the most likely to identity themselves as a Liberal, thus supporting the hypothesis. The 2008 Presidential election draws near, results of this study are important for candidates preparing their campaign, in order to most effectively reach their constituents.

This report summates review of CORE Susquehanna AmeriCorps site and member descriptions in prepar... more This report summates review of CORE Susquehanna AmeriCorps site and member
descriptions in preparation for integration of Healthy Futures, a CORE imitative based on AmeriCorps National Performance Measures H4 of Pilot Year 2 (see: https://www.nationalserviceresources.org/national-performance-measures/healthy- futures-year2). The performance measure of changed or improved behavior and knowledge is specific to CORE’s internal assessment and development.
The purpose of this review and report are to assist CORE in structuring its programs, documents, resources, and trainings to best assist those AmeriCorps members (hereinafter, ‘members’) placed at membership sites (‘sites’) in tracking, evaluating, and reporting on those in health education programs.

The 2010 Union-Snyder Community Action Agency (US-CAA) AmeriCorps evaluation seeks to explore and... more The 2010 Union-Snyder Community Action Agency (US-CAA) AmeriCorps evaluation seeks to explore and evaluate CORE Susquehanna’s effectiveness in promoting member retention in the past three completed program years. Current and past members were surveyed through online communication as well as a focus group with hopes of identifying key factors, qualities, and interests of members in joining and completing a service term with AmeriCorps. The study returned education and job exploration, personal interest in serving and giving back to the community, as well as connections within the community and local service provider as deciding and influential factors in joining and continuing service. Problems of recommitting to another service term or reasons for members leaving without recommitting centered on the amount of the federal stipend, health and other benefits, as well as job and educational opportunities.

This paper examines literature on the transition period into college of first year college studen... more This paper examines literature on the transition period into college of first year college students. Promoting development and success during a student’s entry to college, known as the transition period, is critical. Research suggests that colleges and universities must use information on incoming students, including demographics and diversity, to provide proper transition programming and to promote success. However, there is a lack of research regarding student affairs programming for students in transition. As success in college can be determined by their first semester, and even the first few weeks, creating programming to assist transitioning students is necessary to promote and enhance their cognitive and intellectual development and success. Student affairs programming should emphasize total inclusion at the institution as student success includes integration into the campus community. This can be accomplished through academic and social programming, with special attention to diversity, technology, and preparing students for the job market after college.

Controversies over the Higher Learning Commission’s (HLA) accreditation of the for-profit America... more Controversies over the Higher Learning Commission’s (HLA) accreditation of the for-profit American InterContinental University placed accreditation in the spotlight of American higher education, as AIU was accredited even though the Commission was concerned on the value of some of its program’s credits (Kelderman, 2010). More recently, questions on the value of degrees awarded with regard to the continuing education program at Elizabethtown College place credibility and accountability in question (Dr. T. Scheiding, personal communication, April 28th, 2011). President Obama’s focus on college accreditation and accountability questions even if some accrediting bodies should still be in business (Kelderman, 2010). Further, critiques bringing into question the validity of the accreditation (e.g. Contreras, 2007; Kelderman, 2010) place it into the national view, as regional and national accrediting bodies have differing standards and sometimes even lax requirements (Kelderman [b], 2010). A higher education accreditation bureau or organization would be able to provide the accountability required for a growing and transforming education market. This paper briefly examines accreditation of colleges, and suggests the need for a nationally controlled board or accrediting bureau to uphold and support institutional accountability.

Modern schools and organizations view the Middle East region with both an intellectual and educat... more Modern schools and organizations view the Middle East region with both an intellectual and educational viewpoint as well as a strong investment opportunity. By tapping the region’s strong cultural heritage of education, as well as its strong monetary foundations and assets, many western universities hope to build successful branch campuses throughout the Middle East by creating partnerships with local governments, organizations, and companies (Krieger, 2008). This paper will examine the opening and closing of George Mason University’s branch campus in the United Arab Emirates’ Ras Al Khamiah.

The changing education and workforce markets require a persistent monitoring and evaluating appro... more The changing education and workforce markets require a persistent monitoring and evaluating approach for countries to remain qualified and competitive in a globalizing world. For the stance of remaining competitive and marketable globally, using international comparisons as public policy tool is necessary. Countries and institutions need comparison to continue competing and remaining marketable in a globalizing world, not only in the workforce but in how they educate.

An overview of accreditation in the United States and Europe, with suggestions pulled from the Bo... more An overview of accreditation in the United States and Europe, with suggestions pulled from the Bologna Process for an overhaul of the USA system. With a national accreditation system focused on the output of students and information available to students, colleges and universities would be better suited to both produce quality and qualified workers as well as properly support the students they are designed to serve.

This paper examines literature on the transition period into college of first year college studen... more This paper examines literature on the transition period into college of first year college students. Promoting development and success during a student’s entry to college, known as the transition period, is critical. Research suggests that colleges and universities must use information on incoming students, including demographics and diversity, to provide proper transition programming and to promote success. However, there is a lack of research regarding student affairs programming for students in transition. As success in college can be determined by their first semester, and even the first few weeks, creating programming to assist transitioning students is necessary to promote and enhance their cognitive and intellectual development and success. Student affairs programming should emphasize total inclusion at the institution as student success includes integration into the campus community. This can be accomplished through academic and social programming, with special attention to diversity, technology, and preparing students for the job market after college.

This paper seeks to examine social media profile presentation and if it relates to the ways in wh... more This paper seeks to examine social media profile presentation and if it relates to the ways in which people choose to connect their Facebook profiles with social justice or political issues, such as taking part in, engaging with, being a member of, and being active with petitions, donations, and organizations. It asks if self-promotion and self-esteem affect an individual’s online membership to organizations, and examines if people are more likely to be members of, sign petitions for, and donate to organizations if they are able to use their activity to self-promote their online identities and profiles.

Pairallel is a software-based company that provides products to facilitate educational and corpor... more Pairallel is a software-based company that provides products to facilitate educational and corporate communication, presentations, and services. It was developed to facilitate individual and group work and collaboration. In addition, the product combines multiple existing technologies and new initiatives to create a streamlined, cross-platform, universal workspace available to individuals, schools, and the business world.

Previous research has examined the effects of educators on political identity, but there is a lac... more Previous research has examined the effects of educators on political identity, but there is a lack of research of the effects of the quantity of education. This research examines the relationship between years of formal education (K-12) and political knowledge, understanding, and identity. Data was obtained from the General Social Survey (GSS), using the year 1996 for political comprehension and understanding, 2002-2004 for educational effects on political identity. The sample size for the 1996 data was 1242 and the sample size for the 2002-2004 data was 2636. Results from this research support the hypotheses, showing that more education increases an individual’s confidence in their own political understanding and comprehension. Individuals with the highest level of education were 18.2 percent (p<.000) more likely to agree that they had a good understanding of politics and comprehension than those with the lowest level of education. In addition, those with the highest level of education are the most likely to identity themselves as a Liberal, thus supporting the hypothesis. The 2008 Presidential election draws near, results of this study are important for candidates preparing their campaign, in order to most effectively reach their constituents.