Takeover Announcements, Information Asymmetry, and Market Microstructure : an Empirical Study

Byun YoungHoon Florida University 1988 해외박사

The image of the community college versus the four-year university: A content analysis of two Florida newspapers

Gombash, William, III University of Florida 2003 해외박사(DDOD)

The general goal of this study was to compare the coverage of Florida state universities and community colleges in major metropolitan newspapers. The more specific goal of the study was to compare the coverage of community colleges within the reading areas covered by major metropolitan newspapers to the closest four-year state university. The institutions studied were the University of South Florida (USF), the University of North Florida (UNF), Hillsborough Community College (HCC), Pasco-Hernando Community College (PHCC), Florida Community College at Jacksonville (FCCJ), and St. Johns River Community College (JRCC). In addition, the two flagship universities, University of Florida (UF) and Florida State University (FSU), also were analyzed in terms of the amount and content of the coverage they received versus that of the community colleges and the four-year universities in the cities served by the major metropolitan newspapers. A content analysis was conducted of the Tampa Tribune and the Florida Times Union. Four hundred and seventy-four articles were analyzed in terms of newspaper sections, frames, topics, and sources. The articles studied were published from July 1, 2000, to June 30, 2003. There was a clear difference in the amount of coverage between the community colleges and the four-year universities. In terms of the total number of stories, USF received more coverage than HCC and PHCC. Likewise, UNF received far more coverage than FCCJ and SJRCC. And in some instances, UF and FSU received more coverage than the community colleges. However, an analysis of the content of the articles revealed less specific conclusions. Although there were some differences in terms of topics, frames, and news sources, when comparing the four-year universities and the community colleges, the results were far less definitive than the comparison of the number of articles.

English education: A multi-case study of three university programs in Florida responsible for initial teacher preparation

Rentz, Pamela R The Florida State University 2013 해외박사(DDOD)

This study explores the critical issue of teacher preparation in university-based English education programs in the state of Florida. Numerous training programs and certification avenues currently exist in response to the growing concentration on teacher training, teacher quality, induction and retention, and teacher shortages. This study, an exploration of Florida's State University System undergraduate programs of initial English teacher preparation, examines how Florida universities are preparing pre-service middle and high school English teachers for induction into the profession. Of specific interest is the incorporation of the state-mandated Florida Educator Accomplished Practices into the programs preparing novice teachers for the classroom. Following a collaborative case study design, data were collected from three university-based English education programs in Florida. Interviews and focus groups targeted stakeholders from each baccalaureate program including faculty and administration at the university, current students, and recent graduates. Textual analyses were used to determine trends in course offerings, sequencing, requirements, and standards infusion. Findings from this study address the issues of the Florida Educator Accomplished Practices, professional identity formation, field experience, induction support, and professional collaborations---all relevant components in the preparation of Florida's middle/secondary English language arts teacher preparation.

An analysis of the experiences of transfer students participating in dual enrollment programs in the state of Florida

Rodriguez, Angel Miguel University of Florida 2013 해외박사(DDOD)

The State of Florida Senate Bill (SB) 1908 of 2008 created a new diploma designation for high school students who complete four or more accelerated college credit courses in Advance Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and/or Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE), or who participate in dual enrollment, wherein students enroll in postsecondary instruction and concurrently receive both secondary and postsecondary credit. The goal of this study is to qualitatively analyze the experiences of transfer students participating in dual enrollment programs in the state of Florida. Additionally, the study is intended to fill the knowledge gap regarding this expanding population. This research used a purposeful sampling technique to select 15 participants who enrolled in a college academy dual enrollment program in south Florida. The significance of the study is to gain useful knowledge to improve the dual enrollment program and the support systems at transfer universities so future students will be more prepared to handle their initial transfer to the university level and find more support once they transfer. The results of this study suggest that dual enrollment transfer students are often negatively impacted by the actual, or their perceived, lack of support at transfer universities and by not having the opportunity to experience university life or varied elective courses after transfer. High schools, community colleges and dual enrollment programs could benefit by doing a better job of providing guidance and realistic expectations of university life. Additionally, at transfer universities, guidance counselors and advisors should be aware of developmental theories and Tinto's interactionalist theory and be sensitive to the unique needs of dual enrollment transfer students.

