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This dissertation is comprised of two chapters regarding the economics of post-secondary education. The first concerns effects of peer gender: Large gender differences exist in the take-up and completion of college majors across academic fields. The degree of gender concentration within fields tends to increase over time spent in college. In this chapter, I investigate how the gender composition of peers in first-semester classes impacts women's and men's academic outcomes and major choices. I find that a larger proportion of male peers hurts female academic achievement and decreases female persistence in majors, relative to men in the same classes. The second chapter regards collusion in the determination of financial aid: Collusion is an important economic phenomenon that may play a role in many industries. This paper focuses on a case of alleged collusion in the determination of financial aid offers among a set of elite US universities known as the "Overlap Group." A Justice Department suit alleged that collusion led to an increase in the average effective price of attendance for students at these universities. A simple model of price competition between schools suggests that this would be the case. Applying conventional difference-in-difference and synthetic controls methods to the case of the Overlap Group suggests that the cessation of collusion did lead to a reallocation of university budgets towards financial aid. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]

This study examined Federal Government Information Technology (IT) portfolio investments for twenty-seven Federal Government agencies, as provided annually to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in their Agency IT Investment Portfolio Reports (Exhibit 53), and divided Federal agency IT investments into four categories: Innovation, Management Support, Process Automation and Infrastructure. Agency program performance was statistically compared, using the OMB's Program Assessment Rating Tool (PART), to determine the higher and lower performing agencies based on the PART scores of each agency's assessed programs. Agencies with total program performance in the top third of all agencies were considered "higher performing agencies" and those with total program performance in the lowest third of all agencies were considered "lower performing." Agency performance ranking was compared with agency IT investment allocations to answer the following question: Do higher performing Federal Government agencies invest IT assets differently than lower performing agencies? Evidence pointed to a significant difference in how higher performing and lower performing agencies invest their IT budgets. A causal effect between IT investment and agency performance could not be statistically proven, but distinct differences were found. This research provides a new perspective on IT investment allocation and suggests a comparative technique by which IT investments in Federal Government agencies can be evaluated. The research further categorized agencies from mission statement information available on their websites to determine those agencies with missions having either cost or agility as primary foci. A similar question was posed: Do cost-focused Federal Government agencies invest IT assets differently than agility-focused agencies? Evidence again pointed to a significant difference in how cost-focused and agility-focused agencies invest their IT budgets. This research illustrates an innovative way of looking at IT investment allocations and agency missions. Additionally, these agency results were compared with cost-focused and agility-focused corporations in the private sector, finding very similar patterns of IT investment. The results of this research may be useful to agency Chief Information Officers, Chief Financial Officers as well as Sub-agency Directors in considering their IT budget expenditures. These officials can directly compare their organization's IT investment portfolio with the top performing agencies and use that information to help determine whether their investment portfolios should be adjusted. Managers of cost or agility-focused organizations may also use the mission-focused results of this research to examine and consider adjustments to their current portfolio of IT investments. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]

Nationwide, community college administrators are attempting to maintain financial stability amid extreme budget challenges. The problem that was addressed through this study is that some community college administrators at a large Northeastern state lack strategies to sustain financial stability, which threatens the 14 institutions' ability to continue to operate as a viable educational choice. The purpose of this study was to investigate the strategies that community college administrators at multiple institutions of varying financial stability use. The conceptual framework that grounded the study was Porter's five forces framework. Research questions focused on what strategies are used, why these strategies are used, and in what way they support financial stability currently and in the future. For this case study, purposive sampling was used and semi structured interviews with 10 community college administrators were conducted. Data was analyzed by transcribing interviews, participant member checking, and the use of an online tool to identify codes and themes. The themes that emerged are budget control, marketing strategy, industry attractiveness, and competitive environment. These findings led to the development of a policy paper with the following recommendations: develop committees to share best practices on cultivating auxiliary revenue and competitive advantage strategies, adopt new marketing and outreach strategies, and invest in professional development for college administrators related to business strategies. These recommendations provide the potential of positive social change by supporting continued operations of the community colleges not only allowing the faculty and staff to continue their employment but also serving students that depend on community colleges. Educated students, in turn, serve their communities and society. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]

