Description: This presentation discusses research on the validity of a guest worker program in the United States. Abstract: As border and immigration policy is a contentious political and social issue, it is important to consider a wide range of solutions. Actual people are being affected by these policies, but there has yet to be a viable guest worker program presented by policy makers. This paper addresses the possibility of a successful guest worker program by combining evidence gathered through interviews with former migrant workers with analysis of immigration law in the United States since 1965, analysis of guest worker programs in Europe and Canada, and analysis of the effects of the political and economic situation between the US and Mexico. The research indicates that successful implementation would require the allowance of remittances, an extensive public education program, and bilateral agreements between the US and Mexico. Although the authors research addresses the issue of a program specifically linked to Mexico, the results provide the framework for comprehensive immigration reform in the US.

Description: This paper discusses research on for-profit and nonprofit microfinance and how the poor are affected. Abstract: Of the world's 6.5 billion people, 2.8 billion are living in poverty on less than $2 per day. After a general discussion of poverty among several perspectives, this research will focus on the microfinance industry. Microfinance has proven itself an effective poverty alleviation tool. Traditionally, the microfinance industry has been nonprofit, geared toward helping the poor rise from poverty through the provision of small loans to create or expand businesses. The need for additional funding capital and the growing popularity of the industry have spurred an industry-wide debate between the traditional nonprofit model and newer for-profit microfinance model ideals. Many social and economic trade-offs occur on the spectrum that shifts between these two models. As this industry continues to transform itself rapidly, this study works to explain the major points of the debate within the context of two microfinance institutions from both models (i.e., Alternativa Solidaria and Compartamos). Although there were several limitations such as time and funding, this paper offers ideas of how each might overcome their inadequacies in the future to find a stronger balance between funding, satisfying the market demand for ...

Description: This poster describes a pilot study on teaching French verbal aspect through concept-based instruction. This poster outlines and describes the background and context of a verbal aspect, the tasks and assessments for the study, student learning outcomes, the theoretical framework, and the results of the study.