Journal Article Index

Volume 9 (Spring 2010)

Speaker Keith R. McCall
Building for the Future – Strengthening Pennsylvania’s Critical Infrastructures
In the ninth volume of the Speaker’s Journal on Pennsylvania... (More) Policy, we will: • examine the current status, issues and needs of specific critical infrastructures in Pennsylvania together with comparisons of other states. • discuss the interrelationships among critical infrastructures and how the creation,operation, maintenance and protection of one infrastructure relies upon the sounddevelopment of others. • hear from experts who will suggest needed changes and improvements in municipal, county and state policies and practices and the adoption of technologies that would enhance the capacity of Pennsylvania’s public and private sectors to build, operate, maintain and protect our critical infrastructures. • learn new and innovative ways of funding infrastructures.
	Article:	Speaker McCall's Opening Letter
	Author:	McCall, Keith R.
	Summary:	In the ninth volume of the Speaker’s Journal on Pennsylvania... (More) Policy, we will: • examine the current status, issues and needs of specific critical infrastructures inPennsylvania together with comparisons of other states. • discuss the interrelationships among critical infrastructures and how the creation,operation, maintenance and protection of one infrastructure relies upon the sound development of others. • hear from experts who will suggest needed changes and improvements in municipal, county and state policies and practices and the adoption of technologies that would enhance the capacity of Pennsylvania’s public and private sectors to build, operate, maintain and protect our critical infrastructures. • learn new and innovative ways of funding infrastructures.
	Article:	An Introduction to the Speaker's Journal on Pennsylvania Policy
	Authors:	Alter, Theodore R.;  Fortunato, Michael W-P;  Frumento, Paloma Z.;  Schramm, Kathleen A.;  Weinstein, Addison R.
	Summary:	This edition of the Speaker’s Journal for Pennsylvania Policy offers... (More) a variety of perspectives and insights about the importance of critical infrastructure (CI) to our lives and, most importantly, how to plan for and maintain CI that efficiently and sustainably improves the well-being of citizens. The Commonwealth’s various infrastructures – highways, waterways, sewers, power lines, information channels, broadband and geospatial technologies, public buildings, and more – are too often underfunded, insufficient, or deteriorating due to the effects of age.
	Article:	Infrastructure Status and Needs in Southwestern Pennsylvania
	Author:	University of Pittsburgh - Institute of Politics, Infrastructure Policy Committee
	Summary:	This article documents and evaluates the state of regional infrastructure in... (More) Southwestern Pennsylvania. Several sectors are analyzed including: waterways, highways and bridges, sewage management, transit, airports, rail freight, and utilities such as natural gas. Locks and dams are the major area of concern in the waterways surrounding Pittsburgh. Bridge repair is paramount for the highway industry. Keeping within federal regulation is a primary concern for the sewage management sector. The article implies that these and other infrastructure developments must be maintained properly and in a timely manner. It is suggested that each sector lacks funding for necessary repairs and maintenance despite support from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
	Article:	Research Priorities for Infrastructure Asset Management
	Authors:	Aktan, A. Amin;  Gurian, Patrick L.;  Montalto, Franco;  Moon, Franklin
	Summary:	There are concerns over increasingly poor performance of Pennsylvania’s transportation... (More) infrastructure related to congestion, safety, and asset conditions. There are also demands by citizens for more accountability and transparency regarding the use of public funds. Performance-based infrastructure asset management is an effort to use sound economic and engineering principles to assess lifecycle performance of projects on a range of important metrics including capacity, cost, safety, and reliability. Research in this area may be a means to improve Pennsylvania’s infrastructure management. Identifying appropriate topics for such research requires input from many disciplines, because asset management involves both engineering technology and societal values. To prioritize asset management research needs, this study conducted a survey of 31 experts attending an invitation-only international conference on asset management. The survey responses indicated that asset management has potential to both reduce costs and increase performance of infrastructure systems. However, participants expressed less confidence that appropriate metrics are available to implement performance-based asset management systems. The availability of appropriate data to inform asset management is also a concern. Respondents were asked to rate a number of potential research areas. Real world case studies and social science research on public preferences were rated as high priorities. Theoretical studies of asset management were rated as lower priorities. The priority given to social science research is particularly striking given that the experts were predominantly engineers. These results suggest that there is much to be learned from holistic studies of particular infrastructure systems and the interrelationships among different assets in such systems. Pennsylvania with its combination of high rural population, recent suburban development, older inner city areas, and large numbers of municipalities, has the potential to serve as a rich setting for the development of integrated case studies that will inform international understanding of asset management. These efforts could potentially be carried out with substantial federal matching funds as part of Pennsylvania’s existing transportation research program. Such efforts would not only be locally useful but would fulfill a world-wide need for better case studies of asset management implementation.
	Article:	A Transportation Policy Roadmap: How Can We Get from Here to There?
	Author:	Pietrucha, Martin T.
	Summary:	Transportation infrastructure is extremely complex. It is an example of a... (More) nested set of systems, or what is known, sometimes, as a "system of systems." Given that the technical experts who plan, design, build, operate, and maintain these systems often find it difficult to make sense of all of the elements and the interaction of these elements within a single system, it would seem that forging a coherent policy simply to preserve, let alone improve, transportation infrastructure would be a daunting task. However, keeping in mind that any infrastructure system is not an end but only a means to an end, one can tease out the important things that a transportation system needs to do to help the Commonwealth reach certain societal goals. With that in mind, a simple policy or set of policies can be developed, and from those policies, a roadmap to achieve those goals can be plotted. This paper explores the breadth and depth of issues associated with achieving, or not achieving, a transportation system that meets these goals, and provides the roadmap to do so. This path to success is based on the Commonwealth making the necessary repairs to the existing system, planning and carrying out strategic improvements in system carrying capacity, identifying a steady stream of dedicated user-generated funds, pursuing financing schemes that take full advantage of these funds, developing a variety of methods that will provide longer-lasting and faster-delivered infrastructure, and viewing everything that is done in light of how it will influence the production of greenhouse gases.
	Article:	Rural Pennsylvania's Water and Wastewater Infrastructure
	Author:	Cigler, Beverly A.
	Summary:	At times, citizens may take for granted the clean running... (More) water and efficient wastewater systems that are critical to their communities. Often, these systems are ignored until a problem arises. A multitude of factors can influence water and wastewater systems and at times these systems may require immediate repair or replacement due to age, condition, capacity, safety or permitting. If such needs are ignored, more infrastructure will reach the end of its useful life and rural communities will ultimately bear the cost of repair or replacement. This study examines the capacity of a sample of Pennsylvania’s small water and wastewater systems to assess their ability to meet challenges to their systems. Three different size water systems were examined in the study: those that serve 25 to 500 people; 500 to 3,300; and 3,301 to 10,000 people. The results of the study offer a baseline to assess actions needed to meet funding challenges and enhance rural infrastructure over the coming decades. Finally, this paper looks at the significant events that bear on the findings of this research since the study was first published in 2006.
	Article:	Energy and Water – A Joint Solution to Sustainable Economic Growth in the Monongahela River Basin
	Author:	Niverth, Martin
