Die aktuelle Ausgabe des Newsletter für Freunde, Absolventen und Ehemalige der Technischen Universität Chemnitz.

There is extensive research over the decades around health care services utilization trends, however, limited data and research exists around student utilization of campus health centers. Furthermore, there is very minimal data on student utilization trends of campus health services since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Since a crucial component to fostering healthy and safe college campuses is through campus health services, it clearly indicates a need for further research on the trends and perceptions of students’ campus health services utilization. This study examines utilization rates of students through exploring key demographic characteristics of students, including their perceptions toward utilization of campus health services, for their physical well-being and medical care. This dissertation is a secondary data analysis of the American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment. This study’s specific aims were to examine if key characteristics exist of students utilizing campus health centers, and if those trends still exist or had shifted after the Covid-19 pandemic. The data was used to evaluate if there are significant relationships between student demographics and their respective perceptions of campus health services. Drawing on a nationally representative sample of undergraduate students, data analysis found various statistical significance based on the various steps in the Andersen Behavioral Model of Health Services Use. The results confirmed there are barriers to college student utilization of health services, specifically for certain race/ethnicity, international students, having an active health insurance policy, and how they perceive health being a priority on campus. Given the vital role that student health services have on college campuses, efforts to increase campus health service utilization should be considered through targeted programming and more inclusive staffing and service offerings.

The real estate sector in Sweden accounts for a significant share of energy consumption andgreenhouse gas emissions in society. The increased electrification, driven by factors such asdigitalization and the use of electric cars, further contributes to the industry's climate impact.However, there are opportunities for property owners to effectively manage electricityconsumption and reduce the negative climate impact. Managing power peaks, which occurduring periods of high electricity consumption, is crucial to reduce strain on the power gridand the use of fossil fuels. It is also a key factor in achieving international sustainability goalssuch as Agenda 2030 and the Paris Agreement. Reducing peak loads can also lead to lowerelectricity costs for buildings. The purpose of this study has been to investigate the challenges and opportunities for reducingpeak power demand at KTH Campus in Östermalm, Stockholm, and to examine theenvironmental and economic benefits that can be achieved through this. Using data providedby the real estate company Akademiska Hus, an overview of the overall electricity consumptionat KTH Campus was conducted. In addition, potential measures to reduce peak power demandand finding common incentives for tenants and property owners for implementing suchinvestments were investigated through a qualitative study. The results of the study show that there are measures that property owners can take to reducepower peaks. The suggested measures include both technical investments and influencing andchanging tenants' electricity consumption. The analysis of electricity usage for the study objectrevealed that the hour that primarily should be assessed is 12:00 PM, when the highest numberof power peaks occur. Additionally, potential measures such as upgrading ventilation systemsand optimising the use of laboratory fume hoods were identified to reduce electricityconsumption and, in turn, power peaks at KTH Campus. Improved data utilisation andtransparent knowledge sharing between tenants and property owners can be key tosuccessfully reducing power peaks. Challenges in implementing the proposed measuresinvolve changing tenants' behaviour and managing split incentives between the landlord andtenant. The focus of this study was to analyse existing data on power load distribution andcomprehend it through interviews with experts within the field. Another way of conducting asimilar type of study on how to reduce power peaks could be to develop different strategiesfor analysing data or gathering alternative data. / Den svenska fastighetssektorn står för en betydande andel av energiförbrukningen ochutsläppen av växthusgaser i samhället. Ökad elektrifiering, drivet av faktorer som digitaliseringoch användning av elbilar, bidrar ytterligare till branschens klimatpåverkan. Det finnsemellertid möjligheter för fastighetsägare att effektivt hantera elförbrukningen och minskaden negativa klimatpåverkan. Att hantera effekttoppar, som uppstår under perioder med högelförbrukning, är avgörande för att minska belastningen på elnätet och användningen avfossila bränslen. Det är också en viktig faktor för att uppnå internationella hållbarhetsmål somAgenda 2030 och Parisavtalet. Minskade effekttoppar kan även leda till lägre elkostnader förbyggnader. Syftet med denna studie har varit att undersöka utmaningar och möjligheter att minskaeffekttoppar i elförbrukningen på KTH Campus på Östermalm, Stockholm, och att undersökade miljömässiga och ekonomiska fördelarna som kan uppnås genom detta. Med hjälp av datafrån fastighetsbolaget Akademiska Hus genomfördes en kartläggning av den totalaelförbrukningen vid KTH Campus. Dessutom undersöktes potentiella åtgärder för att minskaeffekttoppar och att hitta gemensamma incitament för hyresgäster och fastighetsägare attimplementera sådana investeringar genom en kvalitativ studie. Resultaten av studien visar att det finns åtgärder som fastighetsägare kan vidta för att minskaeffekttopparna. De föreslagna åtgärderna inkluderar både tekniska investeringar och påverkansamt förändring av hyresgästers elförbrukning. Analysen av elförbrukningen för studieobjektetvisade att timmen som i huvudsak bör beaktas är kl. 12:00, då flest effekttoppar förekommer.Dessutom identifierades potentiella åtgärder som uppgradering av ventilationssystem ochoptimering av användningen av dragskåp i labb för att minska elförbrukningen och därmedäven effekttopparna vid KTH Campus. Förbättrad användning av data och transparentkunskapsdelning mellan hyresgäster och fastighetsägare är också potentiella lösningar för attfrämja investeringar i energieffektivitet. Utmaningar med att implementera de föreslagnaåtgärderna innefattar att ändra hyresgästers beteende och hantera delade incitament mellanfastighetsägare och hyresgäster. Fokus för denna studie var att analysera data över effektförbrukningen på KTH och skapaförståelse genom intervjuer med kunniga inom området. Ett annat sätt att genomföra enliknande studie om hur man minskar effekttoppar skulle kunna vara att utveckla olikastrategier för att analysera data eller samla alternativ data.