Adjustment of local service rates and universal service: An empirical study of Florida local telephone customers

Yu, Yiwen The Florida State University 2001 해외박사(DDOD)

The universal service policy has generated some contradictory issues in the current debate of deregulation in the telecommunications industry. While it has relied on a cross-subsidization mechanism to provide affordable local telephone service to all users, the on-going deregulation will release a market force to correct such artificial distortion. Regulators and universal service advocates have shown concerns that in a deregulated market, the penetration rate of local telephone service will be hurt. There is an ample literature on demand for local telephone service. However, most of the studies were done in the 1970's and 1980's. The telecommunications market and technologies have changed rapidly in recent years. Updated data and studies are needed to provide answers to universal service questions in today's deregulated environment. The Florida Public Service Commission (FPSC) survey on residential customers' willingness to pay for local telephone service presents us a timely opportunity to study the demand for local telephone service in Florida. In an appropriate theoretical framework set forth by Mitchell (1976), an aggregate demand curve for local telephone service in Florida is simulated based upon the FPSC survey data. In addition, an econometric model called ordered probit is structured to fit the FPSC survey data. Two sets of price elasticities of demand are calculated by using both simulated and econometric results and are compared with ones estimated by many other studies. It is found that the demand for local telephone service in the current Florida market is more elastic than two decades ago. Furthermore, the theoretical model has also been simulated for people at low income levels and in a simple welfare framework, the simulated results are used to evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of universal service programs such as Lifeline in Florida. This welfare analysis demonstrates that the existing Lifeline program in Florida is ineffective and inefficient. The overall results of this study presents insightful understanding of the characteristics of the aggregate demand in the current Florida local telephone market. They contribute useful and timely information and answers regarding universal service issues in the current deregulation debate. Regulators and telecommunications policy-makers shall find important policy implications in this study.

Bourbon, pork chops, and red peppers: Political immorality in Florida, 1945--1968

Weitz, Seth A The Florida State University 2007 해외공개박사

The end of Reconstruction ushered in a new era in Southern history. White supremacy returned to the region and the Republican Party was run back across the Mason-Dixon Line leaving the South with a virtual one party system. From 1877--1967 Florida was a member of the "solid south" where the winner of the Democratic primary was victorious in the general election. While Florida was tied to the Democratic Party, it also differed from its sister states in the South. The Sunshine State experienced a population boom like no other state in the nation except possibly California, transforming the peninsula from a backwater, poor, insignificant state into one of the largest state's in the United States by 1965. Many of the new Floridians brought with them political beliefs alien to the Deep South, and these principles threatened to undermine the deeply entrenched system that had been in place since the end of Reconstruction. At mid-century, Florida politics was dominated by the Pork Chop Gang, a group of conservative, states' rights, segregationist Democrats from rural Northern and Central Florida. The Pork Choppers held a stranglehold over the state Legislature due to the archaic apportioning of legislative districts which had been mandated by the Constitution of 1885. The Pork Choppers espoused "Old South" values and looked to maintain their power and control of the state in any way possible despite Florida's ever changing demographic and political landscape. Under the 1885 document, power in the state resided in the Legislature and the cabinet which was directly elected by the people. Because of the malapportioned political districts, 12.3% of the population could elect a majority in the state senate and 14.7% could do the same in the lower house. Florida's government in the first half of the twentieth century was highly suspicious of outsiders and most of the Pork Choppers viewed the state's political apparatus as a means of protecting their friends and advancing the interests of the Northern section of the state at the expense of the rapidly expanding population of South Florida. The Pork Chop Gang not only defended the Old South against the New South, but it also viewed itself as the last bastion of protection for the agrarian lifestyle of rural Florida which was being challenged by growing industry and big business from Orlando, and Tampa south. The Pork Choppers knew that in order to preserve their power over the state they would have to retain their control of the Legislature and to ensure this they needed to protect the 1885 Constitution which was coming under more scrutiny by South Floridians. The first assault on the "Old South" values of the Pork Chop Gang was the Supreme Court's landmark decision in Brown v Board of Education which in 1954 directly challenged segregated educational systems throughout the nation. Florida, like its Southern neighbors largely resisted this perceived affront to white supremacy and the Pork Choppers soon saw the court's decision as a means to rally support to their cause and hopefully maintain their power within the state. On the national level the Pork Choppers took their cue from Wisconsin Senator Joe McCarthy who, confronted by the perceived notion of the "Red Menace" infiltrating American society, emerged to lead systematic attacks against anyone and everyone deemed a threat. McCarthyism in Florida, commencing at the end of the junior senator's national reign of terror, proved a methodical and orderly assault on all opponents of the region, whether they be Communists, African-Americans, homosexuals or liberals. The perceived threats against morality, white supremacy and the concocted communist hazard were used as an excuse and disguise to purge Florida of its enemies and more importantly maintain the power of the Pork Chop Gang in the face of its growing political enemies. It was in the attacks on the Universities of Florida, South Florida and Florida State University where the Florida Legislative Investigation Committee (FLIC) employed ignominious tactics in assaulting homosexuals and others labeled immoral within the student body as well as the faculty. The FLIC demonized homosexuality in order to convince Floridians that an overhaul of the state universities was needed. The offensive against the state's flagship university was billed as a moral crucible aimed at protecting the state against unwanted intrusion by liberal academics and homosexuals. The FLIC, aptly called the Johns Committee, outlasted Senator Joe McCarthy on the national level, wreaking havoc in Florida until 1965. Despite the efforts of Johns, the Pork Chop Gang was unable to curtail the changing political and social atmosphere in Florida. The Pork Choppers aimed to resist change by employing reprehensible tactics but their strategy backfired helping to accelerate the disintegration of the one party political system in the state. Governor LeRoy Collins tried to drag Florida into the twentieth century in the 1950's but was blocked by the Pork Choppers. In the 1960's the election of Republican Claude Kirk to the Governor's mansion highlighted a glaring chink in their armor. As the population of South Florida grew in the 1960's so did the opposition to the Pork Chop Gang and their stranglehold on the Legislature. Kirk backed a change to the constitution, eventually resulting in the Constitution of 1968 which realigned the voting districts to represent the profound shift in population and draw power away from the rural counties. No longer would Liberty County (population 2,889 in 1960) and Lafayette County (3,138) hold as much political clout as Dade County (900,000). Ironically the final demise of the Pork Chop Gang can be attributed to the combined efforts of liberal Democrats who were recent immigrants to Florida from the North and the reemergence of the Republican Party under Kirk.