	Summary:	The infrastructure associated with the Monongahela River Basin, including the lock... (More) and dam system and much of the infrastructure necessary to support a large population, has reached a dangerous state of disrepair. The consequences of failing to address the water quality and infrastructure issues in the Monongahela River Basin are vast. New sources of pollution, such as Marcellus shale drilling waste, are creating a serious public health liability as the water treatment plants are not adequately prepared to handle the load. Numerous industrial facilities reside along the river and depend upon reliable water quality and quantity. As the lock and dam infrastructure continues to deteriorate, the daily operation capacity of these facilities is put into jeopardy. Without significant investment in the lock and dams, many river industries’ operational costs will become prohibitive. Furthermore, a substantial recreation economy has grown to accommodate multiple forms of recreation including fishing, skiing and boating. Significant lock and dam failure would devastate this sector of the economy. The headwaters of the Mon River Basin in West Virginia are currently jeopardized by the lack of regulation. This not only puts the Pennsylvania reach of this watershed at significantly more risk, but counters the effect of water quality improvement practices instituted in the Pennsylvania portion of the river. Holistic treatment of the watershed is necessary to ensure the integrity of practices designed to conserve, preserve and improve the quality of the regional water resource base.
	Article:	Pennsylvania and Green Infrastructure: Pennsylvania and Green Infrastructure:
	Authors:	Blunk, Kristen Saacke ;  Franklin, Nancy;  Shortle, James
	Summary:	Interest in sustainable alternatives to traditional infrastructure has led to... (More) investment in forms of green infrastructure which integrate the built and natural environments. Green infrastructure represents an opportunity for the Commonwealth to upgrade or replace infrastructure that may be outdated with more efficient modes of service provision. This article provides a general overview of the concept of green infrastructure and outlines policy implications for both the regional and local levels. In the first half of the article, the authors compare the degradation risks and ecosystem services associated with different types of land use. The second half reviews the sources and distribution of funding of green infrastructure projects, with emphasis on green workforce training.
	Article:	Broadband in Pennsylvania: An Essential Service?
	Authors:	Dalbey, Dennis;  Rappoport, Paul
	Summary:	The term "digital divide" emerged as a way to describe... (More) the gap between those who had access to the Internet and those who did not. A 1999 NTIA report, "Falling Through the Net: Defining the Digital Divide" was the first comprehensive measurement of the digital divide and brought to the forefront the debate of whether access to the Internet was a public policy goal. The data in this report suggested that connectivity to the Internet was not only defined by demographics but also that there was a geographical divide. Rural and poorer areas of the city lagged behind suburban and other areas in terms of computer ownership and Internet access. This paper addresses the digital divide between these geographical areas, and is divided in to three sections. Section one focuses on identifying the locations and size of the unserved and underserved areas in Pennsylvania. Section two examines broadband adoption in the Commonwealth including PC ownership and broadband subscriptions as well as the will to pay for Internet connections. Finally, section three uses data to analyze whether state-wide broadband access is a public necessity and whether the broadband demand is sufficient for supply.
	Article:	Well-Connected: A Three-County Case Study of Open-Access Broadband Development in Northern Appalachia
	Authors:	Alter, Theodore R.;  Bridger, Jeffrey C.;  Fortunato, Michael W-P;  Poppiti, Katie A. ;  Sager, Sheila S.;  Shuffstall, William C.
	Summary:	A three-county case study was conducted to analyze the human... (More) and institutional processes that contributed to the success (or failure) of three separate independent broadband deployment initiatives. Faced with urgent broadband needs, the counties were unable to attract a mainstream broadband provider and instead launched public-private partnerships (P3s) to explore, develop, and attempt to construct open access broadband networks to serve local residents. This article examines the current state of broadband deployment in rural America, with a focus on rural Pennsylvania and Maryland. It then recounts the stories of the three initiatives and analyzes common factors that facilitated or inhibited the successful completion of each project.
	Article:	Governance of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure
	Author:	Craig, Will
	Summary:	There is no unified system for collecting and organizing data... (More) across the country. Federal agencies often collect their own data based on their needs and taxpayers end up footing the bill for multiple versions of the same information. This article addresses the fragmented nature of data collection throughout the federal government and seeks to find a solution using parallels to smaller governments. The author starts by explaining the different agencies in place to process data, past mistakes and successes in data collection and different areas where accurate data could meet the needs of all levels of government. Ultimately, organization is the key to success. This article highlights state level governments and their ability to achieve effective data collection and dissemination, then provides advice on how to implement these efforts on a national scale.
	Article:	Geographic Data as Infrastructure
	Authors:	Bacastow, Todd S.;  Terrell, David
	Summary:	This paper argues that intellectual assets such as scientific and engineering... (More) data are legitimately understood and treated as infrastructure, inasmuch as they are necessary to the construction of social and economic systems. The argument extends to the idea that certain of these elements of intellectual infrastructure possess all the characteristics of a public good, and should be produced and distributed as such. PAMAP, Pennsylvania’s pioneering collection of digital geographic and cartographic data, is an example of this kind of infrastructure, but the tacit agreement that seems to have supported this view finds itself in considerable dispute. The future of considerable infrastructural development is in the balance.
	Article:	Human Terrain Data Infrastructure
	Authors:	Bacastow, Todd S.;  Bellafiore, Dennis J.
	Summary:	Human terrain infrastructure represents an emerging set of infrastructure technologies that... (More) maps human data across geographic space. Anything from basic demographic information to the plotting of attitudes and cultural groups can be mapped: an exceptionally powerful tool that enables public planners to make more informed decisions using a more holistic set of data. Despite its capabilities, human terrain infrastructure has raised several controversial issues. First, many citizens distrust the techniques necessary to collect such data — techniques that bear similarities to intelligence collection in foreign nations. Second, there are questions about who has access to this information, whether these groups can be trusted, and to what extent personal information should be made public for planning purposes. This article first explains human terrain infrastructure and presents an introduction to the benefits and drawbacks of the technology. Second, the article advances questions about the nature and function of human terrain infrastructure in order to frame the debate on the ethical and non-technical aspects of this powerful tool. It is not the authors' intent to present "answers" to these pressing questions, but rather to identify issues that are most likely to structure discussions about human terrain infrastructure well into the future.
	Article:	Evolving Institutional Structure and Public Policy Environment of Critical Infrastructures
	Author:	Bagby, John W.
	Summary:	For the foreseeable future, the United States’ critical infrastructures will... (More) be a major focus for homeland security while contributing greatly to the prosperity of the states and the private sector. The designation of critical infrastructures has evolved from a vague concept of public goods before the 1990s, through Executive Orders and presidential directives of the 1990s, and has been enshrined in the Critical Infrastructures Protection Act and the Homeland Security Act. This scope of critical infrastructures, the first of two challenging issues, has matured through interpretations provided in Presidential administration policy development, various national strategies, blue ribbon reports, white papers, case law and government funded economic stimulus programs. The second challenge is one of coordination, raising uncertainties from the evolving goals of various authorities in the interpretation and implementation of critical infrastructure mandates. These authorities include the: President, Congress, courts, various federal agencies, special purpose boards, states, standards development organizations, nongovernmental organizations and the private sector. Although the private sector owns or operates most critical infrastructures, the identification, risk management and investment stimulus for critical infrastructures remains fragmented, episodic and uncertain. A complex institutional structure aggravates clarity for each authority due to overlapping and potentially contradictory duties. Furthermore, sector-specific regulation, industry cooperation and free market pressures complicate the prioritization of critical infrastructure investment by both public and private interests. This article reviews the public policy development of critical infrastructure to guide interpretation of the relative critical infrastructure development and protection roles for states, non-governmental organizations, the private sector and federal agencies.