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The purpose of this study was to describe the creation and development of the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center (SVHEC) in Abingdon, Virginia as an example of a higher education consortium. Case study methodology was used to determine why and how the SVHEC was established, who was involved, and how well it served adult students and the community. Data were collected through interviews, focus groups, observations, and document analysis. The methodology included identifying key players, designing an interview protocol, and conducting interviews with academic and political figures who had played key roles in the SVHEC’s development. Abingdon community representatives were interviewed, as were present and former college and university presidents representing partner institutions in the consortium. Data were also obtained through observations gained from multiple visits to the Center, formal and informal interviews of employees of the Center and its partners, and participation in meetings. Internal and external documents were also analyzed. The cumulative data record enabled me to reconstruct the process through which the center was created and developed. I found the SVHEC to be a grassroots effort, born of community need, and championed by a local educational administrator and a legislator from a neighboring community. Besides providing educational opportunity to an underserved population, the Center has promoted economic development, and enhanced outsiders’ perceptions while heightening local appreciation of the community. Recognized as successful by all types of stakeholders, the consortium reportedly serves its students well; is sensitive to the needs of adult learners and businesses; boasts strong leadership and legislative support; is customer-oriented, professionally operated, and community enhancing. Uniquely designated as a state agency, the Center illustrates an effective partnership among universities, legislators, and communities and demonstrates the productive use of state funding in promoting goals of education and economic development. This study may provide a model for communities and higher educational institutions seeking solutions to their needs. In this time of a precarious national economy, mirrored by continuously dwindling state funding for higher education, examples of creative, cost-effective educational structures are needed. The SVHEC is one such model.

