Publications

Bridging the Data Divide: Understanding State Agency and University Research Partnerships within SLDS

Authors: Susan T. Gooden, Ph.D., Farrah S. Graham, Ph.D., and Kasey J. Martin
Date of publication: Spring 2014

This report examines this question through an analysis of state agency-university researcher partnerships that exist in State Longitudinal Data Systems (SLDS). Building state agency-university researcher partnerships is an important value of SLDS. To examine state agency-university researcher partnerships within SLDS, our analysis is guided by the following set of questions based on 71 interviews conducted with individuals most directly involved with SLDS efforts in Virginia, Maryland, Texas and Washington. The findings from this analysis suggest that each state’s SLDS organization and governance structure includes university partners in differing ways. In general, stronger partnership efforts are driven by legislative action or executive-level leadership. Regardless of structure, the operation of these partnerships is shaped by the agency’s previous experience and cultural norms surrounding the value and inclusion of university researchers.

Bridging the Data Divide

Facilitation College Success Among Emerging Hispanic Serving Institutions: Multiple Perspectives Yield Commonly Shared Diversity Goals

Authors: Susan T. Gooden, Ph.D., and Kasey J. Martin
Date of publication: Spring 2012

Utilizing a qualitative approach, this research brief analyzes multiple perspectives on factors related to Latino student success. The central findings of this brief suggest that, while multiple perspectives exist, there are common areas of consensus relative to promoting cultural competency and fostering Latino student success.

Facilitation College Success Among Emerging Hispanic Serving Institutions

Technical Assistance: Coach and Data Facilitator Support Among Texas Colleges

Authors: Susan T. Gooden, Ph.D., Kasey J. Martin, Lindsey L. Evans and Kashea N. Pegram
Date of publication: Spring 2011

The goal of this research brief is to provide an assessment of the relationship among Achieving the Dream colleges, coaches and data facilitators. This brief places emphasis on the coach and data facilitator relationship to the college and how it affects the work being done related to Achieving the Dream initiative.

Technical Assistance: Coach and Data Facilitator Support Among Texas Colleges

Leadership with Grace

Authors: Nakeina E. Douglas, Ph.D., and Susan T. Gooden, Ph.D.
Date of publication: 2010

A remarkable lady of incredible talent and vision, Dr. Grace Edmondson Harris had a unique experience with Virginia Commonwealth University. A native of rural Halifax County in southern Virginia, she was denied admission to graduate study at VCU (then Richmond Professional Institute), a large public university in Richmond, Virginia. Ironically, later in 1967, Dr. Harris became the first African American female faculty member in the School of Social Work at VCU and ascended the ranks to become dean of the School of Social Work, provost and acting president prior to her retirement in 1999. Although Dr. Harris has strong ties to the African American community, to situate her contributions to VCU solely in terms of a "segregation to integration" narrative misses the mark. It fails to capture her success in leading the School of Social Work and her clear vision in her capacity as provost and in developing VCU's First Strategic Plan. She continues to share her leadership talents through the Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute, which was established at VCU in her honor upon her retirement. Most recently, in 2008, an academic building on VCU's campus was named "Grace E. Harris Hall." Through a series of interviews with Dr. Harris, as well with as current and former administrators and faculty at VCU, we offer a description and analysis of Dr. Harris' leadership style spanning her 40-year tenure at Virginia Commonwealth University. It is a style that we (and others) find to be uniquely effective, people centered and decisive.

Leadership with Grace

Achieving the Dream and Four-Year Institutions: Perspectives from Three Houston Colleges

Authors: Susan T. Gooden, Ph.D., Kasey J. Martin, Lindsey L. Evans and Kashea N. Pegram
Date of publication: Summer 2010

This report examines the experiences of three Houston area four-year universities that are participating in Achieving the Dream, a national initiative designed to use data-driven decision making to promote student success, especially among low-income students and students of color. Each of these universities is a minority-serving institution, two are Historically Black Colleges or Universities and one is a Hispanic Serving Institution.

Achieving the Dream and Four-Year Institutions: Perspectives from Three Houston

Implementing the Dream: Lessons from the Houston Community College

Authors: Susan T. Gooden, Ph.D., and Kasey J. Martin
Date of publication: Summer 2008

With a commitment to affordable, open access education, community colleges provide a key access point to higher education, especially for low-income students and students of color. Using a qualitative approach, this report analyzes the experiences of six Houston area community colleges that are participating in Achieving the Dream, a national initiative designed to use data-driven decision-making to promote student success.

Implementing the Dream: Lessons from the Houston Community College