The next round of studies will examine questions such as what factors determine why college students decide to pursue education careers, where educators choose to teach, why they transfer schools and districts, and why they decide to quit. Many issues affect these decisions, including student demographics and community composition, salary, class size, and professional development opportunities, as well as the economy and labor market in general, Lankford said. These studies are academically important, but at the same time, the findings will be very relevant to current policy issues, he said, noting that all states are wrestling with teacher quality and supply issues. There are important gaps in our understanding of how to attract and retain high quality teachers. Unless we can understand what influences teachers choices, policies may not achieve their intended purposes, Wyckoff added.
Teachers are human beings who have preferences and face decisions.
The University will use these funds to help close this information gap, McNulty said. The opening reception is Saturday, March 24, from 5 to 8 p.m. The exhibition will highlight the rigorous and diverse nature of community college visual arts programs across the state and will offer a spirited mix of work being produced by its talented students. More than 60 works in a variety of mediums will be featured. Selected Works by Art Students at SUNY Community Colleges is sponsored by the Office of UAlbany President Karen R. Hitchcock. This exhibition highlights so many of the rich resources of the State University of New York system, Hitchcock said.