“Todd Haley's coaching philosophy - Cowboysblog.dallasnews.com” plus 4 more

ScienceDaily (Oct. 7, 2009) — Researchers from the University of Granada (UGR) and the University of Jaén (UJA) are creating a statistical model to calculate the probability of university students dropping out and to help in the drawing up of strategic plans to reduce the number of students who give up their studies.

According to the CYD 2008 report, the high university drop-out rate ranges from 30% to 50% and is regarded as one of the greatest problems currently hanging over Spanish universities.

This pioneering research which has recently been published in the Computer and Education magazine analyzes the databases of the students enrolled at the University of Granada and their academic records from 1992 until today, by means of a model of logistic regression which allows the calculation of the drop-out probability of a student who is beginning his or her studies or who is currently enrolled.

The researchers analyzed the enrolment data of 10,844 Computer Science students, 25,745 Economics and Business Science students and 39,241 Philosophy and Arts students. The drop-out rate in the first two subjects studied is higher than 40% and greater than 60% in the case of Philosophy and Arts.

Inmaculada Roldán is the author of the study and a researcher from the Department of Statistics and Operative Research at the University of Jaén. "Nowadays they are many universities which are introducing Tutorial Action Plans (TAP) to guide their students. If each university calculated the number of students with the greatest drop-out risk, the TAP could be more effective", she explained.

The students who have a low entrance mark or who begin their studies after the age of 25 display a greater probability of dropping out; in fact, the students who end up dropping out of a degree course tend to begin their studies when they are over 20.

Of the three faculties analyzed, that of Philosophy and Arts displays the highest starting age, the lowest entrance mark and the highest percentage of students who enter by passing the tests for people over 25 of age (14.4%), while the figures stands at around 10% for the other two faculties.

The studies of fathers, mothers and tutors are regarded as a determinant factor in dropping out of higher education. "A great deal of research has found that the influence of the family is a trigger, as it puts very strong pressure on the students which they cannot handle, leading them to drop out", the experts affirm.

Of the 23 variables studied, performance, success and average mark are highly associated with dropping out and show that "the lesser the level of performance and success, the greater the probability of dropping out". Sex and geographical origin are those which have the least relationship with dropping out. "None of the models obtained uses them to explain potential drop-outs", indicated Roldán.

Climate change believer takes firm to tribunal - The Guardian

Posted: 07 Oct 2009 11:43 AM PDT

A man who claims he was unfairly dismissed from his job because he believes in climate change is attempting to have his environmental views recognised under religious law.

Tim Nicholson, 42, says his beliefs on the environment are so strong they led to clashes with other senior staff at Grainger, one of the UK's biggest property companies.

He said the chief executive, Rupert Dickinson, showed contempt for his concerns and once flew a member of staff to Ireland to deliver his BlackBerry, which he had left in London.

In March, employment judge David Neath gave Nicholson permission to take the firm to a tribunal over his treatment. The company is challenging the ruling, arguing that environmental beliefs are not the same as religious or philosophical ones.

Nicholson, from Oxford, said his views – which compelled him to make his home more eco-friendly and do not allow him to fly – affect his entire life. In a witness statement to the previous hearing, he said: "I have a strongly-held philosophical belief about climate change and the environment. I believe we must urgently cut carbon emissions to avoid catastrophic climate change."

He stopped working for Grainger as head of sustainability in July last year, having been at the company since June 2006. At an employment appeal tribunal in central London today, Dinah Rose QC, for Nicholson, said: "The philosophical belief in this case is that mankind is headed towards catastrophic climate change and that, as a result, we are under a duty to do all that we can to live our lives so as to mitigate or avoid that catastrophe for future generations.

"We say that that involves a philosophical and ethical position. It addresses the question, what are the duties that we own to the environment and why?"

She told Mr Justice Michael Burton – who ruled last year that Al Gore's environmental documentary An Inconvenient Truth was political and partisan – that beliefs about "anthropogenic climate change" could be considered a philosophy under the Employment Equality (Religion and Belief) Regulations 2003.

John Bowers QC, representing Grainger, said Nicholson's views were based on scientific fact and were predominantly political. "We would say that because it is political, it is dealing with an assertion of fact," he said. "It is a scientific view rather than a philosophical one. Philosophy deals with matters that are not capable of scientific proof."

