Community college students transfer to public universities experiencing a pathway filled with complexity and inequity. Transfer students are not able to graduate at the same pace as native students at the university and complete their baccalaureate degrees 18% below the rate of native students. Policymakers have attempted to address the baccalaureate gap. This qualitative study explored the perspectives of Texas policymakers and policy influencers on the efficacy of policies intended to improve transfer outcomes. This study investigated what experience participants have with transfer policy, what their perceptions of the transfer pathway are, and how their voices can refine an understanding of policy development and ways to improve student persistence. Purposeful sampling was used to explore the perspectives of 14 Texas policymakers and those that influence policy. Findings revealed that significant gaps exist between expectations and student realities and that the completion agenda is driving policy decisions. Participants perceived that transfer students have been ignored in the completion metrics, which influence institutional priorities. Moreover, the decentralized system of independent, autonomous institutions is a major contributor to inefficiencies such as excessive student credit hours. Improving the transferability of courses was a priority recommendation of all participants both because it benefits the State’s economy and, more importantly, because it is in the best interest of students.

VIKOVÁ, Tereza. The Uses of Public Space in Connection to Visual Art and Art Education [Dissertation]. Prague, 2019. Charles University, Faculty of Education, Art Education Department. 98 pages (Attachments on CD: 1 text, 2 image attachments) The subject matter of the master's thesis is the use of public space. Namely a way of use when the user, on the basis of self-awareness in the common space, feels and assumes responsibility for this space. The author is particularly interested in the moment of focus, which may (or may not) result in action and become a change. In this context, the so called gentle action phenomenon is being mentioned. That is, an individual's actions emanating from within the system itself, which is usually characterized by subtle action with a deeper, more far-reaching effect. The author's central ideas are applied in a thematic series consisting of a combination of a didactic and an artistic part. Together, they create a coherent whole. The author shows her own approach to the problem (in relation to fine art and art education) based on the extraction of a public space element from its everyday environment, its temporary appropriation and restitution. Particular topics reveal the aspects of private and public and outline the ways in which the user relates to his or her...

Childbirth as a natural part of life, where the woman giving birth has prime position and the option of choice. She should feel free and accepted - to be able to give birth physiologically (without unnecessary external interference). Physiological childbirth as the best for a woman, a baby and their relationship. Up to 80 % of women do not need a doctor to give birth, but only a "suitable environment". In my diploma thesis I propose a "maternity house". This concept is well-known abroad, in our country it is a new type of care. For this purpose, I use two existing houses, which are owned by the city of Blansko and stand next to the hospital.

The trumpet ensemble has increasingly become a popular chamber ensemble inside music programs at the secondary and collegiate level. Chamber music ensembles are frequently guided by both democratic processes and ensemble coaches with limited chamber music experience. As trumpet ensembles grow in popularity, pedagogical resources are needed to guide rehearsals. This project serves as a guide for educators and performers to focus on fundamental issues related to trumpet ensembles as well as strategies for ensemble rehearsal.

The chapel of the former boromeian closter in Teplice is an important example of the work of monastery art school of benedictins of Beuron. The closter, today the building of the high school of Teplice, was built on the place of former city walls, connected by a prestigeous bouleward with the city center. Today, the building is surrounded by a non-valuable buildings, the bouleward is full of transport during the whole day and near is a highway. The old architectural structure was mainly destroyed and replaced by block of flats made of concrete. The topic ic getting the life back into the building and connect the building back into the public space, to join the "public=city" with the "private=school". The topic is to gain back the dignity and certain monumentality. The topic is to create the space for school activities, workschops, meetings, exhibitions, happenings, and last, but not least, weddings. The high school students should be the future intelectual elity of the space and newly reconstructed space may has the power to reinforce their linkage with the place, which can possibly mean they will search for a job in Teplice after their university studies. I belive, that the architecture has the power to attach the people to the space and to establish the genius loci. And such an opening of the space deserve the gymnasium and the chapel (which is not known to the public in Teplice) 20 years after the Velvet revolution, which itselves, was an opening of the space on the level of politics.

The diploma thesis deals with the entrance zone objects nearby a to-be-built energetic-paper mill factory WANEMI, Inc. in Zábřeh. It consists of two objects: a presentation pavilion and an administrative building. My design combines a function of parking and administration into one single object to occupy less land. Garages are intersected by a big open skylight in the middle with some trees planted in - this way people are moving as if in the treetops. The exhibition pavilion is situated in the intersection of main view axes to landscape dominants. Their extension is projected even into the interior where they determine main spaces. Visitor of the building climbs the way up along the important views to finish his way upstairs in the main hall.

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Sustainable design is often conceived of only in terms of applied technologies, without a concern for quality of life of residents. This thesis is an investigation of sustainable design that meets standards of quality of life for residents. The study focuses on balancing the needs for integration with the existing context and maintenance of privacy for the residents, and on heightening peopleâ s responsiveness to and awareness of daily and seasonal phenomena. The goal of this investigation is to create a residence that heightens the inhabitantsâ psychological connection with the outdoor environment, and thus enhances their quality of life. / Master of Architecture

This study explores how retention options to achieve a circular economy applied in entrance door products together with CSR strategies from a supplier can create customer-perceived value in a B2B market setting. It focuses on the relationship between buyers and suppliers in the construction and building industry in the Swedish and Dutch market. To explore this phenomenon, a qualitative multiple case study was employed using semi-structured interviews as method for main data collection. Facility management, real estate and construction companies from the respective markets were subjects to this study to gather valuable insights. The data was analyzed and presented according to four main value dimensions perceived by customers. Sustainable products can mainly create indirect economic value for customers by enabling higher revenue or reducing tax load. In terms of functional value, customers ask for products with low carbon footprint that supports them to reach their sustainability goals for the supply chain or to reach building certifications. In the transition phase towards a circular economy customers value a closer and mutual beneficial relationship to their supplier. This entails a holistic aftersales support and caretaking of products after the use phase to bring products and resources back into the circle. A supplying company can create symbolic customer-perceived value by engaging in comprehensive and credible CSR activities, since several business customers want to show that they are working with sustainable companies. This study also reveals that most customers do not yet have any measures in place to assess the sustainability of a product or the quality of a suppliers CSR activities, however, it is a future requirement. Practical, the findings of this study undermine the importance for supplying companies to begin developing sustainable offerings and to engage in relationships with their business customers to create profitable business cases from sustainable offerings. Academically, the study highlights the need for further research in circularity and perceived customer value. Thus, the study explored circular product aspects customers can perceive valuable, and how the relationship acts as a foundation for specifying the requirements of bringing circular aspects to different customers and markets.