Volume 8 (Fall 2008)

Speaker Dennis M. O'Brien
Autism in Pennsylvania: What Lies Ahead?
In the pages that follow, we hope the readers will... (More) find answers to pertinent policy issues related to Autism. The terms Autism, Autistic Disorders, Pervasive Developmental Disorders, and Autism Spectrum Disorders are all terms that are used with increasing frequency in day-to-day conversations. The growing interest in the topic coinsides with a rising incidence of individuals identified with the disorder and an escalating demand for services. Policy makers at all levels of government will be required to respond to the demands of this important constituency.
	Article:	Speaker O'Brien's Introduction - “My kids: a Speaker’s efforts on behalf of those who inspire him most ...”
	Author:	O'Brien, Dennis M.
	Summary:	Speaker Dennis W. O'Brien's statement of personal involvement and an... (More) overview of legislative achievements in the area of Autism awareness and education initiatives.
	Article:	"Mommy, Why does that girl act like that...?"
	Author:	Christian, Sherry
	Summary:	We begin the journal with the first of two compelling... (More) accounts of autism from the perspective of the parents of individuals in Pennsylvania with the disorder. As Sherry Christian show us so poignantly, every person with autism is an individual with unique needs. Her account give you an idea about life within the autism spectrum.
	Article:	A day in the life of Brenda: Car, Computers and "Can we go to the Mall?"
	Author:	Flynn, Tom
	Summary:	The second compelling account of autism from the perspective... (More) of the parents of individuals in Pennsylvania with the disorder. As Tom Flynn show us so poignantly, every person with autism is an individual with unique needs. Her account give you an idea about life within the autism spectrum.
	Article:	Recognition of Autim Spectrum Disorder
	Authors:	Handen, Benjamin L.;  Lubetsky, Martin J.;  McGonigle, John J.
	Summary:	An article that analyzes the facts about identification and the importance... (More) of screening for children with autism at as young an age as possible.
	Article:	Brain Behavior Connection in Autism
	Authors:	Minshew, Nancy;  Williams, Diane
	Summary:	Important research about what is different about the brain of... (More) individuals with autism that leads to differences in how they think and perceive things.
	Article:	The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Approaches to Financing Autism Services: Medical Assistance and Mandated Benefits
	Authors:	Costlow, Monica R.;  Lave, Judith R.
	Summary:	Issues related to the provision of evidence-based services and the... (More) funding of such care.
	Article:	Funding Behavior-Analytic Autism Interventions: Who Pays?
	Authors:	Axelrod, Saul;  Bouder, James N.;  Hineline, Philip N.;  Swope, Betsy Wurstner;  Wilde, Nina C.
	Summary:	Autism is often a devastating diagnosis for families to cope... (More) with and understand. In addition to the diagnosis and coping with the child’s aberrant behavior, the limitations on funding for necessary behavioral interventions add even more stress for these families. Coupled with tight governmental funding, family financial constraints can make implementing home-based behavioranalytic programming difficult if not impossible. In recognition of this problem, Pennsylvania Act 62 of 2008 [originally House Bill (HB) 1150 of 2007], requires health insurance companies to cover up to $36,000 yearly for behavioral and other clinical services until the age of 21. HB 1150 was opposed by insurance companies and business lobbyists, who argued that these services were adequately covered by the State Medicaid Plan, and they did not want to increase service costs for all members. Ultimately, policy makers passed HB 1150, securing “Pennsylvania’s status as the national leader when it comes to helping families to deal with autism by ending discrimination in insurance coverage” (O’Brien, 2008).
	Article:	Single-Case Research Methods for Evaluating Treatments for Autism Spectrum Disorders
	Author:	Green, Gina
	Summary:	This article addresses the key features of scientific research, to briefly... (More) discuss traditional methods of evaluating treatments, and to introduce readers to single-case research methods as a powerful set of tools for evaluating treatments for autism spectrum disorders scientifically.
	Article:	Functional Assessment in Public Schools: A Tool for Classroom Teachers
	Authors:	Axelrod, Saul;  Kates-McElrath, Kelly
	Summary:	Emotional and behavioral problems have been identified as a primary concern... (More) for teachers and administrators in public school settings. The discipline-related component of IDEA requires that schools conduct a Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA) when a student’s behavior disrupts the educational environment in the extreme. Aspects of FBA such as experimental manipulations have been cited as limited in their applicability in school and other applied settings and have been criticized for being too complex for use in school settings. The Behavioral Assessment Tool for Teachers (BATT) is a tool designed to integrate both teachers and experimental manipulations into the FBA process during ongoing instruction. Six BATT administrations were conducted on students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder who were referred for behavioral consultation. Teacher-developed hypotheses were compared to consultant-developed hypotheses for the same students using qualitative methods. Results suggest there was agreement for one proposed hypothesis (1/6). Additionally, teachers were asked to complete a 10-question True/False survey regarding feasibility of use of the tool. The survey data permitted a narrowing of the issues with regard to impediments to the functional assessment process such as time, space, equipment, and specialized training.
	Article:	Medication Treatment in Autism Spectrum Disorder
	Authors:	Handen, Benjamin L.;  Lubetsky, Martin J.