The purpose of this study was to identify and analyze patterns of institutional strategies and processes that promote the sustainability of laboratory schools housed and managed by institutions of higher education. First, a comprehensive analysis of the development, growth, decline, and current status of the laboratory school movement was conducted by means of a review of relevant literature. Next, an interview with the Director of the International Association of Laboratory and University Affiliated Schools (NALS) was conducted to gather information regarding the changing role of laboratory schools in the modern educational landscape of America. Subsequently, a survey of laboratory school directors was conducted to assess the current status of laboratory schools, examine the changing function of laboratory schools, and consider the effects of these changes. Open-ended interviews were conducted with laboratory school administrators whose schools had successfully transformed their mission to better serve the 21st century needs of their parent institutions and communities. Concurrently, document analysis was performed in order to triangulate findings with interview and survey data. The data showed that laboratory schools were originally designed for the purposes of testing educational theories, developing innovative practices, and training teachers. Modern laboratory schools serve those same functions. They are clinical teaching facilities, demonstration facilities, research and development schools, and curriculum development centers. Their current and future challenges are: (1) to find innovative roles or niches that serve the diverse and sometimes divergent needs of their parent institutions and (2) ensure that staff have adequate resources (e.g., training, partnerships, and time) to fulfill those roles. Findings from this study describe schools that have failed and succeeded in undertaking complex change processes to promote sustainability.

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This study investigated the educational outcomes of foster care youth utilizing the Road to Independence, Adopted from DCF, and Relative Caregiver tuition exemptions to pursue enrollment in Florida's state college system during the 2012-2013 academic year. An extensive literature review was conducted to examine the history of foster care, examine a contemporary portrait of the American foster care system, and the adult outcomes of former foster care. Federal and state policies impacting the population, campus support initiatives at colleges nationwide and the concept of resilience were also explored. In conjunction with the Florida Department of Education's Division of Accountability, Research and Measurement, the Florida Department of Children and Families provided access to a dataset compiled by the Community College and Technical Center MIS department. This file contained enrollment information for foster care youth utilizing one of three tuition exemptions to fund their education-related expenses. While all personal identifiers were eliminated prior to sharing the file, information within the document included student age, gender, race/ethnicity, academic discipline, and degree being pursued. Results of this study yielded some statistically significant differences across tuition exemption type. After examining relationships between gender and race/ethnicity and tuition exemption type, no statistically significant results were found. However, statistical significance was found after examining the relationships between academic degree being pursued and academic major/discipline and tuition exemption type. Many factors impact the experiences of foster care youth in the college classroom. These should be considered when developing programming, policy, and support services aimed at encouraging their success.

If a school is valued, it will inspire pride of ownership among students, staff, and community members. A sustainable campus beautification effort can be a source of inspiration. The purpose of this study was to determine if campus beautification projects made a positive impact on student behavior and academic performance. This study was based on qualitative research methods. Theoretical applications compared the results of a case study involving five middle/junior high schools in Region VI of the Statewide System of School Support for the Delta/Sierra Region. Interviews measured the perceptions of one administrator and three teachers at each school site. Interview responses were coded and analyzed to discover emerging themes in the data. In general, the teachers and the administrators agreed that campus beautification projects had positively impacted student behavior and academic performance. Teachers stated that involving students in the process of improving the quality of their school environment taught pride of ownership, community spirit, and leadership skills. Students who took part in campus beautification continued to seek experiences in campus improvement. Administrators reported a positive change in student behaviors and that beautification experience benefited students from all academic levels and behavioral backgrounds. The majority of the interviewees expressed that students benefited most directly from campus beautification. Others stated that the staff was most positively affected. In either case, interviewees' overall perceptions were that campus beautification improved student behavior and academic performance. Campus beautification projects should be investigated at every school level. Projects provide a simple solution to the rising problem of aging school facilities. Schools should pursue campus beautification as a means of improving staff and student morale. District office and site administrations should support beautification efforts and allow students the opportunity to improve their campus environment. Schools should enlist parents and community members to participate in beautification projects. Recommendations for further study include the impact of beautification at the elementary and high school levels, on urban, suburban and rural schools, and into how school administrations and district administrations can best support beautification efforts.