A philosophy must have a comprehensive belief system. "What Mr Nicholson asserts is a scientific claim that if we don't urgently cut carbon emissions, we will not avoid catastrophic climate change. There is nothing philosophical about that."

The judge raised the removal by Lady Scotland, the attorney general, from regulations that defined beliefs as religious beliefs or those that were similar to religious beliefs of the word "similar" after atheist and humanist groups objected to comparisons of their philosophies with religion.

The result of the tribunal will determine whether Nicholson can pursue his claim for unfair dismissal.

The hearing continues.

Sparano: Monday 'not going to be for the meek' - ESPN.com

Posted: 07 Oct 2009 02:41 PM PDT

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham

The next episode of "Monday Night Football" probably won't appeal to the casual sports fan.

Unless Wednesday's trade that sent receiver Braylon Edwards to New York changes the Jets' offensive philosophy, their game against the Miami Dolphins in Land Shark Stadium should be an old-school, smashmouth tilt.

Both teams have top 10 defenses and prefer to pound the ball with their bottom-half offenses.

"Something is going to have to give," said Dolphins coach Tony Sparano, sounding a little like John Facenda.

"They are outstanding against the run. So are we on defense, and both teams like to run the ball. So something is going to happen out there. It is probably not going to be for the meek on either side of the ball."

Rex Ryan has the Jets' defense ranked fourth overall, 13th versus the run and fifth versus the pass.

The Dolphins rank 10th in total defense, second in run defense and 24th in pass defense.

The Jets rank 24th in total offense, but ninth on the run (130.5 yards per game). The Dolphins rank 18th in total offense, but first on the run (183.5 yards per game).

"I know what kind of coach that Rex is and what Rex is doing with his team and how they want to be," Sparano said, "and that is exactly what we want to be. You got two teams that like to run the football and, I think, run it well.

"Those are not finesse runs they are dialing up either. They are powerful runs. They are power runs. A lot like us that way and two good defenses. So there will be a lot of bumping out there."

DeKalb Memorial Hospital selects CEO - WANE-TV

Posted: 07 Oct 2009 02:20 PM PDT

AUBURN, Ind. (WANE) - From DeKalb Memorial Hospital:

The DeKalb Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees has selected Kirk Ray as its new Chief Executive Officer. He replaces Jack Corey who retired in August.

Ray comes to DeKalb Memorial from St. Joseph Hospital in Fort Wayne where he held the position of CEO for more than three years. The 40-year-old brings to the position more than 17 years of healthcare experience.

"Ray's exceptional leadership qualities, commitment to community and family will serve our organization and community very well," shared DeKalb Memorial Board Chair Frank Caprino. "He shares our vision and philosophy to remain independent and provide the highest quality healthcare and service."

"Kirk has had a significant impact on the St. Joseph Hospital and the downtown community. He has been a valuable asset to Lutheran Health Network," said LHN CEO Michael Schatzlein, MD. "We wish him all the best in his new endeavor."

His accomplishments while at St. Joseph Hospital demonstrate his strength as a leader. Those accomplishments include the construction of the new medical office building which currently houses the Fort Wayne Medical Education Program, the $7 million renovation of the burn and wound center, the addition of 10 new physicians to St. Joseph Medical Group and the growth or expansion of numerous new service lines including cardiopulmonary rehabilitation.

Ray is married and enjoys spending time with his wife Amy and three children. He is a northeast Indiana native who graduated from Carroll High School in 1987. He majored in exercise physiology with an emphasis in cardiac rehabilitation at Ball State University where he received a Bachelor of Science in 1992. He received a Master of Business Administration from Indiana Wesleyan University in 2000.

His professional organizations and activities currently include the American College of Healthcare Executives, Indiana Health & Hospital Association, Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Improvement District, Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry's Social Services Committee and Ball State University Alumni Association.

Philosophy

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

“Todd Haley's coaching philosophy - Cowboysblog.dallasnews.com” plus 4 more

“Todd Haley's coaching philosophy - Cowboysblog.dallasnews.com” plus 4 more

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