	Summary:	An excellent review of the medical and psychopharmacological interventions used... (More) in the autism community. It provides an overview of the most commonly prescribed psychotropic medications in this population and the research evidence in support of their use.
	Article:	Preparing Students with Autism for College, and Preparing Colleges for Students with Autism
	Authors:	Berger, Pamela E.;  Hurewitz, Felicia
	Summary:	Since a growing number of students in the autism spectrum... (More) are now attending college, this article provides an account of barriers confronted by students in higher education and accommodations needed for this group that go far beyond those previously provided by college services for people with other disabilities.
	Article:	Can We Provide the Best Services Available? An Overview and Evaluation of Pennsylvania Regulations for Children and Adults with Developmental Disabilities
	Authors:	Fedezko, Jessica;  Foxx, Richard M.;  Luce, Stephen C.
	Summary:	A portion of individuals with autism has disabilities so severe... (More) that they require residential support. Residential support is sometimes sought for individuals with severe behavior disorders such as self-injury, aggression, or property destruction that endangers the individual with autism and others in his or her environment. The need for services like that becomes particularly critical for adults with severe problem behaviors. The research literature contains a number of support procedures proven to be effective with this population. This paper provides a review and evaluation of the current regulations that guide how residential services are provided to Pennsylvania residents who are diagnosed with intellectual disabilities or developmental disabilities. Two regulations that are commonly used in Pennsylvania to provide services to children and adults with developmental disabilities under Title 55 of the Pennsylvania Code are the Chapter 3800 and Chapter 6400 regulations (DPW 3800, 2000; OMR 6400, 1995). These regulations understandably control the methods used to support individuals with problem behaviors. In some cases, procedures controlled or prohibited in the Pennsylvania regulations represent methods commonly in use successfully in other settings and have substantial support for their desirable effects in the research literature. Some individuals are sent to other states to gain access to procedures limited or prohibited by the Pennsylvania regulations. When considering the needs of children and adults with severe behavior problems some regulatory changes would be helpful.
	Article:	Providing Real Choices for Adults with Autism and Their Families
	Authors:	Gillis-Donovan, Joanne;  Luce, Stephen C.
	Summary:	Article portrays a number of policies and procedures that significantly... (More) limit the choice of living options for indviduals with intellectural disabilities in the Pennsylvania Public Welfare system.
	Article:	Improving Autism Policies Beyond the Enigma: Current Challenges and Future Considerations for Improving Policies to Support Individuals Living with Autism
	Author:	Healy, Erin Monica
	Summary:	An interlocking multi-colored puzzle piece has become the international symbol... (More) for autism, conveying the mystery still surrounding this condition despite increasing awareness, research, and political attention in recent years. While the enigma as to the exact nature of this disorder and its origin persists, so too does the dilemma of determining how to provide appropriate and effective services to those living with this disability. In the United States, the incidence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) has drastically increased over the past decade, forcing policy makers nationwide to confront the stark reality that our country is unprepared to meet the growing needs of this population. This article will identify the primary challenges inherent to autism that states face when attempting to develop and improve services and supports for individuals living with ASD. This article will also examine the changing landscape of autism services in Pennsylvania, as an example of the broader national crisis. This author will discuss recommendations proposed by the Pennsylvania Autism Task Force meant to improve the organization, financing, and delivery of services in the Commonwealth, as well as review the subsequent reorganization of the Department of Public Welfare to include a Bureau of Autism Services. Included in this discussion is an overview of the obstacles individuals, families, providers, and administrators face as a result of serving consumers in a multitude of different service systems. Finally, this author will suggest a number of key issues requiring consideration at the federal level, leading to a more comprehensive dialogue between and across states regarding autism policies.
	Article:	Employment Planning for People with Autism Spectrum Disorders
	Authors:	Arici, Alan;  Dahl, Norm
	Summary:	Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders need level supports and services... (More) analogous to those needed by their school age counterparts; particularly important are supported employment services and intensive behavioral supports. This paper provides an overview of the community-based vocational training program that Melmark has developed in response to this growing need. This program integrates four components that promote employment outcomes for people with ASD who display challenging behaviors: (1) a sophisticated understanding of autism; (2) ongoing employment assessment, job development and training within community settings; (3) systematic application of the principles found in the science of applied behavior analysis; and (4) comprehensive post-placement consultation, collaboration, and support in work environments.
	Article:	Legal Issues Relation to Transition Planning and Post-Age 21 Services for Individuals with Autism
	Author:	McAndrews, Dennis C.
	Summary:	This article helps the reader naviage the legal issues related... (More) to the transition to services for adults with autism.

