Research Symposium

BIO

My name is Matthew Aguilera, and I am a freshman majoring in political science. As someone who has long been fascinated by the American political system and the mechanism on which it runs, my choice of degree was only natural. I look forward to gaining real-world experience in the political realm, whether that be by working in political offices or on campaigns. As is the case with what is probably the vast majority of political science majors, I too plan on attending law school following the completion of my undergraduate education.

Outside of academics, my hobbies generally consist of those activities which are to be done outdoors. I have a special interest in sailing, as I used to race for a club and would work there in the summers; and although I have not had much time to get out recently, I would really like to do so more often. Outside of that, I enjoy hiking, running, and even mountain biking. I do also enjoy reading, with my books generally consisting of non-fiction histories or political biographies.

Understanding the Influence of Governance on Higher Education Performance in Florida

Abstract

This study researches the influence of government in second education institutions in the state of Florida. By using data from the Postsecondary Education Data System, which includes information from the twelve public universities in Florida, this study examines the relationship between institutional performance and governance. Since Florida does not have a specific governance system, but rather a hybrid one, each public university has a unique governance structure which allows us to study their governance process. Additionally, by using Florida as a case study, it allows us to examine how the change in governmental structure in different universities affects the institutions' performance. This paper examines governmental processes and structure in order to see which is more effective in terms of performance. It also discusses which processes are more effective including top down, horizontal, or bottom-up governmental processes. By studying these structures of the government process, we are able to narrow down the efficiency of each structure. This paper is meant to provide theoretical contributions to the field of governmental studies by expanding literature to include the structure and processes of government. It also is meant to discuss government influence in terms of organization and its influence on institutions in the state of Florida.​

Keywords: political science; education; government; public policy; public administration