This dissertation explores the significance of the bargaining power of the players involved in the wage decisions for teachers in Brazil, namely the teacher unions and the municipal governments. The dissertation is divided in two parts, which together form a broad analysis of the labor market for public school teachers in Brazil and the underlying institutional factors that have determined its functioning in the past twenty years. This research indicates that the bargaining power of municipal governments and teacher unions plays an essential role in setting wages. Moreover, the results suggest that the bargaining power is more important to the wage levels than the available budget of the municipalities, and that market power is driven by the lack of alternative job opportunities to the teachers. The first paper analyzes the degree of monopsony power held by municipal public employers in teacher hiring. It shows evidence of very low elasticities for the teachers' labor supply curve (of 0.11 - 0.36, depending on the model specifications), suggesting that the market power held by municipal governments allows them to enjoy rents that are, in absence of other players to counterbalance their action, as large as 275% - 901% of the teachers wage value. It also indicates that the proportion of female teachers increase the power that municipalities have to set wages, given the relatively lower elasticity of women's supply curve. The second paper examines the actual behavior of governments in teacher hiring and uses two models -- the Monopoly-Monopsony and the Insider-Outsider -- as possible interpretations of the results. I use the FUNDEF funding reform in Brazil that has redistributed funds across municipal and state systems within each Brazilian state to identify the wage-setting decisions. It shows evidence that municipalities that benefitted from the redistribution were more likely to increase teacher salaries (by an average of 3.9%), while municipalities relatively harmed by the redistribution tended to increase the number of teachers (by 8.8%) and to decrease salaries (by -4.4%). Surprisingly, the analyses of the value transferred to the municipalities reveal that receiving more funds for education does not necessarily translate to higher teacher salaries, suggesting that the bargaining power of the municipal governments and teacher unions matter more to wage determination than the amount of funds the school systems have. This dissertation provides evidence, in the context of Brazil, that policies focused on raising across-the-board wages can be desirable as a counterforce to the market power held by municipal governments. Moreover, it suggests that federal policies focused on changing the bargaining power of the municipalities would be more effective in influencing wage levels than the amount of grants given to local governments. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]

The cost for higher education increased nearly 55% from 2002 to 2012, while state appropriations decreased 12% over the same time period (Government Accountability Office, 2014). The cost burden has been shifted heavily on students and their families as institutions have raised the cost of attendance in order to make up for declines in state support dollars. As the country continues to face a student loan bubble that impacts the housing market, marriage rates, and birth rates it will be important to the future of higher education to figure out other sources of revenue to balance budgets (Choi, Zhu, Goodman, Ganesh, & Strochak, 2018). Higher education philanthropy topped $41 billion in 2016 (Council for Aid to Education, 2017). While university endowments currently make up about 9.7% of the overall operating budget for institutions, philanthropy has the potential to make a substantial impact on colleges and universities (National Association of College and University Business Officers, 2016). By looking at how federal student loans, federal grant aid, state appropriations, and the top tax rate impact philanthropy at private and public four-year, non-profit institutions will be added add to existing research on private philanthropy. The findings of this study are that while the tax rate did not influence higher education philanthropy, all the other independent variables had statistically significant results. When the amount of student loans increased, philanthropic support decreased. This was in line with existing research. As federal grants increased there was a parallel response with private support. Finally, state appropriations had an inverse relationship with private philanthropic dollars. In response to the results of this research, this paper includes strategies for higher education institutions to better lobby for students and their families with both state and federal officials. Furthermore, the study can be used to inform and shape current and future financial aid policies and budgets. Additionally, strategies and suggestions for how to grow and strengthen philanthropic research centered around higher education are suggested. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]

No one could have anticipated the devastating results of the political, legal, and economic events occurring in California after the year 2000 and producing stiff competition for education dollars. Community colleges were among the hardest hit by state budget deficits, with over $100 million cut from an already conservative budget. Since expectations and outcomes are not reduced or eliminated from the formula when funding is reduced, community colleges are further challenged. The author asserts that performance-based funding is a trend with both positive and negative impacts. Californias community colleges have been funded at almost $2000 beneath the national average per full-time-equivalent (FTE) student for the last five fiscal years. The chancellors office allocates $3,554 per FTE student, compared with a national average of $6,025 in 1995. Adjusted for inflation, FTE student funding in 1995 was actually 6% less than in 1975. Partnership for Excellence was developed in conjunction with legislators and the CCC Chancellors Office in an attempt to make up the funding shortfall. In 2001, the state chancellor was asked to make the initial performance outcomes more rigorous. However, the promised yearly augmentation for Partnership for Excellence still has not occurred, resulting in an inability to make long-term future plans to address the outcomes. Notes in particular the effects on the Kern County Community College District and Bakersfield College. Contains 22 references. (Author/NB)