Volume 7 (Summer 2008)

Speaker Dennis M. O'Brien
The First Pennsylvania Geospatial Policy Symposium: Past, Present and Future
The First Pennsylvania Geospatial Policy Symposium, held on October 4,... (More) 2007, informed the public about public policy issues involving geospatial technology in Pennsylvania. The technology deals with issues where geographic boundaries or the location of people, places or things is crucial. Geospatial technology consists of many hardware and software tools like Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). These tools are used to create, analyze, integrate and display this very important geographic or locational information through mapping and spatial media.
	Article:	Panel 1: A Showcase of Geospatial Applications Impacting Public Policy: The Southwestern Pennsylvania Experience
	Authors:	Brethauer, Kirk ;  Hwang, Sungsoo;  King, Michael R.;  Parmanto, Bambang;  Sharma, Ravi K.;  Soska, Tracy M.
	Summary:	Presentations in this panel illustrated how geospatial technology is employed in... (More) regional planning and administration, neighborhood-level community building and policy making, and public health monitoring and administration. Each panelist discussed the value and impact of their application, the opportunities, barriers, and issues they confront, and the policy questions raised by these opportunities and problems.
	Article:	Panel 2: The Economics of a Commonwealth Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI): Sustainability and Opportunities for Public-Private Partnerships
	Authors:	Alter, Theodore R.;  Beaury, Robert J.;  Bellafiore, Dennis J.;  Geringer, James;  King, Timothy R.
	Summary:	The purposes of this panel were to:The purposes of this... (More) panel were to: 1. Introduce and discuss the concept of a spatial data infrastructure that encompasses the materials, technology, and people necessary to acquire, process, store, and distribute information to meet a wide variety of needs. The discussion emphasized that a spatial data infrastructure is more than hardware, software, and data; it is the public foundation on which a marketplace for geospatial products and services may evolve; and 2. Focus on potential actions that capitalize on the economic opportunities created by the development and maintenance of a spatial data infrastructure while simultaneously addressing the economic and other costs to create and maintain it. Included in the discussion was the possible use of public-private partnerships as governing and financing mechanisms.
	Article:	Removing Barriers to Geospatial Coordination and Governance: Executive vs. Legislative Options and the Role of a Geospatial Council
	Authors:	Bacastow, Todd S.;  Cappelli, Steven W.;  Geringer, James;  Knudson, James;  Schell, David;  Thomas, W. Curtis
	Summary:	The presentations in this panel presented a range of perspectives... (More) on geospatial coordination and governance in the Commonwealth. Among the issues addressed were: · What are the barriers to geospatial coordination and governance? · What is the proper role of each level and branch of government and each sector in geospatial coordination and governance? · Who or what will provide the leadership to determine Pennsylvania’s geospatial future?
	Article:	Overview by Governor Geringer, Final Q&A, and Closing Remarks
	Author:	Geringer, James
	Summary:	An overview followed by an extended Question and Answer period in... (More) each panel was intended to provide opportunity for substantive and informed discussion of the topics raised in the Symposium.