Regional landscape analysis and reserve design to conserve Florida's biodiversity

Hoctor, Thomas Scott University of Florida 2003 해외박사(DDOD)

The design and management of reserve networks are driving forces in conservation biology and landscape ecology. Reserve design principles and methods are continually being developed and applied worldwide. Designing functionally integrated reserve networks is now considered essential to conserve biodiversity, ecological functions, and evolutionary processes effectively. The state of Florida has been a leader in adopting systematic, landscape-based reserve design, and thus provides an excellent opportunity to explore regional landscape assessments and reserve design strategies for effective protection of biodiversity. In this study, I develop and compare three such approaches: (1) Identify a connected statewide network of intact landscapes and landscape linkages called the Florida Ecological Network. (2) Identify important habitat blocks and connectivity options for the Florida black bear, <italic> Ursus americanus floridanus</italic>, which may serve as an umbrella species for many other biodiversity components. (3) Develop ecoregional plans for the Florida peninsula that integrate fine filter, coarse filter, and landscape approaches for designing reserve networks. The Florida Ecological Network incorporates 9.3 million ha of large, connected landscapes, over half of which lie within existing conservation lands and public domain waterways. Over 5 million ha were identified as potentially high quality black bear habitat, with an additional 680,000 ha identified as landscape linkages to facilitate connectivity. The Florida Peninsula Ecoregion site portfolio contains 3.4 million hectares (51% within public domain lands and water) and the Tropical Florida Ecoregion site portfolio contains 2 million hectares (89% in public domain lands and waters). Collectively, 85% of the bear habitat and landscape linkages were within the Florida Ecological Network, which also overlaps with 84% and 90% of the Florida Peninsula and Tropical Florida Ecoregions, respectively. The results suggest the following: (1) Even given Florida's rapid urbanization, opportunities remain to protect a statewide reserve network that could protect most biodiversity effectively. (2) Each approach I developed identifies some unique areas for protection not found in the other two analyses. (3) Collectively, the assessments address the primary steps of reserve design including representation analysis, focal species analysis, incorporation of special resource elements, and considerations for maintaining or restoring ecological and evolutionary processes.

A cost-effectiveness analysis of two community college baccalaureate programs in Florida: An exploratory study