The purpose of this study was to determine how public two-year colleges in Tennessee internally budgeted and expended their unrestricted educational and general (E&G) funds from fiscal years 1988-89 through 1997-98. The E&G budget is comprised of seven major functional categories that include instruction, public service, academic support, student services, institutional support, operation and maintenance of plant (O&M) and scholarships and fellowships. In 1989, 21% of revenue sources were from student fees, while 73% came from state appropriations. In 1998, 30% of revenue came from student fees and 66% from state appropriations. The paper presents nine conclusions. Highlights include: (1) expenditures on direct instruction were slightly higher in 1997-98 than in 1988-89 (65% versus 64.5%); (2) institutional size had some bearing on the percentage of funds allocated for direct instructional support; (3) technical colleges expended a greater proportion of their budget on direct instruction than did the community colleges; and (4) in comparison with national data, the financial trends relative to the Tennessee schools are favorable in terms of efficient operations if these operations are measured in terms of direct instructional resource allocation. The report makes five recommendations, as well as additional recommendations for future study. (Includes 63 tables.) (NB)

Recreational reading has proved its importance in the public library systems nationwide, as confirmed by circulation records and significant consideration in library budgets, indicating the need to develop systems that bring the book and the reader together in a systematic way. This paper seeks to define the operation of readers' advisory programs and services in Ohio public libraries by providing a status report, attempting to show how many public libraries have formal readers' advisory programs, who administers these programs, and how many programs provide specialized training for their librarians. This report also defines and lists the popular techniques currently being used in Ohio public libraries. A questionnaire was sent to 161 Ohio public services librarians; a total of 87 libraries responded for a return rate of 54.1%. Although responses did not show that there is an increase in the development of formal programs, the responses did suggest that most public services librarians feel that administering readers' advisory services is a part of their job description. Suggestions for further study are offered. The survey cover letter and questionnaire are appended. (Contains 25 references.) (Author)

Findings of an initial case study revealed that a principal had used the core leadership practices of setting direction, developing people, and redesigning the organization. The enabling principles of "accountability," "caring," and learning were also present. This paper is based on a follow-up qualitative research study conducted at the same school with the same principal and includes: interviews, a focus group, observation, and primary documents. Research on the topic of sustainability is lacking. This research can add to leadership and sustainability findings and strengthen the body of literature present. Findings from this research, seven years later, revealed the same core leadership practices and enabling principles intact, with the prominent addition of "distributed leadership." Sustainability was fostered by the principal and staff. During the research project there was a change in student demographics, school budget woes, high accountability, and the middle school was reconfigured into an intermediate school model. These challenges were managed by the principal through quiet passion, commitment, "relational trust," and "elements of sustainability." [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]

The purpose of this position paper was to study professional development, specifically looking at teachers' practices. After problems with a recent charter renewal for a small charter school and conversations with teachers and administration, professional development arose as an area that needed improvement. A model for professional development for teachers and administration at a small charter school was developed after interviewing teachers at the charter school as well as teachers at a nearby elementary school who already participate in peer observations as a form of professional development. Peer observations were identified as a feasible practice to implement at the school in order to enhance professional development, specifically focusing on increased collegiality and increased continuity in curriculum. Peer observations were also identified as a way to create a process that may allow for defining and redefining collective goals and quality among teachers and administration. A budget review was conducted in order to find resources needed for successful implementation, and an evaluation was developed as part of the recommendations for implementing peer observations at the school. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]

This study examines the circumstances under which a large urban school system opens the budget development process to the input of citizens groups and the difficulties involved in this effort. The scope of the study is limited to the analysis of the 1977 Budget Task Force (BTF) of the Philadelphia School District and observations of the Philadelphia Board of Education relating to citizen participation on budget development. The document contains a section on methodology; a review of the literature; a section on data analysis, findings, and conclusions; implications and recommendations; the conceptual framework for evaluating the success of the community participation; suggestions for further research; and a summary. Appendices and a bibliography are also included. The conceptual framework for evaluating citizen participation was constructed using five variables (origin, composition, scope of task, time span, and locus of decision-making) and eight fixed elements (candor, representativeness, consensus on criteria, time, access to information and people, support services, dissemination, and evaluation/feedback). (Author/IRT)

Graphical representation for construction control information--processes such as scheduling, budgeting and RFIs--follows no formalized method. Many graphics neglect relevant information necessary to highlight trends in or relationships between processes. The principles of data graphics offer visual capabilities beyond those currently employed by the construction industry to display appropriate information in a manner that enhances comprehension of control processes. This paper describes a method that incorporates four tasks; those of structuring and filtering data, editing for density and communicating efficiently; as necessary to creating effective data graphics. In addition to an evaluation technique, these tasks are outlined in a coherent framework. Several construction control processes are then described with respect to these four tasks. Focused application of the framework to the budgeting process produces four graphics that are subsequently evaluated by industry professionals. Conclusions detailed at the end of this document draw together lessons learned from the process of creating data graphics as well as from quantitative and qualitative evaluations of the visual cost report.