Volume 6 (Spring 2007)

Speaker Dennis M. O'Brien
Essays on the Role of Libraries in Education
Throughout our history, Pennsylvania's libraries have served as hallmarks of... (More) knowledge, laboratories for intellectual curiosity, and touchstones of our treasured past. Collectively, our libraries represent an educational resource that is vast in scope yet nearby, accessible, and, best of all, free to everyone. With more than 620 locations across all 67 counties, our public libraries work daily to improve the lives and learning opportunities for Pennsylvanians of all ages, just as it has been for more than 200 years. In the pages that follow you will read the stories of lifelong learning in Pennsylvania's public libraries, and how librarians touch the lives of thousands of people each and every day. You'll read about story hours for pre-schoolers, homework help for teens, nutrition classes for new parents, technology training for career changers, marketing advice for budding entrepreneurs, English language lessons for new Americans, and travel and health information for retirees.
	Article:	Speaker O'Brien's Opening Letter
	Author:	O'Brien, Dennis M.
	Summary:	N/A
	Article:	Introduction
	Author:	Miller, Glenn R.
	Summary:	Introduction to this collection of essays reflecting lifelong learning experiences... (More) in our state's libraries.
	Article:	The Role of Libraries in Child Development and Early Learning
	Author:	Pannebaker, Sasan
	Summary:	N/A
	Article:	Community College Library Services
	Author:	Conneen, Olga F.
	Summary:	N/A
	Article:	GlaxoSmithKline's Science in the Summer™
	Author:	Stern, Margie
	Summary:	N/A
	Article:	The Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund
	Author:	Megdad, Diana
	Summary:	N/A
	Article:	Libraries and Lifelong Learning: Lackawanna County Partnerships in Education
	Author:	Garm, Mary O.
	Summary:	N/A
	Article:	Family Museum Pass, Library System of Lancaster County
	Author:	Hauer, Susan L.
	Summary:	The Library ~ystem of Lancaster County and the North Museum... (More) of Natural History in Lancaster City partnered in Apri12006 in developing the first-ever countywide "Family Museum Pass" program. In an effort to reach out to better serve the many underserved youth and those Lancaster County families who have limited fmancial means, and bring the world of science to our youngest children and family members, the family museum pass affords our community'residents opportunity to experience the joy of learning together.
	Article:	Growing the Economy at the Library, Library System of Lancaster County
	Author:	Hauer, Susan L.
	Summary:	N/A
	Article:	Mission G.O.! - Grade One !, Library System of Lancaster County
	Author:	N/A
	Summary:	N/A
	Article:	Pennsylvania and Life-Long Learning: A Role for Public Libraries
	Author:	Kelly, Joseph J.
	Summary:	N/A
	Article:	Rare Collections Library; Ribbon Cutting Keynote Address
	Author:	Zales, M. Clare
	Summary:	N/A
	Article:	Pennsylvania School Libraries: Key Players in Education
	Author:	Emerick, John
	Summary:	N/A
	Article:	Something for Everyone at the Public Library
	Author:	Alloway, Catherine
	Summary:	N/A
	Article:	Summer at the Library: Connecting Kids and Books
	Author:	DeFilippo, Georgene
	Summary:	N/A
	Article:	The Dauphin County Library System
	Authors:	Bowra, Rich;  Cullings, Karen
	Summary:	N/A

Volume 5 (Fall 2006)

Speaker John M. Perzel
Beyond Financial Aid: Funding Strategies for College Costs
Beyond Financial Aid: Funding Strategies for College Costs describes 10... (More) funding strategies. Dr. James B. Johnston explains that paying for college is time sensitive, as it requires multi-disciplinary financial information. Investment, tax and financial aid knowledge are all required. This essay includes a "True Cost" worksheet that effectively demonstrates that consideration of need or non-need based scholarships, and on average, the shorter time required to graduate from private colleges and unjversities, the cost differences between public and private higher education shrinks or disappears. Johnston writes that he was surprised to find how few people. including educators, are aware of the time difference between public and private colleges that is required to graduate. Recognizing that fact should encourage families to make college selection decisions based upon their values and aspirations rather than three potentially expensive cost assumptions, which he describes in this work.
	Article:	PART I: The Basics
	Author:	Johnston, James B.
	Summary:	N/A
	Article:	PART II: Ten Strategies
	Author:	Johnston, James B.
	Summary:	N/A
	Article:	PART III: SAGE Tuition Rewards
	Author:	Johnston, James B.
	Summary:	N/A
	Article:	PART IV: Case Studies
	Author:	Johnston, James B.
	Summary:	N/A
	Article:	PART V: Resources
	Author:	Johnston, James B.
	Summary:	N/A

Volume 4 (Spring 2006)