Bemmel, Edwin P Florida Atlantic University 2008 해외공개박사

The purpose of this case study was to determine which, if any, alternative in delivering baccalaureate programs in the state of Florida was the most cost-effective one. This exploratory study focused on gaining an understanding of the cost effectiveness of two baccalaureate programs offered at a Florida community college to two like programs at a Florida university using qualitative and quantitative methodologies. The researcher interviewed five community college and three State Department of Education administrators during the Fall of 2007 and analyzed expenditure and effectiveness data from 2003-04 through 2006-07 to determine the cost effectiveness for the programs at each institution. The study revealed that the university and community college programs were equally effective as measured by student graduation and test scores. The community college baccalaureate programs were more cost effective, however, using a formula of per-student state funding combined with student cost. The lower per-student funding and student tuition charged resulted in the community college baccalaureate being a less expensive alternative of offering baccalaureate degrees to the state and the students. Using Henry Levin's ingredients model of measuring cost effectiveness, the quantitative analysis of the study revealed that the university programs were more cost effective in the early years, but the differences diminished over time. Using Levin's model for comparison, the researcher concluded that increased growth in the enrollment of the programs combined with the implementation of effectiveness measures comparable to those of the university would render baccalaureate programs at the community colleges more cost effective. Conclusions based on the formula of state and student cost were based on factual data, while conclusions based on Levin's ingredients model were based on assumptions and estimates using a weighting factor along with an indirect cost rate for Proxim University. The study identified factors other than the cost effectiveness that could make the community college baccalaureate a more attractive alternative and concluded with recommendations for practice, policy, and future research. Differences in state and local laws, or economic, geographical, and environmental differences combined with the nature of this exploratory case study limit the generalizability of the results of this study.

Leadership competencies and needs of county Extension directors as perceived by county and district Extension directors and county administrators in Florida

Sanders, Cynthia B University of Florida 2014 해외박사(DDOD)

Florida Cooperative Extension has been the outreach component of the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). Cooperative Extension is located in all sixty-seven counties in Florida. At the county level, a county Extension director (CED) is responsible for the leadership and management of the local Extension office. CEDs have sometimes begun their new careers without prior leadership training or experience or without a clear understanding of their responsibilities. The inadequate preparation of county Extension directors for effectively meeting the complex leadership challenges inherited within their positions needed addressing. A strong need to identify these leadership competencies has been ignored. To address these problems, the leadership competencies perceived by the CEDs and the DEDs must be identified. The purpose of this study was to identify the leadership competencies of Florida county Extension directors. Qualitative and quantitative research methods were used to determine the leadership competencies as perceived by county and district Extension directors and county administrators in Florida. This study sought to determine the importance, knowledge, and competence of forty leadership competencies as perceived by county Extension directors. Additionally, this study examined the CED leadership competency needs based on the perceptions of CEDs and county administrators, using the Borich needs assessment model. Findings of this study suggested that the leadership competencies needed by CEDs include both human skills and conceptual skills, and county administrators have similar views on the leadership competencies needed by CEDs. Furthermore, the study revealed that effective CEDs are knowledgeable and proficient in a defined set of 40 leadership competencies. The highest MWDS by CEDs ratings based on importance/knowledge included "conflict resolution," "saying no when warranted," "Extension marketing," "time management," and "creating a supportive work environment.". Given the nature of the data collection, the implications and recommendations resulting from this research can be used to develop educational leadership training opportunities for CEDs.

The white-breasted nuthatch in Florida: History, limiting factors, and phylogeography

Leonard, David L., Jr University of Florida 2005 해외박사(DDOD)

The White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) was historically a resident of Florida's pine forests. By the 1950s, however, the species was rare in the peninsula and it is now restricted to the Red Hills physiographic region in northern Florida. During this period of decline, logging and fire suppression eliminated or altered almost all of the state's old-growth longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) forests. To better understand this decline, I reviewed the historical status of the nuthatch in Florida. I studied the species' diet and breeding ecology in the Red Hills. Finally, I examined the species' genetic structure and phylogeography, focusing on Florida populations. My research addressed 3 primary questions. (1) What was the species' historical status in Florida? (2) Did food or nest-site limitation contribute to the species' range contraction? (3) Does the Florida population qualify as an evolutionary significant unit?. A literature review and search of museum holdings confirmed that the species was once a common breeding resident of Florida, but was restricted to longleaf pine forests. Arthropod sampling and documenting food items delivered to nests provided little evidence that fire suppression influenced changes in arthropod availability that could have contributed to the species' decline. Over 3 breeding seasons, nest success was <40%, and predation by snakes, birds, and mammals was the main cause of nest failure. Few nest tree characteristics were associated with nest success; this result likely reflected the different abilities of predators to reach nest cavities. Florida nuthatch populations, extant and extirpated, possessed a number of unique haplotypes. The White-breasted Nuthatch possesses life history characteristics that make it vulnerable to nest predation. The loss of old-growth pine forests reduced the availability of nest sites which offered some protection from nest predators. This loss of habitat, coupled with the species' life history characteristics, a varied predator community, and a climate that allowed snakes to be active year-round, likely culminated in the species' range contraction. Although contemporary gene flow may connect the Red Hills population to other populations, the remaining Florida nuthatch population qualifies as an evolutionarily significant unit and should be protected.