A number of investigations have been undertaken with the object of replacing the present water treatment system at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute Power Plant. / Master of Science

The Situation. Downtown. An alleyway and adjacent building form the volumetric parametric parameters for a hypothetical, semi-urban addition. The Program. A synthesis of bookstore, art gallery, and cafe outlines the necessary conditions to be featured in the proposed building. The Strategy. To actualize each element of the program while attempting to construct, through minimal intervention, a space which maximizes the cross-sectional aspects of the situation and the internal organization of the program. / Master of Architecture

This study concerned the nature and process of Black identity development as described by William Cross in a linear, stagewise model of Black identity development. Dr. Cross is a psychologist and Associate Professor in the Africana Studies and Research Center of Cornell University. He developed his model of Black identity development which he called the Negro to Black Conversion Experience in 1971. In 1991, modifications were made in the model by Cross which emphasized the diversity in African American identity. Cross's model included the stages of Pre-encounter, Encounter, Immersion-Emersion, Internalization, and Internalization-Commitment. / Ph. D.

This exploratory study investigated the crucial role society and individual college cultures played in selecting and channeling women from male-dominated to female-dominated majors. Since academic major is linked to the kind of vocation a person pursues, scarcity of women in certain majors constitutes an obstacle to opportunity in the work force. Literature was used to develop questions for interview protocol to identify reasons for college women's decision to leave a male-dominated major and enter a female-dominated major. The interviews provided self-report information from college women transfers from the College of Engineering, College of Business, and College of Architecture to the College of Human Resources and revealed six factors that explained their decisions. These factors were classroom environment, faculty behaviors, peer relations, curriculum content, performance pressures, and role expectations. These factors were interdependent though each played a significant role in explaining the women's decisions. Additionally, women's decision to leave a male-dominated major and enter a female-dominated major was a function of affirmation of self and was derived from the six environmental factors. The degree of interaction congruence between the student and each of these factors affected affirmation of self and how women evaluated and responded to their environment. Lastly, applications for educational practitioners were offered and recommendations for further research were suggested. / Master of Arts

The nature of the adjustment process for international students, upon initial enrollment in American colleges and universities, has not been adequately described by researchers. The most accepted model used to describe the adjustment process is the U-Curve model (Lysgaard, 1955; Oberg, 1960) even though research has not shown much empirical support of this model. Juffer's (1983) Culture Shock Adaptation Inventory II (CSAI II) was used to examine the adjustment process of first-semester Virginia Tech graduate students from the People's Republic of China and India. A pre-test, post-test design was used to examine differences among Chinese and Indian graduate students. Four subscale dimensions and total dimension measuring between culture shock and cultural adjustment were analyzed. There were no significant differences between Chinese and Indian graduate students in the pre-test scores and the change scores. There were significant differences in the Control of Emotions and Physical Well-Being dimensions in the post-test scores. The results of the remaining dimensions for the post-test scores were not significant. These results revealed that, at the onset, graduate students from China and India are at similar adjustment levels. However, after approximately three months, Chinese students may exhibit more problems with their emotions and their physical well-being. Overall, however, it seems that the examination of individual rather than group differences may be the best way to more effectively understand the adjustment process of international students. / Master of Arts

This exploratory study was conducted to examine the nature and prevalence of sexual harassment on the college campus of Virginia Tech. The purpose was to identify the frequency of occurrence, the type of incidents, the seriousness of the harassment, and the awareness level of students concerning sexual harassment issues. To gain insight into sexual harassment, forty-seven college women from women's organizations were interviewed in five focus groups and asked about sexual harassment issues at Virginia Tech. Literature was used to develop the questions. The data were analyzed using categories formed based on students' responses to interview questions. Findings from this study revealed the presence of sexual harassment on the campus of Virginia Tech, though most of the students had not directly experienced it. Of those with direct experience, the incidents closely paralleled reports in the literature. Though apparently not a wide-spread phenomena on the Virginia Tech campus, students expressed a need for more information, more access to resources for help, and greater campus awareness. These findings may have utility for campus administrators who design information services and institutional response mechanisms to help students cope with this problem. / Master of Arts

The city of Blacksburg, Virginia, has moved its boundaries farther and farther west of U.S.460. Though a large amount of commercial and residential architecture has accompanied this growth, there has been no sacred architecture to complement any of this secular construction. With this in mind, a rolling pasture along Price's Fork Road west of U.S.46O was chosen as the site for a new religious/community center for the residents of Blacksburg's expanding boundaries. The design scheme, for a Roman Catholic church, consists of a K fellowship hall, meditation garden, and sanctuary surrounded by a protective wall. This scheme responds to the traditions of the Church as well as the spiritual needs of the surrounding community. / Master of Architecture

In the past 30 years the size of new houses has varied considerably with a general trend to larger houses. These larger houses use more materials in their construction and consume more energy to heat and cool than a more compact house would. Meanwhile, the amount of resources that are available have not increased, and the environmental condition of the planet has become more and more tenuous. To end this trend of larger houses that make inefficient use of natural resources, architects need to design houses that are smaller and use energy more efficiently. By building houses more in tune with the natural rhythms of the sun and seasons the home becomes more energy efficient and can take better advantage of the natural energy supply available from the sun. Such a house will have less of an impact on the environment and keep the residents in touch with natural cycle of life. With this project I have addressed these issues and have designed a row of houses that provide a meaningful place to live that is also in tune with the environment. As with any project, I have found the answers to many questions and I have also discovered new ideas to develop further / Master of Architecture

This thesis explores an architectural housing solution for the middle income sector of the United States. The impetus for this exploration is founded in the conviction that housing must respond to the desires and needs of its occupants. An understanding of these desires and needs was discerned through studying the background of housing. Based on this background and current observations, clustering houses is an appropriate and necessary strategy for the middle-income sector. To investigate this strategy, a design was executed and used as a vehicle to explore the architecture of cluster housing. The success of this strategy and my opinions on issues raised in this design response are discussed. Neither this discussion, nor this thesis, is intended to be a definitive statement on housing. / Master of Architecture

"Since we move in time through a sequence of spaces, we experience a space in relation to where we've been and where we anticipate going." Francis Ching This thesis illustrates the exploration of path and space relationships to establish an order for supporting a range of activities. / Master of Architecture