Speaker John M. Perzel
Early Childhood Education: Universal Pre-K and Other Alternatives
In this volume, each of the presentations is showcased at... (More) the workshop. In the first chapter, Dr. Marsha Weinraub presents an overview of services currently available to Pennsylvania children. Her presentation provides a backdrop for legislators to view what has been accomplished in the Commonwealth. In Chapter 2, there is a reprint of an article by Dr. William Gormley that appeared in the Phi Delta Kappan. In the article, Dr. Gormley presents the arguments for and against Universal Pre-K, and recounts the experience of several states as they moved toward UPK. As he did in greater detail at the Policy Workshop, in this reprinted article Dr. Gormley summarizes the findings from research concerning the effects of universal Pre-K on children. Dr. Gormley's research in the State of Oklahoma shows that quality early education can have tremendous effects on children's readiness to learn. With the recognition that enacting and implementing publicly funded Universal Pre-K is a controversial and difficult, yet not impossible process, David Lawrence recounts in Chapter 3 how the state of Florida passed their Universal PreK program in 2004. His description of what's happening with universal preschool in Florida nearly one year later is especially enlightening. In Chapter 4, Dr. Richard Fiene describes early childhood initiatives in other states that may be relevant to Pennsylvania. Finally, in Chapter 5, Drs. Anne Shlay and Marsha Weinraub sum up the discussion among the legislators and workshop attendees that followed these stimulating presentations.
	Article:	Overview of Services Currently Available to Pennsylvania Children
	Author:	Weinraub, Marsha
	Summary:	Dr. Marsha Weinraub presents an overview of services currently available... (More) to Pennsylvania children. Her presentation provides a backdrop for legislators to view what has been accomplished in the Commonwealth.
	Article:	The Universal Pre-K Bandwagon
	Author:	Gormley Jr, William T.
	Summary:	An article by Dr. William Gormley that appeared in the... (More) Phi Delta Kappan. In the article, Dr. Gormley presents the arguments for and against Universal Pre-K, and he recounts the experience of several states as they moved toward UPK. As he did in greater detail at our Policy Workshop, in this reprinted article Dr. Gormley summarizes the findings from research concerning the effects of universal Pre-K on children. Dr. Gormley's research in the State of Oklahoma shows that quality early education can have tremendous effects on children's readiness to learn.
	Article:	How Did Florida Pass Their Universal Pre-K Program?
	Author:	Lawrence Jr, David
	Summary:	With the recognition that enacting and implementing publicly funded Universal... (More) Pre-K is a controversial and difficult, yet not impossible process, David Lawrence recounts in Chapter 3 how the state of Florida passed their Universal PreK program in 2004. His description of what's happening with universal preschool in Florida nearly one year later is especially enlightening.
	Article:	Early Childhood Initiatives in Other States
	Author:	Feine, Richard
	Summary:	Dr. Richard Fiene describes early childhood initiatives in other states... (More) that may be relevant to Pennsylvania.
	Article:	Conclusion
	Authors:	Shlay, Anne B.;  Weinraub, Marsha
	Summary:	Drs. Anne Shlay and Marsha Weinraub summarize the discussion among the... (More) legislators and workshop attendees that followed these stimulating presentations.

Volume 3 (Winter 2005)

Speaker John M. Perzel
Essays on Access from Pennsylvania's Independent Colleges and Universities
Ten powerful essays provided by college/universities presidents through the efforts... (More) of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania (AICUP). The works ranges from describing an effective on-campus residency program for single mothers with children at Wilson College, to offering solutions for accessibility, to a description of a program that brings the natural sciences and women together with exceptional results.
	Article:	Wilson's Women with Children Program
	Author:	Edmundson, Lorna D.
	Summary:	"Wilson's Women With Children Program: Distinguished by On-Campus Residence for... (More) Single Mothers and Children, A Powerful Model for Systemic Change" by Lorna D. Edmundson, Ph.D., President of Wilson College. This essay was excerpted from a monograph titled "Powerful Partnerships" (October, 2004) and is reprinted by permission from Lumina Foundation for Education.
	Article:	Providing Affordable Private Higher Education
	Author:	Kepple, Thomas R.
	Summary:	"Providing Affordable Private Higher Education" by Thomas R. Kepple, Jr.,... (More) Ph.D., Juniata College, President
	Article:	We are a Pennsylvania University and We Authorize this Message
	Author:	Lannon S.J., Timothy R.
	Summary:	"We are a Pennsylvania University and We Authorize this Message"... (More) by Father Timothy R. Lannon, S.J., President, Saint Joseph's University
	Article:	Accessibility: The Vision of Gannon University's Founders
	Author:	Garibaldi, Antoine M.
	Summary:	"Accessibility: The Vision of Gannon University's Founders" by Antoine... (More) M. Garibaldi, Ph.D., President, Gannon University
	Article:	Providing Access and Choice for the Adult Learner
	Author:	Mazzeno, Laurence W.
	Summary:	"Providing Access and Choice for the Adult Learner" by Laurence... (More) W. Mazzeno, Ph.D., President, Alvernia College
	Article:	Getting More Access to Higher Education
	Author:	Francis, Don L.
	Summary:	"Getting More Access to Higher Education" by Don L. Francis,... (More) Ph.D., President, Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania
	Article:	Access to Higher Education: A Fallacy of Composition
	Author:	MacDowell, Michael A.
	Summary:	"Access to Higher Education: A Fallacy of Composition" by Michael... (More) A. MacDowell, Ph.D., President, College Misericordia
	Article:	Arcadia University: Starting with Eighth-Graders
	Author:	Landman, Bette E.
	Summary:	"Arcadia University: Starting with Eighth-Graders" by Bette E. Landman, Ph.D.,... (More) Former President, Arcadia College
	Article:	Cedar Crest College: Women and Science
	Author:	Blaney, Dorothy G.
	Summary:	"Cedar Crest College: Women and Science: by Dorothy G. Blaney,... (More) Ph.D., President, Cedar Crest College"
	Article:	Asynchronous Online Learning Generates Myriad Policy Questions
	Author:	Lendo, Arthur J.
	Summary:	"Asynchronous Online Learning Generates Myriad Policy Questions" by Arthur J.... (More) Lendo, Ph.D., President and CEO, Peirce College.

Volume 2 (Fall 2004)

Speaker John M. Perzel
"The Challenges of Pennsylvania Demography for Higher Education" "The Privatization of American Public Higher Education"
Two essays that tackle higher education concerns on a statewide... (More) perspective, by Dr. Graham B. Spanier, the 16th president of one of the nation's largest and most comprehensive universities, Pennsylvania State University. The first essay entitled, "The Challenges of Pennsylvania Demography for Higher Education" focuses on the changing demography in Pennsylvania and its consequences for higher education. Dr. Spanier's second essay, "The Privatization of American Public Higher Education," focuses on the shifting landscape in funding of the nation's top public research universities.
	Article:	Speaker Perzel's Introduction
	Author:	Perzel, John M.
	Summary:	Two essays that tackle higher education concerns on a statewide... (More) perspective, by Dr. Graham B. Spanier, the 16th president of one of the nation's largest and most comprehensive universities, Pennsylvania State University.
	Article:	The Challenges of Pennsylvania Demography for Higher Education
	Author:	Spanier, Graham B.
	Summary:	A short essay entitled, "The Challenges of Pennsylvania Demography for... (More) Higher Education" focuses on the changing demography in Permsylvania and its consequences for higher education.
	Article:	The Privatization of American Public Higher Education
	Author:	Spanier, Graham B.
	Summary:	The second essay, "The Privatization of American Public Higher Education," focuses... (More) on the shifting landscape in funding of the nation's top public research universities.

Volume 1 (Winter 2004)

Speaker John M. Perzel
Toward Universal Access to Higher Education - The American Experience
Although directed primarily to Greek and European Union audiences, his description... (More) and analysis of America's system of higher education will be of interest to Americans in public and private life. Americans have a penchant for self-criticism, and we often tak our institutions for granted. Chancellor Liacouras offers commentaries on such practical and controversial topics as: academic preparedness of Americans for college; affirmative action; at-risk children and non-traditional students; soaring tuition and the shifting of the burden of college costs to the student; financial aid and tuition discounting; family income leading to social stratification in both access and college demography; resistance of universities to increase their innovation and new systems accessing and delivering education; the "commodity" feature of college courses and transferability of credits; linkages between community colleges and four-year institutions; the "for-profit" universities' response to marketplace demands; graduation rates linked to government financing; accountability and accreditation of colleges and universities; limited but vital roles of government in policy initiatives and funding; the critical function in America's system of independent governing boards with final decision-making authority; political interference in administering colleges; constant competition among colleges in all their activities; and the critical and pervasive role of the "markets."
	Article:	Speaker Perzel's Introduction
	Author:	Perzel, John M.
	Summary:	To explore contemporary solutions and opinions on education in Pennsylvania and... (More) America, my office will publish a series of essays on the future of education and share them with my colleagues in the House and others interested in the future of education in our state. It is my hope that these scholarly works will spur discussion and thoughtful discourse on a variety of education topics, leading to laws that support sound and effective education practices in the Commonwealth. We wanted to begin with a work that places American higher education in a global perspective. I am therefore pleased that the first in this series is a reflection on American higher education by my friend, Peter J. Liacouras, Chancellor and University Professor of Law at Temple University. Entitled "Toward Universal Access to Higher Education - The American Experience," this short book is an extension of his response on May 6,2003, on the occasion of his investiture as a corresponding member of the elite Academy of Athens in Greece. Chancellor Liacouras is apparently the first native-born American to be elected to the modern counterpart of Plato's Academy, the highest honorary scientific institution in Greece. Chancellor Liacouras and the Academy of Athens have been kind enough to permit publication in the United States, through my office, in advance of its publication in Greece in both English and Greek in early 2004.
	Article:	PART ONE: Text
	Author:	Liacouras, Peter James
	Summary:	Introduction 1. The "System" of Higher Education 2. Institutional Autonomy 3. Market-driven Competition 4.... (More) The Roles of Government Conclusion Notes
	Article:	PART TWO: Data and Commentaries - A. Selective Characteristics of the U.S. Population
	Author:	Liacouras, Peter James
	Summary:	Table -1. Population ... (More) T-2. Age of Population T-3. Racial Demography T-4. Foreign-born Population and Region of Birth T-5. Languages Spoken at Home T-6. Ancestry T-7. Religion T-8. Employment, by Type T-9. Employment, by Industry T-10. Income T-11. Poverty Rates T-12. Disability Rates T-13. Types of Households T-14. Types of Hoursing Units T-15. School Enrollment T-16. Educational Attainment T-17. Average SAT Scores, by Ethnicity
	Article:	PART TWO: Data and Commentaries - B. Selective Characteristics of the U.S. Higher Education
	Author:	Liacouras, Peter James
	Summary:	T-18. Number of Institutions, by Type: Total Colleges ... (More) Universities, and other Postsecondary Institutions, 2003 T-19. Number of Institutions, by "Carnegie Classification" within Each Category-Based on 2000-01 total of 3,941 Colleges and Universities T-20. Student Enrollment, by Size and Type of Institution T-21. Proportion of Students in Public or Private Institutions T-22. Student Enrollment, by Academic Level in Public Institutions T-23. Selective Characteristics of Students in All Institutions T-24. Proportion of "Minority" Students in All Institutions T-25. Where Freshman Enroll: First-year Undergraduate Enrollment, by Type of Institution T-26. Graduation Rates T-27. Accountability of Colleges and Universities T-28. The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education
	Article:	PART TWO: Data and Commentaries - C. Selective Financial Data about U.S. Higher Education
	Author:	Liacouras, Peter James
	Summary:	T-29. Selective National Statistics T-30. State and Federal Governmental... (More) Funding of Higher Education, 2000-01 T-31. Sources of "Current-Fund" Revenues for Annual Operations, 1996-97 T-32. An Illustration of "Current-Fund" Revenues of One Public Research University, 2002-03 T-33. Expenditures, by Type of Institution, 1995-96 and 2000-01 T-34. Purpose of "Current-Fund" Expenditures, by Type of Institutions, 1996-97 T-35. Shift in the Burden of Costs from States to Students T-36. Average Undergraduate College Cost to the Student, 2002-03 T-37. Financial Aid Can Reduce the Net Price to the Student by 50% T-38. Undergraduate Costs to the Institution in Relation to Revenue from Student Tuition and Fees T-39. Revenue Sources for Research and Development T-40. Endowments of 538 Colleges and Universities, 2002
	Article:	Selective Bibliography
	Author:	Liacouras, Peter James
	Summary:	Selective Bibliography